The Civilian November 2017

THE

CIVILIAN CIVILIAN

A STUDENT PUBLICATION FOR THE LSU LAW CENTER COMMUNITY NOVEMBER 2017 | VOLUME 14 | ISSUE 3

YOUR FAVORITE HARIBO GUMMY BEARS ARE MADE BY SLAVES

As fall semester winds down, and the reality of finals rears its ugly head, many students at the Law Center have begun cramming their brains with as much legal information as humanly possible. While some can stay focused for hours on end, the relentless monotony of the law library eventually takes its toll - leading to the inevitable scourge of procrastination.

Carlos Coro Fellow procrastinators hopelessly scrolling Staff Writer through their endless social media news feeds may have come across a truly disheartening headline; Haribo, the German confectionary juggernaut, has been accused of turning a blind eye to slave labor and animal abuse in their supply chain of ingredients.

The allegations arose from a German media outlet, Deutsche Welle, in their program Markencheck, an investigative journalism production in the style of CBS’s 60 Minutes. The program travels down Haribo’s supply chain for carnauba wax, the essential ingredient that prevents Haribo gummy products from congealing into a single mass. Venturing into Brazil’s carnauba palm plantations, they find laborers sleeping

in the beds of trucks and working in unsafe conditions for a meager income equivalent to $12 a day; but that is not all, as the program also unveils how the bovine bred to produce the gelatin in Haribo gummies are subject to horrifyingly unsanitary conditions.

Public scorn for Haribo has been palpable in the wake of Markencheck’s scathing report, thanks in large part to the incendiary power of social media. Media groups along the likes of Business Insider, A.V. Club, Vice’s Munchies, Consumerist, and even Huffington Post have flooded social networks with the inciting allegations through their own articles.

However, a closer look at these articles reveals that they lack any true substance, with many citing each other on the same unsubstantiated allegations. In fact, not a single article taken from these sources identified the “Brazilian Labor Minister,” who categorized the conditions of carnauba palm plantations as “slave labor conditions.” Furthermore, the folks of Markencheck never actually step foot on any bovine farm, but rather, relied on the films of a German animal rights group which refused to provide the location of the alleged animal abuse. These inconsistencies beg to question if Haribo is really responsible for employing slave labor in their supply chain.

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THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2017

LSU Trial Team Wins Big in the Big Apple On October 22nd, the Civil Rights Mock Trial Team, which included Brandi Barze, Ahmed Soussi, Meagan Johnson, and Sohil Sharedalal, traveled to New York to compete in the only civil rights Connor Fagan trial competition in Staff Writer the country: the Peter James Johnson National Civil Rights Competition. In the final round, the LSU Law team won decisively against Suffolk Law School and took home the title.

According to Meagan Johnson, the journey to winning the title was a trying one. For each round of the competition, the LSU team argued against nationally ranked advocacy teams, and they were judged by experienced civil rights attorneys and judges. To say the least, these were strenuous conditions. As an added emotional factor, the fact pattern was loosely based on the water contamination situation in Flint, Michigan. Their clients in this hypothetical case were a widow and her son—who had suffered brain damage from drinking contaminated water. While you don’t typically think of water contamination as a civil rights issue, the LSU team’s goal in the trial was to “bring justice to those hurt by water contamination.”

Beyond the emotional bearing of these issues, the LSU team faced some adversity in the semifinals against the Hofstra University team. As the plaintiffs, the LSU team had a tough burden of proof: they had to prove that the head of the water quality agency intended to distribute false information to the public. In her line of questioning, Meagan Johnson asked the head of the agency, “You knew [about the false information], and you didn’t give it to the public?” The judge later told the team that this moment along with Ahmed Soussi’s compelling closing swung the case in LSU’s direction. The LSU team added to their inspiring semifinal victory with a dominant performance in the final.

Barze, Soussi, Johnson, and Sharedaal represented the purple and gold brilliantly at the Peter James Johnson ‘49 Memorial National Civil Rights Trial Competition.

Further, they were able to connect the trial to their own legal work. While working for the District Attorney this past summer, one of Johnson’s clients lost a son to a negligent homicide. “You get attached to these kinds of clients,” said Meagan.

And this is the true value of these mock trial competitions: they have real-world applications. Congratulations to the LSU team for their superb advocacy at the competition and in their own legal work!

The Civilian Staff 2017-2018 Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Taylor Degruise News Editor Brooklee Hurst Columns Editor Tori Watson Production Editor Randee Iles Web Director Blair Boles

Staff Writers Carlos Coro Connor Fagan Cavett Feazel Caitlin Mullaney Rachel Warren

Columnists Joe Cooper Bryan Dupree

Pictured: Ahmed Soussi, Meagan Johnson, Brandi Barze, and Sohil Sharedalal,

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Conner Graham Leslie Knowles Adrienne Wood

THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2017

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Reader, It’s just about THAT time in the semster. You know, the time when there’s not enough coffee in the world to keep you awake, and you maybe haven’t seen the sun in three days. Since exam time is drawing near, this month we’ve included some helpful testing tips for 1Ls to help them make it through their first law school exams. We also reviewed a great brunch spot for anyone looking to treat themselves to a fun (and delicious) study break.

Taylor Degruise Editor-In-Chiefr

This issue our writers covered hot-button issues including campus sexual assault and responsibilility and truth in journalism. You can also find some more local news in this issue as well. Look for stories about LSU Law’s own national champion mock trial team, as well as a local animal-rights controversey.

We hope you enjoy this issue, and on behalf of the Civilain staff, I wish you good luck duing finals and a happy holiday season!

Best wishes,

Taylor Degruise Editor-in Chief

SBA S T A T E O F A F FA I R S A huge thanks goes out to all of the 1L Class Officers for planning the annual LSU Law Halloween party. This was a great event for everyone before getting down to business for finals.

Sara Kuebel SBA President

Unfortunately, we have reached that point in the semester that every law student dreads — finals season. Luckily, the SBA will be working to help make this time a bit easier for PMH students.

The SBA will be providing snacks and coffee during the finals period. We will be located outside the CC’s in the student lounge. Feel free to stop by for a cup of coffee and some words of encouragement from your friendly SBA Officers. Besides our usual snacks, SBA will be providing a Kolache breakfast on Saturday, December 2nd at 10am on the first floor of the Law Center.

Come fuel up before hitting the study grind.

3Ls, Do exams and studying have you down? Well, I’ve got something to pick you up — Baton Rouge’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade! Baton Rouge’s annual Wearin’ of the Green Parade will be on Saturday, March 17th and the 3L’s will be riding! If you are interested in riding on the 3L float, please email or text Sara Kuebel. Only enrolled 3L’s will be able to sign up through December 10th. If there are any spots left after December 10th, anyone interested in riding may sign up (i.e., significant others, bffs). The cost to ride is $100. Stay tuned for more information about riding in

the parade. If you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to email me at sbapresident@lsu.edu.

Finally, our party planner extraordinaire, a.k.a. Executive Director of Programming Margaret Viator, has planned the final GIF of the semester at Bogie’s on December 8th. The theme will be Tacky Christmas Sweater Party. So finish up your exams, throw on your best tacky sweater, and come celebrate the end of a semester with us that Friday.

Best of luck to everyone during finals season. As always, feel free to reach out to me or any other SBA Officer with any questions or concerns you may have.”

Best, Sara

Kuebel SBA President

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THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2017

1L Finals Advice: It’s been almost four months since the 1L class began a new chapter of their lives, the law school chapter. A chapter that, for most, begins with excitement for the future. However, Caitlin Mullaney that initial excitement Staff Writer has likely morphed into anxiety as their first semester’s finals are looming in the not-so-distant future. But do not fret, 1Ls, because The Civilian is here to help; in a search for study tips, stress-relief techniques, and anything else they had to offer, we turned to those who were most recently in the same position– the 2L class.

To say the very least the answers were varied, from helpful study tips to sending in memes that they felt described the finals mentality. The one common theme prevalent throughout all the responses was that everything is going to be ok!

Check out some of the drops of wisdom the 2L class and Cornerstones have offered for a successful 1Ls first finals season: “Do your best to avoid talking about each exam afterwards.

Nothing is worse than spending your Christmas break fixating on what you missed. Also, stock up on snacks and blankets, because you’ll be spending way too much time in the library.”

—Randee Iles, Production Editor

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Ask the 2Ls Edition

“Remember that before your professor even gets ahold of your paper you’re the one in control, you’ve gone to class and worked all semester don’t let the last-minute stretch freak you out.”

—Kadence Haskett, 2L “Do the practice problems, get professor feedback for the practice problems, and study the outlines you’ve spent all semester working on.”

—Conrad Huber, 2L

“1. Pain is temporary. A law degree is forever.

2. Breathe...it’s a marathon, not a race.

3. Follow your dreams...but take your law books with you.”

—Elena Kousoulas, 2L “Sleep the night before each exam.

Take ‘ME’ time, whether that’s getting a massage, going to the gym, or retail therapy. Most of all, don’t over think the small things.”

—Natalie Ebolum, BLSA President

“Focus on running your race, try not to compare yourself to others. Do what’s best for you and go with it! I’d advise scheduling small breaks for yourself even if it’s a quick dinner, walk, or episode on Netflix of your favorite show. It’ll help you from getting burnt out!”

—Megan Johnson, SBA 2L Secretary “My number one study tip is to avoid bad advice. Don’t change what you know because an upperclassman told you something would work better. You made it to law school on your own merits, the way you studied in undergrad worked for you.

You are smart enough to be here. There is no tried and true law school method of studying, there is no perfect outline, there is no flashy phrase that’s going to give you that magical 4.0. If you study and know the information, it is just a matter of practicing organizing your writing and performing to the best of your ability.

For stress relief, print out those notes you’re reading and take a walk around the parade grounds. Stay in a regular routine, and schedule out your time. You need your regular amount of sleep. No person performs better nor is able to remember more when not getting adequate sleep and nutrition. For more stress relief tips and alternative outlets throughout law school check out Cornerstones and consider writings by Debra Austin, J.D., Ph.D., and professor at the Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver, on topics of neuroscience, stress, nutrition, drugs and drinking while in law school.”

—Christopher Alderman, Cornerstones President

THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2017

Congratulations

KYLE TOWNSLEY AND J. WILLIAM VANDEHEI WINNERS OF THE 2017 ROBERT LEE TULLIS MOOT COURT COMPETITION!

Haribo continued...

While the conditions on the carnauba palm plantation are detestable to those living in developed nations, they might have to check their privilege, because such conditions are commonplace for the majority of nations around the world.

The population of Brazil, a G20 nation, earns a monthly average income of $650 according to the World Bank, which is nearly double the income of unskilled carnauba laborers who earn a monthly income of roughly $360. While this income inequality could be indicative of labor abuse, the same inequality can be seen at home. The population of the United States, a G20 nation, earns a monthly average income of $3,769, which is nearly triple Louisiana’s monthly minimum wage income of $1,257 according to the Louisiana Department of Labor. It may be important to note that the difference in labor value between Brazil and the United States is mostly because Brazil’s gross domestic product (GDP) of $1.8 trillion is dwarfed by the United States’ GDP of $19 trillion.

How could it be then, that the reality painted by Markencheck was false? How could such wild allegations pass muster as credible news? What if you learned that the Haribo story was actually a carefully constructed narrative, produced by special interest groups to manipulate public perception of Haribo?

While this may be deeply disturbing news to many students at the Law Center, it is an unfortunate reality of the modern media.

Special interest groups such as political parties, corporations, and even governments have nearly unlimited time and money to find new ways to obfuscate the truth while simultaneously cloaking their surreptitious roles. The most salient of these methods is the production of “Astroturf” media, commonly known as “Fake News.”

The term Astroturf is a play on the term Grassroots; as in, fake grassroots - get it? Astroturf is made by special interest

Congratulations

2018-2019 Moot Court Board Christopher Alderman Rachel Anderson Kaylyn Blosser John Cook Jacob Cunningham Ashley Delaune Brooke Delaune Briana Falcon Mary Kathryn Gimber Alex Griffin Milton Hernandez Mary Elizabeth Ingram Danielle Kinchen

Zachary Miller Thomas Naquin Brandon Pang Daniel Price Anna Reed Raechel Richards Mary Grace Richardson David Scotton Clint Smith Kyle Townsley J. William VanDehei Patrick Voelker Leah Voth

groups who disguise themselves and produce influential media on various social networks and news outlets, in the hopes of fooling viewers into thinking an independent “Grassroots” movement is speaking out. The whole purpose of Astroturf is to give viewers the impression that there is widespread support for a specific “Grassroots” movement when there actually is not. Subsequently, Astroturf seeks to manipulate viewers into changing their opinion by making viewers feel as if they are an outlier when in reality they are not; this is so effective because Astroturf deliberately appeals to the viewer’s emotions by controverting and even vilifying those who do not further their agenda.

While it may be difficult to spot Astroturf, there are a few hallmarks that can expose almost any news for what it really is.

Make sure to look out for long-winded inflammatory headlines or titles, such as this title from A.V. Club –“Sorry, but Haribo gummy bears are made with slave labor.” Most importantly, look out for content that attacks an issue by controverting and attacking the people or organization surrounding the issue, rather than the issue itself; such as the Haribo story, which addresses the issue of slave labor by attacking Haribo instead of addressing Brazil’s rich history of modern slavery and income inequality.

The only real question left to ask is who, and why, would anyone employ an Astroturf smear campaign against Haribo?

Perhaps Arthur Slugworth was determined to not be outdone

by Haribo’s recent announcement to open their very first United States production plant in Wisconsin. Nevertheless, fellow procrastinators armed with this knowledge should be empowered to endlessly scroll through their social media news feeds, living in ease, knowing what is and is not out to fool them.

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THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2017

HePMH onSPolitics: aid , Sexual The Department of Education’s decision to reverse course on portions of the Obama Administration’s Title IX policy for combatting sexual abuse on college campuses has been met with mixed reactions, to say the least. Prior to President Trump’s appointment of Betsey DeVos to head the Department of Education, Obama’s Secretary, Arne Duncan, implemented a plan Conner Graham requiring college campuses to take sweeping Columnist actions to combat the “rape culture” in higher education. This plan often resulted in increased counseling resources, sexual assault training for students and faculty, and the creation of investigative and adjudicative bodies on university campuses to investigate claims of rape and abuse.

It is these tribunals which have caused so much ire among conservative thinkers. Too often, these proceedings denied due process to those accused of crimes, but the new directives from the Department of Education seek to add protections to ensure universities will not be vulnerable to suits alleging denial of due process.

The justification for the Obama-era position stems from a single study on incidences of sexual assaults on college campuses. This study by the Association of American Universities claimed that one in every five women on college campuses were the victim of sexual assault during their time as students. These claims and the study which produced them have repeatedly come under fire for being inaccurate. For starters, this survey was voluntary, and only less than 19% of those contacted participated in the study. Critics often argue that because the response rate was so low, those who chose to participate likely did so because they had already been the victim of such conduct. A biased sample pool would inevitably result in far higher incidences of sexual violence than in the general population. One recent Federal Department of Education also flies in the face of the “1 in 5” narrative, finding that 91% of college campuses reported not one instance of rape in 2015. Critics argue that this study is also inaccurate due to the frequency with which victims refuse to come forward regarding their claims or flaws in reporting criteria.

Either way, while incidents of rape and sexual abuse remain a cause for concern, inaccurate and misleading statistics serve

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as a poor foundation to justify a moral panic and sweeping executive action.

Universities are not courts. They do not employ Article III judges. The people in charge of these tribunals are often the same as those performing the investigations. These judges are neither elected by the people nor appointed by elected officials. They are completely unaccountable and blatantly unconstitutional. These public and private institutions are being forced to usurp the power and responsibilities of the judicial branch, a clear separation of powers issue. While protecting victims of sexual assault and ensuring they have avenues to achieve justice when they come forward is important, doing the right thing by the wrong means is still wrong.

To make matters worse, these “kangaroo courts” are often completely biased against the accused. Those “on trial” for committing sexual assault or rape are often presumed guilty until proven innocent and suspended from classes. They are typically not allowed to face their accusers or put forth extraneous evidence to support their innocence. Time and time again, these decisions have been shown to have been based nearly entirely on the accuser’s testimony, proven erroneous by extraneous evidence that was barred from being introduced, and resulted in the public humiliation and academic railroading of the wrongfully accused, even after the accusers themselves have admitted to fabricating the story.

What justice is being achieved for the wrongfully accused?

We cannot allow our desire for justice for victims of heinous acts to override the safeguards in our Constitution. Our Bill of Rights was written with the accused and the accusers in mind.

We should not completely forsake the rights of the former in defense of the latter. I applaud the Trump Administration for reforming these policies which demanded universities engage in so many miscarriages of justice. Under the Trump Administration’s new directive, those accused of sexual assault and rape on college campuses are ensured they will be given due process before being expelled. The Executive Branch would be better served ensuring that local police departments have better resources and training to ensure victims of sexual violence can be confident that coming forward with their accounts will lead to real investigations, real indictments, and real justice. We cannot be content doing the right thing the wrong way. Anything less is no true justice at all.

THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2017

S h e S a i d l assault on campus According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men are sexually assaulted while in college.

Even more troubling, more than 90% of sexual assault victims on college campuses do not report the assault. Additionally, 63.3% of male self-reported rapists admitted to committing repeat rapes.

So, the question is, what can we do to (1) cut down on sexual assaults on college campuses, (2) increase victim reporting, and (3) keep repeat offenders off campuses and away from their victims? If you ask the Trump Administration and Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, their response would most likely focus on the so-called injustice inflicted upon the accused.

Betsy DeVos and the Department of Education have made it clear that victims of assault are not the concern of the federal government – men’s rights groups, on the other hand, seem to have the ear of the cabinet secretary. Despite the fact that only 2 to 7 percent of reported rapes turn out to be false claims, Betsy DeVos seems to be under the impression that lying about rape is just what college-age women do after a breakup.

Adrienne Wood Columnist

Sexual violence is a form of a discrimination that is prohibited under Title IX, and schools have a mandatory obligation to make accommodations for students who are victims of sexual harassment and violence. Betsy DeVos recently rescinded an Obama-era guidance document that instructed schools to use the “preponderance of the evidence” standard as opposed to “clear and convincing” when handling sexual assault cases. Although at first glance, it may seem that something as serious as rape should require a stricter standard of proof, this is not the case. Under Title IX, schools are required to treat sexual assault as a civil rights matter. Civil rights issues are adjudicated in civil courts, and the preponderance of the evidence standard is used in civil trials. As such, universities and colleges should require the same standard.

Many complaints about the Obama-era guidance focus on the “crushed dreams” of the accused, rather than the effect of the assault on the actual victim. As an example, take the University of Tennessee student who was accused of rape

and kicked off the wrestling team. Several stories lament the fact that he will no longer be able to accomplish his dream of becoming a wrestling coach. As if to say: how dare his victim come forward and report the abuse? Didn’t she know this would ruin his life? She clearly forgot that rapists also have hopes and aspirations.

Framing the story this way completely omits the point of view of his accuser and the effects of the assault on her life.

As a result of her assault, this young woman might suffer from long-term issues with intimacy; perhaps she develops depression or PTSD, and can no longer make it through school. And yet, women are made to feel guilty for formally accusing their abuser of sexual assault because of the potential effect it will have on the life of the accused. We all saw this in the coverage of the infamous Brock Turner story: news outlets wrote of his high school swimming accomplishments and how his dreams of swimming for the U.S. Olympic team were no longer, all because of this one pesky little rape he committed.

Incidentally, poor Brock’s fate was decided by a sympathetic judge that gave him a slap on the wrist, in the form of just three months’ jail time.

Betsy DeVos and the Trump Administration would lead you to believe that campus sexual assault is defined by drunken encounters or scornful women, rather than young men who aren’t taught to understand that no means no. Instead of rebuking women for dressing provocatively or drinking too much, we should be telling men not to rape, and punishing those who do. By making it more difficult to kick rapists off college campuses, victims will continue to be discouraged from reporting. Sexual assault on college campuses is a civil rights issue. It is a form of sexual discrimination that can hinder an individual’s right of equal access to education. Betsy DeVos should stop meeting and sympathizing with rapists and turn her attention to ensuring that young people can feel safe on their campuses.

Unfortunately, this is to be expected when DeVos’ boss openly brags about sexual assault, only to obtain the highest office in the land weeks later. Trump never cared about victims before he was in office, and DeVos’ most recent move shows he doesn’t care now.

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THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2017

THE TIGER TRIALS The Life of Tony the Tiger Inspired Legislation and Lawsuits in Louisiana

Last October, Louisiana citizens mourned the passing of Mike VI, LSU’s preeminent mascot.

On October 16, 2017, only a year and five days after Mike VI’s passing, Louisiana Cavett Feazel lost another renowned Staff Writer tiger. Tony the Tiger, a roadside attraction at the Tiger Truck Stop, was euthanized pursuant to his increasing health issues.

In January of 2001, at the tender age of six months, Tony came to live at the Tiger Truck Stop. For the past seventeen years, Tony called the Grosse Tete, Louisiana, gas station his home.

The facility he spent his life in was a 3,200-square foot enclosure off of I-10.

According to the Tiger Truck Stop’s Facebook page, Tony’s habitat was “one of the finest free zoo exhibits in the entire country.” However, many people are quick to call that description a falsehood.

Jennifer Conrad, a veterinarian with decades of experience taking care of large cats held in captivity, said Tony’s environment was harmful to the magnificent creature. The inundation of gasoline fumes and the constant buzzing of diesel engines, at an isolated gas station, is said to have created a noxious environment for Tony.

To put things into perspective, consider

that Mike VII’s current habitat is 15,000 square feet and receives periodic upgrades, ensuring comfortable living conditions for Louisiana’s favorite tiger.

While Mike VII has hundreds of visitors throughout the week, and a great deal more during football season, his habitat is, without a doubt, a better environment for a tiger than a gas station.

This is not to say that Tony was abused.

Michael Sandlin, owner of The Tiger Truck Stop was known throughout the community for his love of Tony.

Still, one need only hear about Tony’s situation to sympathize with the poor tiger. Regardless of the love one feels for Tony, they must realize and accept that better habitats exist for big cats to live out their lives. A brief glance at the comments on the Tiger Truck Stop’s Facebook page shows the great animosity felt by many throughout the state.

Tony the Tiger’s situation gave rise to lively debate, ultimately resulting in a ban on importing, possessing, purchasing or selling a big cat in Louisiana in 2006.

Tigers are one of many big cats under the act, which includes other animals such as lions and cheetahs. LSU students and alumni need not worry.

Carved into the ban is an

Associated Press: Dec. 2, 2010 file photo shows a Bengal tiger at the Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete, Louisiana.

(Patrick Dennis/The Advocate via AP)

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exception for universities; if the species is traditionally kept by the university as a mascot, the university may continue to purchase and possess the big cats.

Mike VII was donated to LSU from a sanctuary in Okeechobee, Florida.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund has spent years fighting Tony’s captivity and currently has two lawsuits pending. The first concerns the constitutionality of the Louisiana Big Cat Ban. In 2014, Governor Bobby Jindal signed into law Act 697, which exempted Sandlin from the Big Cat Ban, prompting the ALDF to file suit against Sandlin, the Tiger Truck Stop, the State of Louisiana, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, and the LDWF for violating the Louisiana Constitution.

If successful, people throughout the state of Louisiana, Michael Sandlin included, will not be able to condemn another tiger to a life in a disparate and barren cage on the side of a highway. If unsuccessful, Sandlin will likely procure a new tiger to reside at the Tiger Truck Stop.

The second suit revolves around

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THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2017

STUDENT

SHELBY

SCHEXNAYDRE Shelby......

Schecknader?

Schezenegger?

Schexmixer?

However you say her name, is a Tulane Alumnus, the Secretary of the newly refounded Phi Alpha Joe Cooper Delta (PAD) Law Columnist Fraternity, an LSU Law Ambassador, and is involved with the Veteran’s Advocacy Club. As a selfdescribed “serious person,” I thought for sure this interview was going to tank; but, lucky for me, I struck pure gold.

Year: 2L Section: 2 Relationship Status: In a Relationship (Sorry 1L boys) Hometown: Destrehan, LA Undergrad Major: Sociology Q: To start, what’s the origin of the name Schexnaydre?

A: It’s actually Arabic.

Q: Seriously?

A: No, its a French name with a German influence. Aren’t you supposed to be funny?

Q: Survey apparently says “no,” but that wouldn’t be the first time Steve Harvey was wrong. What activities were you involved with in Undergrad?

A: I was a cheerleader for Tulane and I was in Chi Omega sorority.

Q: Have you ever stolen a routine?

Spotlight

A: Nope, all original.

Q: What was it like hanging out with Kirsten Dunst?

A: I don’t know how to answer that.

Q: Whats your favorite light beer?

A: I don’t like beer...

Q: So you’re just not fun?

A: No, I’m fun. I just prefer tequila.

Q: If you were a breed of dog, what would you be and why?

A: German Shepard because they’re intimidating but cute.

Q: On that note how do you feel about Sour Patch Kids? You know, first, they’re sour and then they’re sweet.

A: That would probably accurately describe me. I love candy.

Q: Whats your favorite pre-2000’s song?

A: The “I get knocked down” song.

Q: Tubthumping by Chumbawamba?

A: Yeah it’s my anthem for law school and life, in general. Cheering on Tulane and law school are very similar, because no matter how much you try you’re gonna get knocked down.

Q: And then you get back up again?

A: Exactly.

Q: You drink a whiskey drink, a vodka drink, a cider drinkA: You get the picture, as they say at Tulane, “win or lose, still drink booze.”

Q: Would you rather hang out with ole Vlad Puti for an hour or read the entire NAFTA document?

A: I guess Putin?

Q: On a more serious note, what is the Veteran’s Advocacy Club, and why did you choose to get involved?

A: My dad was in the Navy and was deployed while I was in undergrad. I think that it’s important to recognize and show support not only for our veteran’s for their sacrifice, but also the families who are missing fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters through some of the most crucial points in their lives.

Q: So this is very personal to you?

A: Absolutely, and it is a close subject for the many students at our own school who were in the armed forces. The military lifestyle is inexorably different from the civilian lifestyle in so many ways, and the VAC is a community of people who can sympathize with and support those who serve and have served.

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THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2017

Traveling For The Holidays?

What you should know about DHS’s heightened travel restrictions United States citizens planning to travel outside of the country any time soon will face heightened security on their way back home, including a short “interview” with airline employees.

Rachel Warren Staff Writer

The interview requirement is just one in a long list of increased security measures put in place last month by foreign airlines flying into the U.S.

These measures come after a summer of evolving security protocols for foreign airports and airlines.

In March of this year, the Department of Homeland Security banned any electronic device larger than a cell phone from direct flights to the U.S. from Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

The rule meant passengers could no longer carry on laptops, tablets, portable DVD players or e-readers.

The ban affected nine airlines operating out of ten airports in the Middle East and Africa. It did not apply to domestic flights in the U.S. or international flights departing from the U.S. A release from the DHS Office of Public Affairs announcing the heightened measures said the new rules resulted from concerns over terrorist threats.

“Evaluated intelligence indicates that terrorist groups continue to target commercial aviation and are aggressively pursuing innovative methods to undertake their attacks, to include smuggling explosive devices in various consumer items,” the release said.

The ban drew criticism from some who were concerned that it was discriminatory since all the airports affected were in majority-Muslim countries. Security experts spoke out in news articles questioning the ban’s effectiveness.

But by July, the department confirmed that the Trump administration was lifting the restrictions — with a trade-off.

The DHS announced a batch of new security measures for flights to the U.S. from more than 200 foreign airports. The directives, which were issued over the summer, required those airports to show that they were carrying out specific security procedures in the months following.

For the ten airports affected by the electronic device ban, the additional rules came with a potential benefit. Because those airports were able to prove that they complied with the directives, the DHS lifted the ban.

These new measures will affect 180 airlines flying out of 280 airports in 105 countries. That means more than 300,000 passengers will be subject to the restrictions each day.

The DHS gave airlines and airports 120 days to implement the restrictions and expand screening procedures. Any airline that doesn’t comply with the directives faces a ban on all carryon electronic devices for its passengers or may possibly be banned from flying to the U.S. altogether.

The new measures, which officially took effect on Oct. 26, include enhanced overall passenger screening, heightened screening of personal electronic devices, increased security protocols around aircraft and in passenger areas and expanded canine screening in airports.

All of these new restrictions will almost definitely mean longer wait times at airport security. One new rule in particular — increased passenger screening — has airline CEOs concerned about their passengers getting to their flights on time.

The new screening guidelines include short interviews between passengers and ticket agents or security agents at the airport.

In May, DHS spokespeople announced that the department was considering expanding the ban to flights from Europe as well.

In late October, Philip Baum, editor-in-chief of Aviation Security International and director of a security training and consulting company, said the interview will likely include questions like, “Did you pack your bag yourself?” or “Has anybody given you anything to take on board?”

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told the BBC in June that the heightened security measures are becoming increasingly necessary as technology advances.

Baum said having employees ask those questions instead of having passengers answer them online or at a check-in kiosk means safer flights in the future.

“We cannot play international whack-a-mole with each new threat,” he said. “Instead, we must put in place new measures across the board to keep the traveling public safe and make it harder for terrorists to succeed.”

“Because it doesn’t really matter how you answer those questions. What matters is the way you answer those questions,” he said. “Sometimes, human beings are better at identifying threats than machines.”

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(BR)unch For this month’s brunch review, I decided to go a little more upscale and visited BRQ Seafood and Barbeque on Jefferson Highway. Accompanied once again by Taylor Degruise, our editor-in-chief, I arrived around 11:30 a.m. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the restaurant itself had a rustic yet classy vibe. The service was excellent throughout.

Leslie Knowles We were seated immediately, which I find Columnist unusual for Sunday brunch in Baton Rouge.

Our server arrived quickly and was very personable, serving us waters along with a starter of pickles and chips.

The place was impressive thus far, but the most important question still remained: what is the mimosa situation? Luckily, BRQ has it taken care of! Bottomless mimosas come in the form of a bottle of champagne for the table as well as a goblet of orange juice and as many glasses as you’d like. At $14, the price was a little steeper than we were used to, but we were able to split the cost between us. Not too bad!

The menu has an incredible selection of brunch classics, lunch items, and BBQ favorites. It includes some truly unique dishes like the breakfast nachos with pulled pork, beans, queso, pico de gallo, sour cream, roasted corn & two sunny side up eggs for $14. We opted for an appetizer this time (we were treating ourselves this month) and got an order of crab beignets to start.

For $12, you get four lightly fried dough pockets stuffed with

Tony continued...

the United States Department of Agriculture’s refusal to recognize Tony as an “individual” for purposes of an expedited FOIA request. After learning of Tony’s declining health, the ALDF requested that the USDA perform an inspection of Tony. As Tony was in declining health, the ALDF sought the expedited request-as required by FOIA

a crab meat and cream cheese mixture. The presentation was lovely and the beignets were delicious! When it was time to order, I decided on the Smoked Duck Confit Grilled Cheese: smoked duck, goat and Munster cheese, fig, and arugula, grilled and served on multi-grain wheat bread with a choice of fries, potato salad, or coleslaw for $13. Taylor ordered the Biscuits and Gravy which is served with two eggs any style, buttermilk biscuits, smoked brisket gravy, and breakfast potatoes and seasonal fruit on the side for $14. The food arrived within a reasonable time and, once again, the presentation was very appealing. The grilled cheese was perfectly toasted and exactly the right temperature, and Taylor commented that her biscuits were the perfect balance of fluffy and crispy. Her only critique was that there wasn’t quite enough gravy, and after trying it myself, I agree.

The price of each entrée was a little higher than I usually spend, but considering the amount of food you get as well as the obvious care that goes into making each dish, the price is a good value and I didn’t mind paying it. That combined with the excellent service made this brunch experience a great one!

BRQ is located on Jefferson Hwy, past Bluebonnet, and is open Tuesday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Brunch is served on both Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All in all, I would definitely recommend BRQ Seafood and Barbeque for your next “treat yo self” brunch outing!

when a delay in disclosure “could reasonably be expected to pose an imminent threat to the life or physical safety of an individual.” A successful suit would result in quicker access to information regarding the health of captive animals.

mourning of people on both sides of the issues. While people may differ on the morality of Tony’s situation, all will have to abide by the ruling in the two suits currently pending. Stay tuned for further updates on Tony and the future of the Tiger Truck Stop.

With the passing of Tony comes the

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THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2017

GHOULS & GAVELS LSU LAW Halloween 2017

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