Princeton, Brown, Dillard Universities Forge Alliance for New Orleans Relief

Matthew Hersh

Princeton University announced Tuesday night that it had created a partnership with Brown and Dillard universities to help restore operations at Dillard after the school was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina 15 days ago.

The schools will assign staff to help Dillard restore physical planning, facilities, libraries, academic offerings, campus life, human resources, and computing and development, according to the Princeton University Web site.

The alliance will also go to finance the cost of employees taking part in the project, as both Brown and Princeton are expected to donate equipment, and other materials and services.

The move falls on the heels of a Monday announcement of a Princeton community town/gown initiative to assist with Katrina relief. That enterprise, "Princeton For New Orleans," is a fund-raising effort in honor of the late Borough Mayor Barbara Boggs Sigmund that will assist displaced students and school districts that were affected by the devastation caused by Katrina. That effort is slated to be launched this Saturday, September 17 at Jazz Feast in Palmer Square.

Originally from New Orleans, Ms. Sigmund was the daughter of Louisiana Congressman Hale Boggs and Congresswoman Corinne "Lindy" Boggs. She died in the fall 1990 after a battle with cancer.

According to David Newton, vice president of Palmer Square Management, "Princeton For New Orleans" is also expected to "piggy-back" on the efforts of the University, which now includes the partnership with Brown and Dillard. "This is something that will go past the headlines," Mr. Newton said Monday, adding that the town/gown involvement is here for the long-term.

That said, the Princeton/Brown/Dillard axis will focus on "near-term actions" essential to the re-opening of the Dillard campus in New Orleans, but will also assist in long term planning. It is expected to take years for the predominantly black university of about 2,000 students to be fully restored.

The connection between the three schools has one common component: that of Brown University President Ruth Simmons. A former Princeton University provost and 1967 graduate of Dillard, Dr. Simmons served as vice provost at Princeton University from 1992 to 1995 whereupon she became the president of Smith College. She assumed the role of president of Brown four years ago.