I have been a blogging maniac the past few days, no? Here's the latest ...

Reed To Remain Open To Evacuees For At Least Another Week

Texas A&M University’s Reed Arena will remain available to Hurricane Katrina evacuees there for at least another week or so beyond the originally planned Friday (Sept. 9) closing, University President Robert M. Gates announced today (Thursday, Sept. 8). In light of the extension, students, faculty, staff and community volunteers are encouraged to continue to donate their time, “with which they have been so generous ever since Reed Arena opened to provide additional assistance to those in need,” Gates said. Hundreds of students have assisted in the effort to house and otherwise assist the evacuees, along with scores of faculty and staff, most notably Lt. Gen. John Van Alstyne and his staff in the Office of the Commandant of Corps of Cadets, the staff of Reed Arena and the University Police Department. “I continue to marvel at the outpouring of compassion and support that is allowing our evacuees to transition to some sense of normalcy, both in our community and the state,” Gates added. “In fact, we have enrolled children in College Station schools, and many people have found jobs and others have been reunited with family in other areas.” More than 200 evacuees were accommodated at Reed Arena earlier in the week, but the number has now dropped below 150.