Club takes on task of preserving LSU history
Thousands of LSU students, faculty and staff pass the Memorial Tower on a daily basis, but few know its real name [the Campanile] or where the name comes from.
Similarly, how many residents of our campus community know of the secret underground tunnels beneath the grounds and their purposes? 
Sound interesting? Tigers Organizing and Unifying Campus Histories at LSU, or TOUCH LSU, is a new organization on campus dedicated to the preservation of LSU’s many histories and traditions. 
“We are a new and determined organization whose purpose is to educate, renew and preserve LSU’s history and traditions,” said Rich Rachal TOUCH LSU president. “Our goal is to make LSU more of a home that people can appreciate, love and enjoy.”
TOUCH LSU, a group of students striving to research and understand the University’s past, provides much of the information for the “Did You Know” advertisements that appear Wednesdays in the Reveille.
Last week, in an attempt to make learning the history of LSU fun, TOUCH LSU hosted Tiger Feud, an LSU trivia game with a Family Feud format, for the residents of East Laville dormitory.
“The history of LSU is in our hands,” the organization’s motto, stands as a testament to the organization’s goals.
“We have to make LSU our home,” Rachal said. “If we do not respect the campus and strive to continue its traditions and histories, then we will never take part in the full college experience and never feel the pride that we should have in this campus.”
On April 24, TOUCH LSU, continuing what it started last semester, will host another “Policing the Parade Grounds,” a clean-up campaign.
Next fall, TOUCH LSU also is planning a campuswide pajama party for the season opener football game.
“I love how excited people get when they learn something new about their school,” said Sonja Ardoin, a secondary eduction sophomore. “It gives us a great sense of satisfaction when we see people learn about this University.”
TOUCH LSU’s next meeting will be April 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Union Castillian Room.
For more information on a specific LSU tradition or on how to join TOUCH LSU, contact members by e-mail at [email protected].
“We look forward to the task at hand, and we hope to one day be a big part of LSU’s history,” Ardoin said.
Tim Basilica