From LSU.edu
Yesterday’s influx of Louisianians evacuated because of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina and the projected demand for the next several days has prompted LSU Chancellor Sean O’Keefe to postpone resumption of classes at the university until Tuesday, Sept. 6.
However, university business operations will intensify on Wednesday, Aug. 31.
As such, all university faculty, staff and administrators should please return to campus to help meet current, emergent evacuation assistance demands, and to begin preparing for the resumption of class next week. All faculty, staff and administration who can return to Baton Rouge safely and expeditiously are encouraged to do so. A liberal leave policy will be in effect.
LSU has been playing a crucial role in providing emergency medical services to evacuees from hurricane devastated areas. The evacuation efforts on campus are now extensive. The Maddox Fieldhouse at LSU is being utilized as a special needs shelter and the Maravich Assembly Center is a medical triage and staging area. The Bernie Moore Track Stadium is being used as a transport staging area for arriving and departing medical evacuation vehicles.
This means that emergency traffic flow into these areas of campus will be heavy. The community is asked to avoid travel on Nicholson Drive if at all possible, as this will serve as a primary route for emergency vehicles heading to campus. In addition, North Stadium Drive will be closed to traffic indefinitely.
These emergency medical services based at LSU will need assistance from nurses, physician’s assistants and other medical personnel who can volunteer their time and expertise. Those who can assist in this important effort are asked to call 225-219-0821 so that emergency officials can determine how best to utilize their services.
Important information about LSU’s post-hurricane operations:
- LSU will resume business operations on Wednesday, Aug. 31. All faculty, staff and administration who can return to Baton Rouge safely and expeditiously are encouraged to do so. A liberal leave policy will be in effect.
LSU will resume classes on Tuesday, Sept. 6. - LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center will resume classes on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
- The LSU Child Care Center will resume operations on Wednesday, Aug. 31.
- The LSU Agricultural Center will resume operations on Wednesday, Aug. 31
- The LSU Laboratory School will resume classes on Thursday, September 1
- The LSU administration has requested that university faculty be understanding and flexible when dealing with the collection of assigned materials and student absences due to the disruption caused by Hurricane Katrina. For every day university classes are cancelled, academic deadlines will be extended accordingly. The Office of Academic Affairs will assess options to make up for lost class days and will announce a decision soon.
Meanwhile, all University services and facilities are up and running. Full operations are expected to resume on Wednesday, Aug. 31.
- The Pentagon and Highland Dining Halls are open today, Aug. 30, offering continuous service from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Normal food service operations will resume on Wednesday, Aug. 31.
- In order to provide activities for those students who are in town or on campus, the LSU Recreational Center is open today, Aug. 30, until 11 p.m. and regular hours will resume on Wednesday, Aug. 31. The LSU Union common space is also open today and the full Union, including all retail and dining, will resume normal operating hours on Wednesday.
- LSU’s emergency hotline number, 1-800-516-6444 or 578-INFO (4636), will be kept up-to-date with information on the resumption of classes. Updates will also be available on radio station KLSU 91.1 FM.
Athletics Events Update
- The LSU-North Texas football game scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3, has been postponed. The schools are working to reschedule the game, and that date will be announced later this week.
- The LSU soccer match against South Alabama scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2, has been postponed. The match scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 4, in Baton Rouge has been moved to UL-Lafayette’s Cajun Track and Soccer Complex at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
- The LSU volleyball team will travel to Atlanta, Ga., as scheduled on Thursday, Sept. 1.
- The second Les Miles Radio Show presented by Whitney Bank and live from Walk-on’s scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 31, has been postponed until Wednesday, Sept. 7.
- The first LSU Sunday Night Live! presented by Nissan radio show scheduled for 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 4, has been postponed until Sunday, Sept. 11.
- The first Inside LSU Football with Les Miles television show set to be aired next week will be postponed until its first air date of Sunday, Sept. 11.
- The Les Miles Press Luncheon scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 29, on the LSU campus has been CANCELLED due to Hurricane Katrina. There is no make-up date or time to re-schedule the luncheon. LSU’s football practice time and location for Monday are currently pending due to the Hurricane.
- The Taste of Tigers Tailgating event scheduled for Aug. 27 at the Carl Maddox Field House on the LSU campus has been postponed due to Hurricane Katrina, the University has announced. The Taste of Tigers Tailgating event, which is being sponsored by Guaranty Broadcasting, has been re-scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Maravich Assembly Center. Fans are reminded to hold on to their tickets as they will be good for admission on Sept. 17 at the Maravich Assembly Center.
- The Mike the Tiger habitat ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for Monday, Aug. 29, at 10:30 a.m. on the LSU campus has been postponed due to Hurricane Katrina, the University announced on Saturday. No make-up date has been scheduled for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was to include LSU Chancellor Sean O’Keefe, LSU Athletics Director Skip Bertman, Tiger Athletic Foundation CEO Maj. Gen. Ron Richard, Dr. David Baker of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and fund-raising co-chairs Delaine Emmert and Bill Hulsey.