Attention all first year students!! The time has come to start callin’ Baton Rouge! Your first semester at LSU is just around the corner. My advice to you is to kick off your first semester as an official Tiger by attending the STRIPES program at LSU. What is STRIPES? Glad you asked!
STRIPES stands for Student Tigers Rallying, Interacting, and Promoting Education and Service. That may seem like a lot to take in, but the main purpose of this program is to help facilitate the transition from high school to college for first year students. As an incoming student, I am sure that you have lots of questions about coming to LSU, getting involved on campus, and meeting new people. Here’s how STRIPES can answer some of the questions that you have.
What does it mean to be an LSU Tiger?
To truly become an LSU Tiger, one must learn what it means to be a part of this legendary campus. STRIPES informs students of LSU’s rich history and traditions. Perhaps LSU’s biggest tradition is celebrating a true Louisiana Saturday Night in Death Valley, but there is more to this college than just football. STRIPES teaches students about LSU’s past and all of the rituals and beliefs that have been passed down since then. Once you learn what it means to be an LSU Tiger, you will fall in love with this beautiful campus.
How will I find my way around this massive campus?
STRIPES takes the time to show each incoming student around the campus that he or she will eventually call home. Students will visit the most popular spots at LSU such as the Union, the bookstore, and the library, as well as other important buildings including the two cafeterias, the UREC, and many more. They even take the time to show each participant where all of his or her classes are! That is half the battle for any first year student!
How can I meet new people?
If you are looking to make LSU’s campus smaller, STRIPES is the place for you! At STRIPES, you will have the opportunity to meet future Tigers from different cities and states. This program is perfect if you are from a small town, from out of state, or if you just want to meet new people who love LSU as much as you do. STRIPES also gives you information on getting involved while at LSU which presents more opportunities to meet new people.
How can I get involved?
STRIPES encourages getting involved on and off campus. LSU has over 400 organizations on campus, so there is no excuse to not get involved. These organizations range from social, to service, to pre-professional. STRIPES offers information on these organizations and how you can become involved. STRIPES also promotes service (it’s even in the acronym)! Whether it is benefitting LSU, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, or the world, STRIPES staff wants you to make a difference.
How can I prepare myself for my classes?
STRIPES wants you to succeed in the classroom just as much as outside the classroom. Students learn skills that will prepare them for their classes such as understanding their learning styles and participate in other tasks promoting leadership development. STRIPES even offers a mock lecture so incoming students can get the feel of what a college class is like, making the first day of school a lot less intimidating! At the College Connections Breakfast, students have the chance to meet with professors of their senior college and ask them questions regarding their major, upcoming classes, or any questions about college in general. With all the academic services that STRIPES offers, it is no wonder that students are retained and graduate at higher rates than those that do not participate in the program!
Does everyone here actually bleed purple and gold?
It is no secret that LSU fans love their Tigers. In each LSU student, you can feel the enthusiasm and pride that they have for this school. The same is true for STRIPES; this program is high energy and filled with fun activities promoting school spirit. There is chanting and cheering and a little bit of friendly competition. Spoiler alert: you will lose your voice by the end of the week. There is no way around it. Unless you just did not have the time of your life. Which is impossible.
As a former STRIPES participant, I highly recommend for each first year student to attend the STRIPES program. From tug of war, to the final streak off, you are sure to leave STRIPES fired up for any and every challenge that you may face in your first year. This is the first step for making LSU your new home, so go into it with a positive attitude, enjoy every moment, love purple, and live gold.
