The Reveille 2-20-20

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G N I W O T P I T

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page 2 photo by AURIANNA CORDERO

NEWS

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LSU student experiences an indecent exposure incident while riding Tiger Trails Bus on campus.

ENTERTAINMENT

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Celebrate Black History Month by listening to some black artists from Louisiana who shaped the music industry.

SPORTS

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LSU’s assistant gymnastics coach highlights how black gymnasts are becoming more prevalent at LSU and national level.

OPINION

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“Many people are unaware of the prominent impact black people have had on society because it isn’t taught.”

L SU Re ve i l le.co m @l s u r e ve i l le

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Students speak out against towing issues, overpriced parking permits on LSU’s campus

BY TAYLOR LANDRY @taylor.landry Sydney Clebert parked her car after returning to her residence hall on a Sunday. The next Tuesday, she discovered her car had been towed.

Clebert, an entrepreneurship and computer science freshman, believed she had parked legally and initially assumed her car was stolen. When she called LSUPD, an officer told her it was likely towed.

When Clebert asked Brown Towing, the University’s contracted towing company, what price she would have to pay to retrieve her car, she could not get a clear answer over the phone.

During the 2019-2020 academic year, 1,072 cars have been towed from the University’s campus, according to Director of Parking and Transportation Services Mike Harris.

The priority of the tow dictates whether a car is ticketed or towed, Harris said. If a parked car is causing a public safety hazard, such as obstructing traffic, blocking handicap zones or blocking fire lanes, they will be handled first.

The University’s contract with Brown Towing was signed in 2017. The cost is what appeals to the University when it looked for a towing company to contract with, Harris said. The towing company’s services and time availability also play a role in the selection process.

Executive Director of Facility and Property Oversight Tammy Millican said towing rates are set by the Louisiana Public Service Commission Brown Towing employee Bourgeois Gomez said LSUPD calls Brown and informs the company when a car needs to be towed. When asked about the price of towing, he said that it is under the University’s control.

Clebert doesn’t move her car often because of the lack of student parking on the east side of campus. It took her a day to realize her car was missing. She never received notification from the University or Brown Towing that her car was towed.

“I had only been parked there for one day; thank God,” Clebert said. “Had I not gone home that night, they would have kept charging me, and I would have never known.”

Parking and Transportation Services enforced the use of 15-minute warning phone calls before towing when Harris was hired in January.

Millican said warning calls occurred prior, but are now strictly enforced. Fifteen-minute warning calls are dependent on having an updated phone number to contact. Students supply a phone number when registering a vehicle.

“It [warning calls] was taking place before, but when Mike [Harris] got here he made sure to

say that it [warning calls] needs to take place every time,” Millican said.

When Clebert went to retrieve her car at Brown Towing, she saw she had also been issued two tickets. The second ticket was written a few hours before she was towed.

“It doesn’t make sense to give me a ticket if I was just going to be towed a couple of hours later anyway,” Clebert said.

Clebert approached a Brown Towing employee and showed her pictures of where she had parked before she was towed.

The pictures revealed Clebert parked in a resident parking spot right next to a green zone three parking sign. The employee said the yellow curb originally had “no parking” painted on it, but the paint had been weathered and was no longer visible.

“They have not done upkeep, so I should not be responsible for incorrectly parking when they did not keep up with the paint,” Clebert said.

Another Brown Towing employee suggested Clebert could have gotten towed because she parked next to a tree.

“In what world am I supposed to know that you can get towed for parking by a tree?” Clebert said. “There is no law against parking next to a tree.”

Clebert said one of the employees suggested she appeal the tow.

Parking and Transportation Services encourages students to use the appeal process.

“We make sure that we have a group that is not affiliated with parking to look at each situation,” Millican said. “They are free to sustain or overturn.”

The person receiving the citation must make an appeal, according to the Parking and Transportation Services website. The citation has to be paid within 14 days of the violation. Diagrams, photos and other supporting documentation must be submitted with the appeal. The website also states inability to find a permitted parking space is not a valid reason for incorrect parking.

Clebert is undergoing the appeal process. If she loses, she will have to pay a $5 fine.

“If I see any parking space that looks available, I am going to take it,” Clebert said. “I paid $165 to park on this campus, and I can’t find any parking where I live. Every lot on the east side of campus is always full.”

Students must pay $80 for a semester parking permit and $165 for an annual parking permit, according to Parking and Transportation Services.

There are 5,836 resident parking spots available on campus, but Parking and Transportation Services sold 5,845 resident parking permits as of Feb. 12, according to Harris. There is no limit on how many passes are sold.

Millican said at any given time, some students should be

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During the 2019-2020 academic year, 1,072 cars have been towed from the University’s campus. driving or off-campus and not in need of a parking spot.

“When I first started working with parking, I said you should sell the exact number of passes,” Millican said. “But the truth is, we are not all here at the same time every day. In any parking organization, they are always going to sell over.”

Parking organizations typically sell commuter parking permits at a 2:1 ratio because of how transient they can be. Resident parking permits should be sold closer to a 1:1 ratio because they are more likely to stay on campus longer, according to Harris.

Entrepreneurship and management freshman Brennan Bourg thinks overselling by only nine passes may not seem like a big number, but it can be an issue. Drivers can park in the wrong zones, which may not be taken into account when overselling.

“No resident is driving at four in the morning,” Bourg said.”In the middle of the night, everyone needs a parking spot. What happens to those nine cars when it is time to sleep and there is nowhere for them to go?”

Parking and Transportation Services sent a Feb. 13 email to students informing them that the East Campus Apartment lots, one of the largest residential lots, will be unavailable until April 24.

Owners who do not move their vehicles before that time will be subject to citation and towing.

The fight against towing is not just an on-campus issue. Students are fighting back against Riverside Towing, a towing company that a group of mass communication seniors say is operating in the grey area of Louisiana law to target college students. The

group started a “Wreck Riverside” campaign against the controversial company.

Anna Rosing, Madison Day, Sarah Hunt and Cole Cathrine Dunnam are working on the project.

“We were all talking and comparing something that we all care about,” Dunnam said. “We realized that we all knew someone who has been affected by Riverside. We wanted people to feel like their voice is truly getting heard, so we started a petition against Riverside.”

The group used social media to push the campaign and gather stories of Riverside victims.

Wreck Riverside Towing has recieved over 1,300 signatures for its petition to change Louisiana’s towing laws.

“We have heard stories of students going into a business for a set amount of time, and their car will be towed when they are done,” Hunt said. “It does not seem like the tow drivers have any idea whether or not that person was a customer or not.”

The group created the email, w reck r iversidetowi ng @g m ai l. com, to collect stories. The campaign is still in the initial states, but the group believes that the more they research and understand the law, the more grey area Riverside seems to operate under.

Riverside Towing declined to comment.

The group hopes to bring attention to the need to create laws that will protect the community from predatory towing. By spotlighting Riverside and demanding they do their due diligence before towing students, the group hopes to show students they can speak up and demand fair treatment.

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CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS The Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure its readers the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards. This space is reserved to recognize and correct any mistakes that may have been printed in The Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified, please contact the editor at (225) 578-4811 or email editor@lsureveille.com.

ABOUT THE REVEILLE The Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. A single issue of The Reveille is free. To purchase additional copies, please visit the Office of Student Media in B-39 Hodges Hall. The Reveille is published weekly during the fall, spring, and summer semesters, except during holidays and final exams. Second-class copies postage paid at Baton Rouge, LA, 70803.

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NEWS BUS BUSINESS

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LSU student experiences indecent exposure incident on campus bus

BY MARYKELLY MUNSTER @mkokayokay Passengers who ride the LSU transit system must recognize and follow the rules of conduct set by First Transit, the company that manages the system.

For one LSU junior majoring in French, a midday bus ride on the transit system quickly turned hostile last semester when a male stranger indecently exposed himself.

The student, who spoke to the Reveille on the condition of anonymity, said she didn’t understand what was happening in the moment.

“I was in shock, but it was a strange type of feeling,” the student said.

Following the act of obscenity, the student notified the bus driver and exited the bus to attend a meeting. She contacted LSUPD less than 30 minutes when her meeting ended.

LSUPD met the student and interviewed her to obtain all the details of the act of obscenity.

“It genuinely surprised me how reactive everyone was,” the student said. “LSU reacted so quickly and gave me updates.”

She felt the police handled the situation well and kept her up to date with any developments in her case. LSUPD contacted her six times, four times to have her restate the incident and twice to update her on the development of the case.

“The last update I heard was that he was identified,” the student said. “I’m still unsure

whether he actually got charges pressed.”

Bus rules range from requiring passengers wear shoes to banning horseplay. Executive Director of Facility and Property Oversight Tammy Millican said each situation is first handled by having the driver call dispatch and letting a supervisor know of the problem.

The bus driver can then state the bus’ location and wait for a supervisor or meet a supervisor at the next stop. The supervisor then determines whether a passenger must be removed from the bus.

The University has implemented security measures to aid LSUPD when passengers act obscenely. Each bus has security cameras installed, and all bus drivers are thoroughly trained to be prepared for any situation that may arise. “[Drivers] go through a training program, which will include classroom training on how to handle those types of situations, closed-courses training and open-road training” Millican said. “That is to prepare them for those situations where someone is behaving badly.”

Though bus drivers have removed passengers from buses for lewd behavior and breaking the rules of the transit system, First Transit has never had to ban a bus rider since the University awarded them the transit contact.

“If the need to ban a bus rider occurs, Parking and Transportation Services and First Transit

will provide this information to LSUPD to ensure the person

does not board the bus after being banned,” Millican said.

Japanese magnolias bloom during late winter

BY CAITIE ZEILMAN @caitiezeilman

THE REVEILLE ARCHIVES

A group of LSU students step onto an LSU Tiger Trails bus at Lockett Hall on Sept. 4, 2019.

Though LSU’s campus is known for its “stately oaks,” Japanese magnolia trees are recognized as a school icon during peak blooming time in the late winter.

This year, the small trees bloomed early, signifying an early spring.

The magnolias come in a variety of colors including white, lavender-pink, rose-purple, dark reddish purple and light yellow, according to the LSU Ag Center.

Most of the Japanese magnolias on LSU’s campus are lavender-pink.

Marketing junior Regan Broussard said she always believed the trees were beautiful, but her horticulture class gave her a deeper appreciation for the magnolias.

“They’ve been a big part of LSU’s landscaping for years,” Broussard said. “They’re pretty cool because they’re one of the few plants that bloom during this time.”

The Japanese magnolia is a hybrid of several types of magnolias, according to the LSU Ag Center. Those found on campus are the result of the crossing of the lily magnolia and the Yulan magnolia. Its Latin name is the

see MAGNOLIAS, page 4

LSU business fraternities provide guidance, networking opportunities

BY AMBER BUETTNER @Amber_Buettner The University’s Greek business fraternities occupy a unique niche within the Greek community.

The fraternities--Alpha Kappa Psi, Beta Alpha Psi, Delta Sigma Pi and Pi Sigma Epsilon--serve mainly as professional business organizations focused on networking and personal development. Since the organizations are co-ed and not affiliated with the Interfraternity Council or the National Panhellenic Conference, anyone who is in a social fraternity or sorority is welcome to join.

Some groups, like Alpha Kappa Psi, are open to all students regardless of major. Others, like Delta Sigma Pi, are open only to business students. Beta Alpha Psi and Pi Sigma Epsilon are for accounting majors and marketing and management majors respectively. The one thing they have in common is the

networking they provide to members.

Computer science and entrepreneurship senior Walter Scott is the president of Delta Sigma Pi. His fraternity is the nation’s largest and first co-ed professional business fraternity, according to the national chapter website. It was founded on November 7, 1907, at the School of Commerce, Accounts and Finance of New York University in New York, New York.

He said one of the major benefits of his fraternity is making friends and getting to know people who will be in business classes.

“The benefit really comes from when you can talk to people about the people that you know also and the different things that you’ve gone through and have the same experiences as them,” Scott said.

Scott said the fraternities also COURTESY OF CHANDLER RAMSAK

see FRATS, page 4

Beta Alpha Psi officers went to Chicago to attend their annual meeting on Aug. 9, 2019.

Thursday, February 20, 2020

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LSU wins Game Day Recycling Challenge, recycles over 120,000 pounds of trash

BY JACOB MATHEWS @jacobbdm24 Not only is LSU the national champion in football, it is also the Game Day Recycling Challenge National Chamion after beating the second place university, Clemson.

The ‘total recycled’ category was the one LSU competed in, with 127,940 pounds of recycled trash. This amounts to 168 metric tons of carbon dioxide avoided for greenhouse gas stations. Clemson had 78,157 pounds in second place, and Ohio State came in third with 46,102 pounds.

The University also won the challenge in 2015 and 2016.

According to Executive Director of Facility and Property Oversight Tammy Millican, the University faces steep competition every year.

“Every major university participates; it’s highly competitive,” Millican said.

Facility and Property Oversight took steps to ensure the University came out on top. In the past the

MAGNOLIAS, from page 4 magnolia x soulangiana. It is an ancient tree species that has its origins in southwest China.

Horticulture Manager Ethan Mott said the trees require minimal maintenance once they reach a certain age. They require fertilization in the early stages but require little later. They should be planted in well-drained and sunny to partly-sunny locations.

Most magnolia trees grow to be about 15 to 25 feet at maturity.

“They take care of themselves pretty much,” Mott said. “The only thing you might have to do is keep them off of the building or sidewalks so that people don’t hit their heads.”

The trees grow to be between 15 to 25 feet tall.

Mott said he believes the magnolias are beautiful even when they are not blooming.

“People don’t really notice

FRATS, from page 3 help students get jobs. One of his friends is now an accountant at Walk-On’s, thanks to a connection she made in the fraternity’s Facebook group.

“In our Facebook group that we have someone posted, ‘Hey I got this job, and I’m leaving town. Does anyone want this accounting job?’”

Scott said. “So now she works at Walk-On’s corporate headquarters.”

Sociology sophomore and Pi Sigma Epsilon president Audrey Graves said she learned leadership skills in her position. Her organization was founded in 1952 at Georgia State University.

“One meeting out of the month is always designated to either a corporate sponsor or just some local business around here coming to talk to us, offering us jobs, doing like professional training and also

department asked people to take a selfie recycling and gave away prizes. This year, it organized the ‘Neaux Trash Talk’ competition, in which campus organizations competed to see which group could recycle the most during its tailgate. Facility and Property Oversight also encouraged volunteers to pick up trash left on campus from game days.

This year, Tiger Stadium sold beer cans inside the stadium for the first time. Dumpsters were placed inside and around the stadium near concessions to try and capture these cans.

Facility and Property Oversight also spoke with many VIP guests and encouraged them to properly dispose of the cardboard and other food they get catered.

“I think those are the things that pushed us over the edge. We improve our performance every year based on the passion of our students to volunteer,” the assistant director for campus sustainability Sarah Temple said.

Only one game counts

toward the challenge, and the University chose the Nov. 30 Texas A&M game.

With this being Joe Burrow’s last game at Tiger Stadium, many fans from across Louisiana piled into the stadium.

The Game Day Recycling Challenge is organized through a partnership of the National Wildlife Federation, College and University Recycling Coalition , RecycleMania, Inc. and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WasteWise Program.

Programs at the University are working on new ways to continue to recycle as much as they can and improve the University’s carbon footprint.

Programs coming like the ‘Black Soldier Flag’ are using black soldier flies to compost food waste from dining halls and football games and using this compost for trees and flower beds.

“We can use things like a half-eaten hamburger to continue to waste for the betterment of the University,” Millican said.

them, but they have a beautiful leaf as well in my opinion,” Mott said. “They’re just a beautiful plant.”

The magnolias usually bloom around the same time every year unless unnatural weather occurs in the area, according to Mott.

The magnolias are common across Louisiana landscapes.

Broussard said they remind her of home.

“I’m from Mandeville, Louisiana, and my grandma actually had one in her backyard,” Broussard said. “So the ones on campus remind me a little bit of home. It’s really nice, and I think a lot of other people can relate to that.”

Many local nurseries carry Japanese magnolias along with several other varieties of the trees.

The early months of the year are the best time to plant them, according to the LSU Ag Center.

Japanese magnolias stand around the LSU Quadrangle on Tuesday, Feb. 11.

telling us what they can do for us,” Graves said.

The groups also attend conferences where they are able to meet people in other chapters of their fraternity. Accounting senior and Beta Alpha Psi events manager Chandler Ramsak said getting to form relationships with business majors across the country was instrumental in her job-search process. She received the opportunity to attend the annual Beta Alpha Psi conference, which took place in Chicago this year, along with several other members of Beta Alpha Psi’s executive board.

“Honestly, I would have not known how to get a job like how the whole accounting recruiting process works without this organization so I think that’s my favorite part,” Ramsak said.

Information systems & decision sciences junior Grace Hebermehl

said her fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi, gave her a family in Louisiana and a reason to love LSU. This year, Alpha Kappa Psi added a diversity and inclusivity committee. One of the organization’s missions is to “make the world a better place” and “improve the standard of living for current and future generations,” according to the LSU Alpha Kappa Psi website.

Alpha Kappa Psi was founded in 1904 with the purpose of developing its members into business leaders. Now, the organization boasts over 298,000 initiated members.

Human resource management senior Calkin Bond said it is important to create a comfortable atmosphere within the brotherhood.

“We create a safe environment so that if you fail you are still able to get that experience,” Bond said.

“And that failure is also a really great experience.”

THE REVEILLE ARCHIVES

Trash cans sit in the sun at the Parade Ground on Sept. 20, 2017.

BELLA BIONDINI / The Reveille

ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille

The Business Education Complex complex sits on S. Quad Drive on Nov. 17, 2019.

ENTERTAINMENT

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PLAYING BIG AND LOUD

Black History Month: Five Louisiana musicians who made a lasting impact on the industry Courtesy of Wikipedia

BY BRITNEY YOUNG @byoun99 Black History Month calls for celebration for African Americans who have made a significant impact. Louisiana is known for its musical roots. We celebrate different genres of music that has shaped the culture of Louisiana.

There are quite a few black musicians from Louisiana who have made a lasting impact on music.

Louis Armstrong Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans on Aug. 4, 1901.

Armstrong had a tough childhood, but he found love in music.

Armstrong grew his reputation as a musician while working odd jobs. Armstrong was able to stop working odd jobs and become a full-time musician. He performed in New Orleans, but he was eventually able to perform in Chicago, New York City and tour in Eu-

rope.

Armstrong is considered a pioneer of jazz. He showed the world a New Orleans-style of music that wasn’t heard before. His classics include “La Vie En Rose”, “What A Wonderful World,” “Dream A Little Dream of Me” and “When the Saints Go Marching In.”

seen as an influence for other rappers when rap album sales were dropping. Lil Wayne was able to rejuvenate the market.

Overall, the rapper from New Orleans was able to be a huge influence in hip hop today. Lil Wayne hosts Lil WeezyAna Fest where multiple artists come to New Orleans to perform.

Lil Wayne Lil Wayne has a big name in the rap community. He was born on Sept. 27, 1982 in New Orleans. Lil Wayne’s rap career can be traced back to 1997 when he was part of a group called The Hot Boys with Juvenile and B.G. who are also from New Orleans.

His solo career grew with his numerous albums and mixtapes that have topped the charts. He also won four Grammys in 2009.

Lil Wayne gets credit for launching Nicki Minaj and Drake’s career. His work can be

Big Freedia Some in-state students may know who Big Freedia is, but others may know her from Drake’s “Nice For What” and Beyonce’s “Formation”. But, that doesn’t account for how big of an artist she is in New Orleans, and how she grabbed audiences’ attention to bounce music. Big Freedia was born in New Orleans on Jan. 28, 1978. Bounce was underground before Big Freedia brought it into the spotlight. It was started in the ‘80s, and the genre has a large LGBTQ following.

With recognition like this, bounce music is starting to become mainstream because of Big Freedia.

she has also performed at the Audubon Zoo for their Mother’s Day concert. Thomas is still a beloved singer in New Orleans.

Irma Thomas Irma Thomas is a Grammy-award winning soul singer who was born in Ponchatoula, Louisiana on Feb. 18, 1941. She is also called “The Soul Queen of New Orleans”. Her influence can be heard in two songs from Otis Redding and The Rolling Stones.

She signed with Imperial Records when she was 23, and her album “Wish Someone Would Care” was her top-selling album. Her single, “Wish Someone Would Care,” was on top of the charts when most singles on the charts were from British bands.

She also made fans in Japan and Europe, but she came back to New Orleans. Thomas has appeared at the New Orleans Heritage & Jazz Festival, and

Fats Domino Fats Domino is considered as one of the pioneers of early rock and roll music. His songs were covered by many artists, and his sound even inspired The Beatles.

Domino passed away in 2017, and his lost was felt throughout New Orleans and the music community. Born on Feb. 26, 1928, Domino was a pianist in bars since he was a teenager. His sound was heavy on New Orleans’ rhythm and blues. His career took off when he signed with Imperial Records. Domino continued to make hit after hit, and he became a great influence in rock and roll.

Domino’s hits are “Ain’t That a Shame,” “Blueberry Hill,” “Walking to New Orleans,” “I’m Walkin’” and many more.

LIFESTYLE

Impractical alternative uses for discarded Mardi Gras beads

BY TANER MORGAN Mardi Gras natives may experience their bodies shifting into a primal mode of bead collection when a parade comes to town.

Like magpies, we hoard the shiny plastic treasures chucked at us from moving vehicles, and there’s no greater satisfaction @taner_morgan than amassing a collection that in turn collects dust in the attic. For those that never grew out of their mindless bead fixation, here are some uses for those entirely useless holiday artifacts. Spoiler alert: there are no uses apart from budgeted arts and crafts. While they all function in theory as a little more than juvenile pranks and unique decor, these ideas should never progress past the concept phase.

Bandoiler (BEAD-OLIER)

Shoelaces

With nimble fingers and ample planning, looping wire-bound bead chains through shoelace loops would be a pretty simple operation. Strip the wire of all beads. Run the wire through each loop and add the desired amount of beads per segment. Finish off the chain with ornaments for aglets if available and that’s some festive and incredibly uncomfortable footwear.

NETTING OF ALL VARIETIES

Cross-body holsters/bandoliers are the fashion staple of detective shows but are perceived as “threatening” or “not allowed on school property” in the real world. A BEAD-olier, however, is the water bottle/ wallet/phone storage device of today’s metropolitan individual. Employing the same technique as with the jump rope, two to three bead lengths should be enough to tightly wrap around and secure most everyday necessities close to its wearer’s heart.

Interlacing networks of beads into a cohesive net is a pretty rudimentary process. The possibilities of that net are limitless. Attach it to a stick to handle your rodent infestation. Use it as a safety net for trapeze acts (do not use it as a safety net under any circumstances). Cast it over a boat, and catch a very nearby school of fish. Attach weights to either end, and use it in combat as bolas. There aren’t many problems in the world a bundle of beads can’t solve.

HIGH STAKES JUMP ROPE

Stringed beads cut in half can connect to each other by twisting the end bead of each segment with the end of the next.

Calculate the user’s height while deciding jump rope length, and that Mardi Gras bling can become a fitness tool with complimentary concussions. The punishment for failing to jump properly is motivation enough to improve. As Corbin Bleu’s character made viewers realize in Disney’s hit movie of 2007 “Jump In!,” jumping rope can be pretty stylish, and this rope is shiny.

BEAD BAG CHAIR

This one writes itself. Pour all those comfy little beans directly into the trash and replace them with less than half that amount in singular plastic beads. Comfort is a bridge to weakness. The look of gratitude a friend or loved one will give when they plop down on the (patent pending) bead bag chair pays its weight in beads.

As much as I would love to see beads integrated and normalized into everyday items and conveniences, I cannot recommend any of these with a clear conscience. Sometimes a beer-soaked chain of painted plastic is just glorified trash. In the end, the best thing to do is wash them down thoroughly and recycle your glorious bead haul to catch next year.

Thursday, February 20, 2020

page 6 FOOD & DRINK

Chicken Salad Chick opening, giveaways and specials all week

BY BRITNEY YOUNG @byoun99 On Feb. 19, Chicken Salad Chick opened its first Baton Rouge spot at 801 Frogmore Drive. This will be the fourth restaurant owned by father-and-son Beau and Pete Nicolosi and eighth location in Louisiana. They plan to open two more Chicken Salad Chick restaurants in the Baton Rouge area by 2021.

“Chicken Salad Chick’s

individuality and distinctive charm drew me in from the start and it’s been an incredible journey sharing the concept with others across Louisiana,” Beau Nicolosi said.

On opening day, the restaurant offered free chicken salad to the first 100 customers.

Also, throughout opening week, they will be offering giveaways and specials.

Customers must be over 16, purchase a Chick Special and download the Cravings Credit app to be an eligible winner.

Chicken Salad Chick was founded by Stacy Brown in 2008.

Their menu features side salads, soups, sandwiches and desserts.

Today, Chicken Salad Chick is located in 16 states with with more than 145 restaurants.

The restaurant has also won

multiple accolades.

“After watching the concept thrive in the Lafayette community, we were bound to expand to the Baton Rouge area,” Beau Nicolosi said. “Now, we’re thrilled to continue our growth near LSU’s campus, my alma mater, where Chicken Salad Chick will serve as a great addition to the community, bringing quality and fresh food to students and families.” The restaurant also features a drivethru for customers.

Thursday, February 20 ­ The first 100 guests to buy a Chick Special will get a free scoop or sandwich redeemable for their next visit.

Friday, February 21 The first 100 guests will receive a free upgrade to a Chick Trio.

Saturday, February 22 The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a free Chick tumbler.

HOURS MON - SAT 10:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.

WHERE 801 Frogmore Drive, BR MEDIA www.chikensaladchick.com Facebook, Instagram, Twitter COURTESY OF CHICKEN SALA CHICK

Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems

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Visit lsu.edu/business/opportunity to learn more.

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Thursday, February 20, 2020

REV R ANKS

page 7

MOVIE

PARASITE Bong Joon Ho

It’s an accurate portrayal of poverty that shouldn’t be ignored. Life is a game we play, and it comes with some sacrifices or failures. The Kim family had to make certain decisions just to survive, but it came at a cost. This film deserves every praise that it gets, and it has quickly become one of my favorite movies.

‘The Pharmacist’ opens our eyes to an epidemic in our own state

BY CAROLINE HEBERT @sister_carols

Britney Young @byoun99

MUSIC

JESUS IS BORN Sunday Sercvice Choir

Each song is enjoyable in and of itself, but the messages and musical styles become overplayed and too long. Despite the overwhelming longevity of the album, “Jesus is Born” truly allows the Sunday Service Choir to shine outside of Kanye’s shadow, and bring the praises of God to the mainstream in an exciting and beautiful way.

Charles Jones @saxycj

MOVIE

HORSE GIRL Netflix

Sarah might be a clone, might have been abducted, or she might have just been crazy and scared to admit it. Either way the story is beautifully done and a great watch. If you love conspiracy theories and movies that send you spiraling until the very end, then this movie is definitely for you.

EnJanae’ Taylor @_queenet_

MOVIE

TO ALL THE BOYS: P.S. I STILL LOVE YOU Netflix

High school love is messy and complicated, and this movie does a wonderful job of portraying that.

It’s about insecure jealousy and butting heads because you don’t know any better. The movie’s storyline is paired with an amazing, indie-pop soundtrack and stunning visuals. The aesthetic of the movie is goals, just like everything else in Lara Jean’s life.

Morgan Money @MorganPMoney

Read the full reviews online at lsunow.com/entertainment

COURTESY OF NETFLIX

The Netflix documentary “The Pharmacist” explains the events of Dan Schneider and family life after the passing of his son. Based on a true story in Chalmette, Louisiana, a family finds out their son Daniel’s death was a result of a drug deal gone bad.

The father, a pharmacist in St. Barnard Parish helps find his son’s killer and further investigates the abuse of opioids in the city. The documentary takes the viewer through the years of investigation this one man accomplished in efforts to raise awareness of the opioid epidemic happening in south Louisiana The series is well written with facts, details, images and recordings to portray an authentic story. The show also had members from the story including the killer, witness, family members and

one more important figure that I will not reveal in order to not spoil it for future viewers.

The documentary exceeds expectations of a normal, true crime show since the father, Dan Schneider, is a pharmacist and had an inside look at the epidemic. He gathers information and observes from a close view.

His work ethic is inspiring and keeps viewers interested in the film. Moreover, the documentary triggers different feelings, and you will be surprised with some comments and results.

The documentary for me is very personal since I am from New Orleans. I had no clue an opioid crisis was happening where I grew up. This comes to show how important this documentary is to not only reveal these stories to make people aware of the issue but to also

educate the citizens in the area on the history of their city.

Many people are unaware of this issue, and if they do know, they are clueless about how the crisis started. This documentary takes the time to explain the background of the doctors, medicine distributors, the community and the pharmacies in the area.

The Netflix original “The Pharmacist” is a binge-worthy true-crime series that captures immense amount of content in four episodes. Viewers will be locked in and intrigued to know what happens next. The opioid epidemic is explained, and Dan Schneider aims to help end the horrible addiction and save lives. I recommend this show to anyone who loves true crime documentaries and if you need a new show to watch.

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SPORTS ‘THEY GIVE US HOPE’

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Black gymnasts becoming more prevalent both at LSU, on national scale

BY KENNEDI LANDRY @landryyy14 LSU assistant gymnastics coach Ashleigh Clare-Kearney counts them out on her fingers — Kennedi Edney, Kiya Johnson, Kai Rivers, Lexie Nibbs. The four black gymnasts on LSU’s 2020 team. That representation matters.

For people of color, seeing people that look like you in prominent positions makes a difference, and Clare-Kearney knows that all too well. She said it has taken time within the black community to recognize that you can be a positive light or role model.

“I think when people of color see people that look like them succeeding, it gives them motivation,” Clare-Kearney said. “It lets them know that they can do whatever they put their mind to, and I think that’s a challenge that we deal with in the black community.”

Clare-Kearney points out that four is the most black gymnasts LSU has had on a single team since 2014 with Lloimincia Hall, Britney Ranzey, Maliah Mathis and Randii Wyrick.

Clare-Kearney — a two-time national champion and five-time All-American at LSU from 200509 — is an avid proponent of that diversity, especially in gymnastics, which is normally lacking in people of color.

“Race has been a conversation in my household for a very long time,” Clare-Kearney said. “With me being in a sport that was predominantly white, I think my mom wanted to make sure that I was extremely comfortable in my skin and with who I am despite the fact that there weren’t a lot of people that looked like me around me.”

A Connecticut native, ClareKearney admits her mother was initially concerned about coming to college in the South, but they were both shocked at how inclusive the LSU program was and how the South did not live up to many stereotypes.

Within LSU gymnastics, head coach D-D Breaux has cultivated a culture of inclusion within the program since 1978, and that culture calmed Clare-Kearney’s mother’s concerns.

Clare-Kearney’s mother asked many questions of the coaching staff during her recruitment concerning the overall state of racism in the South.

“D-D made her feel very comfortable and let her know that ‘yes, there may be people like that, but we are going to make

sure that your daughter is very well taken care of,’” Clare-Kearney said. “And I always felt that. I was the only black person on the team when I was here. I never felt isolated, I never felt like I was the only one.”

Clare-Kearney said that her experience at LSU was nothing like she expected and was far more positive than negative.

Clare-Kearney said she never felt like race or color was something that mattered within the program; then Clare-Kearney corrected herself. Race does matter and the idea of being “colorblind” shows you’re not in tune with issues of racism on a broader scale.

But at LSU, because of that culture developed by Breaux and fellow coaches Jay Clark and Bob Moore, nobody ever feels “less than” because of their race.

“It was nice to not feel like I was the ‘black girl,’” Clare-Kearney said. “I know I’m black, I love being black, but I don’t need to be reminded of that every day.

I didn’t feel like I was ever reminded in a negative way that I was black.”

Clare-Kearney has seen that develop more since she transitioned to a volunteer coach role in 2010.

LSU has become a “melting pot” of races and ethnicities, something that 40 years ago would’ve been unheard of in the South.

“I think that’s beautiful,” Clare-Kearney said. “It’s nice to see. We’ve got a Russian (Alyona Shchennikova). And two years ago, we had Myia (Hambrick) and Erin (Macadaeg) and they’re Asian. It’s nice to see that diversity because it’s so important.”

While LSU recruits the best talent available regardless of race, Clare-Kearney believes that it’s important for her to be involved in the process, especially when it comes to bringing in young, black recruits.

Representation matters, and having someone look like you in close proximity matters even more. There’s a sense of relief for both parents and recruits to have Clare-Kearney be such a prominent part of the program.

While Clare-Kearney didn’t have that when she was coming through youth and college gymnastics, it is undoubtedly comforting for parents and gymnasts alike. “(Parents) feel like their child may be comfortable coming to me and expressing whatever issue she has and I may be able to rectify it,” Clare-Kearney said.

“I think that’s one of the many reasons why I’m still so involved

AURIANNA CORDERO/ The Reveille

LSU all-around freshman McKenna Kelley talks with volunteer coach Ashleigh Clare-Kearney before her floor routine during the Tigers’ 196.575-195.100 victory against Kentucky for the Pink & Blue Meet on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. because I feel like I’m a mentor, not even just for the black girls, but for all of the girls.”

As comfortable as Clare-Kearney was competing for Breaux, and as far along as the LSU program is when it comes to diversity, Clare-Kearney has seen that diversity grow in gymnastics on a national scale.

“It’s beautiful for me to watch, especially because I was in the sport and I love to see the sport evolving and more people of color participating,” Clare-Kearney said. “It’s allowing us to realize that we are not only more than athletes, but more than football and basketball and track.

“We can be successful in whatever sport we want to participate in as long as we have the access and the resources to do that.”

Access and resources, ClareKearney emphasized, have often been the issue for people of color in gymnastics.

Socioeconomic status often dictates what sport a child participates in during formative years.

The expenses involved gymnastics make it difficult for those who are not white, upper-middle class boys and girls to dominate the sport.

“I don’t think that people realize just how beneficial it is for each sport to be diverse,” ClareKearney said. “I think black people just by their body types and their very nature have very athletic builds, so you see a lot

of success in gymnastics among black girls.”

Clare-Kearney said when she was growing up, Dominique Dawes — a 10-year member of the U.S. national gymnastics team and three-time Olympian — was was idol for her because that was someone who looked like her.

Now, those young girls in gymnastics are looking to people like Gabrielle Douglas and Simone Biles, who have ascended to the very top of the sport. The two Olympic all-around gold medalists have overcome challenges in their own lives to get to where they are now.

And Biles has so much farther to go as she trains for Tokyo 2020.

Biles has risen even past the sport of gymnastics. She’s in the conversation for one of the greatest athletes of all time, not just gymnasts.

“I think that sends a clear message that — pick a sport, you can do whatever sport you come across that interests you,” ClareKearney said. “It tells you to take a chance and see what happens.

There’s still not that many black gymnasts at the Olympic level, and that’s fine, but I think that she is in a league of her own.”

LSU freshman Kiya Johnson said she thinks having someone like Biles being the face of the sport has been a “positive, motivational” thing for young, black girls to look up to.

Johnson thinks, just by looking around during her little sister’s meets, that the number of young black girls has increased since Douglas and Biles’ rise.

“I hope that, and I believe that, gymnasts of color pay close attention to that because (Biles) is their idol,” Clare-Kearney said.

“She is the new face of athletics. I think it’s great for the black community, but great for the sport of gymnastics as well.”

Gymnastics has historically had a diversity problem, and has been rightfully criticized for it, but it continues to develop and improve.

It is a work in progress, but the diversity in the sport is growing more and more, and it’s better than anybody within the community could have expected even 10 years ago.

“Look at how how far we’ve come,” Clare-Kearney said. “We had to go through hell to get here, but here we are. And we have so much work to do, but there’s a sense of pride that’s associated with seeing something like that.

“It’s like the Black Girl Magic thing. I love it. I love to see black people winning, achieving the goals that they want, no matter how small or big they are.

It’s awesome to see. I love that I’m still a part of that and I love this sport. I love how much it’s evolved from when I was younger to today.”

page 10

Thursday, February 20, 2020

OPINION

Column: Drew Brees’ return is the right move for the Saints MYLES KUSS @kussmyles

​T he future hall of fame quarterback has returned, and New Orleans has mixed feelings on the result. ​Should the 41-year-old Drew Brees hang it up and let Taysom Hill and Teddy Bridgewater have time in the spotlight?

T he simple answer, Saints ​ fans, is no. The fact that Brees is returning is a tremendous thing.

The best quarterback of all-time is returning and a fattened calf should be slain for the feast.

With that being said, there are plenty of improvements that have to be made for the incoming 20-year-yold veteran. ​T he most obvious one being his recent performance in the playoffs. While the Saints were robbed against the Los Angeles Rams in the 2018 NFC Championship game, Brees had a chance to win the game in overtime and threw an interception. ​In the 2019 wild card round against the Vikings, Brees did not seem all there throughout the game and struggled through three quarters.

Yes, Brees led a 13-3 team without a first-round bye, but he only threw for 208 yards, one touchdown and one interception. That simply is not good enough.

Those five games last year when Bridgewater started were a blessing in disguise for Brees as he got much needed rest and recovered to have a solid year, with career highs in completion percentage and QBR. So what is the answer New ​ Orleans needs for one last go at it? It’s Drew Brees.

Brees is the most prolific passer of all time with limited weapons throughout his entire career, until the acquisition of Michael Thomas. He has the most completions, best completion percentage, most touchdowns and most yards in NFL history. ​I want the man with that resume on my team any day of the week, even if he is 41. ​He is the best mentally and physically prepared quarterback in the game and offenses love to play for him, which will help when the Saints want to make move, which they might need to do on the defensive end to stay competitive.

But the question is how the

relationship between the Saints offense and Brees will continue to work.

Brees cannot be the focal ​ point of this offense anymore.

I have no doubt he will work harder than he ever has in the offseason, but he simply cannot throw it 40 times anymore. But that should not be a problem.

Running back ​A lvin Kamara had a down year by his standards but still had 81 receptions for 6.6 yards per catch and 797 yards rushing. Not too shabby for most. ​Even if Kamara does not produce like he should, fellow back Latavius Murray has shown that he can run the ball and catch better than expected. In his first year in New Orleans, he had 637 yards rushing and added 34 receptions for 6.9 yards per catch.

Add in Michael Thomas — ​ who should have been on more MVP ballots — and you have an impressive offensive side of the ball not even including the best right tackle in Ryan Ramczyk.

Brees should not have to throw 45 times to win a game anymore, at least not consistently.

Keeping the ball on the ​ ground also gives the improved defense necessary rest to keep them elite.

BUTCH DILL / The Associated Press

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) passes in the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans in New Orleans, Monday, Sept. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Even if the Saints lose Bridgewater, Brees has earned the right to give it one more try through his leadership and style. Even if not for that, he is the best option that has tricks up his sleeves and knows opposing defenses better than any man on the field. ​So enjoy the feast Saints fans

because he is New Orleans’ best chance at the land that was promised, maybe not the same way it was achieved in 2009, but a land of milk and honey all the same. ​Enjoy the festivities because New Orleans and the NFL will never see the likes of him ever again.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

‘It’s the same script’: Same mistakes equal same result for LSU

BY HARRISON VALENTINE @HValentineLSU Nate Sestina hit back-to-back threes to extend Kentucky’s lead to 15 points with 5:15 remaining, thrusting the final dagger through LSU’s heart on Tuesday night inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

From the sideline, head coach Will Wade was as visibly upset as we’ve ever seen him, stomping his feet and flailing his arms in utter distress. He’d seen this script unfold too many times before, and he’d finally had enough.

For LSU, it was the same mistakes that came back to bite them.

Wade said postgame, “We just keep making the same mistakes. The same guy keeps making the same mistake, over and over and over again.”

“The same thing happened at Alabama, the same thing happened in this game. Hopefully [the mistakes] will be improved.

If not, we’ll be playing home games in the NIT.” Sitting at 18-8 overall with a NET ranking of 29, that is certainly a bold statement, but Wade doubled down moments later when asked about his options given the same guys are making the same mistakes.

“We don’t have any options,” Wade said. “If I had options I’d be playing other guys. Those guys have to get it fixed. I’ve exhausted all options.”

Sestina’s devastating array of sharpshooting late was a microcosm of everything that’s led to LSU’s defeat. The Tigers have now dropped four of their last five games dating back to Feb. 5.

Specifically, it’s been the three-point defense. In the first half, Kentucky went a modest two-for-10 from behind-thearc, but in the second half, they became unconscious,making seven of eight from deep, most of which were uncontested with clean looks.

“They got a lot of threes off,” said senior guard Skylar Mays.

“Our three-point defense hasn’t been great. If we are going to be the team that we expect to be, we’ve got to cover both of those patches.”

Neither team had the shooting touch in the first half, as the Tigers were just 31.3% and the Wildcats were slightly higher at 32% from the field in the first 20 minutes. Kentucky head coach John Calipari looked up at the scoreboard heading into halftime and knew his team was probably fortunate to take a lead into the break “We were up one, and I’m whistling, dancing and skipping going into the locker room,” Calipari said after the game.

“We can’t make a shot, and we’re still up one? In the second half, we made the shots, which is why we got up 14 or 15.”

The difference in the two halves were night-and-day.

From the field, the Wildcats shot 74% in the second half, at one point connecting on sevenstraight threes against LSU’s laboring defense.

“We left him wide open,” Wade said on how the team guarded Sestina. “He’s a good college player, so of course he’s going to make a wide open shot. He had a wide open corner three, a wide open pickand-pop three. He’s a good

player and is going to make plays when you give him those opportunities.”

The Tigers forged their usual late comeback, but the deficit proved too steep. A Marlon Taylor three with 1:30 left pulled LSU within five, but Kentucky answered each punch with one of their own.

Next, LSU travels to Columbia on Saturday for a 5 p.m. start against South Carolina.

Sophomore forward Darius Days said the only way for these mistakes to get fixed is through the players themselves, and another road test in the SEC will provide them with a chance to make things right.

“I’m excited about Saturday,” Mays said. “I’m just ready to compete again with these guys.

I’m proud of them. But at the end of the day, we’ve got to get results.”

AURIANNA CORDERO / The Daily Reveille

LSU basketball coach Will Wade yells a play call during the Tigers’ 79-76 loss to Kentucky on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020.

OPINION

page 11

LSU must be transparent in presidential search process YOUR BEST BRETT BRETT LANDRY @bmlandry3 With F. King Alexander leaving the University and Thomas Galligan serving as interim president, the LSU community is left wondering who will take over as the University’s net leader. But one thing is certain: the next president cannot be chosen in the secrecy and controversy that F. King Alexander was surrounded in.

In 2012, then-LSU president John V. Lombardi was fired, allegedly for his rocky political relationships, most notably with Gov. Bobby Jindal. The Board of Supervisors then caught heat in 2013 when it was revealed that Alexander was the sole finalist for the president of LSU after a classified search process to find Lombardi’s replacement.

The less-than-reasonable circumstances were met with a unanimous negative vote of confidence from the University’s Faculty Senate. While the Board of Supervisor’s chair Hank Dan-

os asserted that Alexander was the best choice for the University, the Faculty Senate argued that Alexander had never been a tenured professor at a major university and that Alexander’s former university, CSULB, had lower graduation rates than LSU. Additionally, former Editorin-Chief of the Reveille, Andrea Gallo, along with The Advocate, sued the University for its failure to release public records for the presidential candidates.

Despite the controversy, this lack of transparency is still an issue today. Obscure selection processes are not just LSU’s problem. It’s a growing trend across the U.S. Judith Wilde, chief operating officer and professor in the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, conducted research on how executive offices are filled in universities across the nation.

In 51% of the university searches, confidentiality was the top priority.

This secrecy and lack of broad democratic input lead to outrage by the affected university communities.

For example, the University of South Carolina recently selected retired Army General Robert Caslen as its new university president.

Caslen was one of only four finalists revealed by the Board of Trustees, and was selected despite overwhelming protests by students, faculty and politicians. Over 125 students gathered and chanted “Shame!

Shame! Shame!” minutes after the board approved of Caslen being the next president.

Such protests were the result of controversial comments made by Caslen linking sexual assault and drinking, along with Caslen’s lack of a doctorate.

The factors made students feel Caslen was unqualified for the executive position and did not represent the student body accurately.

LSU should learn from the South Carolina protests. The University has exceptionally low standards to improve their selection process, and a critical choice to make. The University can value its students’ input on who the incoming president will be and heed student voices dur-

THE REVEILLE ARCHIVES

Former LSU President F. King Alexander speaks during the LSU salute ceremony at the Parade Ground on Nov. 3, 2018. ing the selection process, or the University can have another secret election.

As a fair warning, the University should not expect anything less than total opposition and protest from the students if the Board of Supervisors does not choose wisely.

The University needs a new leader. May the University remember who pays money to attend this institution and whose anger should be avoided.

Brett Landry is a 21-year-old political communication major from Bayou Petit Caillou.

America should acknowledge cruel past, victims of slavery TEA WITH MARIE MARIE PLUNKETT

@MarieC_214

On Jan. 23, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier addressed the participants of the Fifth World Holocaust Forum, which met at Jerusalem’s Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, in a moving speech.

“Germany’s responsibility does not expire,” Steinmeier said.

“We want to live up to our responsibility. By this, you should measure us. Seventy-five years after the liberation of Auschwitz, I stand here as the president of Germany, laden with guilt.”

Seventy-five years later, the German government is still accepting responsibility and striving to right wrongs and bring awareness to the darker portions of its country’s history. Rather than glorifying former military leaders, they’ve taken measures to shift the focus onto those impacted by the Nazi regime and to ensure the horrors are never forgotten.

Despite our own country’s dark past, this idea seems foreign.

Having grown up in south Louisiana, I’ve been to my fair share of plantation homes and civil war reenactments. I’ve noticed something rather odd. Amid the tributes to the Confederacy, there’s nothing that acknowledges the victims.

We’re accustomed to seeing the statues of civil war generals or memorials to fallen or forgotten soldiers, but infrequently do we come across memorials like Berlin’s Denkmal für die Ermordeten Juden Europas (Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe)—memorials which forgo military themes and glorification and focus instead on the lives lost to unspeakable atrocities.

One exception to this lack of awareness among southern plantations is the Whitney Plantation in Edgar, Louisiana. The museum and memorials honor the enslaved men and women who built and ran the sugar plantation.

Touring old houses with beautifully preserved furniture is interesting, but without addressing

the context and acknowledging the reality of plantation life, such tours are meaningless. Restored plantations like the Whitney Plantation should be the rule, rather than the exception.

It would shock anyone to travel to Germany and tour a concentration camp the way most people tour old plantation homes, saying things like “And here’s the formal dining room…and over here you’ll see the original baseboards!”

If we continue failing to educate visitors about the history of slavery in America, about the inhumane treatment and dehumanization which was a part of our country’s economy and history for so many years, then we are complicit in covering up those atrocities.

The controversy over the removal of confederate monuments sparked heated debates within our community. But whether or not already standing monuments are left in place, future memorials and monuments should be erected to honor those who were enslaved and those who helped free them.

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

Figures like Harriet Tubman and William Still should be placed on pedestals and highlighted in textbooks. It’s time to follow Germany’s lead and take responsibility as a nation for America’s original sin.

Whether you’re from the North or the South, whether you’re a Democrat or Republican doesn’t matter—we’re all human, just like

Editorial Policies and Procedures EDITORIAL BOARD Caleb Greene Brittney Forbes Baily Chauvin Anna Jones Rachel Mipro

Editor in Chief Managing Editor News Editor Deputy News Editor Opinion Editor

The Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, The Reveille or the university. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to opinion@lsureveille.com or delivered to B-39 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must provide a contact phone number for verification purposes, which will not be printed. The Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Reveille’s editor in chief, hired every semester by the LSU Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.

those who fought in the Civil War and just like those who worked the plantations. This is our heritage. It’s time for America to find its own Vergangenheitsbewältigung or “process of coming to terms with the past.”

Marie Plunkett is a 20-year-old classical studies junior from New Orleans, Louisiana.

Quote of the Week “Commit yourself to the noble struggle for human rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country and a finer world to live in.”

Martin Luther King, Jr. occupation DOB — present

page 12

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Black History cannot be defined in a single month CARIN’ LIKE ERIN ERIN STEPHENS @epstphns Earlier in the semester, my Post-Colonial African History professor asked students to raise their hands if this was the first class they had taken on black history. There was a sea of multicolored hands in the air.

Later, when I tried to search for the course’s books at the bookstore, I found none. Before this, it had never occurred to me how little black history was considered or how little traces of it could be found on campus.

Black History Month fails to recognize the brilliance of black people. It was purposefully placed in the shortest month, hardly acknowledges underrepresented black pioneers and rarely provides adequate education on black history.

Black history and culture is ingrained into the moral and immoral fibers of this country.

A month could not possibly reconcile the years of neglect black history has faced. To fully represent blackness for the sake of a broadened view of American history, the University and all educational institutions should implement more black history

in American history courses.

In Louisiana, it is standard to learn American history in 7th and 11th grade. Much of the high school American history course is an enhanced analysis of 7th grade material, going through the long history of America from its days as a British colony up to Operation Desert Storm.

Black history is accounted for in secondary education courses.

The problem is that the lives of slaves are highlighted as black history. Slavery was an irreparable abomination bestowed upon Africans. This shouldn’t be ignored, but black people are much more than this.

Much of popular American culture owes its identity to black people. Elvis Presley became famous by appropriating a song from a black woman. Bo Derek’s famous braided hairdo originated in Africa. Country, rock, blues, hip hop and jazz were all created by or heavily influenced by black people. Kylie Jenner. Post Malone. Ariana Grande. Need I say more about black influence?

Many people are unaware of the prominent impact black people have had on society because it isn’t taught. The lives of black people are confined to the period in which they were

slaves and sharecroppers. A meager 28 days is supposed to be a comprehensive recollection of black history. That’s impossible.

At 19, I am just now learning about influential black artists, leaders and cultural figures. The information taught in honors courses about black livelihood is a privilege to learn, but black history shouldn’t be an exception. It is as relevant as Christopher Columbus’ voyage.

The University is in a hotbed of black history. South Baton Rouge was the setting for a successful bus boycott in 1953. The first school for black students in Baton Rouge is hardly a mile away. The University did not become fully integrated until 1964, 10 years after admitting its first black student, A.P. Tureaud.

Most people have never even heard of this local history, let alone a scholarly scope of black American history. It is nice that the University named a building after Tureaud and continues to admit more black students, but one of the best ways to increase diversity is to incorporate more black history in all American history classes.

Black history should not have to be a subset of history classes. Some black history classes may only have time to

CARTOON BY ETHAN GILBERTI

cover rudimentary information that could’ve and should’ve been taught in general history courses, while European history classes generally teach obscure texts far beyond 2000-level history classes. Black history classes don’t have that luxury.

When I think of all the students that are just now delving into black history in college and who will still be deprived of the

full story of America, it reminds me of the disservice done on the part of the American education system. American history is not American without the dynamic and impactful stories of black people. This is an essential sect of history.

Erin Stephens is a 19-year-old journalism sophomore from Brusly, Louisiana.

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