University President Stephen Hulbert said the University was reopened Wednesday because the campus community needs to get back to a routine; though with more than 1,000 new faces on the campus, normalcy will take time.”I don’t believe that opening the University is a risk. It is a necessity,” Hulbert said at a faculty and staff meeting Monday.

Hulbert said the University was not prepared to be the coordinator of this disaster-relief effort; it had all just been planned on paper.

“It’s said, ‘If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.'” Hulbert said. “But we’re up to the challenge and met the challenge this week.”

Betsy Cheramie Ayo Hall and Shaver and Stopher gymnasiums are still housing approximately 900 to 1,200 evacuees, resulting in parking and classroom location changes. The parking lot to the side of Talbot Hall and adjacent to the tennis courts is closed, as are sections of the parking lots by the stadium and behind the family and consumer sciences building. These areas house equipment as well as food and supply distribution tents for evacuees.

Eugene Dial, vice president for student affairs and enrollment services, said the University is not aware of when the evacuees will be leaving the campus and hopes students will volunteer at the evacuation centers in their spare time.

“Most of these evacuees want to go home as soon as they can and will leave at that time,” Dial said. “Most of the people in the shelters are families and are just glad to be out of danger and appreciative of the community’s help.”

In the meantime, the University has requested for the relaxation of no-parking zones on the streets between Bayou Lane and Audubon Drive and along Bowie Road. Students will not be ticketed for parking there as long as they do not block the streets, Dial said. The University will also stop reserving parking spots for special events at this time.

Students are asked to enter campus from Audubon Drive or the rear of the University on Bowie Road. Students can enter Acadia Drive to park in the area across from Powell-White Halls. However, parts of Acadia Drive are blocked off next to the parking area that is being used to distribute supplies to evacuees. Those parking in the spots across from Powell-White Halls must exit the campus through the back of the lot, past the Pupil Appraisal Center onto Bowie Road.

Classes will not be held in Betsy Cheramie Ayo Hall or Shaver and Stopher gymnasiums. Classroom changes are posted on ICAN.

“This is why we (decided to start) classes Wednesday and not next Monday,” Dial said. “We realize not every student will be able to make it back to campus Wednesday but hope most will. We are urging faculty to work with students who have to miss class this week.”

Hulbert said he knows of no deaths of the Nicholls family at this point. There are no estimates as to how many students, faculty and staff members are without homes.

Nicholls students and faculty are also asked to wear their Colonel Cards on a clip or lanyard, so that University Police and National Guard can distinguish Nicholls students and faculty from evacuees and outsiders.

“There have been no arrests and not one problem with evacuees,” Dial said. “The National Guard presence sends a signal that the campus is taking the steps to be as safe as possible. We can never guarantee safety but are doing what can reasonably be done to make the campus as safe as possible.”

Dial said the University has not decided whether days will be added to the academic calendar to make up for the missed days. Carroll Falcon, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said he will be in contact with the Board of Regents to be consistent with how other universities are handling the situation. Dial said he is not sure if the days will have to be made up since only three Tuesday/Thursday and three Monday/Wednesday/Friday classes were missed.

The University Counseling Center will sponsor student support groups today and Friday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Plantation Suite of the student union. A faculty/staff support group will meet at noon Friday in the Plantation Suite. On Friday, a “Coping with Katrina” presentation will be held at 11 a.m. in the Plantation Suite. Individual walk-in counseling sessions are also available in the center located in 224 Elkins Hall today from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.