The Crimson White
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NEWS
Friday, April 27, 2012
Maddox, Witt discuss city’s past, future By Taylor Holland | News Editor
In the minutes and hours that immediately followed the April 27 tornadoes devastating path through Tuscaloosa, one city leader would become the public face of recovery efforts while the other worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Together, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox and then-University of Alabama President Robert Witt faced unprecedented challenges from a disaster that would change the city and campus forever. CW | Megan Smith
University of Alabama System Chancellor Robert Witt and Mayor Walt Maddox met Monday morning to discuss the April 27 tornado. For Witt, the response began shortly after 5:30 p.m., even as the tornado continued on its path from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham. He met with the University’s Emergency Response Team and immediately made its police force available to the city. Knowing power companies and first responders would soon be heading to Tuscaloosa from across the country, Witt and the task force opened up BryantDenny Stadium and the Rec Center to house the respective groups. The school’s next move, however, came as a shock to many students. On April 28, the University sent out an email announcing the cancellation of classes and the postponement of graduation. “We realized that the University would be one of several sources of potential pressure on the city,” Witt said. “The need to restore power is a form of pressure, as are food and water. But also, the fact
that we had over 31,000 students here who, if they remained in the city given the extent of the damage, would become an additional burden for the city. So we closed the University, sent the students home and postponed graduation.” It would be Thursday morning, more than 12 hours after the storm, when Witt and Maddox first spoke. Although he was aware the campus had been spared, Maddox said he knew UA students had been impacted. During the call, Witt not only offered the services of the University of Alabama Police Department to the city, but also offered housing for the homeless as well. For the long term, the city drew from the University’s resources including logistical equipment and humanitarian assistance. “It was comforting to know that the University was there in such a powerful way for the city,” Maddox said. While the two city leaders
planned their next move, the University’s presence was felt more forcefully than either of them could have predicted. The help even extended to meals delivered by UA fraternities and sororities to Tuscaloosa residents displaced by the storm and rescue workers. Over a four-day period, the effort, which became known as UA Greek Relief, delivered more than 50,000 hot meals. “From my perspective, it was extraordinary,” Witt said. Maddox said he too was moved by the role students filled following the storm, particularly when he met a recent UA graduate who was living in Washington, D.C., and drove to Tuscaloosa within hours of the storm to volunteer. “Here’s someone who wasn’t born in Tuscaloosa, spent four years of his academic career here, and they felt such a closeness to the University, to the city, that they wanted to come back and help,” Maddox said. “At that point I realized the
Football restores normalcy The Alabama football team made numerous contributions in the recovery efforts of Tuscaloosa in the aftermath of the April 27 tornado. Immediately following the tornado, many of the football players volunteered throughout the community to help those affected by the storm. Marcell Dareus, a day after he was chosen as the third overall pick in the NFL Draft, visited Tuscaloosa to survey the city and make a donation. Brothers Harrison and Barrett Jones volunteered around the community in the immediate aftermath of the tornado alongside Brandon Gibson and John Fulton. Numerous other players made countless similar contributions in the months after the tornado. Alabama head coach Nick Saban and his wife Terry have also made many personal contributions, including getting involved in many community outreach programs, as well as helping through fundraisers and giving back through Nick’s Kids. But, perhaps one of the most significant contributions the Crimson Tide was able to make came almost eight months later, in January, when the football team beat the LSU Tigers 21-0 en route to win its 14th national championship and second under Nick Saban in three years. “There’s no question there’s still a lot of people that have a lot to overcome in terms of what they lost,” Saban said after the 2012 A-Day Game. “And our efforts continue to try to support those people. I think what our team accomplished, at least psychologically, probably benefited in a way that it made a lot of people happy.” After the national championship game, senior defensive lineman Josh Chapman said the team played with the express intent of winning for the city of Tuscaloosa. “It’s not just for us, it’s for the entire state, the organization and the city of Tuscaloosa,” Chapman said. “This is something for the people in Tuscaloosa to feed off of and hang their hats on.” Runningback Trent Richardson shared Chapman’s sentiments after the game. “A lot of people were affected by the tornado, and we just wanted to put the city on our back and let them know we cared,” Richardson said. Joshua McCoy, a Tuscaloosa native and a sophomore majoring in theater at Alabama, said he believes the football team has made a huge impact in the city by winning the national championship. McCoy lives in Windsong, a neighborhood the tornado spared. Still, McCoy said he knew people who were greatly affected
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I think that as time goes on, every time there’s a football game, every time there’s a graduation, every time we have an A-Day, it brings us closer and closer to being normal.
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By Zac Al-Khateeb Assistant Sports Editor zialkhateeb@crimson.ua.edu @ZacAlKhateeb
— Nick Saban
by the tornado, and has seen improvement from people as time has passed. McCoy said he believes the football team played a direct part in that improvement. “After the tornado, the city was at a loss,” McCoy said. “They didn’t have any direction, they weren’t sure where to go. It was just so much happening all at once. And for the football season being one of the biggest moments of the year for Tuscaloosa, it kind of brought everybody together, not just to celebrate the team, but to celebrate the fact that we’ve been through this, and we’re taking it, and we’re using it to make us stronger.” Mike Burger is one of those people. A resident of Skyland Park and former special education teacher at University Place Elementary School, Burger’s house was damaged during the April 15 tornado last year. He also saw the effects of the April 27 tornado when his former school was laid to waste. “The school that I worked at for 29 years, University Place Elementary School, was 60 percent destroyed by the tornado,” Burger said. “And, one of the tasks that the teachers had was to bring normalcy back to the students whose lives were disrupted.” Burger said amid all the recovery efforts Tuscaloosa is still going through, the fact that the football team won another championship meant a lot for him. “Oh, it’s just cool,” Burger said. “It brings back some normalcy. And I think that getting back to the football season and things going on here on campus, and the guys actually working out in the community is important and helped restore some normalcy to the community.” Saban said that only through time will the city completely recover. “I think that as time goes on, every time there’s a football game, every time there’s a graduation, every time we have an A-Day, it brings us closer and closer to being normal,” Saban said. “At least for how people approach their life.”
magnitude of the University and its response and recovery because every neighborhood I went into, every humanitarian station I visited, they were filled with University students giving in such a way that just struck me by the sheer intensity in numbers by which they were out there making a difference.” The ability of students to draw on their skills, especially with social media, helped them to significantly contribute in helping the city organize, Witt said. “You had, at one point, 1,400 people classified as missing, which, in most cases, should’ve created much more disruptions,” Maddox added. “But I think the fact that students were out there communicating via social media, letting people know that they were OK, finding their fellow students, in a large way, kept things calm.” Both the city and University capitalized on their social media presence as well, tweeting updates and needs to their
followers. Maddox held many press conferences to update the nation on the recovery process and warn city businesses of looters. Witt communicated by email, offering his sympathies to students and encouraging them to help those who suffered damage from the storm. The communication and support students provided in the immediate aftermath of the storm and ever since has gone a long way in helping to erase the natural tension felt between the citizens of Tuscaloosa and students, Maddox said. “In many neighborhoods where sometimes students probably were not considered a valuable asset in the community, it was those students who were the first one into the houses to make sure that everybody was OK,” Maddox said. “It was the students who were triaging and transporting the injured to the hospital. So, to me, those are powerful connections that have been made since April 27 that none of us are ever going to forget.” Beyond the indelible memories of this outpouring of support from students, local residents and the nation itself, Maddox said he hasn’t had much time for reflective thoughts since April 27. Getting the city’s long-term recovery plan known as Tuscaloosa Forward in place has taken priority. Still, he was quick to note than his personal affection and connection with the city has become even deeper. “It’s probably not the wisest administrative decision to become so close, but for me it is, it’s very personal,” Maddox said. “I’ve seen heartbreak on a scale that I never would’ve imagined and I feel the pressure and obligation to make sure that what happened to us was not some simple sacrifice; that there’s something better that will come out of this tragedy.” For Witt, the storm reminded him of the strength of the University of Alabama family. Within a relatively short period
of time, Witt said the University was able to raise more than $2.7 million because the family made the commitment that no faculty member, staff member, student or retiree who experienced loss as a result of the storm that exceeded their insurance would have to pay for it out of pocket. “We talked with people who had literally lost everything but the clothes that they were wearing,” Witt said. “And to see them made whole I think really reinforced the sense of the University of Alabama family.” Prior to the tornado, officials from both the city and University met every six to eight weeks. Moving forward, Witt said the two entities would continue working more closely than in years past. “As a result of the tornado, we began to realize that we were nowhere near our full potential in making the University of Alabama a resource for the city and for the mayor,” he said. “But now we realize that for our students, working with and for the city is a valuable learning experience, but it’s also a contribution to the city.” Witt said students’ efforts following the storm would be something he’d never forget. “While it’s very important that we remember the students that we lost, remember the impact on our community,” Witt said. “It’s also important to remember how the University of Alabama family responded to this crisis.” Maddox said he wanted to say thank you, first and foremost, to the students. “There is no way that the city can ever repay its debt to the service of the students after April 27, even leading up to today,” Maddox said. “It’s also important to remember that April 27 is not what’s going to define Tuscaloosa. It’s how we’re rebuilding, it’s how we’re going to recover, that’s going to define who we are and students are going to play an important role in establishing that legacy.”
PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES
Mother thanks University, friends, family By Darlene Harrison Dave and I, Ashley Harrison’s parents, wanted to send a message to the teachers, staff, employers, friends and families of the University of Alabama. We appreciate the outpouring of love, support, generous gifts and events that have been displayed since the death of our daughter, a UA senior and August 2011 posthumous graduate of the University, who died in the tornado on April 27, 2011. Ashley is our love and always our light! Her smile will forever be your beacon of light and reminder of her huge heart to the many who befriended and loved Ashley there in Tuscaloosa. We have been so blessed that her giving legacy continues from you through her scholarships. In Alabama, the scholarships are University of Alabama and Delta Sigma Pi and in Dallas, Ursuline Academy and Ashley Harrison Pet Fund in memory of Ms. B and Josey who died in the storm with her (pets of Ashley Harrison and Carson Tinker). We would appreciate the opportunity to share with you and the public and give thanks to the incredible efforts of the following people and organizations. In coordination with The Tide in Texas — Alabama Alumni in Texas, Erin Murphy, Clair, Michael S., C’ann, Stewart, Lauren, Abby, Scott and Charlie White, whom created an August graduation event, as well as several others for raising money for Ashley’s scholarships, which gave her fund a leaping start to becoming endowed. We also thank Theta Chi Fraternity and Alex Odem for giving Ashley, in loving memory, the honor of being their 2012 Dream Girl –aka Sweetheart. Thanks to Sigma Chi, Alex Dinges and Phil Claiborne for the incredible opportunity they made to join all philanthropic efforts of their Annual Sigma Chi Derby Days for The Ashley Harrison Memorial Scholarships, in coordination with Phi Mu’s Darbi Lou Todd and other Phi Mu Sisters of Ashley. To the entire group of fraternity and sororities of the University of Alabama who participated in the April 19-21 Derby Days dedicated to Ashley’s Scholarship: we thank you for your big hearts and giving
Darlene and David Harrison lost their daughter, Ashley (left), on April 27.
Submitted Photo
warrior spirit. With Ashley’s sweet but short life, kind and genuine love and hardworking desire to be the best she could be, her scholarships will keep Ashley’s gigantic spirit with us forever! Darbi Lou Todd, Keelin McMahon and many sisters at Phi Mu have dedicated the proceeds from the incredible cookbook, “Love in Our Kitchen,” towards the rebuilding of a torn home for a family in Alabama. They dedicated the book and utilized the recipes of Phi Mu sisters like Ashley and two other Phi Mu girls that passed away last year in car accidents. It was a tragic year for Phi Mu. Members of Sigma Chi also organized an April 18 barbeque benefiting Ashley’s scholarships, another shining example of compassion and courage. Ashley believed in The Love In Our Bond motto at Phi Mu. She loves Phi Mu and was so proud to be a member. To Carson Tinker, a survivor of the storm along with his roommate, Payton Holley: what love can we give to two such brave and courageous men. Carson, a UA senior and Alabama football player had to go through enormous healing of his own and contributed to a successful season and a BCS National Championship victory. Still, he has never stopped finding ways to cherish the memory of Ashley. From recovering from his own injuries, healing as he could from the loss of Ashley and their pups, he speaks at churches and business meetings, giving any proceeds from organization collections directly to Ashley’s Scholarships. He has coordinated that Ashley’s memorial bracelets be sold at The Shirt Shop in Tuscaloosa, created
a lifelong plaque that stands above the stadium locker of player #51 in loving memory of Ashley and coordinated with Nick Saban and The University of Alabama to do a 2011 BCS National Championship Print with the artist Steve Skipper – called “Through the Storm,” with proceeds of the sale of the print benefitting Ashley’s scholarships. Carson has an unending desire to keep the love and memory of Ashley alive, and we are forever grateful for his love! The home and debris field where Ashley died is a reminder of that tragic April 27 night but has become a beautiful memorial showing the world that the big giving heart, courageous spirit, ambitious mind, faithful soul and dynamic love of someone so little as Ashley is still with us in spirit and in all of our hearts daily. It helps us realize each day to live our life honorably to the fullest, creating enough beautiful memories that last a life time and beyond, touching someone’s heart and cherishing the precious gift of loving one another! We have no doubt, Ashley is so very proud of each and everyone of her friends for finding the courage to move on past this storm, remember the lives that were lost forever, find peace within themselves to grow. Know that she, as well as we, are so deeply thankful for all these generous hearts expressing their love and kindness to her memory. We thank you dearly, and may all the beautiful memories they have shared with us stay in their hearts forever. Never stop reaching out to us, for you fill our hearts each day with your love! Darlene Harrison is the mother of Ashley Harrison.