By By John Leonard

As the media turned their attention to Hurricane Rita, students and faculty at the University were still trying to understand the effects of Katrina.

Last week’s lecture, “Hurricane Katrina and the Aftermath,” approached the idea that New Orleans was not simply a city, but a third world country that existed within United States borders.

Professors Robert Guttman, Chris Matthews and Linda Longmire discussed how the society within the city is based on a culture of poverty.

“The food primarily associated with the city: gumbo, red beans and rice, was originally used because of how inexpensive they were to make,” Chris Matthews, professor of anthropology, said.

In 2000, nearly 50 percent of high school students in New Orleans dropped out.

While most states have high school drop out rates of around 4 percent, Louisiana holds the lead with 10 percent of students leaving school without receiving a diploma.

“It’s a whole different America for people living below poverty lines,” said Brian Watson, a sophomore anthropology major who attended the lecture.

Many of the victims of Hurricane Katrina were poor, elderly residents with no way of escaping.

Even with means of transportation, many stayed for fear of looting, or were simply left with no place to go.

“We need to be prepared for these storms. Sixty percent of the country lives within 50 miles of a coast,” Guttmann, a professor of economics and geography, said.

As a result of the hurricane, 1.3 million people were displaced and almost $100 billion in damage was inflicted on the city.