Madison Holmes wanted to leave Southern University. Now, she calls the Martin Luther King Jr. Catholic Student Center home.
The center’s new computer lab has become one of the places where Holmes feels calm, supported and connected to campus life. Holmes said she struggled with being away from her support system in Pass Christian, Mississippi, while also managing difficult classes. At the time, transferring closer to home seemed like a better option.
She recalled going to the library one day to print a lab report and finding a long line at the printer. “I was like, ‘Oh, wait. I know where I can go,’” Holmes said. “So, I came here and printed out my lab report, and then I took it to class.” Her experience is one example of how the center provides students with a place to turn when they need support.
The computer lab opened in October after the project began in August 2026. An anonymous private benefactor provided funding that helped pay for the lab and other improvements throughout the building.
The Rev. Thomas F. Clark, chaplain of the Martin Luther King Jr. Catholic Student Center, said the center aims to support students as they adjust to college life away from home. “You realize that when you’re away from home for the first time, you’re trying to make your way,” Clark said.
According to Clark, students often expressed the need for additional study space. Others shared concerns about unreliable laptops or computer crashes, concerns that ultimately helped shape the decision to add a computer lab.
The lab is one of several resources available to students. The center also provides Wi-Fi, study space and approximately 50 meals every Thursday at 5 p.m. Located across from Bethune Hall, the Martin Luther King Jr. Catholic Student Center has served Southern University students for decades.
According to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge, Father Rawlin B. Enette advocated for a stronger Catholic presence at Southern in the late 1960s. Construction on the center began in 1969 after land was donated by a university official.
Originally known as the Newman Center, the building was later renamed the Martin Luther King Jr. Catholic Student Center. Southern University art professor Frank Hayden also created religious artwork for the facility.
While the center provides practical resources, it also offers students a place to slow down, reflect and feel supported. For Holmes, Clark is part of that support system. “I do think that Father Clark is a safe space and a person I could go to,” Holmes said.
That sense of availability is intentional. Clark said students sometimes stop by with personal concerns or during times of stress. They talk and, in some cases, pray together as he helps students navigate the semester.
“We just feel that we can add to that support by being available and providing a warm and friendly place,” Clark said. As students navigate the challenges of college life, the Martin Luther King Jr. Catholic Student Center continues to offer a place of support, community and encouragement. For Holmes, it has become a home away from home.
Gallery • 3 Photos Brianna Meeks Interior shots of the newly create computer lab.
Based on reporting by Southern University – SouthernDIGEST.
