About SLU

Welcome to Saint Louis University!

Saint Louis University, founded in 1818, is located in the heart of midtown St. Louis, and is one of the leading metropolitan Catholic Jesuit residential research universities in the country. SLU is proud to have an abundance of resources for students to promote academic and personal well-being. Every student attends an institution of higher learning to become educated and to better equip themselves in the process. At SLU, we pride ourselves on providing an education for the whole person, Cura Personalis- the Jesuit principle of caring for the whole person. This is plays directly into our Jesuit mission, and without it we’d be useless as an institution. With a brand new Interdisciplinary Sciences Building being built in the next two years, as well as the new Saint Louis University Hospital, SLU is on the forefront of education and research. In addition to undergraduate and nursing studies, SLU also has its own graduate program, medical school, and law school.

What is a Billiken???

Since 1911, the Billiken has been the mascot for all of Saint Louis University. A friendly fellow, the Billiken has been embraced by all students on SLU’s campus as a wonderful representation of our unique campus and student body.

But what is this strange creature? Some say it resembles a troll or some kind of weird frog. Others see a devilish baby. The correct answer is that the Billiken is a mystical good luck charm that represents "things as they ought to be". It can be found historically in the state of Alaska as carvings, in the form of a statue in Osaka, Japan, and the object of the Bud Billiken parade on the south side of Chicago.

So if you see this winking face around campus, now you know what to say when friends or family inevitably ask "what the heck is a Billiken?"

Residence Hall Association

The Residence Hall Association of Saint Louis University is a student run and led organization. Under the advisement of the Department of Housing and Residence Life, RHA is the second largest student organization on campus and is continually growing. Through its many events and programs, RHA stresses values such as leadership, diversity, and advocacy. RHA is made up of representatives from each of the residence halls and apartment complexes.

Each hall or apartment area has its own council with executive board officers and representatives from the various floors or buildings report to that council. In addition, each council sends its President and RHA Liaisons to weekly boardrooms. The RHA General Assembly is a campus wide body that focuses primarily on programming and serving as a voice for on campus residents through advocacy and legislation. RHA functions to promote involvement in various activities, provide programs for students living on campus, and to serve as the link between the students and administration.

RHA is the source of many traditions on SLU's campus. Late Night Breakfast is a student favorite, serving all students a free breakfast and providing stress-relief activities from 10pm-12am on the last day of classes. Classic activities have included DPS Karaoke, mug decorating, and fun giveaways from local businesses.

SLU has seven residence halls and four on campus apartments, each with their own distinct identities that are exemplified through the collaboration of the Hall Councils with residents. All in all, RHA is an ever-present entity on campus that works hard to bring an amazing residence experience to SLUdents.

National Residence Hall Honorary

The purpose of this organization shall be to recognize outstanding residence hall students who have exhibited exceptional service and valuable leadership in the advancement of the residence halls. The organization is to value the four pillars of the National Residence Hall Honorary- scholastics, recognition, leadership and service.

Saint Louis

The Show-Me State

St. Louis is rich with history and culture. Located on the Mississippi River, our city is home to over 300,000 people and countless attractions. With cultural districts like the Hill, the Loop, and the Grove, St. Louisans and visitors alike never run out of unique places to eat, shop, and have a pleasant time. The historical Soulard area is home to a hearty farmer’s market and rich restaurant scene. St. Louis sports fans can enjoy a Blues hockey game or, of course, visit Busch Stadium to see the World Series-winning Cardinals baseball team. In addition to its extensive sports history, St. Louis is rich with literary and musical culture. It is the hometown of renowned writers Mark Twain, T. S. Eliot, and Maya Angelou, and the city’s association with ragtime and blues extends back to the early twentieth century. Today, St. Louis offers multiple venues for various spectacles, such as the popular Pageant for concerts, or, for more theatrical entertainment, the Fabulous Fox Theater, which is within walking distance of our Saint Louis University. These are just some of the things that make St. Louis a truly unique place to live and to visit.

Attractions

St. Louis is known for numerous popular scenic attractions, including Forest Park, the City Museum, Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, St. Louis Zoo, and Missouri Botanical Gardens. Among these, St. Louis’s most iconic landmark is the Gateway Arch. Overlooking the Mississippi River, the arch stands 630 feet tall and 630 feet wide. Constructed from stainless steel, the arch commemorates Thomas Jefferson’s vision of a transcontinental United States and has been a popular attraction to visit since its construction in 1963. It serves as a monument to westward expansion of the United States. Visitors can visit the newly updated museum, grounds, and riverfront at the base of the arch or even take a tram up to the top to experience a truly unforgettable view of the St. Louis area.

Early History

St. Louis’s history began with a pre-colonial settlement of the area by Native American mound-builders, with several migrating tribes following from the ninth to fifteenth centuries. In 1764, St. Louis was established by French settlers Pierre Laclede and Auguste Chouteau as a primary trading center on the Mississippi River. St. Louis’s population grew quickly as a result of its central location, and the city officially became a part of the United States through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Throughout the nineteenth century, St. Louis remained a hub for trade and a major destination for immigrants. In the 1870s, the Eads Bridge was constructed over the Mississippi River, and several large parks were established, most notably Forest Park, which remains one of the largest urban parks in the United States (even larger than Central Park in New York City!). In the decades after, St. Louis saw the development of two Major League Baseball teams and the heyday of St. Louis ragtime and blues culture.

World’s Fair 1904

In the early twentieth century, St. Louis hosted the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, more commonly known as the 1904 World’s Fair. Attended by over 19 million people from more than 60 different countries, the World’s Fair had a major impact on St. Louis popular culture, technology, and food. The exposition took place in the 1200-acre area that is now Forest Park and Washington University in St. Louis. Over 1500 buildings were part of the exposition, and it was said to be impossible to experience even a glimpse of all the fair had to offer in less than a week! The World’s Fair introduced and popularized several classic American foods, including waffle ice cream cones, peanut butter, cotton candy and Dr. Pepper. Technological contributions worth mentioning include the wireless telephone and the telautograph (the precursor to the modern day fax machine). These exhibits marveled the crowds of 1904, and remain a memorable piece of St. Louis history today.

Trivia

Here in St. Louis, we LOVE trivia! Here are a few fun facts that may prepare you for any St. Louis trivia session you may find yourself in:

St. Louis was the first American city to host the Olympics (1904)
The people of St. Louis consume more BBQ sauce per capita than any other American city
It's named for King Louis IX
St. Louis has more free tourist attractions than any other city outside Washington D.C.
The St. Louis Browns were an American Baseball league team preceding the Cardinals... they weren't quite as successful
Speaking of the Cardinals, the Cardinals and the Cubs have a long standing rivalry. With much of SLU's population coming from Chicago and the St. Louis area, we are especially in on the action.
Nelly is a St. Louis native. A St. Louis radio station was the first station to play "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugar Hill Gang
The Hill has some of the best Italian food in the country
On the topic of food, toasted ravioli, provel cheese, and gooey butter cake are three St. Louis exclusive dishes you definitely should check out while here
Bread-sliced bagels (currently a popular meme on Twitter as of April 2019) are also a local practice
The popular chain Panera started here, which is why you may see the classic Panera logo next to a name that is not what you may expect: The St. Louis Bread Co. is indeed the same as your favorite soup and sandwich chain.

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