On the eve of Hurricane Katrina's arrival in New Orleans, the staff of THE BLACK COLLEGIAN was eagerly applying the finishing touches to this October 2005 First Semester edition. It would be particularly special issue, launching a year-long celebration of the our 35th Publishing Anniversary. We had no idea, of course, just how very "special" the issue would prove. Completed through extraordinary effort by our staff in exile with only the most limited resources, aided by several generous vendors and organizations, the issue's release was temporarily delayed. This was not so much due to logistical problems stemming from the disaster and evacuation (which were legion), but because we saw and understood first-hand how deep and far-reaching was the devastation in our communities. We knew we could not simply continue with "business as usual".

As only one result, we determined to reach out to our friends at the Black College Wire, forging a special collaboration to expand the edition to reflect the conditions faced by the impacted schools in our community. From on-the-ground feature articles to vivid photo essays, the section spotlights the talents and feelings of displaced student journalists. Even as the floodwaters were literally rising around them, these young people kept reporting, photographing, filing stories with the kind of dedication you might expect in professionals, not in students. We wanted to do something for them – and with them. This edition also includes updates by Dillard University President Dr. Marvalene Hughes and Xavier University President Dr. Norman Francis on their schools' conditions and most urgent needs, as well as their plans for rebuilding -- safely, quickly, and better than ever before.

We are proud to include the diverse perspectives of these students, educators and historic institutions after Hurricane Katrina. For 35 years now, they have not only been our valued audiences, contributors, and sometimes even clients – they are our neighbors. They have been there for us when we needed them in the past, and we are dedicated to rebuilding our community with them now. It's what we must do.

Stewart David Ikeda, on behalf of the Editors and Staff of THE BLACK COLLEGIAN and IMDiversity Inc.