Changes to street names at Nicholls State University unsuccessful

Last week in an email sent to students and faculty at Nicholls State University, it was stated that proposed name changes to current streets on campus were not approved by Lafourche Parish’s 9-1-1 Board of Commissioners.

In the email, it states that the proposed changes to street names on campus were put forward to introduce a theme of academia and unity while on campus. These included renaming Rienzi Circle to College Circle, Madewood Drive to Alumni Drive, Leighton Drive to Red & Gray Drive among others. The proposed changes were agreed upon by the university and a task-force of students, faculty, alumni and community members.

Director of University Communications Jerad David said that the university is committed to these changes, and that they would continue to work with the community to achieve their goal.

“We know and we feel very strongly that we are doing the right thing changing these names. We feel that in order to grow as a university, that one thing we should do is focus on the things that we do here. All of the names that were recommended had some sort of academic tieback. It all tied back to that academic and that college experience that we provide here at Nicholls. In order to make everyone feel included and welcome here on our campus, we are committed to these name changes,” said David.

In June, the university approved name changes to two buildings. P.G.T. Beauregard Hall and Leonidas K. Polk Hall were renamed to the College of Science and Technology and the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, respectively. While Nicholls was able to change the names of these buildings, David explained that the process of changing street names lies with Lafourche Parish’s 9-1-1 Board of Commissioners rather solely with the university.

“We don’t one-hundred percent know what the next step is going to be. Obviously, we have a few options. If you look at other schools across the state. LSU being one, McNeese also went through a similar process. Each 9-1-1 board within each parish is authorized by the state at the parish level…Lafourche Parish is a little bit different in that the 9-1-1 board actually approves or denies at that board level all street names and street name changes,” said David.

David said that despite the 9-1-1 board’s decision, the university intends to continue moving forward with the process of changing the street names. The university also intends to continue having conversations with community members and leaders to find a way to work together on the proposed changes.

“We’re looking at the legal aspect of it. Do we have autonomy as a state agency, or are we kind of treated a little bit differently than any other street name in the parish. One of the things that we are certainly going to do is continue to have conversations with our local and regional leaders. We’re having conversations with our legislators, we’re having conversations with the mayor and the parish president and getting feedback to see how we can work together to make this work,” said David. “It may just be a matter of us having a little bit more conversation with those leaders and that 9-1-1 board and explain to them a little bit clearer why we feel this is so important.”