LSU Spring Break Tips

Campus is buzzing about the arrival of Spring Break, and students are starting to pack their bags and prepare for a week of rest and relaxation. Here are 8 tips for the best Spring Break yet.

1. Set Your Expectations: What are you hoping for? Relaxation? Earn some extra cash? Fun in the Sun? Defining your goals can help direct the rest of your decisions.

2. Create a Budget-- and Stick to It: Avoid getting caught up in the moment, and  create a realistic financial game plan  based off your expectations, destination, and most importantly, your bank account status.  A week's worth of fun is not worth long term credit card debt and financial struggles.

3. Pack Appropriately: Research the expected weather conditions, entertainment plans (nice restaurant vs. beach.), and activities. Regardless of location, be sure to pack a few "just in case" items like rain jackets, swimsuits, or dressy clothes-- you never know what might pop up. Don't forget your chargers and a camera!!!

4. Spring Break Your Res Hall Room: Unplug all major electronics, set the thermostat, and throw out perishable food. If you're really ambitious, tidy up so you can come back to a nice clean room.

5. Double Check and Have A Backup Plan: Don't let your trip be ruined by one mishap. Verify your travel reservations before you leave, and make sure you have a back up plan and an emergency contact--(i.e. car breaks down, bad weather, health emergency, etc.)

6. Don't Forget You're Still in School: At some point in the trip, it'll be easy to forget that it's spring break and not summer break. Make sure you remember to do any projects, studying or assignments due the following week, and allow time to recuperate to get back in the academic mindset. (When you come back, it's only 2 weeks till finals!)

7. Be Safe: This is the most important one. Use your common sense, and take extra precautions if you are in an unfamiliar place. Always use the buddy system, and tell someone where you're going, and when you'll be back.

8.  Have Fun: You only get four (err...or five) college spring breaks, so make sure to make the most of them. Whether you are working, visiting your family, vacationing, or just relaxing...enjoy! Take your well-deserved break and make sure you make a few great memories along the way.

I'm going to be far away from computers for the break, so I'll post my next blog the when classes resume! Have a great spring break!!

xoxo-- Girl in the Purple Polo

Which Residential College are You?

Spending time in so many of the residence halls, I've noticed each building seems to have a distinct personality.  Maybe I'm on a kick to relive my time spent with teen magazines, but I've developed a quiz to help you decide which Residential College you are.  

1. Your ideal night in involves...?

    a. Enjoying a night with your group watching movies and snacking on junk food

    b. A good philosophical debate with your friends about Socrates and Plato's beliefs

    c. A night of gaming with your buddies and testing out the latest technology

    d. Designing a new product that is sure to change the world

2. If you were stranded on an island,and could choose one of the below items, which would it be?

    a. Cell Phone (you can't call for help though)-- you've gotta keep in touch with your friends

    b. Your fully loaded e-reader, that is solar operated, of course

    c. Your gaming computer, completely loaded with every program known to man

    d. Tools-- the Swiss family tree house is nothing compared to your engineering skills

3. When choosing a place to eat with a group, you...

     a. Choose a place with ample seating and something for everyone

     b. Go somewhere of historical or academic significance

     c. Find the most tech-friendly restaurant-- free WiFi, trivia remotes, and ample televisions

    d. Develop an algorithm to compare price, location, and menu options

4. You have $15.00. What are you going to buy?

    a. 3 large pizzas and invite everyone over for a night of board game fun

    b. Tickets to that new exhibit at the museum 

    c. A new memory stick to store this week's documents

    d. The newest book on how to nab a career in your chosen field

5. It's time to pick an elective for next semester. When it comes to scheduling, you...

    a. Look for a truly unique class to take with your friends; you love trying new things

    b. Pick a challenging professor whose notorious for amazing lectures

    c. Look for a technologically-advanced class held in a smart classroom 

    d. Find a hands on class relevant to your major that will allow you to build your resume

6. An ideal program in the lobby of your residence hall is....

    a. An American Idol type talent show or an ice cream social-- anything that let's you meet others

    b. A professor lectureship series on Facebook, or a catered dinner and free admission to a play

    c. A speed texting competition or a Rock Band Warrior Night

    d. A successful guest speaker from your field of interest

RESULTS: Tally up your responses and determine which letter you chose most often. Remember, this quiz is meant for entertainment purposes, and is in no way meant to be indicative of who you are or where you must live. Enjoy!

Mostly A's: You are social! Herget Hall Residential College: You are a social butterfly and love hanging out. You like trying a little bit of everything and love meeting new people. You are looking to get as much as possible out of college and want to try and do and see everything possible.



Herget Hall: Home of our Freshman Residential College, a first-year experience open to residents of all majors!



Mostly B's: You are studious! West Laville Honors House: Whether it's debating with friends, volunteering, or working on a project, you are constantly looking to improve yourself, and know learning is about so much more than just a test. You never settle for a path just because it's easier and want to surround yourself with others just as focused as you.


West Laville Hall: Home to the Honors House--open to Honors College students of all years and majors.

 Mostly C's: You are tech-savvy! Broussard IT Residential College: You are always the first of your friends to try new technology (You were raving about Apple when everyone else thought it was just a fruit.) You love the technological movement the world is experiencing, and can't wait for the next invention. From computers to cell phones, to 3-D technology-- you love it all!


Broussard Hall-- home of the IT Residential College. It's open to freshmen of any major, the only requirement is to bring a laptop.

 Mostly D's: You are Driven!  Residential College One: You are passionate about your future and love your field. You realize your future career can truly be a position where you love what you do. You're looking to gain as much experience as possible, and can't wait to  network and make connections with others interested in your field. Res Life currently has discipline-based residential colleges for Business, Engineering, Science, Agriculture, and Mass Communication.


RCC West-- Home to the Business Residential College and open to Business Freshman.



Hope you  had fun, but I'm not so sure Teen magazine writing is in my future-- I think I'll stick to blogging :-D. As always, feel free to email me questions, comments, or ideas at girlinthepurplepolo@gmail.com.

xoxo-- Girl in the Purple Polo

You Know You Geaux To LSU When…..

With so many future students wandering campus for Spring Invitational, I started thinking about all the ways my fellow seniors and I have changed since freshman orientation. I realize we now share many commonalities-- almost as if there are distinguishing characteristics that make us LSU students....So, here we geaux......

You Kneaux You Geaux To LSU When.....

• Your closet consists of mainly LSU shirts….and you justify keeping them—You worked hard to get that one from the t-shirt toss!
• You know the Pentagon is not just a government building in D.C.
• You think eaux is the proper way to spell anything with an "oh" sound.
• You believe not only that purple and gold geaux together, but that it should be worn as often as possible.
• A parking spot right in front of your building absolutely makes your day.
• You laugh at students from other schools who think tailgating is actually meant to be out of a tail gate on a truck.
• Everyone becomes your best friend at the end of the semester when you have leftover meals to The 459 Commons and The 5 dining halls.
• You long ago learned the benefits of memorizing your 89- number, and secretly chuckle at those who still have to look at their Tiger Card.
• You can recite the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd down cheers anytime queued….including in your sleep.
• You associate lunchtime with the Alma Mater thanks to the clock tower at noon.
• You actually know the lyrics to the Alma Mater……or not.
• Free food is never to be underestimated.
• It seems everyone who plays the piano in Herget Residential College lobby knows the same three songs.
• You realize that hall bathrooms really aren't that bad….actually they can be kind of convenient.
• Mom's don't come to college, but somehow the res hall bathrooms are always clean (Hall bathrooms are cleaned twice a day in the res halls, and suite bathrooms are cleaned once a week!)
• You've realized a 12' by 15' room can actually hold some of the best memories of your life.
• Despite 12+ years of school "We Delivery" is now an acceptable noun and is a geaux-to for all take out needs.
• You wouldn't trade your loftable bed for anything—it's like the bunk bed you always wanted, but better.
• Tigercash on vending machines basically gets you through the night.
• You understand the meaning of Club Middleton and know it's the coolest place to be during midterms and finals.
• Flashmob raves seem to be a perfectly normal once-a-semester occurrence in the library.
• You know that despite mother nature, it's guaranteed to snow at least once a year on the Parade Ground thanks to RHA.
• Distance becomes measured in how long it takes to walk instead of in terms of miles.
• You no longer need to use the Memorial Tower and Tiger Stadium to find your way, but if anyone needs directions they are your go-to land marks.
• You hate when you go home and you actually have to plug your computer in to the Internet…..within two weeks you've convinced your parents to get wireless.
• Les Miles eating grass seems perfectly normal…..whatever works, right?
• You find tears in your eyes when saying goodbye to your floor custodian-- you'll miss talking to them every morning. Trust me.
• Your parents find that you've picked up your old habit of rocking in chairs thanks to the rocking desk chairs in the res halls.
• You feel you could host your own show on TLC with your creative and budget friendly decorating skills.
• Speaking of TV shows, you know MTV isn't the only cool Cribs episodes around!
• Patrick Taylor Hall and CEBA are used interchangeably….and probably always will be.
• You know you will always and forever bleed purple and gold….and find yourself unsure what this red substance is that biologists talk about.

Have ideas of your own? Comment below and share your LSU defining characteristic!

xoxo-- Girl in the Purple Polo

Spring on LSU's Campus Residential Life

Spring is officially here, and there's no better time to enjoy LSU's beautiful campus. Turn off your electronics and get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. There is plenty to do without using energy around the Res Halls.

1. Bike Around the Campus Lakes: The warm weather makes for a perfect bike ride. This ride will take you around the historic houses, city park, and a beautiful lake.

2. Fly a Kite on the Parade Ground: Cuz' you are never too old to fly a kite. Pick up a couple kites at the dollar store, and enjoy an afternoon with friends and some good old fashion fun.

3. Head out for a Picnic on the Levee: Pack up a sandwich and some refillable water bottles (we are being green here,) and a blanket and watch the world go by.

4. Attend an outdoor concert: Whether it's Groovin' on the Grounds (This weekend, March 26, 2011 with One Republic) or C4 in the Pentagon Courtyard, listening to some outdoor music is a great way to unwind. 

5. Join a Pickup Game: The Parade Ground is packed this time of year with students playing ultimate Frisbee, soccer, football, etc-- gather some friends and join in!

6. Spring Cleaning: Take the time to do a deep cleaning of your room. Sweep the floors, clean the windows, wash your sheets, and recycle/give away all the junk that has accumulated over the winter. You'll feel so much better walking into a nice clean room (plus it'll make move-out easier!)

7. Recyclable crafts:  Use your creative energy for something useful. You don't even have to spend money-- there are tons of crafts out there using recycled material, like this forever scarf, or make your own reusable bags.

8 Volunteer: Be it through Volunteer LSU, Habitat for Humanity, your sorority or organization, or just on your own. Volunteering is a great way to kick the stress of school and make a positive difference

9. Capture the Moment: Campus is bursting with beautiful blooming flowers, green trees, and blue skies. If you have a camera (digital, disposable, SLR...anything!) try your artistic talents at photography-- if nothing else, it'll be a great  memento of your time at LSU.

10. Develop a Green Thumb: Get some dirt, seeds, and paint a pot (or use old plastic jugs and paint them.) Place your plant in the window (don't forget to water it) and watch it grow!

11. Geaux to a Baseball Game: Take me out to an LSU game, take me out to the fans, buy me some crawfish and etouffee, I don't care if I never graduate, Let's root root root for the tigers, they (almost) always win this game, for it's one, three, four years, and you're out of the (college) world! (Okay, maybe I shouldn't rush into a songwriting career!)

Have a wonderful weekend, and enjoy the outdoors!

xoxo-- Girl in the Purple Polo

Tips for Winning UNPLUG

Happy St. Patrick's Day! We're half-way through the UNPLUG energy competition and the entire nation is donning green! So, what better time than now to share some extreme energy saving tips?

I've developed a list of some fool-proof ways to win the UNPLUG energy competition. While many tips are for all parties, some will require only the elite energy conservation competitor.

No-Wash March: While a normal energy-conscious competitor would only wash full loads of laundry, the ultra-competitor can participate in this elite event. College kids only need to wash once a month anyways, right?

The Original StairMaster: No need to hit the gym for this classic. Ditch that modern contraption called the elevator and save energy while burning calories (Spring Break is approaching fast!)

Shorter Showers: Really want to win the competition? Then shower in cold water, or just add on to No-Wash March, and make it No-Shower March...(don't worry if seats beside you in class become vacant, this is a perfectly normal side effect.)

Study Like it's 1869: Use natural light whenever possible, and turn on as few lights as possible when you must. Want an edge on your competition? Get your whole floor to turn off their lights for an entire night (or week)-- use glow sticks from the dollar store for lights.

Slay the Energy Vampires: Did you know that each microwave could pop a bag of popcorn from the energy wasted just by being plugged in? Or that phone chargers are one of the top energy consuming electronics? Slay these silent villains by unplugging appliances, chargers, and electronics when not in use.

Geaux Au Natural: Girls, save both time and energy (literally) by letting your hair do it's own thing. Ditch the flat iron, blow dryers, and curling irons. Embrace your natural beauty and slap on some styling gel, and rock it with confidence.

Be Your Own Heater: Set the thermostat on low and use layers to adjust to varying temperatures. Need the whole room to heat up? Do some jumping jacks and dancing to create your own heat. Want it to cool down? Take one of those above mentioned cold showers. (Like I said, some ideas are for the die hard competitors!)

While some of these were meant to be fun, many of the core ideas are beneficial. It's amazing how much the little things can actually make a big difference when combined! Gotta go slay some energy vampires and unplug the charger!

xoxo-- Girl in the Purple Polo (with a little bit of green!)

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Girl in the Purple Polo Goes Green with the Res Halls

This week marks the start of the third annual UNPLUG Energy Competition, where residents compete against other communities to lower their energy consumption the most. The winning community from each category (Res Halls and On-Campus apartments) receives an awesome celebration party, with great food and tons of awesome prizes!

I'm joining in on the effort as well,  so for the month of March my blog will focus on tips, demonstrations, and pics on sustainability!

I've always enjoyed this competition, because it allows me to take a step back and adjust my everyday habits. This year the competition is focusing on finding and doing your D.O.T. (Do One Thing.) The idea is that each person can commit to making one small change, and do that throughout the competition--together all the D.O.T.s form a big impact.

So, to kick everything off, here are a few pictures from UNPLUG!



Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) talk with students at the UNPLUG kick off in the dining halls.




Students could walk the "green" carpet and bike to power a lamp!




Residents join 32 million others and  pledge their "D.O.T."  online.




This awesome bike used the energy from pedaling to power the lamp on the front.



SIFE students gave residents energy saving tips to win the competition at The 459.





UNPLUG Energy Competition 2011 Do One Thing!





Blake Hall residents enjoyed the pre-kick off  presentation  with free Smoothie King.




RCC residents play trivia to win great prizes like "poppers" and the popular "sticky hands."





2010 West Campus Apartments residents enjoying the prizes from winning UNPLUG last year. 



I'll be back with more tips next week. Until then, check out the UNPLUG website or pledge your own DOT and join in on the fun!

xoxo-- Girl in the Purple Polo

Top Reasons to Live On Campus LSU Residential Life

With the residence halls at 95% capacity for next fall and campus housing renewal going on right now, there's never been a better time to make up your mind about living on campus. Here's my list on why it's an experience you simply don't want to miss.

Top 10 Reasons to Live On-Campus



Students enjoy an ice cream social in Blake Hall.

1. Real Life Facebook:

Hundreds of friends all in the same place. Like FB, but better! It's a built in social network, and a great way to make lasting friendships.



Evangeline students discuss a project with their prof.

 2. More Sleep, Less Stress: 


Wake up 20 minutes before class and still beat your professor there. Residential Colleges even have classes in the buildings, so you can show up in your pj's.

Thousands gather for Fall Fest 2011 in the quad.

3. Be in the Middle of it All: 
From football, to concerts, to guest speakers like the founder of Toms, if you live on campus, you are in the center of it all. 








Res College students take a class in their own building

4. Better Grades:

Studies show students who live on campus consistently earn higher GPA's. So, go ahead, make mom and dad proud!


Enjoy gourmet dining with a meal plan!

5. Buffet Everyday:
Buffet style dining halls, Panda Express, Jamba Juice, etc. all within walking distance...What's not to love about that?

Card access is required to gain access to ALL Res Halls

6. You're Never Home Alone:  
With 24-hour front desks, card and key access checkpoints, LSU PD, and campus transit living on campus is your safest bet. 



A resident receives faculty help in her own res hall.

7. Top Secret Test Secrets: 
If you live in a Res College, many professors come to you, holding special office hours and study sessions in your building! 


Residents enjoy a hassle free move-in ready room!

8. No Due Dates:
Ditch the  worries about set up fees and fluctuating bills. All rent, utilities, furniture and programs are included in your one time payment per semester, available on your fee bill with your tuition.

2010 Residential Life Staff

9. No Hassle Anything: 
With an entire staff of professionals behind you, like maintenance, custodians, housing assignment coordinators, RA's and more-- you'll never have to deal with anything alone.

Evangeline roommates enjoy the ultimate LSU experience!

10. Live the Dream: 
Living on campus is the ultimate in the college experience. You haven't had the full LSU experience until you've lived with LSU Res Life.

 If you've been accepted to the University, apply today. Trust me, it's an experience you don't want to miss! Questions about living on campus? Feel free to email me at girlinthepurplepolo@gmail.com for a student's perspective.

xoxo-- Girl in the Purple Polo