Champlain College Students Find ‘New Orleans is Still in Our Hearts’
By Courtney Isham

We are a group of five students from Champlain College. In addition to myself, Courtney Isham of Randolph, our group includes Megan Pluta, Tyler Asher, Liam Page, and Kevin Sicard.

As part of our Small Group Communications class, we are required to come together to bring awareness to an issue that we feel is an important part of our lives. Our group chose New Orleans and the current state of the city, and the lack of rebuilding that they have seen there since Hurricane Katrina.

We feel that there is still much to be done there. The government, media, organizations and individuals directed their attention and gave wonderful support to New Orleans months following the devastation, but while the state of need continues in New Orleans, the support and active help is not as strong. People in New Orleans still need our help, along with our government’s help, in rebuilding their homes, and a city that is a part of America.

During our class presentation to bring awareness to this topic, our group showed a short documentary, "Big Easy to Big Empty," directed by Greg Palast. The documentary was filmed one year after the hurricane hit and shows what New Orleans looks like after one year, along with a look into the reasons for the lack of rebuilding that is occurring and the loss that the New Orleans residents are still feeling today.

While we did not have enough time in class to share another important and strong documentary film, "When the Levees Broke," we encourage everyone to watch both of these films to gain a greater understanding of what our fellow American’s are experiencing.

New Orleans is the chosen destination as Champlain College’s Alternative Spring Break for 2008, as it was in 2007. A group of students (ASB's goal is 24) are volunteering to go to New Orleans to help rebuild houses.

As part of our project to bring awareness to this issue, we are trying to help Champlain’s ASB students fundraise to go there and volunteer. Donations can be sent to Champlain College, Alternative Spring Break, 163 South Willard Street, Box 20, Burlington, Vt. 05402. You can also get information about purchasing a Champlain College Center for Civic Engagement sweatshirt by e-mailing asb@champlain.edu to help these students raise the approximately $7,000 needed.

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