Sept. 22, 2006 issue 03 Loquitur

Page 1

Friday, Sept. 22, 2006

C a b r i n i

C o l l e g e

The Loquitur Y o u S p e a k, W e L i s t e n

Radnor, Pa.

www.theLoquitur.com

Vol XLVIII, Issue 3

Katrina’s aftermath: one year later SAT scores take a plunge After hurricane Katrina, many were left with nothing. Now, one year after the destruction the problems that these victims face still seem insurmountable and many are losing hope. KRISTEN CATALANOTTO GUEST WRITER

KRISTENCATA@GMAIL.COM

KATHERINE BRACHELLI NEWS EDITOR

KB727@CABRINI.EDU

SAT scores this year showed the biggest annual drop in 31 years. The first national results from the revamped SATs showed the average combined scores on the mathematics and critical reading sections for the high school graduating class of 2006 have declined by seven points from the previous year. The scores were reported by the College Board, the nonprofit group that owns the SAT. Universities and colleges have noticed a drop in scores of both applicants and admitted students. At LaSalle University, in Philadelphia, SAT scores fell 15 points for applicants and about 10 points for admitted students, even though officials had not altered any of their admissions strategies, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. The cause for the drop is disputed. The College Board says fewer students are taking the tests a second time. Others, but not the College Board, says the drop is due to the test being longer this year; a writing section became mandatory this year. Charles Spencer, direc-

SATs, page 3

How are you supposed to move on when everyday you are reminded of the life you once had? When everyday life causes you to have flashbacks of a place you once and will forever call home? This is the question that thousands throughout the Gulf Coast face every day of their lives, one year after Hurricane Katrina hit and destroyed everything that they owned. Katrina’s destruction didn’t evaporate with the floodwaters, but forges ahead with federal and local government failures, false promises and post traumatic stress. There are many victims in different places across the coun-

try dealing with being surrounded by the faces of strangers, while others are determined to stay in the place they grew up. Houston, Texas is just one of the destinations that thousands of evacuees from New Orleans found themselves. They were first met with open arms, but things have quickly changed over the last year. Sheitan Steele is just one lifelong New Orleanian who wound up in Texas after seeing that Katrina was headed straight for New Orleans. “We headed to Sugarland, Texas to my cousin’s home. When arriving in Sugarland, which is twenty minutes from Houston, we were treated great, the people were sympathizing with us and showing lots of care and love.” Texas indeed appeared to be the perfect

CHICAGO TRIBUNE/MCT

Many people of New Orleans are forced to abandon what they once called home to find shelter in surrounding states.

PHOTO

SUBMITTED BY

Not only has Hurricane Katrina left debris in New Orleans, but it has also left people to face the federal and local government failures, false promises and post traumatic stress.

WHAT’S INSIDE

Perspectives 9/11 Page 6

KRISTEN CATALANOTTO

Sports M enʼs Soccer Page 16

high ground for those who found themselves swimming out of their homes in New Orleans. The city of Houston housed over 150,000 evacuees after Katrina made landfall just east of New Orleans. The city went out of its way to make sure those effected by the storm had a place to rest their heads and clothes on their back. The out poring of sympathy soon ended when Houstonians began to see the rapid changes their city was going through. “I guess we have worn our welcome out. Now we are being treated as if we are from a third world country,” Steele said. The goodwill of the citizens of Houston helped pave the way to a quick reality of the problems that occur as a result of housing so many displaced people. Houston’s public schools filled up rapidly, housing became an issue with thousands of evacuees living in Federal Emergency Management Agency provided

KATRINA, page 3

Federal record

Highlights of the White House’s track record in steering the recovery along the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina:

Federal funds

Appropriated $110 billion Released $77 billion Spent $44 billion

Levees repaired

Repaired

220 mi. (350 km) 130 mi. (200 km)

Debris removed

Alabama, Texas 100%

Mississippi 96%

Louisiana

© 2006 MCT Source: House Graphic:White Pat Carr

72%

To be repaired


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