University of Virginia Library

Summer Students Help
In Camille Rescue Work

By Fred Heblich
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Photo by Mike Russell

Student Council President Bud Ogle (Right) Aids In Emergency Cleanup.

Hurricane Camille Ravaged Towns South Of Charlottesville Leaving Hundreds Dead.

Students at the University, acting
independently and through
fraternities and service organizations,
have long been volunteering
their services to worthwhile
activities and projects in Charlottesville
and surrounding areas.

For the past two weeks 30 or 40
students a day, along with some
faculty members, have been working
in Nelson County to aid the
victims of the disastrous flood
created by Hurricane Camile.

With the help of several local
churches, the University Flood
Committee has been established to
aid in the flood recovery activities
in the Nelson County area. Every
morning students have traveled to
the area and spent the day searching
for bodies, sorting clothes,
cleaning houses, moving garbage
and debris, and digging mud.

Administration Appeal

Rough estimates put the death
toll at close to 150, and the damage
to property at $118 million.

Robert T. Canevari, Assistant
Dean of Student Affairs,
announced that the administration
is planning to contact the fraternities
and service clubs on the
Grounds, asking them to help in the
flood relief movement.

Piles Of Debris

President Edgar F. Shannon, Jr.
has sent letters to all deans and
department heads asking them to
"advise as many of the faculty and
students that any one day's service
would be deeply appreciated by our
stricken neighbors."

On Sunday, Aug. 31, President
Shannon and Mr. Canevari toured
the flooded area o access the
situation.

"It's really something else. I
can't believe what happened," said
Mr. Canevari. "There are trees
broken like matchsticks and piles of
debris 100 feet high." He described
the area as "a state of chaos."

Outsiders Encouraging

Arthur Ogle, Student Council
President has also been working
with the flood committee. He
explained that the volunteer
workers have been with local
persons in Nelson County, who
have organized flood recovery
projects.

"Having outsiders come in and
help encourages the local people to
work harder to clean up the flood
damage," Mr. Ogle said.

Volunteer work is expected to
continue at least into the first
weeks of October to restore order
to the area and to clean debris and
provide shelter for the many
persons made homeless by the
disaster.

President Shannon stated that
the administration is developing a
long term plan involving the research,
teaching, and service by the
University's academic departments
and service bureaus.

In the past few years students
have been active in projects helping
the underprivileged children in the
community, aiding in a drive for
fair housing practices, providing a
meeting place for students, such as
the Prism coffee house, and other
beneficial programs.

Help "Beneficial"

Loreace Dickerson, the center
coordinator of Hope House said
"There have been so many students
helping here I'm really not sure
how many." Hope House is a center
for preschool children from underprivileged
areas which is community
supported.

Volunteers at the house have
aided in cleaning, remodeling and
tutoring. They have been "very
beneficial" according to Mrs.
Dickerson.

Last year students canvassed the
Charlottesville area to gain support
from local residents for open
housing. The issue was ignored by
the city government, but similar
movements are expected to continue
this year.

Students have served as tutors in
educational programs for underprivileged
children in the area sponsored
by local churches. In another
tutorial program volunteers traveled
out to schools in Fluvanna County
on Saturday morning to teach
elementary school children from
underprivileged areas.

Each year the IFC's fraternities
organize a carnival for underprivileged
children in the city, complete
with prizes and games.