The STRIPES program has welcomed incoming students to the University and showed them what it means to be a Tiger since 2000. However, with STRIPES undergoing an organizational change, many freshmen are concerned about losing their opportunity to “earn their stripes.”
STRIPES (Student Tigers Rallying, Interacting and Promoting Education and Service) is a four-day, three-night retreat designed to help incoming students learn about components of campus life, including academic success, history and traditions, leadership development, relationship building and student services.
The program used to be organized by the LSU First Year Experience, a department within Campus Life. However, the department was recently liquidated and the Office of Enrollment Management was put in charge of STRIPES.
With the change some students are worried the Office of Enrollment Management is not giving the program enough thought and attention.
Th concern prompted mass communication sophomore Melissa Kim and biological engineering junior Gabriel Breaux to start a social media campaign focused on the importance of the program, called “Students for STRIPES.”
The two got the idea from chemical engineering sophomore Joel Folse. Kim said it was about voicing concerns and standing up for what they believe in.
“Often times, we don’t notice what’s happening on campus and how students get less and less support until the very end when you can’t turn back and voice your concerns,” Kim said. “We took this opportunity to stop that pattern and speak on what we believe.”
The social media campaign can be found on Instagram and Facebook, where Kim and Breaux share stories from both in-state and out-of-state students who had positive experiences with STRIPES. The Facebook page was created on Nov. 23 and has over 100 followers.
Elementary education junior Taylor Morgan, the Facebook moderator for “Students for STRIPES,” said STRIPES was an invaluable experience for her.
“My mom brought STRIPES to my attention, and I reluctantly agreed,” Morgan said. “Little did I know it would change my life entirely. Everyone was so accepting and inclusive, and this brought out a side in me I never knew. I thrived as a leader; so did my peers. To take this opportunity away from students would be an injustice.”
The campaign’s leaders feel the administration is failing to be transparent with students regarding the status of the 2020 STRIPES program.
Breaux said he worried it was seen non-essential by the Office of Enrollment Management and pushed to the side. Breaux, along with other leaders of the campaign, hope to raise awareness and have the program prioritized.
“I think our main goals are to have STRIPES continue on this campus and to at the very least gain some transparency on the progression of the program for this year,” Breaux said.
According to Kim, the campaign wants to make sure the Office of Enrollment Management understands the importance and positive impact of the program.
“We want STRIPES to continue as the program we have grown to know and love under a department that also appreciates it,” Kim said. “As it is currently under Enrollment Management, we want them to be transparent with the student body in the status of the 2020 STRIPES program.”
LSU Media Relations Director Ernie Ballard, in a statement, said the University was working to provide clarity about next year’s STRIPES program.
“We value all that STRIPES offers students and want to create a way in which more students can benefit from it,” Ballard said. “We continue to work through what our next year of programming looks like and look forward to keeping the community updated at the appropriate time.”
Folse said the campaign has gained followers already because students are confused and worried about STRIPES. Morgan agreed administration needS to be doing more surrounding the issue of STRIPES.
“We wish for administration to realize that the students are the heartbeat of this campus,” Morgan said. “Their voices deserve to be heard. While we respect administration and are thankful for all they do for us, we wish to also be respected for all we do to aid in student experience and retention.”