Name: Luke Gregory Philip Augustyn
Year: Sophomore
Major: Cell and Molecular Biology Minor: Spanish
What are you involved in on campus?
There are 3 organizations on campus that I’m involved with: the Tulane Athletic Department, HRL, and Tulane After Dark.
What leadership roles do you have within those organizations?
In the Athletic Department, I act as a Supervisor for the Game Day Event Staff; in HRL, I am a Resident Advisor (RA) on the 4th Floor of Irby; I am the Head of Tulane After Dark for the 2012-2013 school year.
Speaking of Tulane After Dark, the Foam Dance Party y’all threw last weekend was so much fun! How’d you get the inspiration?
For those that did not attend, the Foam Dance Party, sponsored by Tulane After Dark on September 8, was the bee’s knees. We had a 30’ by 30’ foam dance pit with a massive video screen and lights to create an awesome night. As for the inspiration for the party, last year as a freshman I had heard a lot about foam parties and how great they were, so I decided that Tulane After Dark should host one as a creative and quirky way to start off the year.
Who’s your biggest role model?
Had I been asked this question a couple of years back, my answer would have been drastically different. But my answer for this question today is my brother Liam. Liam is a sophomore in high school and is about to turn 16 in October. Though he is younger, and shorter, I look up to him. His commitment to both schoolwork and his track team, where he is constantly one of the top runners, is so admirable. And his diligence when it comes to work outside the classroom is remarkable. He’s one of my best friends, and I miss him a ton, being that he is 2000 miles away at almost any given time. It’s been a pleasure and an honor watching him grow up into a phenomenal young man.
What do you like to do when you’re not in class or working hard with your clubs/organizations?
When I’m not knee deep in work, planning an event, or helping folks at a football game, some of the things I enjoy most are cooking, eating new foods in new places, and watching college football. Cooking, which goes hand-in-hand with eating, has always been an outlet for me. Starting at age 2 or 3, I used to take kitchen utensils into my room, cover myself in a giant blanket and yell “BAM!” pretending that I was Emeril Lagasse. Since outgrowing that, I’ve always been in the kitchen having fun and making some delicious food. As for eating new foods, I love expanding my palette, so I never really shy away from eating new foods. To date, jellyfish has been one of the more bizarre foods I’ve eaten. And lastly, simply put, college football is the best sport in the world. I love watching the development of young players into stars, or simply the sustained success of my teams. Plus, college football allows me to connect with my dad and uncles, since all of us do a college fantasy football league each year.
Alright, Chef Augustyn, you’re throwing a dinner party; where is it being held, who’s there and what’s for dinner?
Location: My [Parents’] Home
Attendees: My closest friends, so 8-12 people, so nothing gets out of hand.
Menu: *The menu would change depending on the season and availability and price of certain ingredients. However, here is my ideal menu:
Cheese Plate: 4 cheeses: Triple Whipped Brie, Roquefort, a mild semi-hard sheep’s milk cheese, and a nice Mimolette. Accompanying the cheeses would be simple flatbread cracker, with fig and apricot preserves, pecan halves, and fresh thin apple slices.
Appetizer: Crostini with your choice of classic bruschetta or tapenade
Salad: Mixed greens topped with mini heirloom tomatoes and homemade croutons, dressed with a simple vinaigrette made using a nice balsamic vinegar and a blood orange infused olive oil
Entrée: Duck a L’orange with sides of sautéed asparagus cooked with a little garlic and shallots, and wild rice pilaf
Dessert: Fruit tart with kiwi, blueberries, strawberries, and orange, topped with freshly whipped cream