THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON/ METROPOLITAN CLASSICAL BALLET TO PRESENT BENEFIT PERFORMANCE TO AID HURRICANE EVACUEES
The University of Texas at Arlington and Metropolitan Classical Ballet are joining together to present a benefit performance for the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. Every dollar from ticket sales will go directly to the Red Cross and local agencies that are aiding the evacuees. John Hall, of UT Arlington said, “It is our hope that UT Arlington, together with the ballet, can sponsor an event that will unite our community in support of the hurricane relief effort.” The benefit will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Texas Hall on the UT Arlington campus. Tickets are $15 and are on sale at Central Ticket Office at (800) 462-7979 or (817) 335-9000. Tickets can also be purchased online at: www.centralticketoffice.com. Read more.

UTA LIBRARIES OFFERS GIS MAPPING RESOURCE WEB SITE
The UTA Libraries have just developed a guide to mapping and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) resources focusing on Gulf Coast area affected by Hurricane Katrina. The resource page includes a link to a live regional map with information on specific locations and daily updates and another link with a map showing available shelter locations around the U.S. for people displaced by the disaster. In addition, the Web site includes links to before and after navigational satellite maps of the gulf coast, links to aerial, video and still satellite photography of the destruction and more. The address to the UTA Libraries Katrina GIS web page is http://library.uta.edu/katrina.

"KATRINA STUDENT COMMUNICATION BOARD" INFORMS EVACUEES
The University of Texas at Arlington’s Student Congress is donating one of its bulletin boards located in the E.H. Hereford Building University Center, 300 W. First St., for use by students displaced from Hurricane Katrina. The Katrina Student Communication Board, adjacent to the Housing Office, will be used for displaced students to communicate to other students from the affected area and post updates. “We hope it can be of service in aiding students that have been transferred here for the semester,” said Josh Sawyer, student congress president. For more information, contact (817) 272-2293.

PHYSICAL PLANT DONATE 69 BEDS TO SALVATION ARMY
The UTA Physical Plant Housing Maintenance Team has donated 69 mattresses from the Housing Operation to the Arlington Salvation Army.  With the amount of devastation from Hurricane Katrina, the Arlington Salvation Army was expecting 150-200 requests from evacuees from the hurricane ravaged area, the officials were glad and appreciative to receive the donations from the university. As Martha Stewart would say “It’s a good thing!” For more information, contact Don Lange at (817) 272-2096.


RESIDENTIAL HALLS COMPETE FOR A GOOD CAUSE
With images of devastation in their minds, students living at UT Arlington's residential halls have begun an intense fund-raising efforts to help raise money for the American Red Cross. Students living in Kalpana Chawla and Arlington Halls, Meadow Run Apartments and Trinity and Brazos, will compete against each other to see who can raise the most funds for the evacuees from the Gulf Coast. In this competition, everyone is a winner as they reach out to help those who in need.

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION TO RAISE FUNDS FOR VICTIMS
The UT Arlington Alumni Association will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the “UTA MAVERICK” wristbands to the American Red Cross. The wristbands are $2 each and must be purchased at the UTA Alumni Association office, 841 W. Mitchell St. Help the UTA Alumni Association assist the victims of this devastating event. For more information, call (817) 272-2594.

AMERICAN RED CROSS DONATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED
UTA Volunteers, together with the Center for Community Service Learning, is accepting monetary donations for the American Red Cross.

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK OFFERS COUNSELING FOR VICTIMS
The School of Social Work joins our community and nation in mourning the loss of lives and devastating destruction of areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. Faculty and staff within the department are encouraging alumni and students to participate in the activities planned. These include:

- Interns from the Community Services clinic will provide clinical services through the American Red Cross and offer counseling services.
- Faculty, adjunct faculty and administrators will volunteer as mental health professionals to victims now housed in local emergency shelters.
- The School of Social Work Constituency Council and NASW student chapter will conduct a blood drive in conjunction with the "faculty flipper" event scheduled for Sept. 27.
- Social Work students are organizing a fund drive to collect food and money for Hurricane victims.
- Social Work students from several Louisiana universities and college have been granted expedited admission and will attend classes at the School of Social Work. Financial assistance will be provided for those students in need.
- Social Work Dean Santos Hernandez has been in contact with other Social Work deans in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi and has committed that the School of Social Work continue to assist not only in the first few days of this crisis but also on an on-going basis to assist the victims of this tragic situation.

For requests of assistance or more information, call Donna Pope at (817) 272-0924 or visit http://www2.uta.edu/ssw.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSOR PARTICIPATES IN STRESS CLASS FOR THERAPISTS AIDING HURRICANE VICTIMS
Dr. Shari Julian, visiting assistant professor of criminology and criminal justice, participated in a class at the Dallas Area Chapter of the American Red Cross to provide mental health services for hurricane victims at Reunion Arena. The one-hour class is for licensed therapists and provides training to deal with such conditions as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety. Licensed therapists can call the American Red Cross at (214) 678-4252 to register for the class.

PROFESSOR, STUDENTS UNITE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Affected by the hurricane devastation he saw on television, Dr. Gary McMahan, associate professor of management, decided he needed to do something. He made a few phone calls and made arrangements for an opportunity for him and a handful of students to make a difference. They volunteered at Mission Arlington Thursday night in lieu of their usual class. They packed boxes of food for distribution to hurricane victims who have taken refuge with local families—as many as 40 in one house. If you would like to volunteer to help at Mission Arlington, call (817) 277-6620 or visit www.missionarlington.org.

DISPLACED STUDENTS HOUSING REQUEST
University officials are seeking individuals who can assist in offering housing opportunities for the students interrupted by the forced campus closings throughout the hurricane zone. If you can provide housing for an evacuee, then please call Janis Walkup at the Office of the Provost at (817) 272-2103 or email dunn@uta.edu.

STAFF ADVISORY COUNCIL OFFERS SUPPORT TO UTA FACULTY AND STAFF AFFECTED BY HURRICANE DISASTER
The UT Arlington Staff Advisory Council (SAC) is requesting assistance in identifying fellow UTA staff members housing survivors of Hurricane Katrina in need of emergency aid. SAC is preparing to offer assistance to help defray the costs related to housing, clothing and feed survivors. For more information, contact Jay Dickey at jay@uta.edu, Loretta Barker at barker@uta.edu, Dana Winter at winter@uta.edu or Odie Arambula at odie@uta.edu. Faculty and Staff who have family affected by the Hurricane Katrina disaster can call (817) 272-5017.

MAVERICK STADIUM FACILITY OFFERED TO STUDENTS FROM TULANE UNIVERSITY
The UT Arlington Athletic Training Education Program within the Department of Kinesiology is helping the Tulane Athletic Training Staff which were relocated to Dallas with the Tulane football team, train and monitoring their athletes during practice through the use of UT Arlington facilities including the Maverick stadium. The Maverick Student Athletic Training Society, a student organization, will also help assist the Tulane guests.

A list of Faculty experts are available to discuss the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is available here.

Journalists desiring information or media experts are encouraged to call the Office of Public Affairs at (817) 272-2761.