Lending a helping hand

We are just beginning to realize the magnitude of the havoc that Hurricane Katrina wreaked on the Gulf Coast of the United States. Over the past week, we have all seen images of the destruction, and many of us cannot help but stand in awe.

But as homes and livelihoods were shattered by the violent winds of Katrina, they will be rebuilt on the backs of goodwill and the American spirit.

The hope that one day life in New Orleans will return to what it once was is of little comfort, however, to those still scrambling to find any sort of roof to put over their head.

For us in the north, this is not a time to look on with wide eyes and idle hands. Our duty is to help our fellow Americans in this time of need. And we can be proud, as President Amy Gutmann is, that Penn is playing a leading role in helping to bring a sense of normalcy back to people whose lives have been anything but normal of late.

The University was one of the first in the nation to announce its plans to accommodate students displaced by the hurricane. Penn's efforts to take in local students who had literally no place to attend classes this fall is a laudable move that universities across Pennsylvania and the rest of the nation have followed.

Officials who sprung into action to coordinate the transfer of 100 new -- and unexpected -- students to our campus should be commended for their diligence and compassion. Provost Ron Daniels described the process as one of "good cheer and resolve."

Now it is up to the rest of us to make these newcomers feel welcome on campus. College Dean Dennis DeTurck set a good example yesterday by giving tours to a group of students who are still likely trying to piece their lives together. We can all join in this effort, whether it be guiding students to classes or comforting classmates who may be trying to cope with the great loss.

In addition to assisting students, Penn is making an effort to help the flood-ravaged areas of the south by leveraging its own expertise -- scholars in all areas from urban planning to psychological counseling -- to help the entire region get back on its feet.

While others are raising money -- certainly a noble thing to do -- Penn is putting its practical knowledge to work in ways that will benefit people for years to come. By offering faculty and staff three weeks of paid leave to assist in the relief efforts, Penn has gone beyond its peers.

The efforts by the University showed its commitment to being a good citizen of the world through actions and not just words -- a marked improvement from its response to the tsunami nine months ago.

When Penn announced its plans to aid the victims of Katrina, phones in College Hall were ringing off the hook. While the calls may have subsided in recent days, the calls for help from an entire region remain. It is our duty as an institution to see that they do not go unanswered.

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