Almost everyone loves free stuff, and broke college students are no exception. Bored at school and want to take advantage of some amenities that are often forgotten about? Here are a few on-campus activities that will be easy on your checking account.
SPORT EQUIPMENT FROM THE UREC
If you’ve ever gotten the urge to paddle around the University Lake, you can do so for free. Students can check out bikes, kayaks and canoes from the University Student Recreation Complex with a student ID. The desk to rent out equipment is located across from the racquetball rooms.
THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE
The Student Activities Board hosts free events in the Student Union every Thursday night. These events alternate between open mic nights, stand-up comedians and movie screenings and miscellaneous events. Tonight’s activity is “The Code,” which is a candid discussion about dating and hooking up in a similar style as MTV’s “Guy Code” and “Girl Code.” The event is held in the Live Oak Lounge and begins at 8 p.m.
GADGET RENTALS FROM MIDDLETON LIBRARY
Forget your laptop at home? Spill some Natty Light on your precious MacBook Pro? Don’t have money to buy an iPad? Well, Middleton Library has your back. That’s right — for the price of presenting your Tiger Card, you can rent either a PC, Mac or iPad from the circulation desk for up to three days at a time. The desk also offers video camera rentals. Just make sure to bring it back to avoid late fees.
UNION THEATER SHOWS
If you’re looking for some free entertainment, then look no further than the Union Theater. This season, the Union Theater will be hosting Comedy Central on Campus on Oct. 10, which features comedians Kevin Barnett, T.J. Miller and Thomas Middleditch. On Nov. 2, Racine D’or, a performance and dance piece set to Zydeco music, will hit the Union Theater. Fans of musicals can rejoice for “Memphis: The Musical,” which will take the stage Nov. 25 and 26. Many Union Theater shows are free or discounted for students. For ticket information, go to unionweb.lsu.edu.
CAMPUS MUSEUMS
If you’re feeling especially sophisticated and want to take in some culture, check out some of the free museums on campus. The Louisiana Museum of Natural History in Foster Hall allows students to gaze upon intriguing exhibits such as a taxidermied version of the first Mike the Tiger as well as fish, insect and reptile displays. The Hill Memorial Library has an ever-changing collection of displays. Right now, it features “Centuries of Style: A Retrospective of Dress” and “Saturday Night in Tiger Stadium: Reflections on 120 Years of LSU Football.” Don’t forget: Students also receive free admission to the LSU Museum of Art located in The Shaw Center for the Arts downtown.

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Morgan Searles

Students sit in the front row of the Union Theater on Tuesday night, waiting for the screening of "Pitch Perfect" to begin. Sept. 25, 2012