Chemistry department announces new freshman

The Nicholls State University Chemistry Department has a new incoming freshman, and it’s a dog.

Rubi is a young dog who belongs to professor of physical sciences Chad Young and his family.

Young said the reason for Rubi’s addition to the chemistry department is to help students grow accustomed to college life.

“We just wanted sort of a story we can tell students, because freshmen, when they come in, there are lots of obstacles they face, and we want Rubi to face those obstacles,” Young said.

According to Young, Rubi will be used to tell a story that lets new students know they are not alone. He said Rubi will teach students that it is okay to make mistakes.

“I want the freshmen to understand that sometimes, college is not that easy, and I don’t want them to grow discouraged, because everyone makes a C or a D or even an F; it just happens,” Young said.

Young talked about some of the challenges Rubi might face, including a low score on her first test. Young said students will relate to Rubi as she struggles but still keeps trying.

Within the next few months, the chemistry department plans to release stories about Rubi as she starts to experience college.

Young wants students to see that Rubi struggles and that it is okay.

Rubi comes to campus almost every morning, but most of the chemistry students have not met her yet.

Young said that hopefully, students will meet her within the following week.

Young also said that even though the chemistry students haven’t met Rubi yet, they already love her.

“The students really love her, like our majors. Even though they haven’t met her yet, they’ve been asking, ‘when do we get to meet Rubi?’” Young said.

Young said it is like Rubi is the mascot of the department. He wants people to know she is not a mascot– she is a student, and she has a story to tell.

“We have a story we want to tell, and Rubi is a way to tell that story,” Young said.