Additional Resources
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Additional resources for the seminar.
Photo Courtesy of Julieann Ulin. Used with Permission.
- Information on the documentary film, "When the Levees Broke"
- The film was viewed by seminar participants and was a basis for discussion during parts of several seminar meetings.
- Background on New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina, and Recovery Efforts:
- Powerpoint presentation used during seminar meeting
- Three Recovery Plans for New Orleans:
- Powerpoint presentation used during seminar meeting
Testimonial from a seminar participant
This past semester I participated in a service learning seminar sponsored by the Center for Social Concerns entitled “Environmental Justice and Human Rights in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina” lead by Dr. Julieann Ulin and Pat Schenkel. As part of this course, I completed relevant coursework, attended weekly classes and engaged in seminar discussions in preparation for our “immersion week” in New Orleans during Spring Break 2009. One of my favorite aspects of this course was the combination of structure and flexibility. The syllabus reading and class presentations were incredibly interesting and pertinent and, while I wasn’t always able to complete the assignments, I was fascinated by the social issues they presented. Julieann and Pat went above and beyond their teaching requirements to prepare our class for this challenging experience. Indeed, my week-long immersion in New Orleans would certainly not have been as fulfilling if I had not been well-prepared with this information. In addition to this pre-immersion preparation, our faculty leaders structured our time in New Orleans such that we were both workers and tourists. In cooperation with Catholic Charities, my classmates and I worked on repairing houses through Operation Helping Hands. This experience was incredibly edifying as we were able to intimately engage with the victims of Hurricane Katrina. We also continued to learn about ongoing problems through our interactions with NOLA natives as well as an insightful group tour of the city’s levee system given by a Tulane geology professor. Such experiences reinforced the fact that even four years after the Hurricane there is still much to be done.
Yet my classmates and I were also able to connect with New Orleans culture, sampling the Cajun cuisine, local music, and touring the French Quarter. We had ample amounts of free time to explore the city on our own schedule and discover New Orleans for ourselves. To anyone who is concerned about “giving up” their break week, I would assure them that this seminar does not take anything away from you. Rather it encourages you to apply your knowledge and redefine your concept of your personal horizon. Such relevant experiences can’t be quantified or isolated: they beg to be remembered and applied. Despite the physical and mental challenges of this immersion week, both my mind and my body felt rejuvenated. Perhaps the most telling effect of this immersion week is that I can’t wait to go back to New Orleans to continue this connection.
I would recommend this course for anyone interested in exploring a specific aspect of American culture that they may have only glimpsed traces of before. Indeed, I quickly discovered that New Orleans is far more than jazz clubs and Mardi Gras beads. Such seminars help shatter cultural misconceptions and extend students beyond their comfort zone. Though extremely instructional for all class levels, I believe this course would be especially meaningful for younger students. No students’ education should be limited to an isolated campus location. Knowledge and convictions are only useful once they are applied and challenged. Courses such as the NOLA seminar embody Notre Dame’s spirit to educate the entire person and inspire direct engagement with the world community.
