UNL leads Hurricane Katrina Retrospective Aug. 28, Sept. 5-8

From Aug. 25 to Aug. 28, 2005, thousands fled the Gulf Coast or awaited a predicted devastating hurricane. In the year since, the world has watched residents struggle to rebuild their homes and communities, observed policymakers wrestle with answers to issues of sustainability, and examined what went wrong in preparedness and emergency reaction.

At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, faculty, students and invited guests will spend four days examining Hurricane Katrina with panels, lectures and discussions, and give people time to reflect emotionally and intellectually on an event that had historic significance.

An Aug. 28 candlelight vigil marking the Hurricane Katrina anniversary kicks off a four-day retrospective Sept. 5-8 when events will be scheduled on campus to educate and enlighten others on issues dealt with during the hurricane and its aftermath.

"I never imagined how deeply committed Nebraskans became during the past year to assisting the communities hit by Katrina," said Seanna Oakley, assistant professor of English and a co-planner of the event. "It's important to inform both Nebraskans and others across the nation that Nebraskans do have a stake in continuing to support recovery efforts, as well as commend those who have been working all along behind the scene."

The candlelight vigil from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Nebraska Union Plaza, 1400 R St., will reflect on lives lost and give others an opportunity to remember the human loss.

From Sept. 5 to Sept. 8, UNL will present documentaries, panels on Nebraska's response and local hurricane evacuees, a presentation from a historian from Tulane University, other talks by people affected and a lecture by a New York Times correspondent who covered the disaster, and discussion by UNL students who have helped in the recovery effort. On Sept. 8, a cultural gala at the Champions Club, 707 Stadium Drive, will end the events.

As many as 200 students from UNL have traveled to the Waveland, Miss., area for service-learning efforts and many will be on hand during the events to share their experiences.

A schedule of event days, times and places follows. All are free and open to the public. The events are sponsored by various campus organizations.:

Aug. 28: 8:30-9:30 p.m. -- candlelight vigil, Nebraska Union, 1400 R St.

Sept. 5: 5-6:30 p.m. -- documentary discussion on "The Fatal Flood" by PBS on "American Experience," UNL, Culture Center, 333 N. 14th St.; 7:30-9 p.m. -- panel, "Nebraska Responds to Katrina," Malone Community Center, 2032 U St., Kit Boesch, Lancaster County Human Services, Randy Jones, American Red Cross-Lancaster County, Deena Howard, American Red Cross-Heartland Chapter, Denise Bulling, University of Nebraska Public Policy Center, Milo Mumgaard, Nebraska Appleseed Center (co-sponsored by the Nebraska Public Policy Center as a part of its Thomas C. Sorensen Policy Seminar Series).

Sept. 6: 4:30-6 p.m. -- presentation, "Voices of Katrina," featuring local Hurricane Katrina evacuees, Nebraska Union auditorium, 1400 R St.; 7:30-9 p.m. -- keynote speaker, Lance Hill, Department of History, Tulane University, and executive director of the Southern Institute for Education and Research at Tulane, Nebraska Union auditorium.

Sept. 7: 8-11 a.m. -- 1-2:30 p.m. -- lecture, Tanya Harris, director, Lower Ninth Ward chapter of ACORN, New Orleans, Southeast Community College, 8800 O St.; 4-5:30 p.m. -- dialogue, Kalamu ya Salaam and Tanya Harris, Malone Center; 7:30-9:30 p.m. -- keynote speaker, Adam Nossiter, national correspondent for the New York Times, Nebraska Union.

Sept. 8: 8-11 a.m. -- 12:30 p.m. -- brownbag lunch, Tanya Harris, Dudley Bailey Library, Andrews Hall, UNL; 3:30-5 p.m. -- panel, "Southern Exposure" featuring UNL student volunteers and community members who have traveled south to help with reconstruction efforts, Dudley Bailey Library; 7:30-9:30 p.m. -- closing cultural gala, "After the Storm: Celebrating Old New Orleans," Nebraska Champions Club, 707 Stadium Drive, the Darryl White Jazz Quintet, Tanya Harris, Omaha Slam Poet team, Kalamu ya Salaam, refreshments provided.

CONTACTS: Gregory Rutledge, Asst. Professor, English, (402) 472-1863;
Patrick Jones, Asst. Professor, History, (402) 472-3250; and Seanna Oakley, Asst. Professor, English, (402) 472-3165 (soakley2@unl.edu)