Not directly sports related, but an important improvement for the University.
Goodbye Sherrouse
'Building Bash' brings forth future of ULM
Lunzeta Chretien
lchretien@thenewsstar.com
July 16, 2004
Brandi J Thomas/The News-Star
ULM President Jim Cofer presents T-shirts reading "Reclaiming our Campus" to supporters during a ceremony at the demolition site of Sherrouse Hall on campus Thursday.University of Louisiana at Monroe President James Cofer said goodbye to Sherrouse Hall as he bashed the old dormitory's faded yellow bricks with a sledgehammer on Thursday.
Cofer had help from other university and area officials, while a bulldozer plunged into defunct dormitory rooms.
Students and former residents gathered at the "Building Bash," a ceremony that marked not only the end of an era on the college campus but the promise of a $50 million project that will bring modern, apartment-style student housing to ULM.
The new dorms are targeted to open the fall 2005.
"The constructions of new student housing, as important as it is, should not be seen in isolation," Cofer said. "This is part of our larger effort to redesign the face of ULM's campus."
Included in the university facelift will be a campus front on DeSiard Street. Beside original campus buildings, new classrooms will go up, a student "success" center will be in the middle of campus, and Sandel Hall, which houses the administration and bookstore, will be renovated.
The campus will have a centrally located park on the western bank of Bayou DeSiard, with an outdoor amphitheater and recreation areas. The university's student union also will be renovated.
Treina Landrum, director of ULM's recreation services, said the face-lift will add to quality of life on campus.
"It's going to draw more students to live on campus," she said, "because when you live on campus, you're more involved in activities and can participate in student life more."
Evan Earl, a pre-nursing major, who lives off campus plans to move back once the project is complete. He thinks it will draw other students to the campus.
"We have the space and availability," he said. "We have one of the most attractive campuses in Louisiana, and the new dorms will make us more competitive."
Although, Student Government Association President LaTroy Cato will have graduated by the time the changes are made, he's happy the campus is getting a makeover.
"I'll come back as an alumnus and be proud," he said. "And hopefully my children will be able to enjoy the new dorms as well as all the other changes."
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