[Many Arkansas schools have seen an influx of students in the past two weeks after thousands of people were forced to flee the New Orleans and the Gulf Coast areas because of the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. The AAA has ruled that all evacuees from those areas transferring into Arkansas schools will be immediately eligible.] It’s about a page worth of paperwork, ... We want to make it as simple for them as possible. We just want to know who they are and where they are going to be. |
[The short answer: Those students will be eligible immediately for athletics.] We have a hardship clause that allows students to become eligible for athletics almost immediately when it’s no fault of their own or their parents, ... We certainly think this fits the situation. |
All the schools have to do is fill out some paperwork, and we will send it right through, ... We have a hardship clause that waives the usual wait for transfers for extraordinary and unusual circumstances. If there was ever a case that fits that, I'd say this is it. |
Obviously these kids have been through a lot. Anything we can do to help them get back in their life routines is what we want to do. |