@lsureveille
The Daily Reveille Est. 1887
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Volume 128 · No. 12
lsunow.com/daily
STOMP THE POMP Sorority members start petition to end pomping tradition, page 2
photos by MADI LUCAS
NEWS
SPORTS Meet the “halfletes”: cheerleaders, Tiger Girls and Team Mike, page 3 LSU alumna Blair Imani writes book, “Modern HERstory,” page 5
ENTERTAINMENT After SEC Tournament win, LSU looks to be the NCAA Tournament “Cinderella story,” page 7
Vanilla Sweet House combines Asian, French cuisines, page 14
OPINION “We should not hear about white supremacist terrorism taking place in the heart of America in 2018,” page 17
page 2
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
COVER STORY
Petition against sorority pomping gains popularity BY RACHEL MIPRO @remroc15 Old traditions die hard. But according to two sorority women at the University, it’s time to reexamine some of the campus’s customs. The LSU Homecoming tradition of pomping, in which pieces of paper are balled up and glued onto large boards to form images, has been getting some serious backlash in the past week, starting with a Stop Pomping at LSU petition. The petition, started by kinesiology junior Sarah Dawson on Oct. 23, has already gotten more than 1,000 signatures. She and her friend, biology junior Georgia Fischmann—both members of Kappa Kappa Gamma—decided to take action after Homecoming week, when they spent hours helping to prepare their sorority’s board. While they’ve been thinking about the waste for years, seeing the board in the dumpster was the breaking point for Dawson. Fischmann was also upset by the disposal. Since the boards are only up for one day before getting thrown away, Fischmann didn’t even get to see her sorority’s finished board in time. “They put them up on game
day and it’s very hard to get around on game day, and I didn’t get to have time to see all of them,” Fischmann said. “I just know so many people aren’t seeing them either, and if the whole reason of doing this is so that people can see them, why wouldn’t you just do a painting or something?” Besides only being seen for one day, pomping leads to a lot of trash, since paper can’t be recycled after it is contaminated with glue. According to Dawson, their board for the 2018 Homecoming cost around $1,800 to make, and took several hours of hard work to build. Dawson plans to take the petition to the University’s next Panhellenic Council meeting to advocate for the end of pomping. So far, she said the petition has been meet with a lot of support, especially from other Greek Life members. Members of her sorority have helped share the petition, and Dawson said even the Homecoming Chair agreed with her. According to Dawson, criticism of pomping is even starting to spread to other colleges. “Everyone hates pomping,” Fischmann said. The women said pomping could be replaced very easily
The Daily Reveille B-16 Hodges Hall Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, La. 70803 Newsroom (225) 578-4811
Advertising (225) 578-6090
Editor in Chief
NATALIE ANDERSON Managing Editor
HA-VY NGUYEN News Editor
EVAN SAACKS Deputy News Editor
HAILEY AUGLAIR Sports Editor
KENNEDI LANDRY Deputy Sports Editor
GLEN WEST MADI LUCAS / The Daily Reveille
Kappa Delta’s first-place-winning pomping structure sits outside of the Kappa Delta Sorority House on Oct. 20. with more eco-friendly and costefficient decorations, like banners or paintings. They want the money saved from ending the pomping tradition to be donated to philanthropy. But their primary concern is how much waste pomping generates. The two have been trying to advocate for more eco-friendly changes in their sorority, replac-
ing styrofoam containers with tupperware last year, and trying to make people more aware of environmental issues in general. “It might not be the biggest dent in fixing our environment issues but it all has to start somewhere, and if you can spread that mentality around, other people will catch on,” Dawson said.
Entertainment Editor
LYNNE BUNCH Opinion Editor
HANNAH KLEINPETER Production Editor
LUKE JEANFREAU Co-Photo Editor
ALYSSA BERRY Co-Photo Editor
Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems
CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS
10% DISCOUNT
FOR LSU STUDENTS, FACULTY & STAFF Where can you geaux as an
The Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine offers a full range of veterinary services located conveniently on campus, from regular checkups to 24/7/365 emergency care.
Entrepreneurship Fellow?
Skip Bertman Drive @ River Road
225-578-9600 LSU.EDU/VETMED
The Daily Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure its readers the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards. This space is reserved to recognize and correct any mistakes that may have been printed in The Daily Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified, please contact the editor at (225) 5784811 or email editor@lsureveille.com.
ABOUT THE DAILY REVEILLE
Visit local entrepreneurs Travel to study entrepreneurship ecosystems Win a pitch competition Meet innovators
WE TEACH. WE HEAL. WE DISCOVER. WE PROTECT.
CHRISTA MORAN
Any LSU student may apply to be an Entrepreneurship Fellow. Program details and application available at
lsu.edu/business/entrepreneurshipfellows Application deadline: November 16, 2018
The Daily Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Daily Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. A single issue of The Daily 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 Daily Reveille, B-39 Hodges Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.
News
page 3
half
letes The LSU cheerleaders, Tiger Girls and Team Mike play special roles in the world of LSU sports.
BY SHERIDAN WALL | @swall7
T
he LSU Spirit Squad, composed of the cheerleaders, Tiger Girls and Team Mike, have an ambiguous athletic identity — what some call “halfletes.” Technically, the University considers members of the Spirit Squad athletes, but does not consider the cheerleading and dance teams sports teams. This distinction is based on the number of times these teams compete each year, which is only once at Nationals, according to LSU Spirit Squad director Pauline Zernott. “The thing that’s different is that we are not a sport because we don’t play games,” Zernott said. Zernott said some members of the Spirit Squad are disappointed
by the lack of competitions at the collegiate level because they grow up competing. “When they get to college, it’s all about gameday spirit, so we’re no longer the focal point,” Zernott said. As part of the athletic department, the Spirit Squad is required to follow NCAA guidelines, like maintaining grades, full-time student status and drug testing. Even so, Spirit Squad members enjoy several of the perks of LSU student athletics with a few minor limitations. They have access to the training and workout facilities, athletic trainers and the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes, Zernott said.
“We should know that just because they’re not deemed a sport, we are very much treated as athletes,” Zernott said. “Our athletic department hands-down is one of the most supportive in the SEC, if not the country.” Spirit Squad members also get advanced course scheduling and have study halls like other athletic programs. Zernott can access team members’ attendance and grades if she feels a student may need additional academic assistance. The University awards stipends to Spirit Squad members with at a 2.5 GPA based on their years involved with the teams, Zernott said. Second-year
see HALFETE, page 6
members receive a $1,000 stipend, which increases by $500 each additional year. The Spirit Squad also participates in promotional events throughout the year, which the University considers volunteer hours. The top 15 students with the most promotional event hours are awarded a volunteer stipend. However, Spirit Squad members don’t have access to tutoring through the Cox Communications Academic Center for StudentAthletes, and instead must seek assistance from the Center for Academic Success, Zernott said. Spirit Squad members also don’t have access to the meals in the training facilities, but they are
ADMINISTRATION
Mounting pressures cast doubt on holistic admissions BY CALEB GREENE @cgreene_24 Pressure is mounting for LSU President F. King Alexander’s “holistic” admissions. In the public debate over the University’s more flexible admissions policy, the Louisiana Board of Regents, the state’s authority on higher education policy, made significant progress. Alexander discussed admissions policies and the University’s role in creating them with Board of Regents leadership on Monday, according to Board of Regents member Richard Lipsy. After weeks of disagreement between Alexander and leading members of the Board of Regents, both sides met on Monday. Louisiana Board of Regents member Richard Lipsey said both sides agreed the University could not change admissions policies on its own. LSU Director of Media Relations Ernie Ballard said the meeting was productive, but refused to comment further on the details of the meeting. What happens now to the University’s much-touted “holistic” admissions policy, which deemphasized minimum GPA and test score requirements, will not be clear at least until an audit of University admissions is completed in the spring. The University’s shift to holistic admissions ignited a public debate over the Board’s responsibility to create admissions
see ADMISSIONS, page 6
CAMPUS LIFE
Memorial Oak Grove to be rededicated on Veterans Day BY BAILEY CHAUVIN @BaileyChauvin
The University will rededicate Memorial Oak Grove on Nov. 11 to the 30 LSU students and alumni who fought and died in World War I. Nov. 11 marks the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day. The re-dedication ceremony will closely follow the program from the original dedication ceremony in 1926, but will also incorporate some new elements, such as concluding the ceremony by playing the song “Taps.” The re-dedication of the
memorial is thanks to the work of many people on campus who are committed to restoring the area, including biological sciences professor Gary King. King taught an honors course called “Why War?” which included discussions about memorials dedicated to the tragic events of World War I. “More or less by accident, I happened to discover for myself that there was a World War I memorial right here on campus that I wasn’t aware of,” King said. When King discovered that none of his students knew the oak trees behind the LSU Stu-
dent Union were a memorial, he told his students that if they picked a tree and wrote about the student it memorialized, he would give them extra credit. As his students were learning about the men the oak trees memorialized, King walked around the entirety of the memorial and discovered it was in a sad state. “A number of the markers had been buried over time,” King said. “It just was not in the kind of state that you would expect for a memorial anywhere, let alone on LSU’s campus.”
THE DAILY REVEILLE ARCHIVES
see MEMORIAL OAK, page 6
Student Government and Facility Services make plans to build tables commemorating are putting tables in the grove that is a memorial to fallen WWI soldiers.
The Daily Reveille
page 4
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
ALUMNI
LSU Foundation surpasses fundraising goals for 2017-18 BY CALEB GREENE @cgreene_24
Money talks, and in Louisiana higher education, there never seems to be enough of it. Budget cuts and special legislative sessions on TOPS aside, funding and private fundraising remain critical to the University’s success as the state’s flagship institution. The push to ramp up University funding is seen through the new strategies and increased alumni participation powering the LSU Foundation’s efforts. The foundation’s fundraising totals for 2017-18 surpassed previous target goals. Foundation fundraising amounted to over $56 million, surpassing this year’s $55 million goal. The effort is a 10 percent increase from 2016-17, which raised $50.9 million. Eighty percent of this year’s donations were $250 or less. Additionally, the University received $47.1 million through direct donations. “The only reason we exist is
to raise money for LSU,” said LSU Foundation Senior Director of Communications and Marketing Sara Whittaker. “We don’t have fundraising priorities of our own. Our priorities are the University’s.” The foundation implemented a strategic plan in 2016 to increase University fundraising to $100 million annually, a figure that includes both direct donations to the University and the LSU Foundation. The strategy sought to maximize support of the University through expanding younger alumni outreach and focusing on academic priorities. In the past two years, the foundation welcomed 3,200 and 4,585 donors respectively, elevating the University’s alumni giving rate from No. 13 to No. 6 in the Southeastern Conference. The foundation spreads money throughout the University in the form of scholarships, museum maintenance and research projects, among other things. Renovations of Patrick F. Taylor Hall and the Busi-
ness Education Complex exemplify efforts in recent years. Currently, the foundation is funding the effort to renovate the campus’ iconic Memorial Tower. “There is honestly no area of campus untouched by philanthropy,” Whittaker said. Whittaker said 99 percent of the University’s gifts are restricted to desired projects or departments. Unrestricted gifts enter the LSU Fund, which provides deans the ability to deploy money and resources to students and programs within their respective colleges. The University’s total endowment value stands at $464.1 million, a drastic growth from $330 million in 2014. Whittaker compared endowments to savings accounts, as the endowments accrue interest revenue to fund annual scholarships and professorships. The University has 82 endowed department chairs and 750 endowed professorships. “It’s important for LSU to attract and retain staff,” Whit-
taker said. “One of the ways we can do that is to provide them with additional support for their research and things of interest. Those are the things deans are able to fund through our unrestricted fundraising.” In its outreach to alumni, the foundation targets younger alumni through numerous emails and letters. The idea is to convert younger alumni into annual donors for decades to come. Another focus of the foundation is to highlight the opportunities provided to students through donations, such as supporting study abroad programs or annual scholarships. “When we talk to donors, we talk about the opportunity they have to change a life [and] to help students,” Whittaker said. “We are not going to talk about keeping the lights on. People don’t get excited about keeping the lights on. They’re excited about making an impact.” The fundraising successes this year bode well for the University. With increased dona-
AURIANNA CORDERO / The Daily Reveille
The LSU Foundation Center for Philanthropy stands during the final Greek Life Task Force meeting on Feb. 21, on Nicholson Road. tion totals and a steady flow of new donors, the foundation and the University have the ability to pursue their aligned interests, such as the Campus Master Plan and the LSU Strategic Plan 2025.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
SG potentially launching two-year program for disabled students BY ANNA JONES @annajoneses The University may soon kickstart a new two-year program for students with special needs. The goal is to provide special needs students with the college experience while also teaching them useful life skills and preparing them to go into the workforce. Some of the fundamentals they will teach include writing a resume, living independently and improving communication skills. The program also allows for a personalized academic track tailored to the students’ individual needs. The initiative, which has
yet to have an official title, was brought to LSU Student Government by kinesiology senior and adviser to the LSU vice president Emily Jones, who was inspired by her own experience growing up with a special needs sibling. “Considering we are the flagship university in the state of Louisiana, I think this initiative is something we need to further improve the experience for future Tigers in the program and the student workers who would be involved in it as well,” Jones said. “We, as a campus should welcome students with intellectual disabilities to have the chance to shine and learn in an environment at LSU,” Jones
ŬňɏƐ NJňǓɏ ɏƐȇȜʟňǵ ɟɆƐŴǓňǵǓɟɬɟ Grand Opening Deal! 20% off with student/teacher/ military ID.
Free brow with $20 service or more and coupon present.
Call or visit our website for booking!
barehairbr.com - 225-255-3605 1500 Lobdell Ave Baton Rouge, LA 70806
said. “Having had the largest and most diverse freshman class enter this fall, expanding inclusivity would only benefit the LSU community.” The employment rate for people with disabilities has steadily decreased over the years, according to Fortune magazine. Only 35 percent of disabled Americans between the ages of 18 and 65 had a job as of 2015. Additionally, a study by the U.S. Department of Education found disabled students are 18 percent less likely to be encouraged to pursue higher education as their peers. Despite these statistics, there are still only a little over 200 of these kinds of programs around the country.
Programs such as the one Jones is proposing are already established at a few other schools in Louisiana, such as the LIFE Program at University of Louisiana at Lafeyette and the Lions Connected Program at Southeastern Louisiana University. SG representatives plan on being in contact with some of these programs and seeking guidance as they move forward. “Student Government will have ongoing updates about the status of the initiative,” Jones said. “This is only a pilot program, meaning once it launches, we will be closely monitoring how the program operates to see how we can change it to better serve students in the future.”
is Looking for a New Manager! If you are interested in a Fun and Exciting job as a Laser Tag manager, and feel you have the skills, we would like to hear from you. An ideal candidate will have night and weekend availability, be at least 18 years old, but preferably over 21. Have their own transportation and be highly dependable. –This job requires a high level of customer service skill. –Previous management experience is a plus, but not a requirement. –This is a part time job and would require about 25 hours per week. –This is a great place to build a resume and set yourself up for the future. All serious inquiries should submit their resume by email to batonrouge@ltag.com Located @ 5871 South Sherwood Forest Blvd
Although the idea is still in the early stages of development, it has already garnered a lot of support among the student body based on a survey passed around on social media. The survey was used to gauge students’ interest and asked questions like if students had special needs friends or siblings, if they would be interested in volunteering and if they believed the program should eventually expand to four years. There was also a space provided to make other comments and suggestions regarding the proposal. Animal sciences junior Hannah Hayden said the initiative was something that would benefit the University as a whole. “This program has the potential to change the lives of young adults with disabilities,” Hayden said.” “Unfortunately, we live in a society where there are very few places where special needs individuals can feel safe, secure, and thrive in their environment.” Non-disabled students will also benefit from the program by having the opportunity to connect with their new classmates and participate in hands-on volunteer work. “Our hope is to spread advocacy and awareness that the students in the program are more than capable of contributing to campus and the Baton Rouge community, and we hope to encourage students in this program to break out of their comfort zone to interact and form a family with the students here at LSU,” Jones said.
The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
page 5
ALUMNI
Alumna’s book highlights women, non-binary people BY BAILEY CHAUVIN @BaileyChauvin
LSU alumna Blair Imani published her first book, “Modern HERstory,” on Oct. 15. “Modern HERstory” describes 70 women and non-binary people who changed the world. The book includes illustrations by Monique Le and a foreword written by Tegan and Sara, alternative pop artists and social activists. “Modern HERstory” began as a Women’s History Month module that would showcase a different woman and her accomplishments every day throughout March. While developing her idea, Imani knew she wanted to incorporate visual elements into her project. “When I was in college, I noticed people would pay more attention to PowerPoints than they would to just a lecture because there’s something to look at,” Imani said. “I tried to use that same model when I was explaining important figures in history.” The Women’s History Month module went viral around the time the Women’s Movement was beginning. Imani reached out to illustrator Monique Le on Twitter and asked if Le would be interested in writing a book with her. Imani and Le developed a crowdfunding campaign to fund their project. Once LeVar Burton of Reading Rainbow shared their crowdfunding campaign, several publishers contacted Imani and
Le beginning in August 2017. By October 2017, Imani and Le had a publisher and the book was published almost a year later. “Modern HERstory” includes many of the original elements from Imani’s educational module, but also describes the institutional oppression each woman and non-binary person faced. Imani’s decision to describe institutional oppression in her book was influenced by LSU history professors Steven Ross and Victor Stater, who described the historical context well-known people came from. “Really learning about how racism, sexism and homophobia affected everyday people’s lives gives you a bigger picture,” Imani said. “You’re not just getting snapshots—you’re getting a diorama.” “Modern HERstory” is the first print publication for Equality for HER, a social non-profit organization founded by Imani that promotes the empowerment of women and non-binary people. Imani was inspired to found Equality for HER while she was a student at the University. Equality for HER was originally a student organization, but as Imani worked to create an inclusive space for people of different backgrounds and identities, she realized the organization needed to expand. She began working online and connecting with different people from around the world who supported her cause. Four years later,
Where the spirits move you. @deadpoetbr
Equality for HER is now working with NBCUniversal and continuing to grow. Imani is also affiliated with other organizations that have similar causes to Equality for HER. She works with organizations such as GLAAD, previously known as the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, and is a board member of the Tegan and Sara Foundation, all of which provide support for members of the LGBTQ community. At the University, Imani was just as passionate about social activism. Besides founding Equality for HER, Imani also lobbied for the acceptance of LGBTQ individuals at the State Capitol with Equality Louisiana and Louisiana Progress. “LSU was like an incubator for me,” Imani said. “It’s where I learned how to be strategic and how to make connections with people.” While Imani had good experiences at the University, she said she faced racism, sexism and toxic masculinity. “I think I had some of the best times of my life going to LSU, but also the most challenging. I did deal with racism. I did deal with sexism,” Imani said. “I also learned how to deal with it, which equipped me for the real world.” After the success of Modern HERstory, Imani is currently writing her second book and continues to promote inclusive spaces for all through organizations such as Equality for HER.
courtesy of BLAIR IMANI
Blair Imani (left) and Monique Le (right) sign copies of “Modern HERstory.”
Apps open November 5. LSU.edu/reslifejobs
The Daily Reveille
page 6 HALFLETES, from page 3 allowed to take water bottles, Powerades and any of the dry snacks available, said Brendan Bice, one of three cheerleading captains. The Spirit Squad is affiliated with the marketing department, unlike other athletic programs. Cheerleaders, Tiger Girls and Team Mike attend many promotional events and are sometimes required to arrive early to athletic events to pass out promotional items like towels and t-shirts. Bice said he thinks the Spirit Squad isn’t prioritized financially because it doesn’t bring in as much money as other sports. He also said the Spirit Squad is “at the bottom of the totem pole” when it comes to scheduling practice and workout times. The Spirit Squad and other athletic programs require similar time commitments. For example, cheerleaders spend about 20 hours or more per week in practice and mandatory workouts, Bice said. However, in addition to those 20 hours, Spirit Squad members also attend multiple athletic and promotional events and compete in Nationals once per year. “I feel like we’re misrepresented sometimes,” Bice said. “A lot of people think we just do football and basketball games, but we compete nationally every year, which is a big deal.” For Bice, a typical week consists of mandatory workouts and practice on Monday, Wednesday
The competitve edge for us is lower because the other schools are not always policed the same way [we are]. PAULINE ZERNOTT
LSU Spirit Squad Director
and Friday. As a member of the Nationals team, he also practices additional hours. Although Tuesdays and Thursdays are supposed to be their off-days, Bice said most team members s till go to workouts. Apart from football games, the Spirit Squad cheers and dances at volleyball, baseball, women’s and men’s basketball games and gymnastics meets. The cheerleading team also sends six couples to away games, Bice said. “We don’t really have an offseason,” Bice said. “It’s cheer seven days a week.” Despite the privileges awarded to the Spirit Squad as members of the athletic department, their adherence to NCAA guidelines puts them at somewhat of a disadvantage for Nationals, Zernott said. Each school in the SEC classifies its spirit squad differently. Some, like University of Kentucky, considers its spirit squad as student activities, and others, like Mississippi State University — until recently — considers its spirit squad
as under the dean of students. Since these universities don’t consider their spirit squads part of the athletic department, they don’t have to follow NCAA guidelines about drug testing, recruitment and transfer students. “The competitive edge for us is lower because the other schools are not always policed the same way we’re policed under athletics,” Zernott said. “But, if you were to say how do we do, I would say we’re a top notch program because we abide by so many ethical ways of holding ourselves accountable.” Even with their “halflete” status, Zernott said Spirit Squad members still value their experience at LSU. “I don’t think any of them would trade the experience they get on a Saturday night in Tiger Stadium or a Tuesday evening in the PMAC for a basketball game or a Friday night at a gymnastics meet,” Zernott said. “The feeling they get to experience is like no other.”
Wednesday, November 7, 2018 ADMISSIONS, from page 3 standards for public universities across the state. The Board first created admissions standards in 1991. Alexander did not consult the Board of Regents or the LSU Board of Supervisors before implementing holistic admissions. In a speech to the Baton Rouge Press Club on Oct. 15, Alexander called the Board of Regents’ exception rule a recommendation, and said he is still trying to figure out why the numbers exist in the first place. “It’s a recommendation from the Regents,” Alexander said. “It’s fluctuated with years. This isn’t even our largest year. We have had years where we have had many more exceptions back in 2012 and last year. It never came up as being something.” The Board of Regents allows 4 percent of the University’s incoming freshman class to be admitted despite not meeting the Board’s 3.0 unweighted GPA and 22 ACT score requirements. If found not compliant with its policies, the Board of Regents could potentially withhold funds from the University. The students admitted under the exception rule in 2011 did not enjoy that rate of success. Less than half of them — 48 percent — graduated within six years. The entire fall 2011 freshman class had a six-year graduation rate of 67 percent. “It’s horrible,” Lipsey said,
who is a leading opponent of holistic admissions and a major University benefactor. “This is totally unacceptable and how does Alexander expect to raise the six-year graduation rate when he wants to lower the standards of getting into LSU?” Lipsey said Alexander should have consulted the Board of Regents before making any policy changes since the Board sets admissions standards for public universities across the state. The University admitted 433 students who did not meet the required GPA or ACT scores this fall, 7.5 percent of the incoming class. The exceptions had a 21.3 average ACT score and an average GPA of 2.9. Of the 433 students, 239 were Louisiana residents. Over 100 of the exceptions are students who did not meet the University’s core high school curriculum. These students alone make up 42 percent of the non-resident exceptions. Alexander’s holistic admissions brought in the largest freshman class in University history. Over 5,800 new students stepped foot on campus this fall. Concerns over lowered standards and graduation rates of exceptions hijack the dialogue on holistic admissions, not the successes of the freshman class. The Board of Regents’ audit aims to breakdown the University’s exceptions, but questions over transparency still linger.
MEMORIAL OAK, from page 3
Native American Heritage Month Why follow us? Because we talk food! And who doesnʼt like food? #GeauxEat
Dreamcatcher crafting November 1st, 2018
African American Cultural Center 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Native American Dance Demo November 8th, 2018
Tower Drive 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Student Panel November 13th, 2018
Women’s Center 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (lunch provided)
@LSUDINING
@LSU.DINING @LSUDINING
November 2018
King began talking to different people around campus, including former provost Richard Koubek, about how the memorial could be restored to its former glory. King has been working in tandem with faculty and staff members across campus who are committed to the renovation and upkeep of the memorial. Throughout the past few years, the team designed a plan to renovate the area by adding informational signs and kiosks and changing the lighting and seating areas. They also created digital components as part of the redesign, including biographies written by students and an online version which will be maintained by Hill Memorial Library. King said he hopes the renovation and re-dedication of the memorial will reinforce the area’s importance to the University’s community. “The ultimate idea is for this to be for the students because the guys who were memorialized were students and alumni,” King said. “My view of this is that Memorial Oak Grove belongs to LSU students — past, present and the students who will come in the future.” King said he also hopes the families, friends and descendants of the memorialized students can become part of the ongoing tradition. So far, five families will be included in the re-dedication ceremony in November. All students are encouraged to attend the re-dedication ceremony.
Sports
page 7
I’M A BELEIVER There’s still room for optimism after a bitter Alabama loss
FOOTBALL
LSU moving forward after loss to Alabama BY BRANDON ADAM @badam__
CAL’D UP CHRIS CALDARERA @caldarera11 102,321 fans erupted with excitement. LSU had recovered a fumble on the 7-yard line with 1:14 left in a game tied at 10. The atmosphere was euphoric. For the first time in three years, it looked as if LSU was going to defeat Alabama. Sitting next to my dad in Tiger Stadium, I was excited to share what would have been a vintage father-son moment when the Tigers scored the go-ahead touchdown as the clock expired. Within seconds, everything vanished. LSU’s offense shifted into reverse after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and the Tigers settled for a field goal. Alabama drove down the field
to tie the game, and defeated LSU in overtime. As I drearily followed my dad out of the stadium, I promised myself on that Nov. 8, 2014 night that I would never allow myself to be optimistic about LSU football again. I had a good run of pessimism, but on the week leading up to Nov. 3, 2018, I broke my promise. I allowed myself to enjoy the buildup of the game, and I once again found myself gravitating toward the purple and gold hype. The anticipation grew with each passing day, and by the end of the week I was sure to let everyone who asked me know that No. 3 LSU would upset No. 1 Alabama on Saturday night. Gee, was I wrong. Not that any of this needs to be rehashed, but Alabama steamrolled LSU 29-0 in Tiger Stadium for their largest margin of victory in the last eight meetings.
Logically, one would assume that the game would be the final nail in the coffin, and that, based on my previous experience with LSU football, I would turn my back on the Tigers for good. To borrow a phrase from college football commentator Lee Corso — not so fast. As I sat in the student section minutes before kickoff, I experienced a joy I hadn’t felt in a long time. I realized how much fun it was believing that LSU could beat anyone the Tigers played. The previous week’s classes weren’t such a bore with the big game to look forward to, and I appreciated how special it was to be a first-hand witness to one of the most highly-anticipated home games in school history. I haven’t detached myself from reality though. Any happiness that existed in the anticipation of the game quickly dissipated when the ball was kicked off.
I’m disappointed that LSU didn’t win, I’m disappointed that LSU hasn’t scored at home against Alabama since 2014, and I’m disappointed that I will graduate from LSU without seeing the Tigers defeat the Tide in my college career. Those realities are awful, and thinking about them could make the most positive LSU fan morose. However, I had so much fun being optimistic, and I’d be crazy to go back to the miserable alternative. So many people thought LSU was destined for a terrible season that would end in some toilet bowl game in the middle of nowhere. That has been far from the case, and if the Tigers regroup, there’s no doubt in my mind that this team will win the rest of the games on their
LSU may have been eliminated from playoff contention, but it doesn’t mean the season is over. The Tigers are ranked ... in the College Football Playoff poll and have a chance to close out the regular season with conference wins on the road against Arkansas (Nov. 10) and Texas A&M (Nov. 24) and a final home game against Rice (Nov. 17). LSU coach Ed Orgeron said this when he has to do his best coaching job and get the team focused and ready for the next the game during his media luncheon on Monday. The Tigers are 5-1 with a 22-point margin of victory in six regular season games after losing to Alabama the previous two seasons. “This team’s got to be mentally tough,” Orgeron said. “We got a lot to play for. This is a big game for us in terms of where we want to go in terms of how strong we can finish and in terms of, if we do finish strong, where we can end up. We’re 7-2, now and we have a chance to have an excellent season. That’s what we’re going to look at, and we’re going to use that as a motivational tool.” Recent projections by Jerry Palm of CBS Sports and Stewart Mandel of The Athletic both have LSU traveling out west to play UCF in the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Arizona. It’d be the farthest west LSU has ever traveled for a bowl game since 1977 when the Tigers lost to Stanford in the Sun
see OPTIMISM, page 9
see FOOTBALL, page 9
SOCCER
LSU Soccer hopes to make run for 2018 College Cup
BY JACOB BECK @Jacob_Beck25 The LSU soccer team will make its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2015 when they host Patriot League Champions Boston University this year. The game is scheduled for Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. LSU is one of nine Southeastern Conference teams to make the tournament, matching the number from last year. Other notable teams in the Tigers’ section of the bracket include national seeds Florida
State and University of Southern California, who are No. 1 and No. 4 seeds respectively. If the Tigers win their first round game, they will face the winner of USC/Long Beach State. If Long Beach State wins and Florida State loses, the Tigers will host their second round match as well. LSU finds itself hosting a first round match after an incredible run at the SEC Soccer Tournament, in which the Tigers won their first tournament championship. Winning the trophy was a total team effort, with the usual
suspects providing heroics, such as senior utility player Alex Thomas and senior goalkeeper Caroline Brockmeier, but also some new faces, with freshman Meghan Johnson scoring the game-winning penalty kick against Tennessee, and freshman midfielder Shannon Cooke scoring the game-winning goal against South Carolina and the equalizing goal against Arkansas in the final. Brockmeier was named the tournament MVP following great
see COLLEGE CUP, page 9
EMMA HOGUE / The Daily Reveille
The LSU women’s soccer team huddle up before the Tigers’ 2-0 win over Alabama on Sept. 27 at the LSU Soccer Complex.
The Daily Reveille
page 8
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
VOLLEYBALL
Tigers look to finish strong after disappointing season territory, and the team is aware of its opponents’ systems and the way they control the ball. “I think we’ll have a confidence stepping on the court — we’ve already shown that. We certainly had a chance against A&M to be successful,” Flory said. LSU lost to Texas A&M 2-3 by scores of 26-24, 21-25, 25-20, 23-25, 13-15. LSU had a 2-1 lead starting the match, but ended up giving the game to the Aggies. This game was the closest LSU came to beating any of their opponents. LSU was also very close to beating Ole Miss but fell with scores of 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 2125, 14-16. Tigers started with a 1-0 lead after coming back in the first set. The game was full of back and forths as the Tigers fought. After pushing into a final fifth set and different leads, the Rebels came out victorious. “We already played Ole Miss, and that was a close game,” sophomore outside hitter Taylor Bannister said. “I think we’re just gonna have to have that edge in order to get the results that we want or to get better results than we did in our last appearance.” All season LSU hasn’t gone down without a fight. The team has fought until the very end of the match. They have improved
BY MATTISON ALLEN @mattisonlsu
The Tigers only have a month left in their scheduled season and not much to show for it. The season hasn’t gone as well as the Tigers would have hoped. They have a record of 9-14 overall and 4-8 in the Southeastern Conference. The few winning streaks the Tigers have had this season were short lived. The next month gives LSU an opportunity to end on a better note. “I don’t think we’ve met our expectations for the season, but I think we’ve continued to improve,” said coach Fran Flory. “I think that we’ve stayed dedicated to the process, and we still have some great potential. Overall we’re disappointed with how the season went, but we also know we have to push through to the end.” LSU has six games left. Of those six, five are teams LSU has already faced. However, the Tigers were never on the winning side of those games. Texas A&M and Ole Miss were the toughest losses for LSU because everyone had high hopes of coming out on top. Playing teams LSU has already faced will give the team a confidence boost. It’s familiar
MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Daily Reveille
The Tigers celebrate after scoring a point during their 2-3 loss against Texas A&M in the PMAC on Sept. 30. in multiple areas. Although the season hasn’t turned out exactly as expected, LSU doesn’t plan to give up. “I think that the message is that hard times are built for tougher people,” Flory said. “College athletics is about life lessons, the experiences in college are about learning and becoming better people. The lessons learned are going to be valuable. Sometimes you learn better when you’re not getting what you want, so I think it should be a valuable year for us.” The hard times have contin-
ued to get harder as the season has gone on. Bannister suffered an injury. Bannister’s wrist was injured at practice, forcing her to wear a brace. Bannister has been the leading outside hitter for majority of the games this season, but now the team can’t rely on her passing game. “Due to my injury, I can’t go back row and work on passing,” Bannister explained. “I can still block and hit. Fran has told me to reach high, get my arms back and my feet planted and be a dominating force in that area.” Now LSU is faced with the
challenge of filling Bannister’s spot. This isn’t an unusual circumstance for the team as they’ve been doing this all season. LSU is constantly moving players around trying to find the perfect system. The stats are matching the handbook and yet the team still faces losses. “It’s an opportunity for personal growth and to get back to who we are and have a great product,” Flory said. “We have to have a vision of where we’re going, but we can climb up the rankings, and certainly that’s our goal.”
VOLLEYBALL
CAN T A H T E E R G E AD RE E H W Y N A U O TAKE Y STRATEGIC
COMMUNICATION
JOBS WILL
RISE 9% by
2026 FASTER THAN THE OVERALL ECONOMY*
Follow us on social media!
Just a few of the jobs you can work in with a mass communication degree: • • • • • • • • •
Social media manager Event planner Political journalist Public information officer Television reporter Advertising manager Lawyer Creative director Campaign manager
Learn more about LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication: masscomm@lsu.edu
@ManshipSchool @ManshipSchool ManshipSchool
*Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Public relations, advertising, fundraisers and promotions and marketing managers.
Zwiebel embraces starting role BY MYLES KUSS @KussMyles
In a season of ups and downs, junior setter Anna Zwiebel has stepped into any role that her team has for her. “I am always ready to do what the team needs me to do,” Zwiebel said. “My original position is setter, but if they need me at back row, I will do it.” The Tigers (9-14, 4-8 Southeastern Conference) have had an upsetting season with glimpses of greatness. From outside hitter Taylor Bannister to defensive specialist Raigen Cianciulli, the team possesses young talent but has not found the formula to make it work. In the middle of the season, coach Fran Flory shuffled the lineup and plugged in Zwiebel as the starting setter, who has played extremely well. “I am getting good passes from the back row,” Zwiebel said. “When we are all together, things flow, and we need to continue to do that.” In addition to putting up consistent double-double numbers, she was a main contributor in the win against Georgia. Even after that SEC win, the Tigers have not put it together and often look deflated in the later sets. Zwiebel looks for confidence from a number of areas to combat the negativity. “I think the leadership changes from game to game,” Zwiebel said.
THE DAILY REVEILLE ARCHIVES
LSU then-freshman setter Anna Zwiebel (2) celebrates after a point late in the match during the Tigers’ 3-2 victory over the University of Georgia on Nov. 11, 2016 in the PMAC. “We have all had turns being that glue and holding the team together at different times.” Being the glue for a struggling team can lead to locker room arguments and lack of play on the court, yet the Tigers have shown chemistry and a lack of discontent. Zwiebel believes that the tenacity is still there and the team is never going to quit. “We all want the team to win,” Zwiebel said. “We are all working toward the same goal and taking it one point at a time.” She also said that Flory has
fed the team a constant message throughout the season. “She always tells us that we are right there,” Zwiebel said. “I think it’s the confidence. We are a good team, but we need to pull it together and keep our standards high.” Going forward into the last eight games of the season, keeping the players’ heads high is the main importance and goes back to the constant word of tenacity. “I am excited for our upcoming matches,” Zwiebel said. “And if we play with confidence, we can beat anyone.”
The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, November 7, 2018 COLLEGE CUP, from page 7 performances in each game, with 19 total saves and one shutout in four games. Brockmeier made key penalty saves in both penalty shootouts against Tennessee in the quarterfinals and Arkansas in the finals. “It feels unreal. I’m kind of at a loss for words right now. It hasn’t really sunk in yet.” Brockmeier said. “I love this team. I’m so happy I could be a part of this.” Thomas, Cooke and sophomore Adrienne Richardson made the All-SEC Tournament team, contributing in every game. Thomas scored a hat-trick in the Tigers’ first-round matchup against Missouri, scoring the third goal in second-overtime to win the game. She also played well as an outside back creating chances on the offensive side and
getting back on defense helping out the center-backs. Cooke played in all four games scoring two goals, the second of which was an incredible 40-yard rocket that should be considered the goal of the season for LSU. Cooke played mostly in the midfield during the tournament, making key passes and dropping back on defense when necessary. “Abbey (Newton) sent the ball over to me. I took a touch, smashed it, bagged it, top bins and I looked in the back of the net and it was in. The next thing I know my teammates were all over me and we had equalized it,” Cooke said of the 40-yard goal. Richardson assisted Cooke on her first goal against Tennessee and also created a multitude of chances playing primarily down the right flank. The Tigers enter the NCAA
Tournament playing their best soccer and will hope to make a deep run to the College Cup.
OPTIMISM, from page 7 schedule. It’s a waste of time dwelling on LSU’s loss to an untouchable Alabama team, and it’s clear to me that the Tide have the already won 2018 National Championship. It was called the Crimson and White game and it happened in the spring. I plan on spending the rest of my senior year supporting the team and being excited about LSU’s chances to play in a New
Year’s Six bowl game. I understand that some will choose to let the success of Alabama and its boastful fans control their dispositions. Regardless of which category you fall into though, it’s important to remember that life’s too short to be miserable about sports, and the Tigers have enjoyed too much success this year to have fans turn their backs.
EMMA HOGUE/ The Daily Reveille
LSU sophomore forward Ardienne Richardson (10) runs down the field during the Tigers’ 2-0 win over Alabama on Sept. 27 at the LSU Soccer Complex.
FOOTBALL, from page 7 Bowl in El Paso, Texas. It would also be the first major bowl game outside of the national title game since 2006 when a JaMarcus Russell-led team defeated Notre Dame 41-14 in the Sugar Bowl. “I think it does kind of sit in the back of our mind, but if you focus on that then you lose track of the day-to-day and you don’t get better,” said junior quarterback Joe Burrow about the possibility of playing in a big-time bowl game. “You have to focus on the day-to-day, fundamentals, working hard every day to get better, and if we don’t get better we are going to lose a game. And you can’t do that.” If LSU wins out in the regular season it’d be the first 10win regular season since 2012. A 10-2 regular season is a far cry from original projections which had the Tigers going 7-5 at best. “If we had told you guys we were going to be 10-2 at the end of the season you guys would’ve told us we were crazy going into that Miami game,” said Burrow, who felt he began to get deflated when it became apparent the Tigers weren’t going to be able to beat Alabama. “We still have a very successful season
page 9
NOW HIRING
Spanky's Daiquiris on Burbank & Ben Hur is looking for fun, outgoing
& motivated bartenders and door security to join our team!
Experience A+ but not necessary. Apply in person @ 411 Ben Hur Road
MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Daily Reveille
LSU junior quarterback Joe Burrow (9) looks to th the ball down the field during the Tigers’ 45-16 victory over Ole Miss on Sept. 29 at Tiger Stadium. potentially ahead of us and that’s what we are going to be playing for.” First one the docket for LSU and Burrow are the Arkansas Razorbacks. In the last visit to Louisiana’s northern neighbor, the Tigers throttled the Hogs 38-10 behind a record-breaking performance from former running back Derrius Guice (2015-2017). Guice ran for 252
yards, which was second most ever for an LSU running back at the time, and two touchdowns on 21 carries. It’s unlikely senior running back Nick Brossette or his sophomore counterpart Clyde Edwards-Helaire will replicate that, but both will have chances against a 2-7 Arkansas team that gives up almost 34 points and 413 yards per game.
MITCHELL SCAGLIONE/ The Daily Reveille
LSU junior quarterback Joe Burrow (9) receives the snap during the Tigers’ 31-0 victory over Southeastern in Tiger Stadium on Sept. 8.
page 10
The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
LSU SALUTES LSU ROTC HONORS ITS ALUMNI WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE MILITARY.
PHOTOS BY MITCHELL SCAGLIONE
The Daily Reveille
page 11
The Daily Reveille
page 12
Announcements
Employment
Housing
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Merchandise
Transportation
Classif ieds
To place your ad, visit www.lsureveille.com and click classifieds
Help Wanted
Costs: $.40 per word per day. Minimum $5 per day. Personals free for students Deadline: 12 p.m., three school days prior to the print publication date
For Rent
In need of a student or graduate with architecture or related design skills for a short term assignment. Flexible schedule and good pay
1BR 1 1/2BA, 140 Wylie, Kenilworth Area, 10 min fm LSU. $700. Walk to Grocery/Food. 225-380-8719 or 225-344-6604
make a splash with
YOUR business!
RentBR.com $1,200/mo Updated 3 Bed 2 Full Bath All Appliances 795 Jennifer Jean 302-1199
Louisiana Nursery is now hiring Holiday Helpers! We are looking for Cashiers, Tree Lot Associates, General Labor & Delivery Drivers. No experience necessary! Earn pay above minimum wage! We also offer flexible hours and an employee discount. Apply online at louisiananursery.com/careers
Services
2167 Glendale Ave in University Gardens 3 Bed 2 Bath $1,600/ month 1752sqft Includes all appliances, water/garbage/sewer and lawn care! RentBR.com
place a classified at
lsunow.com!
FOR RELEASE NOVEMBER 7, 2018
THE Daily Commuter Puzzle ACROSS 1 Sault __. Marie 4 Say 9 Dick and Jane’s dog 13 Rotate 14 “__ yours”; letter closing 15 African nation 16 Leave out 17 “The Three __”; Dumas novel 19 __ T; exactly 20 Wooden piers 21 Abhors 22 Cacophony 24 Companion 25 Attractive metal? 27 Arranges 30 Grown-up 31 Plato & Carvey 33 Rest 35 Mrs. Herman Munster 36 Turning part of a motor 37 Phi __ Kappa 38 Oolong or pekoe 39 Rejuvenate 40 Poisonous 41 Dire; critical 43 Tyrant 44 Traitor 45 Dishwasher cycle 46 Cavalry sword 49 “Trick or __!” 51 Beanie 54 Horseback rider 56 Commotion 57 Creep about stealthily 58 Singer/actress Reese 59 Rescuer 60 Groupies 61 __ like; appears to be 62 McMahon & Marinaro
by Jacqueline E. Mathews
Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews
4 Maximum; extreme 5 Cease-fire 6 Elephant tooth 7 BPOE folks 8 Bread variety 9 Walks off with 10 Verse writer 11 Bogeyman 12 Fling 13 Tricycle rider 18 “__ all, folks!” 20 Count calories 23 “Beauty is __ skin deep” 24 Juicy fruit 25 Thick sweet drink 26 Parisian farewell 27 Winter forecast 28 Surprising 29 Outdoor socializing area DOWN 31 First word in a 1 Japanese warning wrestling form 32 Supped 2 Like pyramid sides 34 Treaty 3 Suffix for absorb 36 Torn in two or correspond 37 Supervisor
11/7/18
Tuesday’s Puzzle Solved
©2018 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.
39 Raises, as kids 40 Canvas shelter 42 Aristotle & Onassis 43 Ross and Rigg 45 Kingdom 46 __-righteous; holier-than-thou 47 Greenish-blue
11/7/18
48 Incinerate 49 Willow or yew 50 Make angry 52 Broadcasts 53 In favor of 55 Cowboys’ goals, for short 56 “Murder, __ Wrote”
Entertainment
page 13 LITERATURE
courtesy of VOODOO MUSIC + ARTS EXPERIENCE
IN BLOOM
Wallows bandmates grow together, evolve music style BY KELLY SWIFT @kellbell237
Sometimes all you need to start a band is a little bit of chicken, honey mustard and talent. Twelve years ago, Braeden Lemasters and Dylan Minnette were in a Los Angeles Cheesecake Factory and met through their mothers. They both ordered chicken wings and immediately knew they had a connection. Lemaster and Minnette eventually discovered they both had a passion for something other than chicken and honey mustard — they both loved rock ‘n roll. “Our friendship really began after one fateful sleepover,” Minnette said. “We bonded over
classic rock and realized that we both had a passion for music.” Lemasters and Minnette met Cole Preston, the third member of their band, at a music convention called “Join the Band,” in the Valley. Lemasters and Minnette saw Preston’s drum skills and formed a band that has been together ever since — though they haven’t always been called Wallows. In 2011, when they were known as Feaver, they performed at Warped Tour. Then, shortly after, they changed their name to The Narwhals until they finally stuck with Wallows because they felt that it was more professional.
Alumna teaches forensics in new book
BY WHITNEY HICKS @whitchicks
Now it seems to be the perfect fit. The Wallows’ song “Pleaser” quickly became a hit with over six million streams, but you’d never know by talking to them. The band focuses on upholding their group dynamic and making sure they stay ready for the big picture. The band’s favorite song to perform together varies from member to member. Preston’s favorite song to perform is “Drunk on Halloween” while Lemasters and Minnette’s is “It’s Only Right” or “Pictures of Girls.”
LSU alumnae Mary H. Manhein and Leah Wood Jewett have teamed together to create their own publishing company, Os Liber Press. The first book of their debut series “Claire Carter, Bone Detective” was just released. Manhein wrote the first book of the series titled “Claire Carter, Bone Detective: The Mystery of the Bones in the Drainpipe.” The book is available for purchase through osliberpress.com, Amazon, Cottonwood Books in Baton Rouge and Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs. The story follows a young forensic anthropologist Claire Carter and her young niece/ protégé Penelope Charbonnet. Through the series, young readers will learn about the skeleton and how it can be used to learn many things about the person or animal such as age, sex, ancestry, disease and species. Readers will also get an inside look at the variety of people in Louisiana and the beautiful environments in which they live. Manhein is a forensic anthropologist and former deputy coroner as well as the creator and retired director of the
see BAND, page 16
see DETECTIVE page 16
LITERATURE
Louisiana Book Festival to highlight authors on Nov. 15 BY LYNNE BUNCH @lynnebunch11 Book lovers all across the state and country have the chance to come together and celebrate their love for fiction, non-fiction and everything in between at the 2018 Louisiana Book Festival right here in Baton Rouge. The 2018 Louisiana Book Festival (LBF) takes place Nov. 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m in downtown Baton Rouge at the State Library of Louisiana, the State Capitol, the Capitol Park Museum and nearby locations. The LBF is an annual, free celebration of readers, writer and their books. LBF makes it fun for the whole family with activities aimed toward every age group. The festival includes the Young Readers Pavilion and the Teen HQ for younger audiences, as well as live musical performanc-
es, cooking demonstrations, book talks, signings and a wide variety of book-related activities and exhibitors. The 2018 LBF program features over 245 authors and panelists presenting book talks or participating in discussions as well as other literary activities. Books by featured authors will be available in the Barnes & Noble Bookselling and Signing Tent located on 4th Street. Participating authors will sign their books at this location approximately 15 minutes after their feature presentations. Two of the biggest names among the 245-plus authors and panelists are Academy Awardnominated actress Quvenzhané Wallis and former Democratic National Committee (DNC) chair Donna Brazile. Both Wallis and Brazile are Louisianaborn authors who are coming back to their southern roots
for the festival. Wallis initially gained fame when she became the youngest Oscar nominee for Best Actress at 9 years old for her 2012 performance in “Beasts of the Southern Wild.” Since then, she performed in the 2013 Academy Award-winning film “12 Years a Slave” and started in the 2014 “Annie” remake. At only 15 years old, Wallis has taken both the film and literary worlds by storm. Since 2017, she has released four children’s books, including three books for her “Shai & Emmie” series about the title best friends who are destined for superstardom. Wallis’ books are fun for all ages, but Brazile is known for her serious nonfiction work about black women interested in government, federal politics and the controversies we’ve seen since
see BOOKS, page 16
courtesy of JESSICA WILSON
The 2018 Louisiana Book Festival will take place in downtown Baton Rouge at the State Library, the State Capitol and surrounding areas on Nov. 10.
The Daily Reveille
page 14
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
FOOD AND DRINK
Vanilla Sweet House combines Asian, French cuisine BY BARROW CLEMENT @Clement Barrow
Vanilla Sweet House brings a twist of French and Asian culture never before seen in Baton Rouge. The heart and soul of Vanilla Sweet House is owner Zhen Yang. Despite owning a restaurant, Yang’s first career choice was not as an entrepreneur. Yang attend Texas A&M University for graduate school and received a degree in engineering. It wasn’t until her husband received a job offer from LSU that Yang moved to Louisiana and decided to pursue a career she was much more passionate about: baking. Yang is a workhorse at her restaurant. She is an active presence in the kitchen, where she helps bake pastries and cakes and even works the front counter when she is shortstaffed. This is all so she can foster the welcoming, humble atmosphere she wants to create. Vanilla Sweet House is located at 3617 Perkins Road and is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. “Baking is kind of like my passion,” Yang said. “I wanted to do baking, like cakes and des-
serts, because they have endless varieties and things you can do.” Yang discovered her love for baking after moving to America to attend graduate school. She expressed that baking was a sort of comfort for her and a connection to her heritage. Yang does not think there are many Asian-style restaurants around Baton Rouge, so she combined this with her knowledge of French baking to create a mix of French and Asian cuisine. “What I’m trying to do is mix French and Asian styles together so that we could do something maybe unique and something for us only,” Yang said. Yang shared some of the challenges she has faced with the restaurant. Because the restaurant is a start-up, finding a location was no small task. However, this ended up helping Yang find the perfect location. Yang also expressed the difficulties involved with many new aspects she has learned about the food service industry, such as finding a contractor and electricians. Finally, she said there is always a struggle for Asian people looking for a taste of home in the U.S. — a
AURIANNA CORDERO / The Daily Reveille
Vanilla Sweet House is open at 3617 Perkins Road on Nov. 5. struggle, however, that helped spark her passion for learning the cooking world. “When Asians come into the United States, it’s sometimes pretty hard to find our own comforting food,” Yang said. “After the first cake I ever baked, I found out it was really interest-
ing and I began to explore this area more and more.” It is obvious baking is something Yang is passionate about. She is working to turn Vanilla Sweet House into a place she can call her own, one pastry at a time. “We’re still trying and
getting better and working on perfecting our menus,” Yang said. “But soon we’ll have a lot of updates here, like for the menus, for the cakes and for the drinks. We’re now designing our new menus. I want to create a place with variety, and it will be more fun here.”
EVENTS CALENDAR Now Open! 1 Block from Campus! 3260 Highland Road
7 Days a Week 11a.m. - 9p.m. @EatPokeLoa
08 NOV
GEORGE RODRIGUE’S WOMEN WITH WENDY RODRIGUE LSU WOMEN’S CENTER 4 P.M.
10 NOV
LOUISIANA BOOK FESTIVAL 2018 701 N 4TH ST 9 A.M. - 4 P.M.
10 NOV
WILD DAY AT THE ROWE PERKINS ROWE 10 A.M. - 1 P.M.
11 NOV
ACOUSTIC BRUNCH WHITE STAR MARKET 11 A.M. - 2 P.M.
16 NOV
WHITE LIGHT NIGHT MID CITY ART & CULTURAL DISTRICT 6 P.M. - 10 P.M.
18 NOV
THE QUEERATIVE MARKET: A SOUTHERN QUEER ARTS MARKET 1012 S. ACADIAN THWY 3 P.M. - 8 P.M.
The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
REV R ANKS FIRST MAN Universal Pictures
“First Man” shows Armstrong’s struggle with the death of his young daughter in the early ’60s, but not much else about his personal life is shared throughout this movie. Audiences are left feeling unresolved with questions about Armstrong’s feelings about the tremendous journey he was about to embark on.
Whitney Hicks @whitchicks
BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE 20th Century Fox It is obvious that “Bad Times at the El Royale” is writer and director Drew Goddard’s love letter to Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction.” So much of the style of the film is influenced by Tarantino’s magnum opus, including the use of interwoven stories “Pulp Fiction” popularized.
Barrow Clement @ClementBarrow
THE MIND OF JAKE PAUL
YouTube
In Dawson’s series, he highlights the detrimental effects Jake’s family have had on him. The series gives Jake the chance to speak his truth on his many scandals, such as his breakup with fellow influencer Alissa Violet.
Kelly Swift @kellbell237
Read the full reviews online at lsunow.com/daily/entertainment
page 15
Red Dead Redemption II one of 2018’s best video games BY BARROW CLEMENT @ClementBarrow “Red Dead Redemption II” takes the Old West setting of its predecessor and improves upon it in every way. “Red Dead Redemption II” puts the player in the shoes of Arthur Morgan, an outlaw fleeing with his gang from bounty hunters during the turn of the century. The game allows the player to live the outlaw life, robbing banks and trains, running from the law and engaging in numerous bar fights and shootouts. The player is allowed to decide if they want to be honorable or debaucherous, and these different playstyles influence the aspects of the world. The developers packed an enormous amount of detail into the world. The map shifts farther east from the original game, with the easternmost part of the first games map becoming the westernmost part of this game. The environments range from horse trodden plains to snowy mountains, all of which are populated by a lot of flora and fauna for the player to discover. A large area of the map is also heavily inspired by Louisiana. Separated from the rest of the map by a large swamp, the city of Saint Denis features the same architecture and style of New Orleans. The game allows players to participate in all of the activities associated with Old West outlaws. To earn money, players can rob banks, trains, stagecoaches, stores and any of the non-playable characters. Players are also allowed to engage in more lawabiding activities, such as cattle only do the antagonist of “Red rustling and fishing. The game Dead Redemption” — gang memalso encourages hunting, not only bers Bill Williamson and Javier for materials, but also for morale. Escuella, FBI agent Edgar Ross and gang leader The game’s Dutch van der morality system Linde — but the encourages playfirst games proers to help the The developers packed an tagonist, John other members of the Dutch van enormous amount of detail Marston, returns into the world. as a member of the der Linde gang gang he was later around the camp, forced to hunt which includes down. This gives fetching special the player the opitems for them and hunting animals to feed portunity to see what Marston’s life was like before the events the camp. “Red Dead Redemption of the previous game. The game contains deep II” also brings back many characters from the original themes about issues like de“Red Dead Redemption.” Not velopment and feeling out
courtesy of ROCKSTAR GAMES
of place in the world. The characters often talk about how the age of outlaws is ending and how the developing society is slowly eliminating their way of life. They realize their time is coming to an end and society does not want them around, which leads to them questioning what will happen when their lifestyle will end and if they will even live to see that day. Overall, the game succeeds in allowing the player to vicariously live the outlaw lifestyle. Filled with a beautiful adaptive world and an engaging story, “Red Dead Redemption II” will go down as one of the best games of the year.
The Daily Reveille
page 16 BAND, from page 13 “Most of the time one of us comes up with an idea and then brings it to the other two, and we’ll all work on it from there,” Lemasters said about the songwriting process. The band’s compatibility is clear and obvious when they perform. When the band played the 2018 Voodoo Music + Arts Experience, they joked around in between songs and just had a fun time playing together, which makes for a much more enjoyable experience as a listener. “It’s fun to perform in a place with such good energy,” Minnette said about New Orleans.
DETECTIVE, from page 13 LSU Forensic Anthropology and Computer Enhancement Services Laboratory. She is no stranger to bones herself — her association with almost all of the human remains cases across Louisiana and the rest of the South gave her the nickname “The Bone Lady.” She used her real-life experience in the industry to create this educational novel. With a desire to write a children’s novel and the thought of starting her own business, Manhein’s visions became reality after running into former
When asked about their first tour as a band, Preston spoke about the beauty of performing in different cities. His favorite part of touring was seeing how crowds reacted to Wallows’ music in different places. Wallows’ music can be described as indie rock or surf rock, but the band’s sound is more complicated than a single genre of music. Having Minnette and Lemasters as the two lead vocalists makes their music more dynamic, and having Preston on drums adds a calm rock style that is catchy no matter your music taste. The beauty in having a small band is that conflict is limited. Since the band grew up together, they are like a family, which
makes the entire process of touring and growing as a band easier. Wallows has a clear style, but that isn’t to say it won’t change. The band is most consistently compared to The Strokes, but they are beginning to make a name for themselves, and their signature style is definitely subject to change as they are constantly striving to grow as a band. Though the Wallows have been together for quite some time, they have the ambition of fresh artists with no end in sight. “We are so comfortable because we grew up together, and we’re constantly evolving as a band,” Lemasters said. “We also have respect for each other and trust each other.”
student Jewett at a farmers’ market. After discussing Jewett’s desires to illustrate for a children’s book, the two teamed up to create Os Liber Press and release the Claire Carter series. Manhein wanted to tell a story not only about a forensic anthropologist, but also a young person with whom kids could identify. She chose Claire’s 11-year-old niece, Penelope, because it’s a great age of learning and discovery for children. She wanted young girls especially to see themselves in Penelope and know that they can be anything they want to be in this world.
Manhein wanted to tell these stories in a way that wasn’t gory or frightening. She carefully chose and used scientific language and created an educational novel for kids ages 8 to 12 — or even older. Parents will also love the book because it blends fun and education on an interesting topic not often taught in schools. The next novel in the “Claire Carter, Bone Detective” series, entitled “Skull Lake,” will take place in a completely different part of Louisiana. Manhein said she chose the location for multiple reasons. Readers will be able to learn about a new
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
courtesy of VOODOO MUSIC + ARTS EXPERIENCE
Wallows performs at the 2018 Voodoo Music + Arts Experience in New Orleans.
BOOKS, from page 13
courtesy of LEAH WOOD JEWETT AND MARY MANHEIN
case in a completely new and different environment from the first novel.
10% DISCOUNT
FOR LSU STUDENTS, FACULTY & STAFF The Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine offers a full range of veterinary services located conveniently on campus, from regular checkups to 24/7/365 emergency care.
WE TEACH. WE HEAL. WE DISCOVER. WE PROTECT.
Skip Bertman Drive @ River Road
225-578-9600 LSU.EDU/VETMED
the rise of the Trump era. Brazile is an adjunct Professor of Women and Gender Studies at Georgetown University and serves as a fellow in the Shorenstein Center at Harvard. She reached headlines, however, in 2016 when she assumed the role of interim chair of the DNC after Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned from the position. Brazile authored a book on her experiences titled “Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House.” The book is an account of her second time as the interim chair of the DNC and events surrounding the 2016 election, including Russian hacking and disorder within the Democratic Party. Brazile spoke at the University in November 2017 to discuss “Hacks” at the Hill Memorial Library. Brazile said she promotes the University no matter where she is in her life and career, not only because of how well her time here prepared her for “the most tumultuous years ever in American politics,” but because of the friendships and wisdom she gained.
BATON ROUGE FALL EVENTS LIVE AFTER FIVE • 13TH GATE HAUNTED HOUSE ANGOLA PRISON RODEO • SUNDAY IN THE PARK FIFOLET HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL • BOO AT THE ZOO SPOOK N ROWE • HAINTS, HAUNTS & HALLOWEEN LEARN MORE AT VISITBATONROUGE.COM
courtesy of JESSICA WILSON
The 2018 Louisiana Book Festival will take place in downtown Baton Rouge at the State Library, the State Capitol and surrounding areas on Nov. 10.
Opinion
page 17
THE HATE YOU GIVE Trump rhetoric feuls hateful, violent political climate
FRANKLY SPEAKING JUSTIN FRANKLIN @justinifranklin On Oct. 24, Gregory Alan Bush attempted to enter predominately black First Baptist Church in Jeffersontown, Kentucky. Frustrated after being unable to do so, he allegedly went into a nearby Kroger grocery store and murdered two black people. “Whites don’t kill whites,” Bush told white bystander Ed Harrell who confronted him after the attack. This white supremacist terrorist attack occurred in the same 72 hours that a gunman slaughtered 11 people in a Jewish synagogue and potentially dangerous packages were targeted at notable people all over the country. In these times of moral peril and violence, it is completely reasonable to look to the helm of American leadership. President Donald Trump made hatred of “the other” and fear mongering central pillars of his campaign and continues to
use them to maintain popularity and appeal to his base voters. Trump holds all the power, given to him by the American people. The President of the United States has the greatest platform for free speech on Earth. That being said, I do not believe Trump realizes the magnitude of his words and the recoil of his actions. Every word he speaks has power for good and power for evil. Words matter, and he needs to stop contributing rhetoric that inspires white supremacist terrorism, as well as other violence and hate all over the country. According to a report from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University at San Bernardino, hate crimes in the nation’s 10 largest cities increased by 12 percent last year to the highest level in more than a decade. This increase is juxtaposed with the fact that crime statistics overall have been declining since the early 1990s. Hate and resentment of our fellow Americans is growing. It is no secret a number of white supremacists endorse Trump. It is no secret Trump feeds off
of racial tension and fear of demographic change in America. Of course, no one can directly blame Trump for the actions of anyone else. The alleged Kroger shooter had a history of racist comments before Trump’s election. But, to say he has not contributed to the toxic nature of American politics and societal relations is completely dishonest and naïve. The stakes are too high for Trump not to make a change in the way he approaches our differences. Every time Trump gets in front of a microphone, he has the chance to denounce antiSemitism. Every time Trump stops before he boards a plane or helicopter, he has the chance to shut down racism. I truly believe that if Trump would come out firmly against bigotry and hatred, the social climate in America would change for the better. The longer he allows hate to fester, the worse it will get in America. Gregory Alan Bush killed Maurice Stallard right in front of his 12-year-old grandson. All he and his grandfather wanted to do at Kroger was buy a poster board for his school project.
cartoon by ETHAN GILBERTI / The Daily Reveille
Frankly speaking, we should not hear about white supremacist terrorism taking place in the heart of America in 2018. We should not hear of Jews or any other group being targeted. Unfortunately, we seem to have a president in the White House and a party in control who sup-
port fear-mongering and hatred. It is past time we hold the president and politicians accountable for their words and who they inspire. Justin Franklin is a 19-year-old political communication sophomore from Memphis, Tennessee.
Incoming LSU students should reconsider STEM degree THE MODERATE’S PROPOSAL
PATRICK GAGEN @pattygagen A nationwide push toward STEM education could be a huge mistake. While careers in STEM fields currently boast the highest-paying positions that many companies are scrambling to fill, the educational focus on technical skills over broad-based learning could yield unintended adverse consequences. This myopic focus on STEM education is a bet placed on projected future value based on current results. However, any finance major could tell you past performance does not determine future results. Just because a coveted job in technology has been and continues to be highly valuable, doesn’t mean there’s a guarantee that it will in the future. When people think of STEM degrees, they think of high-paying jobs almost exclusively in technology, but STEM encompasses science, engineering and math, too. Most people focus on technology and engineering for the singular reason that it pays to be in those fields.
However, an important distinction is needed between STEM fields due to such a wide salary gap between STEM field occupations. Software engineers, for example, are paid a median salary of $100,000, while astronomers are paid a median salary of $42,000. Today’s lower demanded and salaried STEM positions in science and math are not labor market concerns for politicians and companies. Few anticipate future unemployment lines wrapped around the block looking for work in astronomy or geometry. Experts are more worried about labor shortages in high-paying, highly innovative fields such as computer science, which could cost the economy billions to trillions of dollars in lost GDP growth over the coming decades. Governmental or corporate sponsorship isn’t the primary motivator for most incoming students choosing STEM degrees. Any informed student doesn’t need much encouragement to choose a STEM degree for the best reason there is to get one: it pays. College is expensive, and working in the technology sector pays off loans quickly. Incoming students seek to maximize
their return on investment, so they are naturally choosing a degree in computer science or civil engineering over one in fine art. The concern should be more over structural unemployment rather than a labor shortage, but people aren’t thinking about the labor market decades from now when companies replace human cognitive technical skills with artifical intelligence’s cognitive technical systems. A data miner could one day go the way of the coal miner into near obsolescence. Which begs the question — what good are technical skills acquired from a STEM degree now, if they’ll be obsolete within a few decades? It’s a less alluring career option if you’ll be out of work by the age of 45. Hopefully, there will be a job training safety net to return displaced technology workers to employment, but what if there isn’t? Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban argued that if AI will soon be able to program itself to automate both algorithmic and cognitive tasks predominately within STEM fields, then what good would a degree in these fields be worth if human skills are no longer needed?
courtesy of LSU MEDIA RELATIONS
College is expensive, and working in the technology sector pays off loans quickly.
Instead, a degree in the humanities may be worth far greater because it teaches abstract logic rather than concrete skills. Nontechnical skills are harder to automate. Thus, choosing a degree in the humanities may be worth far more in the future when tech companies begin looking to hire outside of computer science. Undoubtedly, the present value of a job in either the field of technology or engineering seems like a sure bet for wellpaid career choices. For American employees holding a bachelor of science in a STEM field, an entry-level position pays roughly
$14,000 more in salary on average than a position in humanities or liberal arts. However, specialized labor could soon be a thing of the past. To shield careers from artificial intelligence’s inevitable displacement of technical work, there should instead be a nationwide educational refocusing on broad-based learning. While it may seem counter-intuitive now, I wouldn’t write off getting a degree in the humanities just yet. Patrick Gagen is a 21-yearold mass communication and finance senior from Suwanee, Georgia.
The Daily Reveille
page 18
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Birthright citizenship powerful tool against discrimination TO THE MAX MAX NEDANOVICH @maxnedan In late October, President Donald Trump said he was preparing an executive order revoking the constitutional guarantee to citizenship if you are born on U.S. soil. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, a Republican, said Trump couldn’t revoke birthright citizenship with an executive order. “You obviously cannot do that … I’m a believer in following the plain text of the Constitution, and I think in this case, the 14th Amendment is pretty
clear, and that would involve a very lengthy constitutional process,” Ryan said. When leaders of the president’s own party are saying he can’t end birthright citizenship with an executive order, it is obvious Trump won’t actually be able to do it. He is simply saying whatever he needs to in order to keep his voter base happy and supportive of his presidency. The 14th Amendment states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” This means anyone born in
the U.S. is considered a citizen, which has sparked debate as to whether children of undocumented immigrants deserve to be considered citizens or not. If a person is born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents’ citizenship status, they deserve to be considered a citizen. Birthright citizenship is ingrained in the Constitution and a cornerstone of democracy. Trump is targeting “anchor babies” and “chain migration” with this executive order. This will result in a standoff with the courts, as Trump’s power to do this remains a debate. This executive order threat is simply a ploy by Trump to gain voters before this year’s
midterm election. “A president doesn’t get to decide on his own who’s an American citizen and who’s not. That’s not how the Constitution of the United States works. That’s not how the Bill of Rights works. That’s not how democracy works,” former President Barack Obama said at a rally on Nov. 2. Obama is absolutely correct in regards to the president’s powers, and it is a shame our current president has little knowledge and understanding of the limits on his power. Trump’s attempt at using an executive order to amend the Constitution shows how unqualified he is to hold office.
Amending the Constitution is very difficult because any change must be approved by a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate, and then ratified by three-fourths of the states. That fact makes it obvious how desperate Trump is to revoke the 14th Amendment. In the 1898 Supreme Court case U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark, the court ruled that a person born on U.S. soil is a U.S. citizen, even if his or her parents are not. Birthright citizenship is a powerful tool against racism and must be protected. Max Nedanovich is a 21-yearold mass communication junior from Mandeville, Louisiana.
Alcohol culture toxic, reveals hypocritical double standard SMITT’S TEA
JAMES SMITH @itssmitt Alcohol is a drug, just like marijuana, cocaine, LSD and heroin. Alcohol consumption is ingrained into American culture, and excess drinking is generally accepted, especially on college campuses. This promotion is a startling double standard. Around campus, students wear shirts with logos of Abita, Budweiser, Tin Roof or Parish Brewing. There isn’t anything inherently wrong with this. All students have a right to freedom of expression. The problem arises when people demonize other mind-altering substances, some of which might be safer than alcohol. The most common effects of marijuana, for example, are trouble thinking clearly,
temporary memory loss, increased appetite, slowed coordination and potentially dangerous chemicals coming in contact with the lungs. Those chemicals are still drastically safer than cigarettes, the legal product that has been proven since the mid20th century to cause cancer. Most people who smoke marijuana will just want to lay on a couch and watch a movie. Some common effects of LSD, as cliché as they might sound, are an uplift in mood, life-changing therapeutic realizations and a feeling of connection with the universe and others. Most people who ingest LSD will want to prance through a field. Alcohol, on the other hand, leads to reduced impulse control, lowered inhibitions and a boost in confidence. When used responsibly, none of these drugs typically harm the user. There have been no
You Are Not Alone.
documented deaths due to an LSD overdose, according to a report by the Drug Policy Alliance in 2015. Additionally, there have been no documented accounts of a death due to a marijuana overdose alone, according to an article by the Huffington Post this year, although that figure is heavily debated. However, 88,000 people die annually from alcohol-related incidents in the U.S. Alcohol poisoning accounts for, on average, six deaths in the U.S. each day. This makes alcohol the third leading preventable cause of death in this country. The first is tobacco. Both are legal and heavily advertised, despite government regulations. The bottom line is that alcohol is known to directly kill. Other drugs that have been and continue to be demonized have a death count of zero. Sure, a person might get behind the wheel while on LSD or marijuana and cause
When faced with the unexpected, our team of licensed medical professionals provides you with the resources, respect, and support you need.
a fatal crash, but the drug itself is inherently safe to consume in terms of mortality. Alcohol, in excess, is a poison that kills. There are far safer drugs than alcohol. Why do we celebrate a drug that is widely known to cause deaths and a plethora of other detrimental effects? Why do we demonize drugs that are far less dangerous at face value? The war on drugs is mostly to blame, but it’s time to change those outdated misconceptions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a form of cannabis to treat severe cases of epilepsy earlier this year. Psilocybin, or “magic mushrooms,” is a hallucinogen like LSD, and can help treat mental illnesses
such as depression and anxiety, according to a study published by Johns Hopkins University in 2016. All drugs are harmful when misused, including marijuana and LSD. Both of them can bring out underlying mental health issues. They can also help treat those who already suffer from mental illness. Alcohol presents far more harm than benefit. Its widespread and accepted promotion is a startling double standard that we, as a society, should address. James Smith is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from Grand Coteau, Louisiana.
335 South Acadian Thruway • 225.367.4189 • www.trudyswaxbar.com
Full Body Waxing 20% off for students
FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL SERVICES: Support for Unplanned Pregnancies: Professional counseling, pregnancy testing, ultrasound
STD Testing for Women:
Free gonorrhea and chlamydia testing for a limited time
760 Colonial Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70806 | 225.663.6470 www.womansnewlife.com
The Daily Reveille EDITORIAL BOARD Natalie Anderson Ha-Vy Nguyen Evan Saacks Hailey Auglair Lynne Bunch Hannah Kleinpeter
Editor in Chief Managing Editor News Editor Deputy News Editor Entertainment Editor Opinion Editor
“She’s the one your friends are talking about!”
Editorial Policies and Procedures
The Daily Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Daily 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 Daily 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 Daily Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Daily Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Daily 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 “I decided I can’t pay a person to rewind time, so I may as well get over it.” Serena Williams PROFESSIONAL TENNIS PLAYER September 26, 1981 — present
The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
page 19
Technology should be banned from all lecture-based classes ALLOW ME TO DIFFERIENTIATE BRITANY DIEFENDERFER @back_in_a_dief Technology such as smart phones, smart watches and laptops should not be allowed in college class. This is an initiative some of my classes have already taken, and I completely support it. Technology in the classroom setting is distracting. I see numerous students scrolling through social media instead of paying attention to the professor’s lecture. There are numerous benefits to taking notes the oldfashioned way with paper and pens. Having a professor lec-
ture from the front of the room is already boring to the average student. Putting a laptop or cell phone in front of them makes it nearly impossible for them to pay attention. Taking long-hand notes forces students to actively listen to the lecture by picking up important points made by the professor. In two out of the five classes I am enrolled in, technology is banned. I find that I pay attention to the subject material more and listen with more intention. I take my notes in a journal, and physically writing out the important notes from the lecture requires me to actively listen to the professor and remember important points. A study was conducted by professors at Princeton
University and The University of California at Los Angeles to observe the benefits of taking long-hand notes. Pam A. Mueller of Princeton University says, “When people type their notes, they have this tendency to try to take verbatim notes and write down as much of the lecture as they can.” I find this to be true in my own experience. Students get lost typing without actually comprehending what the professor is actually saying, so when they go back to their notes they don’t truly understand what they typed. She continues to explain the benefits of long-hand notes saying, “The students who were taking longhand notes in our studies were forced to be more
selective — because you can’t write as fast as you can type. And that extra processing of the material that they were doing benefited them.” The study proved technology to be more distracting in student’s learning than valuable. Of course, technology in the classroom can be extremely valuable by providing extra resources for the students and more visual teaching methods for the professors. However, technology should be banned from students for note-taking purposes in a classroom based on lecture. The University of Chicago Law School has shut off their WiFi services in classrooms since 2008 because of the negative effects technology had on
their students. According to Jennifer Senior from The Cut, “In the last few years, a number of studies have also shown, quite convincingly, that students learn better—and get better grades— when they take notes by hand.” The benefits of taking notes by hand are endless. Students will object to this change if the University ever progresses in the same way other universities have across the country. However, this movement is factually supported and would be beneficial to the students. Britany Diefenderfer is a 21-year old English literature junior from Thibodaux, Louisiana.
Mindfulness class offers overwhelming mental benefits SMITT’S TEA
JAMES SMITH @ itssmitt I took a feature writing class in the spring semester of 2018. One assignment was to do something new for 30 days and write about our experiences. For my 30 Day Challenge, I chose to meditate. The mindfulness skills I learned in those 30 days would become far more valuable than the writing skills I would learn. Mindfulness is a simple concept — it’s nothing more than the self-awareness of your thoughts. Doing something about those thoughts, though, is the hard part. I have depression and anxiety. Oftentimes, it’s not fun living in my mind. Some days, I can’t get out of bed. Other days, I feel like I’m not good enough for this world. Many days I’d do anything to get out of my head. To put it bluntly, living is uncomfortable far too often, especially prior to learning how to correct those thoughts. Before I began seeking professional help for my mental illnesses, I coped with those thoughts in all the wrong ways. Drugs, sex and manipulative behavior were my escapes. Mindfulness forced me to honestly assess those thoughts rather than numbing them. Why am I thinking this? Does this thought help me in any way? Is this worth worrying about? The more I meditated, the more I learned how to bring myself out of the past or the future — out of those depressing and anxious thoughts — and into the present. After those 30 days, I was actually disappointed that I had just now decided to give it a try. The evidence of the benefits of meditation and mindfulness were all around me. My therapist had been telling me to give
it a try. ABC’s Dan Harris wrote an entire book on it. Every selfhelp article I read mentioned something about the power of mindfulness. Those powers include reduced stress and rumination, while increasing focus, cognitive flexibility and relationship satisfaction, according to the American Psychological Association. I experienced all of these positive outcomes in those 30 days. In the present, 99 percent of the time, I’m actually ok. The pain was all in my head, I just didn’t realize that I could control the pain meter. Many college students don’t realize this, either. The University’s Mental Health Service is overburdened with students seeking relief. By the way, I’m
proud of you if you’re one of those students. It’s never easy to make the decision to schedule that first therapy appointment. “Psychology and the Good Life,” taught by Dr. Laurie Santos, is the largest class Yale has ever seen. The course teaches students how to live happier lives by teaching various life skills, including mindfulness. Since its inaugural semester, the class has spread to other colleges. This University would do good for its students by developing a similar class. The demand is there. The evidence is there. Bo Campbell Auditorium is there. I implore one caring, ambitious and qualified professor to take up this task. Imagine a campus with fewer stressed students turn-
ing to drugs or alcohol to make it through the week. Imagine a campus with happier, healthier students. This is already a beautiful campus made up of beautiful students. What if it was just a bit more beautiful? This class has the ability to do that. The way we think on a daily basis affects us far more than
math, science or the liberal arts — all of which are general education requirements. Why shouldn’t the University offer a course that teaches students how to think healthier and be happier? James Smith is 22-year-old mass communications senior from Grand Coteau, Louisiana.
LSU college of art + design citypork.com
124 W. Chimes St. LAUREN WATSON/ The Daily Reveille
A participant practices yoga techniques in Milford Wampold Memorial Park on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018.
225-388-5454
cityslicepizza.com
a new JOIN US FOR FUN, FREE STUFF, AND HOUSING INFORMATION! LSU Student Union • Royal Cotillion Ballroom • Nov. 7, 10am - 2pm
FEATURING.. Northgate, Place Du Plantier, Beau Chene, Fairway View, The Retreat at Brightside, Vivint, The Armstrong, The Oliver, The Villas at Riverbend, The Lodges at 777, Latitude 30, Max Fitness, Cort, Bella Brazilian, Abenteur Cycles, Southgate Towers