News release
Public Information Office   SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061
publicinfo@selu.edu Summer  2005 news releases Public Information home News archive

Contact: Rene Abadie
Date: 8/26/05
 
President Randy Moffett welcomes student and familyClick on image for publication quality photo 
WELCOME TO HOME AWAY FROM HOME -- Southeastern President Randy Moffett helped welcome students to their new "home away from home" in the new university residence halls. Here he greets music major Brandy Nicholas of Luling, her mother Clara and sister Jenny. 
SOUTHEASTERN OPENS NEW RESIDENTIAL UNITS
       HAMMOND -- Students returning to Southeastern Louisiana University’s Hammond campus this week for the fall semester saw major changes on the university landscape.
       Gone are the demolition sites, remnants of dormitories from the 1960s that were torn down last spring. Replacing them are eight brand new residential units that are technology-rich and feature the space, privacy and security that students today seek.
       With the recently-completed $55 million construction project, Southeastern’s residential environment now features modern space for 2,089 students, which includes Southeastern Oaks, an apartment style complex, and the Village, residential units for organizations, both completed in the last several years. 
       The construction did not add any additional beds to the campus, explained Brad O’Hara, vice president for student and public affairs. However, the new units have resulted in increased student demand with more than 95 percent of available beds filled.
       The project has been managed by Capstone Development Corporation of Birmingham, Ala., which contracted with the university to handle the financing, renovation, demolition and construction projects. The project encompassed considerable logistics involving a careful phasing of demolition and construction in order to accommodate students living on campus, summer camps and other events.
       “The buildings were designed to be aesthetically pleasing, with lots of green space and with parking areas located out of sight of the main thoroughfares through campus,” O’Hara said. “The new facilities also feature lots of common space designed so that residents can develop a strong sense of community.”
       Bevann McCartney, a senior marketing major from Mandeville, serves as one of 33 “community assistants,” students who serve as in-house “go-to” mentors for their peers living in the residence halls.
       “The comments I hear from students is that everything is great. Everyone seems pleased with the  the availability of cable, Internet, and telephone service,” McCartney said. “We had our first community meeting this week and had a great turnout and a lot of interest. That’s a sign that we’re building more of a  community spirit.”
       The new offices of the University Police Department are also located in one of the residential halls, Pride Hall, placing it in a more centralized sector of the campus and adding a greater degree of security for residents.