| Traditions | |
- Chancellor’s Pancake Breakfast: A tradition begun by former Chancellor Emmert; the Pancake Breakfast gives students a chance to have a free, late-night breakfast in the dining halls during finals, as well as a chance to meet the esteemed leader of LSU. Swipe any working LSU ID for a huge plate of pancakes and a chance to meet the man in charge of your education.
- Fall Fest: Every fall, this event boasts free food and a chance for students to find out more about the University they began attending. As music blares through the Quad, students can check out the many ways to get involved on campus, as well as score plenty of free stuff.
- Free Speech Alley: LSU sanctions this venue in front of the Union for everyone, from campus organizations to local religious groups to share their views with the LSU campus. This walkway is crowded with students handing out pamphlets and wearing sandwich boards to promote their cause. Nearly anything goes from students handing out free food to taping themselves to poles for several hours to telling passer-bys they are going to hell. Some students avoid it like the plaque, while others will spend hours listening to whatever rallying cry that might be present.
- Groovin’ on the Grounds: This substance-free and free concert, thrown by Students on Target, gives students an opportunity to see big-name acts on the Parade Grounds. Most of the time, students don’t live up to the substance-free aspect of the event, but the concert is for a cause. It’s usually held the last night of Spring Invitational, and has featured a wide array of acts from the Ying-Yang Twins to Ryan Cabrera.
- Homecoming: Sure, every school has Homecoming, but few have Homecomings of the epic proportions of LSU’s. From the all-day scavenger hunt to the crowning of the queen and king to the nearly 20-foot decorations constructed by student organizations, Homecoming is the pinnacle of LSU traditions and spirit.
- Kissing at the Bell Tower: LSU tradition used to hold that students were not real coeds until they had been kissed under the Memorial Bell Tower at midnight. Nowadays, the coed rule is not as strictly enforced, but it still remains a popular place for students to smooch. On Valentine’s Day, it’s a mass-makeout as couples head for the traditional midnight kiss, and on more than one night a year, you can expect to see a proposal as the clock tolls.
- LSU Darling: The tradition began in 1936 when the most attractive female was chosen to represent the campus; however, with its return after a 33-year hiatus, the goal is to choose a male and female student who represent the campus with a high level of involvement and social standing. The darlings officially present the yearbook, the Gumbo, to campus in the fall.
- Natty Night at the Natatorium: A tradition begun by the most popular tailgating group, the Third Row Tailgaters, after a neighboring tailgating group stole their spot in front of the Natatorium one week in 2000. In retaliation, the group decided to throw a party the night before the game and wait out their spot-stealing neighbors. Once the group realized they had gotten away with having a keg of Natural Light in an on-campus building, they decided to continue the party as tradition and now has one every football season.
- Pajama Game: In the olden days of LSU, freshmen were required to wear pajamas to the first home football game of the year. The tradition died under hazing regulations, but has been revived by student government in recent years. Now it usually occurs near the beginning of the season with the student government selling special PJs for the game.
- Songfest: Fraternities and sororities pair up for a heated competition of song and dance. Each set of Greek organizations comes up with a five-or-so-minute routine based around dancing and singing. Each picks a specific theme and makes costumes and chooses songs accordingly.
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