David McRaney  |  Journalist

IHL, students thank Cochran

Students and administrators from the state's eight institutions of higher learning were on hand Wednesday at USM to publicly thank Gov. Haley Barbour and U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran.

A large crowd gathered to listen to the personal stories of students who wished to thank government and education officials for their efforts in establishing funds for college students affected by the Hurricane.

Mississippi's congressional delegation, led by Cochran, secured $95 million for higher education as part of $29 billion in Hurricane Katrina relief spending approved just before the 2005 Christmas holiday.

USM president Shelby F. Thames told the crowd early on it was a "delight to host" both Barbour and Cochran at the rally hosted by the Mississippi IHL.

USM Student Government Association president Jonathan Krebs introduced four students to the lectern who shared their personal stories of loss before thanking Barbour and Cochran for their hard work.

"I live two blocks north of the coast," said Caleb Ruckdeschel, a senior biology major at Ole Miss whose home was destroyed by the storm. He told the crowd because of the emergency funds made available to students affected by Katrina, his plans will go unchanged to obtain a bachelor's degree, join the Peace Corps and return to Ole Miss to attend medical school

USM junior English major Tabitha Williams of Biloxi said, "My parents only wanted us to finish what we started - you helped them keep that dream alive." After she left the lectern, Williams hugged Cochran, Barbour and Thames.

Kaley Hennessey, a student at MSU, and David Swanson, a student at USM's Gulf Coast Campus also publicly thanked those who made it possible for them to continue their schooling despite losing their homes.

IHL Commissioner Tom Merideth told the crowd Mississippi universities are known for intense competition, but it was a testament to the state they were able to pull together for such an important cause.

Barbour asked those at the rally to consider how many people across the nation, including both private citizens and corporations, had contributed to relief efforts.

"Disaster brings out the best in most people," said Barbour. "It brings out the worst in some, but for most it brings out the best." He added Katrina showed the world Mississippi was not populated by whiners or people who fell subject to victimhood.

Barbour said the Katrina relief funds for college students were not part of president Bush's original plan, which focused on evacuees. He said it was because of the efforts of Cochran the monies were added to the relief efforts.

"People on the Coast have been a real inspiration for me," said Barbour. "They were knocked flat by the worst natural disaster in this nation's history, and they got up the next day, pulled themselves up by their britches and got to work."

"I'm proud to be able to say, 'thank you' to Sen. Thad Cochran," added Barbour.

After expressing how much he enjoyed being on the USM campus once again, Sen. Cochran told attendees he would remain committed to moving ahead.

"We were in the eye of the storm," said Cochran. He added he believed it was through the efforts of Barbour, who visited Washington after the hurricane, $95 million reached Mississippi students.

"It was Haley Barbour's determination that turned the tide," he added.

Cochran ended by saying he intends to work on obtaining $19.2 billion more in relief funding.

Originally published in The Student Printz on March 28, 2006