The two students who enrolled at McDaniel College after Hurricane Katrina damaged their schools in New Orleans say they're enjoying classes and adapting well, despite the circumstances.

"All the people I've met have been extremely kind and friendly," Tulane freshman Jason Rosenberg said. "Still, I want to go back as soon as I can."

Jackie Mabry, a freshman at Loyola University in New Orleans attending McDaniel this fall, had family in Louisiana who evacuated to Houston when Katrina hit. Just two weeks later, they were forced to evacuate again – this time because of Hurricane Rita.

Both students are monitoring recovery efforts in Louisiana . McDaniel offered free tuition for fall semester to students displaced from their colleges due to Katrina.

Rosenberg keeps tabs on his home school through the Internet. He says buildings at Tulane suffered a good bit of water damage, but President Scott Cowen assures students the university will reopen in the spring.

The campus-wide response to Hurricane Katrina has been overwhelming. Various individuals and groups have developed plans for providing assistance. In order to coordinate efforts, a faculty-staff committee called McDaniel KARE (Katrina Area Relief Effort) has been formed.

Matching grants have been offered and many of the following groups will combine their donations. These will be sent to the designated charities.

Alpha Nu Omega Sorority and the DIVAs Affinity House have collected funds in the residence halls, outside the dining hall, and at campus events; Phi Mu Sorority is planning a bake sale; and Alpha Phi Omega is selling Mardi Gras necklaces outside the dining hall.

The Happy Helpers Affinity House is sponsoring a card drive for Hurricane Katrina victims. Community members may leave cards at the Hill Hall Writing Center or at the campus Post Office. The cards will be delivered to those in need of encouragement. Happy Helpers, in conjunction with www.dosomething.org, is also collecting new and gently used backpacks to fill with school supplies and personal items for displaced children.