The Student Government Association will host its second annual 5K Walk/Run on Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon.”The event was created to assist the University in improving the accessibility of the campus to our disabled population,” Olinda Ricard, culinary arts junior from Thibodaux, wrote in E-mail to The Nicholls Worth.
The funds raised will be divided. seventy five percent will go to the Disability Accessibility Fund, established by the SGA, and 25 percent to the United Way of South Louisiana, which provides services to residents through 14 agencies within the community.
It has been projected that improvements to accessibility on the campus will cost more than $200,000.
“This figure includes the cost of updating existing electronic access doors, upgrading the elevator in Talbot Hall, installing Braille signage and replacing door handles for easier access to buildings,” Ricard wrote.
This year, the SGA would like to get more students and the Thibodaux community involved. Stephen Hulbert, University president, and his wife have agreed to participate.
“President and Mrs. Hulbert were the first to step forward, immediately signing up to run/walk and have even given the SGA the authority to offer a challenge to the NSU community on his behalf,” Ricard wrote.
Ricard would like for this event to raise awareness.
“It is my hope that this event can play a role in increasing awareness and empathy for individuals with disabilities,” Ricard wrote. “Disabilities go far beyond physical limitation. According to Mr. Gerald Sanders, the director of testing and disability services, his office is most utilized to address learning disabilities.”
For Nicholls students, faculty, staff and high school students, the cost to participate is $10 for individuals and $8 per person for teams. For the general public, it costs $15 for individuals and $12 per person for teams. Teams consist of three to five people.
“To encourage more participation for the NSU community, the SGA has decided to allow the first 50 NSU community members to sign-up for $5 between now and 4:30 p.m. on Friday,” Ricard wrote.
For more information, contact the SGA office at (985) 448-4557 or E-mail [email protected] for registration forms and to volunteer.
