The Reveille 2-20-19

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We d ne s d ay, Fe b r u a r y 2 0, 2 019

LSU receives ‘red light’ rating for restricting free speech in its computer users’ and sexual harrassment policies, page 2

FIGURES OF SPEECH NEWS

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“Jesus talk” man provides guidance for struggling students seeking advice for over a decade.

SPORTS

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Shelbi Sunseri contributes to the LSU softball team both at the plate and in the circle.

ENTERTAINMENT

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Garden District Barbeque combines the speed of a fast food establishment with the gourmet food of a restaurant.

OPINION

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“February is an important month for the black community, and somehow the white community has found a way to get the spotlight.”

Free admission. Just bring your Tiger Card. Go to www.lsu.edu/campuslife for more details.

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Wednesday, February 20, 2019

page 2

L SU Re ve i l le.co m

STUDENT LIFE

LSU deemed ‘red light’ school for policies restricting free speech

BY KARLI CARPENTER @karlicarpenter_ Anyone who walks through LSU’s Free Speech Plaza can expect to be stopped by student organizations or evangelical groups, but the University is still considered an institution with policies that unconstitutionally restrict the right to free speech protected by the First Amendment.

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, a nonprofit and nonpartisan educational foundation that aims to defend and sustain individual rights in American colleges and universities, gave LSU a “red light” rating. This rating is reserved for institutions with at least one policy that both clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech or bars public access to its speech-related policies. “[A university is] supposed to be the marketplace of ideas, but it’s also supposed to be a place where people can go to class and they can teach,” said Azhar Majeed, FIRE’s vice president of policy reform.

FIRE listed two of the University’s policies as speech codes, which FIRE defines as university regulations prohibiting expression that would be constitutionally protected in society at large. The University’s red light speech codes are the Computer Users’ Responsibilities policy and Sexual Harassment of Students policy.

Part of the Computer Users’ Responsibilities policy holds that users shall not utilize computing resources to download material that is defamatory, obscene, fraudulent, harassing or threatening, among other stipulations.

The Sexual Harassment of Students policy defines sexual harassment as a form of unlawful sexual discrimination, including unwelcome verbal, visual or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

Another facet of the policy FIRE cites is that it defines hostile environment sexual harassment as, “unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature or gender-based conduct in which the conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s academic, work, team or organization performance.”

Majeed said that while schools should prevent harassment, it should not come at the expense of free speech. The University’s policy could potentially result in offensive language or suggestive comments being considered harassment, and those kinds of speech are protected under the First Amendment.

LSU President F. King Alexander fired former tenured education professor Teresa Buchan-

an for violating the University’s sexual harassment policy at the time, in 2015. Buchanan repeatedly used profane language and made comments about her sex life and the sex lives of students, according to a 2018 article published by The Reveille.

FIRE helped Buchanan file a lawsuit against The University administration for violating her free speech and due process rights. The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana later dismissed Buchanan’s suit.

Majeed said both students and faculty members have the right to academic freedom, and universities should not intervene when it comes to free speech on campus, since public institutions like LSU are bound to the First Amendment.

LSU political communication professor Robert Mann said although he was not familiar with the Buchanan case, vulgar language in a classroom setting can inhibit learning and is different from the speakers students are exposed to in Free Speech Plaza.

“The guy screaming profanities at you in Free Speech [Plaza] isn’t the one giving you a grade,” Mann said.

Students can generally avoid speech they disagree with in Free Speech Plaza by simply not going there, but they cannot avoid their classrooms. Mann said the power dynamic professors have with their students could be a problem when teachers harass students or use obscene language.

“If I censor myself in some way in class, it’s not because I’m afraid that the University’s going to come down on me,” Mann said. “It’s because I don’t want to get in the way of learning.”

Mann considers himself one of the University’s more outspoken professors, and he used to write a weekly column in The Times-Picayune in which he often criticized Alexander. Mann said he never received any backlash for doing so.

“I can just say that from my experience as a professor who has been pretty outspoken in criticizing the University and the state in general — and state leaders — I’ve never felt any restriction or intimidation on my ability to speak out,” Mann said.

Mann said he believes the leadership of the University supports free speech, and he does not personally know anyone whose speech has been restricted on campus in any capacity.

Rachel Henry, director of event managing and marketing for LSU Auxiliary Services, said the University only intervenes in Free Speech Plaza when speakers are inciting violence, which is not constitutionally protected.

Auxiliary Services requires students seeking to put a table in

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Free Speech Plaza is located directly in front of the LSU Student Union.

Free Speech Plaza to complete a request form two business days in advance. The University does not look into what the group will be saying or promoting. Individuals or groups that are not affiliated with the University do not have to fill out a form to be in Free Speech Plaza, but Auxiliary Services does not provide them with resources.

Hate speech is protected as free speech in the First

Amendment, and speakers are not barred from using hate speech in Free Speech Plaza.

Henry said students should know they also have the right to say whatever they want. When groups are being offensive or saying something they disagree with, students can freely debate them.

“They spread hate,” Henry said. “I encourage [students] to spread love.”

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 Daily 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. Annual weekly mailed subscriptions are $125, semester weekly mailed subscriptions are $75. Non-mailed student rates are $4 each regular semester, $2 during the summer; one copy per person, additional copies 25 cents each. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Reveille, B-39 Hodges Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.

NEWS

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DOING THE LORD’S WORK LSU Online ACADEMICS

program receiving major revamp

I wanted to save my sons, but Jesus said to redeem the 30,000.

BY TAYLOR BOURGEOIS @tbourge_

University students.

Continuing his streak of seven year increments, Imes continued to take classes and learn more about Christianity and ministry until he finally started coming to Free Speech Plaza in fall 2007.

Imes’ method is noticeably different than other religious groups who come to Free Speech Plaza and loudly profess their faith or antagonize students.

Imes prefers to sit quietly in a chair, his shirt emblazoned with “Jesus Talk” letting students

Many University students take online classes along with their classes on campus, but Vice Provost of Digital and Continuing Education Sasha Thackaberry and her team are working hard for student success in classes both on and off campus.

The University currently has 1,023 students enrolled exclusively in online courses, its highest enrollment ever. About 1,200 students have graduated from the online program so far, Thackaberry said.

The University is currently working to expand the number of online classes it offers. Some students’ only option is to complete their degree exclusively online.

“I couldn’t do this without support,” Thackaberry said. “[LSU President F. King Alexander] is 100 percent behind us.”

Thackaberry and her team hope to replicate an online environment where professors are passionate about their job and the University.

The University’s online

see JESUS TALK, page 6

see LSU ONLINE, page 6

‘Jesus Talk’ man a staple of Free Speech Plaza for 12 years

BY RAYMOND CONSTANTINO @r_dog_3 Ivan Imes, better known as the “Jesus Talk” man in Free Speech Plaza, remembers well the moment a voice inside his head told him to follow Christ.

Imes said he was driving on Valentine’s Day in 1993 when a voice echoed in his mind.

“Your sins are forgiven. You’re washed in the blood. The scales will fall from your eyes. This is the still, small voice,” the voice said to Imes.

Imes, who at that point was

divorced, lonely and searching for meaning in his life, said at that moment he knew he needed to follow God and become a Christian.

For the next 14 years, Imes learned all he could about Christianity and went to different churches, trying to find the one in which he felt most comfortable.

In April 2000, Imes was about halfway through his journey, which would end in front of the LSU Student Union. He had been asking God, and his ministers, how he could spread God’s word

and make a positive impact. He had previously suggested working with college students, but his faith ministers had always shot down the idea.

Now, seven years after he first heard a voice inside his head, he heard another. This time, Imes said he knew it was Jesus speaking. Imes had been thinking of ways to bring his sons into the Christian faith.

“I wanted to save my sons, but Jesus said to redeem the 30,000,” Imes said.

Those 30,000 that Christ was referring to are, of course,

ADMINISTRATION

LSU health center survey predicts substance abuse

BY BRITTNEY FORBES @itsbritforbes

Health Promotion from the Student Health Center sent out 7,500 anonymous Core Alcohol and Drug surveys to random undergraduate students.

The goal of the survey is to comprehend the attitudes and behaviors of University students regarding the use of alcohol and drugs. The survey has been conducted every other year since 2013, making this the fourth survey at the University.

“We pull things to compare,” said Assistant Director of Wellness and Health Promotion Kathryn Saichuk in regards of the Student Health Center pulling data from past years.

The Student Health Center won’t obtain the final results

from the 2019 survey until April or May because it is being conducted by Southern Illinois University in order to predict the national norms and national standards in universities.

Saichuk said, although the survey began at Southern Illinois when alcohol problems started to become more prominent on more college campuses, they extended their research to other universities, as well. The survey has been conducted around the country for more than 20 years.

When observing universities of the same size, demographics and even geographical regions like LSU, there are similarities in alcohol and drug use.

“The South, in general, peo-

ple used to drive after drinking,” Saichuk said. “That has drastically changed because we now have Uber and Lyft here.

Looking at the data [on drinking and driving] in the northeast, it’s very low because they have mass transit.”

Saichuk said Uber and Lyft have stayed busy for students who spend their time in Tigerland. In the survey, the number of students who have experienced drinking and drug use while operating a vehicle has had a positive change with only 74.0 percent in 2015 never attempting to do so and 77.3 percent in 2017.

According to the Core Alcohol and Drug Survey, the data for students who drink alcohol once a week has remained consistent staying at 22.5 per-

cent. There was a decrease in students using alcohol twice a month (15.7 to 11.0 percent) but increase in students using it once a month (7.7 to 9.1 percent.)

When you start looking at the numbers, there’s such a powerful consistency,” Saichuk said. “Things are not changing.”

The Student Health Center sent random surveys out of 7,500 randomized requests following the Internal Review Board rules, hoping to receive 1,000 to 1,500 responses in order to have a valid survey.

After the results of this survey have been finalized, the Health Promotion from the Student Health Center will be able to compare the data from 2015, 2017 and 2019 because each survey had the same questions.

Saichuk said Health Promotion will possibly compare the data of the survey with neighboring universities in Louisiana.

The Louisiana Board of Regents now has a board member, the state liaison, who has worked with all of the colleges in the state, who will have data available in the future in order for universities to compare their alcohol and drug usage with one another.

Saichuk and Health Promotion will attend a summit in May held at Pennington Biomedical Research Center to compare the data from various colleges in the nation.

“You got a lot of the same students with a lot of the same characteristics going to school

see SURVEY, page 6

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

page 4 RESEARCH

LSU Vet School awarded $11.5 million for pulmonary research

BY RAYMOND CONSTANTINO @r_dog_3 The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine received a grant from the National Institutes of Health for $11.5 million to launch a new pulmonary research program called the Center for Lung Biology and Disease (CLBD).

The grant is the first step in a three-phase plan, which, over about 15 years, should net the University around $32 million, according to Samithamby Jeyaseelan, director of CLBD. “Of course, we are incredibly proud, really excited and extremely grateful to pursue the opportunity into the next phase of the [Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence ] report,” Jeyaseelan said.

Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence, or COBRE, is a program at the National Institutes of Health, promotes the development of state-of-the-art medical research facilities at universities around the country.

From epidemiological data, researchers have determined that Louisiana residents have a higher chance of lung diseases or ailments than most other states. Jeyaseelan said the heat and humidity common in the

state contributes to pulmonary health issues. Cultural factors like drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco which are more frequent in Louisiana also contribute to pulmonary health issues.

The American Lung Association currently has an “F” grade for Louisiana in the tobacco prevention and cessation funding category, and a “C” grade for smoke-free air.

An average day for Jeyaseelan consists of overseeing the CLBD program, reviewing research conducted by his assistants and colleagues, meetings and writing research-related material.

Jeyaseelan said he first submitted the proposal in January 2018 to the National Institutes of Health. From there, the proposal went through a peer review process and was given an overall grade, which Jeyaseelan said was high and encouraging to the research team.

Gus Kousoulas, LSU associate vice president for research and economic development, said the grant was funded in its first submission, while normally at least one revision is required.

The main purpose of the grant is to establish highlyskilled pulmonary health investigators at LSU who can begin

RAYMOND CONSTANTINO / The Reveille

Professor Samithamby Jeyaseelan stands in his lab in the School of Veterinary Medicine on Feb. 12 their careers with the support of a large-caliber university and then branch out nationally, Kousoulas said. The University also expects economic benefits for the state of Louisiana.

“Every $1 of National Institutes of Health funding translates to $5 of economic impact stemming from employing per-

sonnel, research spending and product [drugs] development,” Kousoulas said.

In addition, the new research program will likely draw talented investigators that can create new technologies, patent them and, ideally, create companies that would feed into the state economy.

Jeyaseelan said he is most excited about this economic improvement and groundwork for individual discoveries.

“It sets essential milestones in research that they have to fulfill and includes the remarkable value of personalized mentoring,” Jeyaseelan said. “It is indeed an awesome program.”

ACADEMICS

Astronomy on Tap creates casual learning environment

BY BAILEY CHAUVIN @BaileyChauvin Astronomy on Tap, held at the Varsity Theatre on Feb. 13 allows people to learn about a variety of astronomy related topics in a casual setting. The monthly program originated in New York City, but has satellite events in cities around the world, including Baton Rouge.

Baton Rouge’s chapter of Astronomy on Tap was created by two astronomy graduate students; Tyler Ellis and Emily Safron. Their adviser, physics and astronomy assistant professor Tabetha Boyajian, was familiar with the Astronomy on Tap program and suggested they create a local chapter. Baton Rouge’s Astronomy on Tap held their first event March 2018.

Safron said Astronomy on Tap is a fun program for everyone, including people without extensive backgrounds in science.

“The whole point of it is to make space fun for people and to make sure that they know scientists are just like them and have fun doing the same stuff as them,” Safron said.

Ellis and Safron are largely responsible for organizing the event, but receive help and suggestions from volunteers, usually fellow graduate students in the Department of Physics and

Astronomy. At each event, two speakers give brief, informal talks on astronomy-related topics, including astrophotography, which was discussed on Feb. 13.

The speakers are typically professors from the astronomy department at the University.

Safron said the professors are used to giving longer talks and are excited to give fun, informal talks. Outside collaborators from other universities and organizations have also given talks at the events.

Graduate and undergraduate students at the University have been invited to speak in the past.

Astronomy on Tap features more space-themed activities beyond just the talks. Past events have included games, musical performances, raffles and a panel featuring the two scientists who spoke that evening. Merchandise and astronomy related drink recipes are also available for attendees.

The event’s laid back atmosphere has attracted many attendees. Ellis and Safron said Baton Rouge’s Astronomy on Tap is one of the best attended chapters in the country. The events have about 100 attendees on average, many of whom are community members without science backgrounds.

“The manager of the Varsity says a lot of people like walk-

BAILEY CHAUVIN / The Reveille

Geology and geophysics graduate student Connor Matherne gives a talk on astrophotography at the Astronomy on Tap event in the Varsity Theatre on Feb. 13. ing into our show,” Ellis said.

“A noticeable amount of people just come off the street into our show.”

Computer science junior TJ Mathews attended Astronomy on Tap in November for extra credit in his astronomy class.

He enjoyed the event, especially because he was able to learn about astronomy.

“I enjoyed the talks,” Mathews said. “I’m very interested in astronomy and new discoveries in space. I felt like the speakers did well explaining complicated

subjects to people with little to no knowledge on the subject.”

Next month, Baton Rouge’s chapter of Astronomy on Tap celebrates its one-year anniversary.The next event will be March 13 at 7 p.m. in the Varsity Theatre.

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

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FACULTY

LSU professor awarded for Gulf of Mexico research

BY SOPHIE LIBERTO @LibertoSophie LSU Dean of the College of the Coast and Environment Christopher D’Elia has received the Wes Tunnell Lifetime Recognition for Gulf Science and Conservation from the Gulf of Mexico University Research Collaborative.

“I’m passionate about coastal issues, and the reason I came to LSU is because Louisiana is where the action is in the United States,” D’Elia said. “If you are an environmental scientist, and you want to study the coast and provide understanding and answers to coastal problems, Louisiana is the best place in the world.”

D’Elia received his award on Feb. 7 at the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference in New Orleans.

The award is named after Wes Tunnell, who died last July. He was a biology professor at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi for 40 years. He was instrumental in founding Texas A&M in Corpus Christi’s first research center, the Center of Coastal Studies. He was the first associate director of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf

NAIF OTHMAN / The Reveille

Dean of LSU College of the Coast & Environment, professor Christopher D’Elia stands with the Wes Tunnell Lifetime Recognition for Gulf Science and Conservation award on Feb.15. of Mexico Studies. “[Tunnell] was the best naturalist I’ve ever met,” D’Elia said “He knew all the Gulf of Mexico like the back of his hand. Even

though he was an Aggie, we still loved him.”

D’Elia has been working in the Gulf for a decade and provided a lot of leadership dur-

ing the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

D’Elia was one of the founders of the Gulf of Mexico University Research Collabora-

tive, which represents all five states that border the Gulf — Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. The goal of the collaborative is to provide representation of universities in the department of coastal sciences in the Gulf.

The collaborative is the counterpart to the Gulf of Mexico Association, which works closely with the government. They represent universities, advocate for university research and funding and connect together the universities on the gulf coast community.

In the early 1980s, when D’Elia was at the University of Maryland, he had a consulting job with a Mexican oil company to look at coral reefs off the coast of the Yucatan. They were going to lay pipelines for oil, and he convinced them to leave the island alone and go offshore. The company then made the island a nature reserve.

D’Elia grew up close to the Long Island Sound, in Connecticut, near the New York Metropolitan area.

“I was always interested in things marine and from the sea,” D’Elia said. “I always loved it.”

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Wednesday, February 20, 2019

page 6

LSU ONLINE, from page 3 majors have been a success so far. Graduates from as far as Japan flew to Baton Rouge to receive their diploma on stage.

They also plan to update Moodle, making it easier to navigate and be more user-friendly.

Although there is not currently a launch date for the update, it is being worked on and will be released when ready.

These changes include more streamlined ways to contact professors and strong discus-

sion forums for students to interact with each other.

“There’s a lot of courses out there, so it is going to take a while to roll through the whole institution,” Thackaberry said.

“But [the professors] working with us are superstars.”

Thackaberry hasn’t set a goal on the number of students she wants to join the online program, but she said she hopes to: support as many students as she can with a variety of courses to help them succeed.

Thackberry recalled the excitement she had when she first arrived in Baton Rouge. She

SURVEY, from page 3 [in Louisiana],” Saichuk said. “In the smaller colleges you might not see as big of an issue in certain areas. LSU has seen enough issues related to [alcoholic] behavior.”

The survey will help the Health Promotion department predict what the staff, faculty and administration should do to help students make better decisions about alcohol. Saichuk said she believes the upcoming decisions regarding alcohol and drug usage on campus will benefit students’ health in a positive and lifelong way.

“Alcohol is very neurotoxic,” Saichuk said. “The neuroscientists doing this research would

like to everybody quit drinking.

That’s how bad alcohol really is for us.”

Sleep is also affected when an individual consumes alcohol, and sleep is the most important underlying health issue, Saichuk said.

In light of the recent events at the University involving Greek Life — the alleged hazing incidents of DKE and the death of freshman pledge Max Gruver in 2017 — Saichuk said just one drink can affect a person’s ability to make good and healthy choices.

“Certainly one wouldn’t have thought we’d be dealing with something with a Greek organization this soon after the tragedy,” Saichuk said in regards to

the incident with DKE. “People just don’t learn.”

Saichuk encourages students to consider how alcohol and drugs affect the brain.

“Alcohol is doing just as much or more damage than what a concussion can do,” Saichuk said. “It’s not just as obvious.”

Alcohol’s damaging effects on the brain consist of difficulty walking, blurred vision, slurred speech, slowed reaction times and impaired memory, according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Saichuk said she is hopeful that the survey won’t show the data getting worse, although it has been consistent from 2015 to 2017.

courtesy of SASHA THACKABERRY

The University plans to update the Moodle innterface to make it easier to navigate and more user-friendly.

Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems ALYSSA BERRY / The Reveille

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Krewe of Old School brings their drink machine to their tailgate on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, near Frey Computing Service Center.

JESUS TALK, from page 3 know his purpose.

“Because I obey what the Bible says,” Imes said of choosing his unobtrusive approach.

Over 12 years, Imes has spoke with countless students.

He said relationship problems, both romantic and platonic, are an extremely common topic students discuss with him. Parental issues also come up frequently,

and Imes said he believes students what grow up without adequate parental supervision can lack various social skills they would otherwise have.

Imes said he tries to advise these students how to improve their lives and seek fulfillment through Christ, but if students just want to vent, he can help with that as well.

One of Imes’ favorite stories of his interactions with students

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is one young woman who came to interview him for an assignment. He said the woman told him she was not a Christian and did not like Christians based on her personal experiences with them. In the course of their conversation, she also said she wanted to stop doing cocaine.

Imes said he gave her a book about Christianity he thoroughly enjoyed and thought would help her, and asked her to try reading it. Six weeks later, Imes said the woman came back and told him she had converted to Christianity and stopped doing cocaine.

One of Imes’ favorite parts of talking with students is his “secret method” of getting them to hear God in their hearts. Imes refused to divulge his trade secret, however, so students will have to talk with him to find out.

When he is not in front of the union or at church, Imes, a retired engineer, said he enjoys taking trips with his wife, Patricia, fishing and playing golf. One of their favorite pastimes is to go to New Orleans and eat at the restaurant Shaya.

In 2014, Imes thought his time at he University was coming to an end, based on the pattern of 7 year periods he had observed since 1993. But he realized he had to stay once a student told him his purpose was to be on campus, redeeming the 30,000.

SPORTS

page 7

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

BY MYLES KUSS @KussMyles LSU softball has long been known for its exceptional pitching in former All-Americans like Allie Walljasper and Carley Hoover, as well as its ability to blow it out of the park with batters like Sahvanna Jaquish and Bianka Bell.

But the Tigers have never had a player who could do both.

Hitting and pitching are both difficult aspects of softball, and the average coach only expects her players to be exceptional at one or the other. For sophomore Shelbi Sunseri, she has decided that choosing is overrated and has taken strides to be a leader in both categories through the first 11 games of the season.

Sunseri has started all 11 games and pitched in five of those games, posting a 2.80 earned run average with 18 strikeouts in only 20 innings.

While those stats are impressive, she has been even more of a menace at the plate for the Tigers.

So far this season, she is batting .435 with a team-high six home runs and 20 runs batted in. If a pitch is close to her, she is finding a way to put the barrel on it in the early going.

Alyssa Berry / The Reveille

Even through these amazing stats, LSU finished 3-2 in the St. Pete/Clearwater Invitational that included a loss to the team that eliminated them last year — Florida State.

To make matters worse, the Tigers fell 9-1 behind rough outings on the mound from Sunseri, Ali Kilponen and Shelby Wickersham.

After this loss, the mantra of “Fight All the Way” remains the same and Sunseri sees the weekend, specifically the Florida State game, as a learning experience for the whole team.

“I think we gathered a lot of information as far as what we need to work on,” Sunseri said. “We have a lot of young players on the team, and I think just being in the atmosphere early on was good for them.”

The Tigers did play four top-20 teams in the invitational, which will add necessary experience and character that can be called upon down the line in the long season.

Through the weekend, Sunseri shined at the plate, going 3-for-8 with two home runs and six RBIs, but found less success in the circle as she pitched 9.3 innings while giving up eight earned runs.

see SUNSERI, page 9

OPINION

Tennessee game big opportunity for LSU CAL’D UP CHRIS CALDARERA @caldarera11 In the era of modern sports, the biggest games are typically played late in the evening for all the world to see.

However, the sizzling of scrambled eggs and the crackling of bacon will usher in Saturday morning’s marquee men’s basketball contest between the No. 13 LSU Tigers and the No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers on Feb. 23.

The 11 a.m. tip-off will represent LSU’s biggest home game in a decade, and it could be key in deciding in which team will wear the Southeastern Conference’s regular championship crown when the dust settles.

Win or lose Saturday, Tiger fans will certainly appreciate the astronomical rise LSU coach Will Wade has charted for a basketball program once mired in mediocrity.

After all, it has only been two years since Wade first stepped foot on the LSU campus and promised to add to the program’s SEC championship, NCAA tournament appearances and NCAA Final Four categories. Now, here we are preparing for the first top-15 men’s basketball game played in Baton Rouge since 1984 when No. 9 LSU hosted No. 2 Kentucky.

LSU’s play hasn’t always

see TENNESSEE, page 9

GYMNASTICS

LSU floor lineup improves Tigers to season high of 197.650

BY KENNEDI LANDRY @landryyy14 LSU gymnastics coach D-D Breaux constantly emphasizes energy and enthusiasm for her fifth-ranked Tigers.

With that, LSU gymnastics has been known for its entertaining and dynamic floor routines in recent years, but this year it has been the lowest event average for the normally solid Tigers.

Floor had been the one event slowing down LSU in 2019. Often times, the Tigers will start strong on vault and a their highest-averaged event, bars and

plateau once they get to beam and floor.

But that all changed on Feb. 17 when the Tigers went for a season high 49.550 on floor and 197.650 overall against Missouri.

Junior Ruby Harrold and sophomores Christina Desiderio and Reagan Campbell all went 9.85 to start the rotation before turning the lineup over to the big hitters. Junior Kennedi Edney and seniors Sarah Finnegan and McKenna Kelley exploded for three straight 9.95s to end the meet.

“It was amazing,” Finnegan

see GYMNASTICS, page 9

MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille

LSU all-arounder senior Lexie Priessman celebrates after a routine on the bars during the Tigers’ 197.500197.425 loss to Florida on Jan. 18 in the PMAC.

page 8

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

TRACK & FIELD

LSU vaulter uses pressure as motivation in freshman season

BY KERRELL ROBINSON @kerrell9 There were lofty expectations placed on LSU freshman pole vaulter Armand “Mondo” Duplantis long before he even stepped through the Baton Rouge city limits.

He is seen as somewhat of a prodigy.

“I know this sounds crazy,” LSU track and field coach Dennis Shaver said. “It may not happen this year, but he is going to be the world record holder in the pole vault.”

Duplantis is widely seen as one of the better athletes LSU has recruited in any sport in quite some time.

At the age of 15, Duplantis won gold in boys pole vault in the 2015 World Youth Olympics. He also won the gold medal at the 2018 European Championships.

He holds numerous age group world records, including his 2018 cleared height of 6.05 meters, which is the under-20’s world record.

As one of the world’s top athletes throughout his life, he is no stranger to expectations.

“I think there is a little pressure in a sense that if I don’t win the SEC championships, or if I don’t win the NCAA championships, some people will be a little

bit disappointed in me,” Duplantis said. “I feel like they are expecting me to. I put pressure on myself, not in a bad way at all.

I just use the pressure more as motivation rather than letting it break me down.”

Duplantis comes from an athletic family. His father and brother are former pole vaulters. His mother competed in the heptathlon and played volleyball for Sweden. His other brother Antoine is down the street at Alex Box Stadium, playing for an LSU baseball team that is one of the best in the nation.

“Growing up in such an athletic family with siblings that are fantastic at what they do,” Duplantis said. “It makes you want to raise your game and be up to par with them. Antoine is an animal and I hope he has a crazy breakout season.”

The Duplantises have subtle ways of competing with each other. Antoine is in his senior season with the baseball team. Last season, he hit two homeruns. On Friday, the same day Mondo had a track meet, Antoine hit two homeruns in one game. Mondo took this as a message.

“I think he was telling me I need to step it up,” Duplantis said. “I think he was trying to really be the best

athlete in the family. He might not be number one.”

While his pole vaulting is amazing for almost anyone who watches, or sees a picture of him 20 feet in the air, he is used to all of it.

“I don’t really feel the fall,” Duplantis said. “You’re thinking about so many things. You’re trying so hard to complete a good, technical jump that you don’t really think about the fall. By the time you are done with a jump, you are just relieved that it was good or you’re mad about how bad it was. You end up falling before you know it. If it is a good jump I will enjoy the fall for sure.”

Not only are viewers impressed with Mondo’s performances, even his teammates are taking notice.

“I’m really in awe,” senior sprinter Kourtney Johnson said.

“Just seeing him jump like that is really amazing. He’s blessed.”

Duplantis has his sights set on winning on numerous different levels this year. Duplantis is only a freshman, so LSU track and field fans have much to look forward to now and in the future.

“I want to win SECs. I want to win NCAAs, indoor and outdoor,” Duplantis said. “That’s the main focus right now. Then

BELLA BIONDINI / The Reveille

LSU freshman pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis is interviewed in the Carl Maddox Field House on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019. after that they have the Diamond League circuit meets, then the

world championship meets at the end of the summer.”

MEN’S BASKETBALL

LSU basketball focused on off-court recovery during final stretch

BY BRANDON ADAM @badam___ An alert on sophomore guard Tremont Waters’ phone goes off every 45 minutes telling him to drink more water.

It’s one of the things he learned after hitting the freshman wall late season — in part because of the rise in competition, but also because his body broke down on him. He said earlier in the year that he didn’t do enough off the court to excel on the court as a freshman.

It’s one of the things LSU coach Will Wade is conscious of.

He knows the team still needs to improve, but it can’t be at the cost of the players’ legs at the end of the season.

“You’ve got to walk a fine line,” Wade said. “We need to continue to get better. Our halfcourt defense has gotten away from us a little the last three or four games.

“We’ve got to certainly work, but we do a lot more stuff in the film room. We do a lot more skill work this time of the year and try to have our guys with clear eyes and fresh legs come game day.”

Beginning in the summer, Waters worked with strength and conditioning coach Greg Goldin and assistant sports dietician Lauren Marucci to

formulate his off-court plan for this season. He focused more on his water intake — hence the alert — sleeping around eight hours a night, and staying off social media late at night and before games.

“They’re just staying on top of me saying I have to keep eating — not huge plates of food, but I have to eat enough to where I’m not hungry anymore but kind of pushing it in myself,” Waters said.

“After I’m finished playing, I usually never want to eat. That’s my biggest thing, forcing myself to eat, forcing myself to drink water, and I feel like I’ve done a good job of it.”

There’s another part of Waters’ routine as well: cold tubs.

And he makes sure to bring freshman guard Ja’Vonte Smart along with him.

“I don’t like getting in there,” Smart said. “He’s forcing me to get in there. He said I need it, so I get in there with him.”

The players have access to the cold tubs, which also functions as a hot tub, whenever they want to use it. Besides the tub, athletic trainer Shawn Eddy says the team began using recovery massages to help the players around five years ago, and they have continued the use of the NormaTec, a compression-like device that removes excess fluid from players’ legs. The NormaTec goes with

the team on every road trip, and sometimes multiple are brought on road trips.

“That’s the basis of what we do from a recovery standpoint,” Eddy said. “Just trying to relieve muscle soreness so the muscle functions better against the competition.

“Coach Goldin does a great job with coach Wade. From postgame to the recovery — foamrolling, stretching, and things of that nature. It’s all about trying to keep the guys as healthy as possible and eliminate any soft tissue injuries that may occur throughout the year, and we’re fortunate to be able to do that.”

Smart and Waters have also incorporated float tanks in their routine. The float tanks are isolation tanks filled with skin temperature water and over a half ton of Epsom salt to make sure one’s body is able to stay on top the water.

Despite all the focus on recovery off the court, it doesn’t discount the work necessary on the court and in the gym.

From that aspect, Waters doesn’t need an alert on his phone when it’s time to get extra shots up after practice. He has Smart for that.

“If we’re at practice and he’s about to do extra work he’ll tell to me stay after, and we’ll actually go from shooting to the cold tub,” Waters said. “Just

MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille

LSU coach Will Wade yells at the team during the Tigers’ 92-82 victory over UGA on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019 in the PMAC. doing little stuff like that is a great attribute to our team

and it shows that we care for one another.”

Wednesday, February 20, 2019 SUNSERI, from page 7 As the tournament progressed, the opposing pitchers started to pitch around Sunseri to get to easier hitters. This change saw her go 0-for-3 against Texas and 1-for-3 against Florida State with no RBIs. LSU assistant coach Howard Dobson sees the adjustment by the opposing teams on Sunseri as something that will not go away.

“She’s done a really good job at handling all pitches that are thrown at her,” Dobson said. “Now she has to understand that the better that you hit things, the more people circle you in the lineup.”

The early explosion from the sophomore has already made her

TENNESSEE, from page 7 looked pretty this season, but the Tigers have certainly gotten the job done when it’s mattered most this year. LSU has currently won 13 of its last 14 games which include statement wins on the road against, at the time, No. 18 Ole Miss and No. 5 Kentucky.

The Tigers’ current No. 13 rank is the program’s highest since 2009 when LSU was ranked No. 12 and won the SEC regular season championship, and the Tigers will be favored in four of their last five games.

The lone underdog contest is obviously against the Volunteers.

Tennessee will no doubt enter the Pete Maravich Assembly Center with a chip on its shoulder after being dominated by Kentucky last week, but there’s a chance

GYMNASTICS, from page 7 said. “Ruby is a great lead off.

She’s in that position for a reason and she hit her routine.

Then, one after the other, we just kept building momentum.

When we got through the lineup, the last three people were just amazing. I’m so glad we got to end on a good note.”

Breaux has fiddled with parts of the floor lineup early in the season, but she believes that the current gymnasts have claimed their spots and proven they belong.

Breaux said floor is the event LSU has had to work the hardest at to be as good as they have become, and that work has shown in the last couple

page 9

a target for No. 1 Florida State, so she can only expect every other team to give her tougher pitches to hit.

Dobson is not worried about the added pressure because he knows how well Sunseri can control the zone. He expects her to take more pitches and continue to excel in the position that she is given.

As for Sunseri herself, the season is young and hopeful, and she brings much of the same.

“The attitude is still the same,” Sunseri said. “I do think that we are letting that loss hurt us or hinder us. We are getting back to work, putting our head down and working toward a national championship.”

LSU sophomore utility Shelbi Sunseri (27) walks to second base during LSU’s 4-0 victory over University of South Alabama at Tiger Park on April 24, 2018.

that the bigger chip may lie on LSU’s shoulder.

A few weeks ago, many said LSU was the best team in the SEC not named Tennesse or Kentucky, and now it appears that LSU could be better than both Tennessee and Kentucky.

Still, the media believes that the Tigers are not yet deserving of a place in the top-10 despite receiving praises from coaches like Tennessee’s Rick Barnes who “have no idea why LSU isn’t a top-10 team.”

So, the Tigers will have to continue to prove their worth to the college basketball world, and the upcoming game against the Volunteers will be the best way to accomplish that task.

Though it’s a home game, defeating Tennessee will be no easy task, and the Volun-

teers have a roster loaded with experienced upperclassmen compared to an LSU roster filled with underclassmen.

The Tigers will continue to make the youthful mistakes fans have suffered through all season, but I expect LSU to play with a new level of focus considering the high stakes of the game.

While basketball pundits across the country aren’t expecting the Tigers to defeat the Volunteers, this LSU team has certainly displayed its willingness to prove people wrong.

Come Saturday, I have a feeling that LSU fans won’t be the only ones woken up by alarm clocks bright and early. If LSU wins, it should also be time for the rest of the college basketball world to wake up and stop sleeping on the Tigers.

of meets. The Tigers set their previous season high of 49.475 on the event on Feb. 15 at the GymQuarters Invitational in St. Charles, Mo. Finnegan averages 9.925 on floor, and Kelley isn’t far behind at 9.857, but Edney stepped up for the Tigers against Missouri.

Edney, who has a career high 9.975, particularly struggled on floor this season with a tough tumbling pass to begin her routine. Against Missouri, she hit every pass and scored a season high 9.95 while the PMAC crowd screamed for a 10.

“It felt like [my routine] was back to normal,” Edney said.

“All week in the gym we’ve been trying to figure out what the problem was and making

sure my mind was right, knowing what right cues to say in my head.”

LSU has consistently started home meets with strong performances on vault and bars to start, but struggled to finish in the same manner on beam and floor.

Edney said everybody had been working in the gym this past week, focusing on hitting those landings. The Tigers’ ability to finish strong made all the difference against Missouri.

“Energy wise and the mindset [changed on Sunday],” Edney said. “Momentum is a dangerous drug, so we wanted to keep that going. As it showed, we had momentum and it stayed throughout the whole meet.”

RESOLVE TO

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MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille

LSU freshman guard Ja’vonte Smart (1) shoots the ball during the Tigers’ 89-90 loss to Arkansas on Feb. 2 in the PMAC.

MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille

LSU senior all-arounder Sarah Finnegan celebrates after a routine during the Tigers’ 197.650-195.475 victory over Mizzou on Feb. 17.

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THE SQUIRRELS GET TOO CLOSE IN THE QUAD

PANDA EXPRESS EXTENDED ITS HOURS

CRAWFISH PRICES GO DOWN

THEY OUTSMART SOMEONE IN FREE SPEECH PLAZA

FORCING THEMSELVES TO GO TO CLASS

LSU STUDENTS WHEN...

PHOTOS BY MITCHELL SCAGLIONE

THE PROFESSOR DOESN’T ROUND UP YOUR FINAL GRADE

THE PROFESSOR LETS YOU PICK YOUR PARTNER FOR THE GROUP PROJECT

THEY “CRANK THAT” IN TIGERLAND

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

page 12

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ENTERTAINMENT LIVE LOVE LOCAL

page 13 BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY

GD Barbeque adds flavor to Garden District

BY BARROW CLEMENT @ClementBarrow

2011, Sweet Baton Rouge designs have found their places in dozens of boutiques across the state.

Each year, the company works to produce seasonally appropriate attire. The designs flow with the social calendar of a typical Louisiana resident, making Sweet Baton Rouge’s

Located just three miles away from University, Garden District Barbeque combines the speed of a fast food restaurant with the gourmet food of a fancy restaurant.

The area surrounding GD Barbeque is a historic one. The building that houses the restaurant was once the service station that belonged to co-owners Gordon, Mark and David Mese’s grandparents back in 1929. Since then, the Mese’s have stayed within the surrounding area with their endeavors, eventually taking over Smokin’ Aces BBQ in July 2018.

“Twenty years of barbecue places there,” said co-owner Gordon Mese. “five different names, seven different owners, and finally we just got tired of flipping it every three to five years, and so we’re doing it now with the young man Robert, who was the pit master at Smokin’ Aces for the last five years.”

With 20 years of barbecue already within the building, the Mese brothers decided to keep the tradition going once they took over the establishment.

“One, it’s been a barbecue joint for 20 years,” said Mese. “Two, because it has to be a pick-up-

see FASHION, page 16

see BBQ, page 16

Sweet Baton Rouge creates fun, Louisiana-themed designs

S

weet Baton Rouge is bringing Louisiana culture straight from our lives to our wardrobes.

The clothing retailer is creating fun, locally-themed t-shirts and other apparel especially for the people of Louisiana. Each tee is adorned with something representative of the state and its culture. From crawfish to football, you’re guaranteed to

BY MASIE O’TOOLE | @masieotoole find a style in season.

But owner Meredith Waguespack says that wasn’t her original plan for the business.

Sweet Baton Rouge first started in 2010 as a children’s dress line, before Waguespack added t-shirts to the stock and realized how quickly they sold.

Tee—shirts are a more simple production and design process, so she gradually began to shift

the purpose of the company, allowing her to produce more varied and creative designs.

“I just realized the t-shirts were much more fun,” Waguespack said.

From there, Waguespack also decided to shift her focus from children to women, though the business caters to people of all ages and genders.

Since fully transitioning over in

BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY

Mid City residents host Mardi Gras parade on Feb. 24

BY ENJANAE’ TAYLOR @_queenet_ The Mid-City Gras Parade brings the fun to Baton Rouge while helping the community with a theme that residents will go nuts over.

Mid-City Inc. is a non-profit organization that puts on the annual Mid-City Gras Parade. The parade was created by a group of Mid-City residents who met at the popular Baton Rouge spot, The Radio Bar, and became determined to plan a parade after many past failed attempts in the Mid-City area.

The board president of Mid-City Inc., Twanda Lewis, shared the goals of the Mid-City residents responsible for the parade. The residents wish to highlight everything that is great about Mid-City during Mardi Gras season in a fun way.

“We align everything we do

around being inclusive, ensuring that we include every individual and everyone from all walks of life that lives in the Mid-City area,” Lewis said.

The parade is known for annually being on the Sunday before the Sunday before Mardi Gras. The saying may have caught on, but it definitely was intentional.

To ensure the residents of MidCity could enjoy all of the local Mardi Gras festivities, they choose their annual date to avoid any conflicting community events. “We didn’t really think that out initially, it just kind of happened that way,” Lewis said.

“To make sure that our date, or the date that we wanted to have our parade did not conflict with any other events that were already on the community calendar, it just happened that first year we were able to get that date. So now every year our parade will fall on the Sunday before the

Sunday, that’s the date we decided were going to have our annual parade”.

The theme for this year’s parade is “Peace, Love & Nuts”, giving a shout out to all of the squirrels that live in the area. Our local squirrel friends establish the area and helped the Mid-City Parade do the same, with them making acorns their signature throw.

“The Zulu has the coconut, we have acorns and we come together and decorate them, hand paint them and those our signature throws every year during the parade,” Lewis said.

As well as coming together to decorate the acorns, the residents of Mid-City came together and helped put on the first Mid-City Gras Ball.

The untraditional ball with about 500 attendees was live streamed and DJed

see MID CITY, page 16

courtesy of FRANCIS CHARLES MCMAINS

Patrons enjoy the first ever Mid-City Gras Ball held on Feb. 2.

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

page 14 STUDENT LIFE

Mardi Gras Masquerade gives students a taste of Louisiana the event. Last year, organizers reached out to the International Cultural Center to ensure equal outreach within all student The smell of king cake is fillgroups and communities on ing the air, the flowers are bloomcampus. The students who ating and giving everyone allertended the event enjoyed the gies, squirrels are back dropping Mardi Gras experience, and so the acorns on students and the beads partnership began. are hanging from the stately oaks At this year’s event, LSU Global and magnolia trees. Mardi Gras will have a booth attraction inseason has just begun with pacorporating elerades and balls ments from carniacross the state, I think we’re just trying to get val in the different and the Students countries where Activities Board is the word out so everyone can some University bringing a taste of students are from. it to the University come enjoy, even people that They’re also gowith “Mardi Gras ing to provide muMasquerade.” are Lousiana natives. sic played during The event is escarnival in those MADISEN KELLY sentially a ball that countries.

LSU theatre student will feature music, Alexander has food, henna artists Kinesiology junior Britney Al- worked alongside theatre freshand palm readers. It will be held at the Royal Cotillion Ballroom of exander is the Acting Late Night man Madisen Kelly, who is servthe Student Union on Thursday, Chair, who was tasked with ing as the VP of Public Relations for SAB. Kelly says the event is Feb. 21, from 7 to 11 p.m. The planning the event.

“There is Mardi Gras around something all students can enjoy, recommended dress code is formal to semi-formal attire, and stu- the world, like in Spain they have, including in-state students.

“I think it’s a really cool event,” dents are welcome to bring guests ‘carnaval’ and things like that,” with a valid e-mail address for Alexander said. “So, our idea Kelly said. “I know especially with with LSU Global was to get their LSU Global, I think that’s really census purposes.

The food that will be served students from around the world good because it’s people that don’t includes red beans and rice and to give us ideas of how Mardi know about Mardi Gras and don’t blackened chicken pasta, as well as Gras is in their culture and then know how fun it is. I think we’re boudin balls, lemonade, water and we’re going to incorporate it in just trying to get the word out so everyone can come enjoy, even cookies. And king cake, of course, our event.”

This is the first year LSU people that are Louisiana natives. will be provided by LSU Dining, who is a partner for the event. Global will be a partner for I love Mardi Gras.”

BY LIA SALIME @liasalime

Admission to the event is free for all.

The carnivalesque celebration preceding lent is almost a synonym to the state name. Louisiana residents are very familiar with the holiday, but, for out-of-state and international students, it may not be so easy to partake. For those students, the events brings Mardi Gras right home to the University.

ALYSSA BERRY / The Reveille

LSU kinesiology senior Kayla Yarborough and Holy Mixon dance together at the Mardi Gras ball on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017 in the Student Union.

ALYSSA BERRY / The Reveille

A group of LSU students dance in a circle to “Hotline Bling” by Drake during the Mardi Gras ball on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017 in the Student Union.

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

REV R ANKS THANK U, NEXT

Ariana Grande

The album features 12 tracks, all radio friendly, but still somehow authentic. Each song is an honest reflection of an attitude or struggle of Grande’s during her healing process, ranging from the raw heartache of “ghostin” to the boastful and lively “7 rings.” Every line is raw, it’s just overlaid on a beat that makes it sound contrived.

Masie O’Toole @masieotoole

PROVO’S MOST ELIGIBLE

Youtube

“Provo’s Most Eligible Bachelor” is a cringey take on the dating scene of Provo, Utah. It’s entertaining to watch but also serves up a lot of second-hand embarrassment. The bachelor Ross is also no Casanova, so it’s intriguing to watch him try to interact with women.

Peyton Davis @peytongdavis

THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY Universal Studios

Netflix’s newest superhero series, “The Umbrella Academy”, based on the Dark Horse Comics series written by former “My Chemical Romance” lead vocalist Gerard Way, is very different from Marvel adaptations like “Jessica Jones” and “Luke Cage.”

Lia Salime @liasalime

page 15

‘PEN15’ brings nostalgia while showing life in middle school

BY RACHEL MIPRO @remroc15 Hulu’s popular new series “PEN15” allows viewers to remember the ups and downs of middle school in a cringey and hilarious way.

The comedy stars Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle playing themselves in seventh grade. The show is interestingly cast with Erskine and Konkle playing their middle school selves, while the rest of their co-stars are actually middle schoolers.

This makes the show even funnier and more authentic. The show wouldn’t be nearly as entertaining if Erskine and Konkle got teenagers to play themselves as well.

The fact that they are re-living their experiences and telling their stories themselves is the best part.

It’s like watching your current self live through your middle school years. Yes, it’s as uncomfortable and amazing as it sounds.

The idea of two grown women playing seventh graders and acting with teenagers may sound strange, but I promise it’s so worth it. In fact, the show probably gives the most accurate depiction of growing up in the early 2000s that I’ve ever seen. The show might be telling Erskine and Konkle’s stories, but they did a great job of allowing everyone to relate and see themselves through them.

From matching with your BFF, to carpool, to Bagel Bites after school and AOL chat rooms, “PEN15” has all the nostalgia you never knew you needed.

I had so much fun watching this show. It felt like my friends and I were looking at ourselves living in the past. The show became so relatable at times it was shocking. The sleepovers, R-rated Blockbuster movie nights, choir and band/orchestra recitals where everyone fought over solos, and inappropriate middle school dances.

There were so many more relatable moments, like the show opening to “Candy” by Mandy Moore, which is still one of my favorite songs today and mentioning “S Club 7” which was one of my favorite shows to watch as a young teen. The teenagers also obsess over B*Witched, which was more of a high school moment for my friends and I, but still brought nostalgia, nonetheless.

Female friendship was of course one of the main focuses of the show and I love how they showed how seventh grade impacted Maya and Anna’s friendship.

At the beginning of the season, the girls vowed to take on seventh grade together and experience everything there was to be done as best friends. Things like middle school love and wanting to be popular while trying to remain true to themselves sometimes got in the way of this. Watching Maya and Anna go though these things makes you realize how big you thought your problems were when you were younger.

With this came some actual big girl issues that Maya and Anna had to overcome, with the show showcasing situations throughout the season with bullying,

drugs, peer pressure, racism and self-love.

My favorite episode dealt with racism and Maya struggling to love herself and appreciate her heritage because most people around her didn’t and she was different than they were. In one way or another, I think many people have found themselves in a situation like this in their childhood.

Like a good best friend, Anna tried to reach out to adults and tell them she felt a change should be made to allow Maya to feel more included. This episode did a great job at showing that teens really do notice problems in society and care about them. They realize when adults do nothing, and this allows them to think that it’s ok to do nothing too.

In the episode, Maya expresses that she just wants to choose what Spice Girl she wants so be, and as a teen who claimed Baby Spice in a world that told her she had to choose Scary Spice, I knew just how she felt. With the help of Anna, Maya realized she could spice up her life any way she wanted to, and that my friends, is real friendship.

“PEN15” proves that the power of friendship can overcome the toughest moments one has to experience in any year, girls still rule, and the best friend you’ve had since middle school is meant to be in your life forever.

This is a show that you’ll binge in one night and never want to be over, but once it is, you’ll call your middle school BFF and thank her for all of the memories.

ISN’T IT ROMANTIC New Line Cinema

It wasn’t bad, but college students, please don’t spend your sweet, sweet cash on this movie. “Isn’t It Romantic” isn’t worth seeing in the theater. I’m so sorry, but even Rebel Wilson couldn’t make this movie better than it was.

Rachel Mipro @remroc15

Read the full reviews online at lsunow.com/entertainment

courtesy of AWESOMENESS TV

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

page 16 FASHION, from page 13 shirts a unique addition to your wardrobe, perfect for any time of the year.

Along with keeping up with the rotating seasonal lines, Meredith Waguespack has found the time to strengthen the local business community—literally.

“Don’t Stop Just Geaux” is a workout community created by and for working people of Baton Rouge. Along with designing a fitness clothing line, Sweet Baton Rouge is sharing quick, simple exercises that can be done around the house or the workplace.

On March 9, Don’t Stop Just Geaux is partnering with Body Sculpt to put on a community workout class at Perkins Rowe.

Soon after, on March 11, the owner will begin posting a daily fitness challenge.

“It kicks off once Mardi Gras season is over with and King Cake season is done,” she said.

“When you can really start your New Year’s resolutions.”

For the true t-shirt lover, Sweet Baton Rouge also created a subscription box. Lagniappe Box is a monthly-delivered box featuring a hand-selected collection of products from local businesses, along with a Sweet Baton Rouge t-shirt, of course.

Each box follows a theme relating to the season, like the upcoming crawfish box, and usually contains a beauty product, food product and two other varying choices. Lagniappe Box is Sweet Baton Rouge’s way to showcase and support Baton Rouge creators.

“It’s great to be able to support small business,” Waguespack said. “And it’s a great way for our customers to find new products.”

To top it all off, the compa-

MID CITY, from page 13 by the local radio station WHYR 96.9 FM. There were also games available and local artists who had work on display.

“We just wanted to make it a party, make it affordable to anyone that wanted to attend because we realize

ny also has a blog called Sweet Baton Rouge Insider. The site offers information about all the best things happening around the city, from new restaurants to

other businesses along the way.

More information on Sweet Baton Rouge’s projects and designs can be found at their website,

BBQ, from page 13 and-go place, the way it is. Barbecue lends itself to that. And then, on top of that, because we always had a barbecue joint there.

I trained for opening a barbecue joint for the last 13 years because I’ve been doing competition style barbecue for that long.”

Having been cooking with his parents and grandparents since he was a child, Mese has always been interested in food. And having visited many famous barbecue places in his life, his interest was piqued enough that he began studying competition style barbecue cooking.

“It [competition style barbecue] is kind of bringing barbecue, which I would call America’s peasant food, to a higher, gourmet level,” Mese said. “Truly using specialty type rubs that are made to do things and different kinds of bastings and really using higher quality meats and just to make something as good as it can be.

And there is a huge competition circuit around the country.”

It is this style of competition barbecue that Mese has incorporated into the cooking style of GD Barbeque. And it is this style that helps the restaurant emit an atmosphere of causality and family fun,

while also offering patrons high quality food in a short amount of time.

“I would say it is a nice, family—run and very casual, just a fun casual place to be,” Mese said. “We want it to be not only that, but on the fast food side, gourmet and fast. So that you get a really high-quality meal very quick…We gotta be quality, we gotta be affordable, and we gotta be quick. And hopefully a happy, nice, fun place to hang out for a little while.”

As a barbecue restaurant, GD Barbeque offers all of the quality meat options that would excite any carnivore.

“Ribs, brisket, pulled pork, sausage,” Mese names. “We do a Louisiana twist on it. We add a little boudin also. We also, on really cold days, since we do a smoked sausage and a smoked chicken, we’ll do a smoked sausage and chicken gumbo. Another little bit of Louisiana on it…We’re trying to be a little bit of these regional areas and turn out a quality product of all of that.”

GD Barbeque is located at 2504 Government St. in the old Smokin’ Aces building and is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and is closed on Sunday.

The Reveille

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GD Barbeque, located on 2504 Government St., offers high quality food in a family—friendly environment.

that traditional Mardi-Gras balls can be very expensive, and we just wanted to make it fun and affordable to the Mid-City community,” Lewis said.

Unifying the community is one of the major reasons Lewis wanted to help with the parade. The idea of bringing everyone from all walks

of life together in the community is what she values the most.

Lewis and the rest of the MidCity board works to bring people together to tear down barriers of races, backgrounds and parts of town.

“To be a part of an effort that is trying to find ways that we can unify the community and be inclusive and create a platform where there’s equity and people feel like they are being valued is one of the big draws for me being a part of this effort,” Lewis said.

One way the ways they do this is by supporting local non-profits

as they grow. This year Front Yard Bikes, a non-profit community bike shop, was chosen as the Grand Marshal. They also offer scholarships for any groups of residents or organizations that may not be able to afford being in the parade on their own.

“If we have enough funding or received enough sponsorships, we do allow those organizations or those groups to be a part of the parade at a reduced cost. The whole idea is to make this parade accessible and affordable to everyone,” Lewis said.

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this year’s parade, but soon after the applications will be up for next year’s parade.

“We just want the community to come out and enjoy the parade. It’s a family friendly parade, we invite everyone from all walks of life, from 2 to 92, to come and enjoy the parade and have a good time,” Lewis said.

The Mid-City Gras Parade is Feb. 24 on North Boulevard at 1 p.m.

To donate and learn more about Mid-City Gras and the non-profits they promote, visit their website at www.midcitygras.org.

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OPINION COME BACK, KING

page 17

Black American complacency primary threat to achieving equality

DROP THE MIC DONALD FOUNTAIN @Official_DFound It seems as though major steps are taken toward ending racism every 100 years. The Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves in the 1860s. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led the civil rights movement in the 1960s. The 2060s are not far away, but the next steps to ending racism are nowhere in sight.

People will say it’s because of President Donald Trump’s influence, but he is not the most pressing concern. It is hard to cure a disease when the only thing focused on are the symptoms. The primary threat to complete equality for black Americans is complacency.

If King was to rise from his grave today and observe the black community, he would gladly hop right back in his casket. This doesn’t mean we haven’t made progress. It means most black Americans have settled for an offbrand product when the leaders before us paid blood, sweat and tears for the name brand. This generation is similar to a spoiled child living off mommy and daddy’s inheritance.

It’s not OK to march in the streets every time a white police officer kills a black man, but say nothing about 89.3 percent of murders among black Americans spur from black on black crime. So

many young black Americans are growing up in bad situations.

Black Americans have the highest poverty rate of any ethnic group in the country, and 45 percent of these are children. So many black fathers do not want to take care of their children. It has reached a point where popular culture loves cracking jokes about not paying child support. What is so funny about forcing a parent to play a role in his or her child’s life?

Our generation uses methods like hip hop and rap to vent about the problems that plague the black community. I commend these artists for trying to be role models, but most of their music is violent, disrespectful and detrimental to the black community. It is virtually impossible to find a popular hip hop song that doesn’t talk about sex, drugs, guns and money.

Atlanta rapper T.I. said, “If you want to change the content of the music, change the environment.”

At some point, the conversation has to go from what happens in the “hood” to preventing these things from happening in the hood. Most of the mainstream rap artists influence comes from their music.

If most of their songs talk about sex, drugs, guns and money all the time, they’re shooting bullets at King’s legacy. We deserve better.

Every February, black Americans get caught up in the “I Have A Dream Speech,” but fail to realize this is how King feared his dream would become a nightmare. Earlier in his speech, King said, “No, we

are not satisfied and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like the waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.” The fight for justice is one of the goals King had for all black Americans, but it has yet to be accomplished. The lack of a leader like King has allowed some of our worst nightmares to start reappearing.

The Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity at the University was shut down in January, but hazing led to their demise, not their offensive and often racist gameday signs. In Georgia, nearly 80 percent of black American votes were moved to a “pending” status because of a ridiculous law.

Racist marches like the ones in Charlottesville and Portland are sprouting out of nowhere, and the KKK still exists. Former LSU President Troy H. Middleton, who died in 1976, still has his name on the University’s library despite his outwardly racist past. To put a cherry on top, Trump’s lack of action is reviving some of our nation’s worst qualities.

Our nation’s issues with racism and equality are like cotton thistles. Most people mow down cotton thistles because they don’t want to deal with its thorns. However, mowing them down will spread its seeds further and allow it to grow back stronger. Although the thorns can be painful, we must dig our problems up from their roots and dispose of them. King did it this way, but people have mowed over racism and equality issues since

courtesy of WIKIMEDIA

The first celebration of Black History Month took place in 1970. his assassination.

CNN political commentator Symone Sanders came to the University in January to talk about King.

Sanders described King as a “radical revolutionary.” She defined a “radical revolutionary” as someone who is not afraid to push the buttons no matter who or what stands in their way.

The black community has not had a powerful “radical revolutionary” since King. Not even former President Barack Obama fits in this category. Obama will be remembered as the culmination to all the sacrifices our past generations made for equality, but not as a radical revolutionary for black Americans. His job was never to fight just for black people. It was naive to think Obama was going to be the one to do this when he was president of all Americans, not just

black Americans. Black Americans need someone to pick up were King left off.

Although this generation has been a disappointment, it’s not over yet. Past generations have overcome far greater tribulations, but they did it united. The black community has leaders, but they can’t be afraid to say things that may not be politically correct.

The first step to solving a problem is recognizing there is one. The black community needs a wake up call — change is coming to America no matter if it is good or bad. In the words of rapper Childish Gambino, “Stay woke.”

Donald Fountain is a 21-year-old mass communication sophomore from Saint Francisville, Louisiana.

Public universities provide quality education for lower cost FRANKLY SPEAKING MICHAEL FRANK @BigMpfrank96 In 2015, it was estimated that there were 4,627 degreegranting institutions in the U.S. Narrowing that number down to four-year degree programs, there were still an estimated 3,011 universities. These 3,011 four-year universities can be divided into two groups — public universities, higher education funded by taxpayers and the state and private universities, universities funded by student tuition and donations.

Due to the difference in how these universities gather funds, the disparity in tuition cost is large. Some claim the higher price tag is a sign that private universities offer better education simply because it costs more and the degree has name recognition. It’s a hasty generalization mixed with a healthy

dose of post hoc. Ivy League $51,400, while the same number universities are private univer- for Xavier graduates is $39,500. sities with extremely steep tuThis is not meant to disparition and rank among the best age or belittle the students of schools in the country, so the Xavier University. That type faulty assumption is that all pri- of elitism is precisely what we vate universities with steep tu- should be trying to combat. In ition offer superior education.

2018, The Princeton Review For example, ranked Xavier Xavier University, Public universities are University in its a private univermore accessible and list of 382 best sity in New Orfar less competitive, institutions for leans with a total u nde rg r adu ate offering quality tuition and fee cost education.

In of $24,348, has a 2017, The Wall education for an four-year graduaStreet Journal affordable price. tion rate of 30 perpolled univercent. LSU, with the sity students on total cost of tuition and fees sit- how well they felt their educating at $11,950, has a four-year tion was preparing them for the graduation rate of 40 percent. future, and the opinions of XaviLSU’s out-of-state tuition and er University students gained fees comes to $28,627, which the highest score in the South. is a few thousand more than Xavier University might win in the tuition of Xavier University. some areas, such as out-of-state However, the median starting affordability and its important salary for LSU graduates, with history as a predominately Aftheir highest degree being a rican American institution, but bachelor’s and three years of the University is successful post-graduate experience, is on other counts like in-state

affordability and median post-graduate income.

I hesitate to say some cheesy and clichéd remark like “not all universities are created equal,” but there is some weight to this particular platitude. While private universities offer more personal experiences with smaller student bodies, public universities are more accessible and far less competitive, offering quality education for an affordable price.

Since the student body is much larger and the degree programs are less personalized, it falls on public university students to guarantee they get the most from their education.

At public universities, degrees can be granted with a minimum of effort, though this minimum is not conducive to a high GPA. It’s easy to exploit online homework and large classroom sizes by using test and homework swapping websites, but the degree is meaningless if the student’s effort output is

a fraction of what the teacher intended.

Staying in contact with professors is a great way to circumvent the problems students face at public universities. This is the reason professors announce their office hours at the start of every semester. If the justification for such a high tuition at private universities is the emphasis on individuation, then it seems the gap is closing. As technology and the ability to connect becomes easier, students at public universities have two choices: allow the tech to conglomerate the student body, exacerbating the trend of facelessness within large schools, or use this technology to strengthen communication, providing professors with faces to accompany the students.

Michael Frank is a 23-yearold political science and English senior from New Orleans, Louisiana.

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

page 18

Head

Esquire’s ‘American Boy’ story powerful, worthwhile SMITT’S TEA JAMES SMITH @itssmitt One of the ethical codes of journalism is to minimize harm to the subject being reported on, especially if that individual is a private citizen. We weigh the public’s right to know with the potential discomfort publication could cause. Those ethics apply more to hard news stories than feature articles or culture magazines. With that being said, American men’s magazine Esquire published a highly controversial cover article earlier this month titled “An American Boy” with the subtitle “What it’s like to grow up white, middle class, and male in the era of social media, school shootings, toxic masculinity, #MeToo, and a divided country.”

Ryan Morgan is the 17-year-old, white, middle class male the cover article focuses on. He loves football and video games. His divorced parents support President Trump. He lives in West Bend, Wisconsin where 95 percent of citizens are white, President Donald Trump won 67 percent of the county’s vote and moderate conservatives are considered liberals.

Ryan thinks parties are lame. He’s barely been outside the state. He’s one of 2,300 students at a nationally recognized high school where security and active-shooter drills make the possibility of shootings a daily reality. He’s set on working at a water plant rather than going to college. He doesn’t use social media. He claims to be interested in politics but doesn’t remember what the #MeToo movement is. Like the title says, he’s an American boy growing up in a pivotal and disruptive time.

Critics immediately took shots at Esquire and Ryan. Some despised that Esquire picked a privileged white male to be the image of the American boy.

Some attacked Esquire over the fact that it was published during Black History Month. Some said that the last thing anyone wants to read is another story about a white male with a sob story.

While these critiques are absolutely valid, this story is one that is worth telling and not one to immediately discredit. Esquire never said that he is “the” American boy. This is one article of a series that aims to explore the daily lives of Americans. Also, the issue is technically the March edition, even though it was printed in February. In regards to “another story about a white male,” at this particular point in history, a story about a boy like Ryan is interesting and worth the read due to the insight it provides.

Ryan’s story is boring and uneventful. The article doesn’t mention any tragedies or incredibly difficult personal obstacles he’s faced. His life could be a snapshot of a white, teenage boy in the ‘50s, aside from video games and the political questions his peers sometimes force upon him.

His life in relation to the current political climate is where the true interest lies. With a President who seems to fuel every political tension known to America, I’m curious as to what life is like for someone like Ryan. The article refrains from drawing any conclusions about Ryan that he hasn’t directly said. However, it appears Ryan is a bit lost among the political discourse and doesn’t know what to make of it. He expresses overtones of supporting traditional gender roles, but that’s about the most I dare to psychoanalyze him.

His conservative upbringing clashes with progressive peers. He’s just beginning to see the world outside of his hometown. He doesn’t have strong feelings about any political ideals yet.

When I was 17, as far as I can remember, the only strong political ideals I had were being in favor of same-sex marriage, gender equality and mental health awareness. All of those stemmed from personal experiences I had growing up in a moderately liberal household and attending a moderately liberal high school. I didn’t become interested in broader political activism until I was 18, and when Trump became president and his rhetoric and its consequences enraged me. The last four years have only amplified that anger.

Though we live in an age of information with the internet at our fingertips, I would hesitate to place blame on Ryan because he’s only just beginning to see the world and form his own opinions. I would also hesitate to attack the editors at Esquire. It would have been tasteful to refrain from publishing the story during Black History Month, and I’m sure the decision was heavily debated. But, the fact that publishing in February attracted this much controversy means their readership is likely as high as it’s been in quite a while. Those editors knew exactly what they were doing.

Ryan’s story may be dull on the surface, but it’s one American story that gives a glimpse into life of one segment of the population. Everyone has a story worth telling, especially when that story takes place in a time as confusing, disheartening, hopeful and American as ever.

James Smith is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Grand Coteau, Louisiana.

to

Head

Esquire’s ‘American Boy’ story overtold tale of privilege OLIVE’S GARDEN

exactly what he meant by saying that. And he is not alone in this belief. It is actually baffling that he feels uncomfortable in his idenOLIVIA JAMES tity when it is supported by the @afroliviaa president.

American men’s magazine EsMorgan doesn’t support welfare, quire recently did a cover story condom distribution, abortion or about a 17-year-old white male Ryan mothers in the workplace.

Morgan, “An American Boy.” Did “I don’t know why it’s always I mention this issue was released white males shooting up schools,” at the beginning of Black History Morgan said. “In the inner-city Month? schools there are shootings and People are angered that a conser- stuff, but it’s more like ‘I hate this kid vative, white male was given the title because he touched my girlfriend, of an ‘American boy,’ so now I’m going to but is that really so far shoot him.’” from the truth? Is it There is an obvious parallel. As false that his narrative if white shooters isn’t the one ruling the People like [Ryan country? The only are more justified falsity in this story Morgan] are so afraid in killing people is the notion that he, because the ideas that than black people basking in all his in his eyes, keep people like him on who, white privilege, is kill each other for top are finally the one who is in trivial reasons. danger because of becoming unacceptable.

Morgan had his identity. nothing meaningful to say on any of The people who the topics challengare really in danger ing America today. are those of us living He just reinforced under his beliefs and identity — black people, women them.

None of what he believes is a and poor people. “Last year was really bad,” Morgan said. “I couldn’t surprise, and I’m sure Esquire really say anything without pissing some- thought this was a revolutionary stoone off.” ry. In reality, it’s just tiresome. I go to I am not empathetic for him at class with “Ryans” every day — my all. I am not sad that he feels si- president was probably a “Ryan” in lenced because he has controversial his youth. And “American Boys” are beliefs. Where is that empathy for not in danger. people like me? My skin color and Black people live in fear. Our parmy female anatomy is controversial, ents coach us on police interactions and I can’t change either of those so we come home alive. Immigrants things. I am walking controversy fear deportation and being shipped before I even speak. off to camps under the reign of the I don’t feel sorry for someone president Ryan so fearfully supports. who doesn’t care to educate himself Women live in fear of being abused on the issues. “What does that mean and in fear of not being believed if again,” Morgan asked when the in- they do come forward about abuse. terviewer questioned him about the Minorities are targeted because #MeToo movement. of who they are before they even get Morgan got into a fight with a to share their ideas — that’s danger. woman and was prosecuted for it. Meanwhile, a white conservative is He says that if he were a girl, things being coddled because people are would’ve been different and that finally challenging the ignorant, rache probably would’ve gotten away ist and sexist beliefs he and many with it. others hold.

The sexism jumped out. “I guess People like Morgan are so girls sometimes just do that,” he afraid because the ideas that keep said. “It happened once when my people like him on top are finally mom was in high school. A girl becoming unacceptable. He is purposely broke her own arm not at risk of anything except a just to get another person rightful challenge against his in trouble.” toxic masculinity.

He carries the dangerously common mentality that female accusers Olivia James is an 19-year-old are liars who lie about abuse to get men in trouble. False accusations mass communication freshman from have occurred, but rarely. He knew Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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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.

Quote of the Week “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them. ”

Ida B. Wells journalist & Educator July 16, 1862 — March 25, 1931

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

page 19

Blackface controversy distracts from Black History Month Black people don’t care to do that because the majority of the community doesn’t wish to be like TE’KAYLA PITTMAN white Americans.

Former Washington House of @QueenTekay Representatives candidate David February marks Black History Sponheim explained that he had Month, and the white politicians, to paint his face black to allow celebrities and business owners his Barack Obama costume to be have found a way to take over and more realistic, arguing that black make it about them. Blackface has people can dress up as whites been around for decades, and it without backlash, such as in the certainly didn’t end in the ‘80s. movie “White Chicks.”

Many white Americans don’t see I find this explanation hilarithe problem with blackface be- ous because it doesn’t justify anycause most don’t know the origin thing. The, “If he can do it, why behind it. can’t I?” reasoning is as ridiculous Simply put, blackface is a as it is hypocritical. He didn’t have dreadfully common and highly to choose the President Obama offensive stereotype. “The whole costume if he couldn’t find a way idea of a stereotype is to simpli- to be seen as him without paintfy,” said novelist Chinua Achebe. ing his face. Yes, black people The first blackface shows were starred in “White Chicks,” but it is performed in 1830s New York nothing compared to the historiby white performers who paint- cal weight blackface carries. ed their faces with burnt cork or “White Chicks” was not made shoe polish. Actors often wore old to tear white culture down or to and torn clothing that imitated make white people seem ignorant enslaved Africans on plantations. or uneducated. The film centered “These performances character- around two men dressed up as ized blacks as lazy, ignorant, su- white, upper class women. They perstitious, hyperdidn’t aim to desexual and prone white culFebruary is an important grade to thievery and ture. cowardice,” the In 2019, we month for the black Smithsonian statseem to be welcommunity, and ed. In 1830, “Facoming in a year ther of Minstrelsy” of blackface. Febsomehow the white Dartmouth Rice ruary is an impordeveloped the first community has found tant month for the blackface charblack community, a way to get in the acter named “Jim and somehow the Crow.” white community spotlight.

Blackface is has found a way nothing but an to get in the spotembarrassment light. Not only are to black people. It implies black politicians grabbing the spotpeople have no purpose in life but light with the surfacing of their to entertain and mock, and that blackface endeavors, but fashion we lack characteristics of success- brands are now showing off their ful people. To see politicians and racist side, too. popular brands supporting blackGucci and Prada have been face is a total slap in our faces, es- in the spotlight for clothing and pecially when those who played accessory items reminiscent of a role in blackface don’t see any- blackface. Gucci came out with a thing wrong with it. turtleneck that appeared to porA blackface photo of Virginia tray blackface. The turtleneck is Gov. Ralph Northam in his medi- black with the top coming up to a cal school yearbook resurfaced cutout of a large mouth with red recently. It showed one person in lips. blackface and the other dressed Gucci’s creative director Alesas a member of the Ku Klux Klan. sandro Michele said “[the sweater] After giving a “save-my-job” apol- was not inspired by blackface but ogy, the Democratic governor re- by the late Leigh Bowery, a percanted saying he is not pictured in formance artist, club promoter the photo. and fashion designer who often That doesn’t matter because it used flamboyant face makeup and was on his personal page of the costumes.” yearbook, which goes to show In looking at Bowery’s work, that he was OK with that act of you can see his artwork includracism. I wouldn’t put anything ed primarily white-painted faces on my personal page that I didn’t with red lips, not black faces. Why agree with. couldn’t he do a white turtleneck “In 1869, an Atlantic writer sweater with big red lips? It would remembered darkening his face have made the clothing item more with burnt cork and acting out ex- easily related to Bowery. aggerated caricatures of blackness Gucci is now apologizing by with little reflection on the racial promising to employ a more dioppression and violence around verse staff. We will see how long him,” assistant editor Annika that promise will be kept.

Neklason wrote. To the white auAlso stepping in the blackface dience and performers, the per- fighting ring are Prada and Katy formances seemed fun. I wonder Perry Collections. Prada made how white people would feel if bag charms that resembled black black people painted their faces monkeys with huge red lips. They white and acted out every nega- are now promising to develop “ditive stereotype we could conjure. verse talent” and to create oppor-

TEKAY SAYS

tunities for students of color. Singer Katy Perry Collections released shoes that resembled blackface.

The shoes are black loafers with block heels that have faces on them with big red lips. Accord-

ing to the creators, the shoes were “envisioned as a nod to modern art and surrealism.”

Can the black community have one month — the shortest month at that —where we don’t have to

focus on the ignorant acts of racist white people?

Te’Kayla Pittman is a 19-year-old mass communication freshman from Atlanta, Georgia.

cartoon by ETHAN GILBERTI / The Reveille

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Wednesday, February 20, 2019

page 20

Scrutiny of presidential candidates necessary for informed voting I SAID WHAT I SAID COLORMEMAYA @colormemaya There are over 530 candidates currently registered to run for president in 2020. With announcements of presidential-hopefuls entering the race that’s sweeping the nation, candidates are being slammed for their past choices, political ideology and personal and professional history.

Some candidates have been criticized more harshly than others.

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-California, is one example of this. Many people claim the reason for Harris’ close scrutiny is because of her race.

I don’t disagree. Harris is black and a woman — of course all eyes are on her. She’s going to be scrutinized more harshly than others simply because of the double standard that exists.

Harris is also facing tough scrutiny for her time as California’s attorney general. Harris didn’t always make the best choices in office, especially when it came to criminal reform.

Harris has been under a microscope on social media, television networks and newspapers. Because

of this, some have already chosen to denounce her. I haven’t seen any other presidential candidate in the media as much as her, except the President. Social media users have used the immense amount of criticism to defend some of her choices.

The criticism of Harris seems overwhelmingly more than her opponents, and the obvious double standard is more than annoying.

However, this criticism is justified.

Politicians are supposed to be scrutinized, and what they stand for is supposed to be challenged. This type of commentary becomes even more vital in the case of those vying for the highest office in the land.

Why elect someone with no concept of who they truly are?

Why complain when the public and media is scrutinizing them for their policies and stances? These are efforts to help citizens gain knowledge about those running. It’s what we’re supposed to do.

A human truth is that people do not often change, even in the ways that matter most. The history of those who have served in political offices prior to their campaign will prove telling. What’s even more telling will be what they support after their campaign announcements. If they opposed gay rights or criminal reform three years ago, chances are

courtesy of WIKIMEDIA

There are over 530 candidates currently registered in the 2020 presidential election. they still do.

These candidates’ ideological consistencies are important. They tell the public what those running stand firmly on and what principles they value. What they say now can easily be an effort to pander to various groups of voters. However, once

they’re in office, what they truly believe will be evident.

The degree to which these candidates are being criticized can seem unbelievable, but this is what these early days are about. We’re learning who these people are, attempting to understand their pasts

and giving them a chance to defend their choices. No one said every candidate had to be perfect.

Maya Stevenson is a 19-yearold English and economics sophomore from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.