Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University is an amalgam of a number of institutions of higher learning around the State of Louisiana. There are actually two separate systems, alas, still stemming from segregation. The headquarters of the system are in Baton Rouge, the state capital. The white branch is referred to as LSU and the black branch is referred to as Southern University. The division between the two systems has spawned very unequal systems, with the white brach receiving far more resources up to the present day.

The university was founded before the Civil War, and Zachary Taylor was among its first leaders. Its first buildings are on Lafayette Street in Baton Rouge, across from the current state capital building. These buildings are still called "the pentagon." Comprising five seperate, two story brick rectangular structures with large columned porticos on both sides, built originally as military barracks. They now house the offices of the Lieutenant Governor and other state officials, and have apartments for senior members of the state legislature.

Tulane University was founded as part of the Louisiana State System, but is now a private university (with generous support from the state.)

Within the state the white branches are referred to with their initials. "White" branches, which are in all the major cities of the state, include:

LSU -- main campus in Baton Rouge.

SLU -- Southeastern, in Hammond, (derogatorily referred to as "slow learners :university.")

LSU-A -- ...at Alexandria. (two year institution only)

USL -- University of Southern Louisiana, at Lafayette.

LSU-Shreveport.

LSU-Monroe.

NSU -- Nicholls State Univeristy in Thibodaux

UNO -- the University of New Orleans.

MSU -- McNeese State University in Lake Charles.

"Black branches include:

Southern -- main campus in Baton Rouge Grambling -- in Ruston

Louisiana State University also runs a network of Charity Hospitals throughout the state, as well as major research and teaching colleges. Earl K. Long -- in Baton Rouge Charity Hospital, LSU Medical Center (which is further divided in more than 20 institutions) LSU Dental School, LSU School of Nursing -- all in New Orleans

This is a partial list of branches in the LSU system Due to politics, budgets, and other factors some of the names and connections within the system are always in flux.

LSU and Southern in Baton Rouge both maintain highly respected sports programs, with teams at LSU called the Tigers and teams at Southern called the Jaguars.

"Mike the Tiger" is a real live tiger that lives rather sumptuously on the main campus of LSU.

The song "Tiger Rag" is said to be derived from Mike the Tiger.

The LSU campus in Baton Rouge was heavily influenced, financed and even designed by Huey P. Long, legendary governor of the state in the 1920s.