Newswise — Despite road closures, lingering smoke and anxiety over yet-to-be-located friends and neighbors, a handful of brave staff members managed to return to the newly reopened Scripps Ranch Campus of Alliant International University today. They are the advance guard returning in the aftermath of the San Diego firestorms with the job of preparing the campus for the return of students and classes on Monday.
Victoria Chan, who works in Alliant's finance department, is one of them " the only employee working today in her building on campus. Chan's Mira Mesa neighborhood was untouched by the fire, but adjacent to Scripps Ranch, an area that was evacuated on Tuesday and used as an escape corridor by those fleeing the devastating Witch Fire. Although Alliant's Scripps Ranch Campus was evacuated, it suffered only from falling ash, poor air quality and nearby trees downed by high winds.
Chan said, "Even though I am not a native of San Diego, I am proud to be considered 'San Diegan.' I volunteered last night at Qualcomm Stadium and I can say that I witnessed the generosity, caring heart of the community here in Southern California. Many people with different talents volunteered to offer their help: playing instruments and singing to entertain evacuees, cleaning, preparing sandwiches or sorting out donated food and beverages, counseling services and medical services. I greeted a clown who was walking around to give some smiles to children."
Some displaced students are finding refuge in the off-campus apartments of their peers, who have offered temporary housing through Alliant's online Fire Messages Page, a type of craigslist for Alliant faculty, students and staff, with postings of well-wishes, available sleeping spots and updates.
Dr. Neil Ribner, a professor in Alliant's California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP), posted this message: "The fires in San Diego continue to burn. Thankfully the Santa Ana winds have died down and the humidity is rising a little bit. Many of us, including those who live near the campus in Scripps Ranch, were allowed back into our homes late yesterday, but the authorities told us not to unpack in case the winds shift again. It looks like the campus and the Scripps Ranch area, which was devastated in the 2003 Cedar Fire with over 350 homes lost, has escaped damage. But the Ramona area to the Northeast and the Rancho Bernardo area just to the North, were currently devastated."
Not all professors were as lucky as Dr. Ribner. CSPP Associate Professor David Diamond posted this message on Alliant's Fire Message Website: "I have just learned that my house in Rancho Bernardo is confirmed as destroyed, as are those of several friends. My good wishes and caring thoughts to any others who might be in the same situation, or who are still uncertain."
The two professors who lost their homes lived in Rancho Bernardo. "The authorities are evacuating additional areas as we speak," states Dr. Ribner. "So far, over 500,000 people have been evacuated and well over 500 homes lost. The air quality continues to be horrible and ash and soot are falling everywhere. But we are thankful that we have our lives and our families, and we will pull together as we did four years ago." (Dr. Ribner, PhD, a psychologist and director of CSPP's Marital and Family Therapy programs, is available to speak to media about trauma to children and about his personal experiences in the fire.)
Among those posting to the Alliant fire messages page was graduate student Seth Pociask, who wrote, "I stayed at Qualcomm Tuesday night and was amazed at the amount of generosity, person power, and somewhat upbeat attitude considering everything happening. I saw a lot of people helping each other, whether total strangers, family, or friends and ironically it is at these testing, unfortunate times that one can see people helping each other out most. I am safe and staying with friends for right now, hope everyone is safe, and hope also that the fire doesn't spread to threaten any of the other campuses as well."
The University has had three campuses impacted by the fire: the Scripps Ranch Campus, a San Diego commuter campus on Cornerstone Court, and a commuter campus in Orange County, which remains closed due to poor air quality and traffic advisories.
In his message reopening the campus, Alliant President Geoffrey Cox stated, "I understand that some faculty, staff and students will need to continue dealing with family matters, loss of property and, in some cases, loss of a home. We will make every effort to accommodate individual circumstances. Please let us know how we can help."
Among the supports the University is offering to students, faculty and staff are counseling, coordination of emergency housing and eager volunteers who have taken up the workloads of those dislocated or overburdened by the fire.
Val Trouyet, Director, Campus Community Development in the Office of Student Life, returned to Alliant's Scripps Ranch Campus today and is working with both residential students and others traumatized by fire experiences. "This campus is miraculous," she says. "Every time there's a fire, it is spared." The 2003 Cedar Fire burned right to the edge of the campus and was fought back by firefighters who remained on the grounds round the clock, sleeping in vacated student housing. "The campus looks a little dusty, and there are leaves all over, but we are so grateful to have been spared." Trouyet's office is checking the addresses of students who live off campus to find those who live in impacted areas and is coordinating emergency housing and counseling for those traumatized by fire and evacuation experiences.
Alliant is home to California's largest school of psychology, the California School of Professional Psychology. Experts from CSPP are available to the media to discuss Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.
About Alliant International University
Alliant International University was formed in 2001 through the combination of the California School of Professional Psychology and United States International University. Alliant is a not-for-profit institution with locations in San Diego, Irvine, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Fresno and Sacramento. Alliant also operates degree programs in Mexico City, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
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