The student organization, Music Therapy Association of Northridge (MTAN) have also sent 20 boxes of clothing to the region and Music professor Ron Borczon will be leaving later this week for Louisiana to help relief workers deal with the stresses of caregiving.

“I will be giving at least two sessions to provide support to the caregivers who have been overwhelmed in Baton Rouge with the influx of patients from New Orleans. I will also be putting together a handbook for the participants on how to alleviate stress via music and creative activity,” says Borczon

Borczon, whose trip is sponsored by The American Music Therapy Association, will be spending time at the Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and Our Lady of the Lake College in Baton Rouge. He plans to discuss outreach strategies with a musical therapist in the area.

CSUN President Jolene Koester applauded the efforts made by the entire CSUN community.

“I am touched by the generosity of everyone on campus, from the students to the faculty and staff,” said Koester. “In view of the tremendous outpouring of support that Cal State Northridge received after the 1994 earthquake, I am pleased the university has been given an opportunity to assist others now in need.”

Over the course of two weeks beginning on Sept. 8, students set up fundraising booths across the campus to collect monetary donations to support the American Red Cross’s hurricane relief efforts. Donations large and small were accepted.

“This was a phenomenal effort,” said Sharon Kinard, executive assistant for the University Student Union, Inc. “Students should be very proud. This shows what happens when we all come together. Anyone can relate to this kind of tragedy, especially those that have lived here.”

Koester will present a check for the amount collected to Red Cross representatives at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28 on the university’s Sierra Lawn.

The event will be open to the public. Guests will be treated a performance by the Cal State Northridge Gospel Choir and light refreshments will be served.

Borczon, who has provided music therapy to those dealing with the 9/11 attacks and the Oklahoma City disaster, is leaving on Sept. 30 to work with relief personnel.

On the campus itself, Cal State Northridge has opened its doors to 16 students displaced by the hurricane. The students have come from ravaged gulf coast universities like Tulane, Southern, Xavier and the University of Louisiana.

Many of those students are grateful to be at CSUN.

“Coming to CSUN, the people were very helpful,” said Jacob Porter, a former Southern University sophomore who is now attending CSUN. “I plan on getting my degree from Northridge.”

The students that have come to CSUN are a great mix of people, said John Chandler, Cal State Northridge director of public relations.