The Vermilion on Lagniappe Day
Lagniappe week offers students a little something extra
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette kicked off its yearly Lagniappe week Monday with Laugh Fest, the first of a series of laid-back events to help students take a load off amid preparations for end-of-semester stresses, like finals and graduations.
On Tuesday night at 8 p.m., the Student Aquatic Center hosted a dive-in movie, where students in Hawaiian dress swam and reclined in a poolside chair, watching 50 First Dates on a large-screen projection.
You can swim, you can sit down and relax, you can do whatever,” said UPC’s Nicole Langlinais. You just kind of chill out. It’s real laid back.
Students will have the chance to race canoes across Cypress lake Wednesday at 3 p.m. Participants can sign up in the room 206 of the Student Union. At 7 p.m., hypnotist Dale K. will entrance the masses with a live demonstration, where he will attempt to hypnotize up to 20 students on stage.
On Lagniappe Day, Thursday, the University Program Council will celebrate the life of the late lake jumper, Philip Beridon, who for decades has commemorated Lagniappe Week by dressing in costume and hurling himself into Cypress Lake with the fish, turtles and alligators.
At 12:15, when Beridon usually took his plunge, UPC will present his family with a memorial plaque and place one on a stump in the lake near his jumping spot.
He was very dedicated to what he did, and he really enjoyed it, Langlinais said.
According to Langlinais, the UPC has considered starting anew with a fresh tradition, but wants to recruit someone sharing Beridon’s enthusiasm and commitment to UL Lafayette.
Our one concern is that we’ll never find someone as dedicated as he was, she said. We don’t want to our person to be different every year, because the tradition was that it was always him.
This year, the memorial will take the jump’s place, but Langlinais said UPC will be considering ideas for the next tradition in hopes of starting anew in 2008.
The activities continue Thursday at 2 p.m. at Blackham Coliseum with the yearly stress-relieving, crawfish-laiden bash many students await. Admission will be $7 at the door for students and $10 for the general public, and entrants can purchase raffle tickets to win university attire from the bookstore, an iPod and other prizes. Also, noted musicians Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin Cajuns will be on hand supplying the tunes.
This year, the UPC will erect a money machine circulating UPC dollars that can be used to purchase other, smaller prizes. Kids at heart will be able to soak themselves on a Slip ‘n Slide and a water slide or spend some energy on a Fun Jump.
It’s a tradition that’s fun for any Ragin’ Cajun student, Langlinais said. It’s something that makes your college experience unforgettable. It’s awesome that it’s kept going for all these years.
The Vermilion
By: Chad West
Web Link Broken
Quote
Lagniappe Day 2007
Re: Phil Beridon and his Timeless Annual Leap Into Cypress Swamp
