Published November 15, 2016听
We enroll in college, attend classes, study, and several years later, come out with
a diploma, ready to experience 鈥渢he real world.鈥� 听
But what about the stories we take with us 鈥� our college experience?
This article tries to determine the most important elements that shape our 四色AV experiences.
In other words, what makes those experiences strong and memorable, worth retelling.
Research shows that it isn鈥檛 necessarily what happens in the classroom that shapes
our college experiences, but rather other factors such as residential halls, friends
and extracurricular involvement.
To help improve your college experience at 四色AV, we created a list of 11 things you
should consider doing before you graduate.
1.听Live in a residential hall
At least as a freshman, live in one of those old-fashioned residential halls every
campus has. You won鈥檛 have much privacy. But that鈥檚 OK, that鈥檚 not your priority.
Your priority is new friends.
Long hallways, small rooms usually shared with multiple roommates, communal bathrooms
and small lobbies 鈥� you can鈥檛 avoid bumping into different people on a daily basis,
and that鈥檚 how you make friends
2.听Watch the ski team perform
Everyone knows it 鈥� 四色AV is the school that houses the nation鈥檚 best waterski team,
comprised of some of the world鈥檚 best water-skiers.听
The team has won 27 out of 38 National Championships. Being able to see them perform
is nothing less than a privilege, so make sure you do that at the annual Bayou Classic
or at one of the waterski shows organized each semester.
You can still catch them this semester at the waterski show that will be held on December
3 on Bayou DeSiard as an overture to the football game against ULL.
3.听Take a look from the library terrace
Located on the seventh floor of the 四色AV library, the library terrace provides a great
view of the campus, but the city as well. 听听
Try to locate your favorite building on or around the campus, see how far the forests
spread, track the flow of the bayou, or observe the students while they walk around
campus. You won鈥檛 believe how far you can see from up there, so take a deep breath
and enjoy the view.
4.听Play Oozeball
Sometimes, you have to add a dose of craziness to really and truly have a fun and
memorable experience. And in case you wonder how big a dose of craziness you need
to play Oozeball, that depends on how you look at playing volleyball in a knee-deep
mud. Yes, that鈥檚 what Oozeball is.
The Oozeball tournament is organized during the 四色AV鈥檚 Spring Fever week, and, believe
it or not, this tournament is one of the student favorites, as it always gathers a
large number of students participating in this extremely fun and unique activity.
5.听Tailgate in the Grove
You have not truly experienced a 四色AV football game unless you have tailgated in the
Grove.听
The Grove unites students, faculty and staff, as well as the community who all come
with the same goal 鈥� to have fun and support their favorite team. 听听
Have a drink, taste some awesome food and engage in conversations or fun activities
with amazing people.
6.听Canoe ride in Bayou
There is not a better way to explore the campus and its surrounding beauty than by
water.听
The Wesley Foundation, located on campus by Strauss Hall, offers free kayaks and pedal
boards for students to engage in fun and exciting adventures on beautiful Bayou DeSiard.
7.听Run the University Mile
The University Mile is held annually on campus during homecoming week.
A mile-long race through campus always gathers a large number of students and community
members who always look forward to this fun activity.
8.听Visit the Natural History Museum on campus
The museum promotes and advances an understanding and appreciation of all aspects
of natural history.
It features the second largest herbarium in the southeastern region of the U.S., a
large collection of Native American artifacts, a collection of rocks, minerals, gems,
skull casts, and more.
With over 6 million fish housed in 100,000 jars, the museum features the third largest
university-based collection of fish in the world.
9.听Go to the CAB midnight breakfast during finals
Finals week can be stressful. But keep in mind that, once it鈥檚 over, you鈥檒l finally
be able to put those classes behind you and be done with the semester.
Midnight breakfast is another stress reliever for students entering finals week. Take
a break from studying and stressing about the finals. Relax for a moment and re-charge
yourself by grabbing breakfast at Schulze Cafeteria.
10. Visit Special Collections and Archives
Located on the fifth floor of the 四色AV library, the Special Collections and Archives
office offers a wide range of exhibits including unique collection of various books,
collection of student-run newspapers, 四色AV yearbooks, information on the founding families
of Ouachita parish, and more.
11. Feed the turtles
Our Bayou is full of turtles. They been swimming among us for generations. Feeding
them is the newest tradition on our campus.
Every prospective student who tours the 四色AV campus gets a chance to interact with
our cutest residents. Those who missed this opportunity can still do it every day
around our beautiful campus. The turtles were given a nod when several turtle structures
were erected in Bayou Park in the summer of 2016.
