For many freshmen who entered NYU earlier this fall, the possibility of enduring a devastating hurricane could have been one of the furthest things from their minds.
When Hurricane Sandy swept through New York City earlier this week, many were left unsure of what to do.
“Living without electricity is pretty foreign,” said Carson Behre, a CAS freshman. “The experience as a whole has been a harrowing and eerie one for sure.”
Many of his comrades shared this similar feeling of fright, as they were asked to leave their newly made home. The fright was especially heightened for those who are living apart from their families for the first time.
“The emotional part of this experience has been draining and terrifying,” said LSP freshman Claudia Zapata. “[It] really just truly sucks not being able to go with family.”
For Alyx Steadman, a freshman in Silver School of Social Work, the nature of the situation has proven to be a lot to handle.
“It’s very stressful and it makes it hard to both relax and do homework because I don’t know where I’ll be from day to day and I’m always thinking about my next move,” Steadman said.
Despite the turbulence in the aftermath of Sandy, many freshmen have taken this opportunity to bond closer with their classmates.
Students at Goddard and Weinstein residence halls, the only freshman dorms with full power and running water, also hosted some of their classmates from other residence halls.
“My friends and I would stick together and have sleepovers, which were pretty fun and helpful to cope with the situation,” Tisch freshman Braulio Lin said.
Marc Wais, vice president for global student affairs, said the university was pleased with the way freshmen handled the effects of the storm.
“Given the magnitude and damage caused by the storm, we were delighted to see how many freshmen took Sandy in stride and maintained a positive spirit, and how many of them found comfort and support within their freshmen residence community,” Wais said.
Many students applauded the university’s efforts to provide food and safety to the students during the emergency.
“I have to say that I appreciate all the work that the NYU staff has been putting in to make sure that we have food, water, and other necessities,” Zapata said.
LSP freshman Hannah Singleton echoed the praise: “NYU’s staff handled the situation well and my RA was fabulous,” she said. “I am amazed at the kindness of students living in Weinstein and Goddard [and] the courage of the NYU employees who are handling the situation beautifully.”
Additional reporting by Emily Bell. Tae Young Woo is a contributing writer. Email them at [email protected].
