Walking down the shaded pathways of main quad, it is easy to forget that although life at the University has remained unscathed after Hurricane Fran, Durham is still recovering from the disaster.
Many students say that they have been compelled to reach out to the community in the wake of the hurricane and have volunteered their time and energy to show their humanitarian side.
Students' efforts to help Durham have ranged from individual initiatives in joining community clean-ups to organized events sponsored by campus groups.
At 10 a.m. last Saturday, most students were still in bed, sleeping away Friday night's revelries, while 50 volunteers were assembling at the Community Service Center on East Campus. In a matter of minutes, volunteers had piled into cars and were on their way to make it possible for the students of Club Boulevard Elementary School and the Durham Arts Magnet Center to make their long awaited return to classes on Monday morning.
"I was really excited to help with the project because I wanted to do something for the community because of all the hurricane damage that had occurred," said Trinity sophomore Meredith Forster. "We tend to get so isolated from Durham and one of the things I like about being involved in [Alpha Phi Omega] and other community service projects, especially hurricane cleanup, is that I can truly help the community when they need me."
Upon arrival at the site, volunteers encountered a yard full of debris and large limbs dangling precariously from schoolyard trees, creating hours of work for them, said Trinity junior Kim Morton, student co-director of the CSC and a member of APO. Although the University had donated a flatbed truck to help haul away debris, students were still forced to leave over thirty bags of leaves and trash at the curb for pick up by municipal workers, Morton said.
Student volunteers sent to Club Boulevard Elementary School found a similar scene with grounds littered with large branches and leaves.
"Despite some initial organizational and transportation problems, this weekend's efforts went very well," said Elaine Madison, director of the CSC, who, along with Sandy Ogburn, interim director of community affairs and President Nan Keohane, worked in cooperation with the students and parent volunteers.
Student community outreach work was lauded by those who benefited.
Ed Forsyth, principal of Durham Arts Magnet Center, said that the students' work was essential in the reopening of the school.
"We were fairly fortunate here in that we did not suffer any extensive damages. The continued help from Duke has been just icing on the cake," he said. "They made the school safer for our kids."
He recalled that this was not the first time the CSC had helped his school. Last summer Duke students painted classrooms in the brand-new school in order for it to open on time.
Students began aiding the Durham community by providing much needed assistance to the Red Cross last week. "I knew that if I gave them a job, that they would handle it and do it well, no matter what it was," said Sharon Rogers of the Red Cross's Disaster Staffing Department. After receiving a few initial instructions, seven students unloaded an entire truck of supplies and set up a shelter at Southern High School almost on their own, she said, citing this work as an example of how students' help was critical to the success of relief efforts.
Students also volunteered extensively throughout the week in conjunction with the CSC in helping to remove more than 100 fallen trees in the Duke Forest and distribute food at the Ronald McDonald House and the Orange Congregation Admissions Food Pantry in Hillsborough.
Several said student relief efforts are an example of increased interaction between the University and the surrounding community.
"I am impressed with Duke's outreach into the community," said Caroline Rideout, principal of Club Boulevard Elementary School, calling this weekend "a positive step in the direction of improving Duke/Durham relations."
But both student and Durham community leaders have expressed concern that this volunteer work is only part of an emergency-based relationship and have said that a long term commitment to community interaction is necessary to bridge the gap between the Gothic Wonderland and the town that surrounds it.
"This is just a small step, and what is needed more by Duke students are more long term commitments to Durham," Morton said. "I live in Durham. This is my home and you take care of your home."
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