The College Sports Information Directors of America has rallied around members who were affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Shortly after the disasters, CoSIDA provided gift cards to Target stores to help victims purchase day-to-day needs such as clothing and personal items. In addition, 93 CoSIDA members donated $8,645, and the organization contributed $44,355 to register a total of $53,000 that was used to di-

rectly benefit affected CoSIDA members through cash donations. 

John Sudsbury, assistant director of media relations at Tulane, lived in a ground floor apartment near the Tulane campus, which was inundated by three feet of water during and after the storm. He lost most of his possessions. “My roommates actually rode the storm out and were able to save some things, a couple of pieces of furniture and my suits,” he said.

Sudsbury, who is single, has spent most of his post-Katrina time living the nomadic life. He was stationed with the football team at Texas A&M University, College Station, and also spent some time in Dallas.

However, Sudsbury has had to use very little of his CoSIDA grant. Since the athletics department’s return to New Orleans at the beginning of January, he has been able to move into an apartment near campus, which he shares with the department’s director of facilities. The extra cash that CoSIDA members contributed has provided Sudsbury with an added sense of security. “My rent did double, so it’s probably going toward that without me knowing it,” he said. “I am without a car as well, so I will be looking into that. The assistance of CoSIDA has lifted a big weight off my shoulders. It has proven that there is still a lot of good out there in people.”

CoSIDA President Joe Hernandez of Ball State University said, “CoSIDA has always been an organization built on relationships. The fact that our members were more than willing to step up and help those in need was very gratifying. There is no greater feeling than being a part of a team, and the teamwork CoSIDA showed for those in need was outstanding. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected by the hurricanes, and we hope all the people will be able to recover from these disasters.”    

Freedom Forum awards journalism scholarships

The Freedom Forum, in conjunction with the NCAA, has awarded eight $3,000 scholarships for undergraduate students studying sports journalism at NCAA member institutions.

The one-year scholarships are awarded to students who are entering their senior year of study during the 2006-07 academic year, and who are majoring in journalism or who have campus sports journalism experience. The program is designed to foster freedoms of speech and the press, while also promoting quality sports journalism education at NCAA colleges and universities. The Freedom Forum has awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships since 1992.

The 2006-07 Freedom Forum/NCAA Sports Journalism Scholarship recipients are: Richard J. Balazs, Case Western Reserve University; Jason J. Brummond, University of Iowa; Raymond G. Garcia, Northwestern University; Michael D. Gluskin, University of Maryland; Matthew A. Kaplan, Oberlin College; Samuel R. Miller, University of Illinois, Champaign; Joshua J. Moyer, Pennsylvania State University; and Natalie C. Venegas, California State University, Long Beach.

Scholarship recipients were judged by a selection committee chosen by the Freedom Forum and the NCAA.