August 15, 2008

Purdue resident assistants go to aid Indiana flood victims

The students will clean up debris left in fields and homes in neighborhoods such as Horseshoe Bend and Tecumseh Bend. They also will notify flood victims about assistance programs available to them.

Project coordinator Sara Carvell, residential life manager at Tarkington Hall, said she wanted to get the resident assistants involved in a project that had a direct impact on people's lives.

"This debris is a constant reminder to these people of what they have suffered and an impediment to them getting their lives back to normal," Carvell said.

Meredith Hall clerk Pam Jones worked with Carroll County Emergency Management director Dave McDowell to help identify how Purdue resident assistants could fulfill needs in his community. McDowell said that parts of the county are still littered with surprising volumes of debris, including downed trees, tires, destroyed buildings, etc., that make some areas unproductive or unsafe.  He is encouraging residents to contact him prior to the event if they need assistance cleaning up their property.

"Once the floodwaters receded, so did attention to what these people are still suffering," McDowell said. "These young people will help return beauty to our impacted neighborhoods and put a human face on the resources available to help them recover."

Each resident assistant serves as counselor, role model, teacher and/or mentor for up to 50 students living in university residences. Director of residential life Julie Talz said the RAs' third annual community service day will be used to inspire them to create similar smaller-scale projects for the students in their charge throughout the year.

"This project helps the RAs to realize that their community extends far beyond their residence hall or the Purdue campus," Talz said. "The leadership they are learning and exerting in the residence halls can take flight to benefit others for decades to come."

Half of the RAs, led by their full-time staff residents and residential life managers, will work the first morning and the other half the second morning. The university's office of engagement is paying for three coach buses to transport the students. Follett's Book Store helped pay for each team member's brightly colored T-shirt.

Writer: Jim Schenke, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@aol.com

Sources: Sara Carvell, (765) 494-2312, scarvell@purdue.edu

Julie Talz, (765) 494-1000, jtalz@purdue.edu

Dave McPowell (765) 564-0028

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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