Lastsemester the Southern University Alumni Federation broke ground for theconstruction of a new alumni house located along the Mississippi River.
The nationalpresident of the SU alumni federation, Donald Wade, and the president of thealumni building fund committee, Reggie Joseph, have been meeting witharchitects, designers and builders and discussing sources of funding.
“We aretrying to establish a revenue fund that will take care of a note, we want to besure that we have the ability to pay it,” Wade said. “The alumni have been planningfor the construction of a bigger alumni house, but were waiting to get land andthe funds for the facility.”
The fiveacres of land at the end of Harding Boulevard was donated to SouthernUniversity by Rhodia, a chemical company.
StateSenator Cleo Fields, a 1984 SU alumnus, has given a $10,000 contribution andAramark has given a $225,000 contribution to begin the construction.
In order forthe actual building of the facility there will have to be several morecontributors.
“We aredealing with the finances of the building along with the design and once we getthese things put together, that are the hard part,”
Wade said. “The other part will be easier. The Alumni Federation isasking the alumni to reach out and help in making donations toward the project.They are currently developing informational material to be mailed to particulardonors and alumni asking to contribute to the alumni house. A “Builders Program” has beenestablished where every alumni will be mailed information to contribute acertain amount that will allow to get their name placed within the alumni housemaking it “giving friendly.”
”We think that within a short period oftime along with the design being developed the public will be very pleased withthe after,” Wade said.
To donate tothe Alumni House, call the Alumni Federation at (225) 771-4200.
