Best Hang-out Spots-- LSU Residence Halls

Can you believe the semester is almost over? I can't! During this time of year, I'm always looking for a change of scenery and a fun place to hang out or study. The residence halls are packed with great hang out spots, and here's a list of my favorites.

Blake's Floor Common Room: Each floor of Blake Hall has a mini lobby with tables, chairs, couches, and a study room. There's plenty of room to hang out with friends, work on group projects, or do some serious studying.

East Campus Apartments Activity Center: The activity center is the hub for most programs in the apartments.. Kick back and play a game of pool while watching a game on the big screen, or attend one of the many programs held here every semester.

Broussard Aquarium: This awesome hangout in the IT Residential College is filled with plenty of entertainment. From foosball to air hockey-- they have it. It also sits adjacent to a fountain courtyard and has enough seating to hold all of your friends (or study group!)

Miller Sun Deck: Looking for some fun in the sun? Look no further. The Miller Sundeck features awesome outdoor views of the lake. It's the perfect place to catch a few rays with great scenery.

Residential College West's TV Room: With a huge flat screen TV, plenty of couches and tables, the TV room in the RCC are a college student's dream. Whether you're catching up on the latest MTV episode, watching sports, or playing in an Xbox rock band tournament, this is definitely a great hang out spot.

Engineering Residential College Kitchen: While there aren't too many college chefs, those who love cooking will find this place to be their dream kitchen. RCC's newly renovated kitchen features two full cooking stations with two stoves, two ovens, a microwave, and ample counter space.

Your Crib: What better hang out than your own room? It's decorated just the way you like, and filled with your favorite things. So, go ahead--  pop some popcorn, plop on your bed, and invite some friends over (or enjoy some "me" time.) You've only got two weeks left in your space till summer, so enjoy!

While finals (and graduation for some!) are practically here, remember to relax and allow yourself some study breaks and fun time! Check out my study tips for surviving midterms for more tips! If you have some time in the next week or two, find your favorite spots and enjoy them!

xoxo-- Girl in the Purple Polo

Inside Scoop: LSU Res Life Cribs

It's that time again! The film crew at Res Life worked all semester finding the next batch of coolest rooms on campus. This semester they are all new rooms, new looks, and new faces. Here's a behind the scenes look at the making of LSU Res Life Cribs 2011!

Take a peak into life in the Engineering Residential College.

Their room sported an awesome view of Tiger Stadium-- how cool is that?

These guys made the coolest entrance yet on our cribs-- be sure to look for their video in the coming weeks!

We were able to get an inside look at the rooms and facilities in the newly renovated West Laville Honors House.

Our hosts wait to greet the camera for their big intro.

Filming an episode can be fun, scary, and slightly time consuming (sometimes it takes 5 or 6 tries to get everything right!)



Thumbs up on a job well done!



Kaila led our very first RA (Resident Assistant) Cribs and gave the inside scoop on life as an RA veteran.

RA's usually receive a two person room for themselves-- allowing for lots of creativity in decorating!

This semester we were also able to get a look into the on-campus apartments!

What a cute room! ECA (East Campus Apartments) have individual rooms with shared common spaces.

It was obvious our ECA girls were great friends-- hear their story in their Cribs episode!

This is just a small preview into our next batch of episodes. Need something to hold you over until they are released? Check out our Youtube Channel for previous episodes and videos! I'll let you know when the new cribs are up!

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

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

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