The University is awaiting clarification from the state for the acquisition of the property for the recreation center. Michael Davis, assistant vice president for administration said, “We’re still basically in the position we’ve been in.”Nicholls’ attorneys made an offer to the property owners, and the property owners made a counter- offer.

“That’s about the last thing I’ve known,” Davis said. “I’ve tried to get in touch with the attorneys, but it’s been difficult.”

According to Davis, the acquirement of the property is in the hands of the state and the law firm that is negotiating with the state. The University has not heard from the attorneys or state department Facilities Planning Control, according to the minutes for the Sept. 20 Advisory Committee meeting. Davis said that the state government has most likely been preoccupied with hurricane recovery efforts.

“A lot of those people have been extremely busy with what’s happened in the state with the hurricanes,” Davis said. “I did speak with several officials in Baton Rouge Oct. 4 who are going to look back into (the acquisition of the property) again.”

Nicholls was granted approval for the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement. The Cooperative Endeavor Agreement is, according to Eric Haydel, recreation center committee chair, a financial agreement between the property owner, state department and the university. Soil boring testing, building and foundation design could be done, and after the land is obtained, construction can immediately begin, according to the minutes for the Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting.

However, the architect designing the recreation center is only authorized to design until he reaches a point in which the design becomes “site specific,” according to Davis.

“That type of design work changes, and he’s only authorized to go up to that point because we will not pay for any redesign of the foundation,” Davis said.

If the purchase of the property falls through, Nicholls can go to an alternate site. The soccer field would be the alternate site, according to the Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting minutes. The University is in a “holding position” until it is able to acquire the property, Davis said.

“We’re trying to get people back on track,” Davis said. “We’re waiting on the state to complete the negotiations for us.”

Equipment was to be purchased and placed in one of the racquetball courts, and according to Michael Matherne, director for campus recreation, it should be in sometime before the end of the semester.

What Matherne calls the University’s “short term plan” is to turn one of the racquetball courts located in the Student Union into a cardio area with all of the equipment that has been purchased.

“There are a bunch of different companies that bid (on the equipment), and they all bid different prices,” Matherne said.

Officials have put together specifications for the equipment, and Matherne must then go through each bid to make sure that the equipment the companies intend to sell the University qualifies.

“We put together specifications to make sure we get good quality stuff,” Matherne said.