The University campus is safe, secure and free of any disturbances in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Craig Jaccuzzo, director of University Police, said. “We have had no problems whatsoever concerning the safety of the University,” Jaccuzzo said.
When classes resume at Nicholls on Wednesday, students will be required to have their Colonel Card visible at all times for security personnel on campus in order to gain entry to campus facilities. This measure is being taken to ensure that only people currently associated with Nicholls will have access to the buildings on campus.
According to Jaccuzzo, a roaming patrol will be performed by the National Guard and University Police where it is critical to have an even flow of students entering and exiting buildings and to keep control in crowded areas.
Due to the increase in the population on campus, assistance in keeping the University secure is being given by the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office and National Guard.
Jaccuzzo said currently 42 members of the National Guard are on campus and an additional 40 National Guard members are on their way.
“Evacuees are being managed by the National Guard,” Jaccuzzo said. “They are being provided shelter, food services and recreational services.”
Jaccuzzo said that the evacuees are allowed to roam the campus freely; therefore, University Police wants Nicholls students, faculty and staff to know that plans have been put in place to ensure that the evacuees pose no threat to their safety.
“I want to dispel the rumors that our campus is not safe. We haven’t had any rapes; no burglaries and no fights,” Jaccuzzo said. “Nobody has been robbed. No buildings have been broken into.”
Jaccuzzo said evacuees entering the shelters were searched for alcohol and weapons. University Police confiscated those items, because they are not permitted in the shelters. Jaccuzzo also said that most of the evacuees informed the police that they had those items before entering the shelter.
“We haven’t had any (criminal) situations,” Jaccuzzo said. “These people have been grateful for the services and assistance provided from our community. They constantly say ‘thank you.'”
Jacuzzo said University Police has been working to make the evacuees feel as comfortable as possible since their arrival.
“We did the best that we could in welcoming evacuees when there was no electricity, no air conditioning,” Jaccuzzo said. “Initially, we got 500 evacuees the first day and received assistance from the state office of emergency preparedness.”
The entire University Police staff has been working extended shifts since Aug. 27. University Police began by ensuring that all students had evacuated from University housing on Aug. 28 in preparation for the storm. According to Jaccuzzo, Hurricane Katrina did not cause any major damage to the University. Some shingles were blown off some roofs, trees and shrubs had broken limbs and the University sign next to the parking lot at John L. Guidry Stadium was damaged.
“There was no damage to cause cancellation or postponement of classes,” Jaccuzzo said.
