Campus renovations discussed in this week’s SGA meeting

The Student Government Association hosted their sixth meeting of the Fall 2018 semester Monday with Nicholls President Jay Clune as their special guest.

Opening with a prayer and the pledge, the meeting began with a few remarks from SGA President Grant Henry. Next, Clune took the floor.

Clune spoke about the multiple renovations the university plans to take on in the near future. First, Clune said he hopes to work on making the student union a cozier, more inviting space.  Demolishing the raised area of seating and the walls that surround the table and chairs will create an open space for students to study and socialize.

Clune said that by making the main section of the union more open it will make The Grid, Bookstore and food service area more visible to students. Currently, The Grid is kept behind glass doors and windows. Opening it up to the main area would allow students to have better access to it. Similarly, the food services would be brought out into the open space from behind the walls. More windows, new tables, chairs and booths will also be added to the student union.

Austin Wendt, SGA vice president, said that since sororities and fraternities often crowd around the same few tables, sponsoring a table would be a new option. The organization would purchase a table, and in return, their crest would be engraved on it.

Clune also discussed the renovation of the library. The old carpets will be pulled out and replaced with dark brown flooring. The brick floors will be buffed and sealed, with a possibility of installing softer lights to give it a coffee shop feel.

“It won’t feel like you’re on an operating table when you walk in,” Clune said.

A $30,000 coffee machine will be placed by the stairwell. The kiosk will be able to serve hot and cold coffees of different kinds, such as lattes and cappuccinos.        

Clune also discussed opening up the first floor of the library as much as possible, as well as adding more windows. Rooms such as the math and geomatics labs will be moved to academic buildings in order to create an open floor plan. Windows will be added throughout the building but specifically by the coffee kiosk.

The budget for renovating the whole three-story library would be 8.3 million dollars. However, none of it would come from student funds. A majority of the money will be donated by the Schouest family and company.

Next, SGA discussed concerns over student safety, and the possibility of adding more lighting to dark areas around campus.

For students creating Homecoming displays, they’ll be judged on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 1 p.m. All entries are to be turned in by noon of that day. There will be cash prizes for the winners of first, second and third place, starting at $100.