美国国家公共电台 NPR--Jackson State University president talks about the city's water supply crisis

Jackson State University president talks about the city's water supply crisis

Transcript¹

NPR talks with Jackson State University President Thomas Hudson about longstanding problems with the Jackson, Miss., water system that preceded flood damage to the city's water supply.

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

President Biden is pledging aid to Jackson, Miss., as the city begins yet another day without drinking water. Floodwaters knocked a critical water treatment plant offline Monday night, and it's unclear when service will be restored. At distribution sites around the city, frustrated² people waited in long lines yesterday for cases of bottled water. Jackson resident Larisha Gill says people are struggling.

LARISHA GILL: Getting water just to brush your teeth and to wash dishes and to do those things, and being scared that we might have to use water to flush the toilet is very unnerving.

MARTIN: As we're going to hear, Jackson's water dilemma³ is not a new one. The system has failed off and on for decades. Thomas Hudson is the president of Jackson State University and a lifelong resident of Jackson. He talked with our co-host Leila Fadel about some of the challenges.

THOMAS HUDSON: We are holding up well. Certainly, we've been in this situation before. It's getting progressively worse.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

Yeah.

HUDSON: We're starting to have these incidents really every month, every other month now, where it used to be based on some type of major event, like an ice storm or a flood or something like that. But now we're just starting to have these water pressure issues, boil-water notices, and it's becoming a constant thing.

FADEL: So what does the community need for this not to be a constant thing?

HUDSON: Well, there has to be a long-term fix to what's been a long-term problem. It affects the entire community. It affects Jackson State University, the institution that I lead. It affects the surrounding community. It affects local businesses. It affects downtown Jackson, our commerce. It affects the local school district.

FADEL: How did it get this bad?

HUDSON: It's just been long-term neglect as it relates to the water system. And it's - you know, Jackson is not alone...

FADEL: Right.

HUDSON: ...In terms of some of the infrastructural⁴ issues that have plagued this country. And what we're really seeing now is just kind of the manifestation⁵ of that long-term neglect, really a lack of a full, concise⁶, clear plan of action that will address - and the funding needed to execute on the plan.

FADEL: Right now, people don't have water to drink unless they go purchase it or find it somehow - given it.

HUDSON: Yes. You know, thankfully, there's been a lot of assistance in terms of water giveaways.

FADEL: Yeah.

HUDSON: Here at Jackson State's campus, we have just learned to have a constant supply - a ready supply of drinking water on hand. So we have been able to provide that to our on-campus residents. Communitywide, people have really rallied around to provide drinking water and also that water for daily use.

FADEL: Right.

HUDSON: You know, certainly drinking water is important. But just that daily use of sanitary⁷ reasons - brushing your teeth, all of those things.

FADEL: What's the impact been on the university?

HUDSON: We do have a plan in place that helps get us through it. The first thing is going to virtual instruction and remote work, which relieves some of the pressure on our water system. Then we make sure we provide those basic needs. You know, what do we need to continue our dining service? What do we need to provide drinking water? And then the sanitation⁸ facilities - you know, portable showers, portable restrooms, but also introducing water into our system and into our buildings so our air conditioners - you know, we're in the middle of the late summer in Mississippi, so the air conditioners have to continue to work.

FADEL: Are you concerned about the ability to keep attracting students to a place like Jackson State University if basic infrastructure⁹ like water breaks down in the city of Jackson?

HUDSON: That is a long-term concern...

FADEL: Yeah.

HUDSON: ...Just because you're already hearing from parents. You're already hearing from other students as it relates to, well, is this going to be my four-year experience here at Jackson State University? Here, we're looking to take steps to provide university water supply - so really a standalone water system that's central to the university and that allows us to help mitigate¹⁰ some of the citywide issues that we see over and over again. But again, it's just a matter of assuring your students that this won't be a full part of your learning experience. We will get through these times.

FADEL: So besides money, what does a long-term plan look like to you that will actually solve this so that you don't have to use these backup plans and take matters into your own hands in situations like this?

HUDSON: The long-term plan has to be inclusive of money. It has to be inclusive of all hands on deck - your federal, local and state officials coming together, which we're starting to see happen. You know, you're starting to see everyone sort of pull together and determine, what is it we need to do to fix this problem once and for all? We know it's not going to be a quick fix. We know it's not going to be an inexpensive fix. And we're really excited to see everyone pulling together in order to make that happen.

FADEL: Thomas Hudson, president of Jackson State University, thank you so much.

HUDSON: Thank you so much.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 dilemma   

n.困境，进退两难的局面

参考例句：

• I am on the horns of a dilemma about the matter.这件事使我进退两难。
• He was thrown into a dilemma.他陷入困境。

4 infrastructural   

adj.基础结构的基础设施的

参考例句：

• Must increase the investment dynamics unceasingly, strengthens the countryside infrastructural facilities. 要不断加大投入力度，加强农村基础设施建设。 来自互联网
• In the 1980s, India started with some infrastructural advantages over China. 1980年代，印度在某些基础设施方面优于中国。 来自互联网

5 manifestation   

n.表现形式；表明；现象

参考例句：

• Her smile is a manifestation of joy.她的微笑是她快乐的表现。
• What we call mass is only another manifestation of energy.我们称之为质量的东西只是能量的另一种表现形态。

6 concise   

adj.简洁的，简明的

参考例句：

• The explanation in this dictionary is concise and to the point.这部词典里的释义简明扼要。
• I gave a concise answer about this.我对于此事给了一个简要的答复。

7 sanitary   

adj.卫生方面的，卫生的，清洁的，卫生的

参考例句：

• It's not sanitary to let flies come near food.让苍蝇接近食物是不卫生的。
• The sanitary conditions in this restaurant are abominable.这家饭馆的卫生状况糟透了。

8 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

9 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

10 mitigate   

vt.（使）减轻，（使）缓和

参考例句：

• The government is trying to mitigate the effects of inflation.政府正试图缓和通货膨胀的影响。
• Governments should endeavour to mitigate distress.政府应努力缓解贫困问题。