In the wake of all the bureaucratic hurdles that have already accompanied Hurricane Katrina, the Sacramento community has done a commendable job in accommodating those affected by the devastation.

Sacramento State has joined 11 other CSU campuses in the nationwide effort to help victims of Katrina by welcoming displaced students from Gulf Coast universities to enroll in classes for the fall semester.

Official California State University policy states that students who have been affected by hurricane-ravaged areas will be allowed to pay in-state tuition, but will still be billed for the CSU State University Fee, all campus fees, housing fees (if residing on campus) and other appropriate fees required of enrolled students.

Perhaps some might think it reasonable to waive additional fees for the victims?

At Sac State in particular, application fees for students are being waived; many students are being admitted with their fees deferred.

In a recent newsletter to faculty and staff, Miguel Molina, associate director of Admissions and Records, said, “We’re trying to ensure these students don’t have any additional stress. We’re removing obstacles and getting them taken care of.”

In addition to all this, students and faculty at Sac State have joined in the relief efforts by raising money for the victims of Katrina.

I don’t know whether or not this relief aid is enough, but it is a start. Sac State President Alexander Gonzalez recently announced that the university would set up a special scholarship to help displaced students by providing tuition, books and other expenses such as housing.

And this relief effort isn’t exclusive to the university.

According to the Sacramento Bee, about 270 Gulf Coast families have arrived in the Sacramento region. The families came on their own, by buses and planes, to stay with family and friends.

The Sacramento Bee reported that, “government agencies and non-profit organizations set up the resource center at United Way’s offices near Folsom Boulevard and Watt Avenue.”

These efforts are examples of a cumulative, national effort that has gained steam since those first confusing days that followed the disaster.

Last Thursday President Bush announced a federal plan to reimburse all Gulf States for health care costs accumulated in treating evacuees. He also announced a six-month forgiveness on student loan interest for affected areas.

The President spoke of creating a Gulf Opportunity Zone: “Within this zone, we should provide immediate incentives for job-creating investment, tax relief for small businesses, incentives to companies that create jobs, and loans and loan guarantees for small businesses, including minority-owned enterprises, to get them up and running again,” he said.

I think it is important to see these local and national measures in the light of those first few days when it seemed like the nation was sitting on its hands. Since then, from the local to the national level, individuals and government agencies have stepped up to the plate.

The actions taken within the last week to assist the Gulf States, and those affected within them, speak loudly of a general feeling of compassion nationwide. When we put rash criticism to the side and get to the business of “doing,” our community, our country, is always at its best. It is comforting to see the threads of society growing together, and becoming stronger, in the wake of devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. Kyle Hardwick can be reached at [email protected]