Louisiana State University - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Baton Rouge is filled with Southern hospitality. The city’s laid-back attitude is infectious, and students will quickly learn to slow down and relax. There’s always something to do and somewhere to go, but you never have to be in a hurry to get there, especially considering the horrendous traffic that plagues the city. Southern culture is everywhere. From hints of French snuck into conversation to cooking and architecture, the city is different from other places above the Mason-Dixon Line. The rich history, from plantations to civil rights activism to Huey P. Long, gives students a chance to explore areas of the South they might not have known about. Baton Rouge and LSU are so synonymous, it becomes hard to separate the two. The city adores LSU, and almost everyone here is a Tiger fan. The entire town has the vibe of a laid-back college atmosphere. Everyone is relaxed and friendly, from downtown capitol workers to those in the immediate areas outside of campus. Football games and LSU news are just as crucial to the adults living in the area as to the LSU students themselves.

Baton Rouge has changed tremendously in the last few years. Downtown development has been a buzz-word around town, as many businesses are attempting to return to the glory days of old. The city has been actively trying to grow and offer students more and more to do. With additions of new art galleries, restaurants, shops, bars, concerts, and events, it seems to be working. Baton Rouge still has some strides to make to become a major city, but it’s on its way.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

People say that LSU is all... People say that LSU is all partying, all the time. I would have to say that if that’s what you want it to be, then that’s what it will be. But if you are like me and aren’t exactly hip on going to bars and clubs, there are so many more ways to have fun, and they aren’t hard to find. It is so easy to get involved on campus and meet people without having to party all the time! 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

A lot of school pride! Baton Rouge... A lot of school pride! Baton Rouge is a pretty big college town between LSU and Southern, but I don’t even know where Southern is! If you want something to visit that’s touristy, just take a drive to New Orleans—much better than anything you’ll find in Baton Rouge. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The atmosphere on campus is... The atmosphere on campus is different than the rest of town. Campus is extremely spirited and diverse, but you can easily tell which groups people are in. The rest of the town is either extremely ghetto or really nice and well-established. Southern is also in Baton Rouge; you want to stay away from their students and fans when we play them in games. You should also stay away from most parts of downtown; they’re not very safe. I’ve heard you should visit the Shaw Gallery. You always need to visit Mike the Tiger and experience an LSU football game to see first-hand how amazing they really are. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The atmosphere here is very... The atmosphere here is very laid-back. Everyone drives like it’s Sunday everyday of the week. Locals and those from the state are more lax about seemingly stressful issues to those of us from out-of-state. Southern University is a few miles down the Interstate. And there’s BRCC and OLOL as well (even though they’re not universities). 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Baton Rouge has a very unique... Baton Rouge has a very unique character. It is Southern in nature, but at the same time, it is located in a majorly Roman Catholic area. Drinking is not considered taboo to hardly anyone. Southern University, a community college, and a nursing school are also present in Baton Rouge, but only LSU and Southern have an appreciable presence. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

5 Fun Facts about Baton Rouge:
• According to a recent Men’s Health survey, Baton Rouge is the fifth happiest city in the nation.
• Huey P. Long, the famous Louisiana governor and consummate politician, was assassinated in the New State Capitol, and visitors can see the bullet holes from where he was shot in the State Capitol walls. He is buried on the grounds.
• Baton Rouge can be seen in several major motion pictures. The Dukes of Hazard, Glory Road, and All the King’s Men have all been filmed here within the last year, and many other movies film in nearby New Orleans.
• Louisiana is the only state to still use the parish system as opposed to county government.
• Baton Rouge is the fifth largest port city in the U.S.

Famous Baton Rougians:
Cleo Fields (youngest governor at age 28)
Buddy Guy (blues guitarist)
Randy Jackson (American Idol judge and bassist for Journey)
Huey P. Long (governor)
Shaquille O’Neal (basketball player)
Steven Soderbergh (director of Erin Brockovich and Traffic)
Jimmy Swaggert (televangelist)
Shane West (actor in A Walk to Remember)
Lynn Whitfield (actress)

Local Slang:
Bayou (by-you) – Bigger than a creek, but not a river; slow moving and kind of swampy.
Café-au-lait (café-o-lay) – Coffee with milk or cream.
Cher – Cajun term of endearment, as in “Oh cher;” not the famous singer.
Crawfish – Say crawfish not crayfish. They are tiny, crustacean-like miniature lobsters. True Louisianans pinch the tails and suck the heads at crawfish boils.
Coke – Blanket term for any kind of soft drink; someone might ask you if you want a coke and then ask, “what kind?”
Creole – Term for people of “mixed blood” once used to describe French and Spanish descendents; now is used to describe Louisiana cooking and architecture.
Fixing To – About to do something; “I’m fixing to go to school.”
Lagniappe (lan yap) – Creole word for “something extra;” a catch-all term.
Laisez les bons temps rouler – Creole phrase meaning, “Let the good times roll.”
Pirogue (pee-rogue) – A Cajun canoe, originally made from hollowed cypress logs. People don’t take these to class like in The Waterboy.
Y’all – You all.

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