The Nicholls State University Student Government Association held its weekly meeting in LeBijou Theater in the student union. 

Vice President Sydney Matherne opened the meeting by introducing this week’s speakers which were University President Jay Clune, Mary Jackson from the Institutional Advancement department and Makerspace Director Jeremiah Johnson.

In his address, Clune discussed the current renovation projects going on around campus, including the Guidry Stadium end zone complex, Stopher Gymnasium, the Convergence Media Center in Talbot Hall, the Bollinger Memorial Student Union as well as the campus greenhouse, which is set to open this May. 

He also announced that Nicholls  will soon be starting its biggest project: The Hub. Clune then opened the floor to Jeremiah Johnson to elaborate.

Johnson explained that The Hub is a Makerspace, an area that he described as, “a space where people can play, explore and create as a community.”

He explained that Makerspaces leverage the power of technology to provide personalized learning instead of ‘one-size-fits-all’ curriculum. 

The Hub will feature 3D printers, laser engravers, a CNC router, a waterjet cutter, a vinyl cutter, sewing machines, a digital embroidery machine, soldering equipment, a full woodworking shop and a full metal shop. 

The space will also include a group conference and education center. Clune added that The Hub will also be a lounge area. He recalled Tulane’s Makerspace director’s description as “a community that you happen to have machines in, rather than a warehouse of machines that you try to stick students in.”

The Hub is set to open on the first floor of Ellender Memorial Library this spring.