Centenary College of Louisiana - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Next to the quality of campus food, Centenary students complain about Shreveport the most. Although Centenary has been in Shreveport for nearly a hundred years, it rarely feels like a college town. Entertainment is aimed toward families and tourists looking to gamble. Though people in the community are really supportive of Centenary in terms of attending campus events, businesses generally don’t go out of their way to attract the college crowd. Students tend to find things to do on campus or make friends with people that have apartments in town.

Downtown Shreveport has the River Walk, which is beautiful, but you can only stare at shining neon lights and spitting fountains so much. One exciting development is the growing music and art scene, with a non-profit film center in the works. Festivals such as the Red River Revel and Mudbug Madness can be fun, but they only come around once a year. Though Shreveport is a rather small city, it has a good variety of shopping centers that are only about 15 minutes from campus. Bossier City is another small city that, combined with Shreveport, makes what the tourist bureau likes to refer to as Shreveport-Bossier. It’s a nifty illusion that makes each city seem slightly bigger than it actually is. Also, because people in Louisiana love to eat, there are restaurants everywhere you look. While most of the shops and restaurants are close by, it’s much easier to get around if you own a car or know someone who does.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

The atmosphere of Shreveport I... The atmosphere of Shreveport I don’t feel could adequately be described by the words ‘college town.’ There are several other campuses in the city and surrounding area such as BPCC and LSUS, however, their student body is comprised mainly of commuter students. Therefore, Centenary holds a distinct place in the city. In many ways, I feel as if Centenary is shut off from the rest of the city, that it is its own little municipality in the heart of Shreveport. The major areas of Shreveport to stay away from are the more impoverished areas, such as Fair Park, Cedar Grove, and Allendale. Places to visit are the casinos, many local bars, the new boardwalk, and of course, Sprague Street. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

I am not sure Shreveport has an... I am not sure Shreveport has an atmosphere. At best, it has an art and creative scene that could be described as completely and utterly culturally void, a decade behind the times when it is at its best. The people are vapid, and they think they are at the pinnacle of artistry, but really, nothing is going on in this town. I would guess that downtown is the main thing to stay away from and go to, because, really, what else are you going to do. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Shreveport is . . . well, you’ll... Shreveport is . . . well, you’ll have to decide that for yourself. LSUS is also in town, but not much communication goes on betwixt us and them. I don’t care much for the town and pretty much stick to campus. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Shreveport has a community college... Shreveport has a community college and a branch of the state university, but there isn’t any contact with them at Centenary. The public parks are pretty disappointing, though that one off Clyde Fant is okay. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

I actually don’t venture out into... I actually don’t venture out into Shreveport much. There is LSUS, of course, and a few other schools. We’ve got some really active parks, which I think is cool. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Five Fun Facts about Shreveport:

Elvis Presley and Hank Williams got their start in Shreveport when they performed at the Louisiana Hayride.
• The bridge that connects Shreveport to neighboring Bossier City is the largest neon-lit bridge in America.
• Scenes from the film Interview with a Vampire were filmed in Shreveport.
• Bill Joyce, creator of the children’s program Rolie Polie Olie and a producer of the film Robots, is an artist in residence at Centenary College.
• The blues legend Huddie William “Leadbelly” Ledbetter once prowled the streets of St. Paul’s Bottom, a legal red-light district that flourished in Shreveport between 1903
and 1917.

Famous People from Shreveport:
Terry Bradshaw, Kix Brooks (of Brooks and Dunn), Van Cliborn (concert pianist), Johnnie Cochran, Kenny Wayne Shepard

Local Slang:
Shreveport’s atmosphere is a mixture of Texas, Deep South, and Cajun cultures. You’ll probably hear a lot of slang from each of these cultures when you visit Centenary. Here are a few terms and definitions to help you figure out what everyone’s saying.

The following words are general Southern terms.
Coke – Refers not only to a Coke product, but any carbonated beverage.
Fixin’ – Usually said when someone is about to do something (I’m fixin’ to go to the store.)
Are you getting down? – Are you getting out of the car?

The words below are specific to Louisiana.
Cher – Sweet
Mudbug – Crawfish
Beignet – Deep-fried dough covered with powdered sugar
Lagniappe – Something extra

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