In conjunction with Habitat for Humanity and local Red Cross groups, the University of Louisiana System is offering an alternative to traditional spring break activities for students with a project dubbed “Extreme Spring Break 2006: Students Rebuilding Louisiana.”According to Jackie Tisdell, director of student initiatives and outreach for the University of Louisiana System, there are 250 spots available. Since there will be two locations the students, faculty and staff will be rebuilding at, the 250 will be divided into 125 at each location.

“Right now we have about 50 registered,” Tisdell said. “It’s climbing.”

Damian Breaux, Student Government Association president, said that he has set a goal of 20 Nicholls students to register for this project. He said that 20 is a big number right now.

“I’m not satisfied with the number of people I’ve talked to and actually committed,” Breaux said.

So far, according to Tisdell, there are three Nicholls students registered, but she said that she is expecting more.

Breaux said that he is encouraging student participation and started a group on Facebook dedicated to the project in order to raise awareness among students.

“Just because you RSVP’d to the group doesn’t mean you are registered,” Breaux said

Tisdell, who works closely with every student government for the universities in the system, said that this is the first time the UL System has coordinated something like this.

“I’m so excited,” Tisdell said. “I think we’re going to have representation of every single university in our system and not just students. Faculty and staff are also invited to participate.”

The project is April 19 through April 23. The locations for this project will take place in the Lake Charles and Hammond-Covington areas. The students will be rebuilding homes that were lost to this past year’s hurricanes.

“Students who register will have the opportunity to participate at Southeastern University or McNeese State University,” Breaux said.

The first day of the project will be an orientation, according to Breaux, and the last day will be some type of seminar session.

“There will be three solid days of building houses, not all five days,” Breaux said.

There is a $40 fee to register that may “scare students off at first,” according to Breaux, but it is used to provide the essentials for those who participate.

“It covers food, housing and transportation to and from the worksites,” Breaux said.

“We’re asking students to register on the system’s Web site.”

Tisdell said that Mallory Wall, SGA president at McNeese, initially came up with the concept for this project.

“We knew there were a lot of students who wanted to help and volunteer,” Tisdell said.

Local Red Cross groups will be present to provide disaster training, according to Tisdell.

“To become disaster-certified by the Red Cross, you have to take a two-part training,” Tisdell said. “The first part is offered in conjunction with Extreme Spring Break.”

To register for Extreme Spring Break 2006, visit www.ulsystem.net.