The numbers are ringing up again this year for the Nicholls residence halls. “Last year there were 1,008 students who checked in into the dorms. This year we had 996 students who checked in,” Sabrina Laurent, director of residential services said.

“The number of applications is almost equal to last year’s number of applications,” Laurent said.

“There are several things that contribute to this year’s numbers. One is the administration, the returning students who are liking Nicholls and returning, and the residence halls’ staff who make students want to come back, year to year,” she explained.

Laurent said she likes that there are a large number of newcomers to Nicholls. She said it may be the old-time students who are giving the good word about Nicholls, and that some are even returning because they like Nicholls and do not want to leave.

There was a change in the process of checking-in into the dorms. Laurent said the “main check-in was over in 2 days, decreasing the process by half.”

She said the change “helped speed up the process” a lot.

The checking-in process was not the only thing to improve. There was a new elevator put in the Ellender Hall.

“It took only four weeks to construct and has not broken down yet. It was a tremendous need,” Laurent said.

“It is an awesome improvement for the hall.”

The presence of the Saints not only improved the elevator in Ellender Hall, but also improved the showerheads, changing from the low position to the goose-neck showerhead that was raised 12-16 inches higher than the old shower head.

In Calecas Hall, there were a lot of renovations. There are new tiles in the bathrooms and halls, new desktops, cloth-covered chairs, lighting under the desks, new full-sized beds and new mirrors, marble countertops, showers and sink fixtures in the bathrooms. “There were 170 twin-sized beds put in the regular halls,” Laurent said.

Thanks not only goes to just the residence halls staff but the “entire campus who helped in preparation for the students that checked-in on last Thursday and Friday,” Laurent said.

The staff continues to try to make students feel at home on the Nicholls campus.

“There are two different ways residence halls are giving programs in the residence halls this semester,” Latoya Bailey, director of student activities said.

“One is that between all the residence halls staff, there will be approximately 100 different programs. Two is the programs given or Co-sponsored by the Residence Hall Association, like the bonfire around Homecoming time, and the Wal-Mart van trips.

Bailey went on to explain, “All announcements of programs are going to be announced by flyers. It is very important for residents of the halls to pay there $5.00 fee so these programs can be put on.”