French is a heritage language in Louisiana that has endured for generations. In many ways, it is a part of the University’s identity. What can we learn from the history of the French department? How does the evolution of this unit reflect the globalization of the French language? What do they do for us?
French is embedded in the DNA of our school. You have perhaps noticed the French House at the corner of Highland Road and Campus Drive, standing out among the predominantly Tuscan style of the University’s architecture. It was originally conceived as a French language and cultural immersion dorm that would “help keep French culture in Louisiana alive.” If you then turn left and head toward Tiger Stadium, you will find Hodges Hall, home of the Department of French Studies. There, once you have opened the door, you will enter in a singular area, situated at the crossroads of the Francophone world: our Cajun and Creole history.
The Cajun culture in Louisiana is omnipresent and creates bridges for us to French, Canadian, African and Caribbean cultures. Created in 1980, the Department of French Studies is central to the life of Louisiana and is committed to increasing student awareness of our state’s French and Francophone heritage in many ways, according to Professor Adelaide Russo, chair of the French department.
Russo says the department “is recognized as one of the strongest French programs in the nation.” The French Embassy in the U.S. has even awarded the Center for French and Francophone Studies directed by Professor Alexandre Leupin as a “Centre d’excellence,” an honor that has been given to only 15 universities in the U.S. Consequently, Leupin has even secured a$235,000 grant provided by the Partner University Fund, the French American Cultural Exchange Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The grant will be used to fund a collaborative research project over the next few years reinforcing the activities of the Center and boost their partnership with the Université des Antilles.
One of the most important benefits to our French department students was, according to Russo, the 2000 Curriculum Reform grant provided by the Louisiana Board of Regents. Thanks to this grant, the University expanded its range of courses, not only covering the entire history of metropolitan French literature and culture, from medieval epic to contemporary prose, poetry, philosophy, theater, and film, but also Francophone literature and cultures of North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, Asia and North America, including both Quebec and Louisiana.
In the end, what makes the department a true source of inspiration to broaden our imagination is its ability to send students to various areas of the French-speaking world: Université de Poitiers, Université de Limoges, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon and Aix-Marseille Université where vins et fromages vous attendent (wine and cheese awaits us).
Edward d’Espalungue is a guest columnist for The Daily Reveille.
