Swimmers will be able to take a dip in the Ayo Pool starting May 2. Michael Matherne, director of campus recreation, said if the weather permits the pool will open on Monday.”Last year, more than 3,200 swimmers used the Ayo Pool,” Matherne said. “This includes Nicholls students, faculty and staff as well as participants of programs through the office of continuing education.”

Brandie Toups, director of continuing education non-credit programs, said, “Each summer, there are over 15 camps that use it and we offer two different types of classes, swimming lessons and aqua aerobics. The camps include sports and activities, Get Connected, Jesuit band and Creative Scholars.”

Each summer, about seven or eight students are employed as lifeguards for the pool. All campus lifeguards are American Red Cross certified, Matherne said.

All Nicholls students, faculty and staff members can swim at the pool free of charge with their Colonel Card.

Pool memberships are also sold to families in the community. Families of Nicholls students and employees can purchase a pool membership for $50, and families that are not affiliated with Nicholls can purchase a pool membership for $160. Pool memberships are valid for the entire swimming season, which ends around Labor Day. Nicholls students and employees can also bring a guest with them for the price of $3 per day.

The regular swimming hours for the Ayo Pool are 1 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. on Saturday through Thursday. “The pool is closed every Friday for maintenance,” Matherne said. “On Fridays, we add chemicals to the pool and clean the poolside area,” he said.

During the winter a new water pump was installed into the pool to circulate the water because the old water pump broke.

Matherne is not sure what kind of effect the building of the recreation center will have on the Ayo Pool. “I don’t know how this will affect Ayo Pool,” Matherne said. “Those decisions are made by the President’s Cabinet. The building is being designed so that a pool can be added later, but at this time there are no plans to add aquatics to the recreation center.”

Jan Terrell, mass communication senior from Mississippi, said, “I can’t wait for the pool to open again.