Residents of Ellender Residence Hall cannot say the New Orleans Saints never did anything for them. Using some of the money the University gained from hosting the Saints’ training camp last summer, the elevator in Ellender Hall will undergo modernization and repairs.

“We’re trying to fix this elevator because it breaks a lot,” Dr. Eugene Dial, dean of student life, said. “We can do it now because we have the money from the Saints.”

Repairs will not begin until after the semester ends and will take about one month to complete.

He said the $89,700 job will not include a new car, but will completely update the mechanical workings of the elevator.

Terry Dupr, assistant director of purchasing, said the elevator is the original one placed in the building when it was built in the 1960s.

“The elevator needs modernizing,” he said. “It needs to be brought up to (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards, and it needs to be brought up to today’s standards.”

Some of the upgrades include a microprocessor base, which will make the elevator software-oriented; a new drive machine and break assembly, which controls the operation of the elevator; replacement of the relay logic type controller; installation of remote monitoring and a color monitor installed in the machine room;

Firefighters’ service Phases I and II, which will allow firefighters easier access in case of a fire; replace hall lanterns, signals, call stations, position indicators, hangers and rollers, car clutch assembly, hoistway door pick-up rollers; provision of a door protection system, which will use a minimum of 40 microprocessor-controlled infrared light beams; and installation of an ADA-compliant two-way communication device with vandal-resistant, hands-off emergency auto dial.

American Crescent Elevators of Metairie, which holds the maintenance contract for the elevator, will do the repairs.