Hidden Tulane Part VI - The LBC's Garden Level

Jammin out at WTUL in the LBC Garden Level

Last week, the Lavin Bernick Center for University Life at Tulane (a.k.a. the LBC) celebrated its 7th birthday! Back in my day at Tulane (when we had to walk uphill both ways) we had the rickety old UC (University Center). The UC received a massive renovation (it was stripped down to the frame) and rebuilt as the incredible energy-efficient structure that you see in the middle of campus today. If you've been on a campus tour, or really on our campus in general, you've definitely seen the LBC. It's the center of life here and contains our Barnes and Noble, food court, Apple store, bank, etc. But what you might not have known about or seen is what goes on downstairs in the LBC, a.k.a. the Garden Level. So this edition of Hidden Tulane will take us on a little mini tour of all the great stuff down there. Oh, and need to check out previous Hidden Tulanes? Check out the Glazer Garden, The Cassatt Courtyard, The Pace-Wilson Glass Blowing Studio, Tulane Hillel, and MARI. Now, let's get down to the Garden Level where a bunch of great stuff goes on downstairs of the LBC. Take a look!

The LBC in all her glory 

Office of Multicultural Affairs- There is always action over at The O! OMA serves as the hub of diverse cultural, social, and intellectual life at Tulane. It is their mission to foster an open and vibrant learning environment that welcomes, respects, and appreciates the histories, traditions, and cultures of traditionally underrepresented student populations. OMA puts on all kinds of great events and supports a number of different campus groups. When I stopped by today, they were fully immersed in a pizza party. Just a regular Wednesday.

Office of Gender and Sexual Diversity- Tulane's an incredibly gay friendly campus- we earned a perfect five star rating from Campus Pride last year, and I can say with 100% confidence that students who affiliate as LGBT will feel welcome and at home here at Tulane, thanks in large part because of OGSD. The Office for Gender and Sexual Diversity (OGSD) works with all members of Tulane University to foster a climate of respect, understanding and appreciation for diverse genders and sexualities, and provides support and leadership development for students who identify as LGBTQIA.

The SOC- Most of Tulane's Student Affairs departments are located on the Garden Level of the LBC. From Greek Affairs to Orientation to Student Programming, it all goes down here. One hub of student life is the Student Organizations Center. The SOC is a great spot to get any kind of work done that students will need for promoting, planning, organizing or really anything to do with student groups on campus. 215 Student Organizations currently use SOC space in some manner- and all are welcome!

Here's our Greek Affairs staff,
Julia and Liz

Greek Affairs- I caught up with Julia and Liz, our Greek Affairs Director and Assistant Director today. They had quite the weekend as over the last week, over 750 Tulane females selected their sorority. Tulane does a deferred rush, which means if you want to join a Greek organization, you don't have to decide on which one, or even if you want to join one at all, until second semester. This gives you plenty of time to get acclimated to life in college and in NOLA before making that decision. The guys will make their recruitment decisions later this week.

City Diner- Also sometimes still referred to as the Rat, City Diner is a late night dining spot on campus that provides food from from 6 pm all the way through till 7 am, ensuring that food is available at Tulane 24 hours per day. If you have a chance to eat at this award winning diner, be sure to get the pancake. Its 16 inches and served in a pizza box. I dare you to eat the whole thing.

mmmm giant pancakes (urbanspoon.com)

Student Media: TUBE, WTUL, The Hullabaloo- All of Tulane student media is also located on the Garden Level of the LBC. Tulane University Broadcasting Entertainment, (TUBE) puts on some great news specials and various clips for our student body. The Hullabaloo is our award-winning newspaper. And WTUL is one of the most popular radio stations in the city. All of these media groups are funded by the school and provide students, starting from day one of freshman year, great ways to get active in our campus media community.

CACTUS- The Community Action Council of Tulane University Students is the oldest community service group at Tulane, and one of the oldest on any college campus. They manage over 40 different service projects each year, and are currently celebrating their 42nd year of providing several community service projects and important awareness events for the Tulane student body. CACTUS supports all student led community service clubs and helps to cultivate relationships and awareness initiatives that meet the needs of our community partners and student volunteers.

Student Government- Tulane USG (Undergraduate Student Government) and ASB (Associated Student Body) are both huge here on campus. Tulane's always been a very active school for all aspects of student government. The majority of student government's meetings and events will take place in the LBC and their offices are located here on the Garden Level. They manage a huge budget and are in charge of some major decision-making here on campus.

Want to see more about the LBC as well as a video of the Garden Level? Check out that stop on our virtual tour here.

One of many OGSD events on campus- Coming Out Day! 

Tulane Studnet leaders and student affairs staff all make their home downstairs in the LBC. 

The hallway of the Garden Level 

All kinds of events goin' down

OMA is always full of laughs. And food too. 

various HQs 

All kinds of supplies at the SOC