The Impact on fires for Humboldt Students
Ashley Mackin
Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Even though the fires in Southern California are miles away, many students going to Humboldt state are touched by the tragedy.
For the fall 2007 semester, 5% of students are from San Diego and 17.4% are from Los Angeles.
Whether it's a friend who's from the area or family down south, it has become a real life crisis for a lot of people on campus.
For Adena Garadality every time her phone rings she gets more bad news. Her phone dinged incessantly as she and her friend sat in Don's Doughnuts.
Garadilty, an International Studies and French major, got word that the home she grew up in had burned, and that her parent's home was singed. "I've been evacuated so many times," said Garadality. Fires aren't uncommon in Southern California but this time has been the worst.
"I found out my home was burned at work and started crying," said Garadality, "I didn't go to class because I was just freaking out."
Zoology freshmen Ivan Castillo's sister goes to University of California San Diego and had to leave for medical reasons. "She could smell the fumes, and she has asthma, so she had to go home in Los Angeles," he said. "But she could still smell it in L.A."
Zoology junior Samuel Harkous' family from Poway had to be evacuated, but their property was not damaged. "They had to be evacuated for three days, but everything's fine for them. I mean there are people and animals who lost their homes, but for my family, things are fine."
Sarita Villanueva, senior and art history, is from Failbrook and had a similar experience. Villanueva worried about her family and got updates over her cell phone while she was glued to her computer for news. "I was really anxious and really nervous," said Villanueva, "I just watched the local [San Diego] news."
Villanueva's family is safe, and has since moved back into their homes. She talked to her mom who felt like crying because of all the destruction surrounding their town and the different things that are gone.
Most people were very supportive and aware of the situation down south; Villanueva said "A lot of people didn't have any idea that there were fires - that was frustrating.
Now that her family is safe, Villanueva's thoughts have turned to going home for Christmas, "I'm nervous to see all the things missing."
For the fall 2007 semester, 5% of students are from San Diego and 17.4% are from Los Angeles.
Whether it's a friend who's from the area or family down south, it has become a real life crisis for a lot of people on campus.
For Adena Garadality every time her phone rings she gets more bad news. Her phone dinged incessantly as she and her friend sat in Don's Doughnuts.
Garadilty, an International Studies and French major, got word that the home she grew up in had burned, and that her parent's home was singed. "I've been evacuated so many times," said Garadality. Fires aren't uncommon in Southern California but this time has been the worst.
"I found out my home was burned at work and started crying," said Garadality, "I didn't go to class because I was just freaking out."
Zoology freshmen Ivan Castillo's sister goes to University of California San Diego and had to leave for medical reasons. "She could smell the fumes, and she has asthma, so she had to go home in Los Angeles," he said. "But she could still smell it in L.A."
Zoology junior Samuel Harkous' family from Poway had to be evacuated, but their property was not damaged. "They had to be evacuated for three days, but everything's fine for them. I mean there are people and animals who lost their homes, but for my family, things are fine."
Sarita Villanueva, senior and art history, is from Failbrook and had a similar experience. Villanueva worried about her family and got updates over her cell phone while she was glued to her computer for news. "I was really anxious and really nervous," said Villanueva, "I just watched the local [San Diego] news."
Villanueva's family is safe, and has since moved back into their homes. She talked to her mom who felt like crying because of all the destruction surrounding their town and the different things that are gone.
Most people were very supportive and aware of the situation down south; Villanueva said "A lot of people didn't have any idea that there were fires - that was frustrating.
Now that her family is safe, Villanueva's thoughts have turned to going home for Christmas, "I'm nervous to see all the things missing."
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