Students return with stories to tell

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Students return with stories to tell

Students return with stories to tell

Published: Dec. 2, 2005
By Gena Asher

Students talked to displaced residents as well as newly-arrived workers, such as Victoria Varrientos, one of a crew of Hispanic workers who came to the Chalmette, La., for jobs (Photo by Ashley P. Wilkerson)

In the aftermath of Katrina, and as the story moved to inside pages of newspapers and short mentions in broadcasts, students in professor Carol Polsgrove's public affairs reporting class knew there were stories yet to be told. They traveled to the Gulf Coast Nov. 9-15 to get the stories, which are listed below.

Media organizations are welcome to use these stories and photos. Already, the (Bloomington) Herald-Times has published most of these. Contact Carol Polsgrove for details.

Click to read about:

Archivists hoping to rescue damaged documents
By Suzannah Evans

Churches open doors to parishioners
By Amanda Robert

In 'survival mode,' family wearies of camping
By Sarah Core

Students interviewed all sorts of volunteers, ranging from church group members to those like Juan Ruiz, a member of the counterculture Rainbow Family. He helped cook and serve food in Waveland, Miss. (Photo by Ashley P. Wilkerson)

Hispanic laborers clean up after Katrina
By Ashley Wilkerson

Blacks strive to preserve past in storm-damaged region
By Koran Addo

Rainbow Family creates community
By Laura Williams

Sightseers taking home more than memories
By Daniel S. Comiskey

Volunteers rebuild houses, give massages
By Rich Powell

Evacuees find fault with FEMA's efforts
By Elisha Sauers

To learn more about the trip and the project:

Web reporter Suzannah Evans created a trip diary while the nine students were traveling through the Gulf Coast region.

Carol Polsgrove and two of the students were featured on Noon Edition, WFIU's public affairs program, to discuss the project.

View a video of the students' experience.