April 9, 2008

Photo Gallery

BOSTON - Recently, 14 student-athletes dedicated their 2008 spring break to the lives and communities of those affected by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, La. The group was led by Paul Joyal, Area Director of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

The student-athletes included Mallory Doyle (women's soccer); Marisha Schumacher-Hodge (women's soccer); Lily Albin (women's soccer); Jennifer Fleser (women's track); Gregory Daggett Jr. (men's track); Michael Salem (men's track); Elizabeth Perreault (field hockey); Alexandra Dolce (field hockey); Haley Robinson (field hockey); Amanda Smith (field hockey); Kim Kastuk (field hockey); Maryette Stuart (field hockey); John Passaro (men's swimming) and Rene Gonzales (club water polo).

Hurricane Katrina hit land in late August of 2005 and was the sixth strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded. It was also the third strongest hurricane on record that made landfall in the United States. New Orleans was most affected when the levee system catastrophically failed and flooding reached twenty-five feet in some parishes. There is still a lot of work to be done to rebuild and most of the reconstructive work is being performed by volunteers.

The athletes worked in St. Bernard's Parish, one of the hardest hit counties in the lower ninth ward of New Orleans. They worked on various projects throughout the week, including building a skate park, cleaning up a high school that will be turned into a recreation center, planting gardens, putting up sheetrock, painting, making bunk beds, clearing trails and moving debris. In addition to putting in the work from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. every day, the athletes met residents and listened to their stories. Most spoke about surviving the hurricane, how the government responded to the catastrophe, the aftermath and how most lost everything they owned. Even still, the people of New Orleans were very thankful for the efforts and work of the student-athletes.

Only one-third of the residents in New Orleans have returned, and communities are bare. Each of the BU student-athletes gained new perspectives, friendships, understanding and overall awareness of the realities of this world. All are excited to return next year to continue the work and to build hope out of devastation.