10 things incoming freshmen need to know about LSU

BY MATTHEW PERSCHALL @MatthewPerscha1

You can read troves of generic college advice online. But you’re going to LSU, so you need LSU-specific information. Here are 10 things incoming freshmen need to know before coming to LSU.

Campus

As a freshman campus will have just about everything you need from food to events to a place to exercise. LSU’s campus is quite stunning with its many oak trees that provide shade as you walk to class or your dorm. Mike the Tiger lives right across the street from Tiger Stadium, and you should definitely pay him a visit. There’s even a 24/7 YouTube live stream of his habitat. Outside the newly renovated Art and Design Building is a nice sculpture garden with a swing you can actually swing on.

While campus is big, you’ll get to know the gist of it by the end of Welcome Week. However, campus has two Coates Halls which might seem confusing. But you’ll likely only have class in the one in the Quad (the other is near Tiger Stadium). There are also two Miller Halls, but you won’t be attending class at the Miller Hall dorm near the UREC (the other is on Highland Road across the street from the Ag Center). Beyond that, campus is straightforward enough.

Weather

Whether you’re a Louisiana local or from out of state, the weather doesn’t care. You will be subject to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celcius) days with intense humidity. Baton Rouge also has some days with just the opposite weather. LSU had a freeze in February 2021 which led to several days of can- celed classes.

Louisiana, though, has many more hot days than cold ones.

So if you spend any extensive amount of time outside, you’ll want to have sunscreen on and carry a reusable water bottle. Heavy rains can also occur just about any day; be sure to have an umbrella in your backpack! Certain areas of campus are prone to flooding when it rains like much of Highland Road and several campus parking lots.

Food

LSU has a variety of locations to eat at on campus, and the areas surrounding campus are full of restaurants too. The dining halls will be the option many freshmen frequent with one dining hall for East campus (the 459 Dining Hall) and one for West campus (the 5 Dining Hall). The dining halls serve many different meals, and you can check the menu here by selecting your dining hall of choice with the drop-down box. While the main meal changes everyday, the dining halls serve salad, sandwiches and pizza just about everyday. Checking the menu each day can help you to decide which dining hall to eat at, or if nothing strikes your fancy, you can go to the Union.

The Union is home to several more fast food style restaurants like Sonic and Panda Express. The lines can be long at lunchtime, but usually move fairly quickly.

Campus also has other dining options like the Panera Bread at Patrick F. Taylor Hall, and food trucks often park near PFT and the Dairy Store (which is where you can stop for some ice cream).

All freshmen who live on campus are required to have a meal plan which vary in the number of meal swipes and Paw Points on them. Meal swipes are mainly used at the dining halls, but starting this fall may be used at non-dining hall locations.

Paw Points can be used at any on campus food location including the dining halls. Ad- ditionally, Tiger Cash which can be loaded onto your Tiger Card. Your Tiger Card will then essentially be a debit card which can also be spent at many dining locations on campus and some off campus options like the Raising Canes on Highland Road.

Tiger Cash can also be used for laundry on campus. (Yes, that’s not food related, but you should know it’s an option).

Academics

As you will be attending Louisiana State University, you will have to do the main things associated with universities: going to class and studying.

You will likely take a test using a Scantron at some point. There are vending machines that sell them around campus, but don’t use those vending machines. They are available for free at the Student Government office located at the back of the Union. You can also find blue books in the Student Government office (blue books are books with sheets of paper in- side often used for open-ended responses on exams).

LSU also offers Supplemental Instruction sessions. SI sessions are student-led and typically occur once a week at a time selected by students in the course section. The SI leaders help students better understand recent class material. The sessions are optional and are for “historically difficult courses,” according to the Center for Academic Success.

Around the time of midterms and finals, students can be quite stressed. Luckily at these times therapy dogs are available for visits and make for a good break during exams.

Sports

LSU is known for its top notch athletes and teams. If you want to go to one of the big three sporting events (basketball, baseball or football), it’s best to buy season tickets. Typically, you will receive an email in your student email about season ticket purchases.

Beyond football, LSU has many other teams you can watch and cheer for. The track and field team has had many top 10 athletes running, throwing and jumping at Bernie Moore Track Stadium. LSU also has club men’s and women’s rugby teams. While I’m still not sure how rugby works, it sure is fun to watch. Additionally, LSU’s swimming and diving teams have boasted Olympic athletes that you can watch for free at the Natatorium during their season.

If you’re looking to play intramural sports, you can check out the available options on the UREC website. If you’re just looking to have some fun but not be a part of a team, take up pickleball with some friends