Zachary Taylor Hall, which has housed over 200 students since the fall of 2009, will temporarily close its doors for renovations.
Most current residents will be moved to currently vacant Cardinal Newman Hall, a 96-bed facility located on the southern part of campus. Others will find homes in other residence halls.
“We will open Cardinal Newman Hall in the Spring 2013 semester,” said Robin Rodrigue, director of Marketing and Strategic Initiatives for Auxiliary Services. “Students from Zachary Taylor will be reassigned to that space and open spaces in other residence halls.”
Zachary Taylor held roughly 11 percent of the residential student population in the fall of 2011 and is one of the cheapest housing options Southeastern has to offer. Over the last five years, what has become known as one of the oldest buildings on campus has gradually increased its number of residents up to last fall, when the number dropped from 292 in the fall of 2010 to 267 last year, according to a survey by the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment. But for the upcoming spring semester, Zachary Taylor Hall will be undergoing renovations to several systems in the building.
“Maintenance to the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system and Fire Alarm system, which will not allow for occupancy during that time,” said Rodrigue.
However, students were warned of the issue earlier in the semester and will be attended to constantly throughout the process.
“They were made aware of the temporary relocation during the fall 2012 assignment process and will be provided with a detailed schedule of relocation before the end of the fall 2012 semester and specific information about reassignment during the Spring Intent Campaign during the month of October,” said Rodrigue.
According to Rodrigue, some may find the accommodations in Cardinal Newman Hall more enjoyable, including a shared room with a vanity mirror, with two adjacent rooms sharing one bathroom. Zachary Taylor has community bathrooms. Students won’t have to wait long though, as Zachary Taylor is expected to be up and running by the summer of 2013 according to Rodrigue.

Correction: In the printed version of The Lion’s Roar, Robin Rodrigue was incorrectly identified as the director for Auxiliary Services. The online version has been updated to reflect her correct title as Director of Marketing and Strategic Initiatives for Auxiliary Services.