Posts tagged sandy

A Wired Sense of Community

Many New Yorkers still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Sandy have found a sense of community and a warm bed on Airbnb, the popular lodging site cofounded by Joe Gebbia 05 ID/GD and Brian Chesky 04 ID.  

According to a story that aired on NPR last weekend, there’s been an outpouring of support for storm victims on the site. Many of those lucky enough to have homes still intact have been offering lodging for free to others not so lucky. 

And according to the story, it isn’t just New Yorkers in need of shelter. People in New Jersey who are still without electricity also need affordable lodging. From the airwaves:

The hardship of life in a storm-damaged city has actually brought New Yorkers closer together. Many people there have volunteered space in their homes to help out those without a place to stay. And the gathering place for connecting them: the internet. 

It’s good news to hear. 

Shelter for Sandy Victims

Airbnb, the popular lodging site cofounded by Joe Gebbia 05 ID/GD and Brian Chesky 04 ID, is providing some much-needed relief for weary New Yorkers still dealing with the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy and yesterday’s follow-up Nor’easter. 

Anyone who normally uses Airbnb to rent space in their homes or find nice lodging for cheap can offer up their digs for free to victims in need of shelter. So far, more than 4,000 guests have been given a roof over their heads.

But Airbnb feels much more can be done. “There are thousands more people in need of shelter,” they note on their blog. “And there are still thousands of people with extra space. It’s time to come together.”

Take a journey with me on a walk around campus to see where this bit of art, from student Yidan Zeng, came from … -JM PS Even though all of our facilities are fine, today classes are canceled today because many of our employees cannot get to work. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, tomorrow we will all be back to school. Our Dean of Students, Dr. Jerri Drummond, shares that, “All essential services for students continue despite inclement weather which include those provided by Facilities, Public Safety, Dining Services, Central Control Dispatchers and Residence Life staff. Continue to check the http://emergency.risd.edu site for any updates.” And today I took a walk through campus to see all of those parts active on campus in many ways, and had a chance to thank each of them personally. One of our trustees mentioned to me yesterday that this kind of experience, although difficult, brings a community together. And knowing our students — who so love being in the studio — it must have been hard to stay cooped inside our residence halls or their respective homes. But with the sun shining off and on, and with students that are swiftly going “back to work,” it was nice to find this piece of art being made at the end of my walk. It reminded me that art is about st(art)-ing. And Rest(art)ing.  

Take a journey with me on a walk around campus to see where this bit of art, from student Yidan Zeng, came from … -JM

PS Even though all of our facilities are fine, today classes are canceled today because many of our employees cannot get to work. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, tomorrow we will all be back to school. Our Dean of Students, Dr. Jerri Drummond, shares that, “All essential services for students continue despite inclement weather which include those provided by Facilities, Public Safety, Dining Services, Central Control Dispatchers and Residence Life staff. Continue to check the http://emergency.risd.edu site for any updates.”

And today I took a walk through campus to see all of those parts active on campus in many ways, and had a chance to thank each of them personally. One of our trustees mentioned to me yesterday that this kind of experience, although difficult, brings a community together. And knowing our students — who so love being in the studio — it must have been hard to stay cooped inside our residence halls or their respective homes. But with the sun shining off and on, and with students that are swiftly going “back to work,” it was nice to find this piece of art being made at the end of my walk. It reminded me that art is about st(art)-ing. And Rest(art)ing.  

And there it is. A rest(art). -JM

Photos Around Campus

Thanks to the RISD Public Safety Central Control Dispatchers for keeping the communication flowing throughout! -JM

Dr. Jerri Drummond, our Dean of Students, shared that everything on campus is well in Student Affairs. Thanks to all the folks there, and especially in Residence Life, for their leadership! -JM

Life in the Quad is back to normal. -JM

RISD Facilities checks in positively. Thank you RISD Facilities! -JM

The sun is breaking through here at RISD. Everywhere I go on campus I hear that RISD Student Affairs did an amazing job for our students — and our students displayed exemplar leadership skills. Thank you Student Affairs and to our students! -JM

The sun is breaking through here at RISD. Everywhere I go on campus I hear that RISD Student Affairs did an amazing job for our students — and our students displayed exemplar leadership skills. Thank you Student Affairs and to our students! -JM

Tim McFate in RISD Dining reports that all food services on campus for students are operating fine. Thank you RISD Dining! -JM

Walking around campus I just saw Officer Lugo who carries the above news. Thank you RISD Public Safety! -JM

It’s not light out yet here in Providence, but the winds have died down significantly. A great deal of cooperation happened yesterday across our key emergency response units for which I am truly thankful on behalf of the entire RISD community. We have been fortunate as a campus to sustain electrical power, and thus far our ground crews report that all measures taken yesterday assured that our facilities are in good shape today. RISD is closed today in light of the fact that many of our employees coming from Rhode Island and the surrounds have school systems that are closed today which will impact families, and also more than a few homes have unfortunately taken on water in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Our hearts go out to all of those affected by the hurricane. -JM

PS Dean of Students, Dr. Jerri Drummond, has continued to share that, “All essential services for students continue despite inclement weather which include those provided by Facilities, Public Safety, Dining Services, Central Control Dispatchers and Residence Life staff. Continue to check the http://emergency.risd.edu site for updates throughout the storm.”

Judging by the fact that this morning there are seagulls that have flown inland to park en masse in the river that runs through RISD — which is not a normal occurrence — Hurricane Sandy is definitely making its way up the coast. RISD is closed today as noted on our website — we ask all students to please remain in their residence halls or residences during the impending storm period. Dean of Students, Dr. Jerri Drummond, has shared that, “All essential services for students continue despite inclement weather which include those provided by Facilities, Public Safety, Dining Services, Central Control Dispatchers and Residence Life staff. Continue to check the http://emergency.risd.edu site for updates throughout the storm.” Thank you! -JM