What are the words to the Alma Mater? When were the live oaks planted on campus? What were Huey P. Long’s last words? Why is LSU’s mascot the “Fightin’ Tigers”? What was the panty raid?
The students involved in Tigers Organizing and Unifying Campus Histories at LSU, known as TOUCH LSU, know the answers to all these questions and more.
The organization strives to educate, renew and preserve LSU’s history and traditions, TOUCH LSU’s Web site states.
Rich Rachal, the organization’s founder and vice president, said LSU has a rich tradition, but many of the traditions have been discarded.
“How can we say we’re a tradition-rich school if we don’t do them?” Rachal said.
As a freshman, Rachal went through Student Tigers Rallying, Interacting and Promoting Education and Service, a program designed to give incoming freshmen a better appreciation of LSU, he said.
After the STRIPES experience, Rachal wanted to expand on his knowledge. He said Michelle Lowery, the Center for Student Leadership and Involvement coordinator, encouraged him to start his own organization.
One of the traditions the organization brought back is the pajama party for the first home football game.
TOUCH LSU opened the tradition to all students, and those who wear pajamas can receive free food from the organization’s tailgating party. Rachal said 70 students, including Mike the Tiger, participated in reviving the tradition this past year.
Another tradition TOUCH LSU wants to reinstate is Jam Jam, which stands for Jambalaya and Jamboree. For the spring football game, all the student organizations would gather on the Parade Ground and cook jambalaya and crawfish dishes.
The organizations would prepare “Thibodeaux and Boudreaux” skits and reenact the jokes on a stage.
Rachal said the tradition was moved off campus because the jokes got too nasty, and there was too much drinking going on among the students.
The organization does research in the Hill Memorial Library, looking through old “L” books, which are handbooks full of history and traditions at LSU, Rachal said.
The students also look through old Gumbo yearbooks and talk to Randy Gurie, director of University special events, whom Rachal described as having “a plethora of knowledge.”
The panty raid was an annual event when guys in the residence halls would sneak out at night and run to the female halls, Rachal said. When they got there, the girls would throw their panties out of the window with their phone numbers written inside.
Other traditions such as singing the Alma Mater give insight into the unique LSU experience, he said. He said these traditions give students greater appreciation and pride for the school they attend.
Students interested in learning more about LSU’s history and traditions can visit the organization’s Web site at www.lsu.edustudent_ organizations/touchlsu.