Fall Fest 2015 attracted large crowds of students, alumni, parents and faculty Friday to take a break from the busy semester to enjoy a spin in a human hamster ball or sample a few refreshments.
This year’s event kicked off with the traditional performance of the Golden Band from Tigerland, LSU Cheerleaders and Tiger Girls. Students lined up for a closer look and a chance to get into the pre-gameday spirit.
“When you hear the first four notes of the [pregame] song it’s a sign for every tiger fan to immediately get excited and pumped up. You’re ready to have a good time,” said sports administration freshman Kyle Lachney.
The Fall Fest emcees, sociology senior MarQuetta “TeeQue” Lanier, history and philosophy senior Michael Moore, mass communication sophomore Bonnie Wells and human resource management sophomore David Simmons, energized the crowd with jokes, shoutouts and announcements while introducing Fall Fest sponsors.
Raising Cane’s and Coca-Cola drew throngs of students to the stage for a chance to catch purple and gold Cane’s t-shirts and Share a Coke With a Tiger merchandise. Students went long to catch Cane’s t-shirts shot over 100 feet from the stage.
The Fall Fest stage also hosted the student performers and groups, including Kryptonite, Julep, Musical Theatre Club, Ryan Zumo, Ahman Robinson, and Steven Kador, Public Display of A Capella, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Cyndie Wright, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.,, Cypress Wyman, and Legacy Dancers.
Students danced, sang along, and cheered for their peers onstage during each of the performances.
There were 65 tables lined up on the Parade Ground representing campus units and area businesses sponsoring the event. Students had the chance to Dunk the Dean, have a photo op with LSU Elvis, climb the UREC rock wall, win even more Cane’s merchandise, run in giant hamster balls and touch animals from the LSU Museum of Natural Science.
“It’s really great that LSU does this every year,” said biological sciences sophomore Lia Cristadoro, “this year I feel there’s a lot more going on and a lot more to look at and do. Now that there is more to choose from, I want to stop by and the environment is really fun.”
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences’ Dunk the Dean gave students the chance to dunk HSS Dean Stacia “Stacy” Haynie and Associate Dean Troy Blanchard. Both deans were dunked over 30 times combined.
LSUPD’s Mobile Command vehicle hosted games of cornhole with a twist, students wore alcohol impairment simulation goggles and attempted to toss beanbags into the target. Onlookers laughed along as the bean bags landed in the hands of LSUPD officers standing far behind the cornholes more often than in the intended target.
“The cornhole game is part of the outreach activities that we do throughout the university and different events. We’ve incorporated the cornhole game and the drunk goggles to get people involved and see how alcohol can affect your motor skills and perception,” said LSUPD spokesperson Capt. Cory Lalonde.
Sponsor tables packed up as the LSU Ambassadors took the stage to end the 21-year-old celebration with the singing of the Alma Mater.