Happy Wednesday and welcome back to back-to-school week at American Style. Through Friday, you’ll be hearing from a different college student each day about life across America, live from their first week back on campus. Each will be answering the American Style College Questionnaire, a 16-question survey designed to encompass the modern student experience with prompts like, “Do you eat at the dining hall?” and “Do you currently have a crush?” So far, the Questionnaire has been completed by students at Parsons and Oberlin.
Today we’re going down South to learn about life at Louisiana State University. Our diarist is Adair, an 18-year-old sophomore from Mandeville, Louisiana, who wants to move to New York City after graduation. This edition is special to me because I grew up with big Southern football schools like LSU, and I became a writer in New Orleans. For those of you without your own personal connection to the SEC (sad), I’d like to remind you that, like Adair, Addison Rae was a journalism student at LSU before she dropped out to join the Hype House in LA.
Name: Adair
Age: 18, 19 soon!
College/year: Louisiana State University, Sophomore
Hometown: Mandeville, Louisiana. New Orleans Metropolitan Area
Major: Journalism, minor in History
I’ve been settled in my condo for two weeks now, so my roommates and I have already had lots of fun. These first two days of class back on campus have been inspiring, for the most part. Everyone in my honors classes are eager to learn and engage, and I’m excited to go back to my Honors Global Literature on Thursday, even though it’s at 9 a.m. I still haven’t seen all my LSU friends, especially the ones from out-of-state, but this Sunday my friend is hosting a dinner party which feels incredibly adult (even though the menu is grilled cheese).
I finished Slouching Towards Bethlehem on the bus ride from campus today. That might prove to be more defining to my life than the first two days of sophomore year. Also, I made a vision board before school started. It’s crazy how positively it’s seemed to impact my energy and the energy I’m receiving.
Note: I overheard a girl wearing a bright pink athletic dress say into her phone “I feel so slutty” when describing her outfit as she walked by.
Breakfast: Warmed muesli with chia and raspberry jam; moka pot coffee
Do you live on campus? No, I live in a condo a block from campus gates with two fabulous girls: my freshman year roommate and my cousin who just transferred from Fordham University.
Do you participate in any sports, clubs or extracurriculars? I partake in LSU’s Fashion Association; the UREC’s various pilates, power yoga, and barre classes; and take advantage of the Honors College activities and presentations. Next week they are hosting journalists who were on the ground during Hurricane Katrina to discuss their experience for the twentieth anniversary. I’m forever grateful for the expansive opportunities the Honors College offers us, along with making the campus of LSU feel like a smaller one when needed.
At the on-campus bar–which used to be a frat house–Murphy’s, it is not unusual to see the balcony full of girls wearing Lululemon instead of “going out” tops.
How would you describe the style on campus? In the SEC, “normal” isn’t jeans and a white tee. Normal consists of following the reigning Greek Life’s style guide: overpriced athleisure, highlighted hair and Enewton jewelry. About half of LSU, at a population of around 30,000 students, fit into this mold (even if they aren’t Greek themselves). 20% seem to keep up with the trends in the outside world, daring to wear jeans in 95 degree weather and wear Edikted on a night out. (At the on-campus bar–which used to be a frat house–Murphy’s, it is not unusual to see the balcony full of girls wearing Lululemon instead of “going out” tops.)
Another 20% simply have other priorities over fashion. The last 10%, usually Art and Design students, go above and beyond in their individualist style. There’s a sense that they might be overcompensating to make up for the lacking majority, but I don’t mind.
For tailgating purposes, I bought two tops off Depop: a bright purple Marc Jacobs sleeveless top and a white Express flowy tank.
Any trends you’re noticing? Athletic wear is always present at LSU, but this year it’s come in neon colors. This is usually paired with On Clouds or Hoka’s, but if they consider themselves daring enough to be “cool,” maybe they’ll wear a colored Adidas Gazelle. Free People Movement is all over campus, specifically the romper-like pieces and the “My Time Tee.” Free People is still too bohemian to be fully accepted in LSU’s defining style. I’ve also been pleased to notice an array of unique Wildflower phone cases (including mine).
For men, it’s expected to see a multitude of fraternity pledges walking around in suits for the entirety of fall semester, including the days the weather reaches the high nineties.
If you’re a sophomore, junior or senior, what changes have you noticed on campus since your first year? As a sophomore, I don’t have that much experience at LSU yet. Interestingly, last semester the president resigned and we have a stand-in president. LSU’s Welcome Week for the 8,000 freshmen students got out of hand this year, as reported by local news stations and TikTok. LSU, so far, has turned chaotic (evil).
Did you go back to school shopping? What did you buy? I bought a new pair of jeans: Abercrombie 90s low-rise relaxed in a dark wash. For tailgating purposes, I bought two tops off Depop: a bright purple Marc Jacobs sleeveless top and a white Express flowy tank.
What did you do this summer? I was a counselor for the Governor’s Program for Gifted Children, a seven week academic program for academically and musically gifted kids ages 11-17. It was an enriching summer for all of us participating. [Editorial note: I think I forgot to ask everyone else this, so consider this addition the SEC special]
What’s your first day back outfit? My new Abercrombie jeans, a black Pretties tank* and my black sambas. Accessorized with a brown rope and pearl necklace (reminiscent of 2018), black Crap Eyewear sunnies (The Marias collab), a Katya World tortoise shell claw clip and Mignon Faget jewelry.
I finished Slouching Towards Bethlehem on the bus ride from campus today. That might prove to be more defining to my life than the first two days of sophomore year.
Lunch: An apple, coffee, tofu egg scramble with arugula
How would you rate your level of school spirit? 6/10. It would be higher, but I’m outranked by the SEC superfans.
What does a typical weekend look like for you? During football season in the fall, Saturdays are reserved for football. Every home game is an all-day affair, with tailgating across campus starting as early as 9 a.m. and the football game following immediately after ending as late as midnight. On Fridays my friends and I like to go out, which usually just means to the bars or club but this year I’m looking forward to more DJ sets.
Do you eat at the dining hall? No, since I live off campus I can cook for myself.
What’s your best class? My best class so far is Honors Religion and Other Worlds. I enrolled in this class expecting an Honors version of a religion course, but was pleasantly surprised to learn we’ll be exploring the likes of UFOs, J.R.R. Tolkien's spiritual experience which led to The Hobbit, and Ayahuasca trips. Not only is my professor brilliant, but he looks just like David Lynch.
What’s your worst? All of my classes are ideal, but the least exciting is Italian 1002. My professor is a sweet German lady (probably the nicest German I’ll ever meet) with a scatterbrain. Unfortunately I think I’ll have to rely partly on myself to master the class, but that’s a learning experience as well.
Do you currently have a crush? We’ll see.
Dinner: A can of Trader Joe's vegetarian chili, dark chocolate bar and kiwi
What do you want to do after you graduate? I want to practice journalism in any way I can, ideally in fashion. Ultimately I chose LSU over a school in New Orleans or New York so I could afford to live there after college, so I hope I pursue that goal as well.
* Noticing a lot of the American Style collegiates are wearing basics for back-to-school. Pointelle and plain cotton t-shirts. This is the sort of youth trend realism I love, I might do a little summary at the end of the week.
Thank you for reading the American Style College Questionnaire. Tomorrow we’re going to The Cooper Union.
Louisiana girls rise up!
Geaux Tigers !!! 🐯