With the help of volunteers, Simon Bott is hoping to ease the hardships many members of the UH community are facing after Hurricane ?Ike devastated the Texas coast.
Bott, chemistry professor and director of undergraduate affairs and ?advising in the Chemistry Department, is encouraging any individuals ?who need help or supplies to contact the University. The main message ?he wants to get to those in need is that UH is here to help.
"We care about you. Let us know you’re safe and let us know how we ?can help," he said.
Bott said those in need should call the University’s main line at?(713) 743-1000.
"All of those calls will be funneled into one big data collection?area," he said.
Once that data is collected it will be assessed and assistance plans will be structured accordingly. Bott, who is working in conjunction ?with Student Government Association President Same Dike and Student? Alumni Connection officers, said that he is focused most? on information gathering so that he and volunteers can figure out what? their top priority will be.
In an unscientific poll he conducted in his class, Bott? found the primary issue will likely be electricity.
Of the 606 students registered for his class, 297 attended Tuesday,? the first day campus has been open since closing at 5 p.m. Thursday? because of the threat of inclement weather from Ike. Bott reported? that about 560 students attend regularly. Of the 297 students, 58? percent were still without power. Six percent of students said they? lost everything in the storm and 37 percent said they or their family need ?assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and would? welcome help with forms.
That help may come from their fellow students. Forty-eight percent? said they wanted to know how to help the less fortunate.
"Most (students) are not OK, but the beautiful thing is that nearly? half wanted to know how they can help," Bott said.
In response to the question, "What can UH do?" 58 percent said?provide transportation and 32 percent asked if UH could provide gas.
Bott is asking students to buy gas cards to distribute to those in?need. Bott is also trying to organize carpools and encouraging?students to do the same by utilizing the discussion boards on WebCT.
Student volunteers are needed Wednesday to help take calls and?respond to phone calls and e-mails from those seeking assistance. A? station will be set up in the main commons of the M.D. Anderson? Library where students will utilize computers to send responses. Those ?interested in volunteering should show up by 10 a.m.
Bott also plans to set up a distribution center Friday where students ?can bring clothing, food, textbooks and other necessities. Volunteers? are needed to sort through the donations and drive supplies to ?students. The location of the center has yet to be determined.
"My main concern is helping the campus community right now," Bott? said. "Outside of that, we’re about the biggest institution in the ?city. I want to encourage students to also do what they can to help ?outside of that."
Those interested in volunteering ahead or other opportunities can? contact Bott at [email protected].
