FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (9/05)
Media Contact: Lynn Stewart, Centenary News Service, 318-869-5120 or 518-7295
Public Safety and evacuee information: 318-869-5000
Centenary Fitness Center for Centenary evacuees only (not a public shelter): 318-869-5060
Voicemail updates if possible: 318-629-3635, 318-869-5011 and 318-208-4956

Centenary Campus to Close Temporarily Due to Hurricane Rita

The following advisory to the Centenary College community was issued by Centenary President Kenneth L. Schwab on Friday, September 23, 2005.

To the Centenary Community:

As Hurricane Rita approaches, we are making preparations on our campus. The hurricane is expected to make landfall overnight and it is expected to move very slowly for the next few days. The weather will gradually deteriorate beginning tonight.

It has been decided that Centenary College will close today, Friday, September 23, no later than 4:30 pm. We anticipate reopening at noon on Tuesday, September 27, with classes resuming no earlier than Wednesday, September 28. This reopening is subject to the conditions on campus.

As of 4:30 pm today, ALL buildings, except for the residence halls and Bynum Commons, will be closed and ALL events have been cancelled. An emergency team will be on campus and the Fitness Center will function as a shelter for Centenary (not a public shelter). Other faculty and staff members should not return to campus until noon Tuesday.

We are encouraging all students who can SAFELY go home to do so. Please do not go south or west. Call home before you leave campus and make your family aware of where you are going. We would also appreciate it if you would email life@centenary.edu and let Student Life know where you are headed. Before beginning your return trip to campus next week, please check your email and the web site and phone numbers listed below.

We will do our best to communicate with you via the website at www.gocentenary.com. Please note that the gocentenary.com web site is different than our usual centenary.edu address. It is being used as a backup server as it is located off-site. We will also attempt to send emails when possible. We intend to provide updated messages via voicemail at the following numbers: 318-629-3635, 318-869-5011 and 318-208-4956. The campus radio station, KSCL at 91.3FM, will be making announcements on the hour to provide updated and current information to the campus.

If you are remaining on campus, please be assured that there will be Student Life, Residence Life, and Department of Public Safety staff on-site. We will be communicating with you about the safety precautions and procedures that need to be followed during this time.

We are hopeful that our campus and city will escape major problems related to Hurricane Rita but feel that we must take all possible precautions to assure the safety of our students, faculty and staff. Please plan to remain in safe locations until this storm and its aftermath are completely over.

Ken Schwab
President

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