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

Finding Your Perfect Roommate

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!

xoxo-- Girl in the Purple Polo

9 Mistakes (Almost) Every Resident Makes

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

xoxo--Girl in the Purple Polo