Students at Northwestern State University of Louisiana come from a variety of diverse areas. Although Natchitoches offers many unique things to explore, students who come from bigger cities may find themselves underwhelmed by the size of our community. If you are used to the seemingly infinite cuisine, shopping and leisure options of a town like Baton Rouge or New Orleans, Natchitoches seems extremely limited.
Students believe Natchitoches could benefit from more hip places to shop and eat. Juan Campos, a senior vocal performance major, said, “I need a Chipotle and a Target.”
In fact, Chipotle was the most common response given by students when asked what they want in Natchitoches. It seems the Tex-Mex chain would have many patrons if it opened locally.
Other brands that appealed to students like Anarosa Avila, a freshman art major, include Cracker Barrel and Spirit Halloween.
When it comes to cuisine, Natchitoches has no shortage of delicious options. There are many places to eat soulful Louisiana food; Lasyone’s and French Market Express come to mind.
Natchitoches also has several international food selections. Hana offers Japanese cuisine at its Keyser and Front Street locations, Mexican food is found at Nicky’s and El Patio, and Lucky Village Buffet offers some Asian options as well as American favorites. Students are interested in expanding their palettes and would like to see more food from around the world in their college town.
However, many students are disappointed at the lack of more international food options. “I wish we had a ramen shop,” Valentine Williams, a sophomore English major, said.
Similarly, Matthew Scott, a junior theatre major, said, “I wish we could have Thai food not just on special occasions.”
Some students hope for more development of Natchitoches’ arts and culture. “What I really wish is that we had some kind of community theatre, or an indoor venue for live music that isn’t just a bar or restaurant. We need something like the Cité des Arts in Lafayette,” Scott said.
Cypress Sulfsted, a sophomore biology major, said, “We should have a better music scene. More punk stuff.”
There is no shortage of great art and music being made in Natchitoches, but there is always room for more options. Mama’s Oyster House has a Blues room that hosts some local musicians, but caters to a certain style that might not appeal to the majority of college students.
The growing Natchitoches Original Music Showcase welcomes performances of all genres from local artists for the community, but there is still a long way to go in order to fully establish a local music scene.
The Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts participates in several events throughout the community, such as the annual “Modern in Motion” dance performance and the “Drums on the Cane” concert.
Students and faculty alike would enjoy more opportunities to engage with local music and arts. “Anything that gets you guys interacting with people outside of the college is a good thing,” Adam Hudlow, a music theory professor, said.
NSU students are a crucial part of the Natchitoches community. Coming from a variety of life experiences, each Demon has different ideas of what Natchitoches needs to make this college town feel more like home.
