Students voted to pass the self-assessed fee to fund the operation of the recreation center with 760 votes in favor to 203 votes against.The Student Government Association provided information on both the fee and how to vote, Ryan Donegan, SGA president, said, but he feels students ultimately made the decision and were individually responsible for the passing of the fee.
“SGA provided the information, and the students really ran with it, as you can see in the margin of votes,” Donegan said. “As SGA president, I realize what this center means for the University and the student body, and I couldn’t be happier. This was a huge win for Nicholls’ future.”
With the fee approved, the University will be able to move forward with the construction of the recreation center, Eugene Dial, vice president of student affairs and enrollment services, said. The University will no longer be the only university in Louisiana without a recreation center, and the project will be a tremendous addition to student life.
Dial said the architect for the center is in the final stages of design, and once the state grants final approval to move forward, the construction for the project will be bid out. This will ensure students are getting the best deal possible, Dial said. Once these details are in place, construction is anticipated to take between 18-24 months, beginning November 2010.
Institutional Advancement vice president David Boudreaux said the University intends to recommend to the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors that the center be named after the late Harold J. Callais of Golden Meadow. Callais, an entrepreneur and civic leader, was a long-term supporter of the University and served on the Board of Regents, the top higher education board in Louisiana. His family has donated $600,000, which will soon be matched with $400,000 by the Board of Regents, to create the Harold J. Callais Endowed Chair in Economic Development, which will allow the University to attract eminent scholars who provide excellence in teaching and researching. The family has also endowed three major scholarships to the University to provide funding to deserving students.
Boudreaux said naming the facility in memory of Callais seemed appropriate because he was an avid outdoorsman who would have whole-heartedly endorsed the center.
With the construction of the center, Donegan said students will be able to look forward to new student jobs, convenient hours for fitness and activities and an increase in on-campus activity.
Dial said the University will keep students informed about the status of the construction and SGA will continue to be involved in the planning and development stages. He said they are also in the process of reactivating the student advisory committee for the recreation center. Dial encourages students interested in serving on the committee to contact the SGA.
