I survived Death Valley!

Hello readers!! So much has happened since my last post!! Let's start with Monday before Halloween. Tulane University hosted a very special event under the work of Direction, a nationwide speaker series. This past month, eight days before the 2008 Presidential Election, Republican Governor Mike Huckabee and Democrat Congressman Harold Ford Jr. came to Tulane to participate in a debate. Held in McAlister Auditorium and moderated by one of Tulane's most prestigious political science professors, the debate consisted of questions submitted by Tulane students. Also, there was a Q&A at the end of the debate. It was very informative and definitely gave students clarity on the issues that were most pertinent in the election.

That Friday was Halloween. My Big Sis in Pi Phi had a Halloween party, so a bunch of our friends got dressed up and went to her apartment (a block off campus). It was a lot of fun! They decorated and had bowls of candy and snacks everywhere. There was a huge turn out and the costumes were hilarious!! There I am with my lovely lady Pi Phi's on the left (I'm the angel!).

The next day I woke up really early for the LSU v. Tulane football game in Baton Rouge. It was the most insane thing I had ever seen. People started tailgating at 7am for a 7pm game. I went with three people that live (or have lived) in Louisiana, so they all knew a lot of LSU students at the game. We hopped around from tent to tent in our Tulane gear, with LSU fans yelling "TIGER BAIT" as we passed by. It was pretty funny... especially since LSU fans knew that Tulane was no match for their top 20 ranked football team. Nevertheless, we braved the Tiger roar in our Tulane gear!

So we ate some jambalaya and cheeseburgers (and crab cakes and sausage and nachos) and watched some football on TVs in the back of pick-up trucks all day. It was so much fun. And before I knew it was time to enter Death Valley. With 90,000 seats, 20,000 more than the Superdome, the LSU stadium was booming with Tiger roars and bleeding purple and gold. To the right is the almost full LSU student section... forty minutes before kick-off! Luckily, Tulane brought a pretty large following from New Orleans to cheer on the Green Wave! We didn't win, but we played really well against a nationally ranked team! It was such a crazy experience seeing Death Valley. And even though I was tiger-baited, I survived the mayhem!

The following Tuesday was the election... and campus was buzzing with chatter about the two candidates. For most students, this was the first election that they were able to vote in, and many of them chose to register in Louisiana, including myself. My polling place was right inside the LBC (Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life) so it was really easy to cast my vote. It was exciting to get so involved in the election and it was great to see that so many other students on campus came out to do the same.

Another big event that happened last Saturday was Hip-Hop for Hope. Hip-Hope for Hope is a Tulane student-run organization that puts on a fundraiser every year for a charter school damaged by the hurricane. The event is at Tipitina's, a bar that is famous for their live music. Hip-Hope for Hope featured artists such as DJ Raj Smoove, Raw Dizzy, The Show with DY and the local favorite: The Rebirth Brass Band. For a ten dollar donation to MLK Charter School in the 9th Ward, students were able to enjoy a night of amazing entertainment with transportation to and from Tipitina's.

And this week is the much anticipated Greek Week. Today is the big fraternity cook-off and sorority bake-off; tomorrow is Greek trivia night, Thursday is Greek Sync night, and Saturday is Greek Olympics. I'm really excited for Saturday because I'm on the Pi Phi dodgeball team. I was pretty good in gym class in middle school... I'm hoping those skills translate over into college!

I'll let y'all know how Pi Phi's team does during Greek Week! I go home a week from today for Thanksgiving! YAY! And then when I return... Pi Phi semi-formal... Stay tuned.

Catching the Wave...

Hey y'all! Sorry it's been awhile. It has been one exciting event after the next. First off, I have to tell y'all about homecoming. The theme this year was "Catch the Wave." It was SO much fun. Now, at most schools, homecoming takes place over one big weekend, but at Tulane, it last an entire week. That's right, folks. Sunday, September 28th through October 4th. The party began with our lighting ceremony in Pocket Park (a courtyard next to our UC or Lavin-Bernick Center) We ate FREE VooDoo Barbecue, lit candles for the football team. THEM and Green Envy performed (our Capella groups), as well as Shockwave (our dance team) and the cheerleaders). We were also introduced to our homecoming court. On Monday was the McAlister Mile Fun Run! That's a mile race with more free food and shirts for the top 25 finishers for men and top 25 for women. I ran it with my running buddy, Sean. Although he kind of sped up and finished before me. I ran my best mile time, though, at 6:25. Afterward, the Tidal Wave Committee (Homecoming committee) provided World's Healthiest Pizza and drinks. It was sooo fun. And just in case you were wondered, I did indeed get a free t-shirt!

On Tuesday, the school set up a big outdoor projection screen, gave out homecoming blankets, fresh Kettle Corn, Raisin' Canes chicken, and projected the movie "The Sandlot." It was sooo much fun! On Wednesday there was a powder puff tournament. Freshmen v. Sophomores and Juniors v. Seniors. I was unable to play because I had a test the next day, but it was fun to watch. It was also fun getting my free Creole Creamery Ice Cream... yummy! Thursday rolled around and I was so excited because my mom and her boyfriend, Rich, flew down for the weekend.


To preface her visit I kept telling everyone that homecoming is her favorite holiday (little exaggeration). Thursday night we had the homecoming concert and awesome local Cajun food. Guess who came this year?! The Benjy David Project AND Reel Big Fish!! It was the best concert... right on the LBC quad. And I got to share the entire experience with my mom and my friends. On Friday I went out to breakfast with my mom and Rich, went to class, went shopping on Magazine Street, and then napped. At night we had the big parade/pep rally down McAlister and fireworks! Then I went downtown with my mom and Rich and my family friend. We went to Pat O'Brien. Such a great meal!! Then I stayed downtown with my mom and Rich for awhile on Bourbon Street, but I was tired and went back uptown relatively early so I could rest up for the football game.

Saturday was the big game! I went out to breakfast with my mom and Rich and our family friends from home. We went to Slim Goodies on Magazine. Best Omelet ever! Then we went to the game at Tad Gormley Stadium. Normally we play at the Superdome, but Tad Gormley Stadium is a homecoming tradition. All the tailgating was there too, right in City Park.

Pi Phi had the best tent with Sig Ep! My mom loved meeting everyone and eating and drinking. She also loved getting all of the free Tulane gear from different tents! The game was really great because the stadium was packed (it's definitely harder to fill the Superdome!).

Unfortunately we lost to Army, but Tulane put up a good fight, that's for sure! Saturday night we went out to a nice dinner at Drago's. It was the best meal ever (yummy charbroiled oysters)! So great, in fact, that I just went back there two nights ago! Sunday I went shopping with my mom all day and then stayed in the hotel with her that night. It was nice to get the alone time with her before she left.

So that was homecoming... It really is my favorite time of the school year. No school does it the way Tulane does it: free food and prizes everyday... and lots of entertainment! I can't wait for next year.

Other exciting things that have been going on: sorority functions. Pi Phi has had some of the best mixers!! To the right is a picture from our mixer with Sig Ep. We just had a Super Heroes mixer with AEPi the other week, and tonight we're going to have a Holidays mixer with KA. I'm dressing up as my birthday! Some other ideas are Mardi Gras, St. Patrick's Day, Labor Day, and Easter (just to name a few). I'm really psyched for that.



But the best party I think Pi Phi has had so far: our crush party! It was at this past Saturday at a place called One-Eyed Jack's (downtown). Basically, we don't invite our dates. We submit their names to our Social Chair and she send out one big massive e-mail telling each recipient that he, or she, has been crushed by a Pi Phi. Some people don't even know who their dates are! It's a great way to mix and mingle. I think everyone enjoyed it a lot.


I'll keep you posted on the Holidays mixer and some of the other events on Tulane's campus! Stay tuned, y'all! And ROLL WAVE!

We made it!

Hey y'all. I'm reporting with some very exciting news! Tulane's campus opens up tomorrow, Saturday, September 6th! And classes resume on Monday (thank goodness... I actually miss my professors/classes). I never thought that I would be this psyched to delve back into my classes, but I am. I guess since all of my friends from home are well into their semesters, I'm a little jealous, and antsy to really start the semester! My professors have been very communicative, e-mailing revisions to syllabi and notes about the upcoming weeks in class. Like I said before, the support network between faculty and students and amongst all of the students in general has been remarkable. We've all been e-mailing, texting, calling "did you make it out okay?"; "where'd you end up?"; "have you died of homesickness for Tulane?"; "when are you getting back to campus?". This constant communication is so comforting... and not to mention unique to our university. I am so excited to get back to such a wonderful place... my true home away from home!

NO ME GUSTAV!!

Hello readers!! I'm reporting to you now from New Jersey after a few long days of travels. As many of you know, Hurricane Gustav threatened the Southern Coast of Louisiana this past week, and made landfall this morning, forcing not only Tulane, but the entire Orleans Parish, to evacuate. Now Gustav is whipping through Louisiana as a Category 1 Hurricane, thankfully leaving our cherished city of New Orleans with little damage, at least compared to previous storms such as Katrina. Yes, Gustav is a much weaker storm than Katrina was a little over 3 years ago, but the reason that our school and city, and the friends and families that reside in such a place, are okay: we were prepared! The state took every precaution needed to ensure that the levees were ready, communication systems were in place, and evacuations preparations were properly instituted. I am so thrilled with the level of school, city, state, and federal cooperation. Furthermore, the school has done an incredible job keeping students, faculty and staff, and parents in the loop! I receive text messages and e-mails from the Tulane emergency website everyday (emergency.tulane.edu). President Cowen even had a live chat yesterday, allowing anyone interested to log in and read/ask questions about the storm and the impact it will have on Tulane University. And it is because I am receiving such constant updates that I can rest assured that our school and city will be just fine!! The only wave that I see rolling right now is the Green Wave!! And it is with that update that I leave y'all with the Tulane Fight Song. I feel that it's appropriate given the circumstances. We can overcome anything! This whole experience just bonds our community together even further... and I could not be more proud to be a Tulanian, a New Orleanian.


Green Wave Green Wave,
Hats off to Thee.
We're out to
Fight Fight Fight
For our Victory.
Shout to the Skies
Our Green Wave War Cries.
The Bravest we'll Defy.
Hold that Line for
Olive and Blue.
We will Cheer for You.
So Fight, Fight, Old Tulane
Fight on to Victory

One week left!!!

Hello there readers!! I hope y'all have had a stellar summer; I know I have. I've been home in New Jersey, but that hasn't stopped my from seeing so many of my lovely Tulane ladies. Over Memorial Day weekend a bunch of my girlfriends came down to the good ole Jersey Shore. It was sooo much fun! From Georgia to South Carolina to Washington DC and New York, six of my friends trekked up/down the Garden State Parkway to visit. It was a blast and so fun to see each other in a different setting; it was very surreal. We laid on the beach like total beach bums, went ocean kayaking, barbequed, and went out for an awesome seafood dinner; however, we all agreed the seafood in New Orleans is far better! Here we are on the back porch, most of us unintentionally matching with our Tulane sweatshirts. Haha.

They left... which was soooo sad... but my internship started that next week at Capital One Bank. I had so much fun!! Although all the long days of school and late nights of studying/going out in New Orleans could not have prepared for being a REAL PERSON in the REAL WORLD!! A forty-hour a week job wiped me out! On some days the 60 year-olds had more spunk and pazazz energy than I did. Shocking, I know. But I had the best time. I learned so much about the banking industry (a career option that I had not previously considered, as I'm a Poli. Sci./Comm. major) and loved the people with whom I was privileged enough to work. And the dressing up for work wasn't half bad either... I was able to get a lot of new outfits from J. Crew! lol.

So my internship ended last week. I was really sad to leave! But don't think I haven't been super busy... The day after my internship ended I flew out to Ohio for my Grandma's 75th Birthday Bash! So much fun to have the whole family dress up together... and after a few days in Ohio I just flew home yesterday and drove straight to the shore. Which brings me to the present: ONE WEEK AWAY FROM RETURNING TO NOLA!

Like every other Tulane student, I am literally counting down the hours until I get back to school. I'm going to be sad to leave my family... probably just as sad as last year when I cried in the airport. lol. Nonetheless, once I'm on the plane, headphones on with my iPod blasting the Cupid's Shuffle and the Bunny Hop, it'll be smooth sailing.

A lot of you may be wondering why on earth I'm going back so early... the reason for that being that not only am I an Orientation Coordinator, but I'm also a pre-Orientation Coordinator for NOLA Experiences. I'm so thrilled to be returning to this program again, as I was a participant in it last year as a freshman.

I believe it was my first post as a TU blogger that scratched the surface of how truly amazing my NOLA experience was last year. I got to hang out on campus and move in before anyone else, write for the first issue of the Tulane Hullaballoo, tour the city of New Orleans, and meet some of my best, best friends (I'm living with some of them this year in Irby, an 8 person suite).

Here we are, on the second day of NOLA, at Camp Istrouma. I cannot wait to be a part of it again this year and help freshmen have the same experience that I had last year. This year I'm an OC for the TUBE track, so instead of working on the newspaper, I get to work at the Tulane television station with my co-OC and 15 freshmen!

I can't wait for the Cajun line dances, the Creole cookin', the smokin hot heat, the Boot, and last, but certainly not least, the irreplaceable company of my fellow Tulanians!!

Initiation + reelection + formals + Crawfest + Jazzfest + finals = A perfect end to a perfect year

Hello fellow readers!! I apologize for the major posting delay. I was so bogged down with end of the year mayhem that I was unable to keep you guys informed. Never fear... I have lots of AWESOME stuff to report!

We'll begin where I last left off: Pi Beta Phi initiation. The night before initiation, our pledge class had a pink party. It's called a pink party because we're transitioning from pledges, white, to actives, wine, therefore being pink, the transition color. It was really fun. It was like a massive slumber party. You'd think as 18, 19, and 20 year old girls we would have outgrown bonding activities, pink food, and a pinata, but you are all sorely mistaken. We soaked up every ounce of girlie-ness... and more than that, it really brought our pledge class together. Here's a picture of all 50 of us and our amazing pledge mom's, Layne and Sam.


So we all went to bed pretty early in order to wake up for initiation, which started at EIGHT AM (thank goodness they had donuts or I would have been cranky). Of course I can't tell you about the actual initiation, because that's a super sacred and secret tradition, but I can tell you that it was really special and that the after-brunch was delicious! And it was at the most beautiful New Orleans home. Here's a picture of two Pi Phi families... (from the left) Taylor, Tracy, Me, Lindsey, Christina, Vanessa. Lindsey is my big and Vanessa is my twin. We have a huge family, but the other girls in my immediate family that aren't pictured are my grand big, Hilary, and my great grand big, Beth (she's graduating in a few days!).

Another exciting thing that happened was that I was reelected to serve another term on USG (Undergraduate Student Government)! I was so happy. I'm officially a senator for the class of 2011. I didn't campaign as hard as I did for the Freshman Senator elections, but I still had a Lolli for Lauren party... with free cookies and lolli pops. I think that really won everyone over. Haha.

Now as I mentioned in my previous blog, there are many ways to tell when it's spring time in New Orleans. It happens almost over night, but there are some obvious indications: there are blooming flowers, it's 15 degrees warmer, it's humid, there's always a crawfish boil somewhere, and it's formal season!! I was lucky enough to get to go to TWO formals. My Pi Phi formal AND Delt formal with my friend Jimmy (we've been friends since NOLA). Pi Phi formal was a blast. It was at a really classy place with delicious food. It felt like prom all over again. Here's a picture from Pi Phi formal. It was actually taken to show my English professor from last semester. We were all in the same class.

Our formal was on a Thursday night so I laid low all day on Friday and watched a movie at night. Then Saturday was CRAWFEST!! Crawfest is an Associated Student Body and Tulane University Campus Programming endeavor. A lot of other governments/organizations on campus pitch in too! It was only the second annual Crawfest, but it was such a huge success that I think Crawfest is guaranteed to be around for a lot longer. Crawfest is an all day long party on the LBC (Student Center) quad. Basically the Crawfest Committee orders tons and tons and tons of crawfish and beverages so that the students and community members can have unlimited crawfish free of charge. And other vendors come out too. There were hot dogs and burgers and snowballs... for those of you crazy kids that don't like crawfish (I LOVE IT). And there are free prizes and tons of activities. But I haven't even told y'all the best part of Crawfest: THE MUSIC! We have two huge stages set up on either end of the quad, and different bands play on them all day. Big New Orleans names came to our school... like The Revivalists and the Soul Rebels. Here's the link to the website... definitely check it out! http://www.crawfest.com/

After a long day of sunning on the quad with friends, eating food, and listening great music, I got ready for my next formal with Jimmy. It was downtown ON Bourbon Street with an awesome balcony. It was awesome to be on downtown and to be reminded of how truly unique New Orleans really is. Afterall, where else do you have people throwing beads at each other from one balcony to another? After formal, Jimmy and I went to the Rat (an all-night grill-type hang out in the basement of the LBC or, rather, the UC). It was so yummy. Then on Sunday I had to do homework all day. It was not fun! But I finished my paper for American Government two days before it was due, which never happens! On the right is a picture of me and Jimmy at Delt formal.

A couple weekends later, I went to Jazzfest! It was unlike anything I had ever seen before. Basically it's a huge festival with music and food and cool authentic New Orleans activities and apparel. I only got to see The Benjy Davis Project and Billy Joel because my finals were during most of Jazzfest, but let me give you guys a little inside scoop as to what else was offered at Jazzfest (besides the oodles and oodles of delicious food and drinks, and t-shirts and memorabilia): Stevie Wonder, OAR, Al Green, Jimmy Buffet, Elvis Castello, Tim McGraw, Cupid, Widespread Panic, Sheryll Crow, Santana, The Roots... JUST TO NAME A FEW! Where else can you experience that kind of music and culture? Only at Tulane, only in New Orleans can you see all of that. Here I am with some of my friends waiting for Billy Joel. It ended up pouring rain right before he came on, and it continued for the rest of the night, but that didn't stop us from rocking out to Billy.


I was lucky that I was able to go to one day of Jazzfest, but I was jealous of my friends, who were able to go 3 or 4 times to Jazzfest. Maybe next year!! My finals seemed to have taken over my life at the end of the semester. I guess my finals schedule kind of stunk: Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Thursday. I never thought I'd make it through all of them! But I survived. I managed to finish my semester with a 3.9 GPA! I guess all of my studying in the James Lounge in the LBC really paid off.

I packed up on Thursday and on Friday and managed to go out to dinner and then go to happy hour at the Boot with my friends. I ended my night at the new Sig Ep house... and I thought to myself, Sig Ep was my first fraternity party as a freshman, and it will be my last fraternity party as a freshman! It couldn't have been a more perfect end to the most perfect first year!

I can't wait for next year. Hopefully I'll see some of y'all for NOLA and/or orientation. Stay tuned for some blogging over the summer! And thanks for reading!

From Maine to Jersey to New Orleans... I'm back after break and better than ever!

Hey y'all! It feels so great to be back in New Orleans after going up north for spring break. The sun is shining, the flowers are in bloom, and the outdoor social pool is open!! It's definitely spring time down here in NOLA. But let me give y'all a little recap on the past few weeks...

The week before spring break was so chaotic, seeing as I had a Spanish exam, a spanish oral exam, an American Government Exam, and an Evolutionary Biology quiz. YUCK! As you can tell, it was most definitely hell! But I got through it, and it made my spring break so much more enjoyable! I left early friday morning to fly up to Maine to see my sister.

Brrrr... it was so chilly up there; although the snow covered Colby campus was beautiful. This was my first visit to Colby and, after not seeing my sister for over two months, I was overjoyed when we finally reunited. It was really cool to see the life she was living so many miles away from me. I got to see the campus, meet her friends, eat the food, and form great memories with Meredith. And I guess I was there for a big weekend as well, a weekend called Doghead. It's in celebration of St. Patricks Day, where you stay up all night on Friday. It was reallllly fun... but I'm sad to say I couldn't stay up all night. My sister and I took a nap and woke up really early in the morning to join in on the festivities. It was snowing too! I loved it.

I stayed until Sunday and then I went home to New Jersey. I had a really mellow trip, seeing as a lot of my friends had already had their spring breaks and were back at school. Nonetheless, I had the most wonderful time with my mom and dad. My mom and I had quite an adventure one day, when we went to the city (New York City... I guess depending where you live, "the city" could have a different meaning!) to have lunch and see a Broadway show. We went to Virgil's, a barbeque joint very close to Times Square. I live in the South now, and I still think that this restaurant has some of the best barbeque I've ever had! Afterward we went to see one of the newest shows to Broadway: Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein. It was the most hilarious show... and even a little bit vulgar... to say the least, it was a VERY Mel Brooks comedy. It was one of the funniest shows that I've seen, actually! My mom and I also went to see something of a little less quality theater, Step Up II. It wasn't quite as good as the first Step Up, but the dancing was awesome. And don't worry, the leads were still so good looking.

The rest of the week, I just kind of hung out. My sister came home for her spring break on Thursday so I got to spend even more time with her! On Sunday I came back here. The dorms were open throughout all of break, so I had no problem returning early. Since school didn't start until Tuesday, I was able to unpack, get settled, work out and eat at Bruff with Stacey and Joe, and go to the Boot for a bit. It was a very relxing night! The next day I worked out (again!!) and then I had a tour in the afternoon. Later I reunited with my girls... and just in time for ordering in food and watching the Greek season season premiere. It was soooo fun! A bunch of us had work to finish up, so I went to be relatively early.

Tuesday was awesome! I woke up for my 8am and then had appointment after meeting after appointment for most of the day. I even had USG and Pi Phi at night! Somehow, though, I got all of my work done and was able to go out with the girls to the Boot. It was so fun! And I was wearing the most adorable and summery shirt from J. Crew (bargain buy at the outlets! you can never go wrong there). So naturally I was in a good mood because of my outfit and it was a perfect night!

Wednesday my sister came into town!!!!! It was her first NOLA visit. Unfortunately her flight was very very very delayed, and we were unable to go out to a nice dinner. But I did take her to the Crepe stand, which is always delicious. Then she got to meet all of my friends. I was so happy to show her off to everyone, and visa versa. Thursday was awesome. Mere and I woke up early, had a hearty Bruff breakfast, worked out at Reilly, and then laid at the pool until my Bio test at 3:30. To understate it, we got A LOT of color. It was really relaxing.

After my test I had to shower and go to Emerging Leaders. Then Katherine, Christina, Dani, Amanda, Mere and I went to Fresco's for dinner. Always yummy. Then we went to a new place called Philip's. It was ladies night, so of course we had to check it out. We got all dressed up too which was fun. We first went to a ZBT party,... and that was so fun! Mere, Becky, and I dominated flip cup like nobody's business. Yeah baby!! So then we went to Philip's and didn't leave until pretty late. Friday was fun, too. We woke up early and laid out by the pool again. We pretty just hung out on campus all day and then went to Superior Grill for dinner. Another delicious food excrusion!

So that brings my to today! Mere just left and I'm definitely a little sad. I miss her already! Luckily I have lots to look forward to this weekend... including initiation. I cannot wait! I'll keep y'all posted.

Until next time, stay classy, readers, stay classy.