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Louisiana State University and A&M College facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
Type
Established 1860
Endowment $692 million (2012 total of all LSU campuses)
President F. King Alexander
Provost Richard Koubek
Academic staff
 1,500
Students 31,527
Undergraduates 26,159
Postgraduates 5,368
Location
Baton Rouge
,
Louisiana
,
U.S.

30°24′52″N 91°10′42″W / 30.4145°N 91.1783°W / 30.4145; -91.1783
Campus Urban 2,000+ acres (8.1 km²)
Colors Purple and Gold         
Nickname Tigers & Lady Tigers
Affiliations
  • LSU System
  • URA
  • APLU
  • ORAU
  • SURA
Mascot Mike the Tiger
Louisiana State University (logo).svg
LSU law center 1
Louisiana State University and A&M College

The Louisiana State University and A&M College is a large public university. It is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Most people simply call it "Louisiana State University" or "LSU". When you hear "LSU" in sports, it almost always means this university.

LSU is part of the Louisiana State University System. It is a special kind of university called a "land-grant" and "sea-grant" institution. This means it gets federal support to teach about farming, engineering, and ocean-related studies.

About Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University was started in 1860. It is one of the oldest and biggest universities in Louisiana. It is known as a "flagship" university. This means it is the main and most important university in the state's public university system.

A Big Campus in Baton Rouge

LSU has a very large campus. It covers over 2,000 acres, which is about 8 square kilometers. The campus is in an urban area, meaning it's in a city. It has many buildings, sports fields, and green spaces.

Many students attend LSU. There are over 31,000 students in total. Most of them are undergraduate students, who are working on their first college degree. There are also graduate students who are studying for advanced degrees.

What You Can Study at LSU

LSU offers many different subjects to study. You can learn about science, engineering, arts, and business. The university has many different colleges and schools. This means students can choose from a wide range of programs.

LSU is also a "Space-grant" university. This means it helps with research related to space. It works with NASA and other groups. This helps students learn about space exploration and technology.

LSU Sports and Mascot

LSU is very famous for its sports teams. They are called the Tigers and Lady Tigers. Their colors are purple and gold. The teams play in Division I sports. They are part of the SEC, which is a very strong sports league.

Meet Mike the Tiger

The official mascot of LSU is Mike the Tiger. Mike is a real tiger who lives on campus. He has a special habitat where he is cared for. Fans love to see Mike before games. He is a symbol of the university's strength and spirit.

Tiger Stadium: The Roaring Home

The LSU football team plays in Tiger Stadium. It is one of the largest college football stadiums in the United States. On game days, it becomes a very loud and exciting place. Fans call it "Death Valley" because it's so tough for opposing teams to play there.

The PMAC is another important sports venue. It is where the basketball and gymnastics teams play. It is named after a famous LSU basketball player, Pete Maravich.

Famous People from LSU

Many successful people have studied at LSU. They have gone on to do amazing things in different fields.

Leaders and Thinkers

Innovators and Athletes

  • Maxime Faget was a brilliant engineer. He designed the Mercury space capsule. This was an important part of early space travel.
  • Claire Lee Chennault was a military aviator. He commanded the famous Flying Tigers during World War II.
  • Shaquille O'Neal is a legendary basketball player. He won four NBA Championships. He played for LSU before becoming a professional.

Campus Landmarks and Life

The LSU campus has many interesting places. The Memorial Tower is a tall, historic building. It stands as a tribute to those who served in wars.

The LSU Campus Mounds are very old. They are estimated to be over 5,000 years old. These mounds are ancient Native American structures. They are a special part of the campus history.

The Troy H. Middleton Library is a central spot for students. It is a large library where students can study and do research. The quad is a big open grassy area. Students often gather there to relax or study.

The LSU Student Union is a busy place. It has dining options, a bookstore, and places for students to hang out. The Shaw Center for the Arts is also linked to LSU. It houses the LSU Museum of Art.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Universidad Estatal de Luisiana para niños