Valentine's Day: Love Is In The Air at Tulane!

Hey Y’all,

For Valentine’s Day I wanted to do something a little different than the typical “Most Romantic Spots on campus” so I reached out to Nikki and Dan, a couple that met during their time at Tulane.  I hope their love story gives y’all the warm and fuzzies!

How did you two meet?

Nikki: Dan and I first met in the beginning of our freshman year through a mutual friend. Although Dan was my first Tulane kiss (at a fraternity party bus), we just remained friends for the first 3 years of school.  It wasn't until our junior year, that Dan invited me to his Sig Ep Formal in San Destin, FL. We didn't expect it to be a romantic weekend, but somehow by the end of the weekend we were inseparable. From that point forward, we spent every moment together. Four years later we were engaged, and a year and a half after that we were married.  Currently, we are happily married, living in the city we love (New Orleans, of course), in our newly renovate house (a Katrina house, which we gutted and renovated, located blocks away from Tulane), and had our first baby boy this past Christmas. 

What were your first impressions of each other?

Dan: The first thing I noticed about Nikki was her big, beautiful smile.  In fact, I would always go up to her and tell her how amazing her smile was (thinking I was smooth and cool).  But looking back, I sounded more like a pathetic drunk guy trying to get lucky.

Nikki: My first impression of Dan was that he was a very charming guy. He was the "life of the party" and I always had a good time with him. 

What was your favorite NOLA date spot?

Nikki: I’m not sure college life was very conducive to fancy date nights, but our favorite "date spot" during college was the fly. Going to the levee with a blanket, some good food, and a box of wine was our idea of a great date.   

How do you feel that Tulane was a catalyst in bringing you guys together?

Dan: Tulane Greek Life was a huge catalyst in brining Nikki and I together; without it, we most likely would not have found one another.  Throughout college we constantly bumped into each other at a variety of Greek events (ex. date parties, mixers, and fund raising parties). Our social lives revolved around Tulane Greek Life, and the Sip Ep Formal is where our relationship truly began.

BOUNCE MUSIC 101: NOLA’s (formerly) Best Kept Secret

New Orleans is famous for being the home of Jazz music. However, Bounce music is a genre that is so uniquely New Orleans it has only started to receive attention from the country in the last few years. With the re-emergence of “twerking” as a dance trend, more people began to pay attention to where it originated. Bounce music started in NOLA in the late 1980s, and underwent a few shifts before it became what it is today. Future Tulane students should get to know NOLA the way locals do, and what better place to start than with music? 

As a native Louisianian, I grew up with bounce music so it’s as common as any other music genre to me. However, once I came to Tulane I realized that not everyone actually knows what bounce music is. It’s really hard to explain, so I’ll just let y’all hear it for yourselves. “It’s simple, uptempo, heavy bass, call and response type music, and it has a lot to do with a lot of a** shaking,” as Big Freedia once said in an interview. Big Freedia, self-proclaimed “Queen of Bounce” is probably the most famous Bounce artist ever because of her national following and mainstream appeal. She’ll be at Tulane on the 19th of February to discuss race, gender, and cultural appropriation with Tulane professor Marc Perry as a part of the 2014 Black Arts Festival, and I for one am BEYOND excited to meet her. After setting the Guiness World Record for Most People Twerking Simultaneously, her popularity exploded leading to concerts around the nation and her own reality show on FUSE Network, Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce, which follows her rising career and family life. 

Like everything else unique to New Orleans, the best way to understand Bounce music is to experience it for yourself. If you come to New Orleans for a weekend, I can guarantee that more than a few clubs around the city will be playing Bounce music, and Club Republic has a Bounce Night every month, so check it out! Don’t be afraid to search for artists other than the most popular ones. Finding the older or lesser-known artists will give you a really good insight into New Orleans life and culture over the years.

Here’s the video for one of Big Freedia’s biggest hits, “Y’all Get Back Now”: 

And her Guinness World Record Attempt:

Big Freedia follows me on Twitter (seriously), and so should you: @TulaneAlex

50 Years of Desegregation: How Tulane is Celebrating

Guest blogger: Alex Williams

50 years ago, Tulane admitted its first Black students. This school year is a milestone for the university as it celebrates this very important anniversary. As the semester winds down, I thought it would be a good idea to reflect on everything Tulane has done so far to celebrate. In just the first semester of this year, Tulane has had 6 very distinguished speakers, which is almost unheard of. Among them are Michelle Alexander, legal scholar and author of The New Jim Crow, the book that was chosen for Tulane’s first year reading project; prison reform activist Jackie Sumell; and Angela Davis, Freedom Activist and former Vice Presidential candidate. As a freshman, it made me really happy to see how much Tulane does to commemorate important occasions. For more about the actual desegregation, check out this link from Tulane magazine: http://www.pageturnpro.com/Progress-Printing/53269-109569_Tulane-Sept13-Ptp/index.html#16

In addition to featuring a number of speakers, Tulane has held many events to commemorate the anniversary. On November 20, the Tulane Law School held a re-enactment of the court cases that led to Tulane’s desegregation. Current law students played the lawyers and judge. It was moderated by Tulane Law School professor Robert Westley; Laura Adderley, the chair of the African & African Diaspora Studies department; and Carolyn Barber-Pierre, the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Mrs. Barber-Pierre is the head of the committee that is sponsoring these events, which includes panel discussions and documentary screenings. 

“We have so much to learn from our history about race relations, justice, equality and the vestiges of desegregation we are still dealing with today,” says Barber-Pierre. “This re-enactment is designed to get our students thinking about the great injustices of the past and to help them navigate similar situations that are unfortunately still a part of our society in many ways.”

This year, special attention is being paid to the first Black students who attended Tulane, including the ones who filed the initial lawsuit that led to the desegregation. Stephen Martin, Sr. was the first Black scholarship athlete to play at Tulane, and the first Black athlete to play in the Southeastern Conference. Pearlie Hardin Elloie and Barbara Guillory Thompson were the two original plaintiffs in the desegregation case, and are featured in an upcoming documentary about Tulane’s desegregation. This documentary features many other groundbreaking Black students at Tulane, and is slated for release next year. A preview of the documentary as well as a short article about it can be found here: http://cooperproject.org/doctulane50preview/. Marilyn Bernard, a 1968 graduate of Newcomb College and one of the people featured in the film had this to say:

"It’s really interesting. When Carolyn called me and said, ‘It’s been 50 years and we’re doing this documentary.’ I’m thinking it never occurred to me that 50 years later somebody would want to know, ‘How did you feel when you did that, when you went to that school?’ because it was just part of my life. It was just a part of my entire 66 years." -Marilyn Bernard (photo from Tulane Jambalaya, 1968)

Although so much was done this semester, next semester is going to be just as great. More speakers, more events, and more awareness about the issues that we still face today. I will definitely update as the year goes on, so stay tuned!

When I’m not blogging, I enjoy the company of my dog and getting into shenanigans. Follow me on Twitter as I make my way through freshman year! @TulaneAlex

Study Spots

Guest blogger: Mara O'Brien-Hahn

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…finals.  As the dreaded tests approach even the most reluctant studiers are finally cracking the books and attempting to cram an entire semester’s worth of material into their heads.  Luckily, Tulane provides countless study spots and it’s easy to find a location to suit your studying preferences.  Find your “study groove” below and see my suggestions for study spots to fit your style. Happy finals!

Social Studier

For you, studying is just as much about showing off how cute you look in your oversized tortoise shell glasses as it is about learning.  If you’re the kind of studier who loves to be seen and can switch easily between paper writing and chatting, then PJ’s on Willow Street should be your go to study spot.  Grab a latte, park yourself in a booth, and text all of your friends to join you in your prime social studying location.

People Watching Studier

You’re serious about studying and don’t want to be distracted by loud talkers and YouTube video watchers, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do some prime people watching while you work.  The Howard Tilton Learning Commons should be your go to spot.  You can check out everyone parading in and out of the library in their comfort-chic apparel while also ensuring you’ll have a relatively quiet environment to work in.  It also doesn’t hurt that you only have to walk ten feet from your computer to get a caffeine boost at the PJ’s in the library as well.

Silent Studier

You are the type of person who gets so in the zone that the drop of a pencil can throw you out of your groove.  Social studiers are your pet peeve and you need a study spot where you’re guaranteed absolute silence.  The James Lounge in the LBC, the Quiet Floors in Howard Tilton, and Nadine Vorhoff Library are all perfect locations for you.  At each of these spots you’ll have a silent space to crank out that final paper. Fair warning, don’t you dare be the person who eat a noisy bag of potato chips in a quiet area or you might be attacked by hoards of angry, sleep-deprived silent studiers.  If these spots ever feel too quiet just plug in your headphones and visit coffitivity.com for some ambient coffee shop sounds.

How Tulane Is Decorating For The Holiday Season

Guest blogger: Alex Williams

Winter break is near, and for many Tulane students that means celebrating Christmas or other winter holidays. Despite the 75°+ temperatures last week, it is still winter, and Tulane is celebrating it.








This year, Chanukah fell during the Thanksgiving break instead of closer to Christmas, so many students were here to celebrate it. The Chabad here at Tulane even set up a giant menorah in front of the LBC.

The rest of the campus is getting into the seasonal spirit, altough a bit more quietly. The sophomore honors dorm, Weatherhead (AKA SoHo) is decorated inside and out like a winter wonderland. Within my own dorm, Josephine-Louise, many girls have decorated their room doors to celebrate the holidays.

  

On behalf of myself and my friends in the admissions office, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Follow me on Twitter for some of my holiday adventures! @TulaneAlex

10 Things We'll Miss About Tulane This Holiday Break

Guest Blogger: Walker Daniel

WOOHOO! Whether you are on your last day of finals or have already packed your suitcase, home is just around the corner. I can almost smell the hot apple cider and hear the nagging of my siblings. For many of us, it has been almost four months since we’ve seen our hometown: our family and friends, our old stomping grounds… Heck, it’s been months since we’ve slept in the comfort of our own bed! As much as we are looking forward to going back, we’ve got to admit that Tulane is also our home. You can’t just ignore the place you live 9 months out of the year! So as we say hello to our “home” home, we also say goodbye to our “school” home. Here are some things we’ll all miss this coming month:

1.  Tulane Cats: They’re just like our pets at home – minus all of the actual care. We see them, and they are cute. We pet them, and they purr. However, we do not spend our time cleaning their litter box or spooning questionable smelling cat food into their dinner bowls.

 

One of the famous "Tulane Cats" lounges around the Academic Quad

2.  How acceptable it is to eat microwaveable foods: If I walked to my kitchen at home, pulled out an Easy Mac, and preceded to microwave it and shovel it into my mouth… my mother might kill me. But walking around my hall at 11am with a Cup-O-Noodles? Totally acceptable.

3.  Warm weather: This is a courteous reminder that the average daily temperature lately in New Orleans has been about 60 degrees. Though this may feel like the artic to us, the harsh truth is that wherever you are going (unless it’s Florida) is going to be much, much colder.

4.  Bruff: You might say, “Haha, well, I’m sure happy to go home to some home-cooked food!” Think again, my friends. Bruff is like a fully stocked refrigerator; you can always find something that is satisfying. Even if it comes down to cereal or salad… there is a fabulous array of brand name cereal and a full salad bar. I don’t know about you, but my cupboard at home isn’t stocked with Cap’n Crunch, Reeses Pieces AND Lucky Charms. Trust me, around the second week home, when the novelty of you being home vanishes from your moms mind… you’ll miss it.

Make-Your-Own-Cupcake day at Bruff, Tulane's dining hall

5.  The Boot: Just kidding. I’m sure we can all use a break.

6.  Everything being in walking distance: There is no better motivator to go to the gym than knowing it is less than a 5 minute walk from your dorm. Good luck with your workouts over break, everyone.

7.  The Faculty and Staff: People are so nice here. Whether it be your professors, the Bruff workers, the maintenance people, the people who drive SafeRide… It is rare to find such smiley people all in one place.

8.  Wavebucks: If you didn’t run out of Wavebucks a month ago (if you did, you are not alone), you will miss getting endless food and drink with you student ID card. It’s funny, it doesn’t quite seem like real money, as is with a debit card. “Wavebucks, please” is such an easy, simple, phrase for those late nights at Mac Mart or splurge lunches at the LBC.

9.  Saying “Y’all”: As a southern school, we pretend we can actually say “y’all.” If you are not from the south… please do not try this at home.

10.   Friends: The real reason we come to college. We’ll miss the all-nighters in the common rooms, the 3 hour long meals at Bruff, the movie nights in, the silly nights out, the jokes that have accumulated over the past 4 months… That’s what we’ll miss. 

A group of students goof off with their professors

But don’t fret, 3 and a half weeks will pass more quickly than you think! Enjoy your time at home, and sooner than you know, you’ll be right back home.

Follow @TulaneWalker on Twitter for some hilarious (in her opinion) insight into life as a freshman at Tulane!

The Best Study Spots

Guest Blogger: Sarah Swig

It's finals time at Tulane, which for many students means hours upon hours stuck in the library. Lots of reading, studying, calculating, and writing. This can be tiring and often boring, and I find that the library is often too stressful for me. All I see around me are people studying, so it helps me to study off campus during finals. I like to be surrounded by other people who aren't students because it gives me some perspective that there is life outside of my exams and school, and these people are often happier than those in the library. I also have an easier time focusing when there is a little background noise and when I am surrounded by my friends. I feel much more relaxed when I'm able to work off campus, and it's fun to be able to take mini breaks with my friends to chat over coffee. Plus, most coffee shops nearby have good sandwiches and salads, which allows me to stay in one place for a longer period of time. Studying off campus is a great way to become more immersed in New Orleans and meet other locals. I've compiled a list of my favorite study places off campus - they all have great coffee drinks and free wifi.

bagel and coffee!

Cafe Luna is my go-to. The manager is so nice, and they have the BEST iced drinks. They specially brew their iced coffee, give good discounts on refills, and have fresh baked goods every day. There is a room in the back that is perfect for studying: it is a little quieter from the main room, and the artwork on the walls changes nearly every time I go. The patio out front is BEAUTIFUL and it is a great place to study and chat when the weather is nice. It's less than two miles from campus - and is conveniently located right next to Whole Foods!

Cafe Luna 

my favorite little mug!

I also love to study at Zots Cafe. This place is much more hip and eclectic than Cafe Luna, and is very different from your normal coffee shop. Zots has three rooms - the front room has tables, couches, and chess boards, and the back two rooms are more suited for studying. There is a funky collection of furniture, and no single chair or table is the same. There are tons of books for coffee drinkers to read as they hang out at Zots, other fun games for people to play, and lots of quirky artwork and decoration on the walls. It's probably not a place I'd bring my mom to grab coffee, but I love studying here. Their cups are fun, vibes are good, and it's great place for people watching. It's on Oak Street which is really close to campus - easily walkable. 

The Inside of Zots.

Manhattan Jack is a perfect place for those of you who love sweets! It is a bakery with soooooo many good desserts (I actually got my birthday cake from there!). They also have huge sandwiches that are yummy, and I love their lattes. It's very spacious and they play really good music (lots of Bon Iver). Manhattan Jack is a little further from campus (about two miles) - but it's right next to the Prytania Theatre, which is a single-screen movie theatre that plays both current and old movies on a rotating basis!

see how good those sweets look?

Finally, Village Coffee is a place my friends and I frequent. It is a much more traditional coffee shop. There's a big downstairs and an upstairs room that is nearly silent, which is perfect for when I really need to get something done.









There are tons of other coffee shops and restaurants which are great study spots around campus, but these are some of my favorites. I have spent the majority of my days at these places for the past week, and am so happy to be done with my exams!! Happy studying to those of you who aren't yet done yet, good luck!! At least you have it better than these snowmen.

Follow me @Tulane_Sarah for more scoop on student life.