Photo courtesy of McNeese Office of Marketing and Communications

After nearly a decade of planning and two years of construction, McNeese has opened the doors to the new student union, officially named the Elizabeth & Leslie Richard Student Union.

The student union began operations Monday after an exclusive student open house Saturday. The official name unveiling of the union to the general public followed on Wednesday.

SGA President Lianne Montelibano called the building “beautiful.”

“As a Rowdy rider, I used to walk students through the New Ranch and into the Old Ranch and show them the cafeteria, and I just knew those facilities weren’t up to par with what students deserve,” Montelibano said. “With this new union, we now have a new cafeteria, open study spaces students can reserve for free with their ID, more places to lounge. It is a much more modern building, and it really does show that people are invested in the future of McNeese.”

The Feb. 22 exclusive student open house began with opening remarks and a speech by interim president Dr. Kedrick Nicholas. The ribbon cutting ceremony included Dr. Meghan Olinger, dean of student support and advocacy, Dr. Stanley Alexander, director of the new student union, Dr. Michael Buckles, provost and vice president of academic affairs, Montelibano, and Mr and Miss McNeese Belle and LaBelle.

McNeese FYE peer mentors and the student union student workers gave tours of the building.

The new dining area features multiple food sections including smoothies, international, special diet, hot food, grill and deli.

The building also features a ballroom divisible into five spaces, outdoor gathering areas, and study rooms students can reserve for free. Offices housed in the student union include the Student Government Association, Student Life Coalition, the office of the dean of student support & advocacy, and the office of Portia Metoyer, assistant director of the Student Union Complex.

The idea for a new student union has been under discussion since 2016, but construction did not start until the summer of 2024. The project was funded by a student-approved fee passed in 2020, which contributes to paying back a $12.84 million bond McNeese used to pay for construction.  The bond represents approximately one-third of the cost of construction, with the remaining two-thirds coming from a no-interest loan from the McNeese Foundation and university reserve funding dedicated to the project, which includes a financial gift from a donor.

To assist in paying the debt, the university also plans to rent out the ballroom area to the public for events. The revenue from that would go toward paying the bond. Currently, one payment of $290,000 has been made for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

Taylon Roy, a senior psychology major, said he adores the space.

“The glass architecture gives off a sense of luxury and modernity, creating an entirely different atmosphere compared to other parts of the school,” Roy said. “It is so much fun to have a new and unique location on campus to explore.”