| September 19, 2008 | Archive | ||||
Topics at a glance: UTDB students help evacuees register for FEMA aid … Hurricane Ike: UTDB revises fall semester due to storm closure … Ike Survivors Hurricane Party… Free, confidential help available from UT Counseling & WorkLife Services … Need a hot shower? The UT Recreation Center welcomes you |
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UTDB students help evacuees register for FEMA aid
Sixteen dental students and at least two "significant others" volunteered earlier this week to help hurricane evacuees register for FEMA assistance at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center. Laura Johnson, president of the first-year dental students Class of 2012, said she rode out the storm safely in Katy, and later began wondering where volunteers were needed. "I wasn't sure who to contact, so I called the Houston Police Department to see if anyone needed help," she said. The answer was yes. "They said they had about 3,000 people sheltering at the GRB, and were desperate for volunteers," she added. Via text messages, Johnson contacted her classmates and quickly had 16 volunteers who went to the convention center Wednesday afternoon to help. "They were especially glad to have us because we have computer and Internet skills," she said. Another group of UTDB students, organized by Robert Schudy, volunteered Friday morning to help deliver meals to seniors. |
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Hurricane Ike: UTDB revises fall semester due to storm closureHurricane Ike spared the UT Dental Branch any physical damage but ripped more than a week of valuable class and clinic time out of the fall semester. Because of that, a new schedule has been announced. The lost week will be reclaimed by compressing the two-week final exam schedule into one week. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Leslie Roeder, D.D.S., said giving final exams over one week in December instead of two will result in one exam per day for most students. Only the second-year dental students will have multiple exams on one day - a situation that is being evaluated and will be adjusted if possible. Once all dates and times have been confirmed, a new schedule for final exams will be distributed. Reclaiming that extra week will allow class schedules to proceed with few changes. "What would have happened last Monday will happen this Monday," Roeder explained. Some classes featuring special activities - such as the "pig jaw lab, when third-year dental students do surgical procedures on pig jaws" - will be rescheduled on a case-by-case basis. Associate Dean for Patient Care Peggy O'Neill, D.D.S., Ph.D., said clinics at the Dental Branch are "in good shape physically," and electronic patient records are accessible. But with homes damaged, gasoline scarce and communications compromised by phone and power outages, O'Neill said it is unclear how many students, staff and faculty members will be present Monday, so that day will be used to see what the staffing is and to allow students to contact their patients. While many departments were fully functional when the university reopened Thursday, the Pediatric Dentistry Department remained closed because the building where it is housed, the Houston Medical Center at 6655 Travis, was without electricity. Executive Associate Dean John Valenza, D.D.S., announced a list of changes for the rest of the semester, and noted that students, faculty and staff are responsible for knowing about the revised schedule. Schedule changes are shown on the UTDB Web site. |
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Ike Survivors Hurricane Party
Dr. Ray Koeppen's neighbor fell off a roof after the hurricane and needed rescue by Lifeflight. Erika Johnson endured a malfunctioning fire alarm for three hours during the storm. Kim Chambers found herself serving as "next of kin" to a friend's disabled dog. Dr. Phil Pierpont has ordered a generator off eBay. And lots of us are still coping with candlelight showers and a dwindling supply of clean clothes. We all have stories to tell about our recent experiences with Hurricane Ike and subsequent wait for the return of electricity and the return of normalcy. With that in mind, join us for an "Ike Survivors Hurricane Party" between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22 in the first-floor lobby. Come for cake and conversation and to see how your fellow students, friends and co-workers fared during the storm. Everyone's invited. Free, confidential help available from UT Counseling & WorkLife ServicesUT Counseling and WorkLife Services at 7000 Fannin is available as needed to provide counseling services, both over the phone and in person, for the UT Health Science Center Community affected by Hurricane Ike. You may schedule an appointment by calling 713-500-3327. Any benefits-eligible faculty members, employees, staff members, students and live-in family members who may be experiencing difficulties during this traumatic time are encouraged to give us a call. As a reminder, UT Counseling and WorkLife Services provides various forms of counseling resources, including mental health, legal and financial assistance, as well as WorkLife services and referrals. All of these services are provided free of charge and are completely confidential. Need a hot shower? The UT Recreation Center welcomes youFor those members of the UT community who are without water at home and in need of a hot shower, come to Camp UT Recreation Center at 7779 Knight Road, Entrance 54. Bring your UT badge as well as towels and toiletries. The shower schedule is as follows:
Please help us on the weekend by bringing only your immediate family. And remember: The Rec Center cannot provide towels, soap or other personal articles. Don't forget your UT ID badge. For more information, call the UT Recreation Center at 713-500-8420 or visit the Recreation Center Web site. |
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