Medical Community Thankful for Roof Over Its Head, Hope of Normalcy -
       Credit Federal, State and Local Authorities for Swift Resolution

    BATON ROUGE, La., Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Louisiana State University
today announced a temporary solution to the housing crisis facing the
students, faculty and staff of the LSU Health Sciences Center as classes are
set to resume next week.  LSU has hired a Baltic ferryboat and is bringing in
manufactured homes.
    Costs for both the ship and the mobile homes are being defrayed by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which has agreed to reimburse LSU
for leasing both a ferryboat and mobile homes to house faculty and students of
the LSUHSC professional schools.
    The 700-foot Finnjet will arrive in Louisiana in early October and dock at
Port Allen, across the Mississippi River from Baton Rouge.  The Finnjet,
operated by Silja Lines, will house up to 1,400 medical, dental, nursing,
allied health and public health students, and faculty.  Additional housing
will be provided in more than 100 mobile homes to be placed at two sites, one
just south of the university's main campus in Baton Rouge and another on
nearby LSU property.
    "We are very relieved that [the Finnjet and mobile homes] will be coming
to Baton Rouge," said Dr. William Jenkins, Louisiana State University System
President.  "Without this housing, our health care professional schools would
not be able to continue this semester."
    Since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans three weeks ago, university
administrators have expressed fear that students and faculty of the New
Orleans-based programs might leave for other institutions while LSU scrambles
to make repairs to damaged classrooms and laboratories at the downtown New
Orleans health sciences center.  Jenkins credited government officials for
their help, "National, state and local authorities understand that we're
fighting for our survival.  I can't thank them enough for their thoughtful
foresight and prompt assistance during this emergency."
    Port of Greater Baton Rouge officials had originally been hesitant to
allow the ferry to dock there because of sewage, power and safety concerns.
Ray Lamonica, General Counsel of the LSU System, said, "While there were some
misunderstandings early on about arrangements to bring the ship to Baton
Rouge, the port commissioners have been very cooperative in designing a plan
for the use of the dock, which will provide convenient and safe access for our
students, faculty and staff."  Lamonica stressed the importance of Governor
Kathleen Blanco's assistance, saying the Governor and her staff were "very
helpful" in brokering the arrangement.  The details that will bring the
Finnjet to Port Allen are still being finalized.
    Mayor Derek Lewis of Port Allen predicted residents of his small, historic
town will "open their arms" to welcome the health care students.  "We think
they're going to love being here," Lewis said, adding, "I'm sure our residents
will do everything they can to reach out and help."
    Dr. Larry Hollier, Dean of the LSU Medical School, made clear that the
housing solutions are temporary. "We realize the ship and mobile homes are not
a permanent solution, but they will allow students to continue their medical
education at LSU and graduate on time.  We hope to return to downtown New
Orleans later this year, in time to begin our spring classes in mid-January at
our New Orleans facility."
    In the meantime, LSU Health Care Services Division will hold classes at
the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge.  Nursing school
classes will relocate to the Southeastern School of Nursing in Baton Rouge.
Classes at both will resume on Monday, October 3.
    LSU will provide additional security and a secure parking area for
students and faculty housed aboard the Finnjet.  In an effort to relieve
traffic congestion, LSU will operate a shuttle bus between the Finnjet and the
Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

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