Ask the average American what they know about Louisiana State University and they’re likely to repeat the most common stereotype: “
LSU is a party school that only cares about sports.” While this reputation is in some sense grounded in reality, it massively simplifies the LSU experience. With 24,000 undergraduates, one can’t expect every student to conform to the party-harder-than-thou lifestyle. As one alum explains, “
for me [social life was] never about drinking. It [was] about watching a good movie at home, maybe with some friends.” And regardless of where students fall on the party divide, it seems that for most (not to mention the entire state of Louisiana), Tigers football serves as a sort of regional religion. As one sophomore explains, “
the Florida football game this year made me cry, and I walked away from the stadium (after being there for 6 1/2 hours) without a voice from cheering.” In 2007, the Tigers took home the BCS National Championship for the second time in four years, so it’s no wonder the LSU community has so much Tiger pride. Undergrads also enjoy the game day culture that becomes a staple of Saturday life every fall. “
There is nothing better than spending the day tailgating with 100,000 of your closest friends, followed by a Saturday night in Death Valley for a Tiger football game,” remarks one sophomore.
While the football team comes off as LSU’s main attraction, students argue as to where that leaves the school academically. Some do suggest that academics take a back seat to sports at LSU. “
I do not hold in high regard the academics here. I have seen students in their senior year asking me how I can expect them to be able to divide 100 by 8 without a calculator, and that says it all,”remarks one alumni. The administration is aware of this perception and has in recent years sought to improve its academic standards in an attempt to downplay the “football factory” stigma. When it comes down to it, LSU has many of the advantages and drawbacks of most other large public universities. Some programs are strong (students generally have good things to say about the Honors College and the English, biology, and engineering departments), while others can leave a bit to be desired (computer science majors tend to complain about theirs). As one junior notes, “
Academics vary widely between individual colleges.”
For the most part, LSU undergraduates come off as a laidback crew. “
Students seem to wear the most comfortable yet appropriate attire possible,” writes a junior. 85% of students hail from within the state of Louisiana, and racially speaking, it is a pretty homogenous bunch. The student body has a conservative tinge to it (“
most are right wing but there are some left-wing extremists,” remarks one sophomore), but pride themselves on the fact that tolerance and acceptance still have a place on campus. “
Louisiana is known for its hospitality, friendly attitude, and natural southern charm. LSU is no different - we exude inclusiveness,” writes one freshman. But as at many universities, some students have experienced ignorance and intolerance on campus. As one student who identifies as a lesbian recalls, “
I had a negative experience at an LSU football game. A friend and I were sitting in the heart of the student section. Some guys got in my way, so I asked them to move. As a result, I was harassed over my somewhat androgynous looks until the boys left the stadium at halftime.”
And then of course there is the LSU Greek community, which some believe isn’t too far from a Southern version of Animal House. With 18 fraternities and 18 sororities, students can more or less go Greek and exist in a self-sustaining, frat-tastic or sorority-rific bubble. “
The Greek community is very big at LSU. It’s the quickest way to get involved at LSU,” notes a sophomore member of the sorority Delta Gamma. Still, the Greek world isn’t the be-all, end-all of the LSU experience. “
I have to admit, the Greek life on campus is prominent, but [social life is] not limited to only that,” remarks one junior. There are about 350 on-campus organizations, with intramural sports and the student newspaper standing out as popular options. The Baton Rouge surroundings serve as an extension of student life and LSU’s ubiquitous school spirit. “
Baton Rouge is definitely a college town. Life in this city centers on sports, drinking, and tradition. No matter where you look, whether it is on stores' signs, banners, T-shirts, advertisements, etc., there is a huge display of school pride,”one junior remarks.
