With the leaves finally falling from the trees and fall commencement just around the corner, September and the hurricanes that devastated the Gulf Coast almost seem like forever ago.
The displaced students that came to The University of Memphis have long since learned their way around campus and some are making plans to return to their home schools at the end of the semester. But what about the students who were supposed to graduate in December?
Some students will still graduate on time, but have had to spend their final semester at a new school. Others will have to wait until May.
Thioreau Hawkins is an electrical engineering major from the University of New Orleans. He is finishing his last semester here at The U of M, but will be getting his degree from UNO next month.
Because Hawkins completed the course work required for his major before this semester, he is able to graduate on time.
"I already finished the classes for my major at UNO," Hawkins said. "I just needed 10 hours to graduate."
While The U of M has been good to him, Hawkins, a New Orleans native, misses his hometown.
"Memphis has been OK, but it's not New Orleans," he said.
Vanessa Scanlan, a communications major from Loyola University in New Orleans, is another student able to graduate in December as planned. She is considered a visiting student at The U of M and will receive her degree from Loyola.
Although Scanlan needed specific classes, she has been told that what she takes here will transfer back to her home university.
"U of M doesn't have a public relations concentration in communications," Scanlan said. "But there are similar classes here in the journalism department that I've been able to take."
Originally from El Salvador, Scanlan said she decided to take a chance with Memphis after Katrina hit New Orleans.
"I could have gone back to El Salvador, but I would have missed my last semester," Scanlan said. "Now Memphis is another place I can say I've lived."
Scanlan said her time in Memphis has been a positive experience. She has become a part of the Memphis music scene through a voice class she has been taking on campus with Memphis musician Joyce Cobb. Since September Scanlan has performed with local groups Kwest and the Memphis Jazz Orchestra.
"I probably would feel more displaced if it weren't for the music," she said. "I definitely haven't been bored."
However, not all students who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina will be graduating as scheduled.
James Coleman is a journalism major from UNO but is unable to transfer the classes he has taken here and, therefore, won't be able to graduate in December.
Because he has had to move out of New Orleans, Coleman said it makes more sense for him to stay in Memphis.
"I would have to find another apartment and basically start over if I went back," he said.
Coleman, who is originally from Memphis and has family here, has decided to stay and graduate at The U of M.
"I would have to take an Internet semester to finish at UNO," he said. "I would rather stay here where I can take real classes."
Coleman said he's happy with the journalism program at The U of M but is ready to graduate. After graduation Coleman plans to move to New York where he hopes to go to law school.
Although transferring classes can depend on the major, the universities affected by Katrina should be more open to policy change, according to Laurie Snyder, transcript analyst for the Department of Communications and Fine Arts.
"I think under the circumstances there should be flexibility," she said.
The U of M should also learn something from all of this, Snyder said.
"This is a good opportunity for The University of Memphis to assess its policies in the event of a major disaster like an earthquake," Snyder said.
