What I'm thankful for LSU Res Life

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you are enjoying some good food with good company. As the holiday season moves in, I am constantly reminded of how much I have to be grateful for.

This week is a Thanksgiving  blog focused on all the wonderful people who make living on campus great!

Resident Assistants (RA's):  RA's work hard for the entire school year to provide residents with events, safety, and some much needed advice. They work late nights and through breaks, holidays, and football games. Thanks for all you do!

Residential Hall Custodians:   Residents often form special bonds with their community's staff of custodians who keep the halls sparkling clean everyday. They  have great attitudes and genuine care for the residents and the facilities.  With friendly hellos and good mornings, they greet students and visitors with a smile.

Desk Assistants (DA's): DA's are student workers who work the front desks in the residence halls 24/7. Whenever a hall is open, a front desk is open as well. DA's work through nights, weekends, and breaks, so we can always find help, (or misplaced keys) when we need it!

Facility Services: With 17 residence halls and 2 apartments on campus, things are bound to happen. Facility Services always responds promptly to any concerns and fixes problems as fast as possible to keep the buildings in tip top shape.

Res Life IT Help Desk: Did you know LSU Res Life has an IT support desk just for on campus residents? Whether you need help connecting to the Internet, installing new software, or fixing a problem, they're available to help.They have helped me (err... my computer) countless times to keep it up and running.

Residence Hall Association (RHA): The new flat screen in Herget? Splatterbeat? Snowin' in the South? Yep, you guessed it, it's all put on by your RHA staff! RHA is comprised of on-campus students who plan activities and advocate for the needs of residents.  Have ideas or concerns for your community? Contact your floor rep to have your voice heard.

Residents: It wouldn't be Res Life if it weren't comprised of all of the amazing residents. Thank you for creating this incredible environment, and making on-campus living fun and memorable. For all of the late nights, the friends, and the support-- you put the residence in to Residential Life!

Hope you have a relaxing and food-filled break! See you back on campus for dead week (a week dedicated to concentrated study) and finals! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

xoxo-- Girl in the Purple Polo

SPOTLIGHT: C4

I first saw C4, a Pentagon Community band, on a cool Thursday afternoon. The relaxed jazz sounds began playing through the courtyard. As if cued, students emerged from their halls with blankets, lawn chairs, and popcorn to sit with friends, and enjoy the music in their community.

C4 is named after the band members' stack in Beauregard Hall. They formed after meeting each other during move-in week. The band plays a mix of improv, popular songs, and jazz.  I was able to get the inside scoop from Austin, the drummer.

How did you select the genre of music and the songs?
We mostly do improv, jazz, or random popular songs that have a chill vibe. Dom and Andrew played in a band together, and did a lot of jazz, so that's a big influence.


How did the band form?
Dom and Andrew were playing music in their room (bass and keyboard) a couple of days before move-in day. A few of us heard them upstairs so we went to go check it out.  I started playing on a trash can, a desk, a box, and their amps.

Eventually, we decided it would be cool to go outside and jam in the courtyard. Our first jam was with Dom, Andrew, and I (Austin). The next time, Bob grabbed his sax and joined in and John brought his guitar.


Where do you see the band going?
We honestly aren't that serious of a band...We play because we love the music. If we went out and played and no one was there watching, we'd still jam. We don't have future plans, but that's how we want it.


Did you know each other before hand?
Only Dom and Andrew knew one another.

Where do you practice?
We don't practice.

I see you play "drums" on a  unique "drum set." Where did this inspiration come from?
Once we moved outside I just went around hitting on stuff to see how it sounded. I started with the bench, a chair outside, and a trashcan. Now, I play on the bench, a plastic clothes bin, any chair, and a small cymbal.

How do you feel living on campus has affected your band?
If we didn't live on campus, more specifically in the Pentagon, the band never would have formed. The courtyard is the only way that our band was able to grow. I don't think our story could have happened any where else.




Thanks, C4! 

xoxo-- Girl in the Purple Polo

LSU Day: ResLife Past and Present

LSU is celebrating its Sesquicentennial this week with LSU Day. That's 150 years of students living, learning, and growing on this campus.

The university opened just before the Civil War, thrived during the roaring twenties, survived the Great Depression, sacrificed for World War II,  and protested during the sixties and seventies. LSU has witnessed so much, and students have been living on campus through it all. 


I think that is one of the things I love the most about Residential Life. The tradition and history behind it. The residence halls were here long before me and will be around long after I graduate.
LSU Res Life frequently quotes that we are not the "dorms of yesteryear." But, what were the dorms of yesteryear? I've found these pictures of the residence halls through the ages.

The Pentagon Barracks on LSU's original campus downtown Baton Rouge. The Pentagon Community as we know it today was modeled after these buildings.

The Horseshoe community before all of the cars. Photo courtesy of LSU University Relations Archive

The Stadium Dorms. Photo courtesy of LSU University Relations Photography Archive. 

Female students talk with their "dorm mom."  Photo courtesy of LSU University Relations Archive

The Pentagon Barracks c. 1890 in downtown Baton Rouge. (These are not the same buildings that are on campus now!) Photo courtesy of Louisiana State University Photograph collection.

Girls relaxing in Herget Hall.  Photo courtesy of LSU University Relations Archive

"Yes, Mom, I'm going to class." Some things don't ever change. Photo courtesy of LSU University Relations Archive

Graham Hall replaced by the Residential College Complex which opened Spring of 2008. Photo courtesy of LSU University Relations Archive

Boys hanging out. Photo courtesy of LSU University Relations Archive

Girls singing around the Miller piano. Photo courtesy of LSU University Relations Archive

Boys create a wading pool on the West Laville Patio. Photo Courtesy of Louisiana State University Special Collections, Gumbo 1996, pg. 49.

Calling Home. Photo Courtesy of Louisiana State University Special Collections, Gumbo 1957, pg. 2.

 I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I have. If you have any memorable stories or old pictures  from living in a residence hall, email me at girlinthepurplepolo@gmail.com and I'll add the stories to my blog.

xoxo-- Girl in the Purple Polo

Top 9 Places to Eat on LSU's Campus

Southern Louisiana is known globally for its delicious cuisine. For students attending school in the heart of it all,  food is an important part of the LSU experience. What's the greatest thing about it? You don't even have to leave campus to taste it...

Here's my list of absolute favorites with every price range and food craving in mind-- from gourmet  to vending machines!

1.Vending Machine-- Herget's Ice Cream Vending Machine: I don't know how many of you have had the pleasure of this machine, but it is awesome. Not only is the ice cream fantastic on a hot day, but the vacuum retrieval system is seriously entertaining.

2. Sit Down Restaurant-- The Faculty Club: Despite the name "Faculty Club," everyone is invited to join this tasty luxury lunch. Dine in a classic venue, built with elegance during the Great Depression as one of Roosevelt's Reconstruction projects. Its specialty is Southern food, and I've yet to find anything less than delicious on the menu. Also, you can use Paw Points and Tiger Cash here.

3. Grab N' Geaux-- Pierre's Landing: If you find yourself  on the South side of campus a good bit, then this is the place for you. From candy, to doughnuts, to Papa John's, to a deli-- there's something for everyone and every mood. For a cool drink to accompany you on your journey to class, don't miss the Icee machine on your way out! (And turn your classmates green with envy!)

4.Best Breakfast-- Einstein's Bagel:  Nothing beats a toasted, warm, perfectly buttered bagel in the morning on my way to class... Okay, maybe the above mentioned bagel, with some freshly squeezed orange juice or a frozen mocha beverage.

5.  Coffee-- CC's in the Law Center: I'm almost hesitant to post this gem, as the secret may get out. This CC's is tucked away on the second floor of the Law Center, and provides not only your favorite coffee beverage, but a great study haven around a lot of smart people. You'll feel as though your IQ  increased just from sitting in the academic leisure haven.

6. Best Buffet Style Lunch-- Magnolia Room: This lunch buffet is located on the third floor of the Union and just reopened. The menu rotates throughout the week, but is always an all you can eat buffet line with salads and desserts. The main courses include food like fried catfish, red beans and rice, Flank Steak, and more.

7. Late Night Snacking-- Taco Bell @ Outtakes: Taco Bell is known for its' fourth meal, and with this on campus location open until 2:00 AM, it certainly holds up to it's reputation. I've frequented this place many a late night for a nice study break with good sustenance to keep me going.

8. All You Can Eat Buffet--The 459 and The 5: These meal plan locations give a whole new meaning to dining halls. The food is delicious! The dining halls embrace their Southern location with home-style cooking, while adding a healthy twist, and plenty of options including a salad bar, dessert bar, pizza station, and a 30 day rotating menu with a wide variety of specialty entrees.

  
9. Dessert--: LSU Dairy Store: What beats a nice ice cream cone or milkshake? Try having the ice cream made by students with LSU's own smart cows! This ice cream is some of the freshest I've ever had!

And if these choices weren't enough,the Tiger Lair will be reopening in the Union soon with fast service food from Chick-fil-A, Jamba Juice, Panda Express and more!

All of this talking about food has made me hungry! I'm going to geaux and grab some delicious food. Happy Eatings!

xoxo-- Girl in the Purple Polo