From CNN:

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- China evacuated 300,000 people from its southeastern coast Sunday as Typhoon Longwang churned toward shore after killing one person, smashing houses and cutting power on the island of Taiwan, officials said.

Clarkson University today announced an offer of immediate enrollment for up to 20 students who have paid tuition to Gulf Coast universities closed due to Katrina.

Further, President Collins announced that the University is aware of 85 alumni living in the area, and is offering university assisstance in relocation, employment opportunities, and schooling for their children this fall if needed.

So no matter how much you loved or hated your 4 (or 6 in many of our cases) years there, Clarkson's got your back in a crisis.

I'm sure we're all pretty glued to the news following the crisis in New Orleans and the surrounding area. I thought the check out Tulane's website this afternoon for information, and found a Running emergency blog by the University's president Scott Cowen. It starts on August 26 when Katrina was still just a threat, and is now being updated every 6 hours. It's main focus was to provide information for students, family, and faculty and staff -- but under the professionalism you get a strong feel for the confusion and rapid deterioration of what's happened.

I'm reminded of the overwhelming sense of unity felt at 9/11, and the calm with which that crisis was handled. How is it that things have gotten so bad in New Orleans that police are outnumbered and outgunned, and having to resort to protecting precincts with police snipers on the roofs of surrounding buildings? When did anyone hesitate to do whatever was necessary to rescue trapped and dying New Yorkers? There was no rioting, no armed gangs... just people helping people.

Where's that unity now?