“What’s happening at LSU’s residence halls?” To answer that question, the Purple Polo seeks out the latest stories, happenings, and events occurring on campus as told by LSU's residential community. The Purple Polo involves real students telling their own stories about what is going on, and how it feels to be a part of LSU’s living-learning environment on campus. From testimonials by residents about student
life to in-depth coverage of campus events, the Purple Polo will be there.
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!)
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!
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.
With the launch of LSU’s very first roommate matching program (to begin, you'll need log on with your PAWs ID,) I decided to add in a few tips of my own on how to find your perfect roommate match. Everyone might initially think of important compatibility traits like messy vs. clean, or night owl vs. morning bird, but here’s a more in depth list of what I've found from living with roommates for four years.
Thermostat Control Compatibility:In my four years at college, I have heard more roommate drama about temperatures than anything else. See if your roommate prefers the space to be warmer or cooler. If you're vastly different, look for a solution that can be reached (like a fan, or extra blankets.) If not, run as far as you can or you may find yourself in a heated (cooled?) thermostat war.
Decide what you want in a roommate:Think about your expectations for your roommate. Do you want a best friend, with movie nights? Or simply want someone who will respect your space? It's good to evaluate what you're looking for, and to seek someone with similar expectations.
Budget and Expectation Similarity:So you've found your new roomie, and everything is great. You already have your room coordinated and curtains picked out….Until BANG, it turns out your perfect roomie wasn't expecting what you were. Agree on room size(2 person? 3 person?), community (Some res colleges have specific major/requirements for both roommates), and expected budget beforehand.
Friend vs. Potluck:As a tour guide, I get asked this question a lot. The answer? It depends. I've heard of best friends becoming enemies, and potlucks becoming best friends. Potluck is a great way to open your social circle and embrace a new experience. But, both sides have many pros and cons. Discuss the rest of this list with your bff, before making the big commitment.
Munchies and Snacks: Discuss cooking/meal habits. If all of your roommates plan on the frozen meal diet, you might want to divvy out a set amount of space or bring your own mini fridge. Have a lot of food? Bring in extra storage-- like a plastic set of drawers or shelves to accommodate the snacks.
Social Lounge or Oasis:Some residents like having their room as social hot spot for all of their friends and even group meetings. Others prefer their room to be a place to get away and relax. Look for a roommate who has similar social habits as you.
To Share or Not to Share:.Will it be "what's mine is yours," an "ask first," basis or a "don't even think about it" attitude.There's no right or wrong, but opinions on sharing vastly differ .Talk it over, and no matter what you decide, be fair and treat all possessions with respect.
Be realistic about expectations:My best advice for roommate success? Be reasonable and realistic, and realize your roommate is human, just like you. Enjoy them for who they are, and keep open communication to avoid major conflicts.
Need help beginning your search? Check out the new roommate matching program. It works similar to face book, providing you the opportunity to view/message the profiles of your matches.
To use it, go to www.lsu.edu/housing and click on the "roommate matching." It'll prompt you to log on to your PAWs account, and from their you can create your profile and find your match!
College is a time of learning-- both inside the classroom and out. I've done a lot of learning since I've been here-- often times learning the hard way. Here's a list of simple mistakes to avoid that can save your time, money, and quite possibly your sanity.
1. Facebooking instead of socializing in the lobby:There are tons of great programs and people in the lobby. It's easy to get in a rut of staying in your room—but get out there and meet some people IRL, (In Real Life) and enjoy all the food and events.(But if you are on Facebook, be sure to check out LSU Res Life for pics and updates.)
Evangeline residents enjoy musical chairs at the "Mardi Gras Mambo" program.
2. Eating like it's Thanksgiving everyday in the dining hall: The all-you-can-eat buffet style food is tempting, but instead of piling on every appealing food item, try to just pick one entrée and load up on fruits, veggies and a salad...okay, and a cookie for dessert.
A student enjoys the salad bar, one of many healthy options at The 5 dining hall.
3. Being afraid of your Resident Assistant:RAs get a bad rep in all of the movies and tv shows, but they are there to help you. Think of them as a big brother or sister—they are upperclassmen students who are trained to be there for you.
The 2010-2011 RAs pose for a picture after completing summer training.
4. Going to the UREC (University Recreation Complex) at 5:00PM in January: I'm all for working out and being healthy, but nothing is as frustrating as mustering the will-power to go work out and the place being jam-packed. The Rec Center is open from 5:00AM until 11:00PM, so try going in the morning, early afternoon, or later in the evening to beat the crowds. Or, check out the free Group X workout classes available online, and work out from the comfort of your room.
5. Wearing Rainboots when it's clear and forgetting your umbrella in a monsoon: There's nothing worse than being stranded in Louisiana's ever changing weather with the wrong tools. It only takes a minute to check the weather. The halls have Internet and 75 channels of cable included, so take a second and prepare for the day. Or add an app to your phone, so you can stay in the know all day.
I should've checked the forecast on this sunny day.
7. Walking back to your hall at night alone: We've been lectured about this our whole life, but sometimes its inevitable. The quick fix? Take Campus Transit, a nightly LSU shuttle system that will pick you up from anywhere on campus and drop you off where you need to go. Keep the phone number programmed into the phone-- 225-578-5000.
Students stand by a campus transit shuttle-- a nightly "door to door" campus shuttle system.
6. Forgetting to Save and Have a Backup: I learned this lesson the hard way on this very blog, so I've added it to the list. You put tons of time and energy into projects and papers, so take the extra minute to save a backup of your work. Computers have the tendency to fail at the worst possible moment, and most professors won't take that as an excuse.
Save your work! Email large projects to yourself or a friend to have an online backup.
8. Not reading The Girl in the Purple Polo Blog:Cuz' where else would you get all of these wonderful tips and stories? (Okay, maybe I am a little bias.)
The author of your favorite blog! ;-)
9. Attempting to fix your own technology: No need to struggle with technology. Use LSU Reslife's IT department for all issues you may have with your Internet, laptop, or connections.
The students and staff in the IT department are there to help you!
I hope you can use these tips to make your life a little easier. Have advice of your own? Leave a comment below or email me at girlinthepurplepolo@gmail.com
Even though it's only February, it's already time to start thinking about housing for next year. Housing reapplications will be taking place soon, a time when current residents can renew their contracts and select their spaces for next year. And this fall also brings the introduction of a new community that will have even us seniors wishing we could go back to sophomore year.
SophomoreGOLD is a new living, learning, program in East Campus Apartments with events specifically geared toward sophomores. It places an emphasis on career planning, leadership, and community outreach...Oh, and did I mention that if accepted to the program, you will be GUARANTEED a spot in East Campus Apartments? For a virtual tour of the awesome on-campus apartments, click here.
I was able to get the inside scoop from Rhea Perkins, the Herget Residential Life Coordinator who is assisting with the implementation of the program. If you are a current freshman, or a curious onlooker....read on!
Tell me a little about the SophomoreGOLD experience?
The SophomoreGOLD Living-Learning Community (LLC) is a new initiative with Residential Life and First Year Experience. We are teaming up to create the Sophomore Year Experience. The SophomoreGOLD LLC is the living component to this new experience.
ECA (The future location for SophomoreGOLD) on a spring day.
What was the motivation behind starting a program like this?
Sophomore programming supports Residential Life as well as First Year Experience’s strategic plans. This collaboration also supports the institution’s retention initiatives. In addition, research shows that sophomores are a unique student population that requires additional support and guidance.
Who would be an ideal candidate for SophomoreGOLD?
The ideal candidate for the program would be any sophomore student who is committed to the LSU motto, “Love Purple Live Gold.”
What do you hope sophomores will get out of the program?
We hope that sophomores will benefit from the academic success, career exploration, leadership development, and civic engagement initiatives. It is our goal that the sophomores receive the support they need and utilize the resources provided while having fun and building lasting relationships in the process!
Do you have any special events or programs planned?
First Year Experience has an array of programming for the Sophomore Year Experience. Some of the special events include various field trips to explore Louisiana, shadowing LSU alumni in their career of choice, round table discussions, and many other activities to help sophomores navigate their second year at LSU.
Where do you see this program going in future years?
This program could become a “one-stop shop” for all sophomore concerns, addressing all sophomore needs.
How will applicants be selected?
Applicants will be selected based on their responses to the application questions.
Are there any plans for a junior or senior program if this one is successful?
Not as of yet, however LSU is always thinking of new ways to better meet the needs of their students. A similar junior or senior program may be in the works.
Interested? Then simply fill out the questions on the above link. Hurry though, applications are due next Friday, February 11. You will be notified of your status before housing renewal, so you won't have to wait around wondering. Questions? Email Rhea at rperkins@lsu.edu.
Returning students are not the only ones who need to be thinking about housing. For incoming freshmen and transfers, I encourage you to apply for housing ASAP! Housing is not guaranteed for freshmen, and assignments are given on a first come first serve basis. Currently, assignments are approximately 80% full for Fall '11, and are expected to fill up entirely within the next month or two.
After expected capacity is reached, students who apply will be placed on a standby list and no longer guaranteed a spot. So, if you've been accepted to the University, and are looking at staying on campus (which is a totally awesome experience)—get those applications in. You can apply on your PAWs account, under student services. It's $150.00 dollar deposit, but if you cancel by June 1, you get all but $50 of that back.
As always, if you have any questions, comments, or story ideas, feel free to email me at girlinthepurplepolo@gmail.com.
The cool weather and cloudy days means most of us are spending more time indoors, and for me, that means I get to enjoy one of my favorite pastimes-- watching movies.
While The Sundance Festival is going on right now in Park City, Utah, most of us won't be traveling 1500 miles to attend. But, that doesn't mean we can't take advantage of the nice, cool weather and enjoy BR's own cultural experience. Here are some of BR's own opportunities to join in on the movie fun....
Ditch the silver screen for live action: LSU theater has some great shows lined up. And, if you live in a residence hall like Herget Hall, theatre night is your free ticket to a catered meal and a trip over to an LSU play.
2009-2010 Herget Residents enjoying a catered meal before seeing Antigone, for Theater Night.
Create your own film festival with a movie night in the halls. Gather some old classics, trilogies, or indie films and invite your floormates to join you. Need some help attracting others? Lure them in with the sweet scent of popcorn.
Girl in the Purple Polo enjoying the flatscreen tv in Herget's lobby.
Forget Netflix and Blockbuster, Use what you have- LSU Res Halls have 75 channels of cable in every room. TIGER TV plays new release movies everyday—so curl up on your cozy bed, make some hot chocolate, and enjoy.
Be your own Director—Have a little spare time and a few friends? Join the Youtube nation and create your own clips and videos. Most computers have free video editing software, and you can rent video cameras from the library. Did you know LSU Res Life has its own YouTube channel? Check out some of the videos there to get ideas.
Filming LSU Res Life CRIBS: Blake Hall!
Rub elbows with the stars—You need not make the trek to Park City to rub elbows with celebs. In case you haven't heard, Baton Rouge has become a hub for many major motion pictures like Twilight and Battleship. Many production companies are required to use locals for extras and small roles, so check out the Baton Rouge Film Commission for opportunities.
Expand from Hollywood to a Bollywood Festival -- Look no further than LSU's own Coates Hall for a film festival right on campus. The University will be hosting a 10 part Bollywood Film Festival every Monday night from Jan. 31 through April at 6 p.m. in Coates 151-- just a short walk from all of our halls on campus.
