The Daily Reveille 3-9-2017 by Reveille

Volume 123 · No. 9

Thursday, March 9, 2017

EST. 1887

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dailyreveille FACULTY

SEC donates to Employee Assistance Fund BY NATALIE ANDERSON @natalie_mechell

AUGUSTUS STARK / The Daily Reveille

BY HANNAH VENERELLA @hannahvenerella

THE FUTURE OF

UBA

‘Castro’s Legacy and the Future of Cuba’ panel features guest speakers Rosa María Payá and John Suarez

Though most consider communism to be a thing of the past, speakers from “Castro’s Legacy and the Future of Cuba,” a luncheon panel that was open to all University students on Wednesday in the LSU Student Union, pushed this idea aside. “There are more people under the communist regime now than there were in 1989 ... 20 percent of the world’s population are currently slaves to their government,” said Murray Bessette, director of academic programs at the Victims of

Communism Memorial Foundation of Washington, D.C. Students and community members were offered a free lunch and souvenirs such as pens and T-shirts decorated with the word “dissident,” a blog that shares news on communism, along with free books that shed light on the atrocities of the communist regime. The University welcomed human rights activists and speakers Rosa María Payá and John Suarez, courtesy of VOC and the Eric Voegelin Institute,

see CUBA, page 7

The Southeastern Conference donated $100,000 to the University late February to assist employees who suffered and continue to suffer loss from the devastating floods of August 2016. The money was donated to the LSU Employee Assistance Fund. LSU President F. King Alexander requested for the establishment of the fund in late August to help those affected by the flooding. “On behalf of the LSU employees affected by the flood, I wish to thank Commissioner [Greg] Sankey and the members of the Southeastern Conference [for] their assistance,” Alexander said in a news release. “Though the flood is several months behind us, it remains very real to the thousands of Louisiana residents who remain in temporary housing with many months of recovery ahead.” Herb Vincent, SEC associate commissioner for communications, said the money had been in a fund set up for emergency purposes for SEC schools for a while. However, Vincent said it was only recently that school presidents and chancellors approved the process for allocating money for schools in emergency situations. This approval gave SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey the authority to donate the money.

see SEC, page 7 STUDENT LIFE

LSU to incorporate changes to make campus safer for bicyclists Master Plan notes demand for bike options BY TAYLOR DELPIDIO @TD_Reveille The University is making some changes for the next 10 years, including an increased effort to make the campus safer for bicyclists. These efforts are already showing some dividends, such as the BikeFriendly Campus designation received by the University in December. “We are making every effort to add bike lanes to campus streets, reduce conflict between cars and bicyclists/

pedestrians, provide access to maps that show [the] safest routes to travel around the city on a bike and are also in the midst of planning a bike month that will include free classes on bike safety for students, faculty and staff,” Tammy Millican, executive director of Facility and Property Oversight said. One of the goals of the Comprehensive and Strategic Campus Master Plan is to make the campus more sustainable over the next decade. During the planning process, researchers found 80 percent of students drive to campus, as opposed to only 14 percent who ride bikes.

see BICYLCLES, page 7

One objective of the University’s Comprehensive and Strategic Master Plan is to make the area surrounding campus friendlier for bicyclists.

THE DAILY REVEILLE ARCHIVES

page 2

Thursday, March 9, 2017 B-16 Hodges Hall Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, La. 70803 Newsroom (225) 578-4811

Advertising (225) 578-6090

Editor in Chief ROSE VELAZQUEZ

in this

ISSUE

Managing Editor APRIL AHMED News Editor WILLIAM TAYLOR POTTER

page 9

Groovin’ 2017

CHUNFENG LU / The Daily Reveille

Sports Editor JOSHUA THORNTON

Kesha named headliner for LSU SG’s Groovin’ 2017

Entertainment Editor ALLIE COBB

Back in Action

Opinion Editor ANJANA NAIR

The Daily Reveille takes a look at LSU’s football roster heading into spring practice

Ashleigh Gnat

Production Editor RAMSINA ODISHO

Deputy Production Editor TAYLOR WILEY page 12

ALYSSA BERRY / The Daily Reveille

One of LSU’s most successful gymnast’s collegiate career is coming to a close

Dressed in Drag

12 MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR

Alumna reflects on her time in Tiger Band and her illustrious journalism career

Young Invincibles

Photo Editor ZOE GEAUTHREAUX Deputy Photo Editor HASKELL WHITTINGTON

Drag queens take the runway at the LSU Student Union

Fifty Years of Freda

Deputy News Editor LAUREN HEFFKER

SQUEEZE

CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS In the March 2 edition of The Daily Reveille, the story “Going Strong: Finnegan perseveres in gymnastic season as father battles cancer” misidentified Sarah Finnegan’s father’s illness as pancreatic cancer. The story should have stated that Finnegan’s father had, “been battling pancreatitis since November of last year.” The Daily Reveille regrets this error.

ABOUT THE DAILY REVEILLE

What a columnist learned on her journey to the nation’s capital WEDNESDAY • MARCH 15 • 8 PM - 9PM

Squeeze is an alternative pop band from London. Members Glenn Tillbrook and Chris Difford have been called the Lennon and McCartney of the new wave scene of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Their music is melodic, hook-filled pop with smart lyrics. Squeeze formed in 1974 and have broken up re-formed many times. The band put out a new record in October of 2015. Join Madison Square on March 15th for an hour of her favorite Squeeze tracks! JKL;J KL; TO KEEP

TUNE IN AT 91.1 FM OR KLSURADIO.FM

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 STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Washington D.C. 1838

FACING THE PAST

Georgetown University students visit LSU as part of collaborative honors course

BY DENA WINEGEART @DenaWinegeart

Georgetown University sells 272 slaves to pay off institutional debts

SG passes product regulation resolution

Student Senate urges Outtakes, Take 5 to carry same items BY CJ CARVER @CWCarver_

Louisiana 2017

Many of these slaves have been traced to three plantations in west and south Baton Rouge

Usually when University students see tour groups walking around campus, the groups are made up of prospective students. This week, however, University honors students are hosting Georgetown University visitors and walking them through the highlights of campus. Professors from LSU and Georgetown University have come together to create what they call a “triangle” of courses between the two universities. Honors College Dean Jonathan Earle and instructor Jennifer Cramer created “272 Slaves: Discovering Louisiana’s (and Georgetown’s) History,” an honors course designed to create genealogical documentation of the 272 slaves sold by Georgetown University to plantation owners in Louisiana. Simultaneously, students at Georgetown are taking one of two courses on the subject — either a class regarding the historical context of the slave sale or a course on social justice and documentary media. Throughout the semester, the students have taken multiple angles on the same subject and skyped to discuss what they learned. However, Georgetown University students didn’t travel to LSU just to visit the LSU Dairy Store and tour Tureaud Hall, the first and only building named after an African American on the campus. During Georgetown’s spring break, the students in this

see GEORGETOWN, page 6

Students who have ever found frustration with the product difference of the University’s Outtakes and Take 5 convenience stores may be in luck thanks to a new resolution proposed by a University College Center for Freshman Year senator. Austin Grashoff, a freshman UCFY senator, proposed a new resolution on Wednesday night to the SG Student Senate that passed to urge Dining Services to regulate the products in both convenience stores so products sold in both stores matched. “When I first started working on this resolution, it stemmed from getting Outtakes and Take 5 open on Saturdays during game days because I know that a lot of students, during the day, need something to eat or drink, and there’s really nowhere else on campus but right by [their] dorm,” Grashoff said. The resolution to get Outtakes and Take 5 open on Saturdays was passed by Student Senate during football season.

see RESOLUTION, page 6

COMMUNITY

University students volunteer at indoor Special Olympics BY KATHERINE ROBERTS @krobe844 Athletes from across the state competed in bowling, basketball and tennis events as they participated in Special Olympics Louisiana’s State Indoor Games from March 3 through 5. Volunteer LSU partnered with Special Olympics Louisiana to provide student volunteers to help with the event. Lauren Nyman, a graduate assistant adviser for Volunteer LSU, said the purpose of the event was to allow students to interact with Special Olympics athletes and to learn more about the organization. “As an educational institution, it is important that LSU students take part in working with the disabled population,” Nyman said.

Biology freshman Rachel Piper volunteered in the swimming competition held by the Special Olympics in Texas before working with Volunteer LSU. After finding this opportunity to complete her sorority’s service hour requirement, she said she wanted to volunteer with the organization again. “I remembered how amazing I felt after leaving the swim meet,” she said. “I wanted to experience that again, but in a different way.” This year, Piper helped set up registration and checked in athletes and teams. Although it was different from the last time she participated, she said volunteering for this event was still rewarding. “It was really eye-opening,” she said. “All of the athletes were

see OLYMPICS, page 6

Volunteers work the scoreboard during the Special Olympics on March 4 at All Star Lanes in Baton Rouge.

JORDAN MARCELL /

The Daily Reveille

page 4

Thursday, March 9, 2017

CLUB SPORTS

Equestrian team wins region for sixth consecutive year BY EVAN SAACKS @evansaacks

The LSU Equestrian Team continued its streak of success by winning its region for the sixth consecutive year Sunday. Even though the scoring is based on individual achievement, the club credits coach Leaf Boswell’s emphasis on teamwork for its success. The club was founded in 1999 and later sponsored by the UREC. The club hosts tryouts in August, then practices once a week for the academic year. The team requires no prior riding experience and welcomes anyone who wants to join. Boswell joined the team as an assistant coach during the 2004-05 season and was named head coach the following year. Boswell is a life sciences professor and a former member of the club. Her understanding of the sport and her attention to detail makes her connection with the riders genuine, mass communication senior and club president Sarah Edwards said. “She knows how to coach us in a way that will be beneficial to us in the competitions, and just has a really good eye for each individual rider and what she needs to help them with,” Edwards said. “She’s the one thing that is consistent about this team. People quit and come and go and we get new members every year, but she is that one constant that is there and knows everything. She’s a big reason why we are as good as we are.” The team is a member of Zone 5 Region 4 under the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. The club hosted the regional

competition at BREC Farr Park Equestrian Center from March 3 to March 5, featuring Tulane University, Rice University, Trinity University, Texas State University-San Marcos and University of Texas at Austin. As the meet host, the club was given the responsibility of arranging for horses and judges. Edwards said an important part of the club is the team aspect. Even though club members compete individually, the experience of competing in meets together improves motivation and morale, she said. “When you go to a horse show with your horse and compete, you’re competing for yourself. You’re not with a team,” Edwards said. “Every ribbon [we] get, every point [we] score goes toward helping our team. That’s such a cool thing to be able to be a part of. To get to do what you love and do it with all these other people doing the same thing is so great.” The club could only enter three riders in each event because of the considerably smaller team size of other competing schools. The aspect of being a team is important as Boswell decides which rider will compete in each event based on the rider’s strengths and skills. The club usually competes in one show in the fall and two or three in the spring before its regional competition. The points earned at each competition are tallied, and the final count determines who wins the region and advances to nationals. Edwards has been riding horses since she was seven years old and says the sport has been a big part of her life. She said she knows the sport

courtesy of CORA WOOLSEY

The LSU Equestrian Team was founded in 1999. isn’t as recognized as much as other sports, but she hopes more people can learn more about it. “‘You just sit there. You don’t really do anything. The horse does all the work.’ Those are things we hear a lot that are super frustrating,” Edwards said. “It’s a connection you have. You’re working with this one thousand-pound animal that has a mind of its own, and you have

to tell it what to do and look like you’re not.” As a senior, the regional competition was Edwards’ last home meet, and while she will advance to the Zones Championship in Ocala, Florida, she is already treasuring her memories with the team. For younger members, the bond with other riders makes the club just as special. Mass communication sophomore

Celest Wilson said the club has taught her lessons beyond just riding horses. “It’s been a great learning experience to be an officer on the team. I’m just a sophomore, but I’ve learned years of experience just coordinating this one horse show,” Wilson said. “It’s been a great learning and life experience I’ll cherish for a long time.”

CAMPUS CRIME BRIEFS

Non-student arrested 19-year-old non-student arrested for DWI busted with for counterfeit ‘LSU checks’ weed, MDMA LSUPD arrested a 28-yearold non-student during a routine traffic stop on Nicholson Drive, LSUPD spokesperson Lt. Kevin Scott said. LSUPD conducted a traffic stop on Nicholson Drive on March 2 at 1 a.m., according to Scott. During the stop, nonstudent Peter Chambers, 28, of Baton Rouge was detained. Chambers was then provided the opportunity to submit a chemical breath sample, Scott said. The breath sample returned a result of .000 percent, according to Scott. Chambers admitted to police that he had consumed marijuana and Xanax earlier in the night, Scott said. He then

willingly submitted a urine sample, according to Scott. Chambers was transported to the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison where a secondary search was performed, Scott said. During the secondary search, Chambers was discovered to have concealed five onegram bags of marijuana and 41 MDMA pills, according to Scott. He was arrested and charged for DWI, possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, possession with the intent to distribute a schedule I substance, introduction of contraband, failure to stop at a traffic control-sign and no proof of insurance.

LSUPD arrested a nonstudent for using counterfeit checks. LSUPD received a complaint from University Accounting Services on Dec. 19 that two

counterfeit “LSU checks” were deposited at Regions Bank, according to Scott. The investigation into the incident resulted in the arrest of non-student Dashaun Singleton,

19, of Pass Christian, Mississippi. He was arrested, charged and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on monetary instrument abuse.

University student arrested for on-campus hit and run LSUPD arrested a University student for a hitand-run that occurred in the South Stadium Lot, Scott said. LSUPD responded to a hitand-run crash in the South Sta-

dium Lot on March 6 at 5:30 p.m., according to Scott. A witness was identified at the scene, according to Scott. As a result, University student Blake Cochran, 21, was

arrested. Cochran was issued a misdemeanor summons for hit-and-run and careless operation and was then released.

Visit lsunow.com/news for the latest crime updates

page 5

Thursday, March 9, 2017

GEARIN’for

GROOVIN’ Kesha to perform at SG’s annual Groovin’ concert on March 30 BY CJ CARVER @CWCarver_

LSU Student Government announced on Wednesday evening that Kesha will be the headlining artist for its annual Groovin’ concert. In addition to the headlining artist, SG also announced the concert’s opener and a host of other changes being made to the event. “We had a survey go out at the beginning of the year, and people chose what genre they wanted,” SG student entertainment director Grayson Senner said. “Pop was up there. We wanted someone who would bring a huge crowd, has a huge fan base and ... Kesha is a household name.” Kesha, alongside her band the Creepies, will be taking the stage on Thursday, March 30, when Groovin’ takes place. This will be the first time that Kesha has ever performed in Louisiana, Senner said. Opening for the platinum-selling artist is Baton Rouge native Benjy Davis. “The process was really fun ... and when I saw Kesha was an option, I knew [she was the one],” Senner said. Changes being made to the event include moving it back to the Parade Ground after two years of being housed in the PMAC, which was the No. 1 request on the SG survey, Senner said. In addition, the event has

previously taken place on a Friday, but this year the date has been moved to a Thursday, which also coincides with the end of the University’s Spring Invitational for prospective students. “We really wanted to give an option to show a real big LSU event,” Senner said. “This will show off LSU so well.” SG’s College Councils will also sponsor a pre-party before the concert starting at 4:30 p.m. on the same day. According to a news release, snowballs and

corn dogs will be provided and students can bring their Tiger Cards to receive wristbands for the priority student section of the concert. Groovin’ is free and open to the public and takes place on the University’s Parade Ground at 8:30 p.m. on March 30. “We challenged Grayson at the beginning of the year to get a big artist,” SG president Zack Faircloth said. “This is beyond my wildest dreams. We’re very happy with work he did to make this happen.”

photo courtesy of WIKIMEDIA

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page 6

Thursday, March 9, 2017

ALYSSA BERRY / The Daily Reveille

Take 5 and Outtakes operate during regular business hours on March 3.

RESOLUTION, from page 3 During that same time, Grashoff noted he frequented Take 5 because he was a resident of Cypress Hall. He found that products he was looking for were not available in Take 5 but were available in Outtakes, forcing him to walk across campus or go off-campus to the CVS on Highland Road. “Knowing that Outtakes and Take 5 are open past

midnight, campus does get very dangerous at those times,” Grashoff said. “That’s why [LSUPD] are always on patrol and always in their cars with the lights on because they know that people walking across campus can get injured easily or attacked.” In an effort to reduce that risk, Grashoff’s bill aims to regulate the products in both convenience stores to alleviate the need for students to travel

across campus for certain products. Grashoff notes that he would’ve liked the bill to be more specific, referencing certain products as example like Advil or Band-Aids, but as he doesn’t have access to the product list, he satisfies this by using general terms like “medicinal” and “toiletries.” “I don’t have access to what they buy or what they stock. I have only seen what they put

out,” Grashoff said. The bill also focuses more on the medicinal and toiletryrelated items the stores carry, as opposed to the food items, Grashoff said. Grashoff worked with assistant vice president of Auxiliary Services Margot Carroll to develop the resolution in his Student Senate committee, Student Auxiliary Services. “I would like for [students] to be more vocal and reach out

OLYMPICS, from page 3

Piper said she would volunteer for this organization again. “I would do it again, but next time, I wouldn’t do just registration,” Piper said. “While that is fun, I’d prefer to be at an actual game like I was when I volunteered at the Special Olympics swim meet in Texas.” The Special Olympics started in 1968 in Chicago as a not-for-profit organization, and for the last 40 years it has strived to promote interaction between individuals with and without intellectual disabilities, according to its website. Since then, they have acquired more than 14,000 athletes and 15,000 volunteers throughout Louisiana. Nyman said there are more than 4.7 million Special Olympics athletes and 1.4 million volunteers in more than 170 countries worldwide. According to its website, Special Olympics Louisiana’s goal is to raise $2.8 million this year through fundraising events, donations from corporate organizations and individuals, foundation grants, sponsors and civic groups.

A volunteer looks on as competitors bowl during the Special Olympics on March 4 at All Star Lanes in Baton Rouge.

to their senators,” Grashoff said. “Whether it’s UCFY, [Center for Advising and Counseling], whatever it is … especially for UCFY, because there are a lot of issues with freshman that [they] don’t know what’s going on and whatever makes … LSU better for them is my goal. If they could reach out, maybe come to a Senate meeting or stop by the Senate office … that would be super helpful.”

GEORGETOWN, from page 3 “triangle” came together to meet with some of the 272 slaves’ descendants, visit the town of Maringouin and the Whitney Plantation. Visiting the area helps students put faces to the names they have been studying, Georgetown Professor Adam Rothman said. “It’s one thing to read about history,” Rothman said. “It’s another to come face to face with the people in history you are reading about. It just makes it more immediate.” During lunch at The 459, University students joined the visiting Georgetown students to discuss the differences between the two campuses. Danielle Hewitt, a Georgetown University film and media studies junior, said LSU’s campus is significantly larger than Georgetown’s while her classmate Michelle Laverto said she noticed Georgetown has a more rich political atmosphere. Claire Nenninger, a Georgetown linguistics junior, said coming to Louisiana and speaking with descendants is an important step to learning more about their stories and continuing the discussion of this issue. “Coming here is a way to show that the story didn’t end when the sale happened … this [course] is just continuing the story,” Nenninger said. Each course’s culminating project attempts to bring history alive generations after the sale occurred, whether through a series of podcasts, a documentary or interviews with descendants of slaves. “What’s amazing about this topic is that it shows a trajectory from the founding of our first academic institutions like Harvard, Yale and Georgetown,” Earle said. “And it brings it all the way forward to the 21st century.”

so excited for the games to begin. I had a warm feeling in my heart the whole day after leaving. Although I didn’t get to see the athletes actually participate in the games, I saw the joy on their faces before the games began.” Not only did the athletes get something out of the Special Olympics, she said, the volunteers did too. “Overall, I learned that we really should enjoy life as much as these athletes do, and be excited for new challenges that come our way,” Piper added. She said she would recommend others volunteer with this organization because everyone walks away happy. “I would tell someone to be ready to leave Special Olympics with a smile on your face,” Piper said. “I really enjoy volunteering with them because every time I do I am reminded of the amount of joy that these people have just living day to day.”

JORDAN MARCELL / The Daily Reveille

page 7

Thursday, March 9, 2017 ideal for cyclists citing scarce infrastructure, such as a lack One of the goals of the Master of properly maintained bike Plan is to move traffic out of the lanes, as a safety hazard. core of campus to better utiThe Master Plan documents lize the space state the current as the acahigh demand for demic core of One of the goals of the increased bike options. To this end, campus. Comprehensive and the University partAnother objective is Strategic Campus Master nered with orgaPlan is to make the nizations in Baton to help make the area sur- campus more sustainable Rouge to bring Bikerounding camover the next decade. share to the city and pus friendlier campus. In a study to bicyclists. conducted by the The Master Environmental ProPlan notes the University is pri- tection Agency on the feasibilmarily a car-driven commuter ity of the program in the city, culture, but there is still a de- the campus area was identified mand for more bike options, as one of the most bike-dense such as covered bike racks. areas of the city. The Bikeshare The Master Plan also notes the program is projected to launch area surrounding campus is not in September.

BICYCLES, from page 1

CUBA, from page 1 who co-sponsored the event. James Stoner, University professor and director of the Eric Voegelin Institute, worked with colleagues at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Tulane University to bring the speakers on a three-day speaking tour. In an October poll conducted by the VOC, one third of millennials thought George W. Bush had killed more people than Joseph Stalin, Bessette said. VOC’s mission is to educate this generation about the ideology and legacy of communism and to commemorate its 100 million victims. American educators rarely tell the story of communist oppression in the 20th century, Bessette said. Suarez, who founded

the Free Cuba Foundation, educated the room on the background of communism in Cuba and how the island got to this point because he said Cuba “is not the Castro regime.” Suarez told tales of the decades of victims who opposed the communist regime only to be mysteriously killed with no consequences for the government, allowing the Castro dictatorship to continue brutalizing people with impunity. Payá’s father, Oswaldo Payá, a Cuban political activist founded the Christian Liberation Movement in 1988 to oppose the one-party rule of the Cuban Communist Party and is one of many victims mysteriously killed at the hands of the Cuban regime in 2012. He was a five-time nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize and attracted international attention

for organizing a petition drive known as the Varela Project, in which 25,000 signatories petitioned the Cuban government to guarantee freedom of speech and assembly as well as to institute a multi-party democracy. Rosa María is the executive director of Cuba Decide, a citizen initiative seeking fair elections on the island. For more than 65 years, Cubans have been denied the right to participate freely in elections. The absence of basic rights has subjected the people to a life of poverty and the country to economic and social ruin. Cuba Decide is working on a campaign to gain international support to help Cuba move toward a democratic system through monetary donations, a petition and the hashtag #CubaDecide.

CROSSING CAMPUS 80%

Researchers found that 80 percent of students drive to campus

While only 14 percent ride bikes to campus

14% photos by AUGUSTUS STARK / The Daily Reveille

[Left] Human rights activist John Suarez and [Right] executive director of Cuba Decide Rosa María Payá speak during “Castro’s Legacy and the Future of Cuba” panel on March 8 in the Student Union.

SEC, from page 1 Vincent said the process should be faster because of the recent approval decision. “It’s just important to help in situations like this,” Vincent said. “There’s a lot of folks who make the SEC what it is. It’s the people from all the campuses, the students, its faculty, it’s staff. Different campuses have different needs.” In a news release, LSU Director of Athletics Joe Alleva said the University was appreciative of the generous donation from the SEC. “We are fortunate to be part of a great league that cares about its member institutions in areas that go well beyond competition,” Alleva said. “This donation will go a long way in helping LSU employees who were impacted by the devastating flood continue to rebuild and restore what was lost last August.”

Sports

page 8

B ack

A ction

ZO E

G EA UTHRE

OFFENSE

le eveil AUX / The Daily R

BY HANNAH MCDUFFIE @hannahmcduffie_

With LSU football starting spring practice on March 11, many fans are wondering what the Tigers’ new look offense will be like under offensive coordinator Matt Canada. “He is full speed,” said coach Ed Orgeron during a press conference on March 7. “He fits in right with us. He is very detailed in the meetings and a good guy to work with. He is always talking and texting recruits.” Although LSU’s offense loses key players like running back Leonard Fournette, wide receiver Malachi Dupre and center Ethan Pocic next season, there is still a

see OFFENSE, page 10

HAS

KELL

WHITTINGTON / The Daily

e eill Rev

The Daily Reveille sports writers preview and predict key players for 2017 football season

ZO E

GEAU

e veill

THREAUX / The Daily Re

DEFENSE

BY BRANDON ADAM @badam_TDR

Heading into spring 2017, the Tigers’ defense will look vastly different than it did against Louisville in the Citrus Bowl. THE DEPARTURES The Tigers are losing nine players who started multiple games last year, six of whom were listed as starters for 10 or more games. More importantly, the Tigers are losing their top five leading tacklers, and besides junior Arden Key, no one on the roster has more than four and half career sacks. Linebackers Duke Riley and Kendell Beckwith are

see DEFENSE, page 10

Orgeron era set to begin with first full spring practice The biggest question marks going into practice CALLED UP CHRIS CALDARERA @caldarera11 LSU football begins spring practice on March 11, and fans will finally get a taste of the true beginning of the Ed Orgeron era. There are also a number of questions Tiger fans hope to have answered sooner rather than later, the most pressing of which lies in the infamously inconsistent quarterback position. WHO WILL BE UNDER CENTER FOR THE TIGERS IN THE FALL? The quarterback position was a constant plague for LSU when former coach Les Miles

was at the program’s helm. The starting quarterback was almost never set in stone at the beginning of spring practice under Miles, and it looks like that will once again be a big question for the program this Saturday. Senior quarterback Danny Etling has a clear advantage to be the Tiger signal caller this fall, mainly because he poses in-game experience that the rest of the roster lacks. Sophomore quarterback Justin McMillan has only attempted one pass in his career, and redshirt freshman Lindsey Scott has yet to see the field. Newly-signed quarterbacks Myles Brennan and Lowell Narcisse are highly touted quarterback prospects with great potential, but they will most likely have to undergo a

see SPRING FOOTBALL, page 10

LSU coach Ed Orgeron discusses spring football on March 7 at the Football Operations Center.

RYAN MCCARBLE /

The Daily Reveille

page 9

Thursday, March 9, 2017 SWIMMING AND DIVING

Kopcso to compete in fourth straight NCAA title meet BY HANNAH MARTIN @hmartinTDR Senior swimmer Kara Kopcso will compete in the pool one last time for LSU in the NCAA championships. During Kopcso’s time at LSU, she has broken seven school records and has been a part of four record breaking relay teams. But Kopcso isn’t ready for her career to end. “It’s like swimming is breaking up with me,” she said. Kopcso made All-SEC freshman honors her first year at LSU and was a 2015 NCAA All-American honorable mention. “She definitely leads in the water,” coach Dave Geyer said. “She’s someone in our dual meet lineups that you can always count on for a great leg and a great split.” But for Kopcso, it isn’t about her individual achievements. “I wouldn’t say I try to [break records] at all,” Kopcso said. “It’s about just going faster than you did before. I’m not big on individual and personal stuff, I’m more proud of how the senior class has stayed together and how we started strong and finished strong.” Kopcso will head to Indianapolis, Indiana for the NCAA championships

KELLY MCDUFF / The Daily Reveille

LSU senior swimmer Kara Kopcso competes in the Girls 100 Yard Freestyle in the Tigers’ sweep over Houston, Rice and Tulane on Jan. 28 in the Natatorium. starting March 16 with two other seniors on the swim team, Colleen O’Neil and Leah Troskot. Kopcso, O’Neil and Troskot were roommates freshman year and have been together every step of the way. “It’s exciting to end with three girls that started together,” Kopcso said. “It kind of stinks because we’re not going to have the rest of our team behind us, but at the same time, it’s still special to be able to compete more for

ourselves and our school and our coaches.” It will be an emotional plane ride home for the three seniors, but Kopcso said they’ll be glad to say they were able to compete with each other one last time. Kopcso, a native of Mandeville, Louisiana, is proud of the fact she has influenced other swimmers in the area to be a part of LSU. “Being able to see more people stay in state is really exciting,” Kopcso said.

LSU felt like home to Kopcso long before she was ever a student-athlete. Coming from a local town, Kopcso was able to build a relationship with Geyer before coming to LSU. “I’ve known Kara for about 11 years now, being from Louisiana and watching her come up as an age group swimmer,” Geyer said. “She’s a great kid, and it’s been fun to be around her and watch her grow into the young woman that she is after her four years here.” When Kopcso came to LSU, her sister was a senior on the swim team at the time. Having her sister on the team made her decision to swim at LSU an easy one. “LSU is just really homey,” Kopcso said. “My aunt works here, my cousins all graduated from here. This is definitely my family’s place.” In the last two years, Kopcso has taken on a new role that she feels her older sister left to her. “Helping the underclassmen really find who they are as a swimmer is really important to me,” Kopcso said. Kopcso is no stranger to the NCAA championships. She has competed in them every year she has been at LSU and learned a few things along the way. “I’ve done this three other

times and we know what works and we know what doesn’t really work so we’re trying to just do what we’ve done in the past,” Kopcso said. Geyer has been working a lot with Kopcso one on one since conference championships and Geyer is confident not only in the way that Kopcso is performing, but O’Neil and Troskot too. “Everything I’ve seen until this point compared to years past, I think we’re better all around,” Geyer said. The atmosphere at NCAA’s is unlike the other competitions and the outcome is very different each year, and the team has had good and not so good. “NCAA’s are always are always up and down for us,” Geyer said. “It’s hard to come off of a conference championship where you have the full team there with lots of emotion and then you take a smaller crew to NCAA. It’s hard to find that excitement.” However, Kopcso is focused on what she can accomplish one last time. “Put your heart in it,” Kopcso said. “It’s crazy to think that my four years is almost over and it’s definitely been a roller coaster. There’s been ups and downs, but I love every single person here. I love every second of being on this campus.

GYMNASTICS

Gnat winds down career, focused on winning NCAA championship BY KENNEDI LANDRY @landryyy14 After winning 53 individual event titles, eight perfect scores and two Super Six appearances, Ashleigh Gnat’s career is almost done. As LSU finishes up its regular season against New Hampshire on March 10, the postseason will mean one last opportunity to finish her career with an NCAA championship and one last time to win one for her coach. “The way that we respect her and honor her, the way that we compete, the passion, the energy, the pride, Gnat said about coach D-D Breaux. “Those are all things that come from her, and they stem from her personality, and that expands into your athletes, and I think that’s an attribute that all great coaches have. Just being able to compete for her is an honor for us personally, so we want to win for her.” Gnat has been one of the most successful student athletes on campus during her time. She’s cemented her place in LSU gymnastics history by having the second-most 10’s in LSU history.

“It’s something that needs to be recognized, to be noticed that what we’re doing is so much bigger than just one person,” Gnat said. “It’s an entire university, and we represent something so much bigger than ourselves; and like I said, that needs to have recognition.” The 11-time All-American doesn’t like to think of herself as the exclusive leader of the team either. It’s not up to one person to push or inspire the rest of the team. “Our coaches set the tone,” Gnat said. “The way that we handle our gymnastics is what really makes it what it is, and they encourage us, they push us; but they also encourage all of us to be leaders. It’s not one person that’s in charge of being the leader.” Gnat, along with fellow seniors Sydney Ewing and Shae Zamardi, have contributed to the growth of the gymnastics program at LSU. Everything from being vocal at practices to producing high scores in competition has contributed to a “rewarding group.” “It’s been an amazing team effort,” Gnat said. “Every team that I’ve competed on has been so diverse and so different that we’ve been able to unify

to create great scores. I would definitely say that the team that I’m a part of now has for me, personally, just been the most rewarding group of girls to be involved with and get to interact with everyday.” Breaux said she always knew this would be a special group of girls from the beginning steps of their recruiting process. “Every single person can do something to contribute to the big picture,” Gnat said. “I think that is something that we have all embraced- to be able to have our own roles and develop our own team chemistry to be where we are.” In addition to her individual accolades, Gnat has been a part of LSU’s 27-straight home wins and helped LSU post the thirdhighest score in school history, against Florida on March 5. But one of the biggest things for Gnat is being an inspiration for younger athletes. “Our fan base is so young,” Gnat said. “It’s so important to leave an impression on those girls that you can be confident; you can be strong; you can be a fearless athlete. You want to leave the best impression on them. You want them to know that you can do anything, and that we were once them.”

WHITNEY WILLISTON / The Daily Reveille

LSU all-around senior Ashleigh Gnat celebrates after her perfect 10.00 vault during the Tigers’ 198.150-196.600 victory against Florida on March 5 in the PMAC.

page 10 OFFENSE, from page 8 tremendous amount of young talent competing for a starting position. THE DEPARTURES With the absence of notable players like Fournette, Dupre, Pocic and tight end Colin Jeter, many of the younger players will have to “step up.” “We lost some good guys,” Orgeron said. “Guys are going to have to step up.” Although Fournette dealt with an ankle injury last season, he was still able to rush for 843 yards and eight touchdowns. Dupre caught 41 passes last season for 593 yards, averaging 14.5 yards per catch and 49.4 yards per game. He had three career 100-yard receiving games. Jeter is another offensive player who leaves a hole for the Tigers. Jeter caught 11 passes for 157 yards last season and was a key piece in run blocking for the Tigers. THE RETURNERS Senior wide receiver D.J. Chark will be the likely No. 1 wide receiver to fill in for Dupre, though Orgeron and wide receivers’ coach Mickey Joseph have no specific pecking order.

Thursday, March 9, 2017 Senior quarterback Danny Etling will most likely claim the starting quarterback position for LSU this season. “Danny is the leader right now,” Orgeron said. “He will probably end up being the leader, but we don’t know that.” Last season, Etling threw for 2,123 yards, posting a 60 percent pass completion, and was ranked No. 6 in the Southeastern Conference in passing yards per game and pass efficiency. Junior running back Derrius Guice will also be back for the 2017 season. Although Guice was in the shadow of Fournette, he proved himself to be another crucial player for the Tigers and demonstrated the potential to improve his skill set. “We are still going to run the football here with Derrius Guice as our running back,” Orgeron said. “But we are going to open up the offense, throw it down the field with multiple shifts in the formation.” The Baton Rouge native led the SEC in rushing yards and led all SEC running backs in rushing touchdowns. He totaled 1,387 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns in the 2016 season. Setting and breaking records became second nature to Guice last season as

Guice broke Fournette’s 284 rushing yard record in a single game with 285 rushing yards. Guice also set a new program record by rushing a 96-yard run touchdown against the Arkansas Razorbacks. THE NEW GUYS Sophomore wide receivers Dee Anderson and Stephen Sullivan will be competing for the starting wide receiver position against Chark. “Wide receivers are led by D.J. Chark for his senior year,” Orgeron said. “There is no certain pecking order. All of the guys are good athletes.” Last season, Anderson averaged 18.2 yards per catch and averaged 6.6 yards per game. He played in 11 games and had a career high 42-yard catch. Sullivan was regarded by Orgeron as one of the better athletes in the wide receiver position. Sophomore offensive lineman Lloyd Cushenberry could possibly fill in for junior offensive lineman Will Clapp’s position during spring practices, but it is still uncertain who will have the center position. Clapp will not be practicing in the spring due to a shoulder injury, according to Orgeron. “We will try something out,” Orgeron said.

DEFENSE, from page 8 gone. So are defensive ends Davon Godchaux, and Lewis Neal, leaving massive holes in LSU’s front seven. The Tigers are also losing cornerback Tre’Davious White, who started 47 of his 49 career games, and safety Jamal Adams, who is likely a top 10-pick in the 2017 NFL draft. THE RETURNERS However, Dave Aranda’s defense caught a few breaks with the NCAA granting extended eligibility to defensive end Christian LaCouture. LaCouture has 86 career tackles and four and half sacks and was a three-year starter at defensive tackle. He suffered a knee injury in fall camp, forcing him to miss the 2016 season after being moved to end in Dave Aranda’s defense. The Tigers also bring back key starters in senior nose tackle Greg Gilmore, who had 34 tackles and a sack in 2016, junior cornerback Donte Jackson who has 65 tackles and three interceptions in his career, and junior cornerback Kevin Toliver, who missed half of the 2016 season due to injury and “inconsistent play.” The common belief is that Jackson and Toliver will be starting at cornerback while being backed up by sophomores Kristian Fulton and Saivion Smith during the spring. Also, redshirt sophomore Xavier Lewis is expected to contend for the nickel position during

spring practice. At safety, the Tigers return John Battle, who started the second half of the season in place of an injured Rickey Jefferson. THE NEW GUYS Younger players such as linebacker Devin White, who racked up 30 tackles and a sack in 2016, could be a replacement for Beckwith or Riley. White and senior linebacker Donnie Alexander, who made two starts in place of Beckwith and had 45 tackles in 2016, are set to start inside. However, the depth behind White and Alexander and at the other outside linebacker spot is still a bit murky for the spring. On the defensive line, which is led by LaCouture and Gilmore, sophomore defensive linemen Rashard Lawrence, and Ed Alexander look to get significantly more playing time in 2017. Lawrence and Herron are set to compete for the defensive end spot vacated by Neal, and Alexander is the primary backup for Gilmore at nose tackle. Also with the absence of Key in the spring, sophomore defensive end Sci Martin and redshirt freshmen Ray Thornton and Andre Anthony look to get valuable reps in his spot. Orgeron has also spoken highly about early-enrollees Jacoby Stevens and Grant Delpit, who could push for playing time with availability at both safety spots.

LSU FOOTBALL S P R I N G PRACTICE SCHEDULE

First practice: March 11

ZOE GEAUTHREAUX / The Daily Reveille

LSU junior quarterback Danny Etling (16) lunges foward to gain yards as Louisville senior linebacker Keith Kelsey (55) trails behind on Dec. 31, 2016, during the Tigers’ 29-9 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl win against the Cardinals at Camping World Stadium in Florida.

SPRING FOOTBALL, from page 8 learning curve as they transition from the high school ranks to division-one college football. Nevertheless, new offensive coordinator Matt Canada claims the quarterback position is “a wide-open spot,” so we’ll see how it plays out. WHAT WILL LSU’S OFFENSE LOOK LIKE UNDER CANADA? One of Orgeron’s first moves after being named head coach was hiring Canada as the new LSU offensive coordinator. Canada previously served in the same capacity at the University of Pittsburgh, and many are wondering what changes, if any, will be made to LSU’s

previous pro-style offense. The answer will largely depend on who wins the Tigers’ starting quarterback gig. In an interview on ESPNU, Canada said he’s “happy with the pro-style offense” but also emphasized that “we [LSU] want to run the ball.” Since the Tigers have both pro-style pocket passers along with dual-threat quarterbacks on the roster, Canada’s offense could go a number of different ways. WHO WILL STEP UP ON THE DEFENSIVE LINE? Junior end Arden Key will be taking a leave of absence this spring due to undisclosed personal reasons.

Last season, Key recorded a team-high 14.5 tackles for losses, 12 of which being sacks. His void will have to be filled if the Tigers want to enjoy the same amount of defensive success they did last season. So, look for players like senior defensive linemen Frank Herron and Christian LaCouture to step up in Key’s place. After missing the entirety of last year because of a knee injury he suffered last August, LaCouture will be looking to make a big impact this spring to kick off his senior campaign. Herron will have to step into a larger role in what will also be his final season after

Week 1: March 14, 16, 18 Week 2: March 21, 23, 25 Week 3: March 28, 30, April 1 Week 4: April 4, 6 Week 5: April 18, 20, 22 recording six total tackles last season. Despite the leadership that LaCouture and Herron will undoubtedly provide, Key was a big piece of the LSU defense last year. The Tigers may be lacking on the defensive line if Key is not on the roster in the fall. WHAT WILL LSU’S DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD LOOK LIKE? Along with the defensive line, the Tigers will need someone to fill big shoes in the defensive backfield. LSU will be without two big playmakers, cornerback Tre’Davious White and safety Jamal Adams, who are both moving on to the NFL Draft.

Although Tiger fans will certainly miss the way White and Adams harassed opposing wide receivers, LSU has a number of players who could step in and continue the “DBU,” tradition. Senior Ed Paris and juniors Donte Jackson and Kevin Toliver II have the talent and experience to take White’s role at the cornerback position. The safety spot is shakier in terms of depth, but senior John Battle is most likely the Tiger to fill in for Adams. Battle is the only safety on LSU’s roster that has seen significant playing time, and his experience should be beneficial to his underclassmen counterparts.

page 11

Thursday, March 9, 2017

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page 12

dressed in

DRAG

Student Union hosts University’s first professional drag show, “Divas Live!” PHOTOS BY ALYSSA BERRY

Roxie C. Black

Santana Pilar Andrews

Lady D. Andrews

Brianna Powers

page 13

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Roxie C. Black

Santana Pilar Andrews

See more photos online at lsunow.com/photo

Santana Pilar Andrews

Lady D. Andrews

Entertainment fifty years of

FREDA University instructor, alumna looks back on her college years, journalism career

BY RACHEL RATHLE | @rachelrathle explain why you did things, especially if you’re standing in front of a bunch of students.” Dunne teaches MC 2010, an introductory AP style writing class. She structures it in a way anyone can understand because she realizes her students aren’t all experienced writers. She had a breakthrough with one student in particular when she didn’t grade the class’s papers. “I walked into class and said, ‘I am so sorry, but I did not grade your papers,’” she said. “I had a choice to either grade the papers or go out, and I thought, ‘I’m 64, I’m going out.’” The class sat in shock after realizing that Dunne was no different than them. She said she always makes a point to say she was a Bstudent and constantly in trouble until she joined Tiger Band when she was a University student. She attributes her cleaned-up act to the regimented schedule. Dunne makes a seemingly boring class more exciting with tales of her life and by making her

see DUNNE, page 18

ART

‘Purchased Lives’ depicts domestic slave trade BY RYAN THAXTON @ryanthax

KELLY MCDUFF / The Daily Reveille

rior to working as an introductory mass communication instructor, Freda Dunne worked for The Advocate for 40 years. After her retirement on Sept. 20, 2013 — coincidentally the same date as her wedding anniversary — she dedicated the next three months to sleeping. Working for The Advocate for 40 years cost Dunne countless hours of rest, so the next three months were recoup time. “I’d wake up and look at the ceiling, and I’d watch the fan going around and around,” Dunne said. “I’d say ‘Nope, I don’t have to get up,’ and roll back over. After that, I played for six months.” After six months of traveling and playing around, Dunne felt the next 30 years couldn’t just be playtime. Not long after that, Manship School Assistant Dean Andrea Miller sent her an email asking if she’d be interested in teaching a class. “What I discovered is that when you are a journalist for so long, you have a finger memory for why you do things,” Dunne said. “You don’t know how to

page 14

When the international slave trade was abolished in 1807, a new “second middle passage” was created from the Atlantic coast to the Port of New Orleans as the domestic slave trade grew. The West Baton Rouge Museum examines the local effects of the domestic slave trade with its exhibit, “Purchased Lives: The American Slave Trade from 1808 to 1865,” which is on display until March 31. Approximately 2 million slaves were sold from the upper Southern states toward the deep South as scenes of families being ripped apart and sold “down the river” became increasingly common. Runaways also became more frequent as they attempted to return to families and loved ones. “Purchased Lives” is intended to help visitors understand the emotional and personal effects of the slave trade. The exhibit features five panels from a larger version created by The Historic New Orleans Collection and is supplemented with local documents and artifacts from WBRM’s own collection. These local additions include newspaper clippings of

see PURCHASED, page 18

FOOD AND DRINK

Business still booming at Lit Pizza months after opening BY CORRINE PRITCHETT @corrineellen

New local restaurant Lit Pizza opened its doors in August of 2016, and business is booming every day of the week. Even though owners Gary Kovacs and Ozzie Fernandez, who also owns Izzo’s, opened the restaurant eight months ago, business has not slowed down in the slightest. “Business has been really busy, like super busy,” said Christian Dawson, one of three shift managers at Lit Pizza. “No matter what day I come into work, I’m working hard.” The restaurant opened during the Great Flood of 2016, and, while this could have put it

at a disadvantage, it appears to have had no effect, and Lit Pizza is still as it should be — lit. The unique atmosphere of the eatery is charming, giving it a special touch that keeps people coming back for more. The interior is modern with wooden tables and bright orange chairs. They have seating available both inside and outside. There is a wide variety of pizza options on their menu, including a strictly veggie pizza, a meatball pizza and a ham and pineapple pizza called Here Today Gone to Maui. Dawson said that a customer favorite is Pesto Pollo, which

see LIT, page 18

Employees add toppings to pizzas at Lit Pizza on March 6, 2017.

KIM NGUYEN / The Daily Reveille

page 15

Thursday, March 9, 2017 FOOD AND DRINK

Curbside, The Cajun Spoon partner for community fundraiser BY RYAN THAXTON @ryanthax Baton Rouge-based companies The Cajun Spoon and Curbside Burgers are partnering to host Curbside Classics, a vintage car show and a pop up movie event on March 9. The event, which kicks off at 5:30 p.m., will have the look and feel of an old time drive-in movie theater, said Ryan Grizzaffi, owner of The Cajun Spoon. Vintage cars will be featured in the parking lot, and “Turbo,” a DreamWorks animated film, will be projected on a screen in the backyard at 6 p.m. The event will have a 1950s feel, and burgers and milkshakes will be available for purchase from Curbside Burgers. Since 2010, Curbside Burgers has been revered for its specialty burgers. Those attending should look out for the brand new

Gumbo Burger, a new creation by both Grizzaffi and Curbside owner Nick Hufft premiering this week. “We want to build a sense of community in the Baton Rouge area, and what better way to do that than to bring in classic cars, serve burgers and milkshakes and show family-friendly movies?” Grizzaffi said. Grizzaffi and Hufft have partnered in the past for fundraising events, but Curbside Classics is different because it will be centered around the community. Grizzaffi said he wants Baton Rouge to flourish with more affordable, accessible events, giving residents the opportunity to have a good time as a community. Grizzaffi gives everything he has earned in his business back to Baton Rouge. For every box of dry mix his company sells, one packaged

WHITNEY WILLISTON / The Daily Reveille

Curbside Burgers on the corner of Government Street and Glenmore Avenue in Baton Rouge caters to people’s cravings. meal is delivered to the food bank, according to The Cajun Spoon’s website. Grizzaffi said he believes “the only way this city will progress

is to gather everyone under one umbrella.” Curbside Classics is his attempt at doing just that by providing residents with a free, family-friendly event. If all goes

well, Grizzaffi and Hufft said they plan to bring back Curbside Classics as a recurring event. Curbside and The Cajun Spoon, founded in 2014, both began as food trucks catering to south Louisiana workers. Now the owners Hufft and Grizzaffi are giving back to the community that helped build their businesses. Curbside Burgers will host the event at its location on Government Street, and The Cajun Spoon will raffle off a product basket during the event. To enter the raffle, attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishable items which will be donated to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. Admission is free, and Curbside’s burgers, fries and shakes will be available for purchase. Students will receive a discounted purchase with their student ID.

MUSIC

Twenty One Pilots gives inclusive, emotional performance BY KAYLEE POCHE @pochecanyousee Ohio-based alternative band Twenty One Pilots performed in New Orleans on Thursday, the first time they’ve been back to the city since the 2014 Voodoo Music + Arts Experience, and they were pulling out all the stops to celebrate. Opening acts Judah & the Lion and John Bellion warmed up the crowd, but it was nothing compared to band members Tyler Joseph and Joshua Dun taking the stage. The audience heard a barely audible hum subtly transform into the opening chords of “Fairly Local” and immediately erupted into screams. The visual and sound production — complete with LED screens, smoke machines and sounds emulating gunshots — could have captivated audiences alone. Red lights illuminated the dark arena during songs from the band’s 2015 album “Blurryface,” while blue lights shone during songs from older albums like “Vessel” and the band’s self-titled album. “The two times they ended the songs with gunshots and everything went black were insane,” psychology sophomore Sara Pohlman said. “I was literally shaking after each time, but it was exhilarating.” Some might argue the band’s theatrics were merely distractions to make up for its lack of talent, but many fans disagree. Both Joseph and Dun are multi-instrumentalists. Joseph wrote the album’s lyrics and composed its music. The band is constantly innovating and experimentingmusically,whichiswhyitis

KAYLEE POCHE / The Daily Reveille

The alternative hip-hop band Twenty One Pilots performed in New Orleans on March 2. in a lane of its own. However, the band’s appeal lies within the raw emotion it conveys through its music. The lyrics are vulnerable and honest, creating a bond between the band and fans. The crowd was alive and united as they belted out lyrics like “My friends and I have problems,“ and “But I know, we’ve made it this far, kid.” In those moments, it was impossible to feel alone. “My favorite part of the concert was being able to sing together with thousands of people who were all as passionate about and in love with their music as I am,” Pohlman said. Joseph maintained this feeling of inclusivity by periodically checking on

different areas of the whole crowd, not just the pit. At one point, the duo welcomed their opening acts back on stage and sang a medley consisting of Chumbawamba’s “Tubthumping,” Blackstreet’s “No Diggity,” the Black Eyed Peas’ “Where Is the Love” and House of Pain’s “Jump Around.” The band used the entire arena as its stage. One act included a man, assumed to be Joseph, wearing a signature Twenty One Pilots mask playing the piano on stage. A spotlight abruptly turned to the upper 300 level seating of the arena where the real Joseph appeared, sending the audience into a well-deserved frenzy. Some of the night’s most

emotional songs, including “Addict with a Pen” and a cover of My Chemical Romance’s “Cancer,” were played on a makeshift stage at the opposite end of the pit, far from the main stage. The fans weren’t the only ones who felt the magic. “This city is one of the most amazing, alive, magical cities we’ve ever played in,” Joseph said. “We had the honor of walking around not long ago. People always talk about how the music here can affect you and influence you, and I didn’t understand what they meant until today.” The band’s antics, which included Dun playing the drums on a platform held up by members of the pit and Bellion in

a hamster ball, ran rampant until the very end. Even the encore had fans on the edge of their seats, perhaps a little more than Dun and Joseph intended. There was about a ten minute break between the encore song “Trees” and the previous song “Car Radio.” When the duo came back on stage, Joseph made sure to explain this was because of technical difficulties and that they were not getting massages during the encore as a band they once opened for used to do. Joseph addressed the fans one last time as the night came to a close, “We are Twenty One Pilots, and so are you.” The show ended as any celebration should — with tons of confetti.

page 16

Thursday, March 9, 2017

REV R ANKS “THE VOICE” NBC

NBC welcomed back the singing competition show “The Voice” for its 12th season with a three-night premiere, which began Feb. 27. As the blind auditions began, judges Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Gwen Stefani and Alicia Keys were ready to do whatever necessary to persuade certain contestants to join their teams.

Kaylee Poche @pochecanyousee

“DIVIDE”

Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran blessed fans last Friday with the release of his third studio album “Divide.” Whether you’re into the soft romantic ballads or upbeat pop anthems, this new record flawlessly delivers both, appealing to audiences of all kind.

Abby King @abbby_marieee

‘Logan’ more serious than other superhero films BY ABBIE SHULL @AbbieLJ Hugh Jackman’s role as Wolverine will be sorely missed after his astounding performance in “Logan.” Wolverine is by far the most well-developed character in the X-Men saga, produced by 20th Century Fox. The success of this character is derived not only from the much-loved comics, but also Jackman’s caliber in his eight — nine if you count his one-line cameo in “X-Men: First Class” — performances as Logan. In “Logan,” Jackman brings the Wolverine saga to an explosive and satisfying end. Rated R for brutal violence, language and excessive impaling, “Logan” is an adults-only Wolverine story.

Somewhat based on the “Old Man Logan” comics, “Logan” follows Wolverine during the last stages of his life. He’s held up in an abandoned water plant in Mexico, hiding the aging Professor X (Sir Patrick Stewart) from the world. Alongside his accomplice Caliban (Stephen Merchant), Logan cares for Xavier as he loses control of his abilities, but Professor X has one more mutant to save: Laura (Dafne Keen). Created from a copy of Wolverine’s DNA, Laura, or X-23, is every bit as deadly as her “father.” The beauty of “Logan” is how little it resembles the more traditional X-Men movies. There’s no sign of campy, costumed heroes in the film. It’s more serious than any superhero film has ever dared to go.

“CONAN WIHTOUT BORDERS”

TBS

Amid the United States’ current rocky political relationship with Mexico, Conan O’Brien decided to do an episode of his popular nighttime show in Mexico City, the nation’s bustling capital.

Ysabella Ramirez @ysaram97

“I DECIDED”

Big Sean

Big Sean’s recent “I Decided” album shows the rapper’s style can be a bit more mature than displayed in previous albums.

Corrine Pritchett @corrinepritchett

Read the full reviews online at lsunow.com/entertainment

image courtesy of IMDB

“Logan” comes off more like a noir drama than a comic book movie. As Logan struggles with newfound “fatherhood” and his impending death, Professor X struggles with dementia, mortality and a catastrophic event caused by his lack of control over his mutation. Director and co-writer on the script James Mangold turns Wolverine into a western antihero who comes out of his misery just long enough to right whatever wrongs have been done to the people he cares for. He humanizes the mutant world by making the story about the family Logan has created and what he’ll do to protect and avenge them. Mangold’s script, written alongside Scott Frank and Michael Green, is a refreshing, exposition-free take on an old franchise. Audiences know these characters well, so Mangold and company waste no time reintroducing old topics. Hopefully “Logan” will set a precedent for future films, encouraging them to take into account the knowledge their audiences already possess. For instance, the audience never really finds out what disaster happened to make Logan hide Xavier away. It isn’t necessary to explain because the emotions surrounding the event allow the viewer to fill in the gaps. While past X-Men flicks have revolved around the conflict between humans and mutants, “Logan” sets aside the mutant factor to favor a more serious, character-based plot. The film is as dark and daring as anything by Clint Eastwood or Quentin Tarantino and is barely a superhero flick at all. Mangold makes the relationships between the characters the most important element of the production, which is why the film is so successful. Jackman isn’t the only one leaving behind the X-Men saga in “Logan:” Patrick Stewart announced the film would be his last as well. It’s heartbreaking to know we’ll never see Jackman as Wolverine again, especially after his remarkable performance in “Logan.”

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Thursday, March 9, 2017

WHAT’S SPINNING AT @KLSURadio

KLSUradio

klsufm

ARTIST/ALBUM/LABEL

REVIEW BY MASTA BEATS HOST OF THE GREEN ROOM, SUNDAYS 11 P.M. TO 1 A.M. (STONER MUSIC)

9/10

Washington rapper Oddisee, otherwise known as Amir Mohamed el Khalifa, has dropped his 16th album entitled “The Iceberg.” Oddisee’s style can only be described as groovy hip-hop. As an independent artist and his own producer, Oddisee is free to make the music sound exactly as he wants it. By sampling ’70s funk, he brings the listener back to a time when music was raw and soulful. Often he employs a live band to bring his tracks to their full potential. The album’s title can be considered an allusion to the Titanic and analyzed as a metaphor for an America headed for a huge iceberg. “The Iceberg” talks a lot of politics, which is somewhat out of the ordinary for Oddisee. In interviews, the rapper has said he

doesn’t like to get political because of people’s expectations to fight for a cause. On this record, however, Oddisee does not stray away from his own political agenda and even includes a song about not speaking up in the past called “Hold It Back.” As far as production goes, the album could not sound more crisp than it already does. Oddisee has a way of creating music that caters to a musician’s ear and sense of style. Unlike most hip-hop albums today, there are no heavy trap beats and only a few features. “The Iceberg” features a continuum of smooth transitions and powerful vibes while sustaining a unique lyrical rhythm in each track. My only complaint about the album

as a whole is in regard to its similarity to Oddisee’s old productions. Even though the tracks are totally unique compared to other artists, they still sound like the same Oddisee from 2005. It really is a bummer that most people don’t know about Oddisee. Not only does he rap and produce his own records, but he manages to do so without referencing drugs, money or parties. He also abstains from drinking and smoking during the entire process, a feat many musicians know to be difficult. As a result, Oddisee produces another great album that deserves a spot in the Underground Hall of Fame. For fans of: Lupe Fiasco, Outkast and Mos Def

REVIEW BY DJ 440 HOST OF RADIO RHAPSODY, MONDAYS 11 P.M. TO 1 A.M. (CLASSICAL)

“Drunk” 6/10 by Thundercat

225 578 5578

TOP 30 PLAYS

NEW MUSIC

“The Iceberg” by Oddisee

lsunow.com

Los Angeles-based vocalist and electro-jazz bassist Thundercat presents his new full-length album, “Drunk,” on Brainfeeder Records. Just as any epic commences, Thundercat’s latest offering begins with an incantational call to his spirited force and continues by spewing memes and introducing friends to the increasingly sarcastic style of the artist. Among the impressive, wide-ranging cast of guest appearances are Flying Lotus, Kenny Loggins, Kendrick Lamar and Kamasi Washington. The album’s sarcastic tone comes

into focus on the fifth track, “A Fan’s Mail.” Thundercat starts the song with cat voicing, literally singing “Meow, meow, meow” for a few bars, and ties themes of freedom from responsibility and consequence together with references to the Disney animated films “Aristocats” and “The Lion King.” The jewel of “Drunk” is the soft rock ballad “Show You the Way,” which features past masters of the genre Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald. This song is best appreciated when viewed as an elegiac crooning for the genre. However, I would venture to say Thundercat’s attitude is excessively condescending as some of McDonald’s work is still genuinely enjoyed

to this day. “Show You the Way” is entertaining in a novel way, but I don’t see it enduring. The lyrics, “So many feels, bro / LOL / I’m so over it,” are indicative of the overarching attitude of the work. There are impressive performances throughout, but the record’s permeating sarcasm just isn’t compelling. Just as the most enlightening thing spoken to you by a far gone party goer is sure to not leave an impression, the greatest moments of “Drunk” are destined to be forgotten.

1 Jesca Hoop/Memories Are Now/Sub Pop 2 Homeshake/Fresh Air/Sinderlyn 3 Thundercat/Drunk/Brainfeeder 4 Thievery Corporation/The Temple Of I & I/ESL 5 Sallie Ford/Soul Sick/Vanguard 6 Dirty Projectors/Dirty Projectors/ Domino 7 Landlady/The World Is A Loud Place/ Hometapes 8 Stef Chura/Messes/Urinal Cake 9 Surfer Blood/Snowdonia/Joyful Noise 10 Gone Gone Beyond/Gone Gone Beyond/Human Experience Creations 11 Priests/Nothing Feels Natural/Sister Polygon 12 Cherry Glazerr/Apocalipstick/Secretly Canadian 13 Foxygen/Hang/Jagjaguwar 14 Maggie Rogers/Now That The Light Is Fading/Capitol 15 Japandroids/Near To The Wild Heart Of Life/Anti 16 Ron Gallo/Heavy Meta/New West

For fans of: Flying Lotus

WHAT WE’RE PLAYING

17 The Shacks/The Shacks [EP]/Big Crown 18 Los Campesinos/Sick Scenes/Wichita 19 Dude York/Sincerely/Hardly Art 20 Mr. Elevator And The Brain Hotel/When The Morning Greets You/Rad Cat 21 The Regrettes/Feel Your Feelings Fool!/Warner Bros. 22 All Them Witches/Sleeping Through The War/New West

The Allumer Quartet is a local horn ensemble that recently performed and recorded, among other works, “Koetsier’s Cinq Nouvelles.” I got to see this quartet’s impressive live performance and felt it was worth sharing with my audience. KLSU’s very own DJ Bassline will guest host this week to share some of the pieces he’s been playing in his LSU large ensembles. There are many active ensembles playing a great variety of classical music on campus, and we’ll showcase them on this week’s episode.

From Trevor Something to Kristine, Mitch Murder has collaborated with artist after artist in the underground synthesizer genre. This synthwave artist captures the electronic and groovy feel of the mid ’80s with his most recent album, “After Hours,” just released in January. “After Hours” is a full 24 minutes of funky outrun jams that will get your toes tapping and push your nostalgia meter to new levels.

DJ 440

DJ Outrun

HEAR IT ON RADIO RHAPSODY (CLASSICAL) MONDAY, MARCH 13, 11 P.M. TO 1 A.M.

This Sunday, dive into the music of Egberto Gismonti, a Brazilian composer known in part for his creative guitar playing. Gismonti helped design various instruments, including eight and 10-string guitars. Having studied classical from a very young age and modern music in Paris, Gismonti’s musical style ranges from classical to jazz. I’ll explore several of his works, including his albums with André Geraissati and a flutist named Paul Horn.

23 Ty Segall/Ty Segall/Drag City 24 The Modern Savage/Unwilling Participants/Self-Released 25 St. Tropez/St. Tropez/Self-Released 26 The Applesauce Tears/Commuters/ Black Cottage 27 Bonobo/Migration/Ninja Tune 28 Gabriel Garzón-Montano/Jardin/ Stones Throw

Jacamo

HEAR IT ON THE DIGITAL SKYLINE (SYNTHWAVE) SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 9 TO 11 P.M.

HEAR IT ON PANGEA (WORLD MUSIC) SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2 TO 2:30 P.M.

29 Otherkin/Can You Feel It [EP]/ Rubyworks 30 POW!/Crack An Egg/Castle Face

UPCOMING SHOWS THURSDAY

mar

DOWNTOWN BOYS, SNEAKS, PILL// SIBERIA 9 P.M.

SATURDAY PARTICLE DEVOTION,

mar

HIGH DIVERS AND MORE// SPANISH MOON 9 P.M.

SUNDAY

mar

LEGGY, TWIST, T-REXTASY, RUSTY BEAUMONT// THE WOODSHOP 7 P.M.

The Woodshop is a local D.I.Y. venue on Laurel Street that typically hosts indie and undergound punk, garage and metal acts. Saturday’s lineup is full of dreamy, fuzzy, surfy punk from Toronto to New York to Ohio to right here in Baton Rouge. The Woodshop is the only place to see these bands in the capital city, so bring your own drinks and a donation for the touring bands. Support the scene!

page 18

Thursday, March 9, 2017

PURCHASED, from page 14 runaways and lost-friend advertisements, chains used to transport slaves farther south and ship ledgers documenting slaves transported to New Orleans. One slave shackle on display recovered from a West Baton Rouge plantation is covered with carvings done by a slave on their way south to be sold in Louisiana. “Purchased Lives” also looks at the effects of the domestic slave trade after the Civil War. One newspaper ad on display written by former slave Sterling Williams addresses friends and family in Kentucky where

DUNNE, from page 14 students write her obituary. The obituary assignment is one of her trademarks, and students can be as creative as they choose. She always informs students of her love of science, but also of how she and science could never be compatible. “There was a point where I wanted to be a geologist or archeologist, and I still have that Indiana Jones thing in the back of my mind,” said Dunne. “But it’s the math. I am not math. Math and I do not get along, and we divorced a long time ago. Math and science go hand-inhand, so it would appear as though Dunne chose the perfect career.

Williams lived before being sold “Telling a West Baton Rouge down the river. story is a big part of our every“I suppose you all think I am day mission,” Curator of Collecdead by this time, and I think the tions Angelique Bergeron said. Bergeron same of you all,” picked quotes and the ad reads. WBRM fo“This happened all documents that cuses on slave highlight the horaround us. People ror of the domespopulations at local plantations are still searching for tic slave trade, such as the Allenaiming to help patheir family.” dale and Westotrons understand. ver plantations “It’s far away of West Baton but still so close Rouge, whose popin that these are ANGELIQUE BERGERON ulations changed real people who Curator of Collections and broke from experienced it,” Catholic-French Bergeron said families to single, protestant about the exhibit’s time period. men and women as a result of the In a haunting video recreation of one local woman’s slave domestic slave trade.

narrative, a former slave tells her 1930s interviewer, “I have a daughter, but I don’t know where she is now.” By offering personal stories of slaves who once lived in the same cabins featured at WBRM, Bergeron said she hopes patrons can better understand and connect with the horrors of the domestic slave trade. “This happened all around us. People are still searching for their family,” Bergeron said. The exhibit also recognizes that effects of the domestic slave trade are still felt today. The sparse documentation and dividing of families as a result of the domestic slave trade

makes it challenging for many African Americans to trace their genealogy today. WBRM often organizes events in correlation with their exhibits, such as a presentation by genealogist Jari Honora on March 30. Honora will identify methods for tracing enslaved ancestors back through generations of captivity. The event culminates the end of the exhibit and more information can be found on WBRM’s website. Other stops on the exhibit’s year-long panel tour include Jonesboro, Bossier City and Lake Charles. Admission is free for residents of West Baton Rouge Parish, $2 for students and $4 for adults.

Throughout her illustrious career, she’s had the opportunity to meet some famous characters. “Sometimes I would interview people that were famous, but I didn’t know because I was slightly stupid at times and wasn’t paying attention,” she said. Thirty minutes passed before Dunne realized she was speaking and having tea with Karl Wallenda of The Flying Wallendas. Dunne chose stories based on interest, and many of those were features on individuals because of her interest in what makes people tick. “That’s what drives me: figuring out what makes people tick,” Dunne said. Her late husband Mike was

In their spare reading time, they’d look for really good sentences. “We love finding words that sing, and we’d read them out loud,” said Dunne. “The kids were thinking ‘Wow, Mom and Dad are nuts,’ but now they do it.” Dunne’s advice for college students is to find a career they’re comfortable with because time on Earth is too limited to be doing something that isn’t worthwhile. As for journalists, she urges them to be accurate. Recently, Steve Buttry, the Manship School’s Director of Student Media, passed away from pancreatic cancer. Dunne deeply admired Buttry and his work.

“I don’t know anyone [in] this business who knew as much as Steve Buttry and who shared it as openly as that man,” Dunne said. “He was always writing and going places, and I could not squeeze that much into my day if I tried. Between Steve and Mike, I guess I’m on my own now.” Though Dunne has suffered death and disaster, her positive outlook still shines through. It isn’t really about the times you fall, but rather how many times you get back up. “I smile a lot now, and there were a few years after Mike died that it took a while to smile,” she said. “Now I feel good, and that’s good.”

also a journalist, and they both won national awards in the same year. It was probably a good thing because no one ended up jealous, she said. “What I discovered is that nobody understands you like another journalist,” Dunne said. “My brothers never understood me, [but] my mother came to understand because she always wanted to be a journalist.” Dunne and her husband worked together at The Advocate, but they agreed not to speak about the topics of their stories at home. Dunne was better at editing, so she’d edit his stories. Mike was better at the investigation, so he would advise Dunne on what questions she should ask next.

FOR RELEASE MARCH 9, 2017

THE Daily Commuter Puzzle 1 4 9 13 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 26 29 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 45 46 47 48 51 56 57 58 60 61 62 63 64 65

1 2 3 4

ACROSS Church seat Loathe Tether Like cinnamon rolls, usually Boorish Alimony payers Bangkok native TV’s Burnett Early 4-wheel drive vehicle Musical group “For Your Eyes __”; 007 movie Smooch Greek letter Equestrians Ladies’ man Without companions Astonished Get __ of; shed Auction offers Two-__; betrayed Dad Sack __ up; admitted Tribal pole Dreamer Sitcom for Ted Danson, once Tillis or Tormé Clubs or hearts Healthy Cross, as two streets might Willing to listen and reconsider __ up; prepares Hauled into court Use a Kindle Cut in two Burn __ up; tallies Alder and ash __ blue; forgetme-not’s color DOWN Prune stone Resound __ out; become dilapidated Get __ to; reach or enter

by Jacqueline E. Mathews

KIM NGUYEN / The Daily Reveille

Pizzas are made daily at Lit Pizza on March 6, 2017. 5 Section of an orchestra 6 Injure 7 Smell 8 Fell back into an addiction 9 Enter again 10 Plow pullers 11 Banana skin 12 Catch sight of 14 Oliver Twist’s creator 21 Employ 25 “I’ve __ it!”; cry of exasperation 26 Temple leader 27 Homer classic 28 Avoid 29 Celestial body with a tail 30 Very impressed 31 Preach 32 Serpent 33 Last name for 2 U.S. presidents 35 Takes the prize 38 Dusk 39 Dickinson or Angelou

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

41 Spanish cheer 42 __ and that; sundry items 44 Turns over a new leaf 45 Uses foul language 47 Do a waiter’s job

48 Israeli dance 49 Copied 50 Element whose symbol is Pb 52 Not far away 53 Saga 54 Actors’ signals 55 Yellowish wood 59 Use a towel

LIT, from page 14 includes ricotta and parmesan cheese, artichokes, mushrooms, roasted red peppers and, of course, the bright green pesto sauce. Though customers enjoy this dish, most make their own pizza. The restaurant’s pizza bar contains all fresh ingredients. They cook their own meat and cut their vegetables in front of the customers. They even grate fresh parmesan directly onto the pizzas. “I think that’s the reason we do so well as a business,” Dawson said. “Also because all the pizzas that we sell from the menu are $8. You can make your own pizza with unlimited

toppings, and the total comes out to the same $8.” With a cheap price for an 11inch pizza and the opportunity to make whatever kind of pizza desired, Lit Pizza found a niche in Baton Rouge. It’s convenient for anyone with a 30 minute lunch break or looking for a great pizza in their neighborhood. Lit Pizza has also quickly become a hotspot for University students. With its close proximity to campus, students are running for a quick bite between classes, before work and even for a casual date. The restaurant is even accessible by Tiger Trails bus and accepts TigerCash. The restaurant also features pizzas of the month. March’s

pizza is Lent-friendly and showcases Louisiana crawfish, tomato cream sauce, mozzarella, roasted heirloom cherry tomatoes, calabrese mash, garlic and green onions. “We have a wood-fire oven that gives our pizzas that nice, crispy crust and perfectly melted cheese,” Dawson said. “It only takes about five minutes to make and cook the entire meal.” Lit Pizza sets out to change the game. Every order placed comes out in five minutes or less. They also hold happy hour each weekday from 3-6 p.m. They serve craft beer on tap, wine and longnecks. Lit Pizza is located at 3930 Burbank Dr. and is open from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. every day.

page 19

Thursday, March 9, 2017 VIDEO GAMES

Sniper Elite 4 an exciting alternative to modern shooters BY JAY CRANFORD @hjcranford Sniper Elite 4 is Rebellion Developments’ fourth entry into the third-person tactical stealth shooter. Karl Fairburne makes his return to kill more Nazis — this time in the countryside of World War II Italy. For those who are unfamiliar, the Sniper Elite series has carved out a niche as a methodical shooter revolving around sniping and stealth. Where other war games have large set pieces and fast bullet storm gameplay, Sniper Elite slows everything down, encouraging players to put time and consideration into every shot. The game revolves around bringing a realistic mechanic to shooting. When taking those longrange sniping shots, you must account for how wind and gravity will affect your shot, becoming more extreme with each bump in difficulty level. Calling Sniper Elite a stealth game is a bit of a misnomer though. In games like Hitman or Metal Gear Solid, you have a plethora of gadgets and non-lethal options to plan your stealth runs. However, with Sniper Elite, players get a rifle, a pistol, explosives, an SMG and binoculars. That’s it. Developers Rebellion know

what fans like about the series, keeping new mechanics introductions to a minimum across each new entry. The few differences between four and three help to improve to stealth gameplay with introduction of suppressed bullets, and nighttime missions where lighting plays a large role into visibility. Going through each level completely stealthy is possible, albeit maddening on higher difficulties, though that’s part of the allure for hardcore fans of the series. The difference between the low and higher difficulties almost make it feel like a separate game. On a lower difficulty, you feel invincible, running around machinegunning every enemy and making shots from 500 meters away look easy. As you step up to hard difficulty, sniping and planning your methods of attack become crucial. While your shots have all the forces weighing against them, shooting can still be easy with practice thanks to the assist in the “empty lung” mechanic. The hardest difficulty, “authentic,” is somewhere between fun and masochism. There is no aiming assist, no HUD and enemies cannot be tagged. You’ll even need to brush up on your navigation skills as all objectives,

including yourself, are taken off the map. There’s a twisted sense of enjoyment on this difficulty, evident in planning a tactical approach, timing each shot and patiently waiting for the enemies to show weakness — even if it takes close to two hours to complete, or fail, a single mission. If you find yourself having trouble with a certain level, you can always jump online to play through the campaign missions on co-op. This game mode simply drops another player into your game, making authentic difficulty much more palatable. Other online co-op game modes include Overwatch and Survival. Overwatch separates players into two roles: sniper and operative. The operative, equipped with an SMG and pistol, is tasked with stealthing their way to several objectives. The sniper, who is on a separate part of the map, is equipped with a sniper rifle and must protect the operative. Overwatch places more emphasis on teamwork than a co-op campaign mode, splitting the capabilities between the two players. Survival is a four-player game mode with 12 waves of attacks. This game mode is a stark difference from the rest of Sniper Elite’s gameplay, since there is no way

photo courtesy of REBELLION DEVELOPMENTS

to play this mode quietly. Every wave is a fast-paced slaughter of enemies. Personally, I enjoy the change of pace in survival and it is my favorite online game mode. There are also competitive game modes, however, they aren’t worth your time. The style of Sniper Elite does not play well for competitive gaming, especially since there are plenty of better competitive shooter titles out right now. As far as performance goes, I’ve had no problems. No glitches, no bugs, no crashes, nothing. On the PS4, framerates are stable and online connectivity is great. Of course, solid performance is to be expected as Sniper Elite has never been a crowning jewel of graphical achievement, though this year’s Italian countryside setting offers some beautiful

mountain vistas. From the seaside towns to the belfries tucked away on the mountainsides, I love the feeling and appearance of the setting. Rebellion Developments have been making the Sniper Elite games for 12 years now. They know what the players want and have not strayed far from that vision. Sniper Elite continues the series’ successful run as a better game than Sniper Elite 3, though I am not ready to say it overtakes Sniper Elite V2 as the best game of the series. If you’re a veteran of the series, then this game will feel right at home for you. If you’ve never played as Nazi killing machine, and multiple-time Hitler assassin Karl Fairburne, then Sniper Elite 4 is a great place to jump in.

Get Paid TO NET WORK Considering a career in Sales? LSU Student Media is now hiring students to fill advertising sales positions! Gain valuable, real-world work experience while connecting with local business owners. To apply, send your resume and cover letter to admanager@lsu.edu today!

REQUIREMENTS: FULL-TIME STUDENT ∙ GOOD ACADEMIC STANDING ∙ RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION ∙ STRONG COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Opinion ily Re veill e

young invincibles

page 20

TS cartoon by BE Y PRIMES / The Da

Students must advocate for their right to higher education

MY BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL CLARKE PERKINS @ClarkePerkins Imagine you’re 35 with kids of your own and have $20,000 left to pay in student loans. You have your degree and work extremely hard, but with your salary it seems like you’re in endless debt. Soon it’ll be time for your kids to go to college, and you’re still not close to paying off your education. You can feel yourself sinking deeper into debt. How much does higher education really cost? As a community who realizes the importance of education, we need to ensure we put continuous pressure on our legislatures to protect it.

I had the opportunity to attend the Young Invincibles’ College Journalist Summit in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 27. I was joined by about 30 other college students from across the nation to discuss higher education policy. We divulged our concerns and visions for our own education. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia guided us in our analysis of the issue. Young Invincibles is a national organization with a campaign focused on repairing higher education and minimizing student debt. Founded in 2009, the group aims to make college more affordable and accessible to all sectors of the public. Organizations like these are needed to aid in our fight for higher education reform. Young Invincibles informs and advocates for students across the nation. The only time we’re marching to the capitol and calling our representatives shouldn’t be when they’re already devaluing our public education system and defunding scholarships. I watched it happen with TOPS. For several months, rumors circulated of incredible budget cuts and withdrawal of TOPS funding for more than 50,000 students and their families. The Daily Reveille and

local news stations covered the potential cuts and LSU President F. King Alexander sent mass emails to students regarding the issue. Yet, I saw very little reaction from my fellow students. It was like they thought they were untouchable, that the American value of higher education was untouchable. Once it happened, my Twitter timeline went crazy. Everyone seemed disappointed, confused and infuriated. The delayed reaction was unbelievable. You shouldn’t care when it’s too late. We should be putting constant pressure on our state and federal governments consistently to ensure the protection of our pursuit of knowledge. The Higher Education Act, legislation which controls our higher education system, is overdue to be reauthorized. Its purpose is to give resources to higher education institutions with the intent to make college more accessible and affordable. Among other things, the act oversees financial aid programs and loans. Despite the last act being reauthorized in 2008, it is usually reviewed, updated and reauthorized approximately every five years. This process will be interesting under the Trump administration and Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education, who seem unconcerned with preserving higher education. I would’ve been more hopeful had

former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton been elected, but we’ll have to work with this. With Sen. Kaine as a new member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, I can remain optimistic. During the summit, my group had the honor of speaking with Kaine regarding higher education on the federal level. I had the opportunity to ask him a brief question on the future of higher education in Louisiana. I voiced my concern with Louisiana’s constitutional lack of protection for health care and higher education and asked what could be done on the federal level. Sen. Kaine said there are ways to put pressure on state governments through the Higher Education Act. They can find ways to give states extra money, but with restrictions that don’t lessen the state budget. So, in a sense, Louisiana would still utilize its full budget and use federal money to cover areas where they fall short — like higher education. There is hope for the future of higher education in Louisiana. First, everyone needs to become educated on the topic — it affects all of us. Understandably, it’s hard to advocate for something you know little about. However, the resources are there for you to become informed. You can search online, ask a professor, etc. Second, it’s time to be selfless. Even if college

affordability will never be an issue for your family, you should still care. Why? Because you clearly understand the importance of an education, so why not make sure everyone is awarded the right to further their education? Yes, tuition spikes and TOPS cuts do affect me personally; because of them, there are some sacrifices my family has to make. However, I have slightly over a year until I obtain my degree and, as of now, I still plan to graduate debt-free. Yet, I still care about the state of higher education — moreso for the little boy down the street who hardly has access to a standard secondary education and is looking at the University like it’s unconquerable. Education shouldn’t be a luxury. As constituents of the higher education system, we should set the standard. If we consider a school with excellent curriculum, organizations and professors to be a good education, then that’s what should be offered to everyone. We can’t keep sitting around while our education is toyed with. We must stay informed on what’s going on and never become complacent with the state of our government — especially with regard to our education. Clarke Perkins is a 21-year-old political science junior from New Orleans, Louisiana.

cartoon by NICK LEO / The Daily Reveille

page 21

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Washington-style partisanship hinders state legislature HARP ON IT JOHN GAVIN HARP @SirJohnGavin Gov. John Bel Edwards hasn’t even passed the halfway mark of his first term yet, but he’s already proven himself to be more effective than his predecessor — at least when partisan politics don’t interfere. Last month, Edwards called a special session to close the state’s mid-year budget deficit of $304 million. After nine days of negotiations and political drama pulled from an episode of “House of Cards,” the session ended with Edwards’s proposed plan remaining mostly intact. However, getting to that point involved a bit of work. At the outset of the session, Edwards proposed using $119 million from the state’s Budget Stabilization Fund, nicknamed the Rainy Day Fund, to aid in closing the deficit. House Republicans, however, initially countered with their own proposal. Their plan suggested using only $50 million from the state’s Rainy Day Fund. To make up for the difference, they would cut higher education funding by $12.7 million, the Department of Corrections by $9.4 million and the Department of Education by $7.5 million. It’s interesting they were willing to balance the budget on

the backs of college students, school children and public safety, especially when the Edwards’s initial plan avoided cuts to these departments. While the Legislature ended up leaning Edwards’s way by authorizing the use of $99 million from the Rainy Day Fund, getting there involved a lot of unnecessary drama. Why go through the motions of fighting with the governor for political spectacle when it’s at the expense of our state? As the only Democratic governor in the deep South, Edwards is often the target of partisan attacks which do nothing but hinder Louisiana. While 2019 is a few years away, the narrative the Louisiana GOP hopes to paint is one depicting Edwards as a tax and spend liberal in line with the national Democrats’ agenda. Edwards’s budget proposals? House leadership opposes them. His executive orders? State Attorney General Jeff Landry opposes them. His response to August’s historic flooding? Not good enough for some members of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation. Edwards’s recurring opposition is predictably all Republican. It’s interesting Louisiana’s Republican leadership opposes Edwards’s governing so adamantly. When was the last time Louisiana had a governor who was capable of showing strength and leadership as we faced continuous tragic disasters?

My favorite part about Gov. Edwards is his governing doesn’t involve pushing the Louisiana Democratic party’s agenda — or any agenda, really. The people of Louisiana always come first. Instead of embracing his bipartisanship, state Republicans have challenged him at every opportunity. The only ones hurting from these sort of petty politics are the people of Louisiana. A poll conducted in late November by Southern Media and Opinion Research showed Gov. Edwards’ approval ratings at 62.8 percent — the highest of any statewide elected official. The executive director of the state GOP attributed these numbers to the lack of a “campaign running against him right now,” according to an article by NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. But that’s untrue. The Louisiana Republican party hasn’t wasted an opportunity to campaign against Edwards or his policies. Their efforts just keep falling short. In 2019, when Edwards faces whichever opponent the GOP lines up, voters will have a clear choice to make. We’ll either reelect the man who continues to put the people of Louisiana first, or we’ll elect someone who prioritized partisanship at Louisiana’s expense. John Gavin Harp is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from St. Francisville, Louisiana.

THE DAILY REVEILLE ARCHIVES

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards addresses the legislature about budget cuts on Feb. 14, 2016, at the Louisiana State Capitol.

Johnson Amendment blurs distinction between church and state CHATTY ABBIE ABBIE SHULL @AbbieLJ President Donald Trump first vowed to destroy the Johnson Amendment on June 21, 2016. In a private meeting with Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and a group of evangelical leaders, he said, “We are going to get rid of that, because you should have the right to speak.” The Johnson Amendment is a 1954 federal law put in place by then-Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson. The law makes a nonprofit organization tax-exempt on the condition it remains politically neutral. Because the amendment is a part of the United States tax code, it would require congressional approval to repeal so Trump would not be able to act

through an executive order. Proponents of the law say it establishes an important distinction between politics and religion. Johnson Amendment supporters argue that taxpayers who provide money to religious causes should be able to do so freely without having to fund political opinions they may disagree with. While organizations can opt to pay taxes in exchange for a religious voice, many say the Johnson Amendment violates the First Amendment right to free speech. The amendment does not specifically target religious organizations’ right to be politically active — it applies to all 501(c)(3) organizations — but religious groups have been vocal about repealing it. While I keep my opinions far from Trump’s, we can agree on this: the Johnson Amendment

should be repealed. However, the Johnson Amendment shouldn’t be repealed because it violates free speech but because religious groups should not be tax exempt. While religious organizations cannot explicitly state their preference for a candidate, they can be incredibly partisan. For example, they teach pro-life values, ensuring their congregation will not vote for a prochoice candidate. How is that not an expression of a political view? I’m not saying it is wrong for these groups to express political opinions. They do already, so why are they still exempt from taxes under the law? The Johnson Amendment is also dangerous because it entangles church and state. It forces Congress to decide what qualifies as a religion and

what groups can register as a religious organization under the umbrella of the law. In 1993, the IRS granted the Church of Scientology tax-exempt status. For years it had been a branded a “commercial enterprise” and received national outrage. More importantly, not all religious organizations are nonprofits. Churches are a billiondollar industry. According to an investigation by Reuters, the steadily growing Mormon Church earns upwards of $7 billion in donations from tithing: each church member paying 10 percent of his/her income to the church “freely.” Tithing is viewed as a commandment from God in the Mormon Church. We have a big problem when religious leaders build milliondollar homes, fly in private planes and vacation in exotic locations while members of

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

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.

their flock struggle to feed their families. The idea that religion is not political is a joke. Presidents have been saying “God Bless America” since our country’s inception. Political leaders host religious leaders, attend prayer breakfasts and use their Christian values as campaign slogans. The President traditionally attends a National Prayer Breakfast the first Thursday of each February. In the past, the President has hosted the Pope, the Dalai Lama and six religious leaders attended the inauguration of President Trump. There’s nothing in this country as political as religion, and we need to stop pretending otherwise. Abbie Shull is a 23-year-old mass communication junior from St. Louis, Missouri.

Quote of the Week “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”

Alice Walker

novelist, activist, poet Feb. 9, 1944 — present

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Thursday, March 9, 2017

Indoor gardens proving to be nutritional solution for urban areas HOUSTON, WE HAVE A COLUMN CASEY PIMENTEL @CaseyPimentel1 Local grown, organic foods are packed with flavor and nutrients that genetically modified organisms cannot compete with. Traditional farming practices take abundant amounts of space to grow, cultivate and harvest produce that urban environments don’t have the luxury of utilizing. Lucky for us, a ‘future living lab’ supported by Ikea has created The Growroom. The Growroom is a spherical, 9-foot living furniture structure made from 17 sheets of plywood and created to grow plants, vegetables and herbs. Although the actual structure cannot be bought, Ikea has released the open source design with thorough instructions on how to make your own. This design promotes a vision of the future in which locally grown food, which has benefits that imported food cannot match, can become the primary source of our diets. This concept reduces food miles, or the distance that food items are produced, and doesn’t require early harvesting, which yields more flavored crops. The Growroom has the ability to revolutionize the way we eat and shop. Cities that don’t have room for traditional farming practices can now utilize vacant lots and locations with room to build Growrooms, and the benefits are endless. “We could produce food of the highest quality that tastes better, is much more nutritional, fresh, organic and healthy,” said Simon Caspersen, Director of Communications at Space10, Ikea’s innovation lab, according to a DailyMail.com article. Growrooms can help educate children on where food comes from, the principles of agriculture and the importance of hard work. In areas with little

cartoon by BETSY PRIMES / The Daily Reveille

community involvement, it would be beneficial to construct a Growroom to promote interaction among residents. It would be a great opportunity for the city to implement youth and other programs for people in the community who want to get involved with a healthy lifestyle. Grocery stores that sell

produce out of state could switch to local produce from the Growroom, which is much safer and healthier for consumers. The produce that many uneducated consumers are used to eating is infested with GMOs and pesticides that make our food unhealthy for consumption. Local food sources would al-

low for markets to have the appropriate knowledge of exactly what they are selling to their consumers. The origins of our food are getting farther from our homes, and our food is becoming cheap, bulk produce from large cooperation farms located across the country that attract our

local markets and grocery stores. The Growroom is an affordable solution to the anti-monopolization of the produce industry and the health of communities. Casey Pimentel is an 18-year-old mass communication freshman from The Woodlands, Texas.

Disregarding GMO benefits could inhibit societal growth HUMAN WRITES ALAINA DILAURA @alaina_dilaura What’s really in your food? This question is not only for consumers with questionable meat slapped on their McDouble, it also has to do with the emergence of innovative food technologies, for grocery store shoppers around the country. Genetically modified organisms are organisms whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. GMOs are widely used to produce medicine, create pest

resistant crops and yield greater harvests. However, there are questions arising about the safety and effects of these technologies as they diffuse into the public community. It would be ignorant to turn a blind eye to these rapidly emerging innovations, especially considering that in 2015, GMO crop varieties accounted for 94 percent of planted soybean and 93 percent of planted maize, according to Science Advances. There are many people who believe GMOs expand corporate domination. While it may be true that corporations benefit from the production of GMOs, the consumer still indirectly

benefits. In one study from the journal PLOS One, two agricultural economists found that GMO technology increased crop yields by 22 percent, reduced pesticide use by 37 percent and increased farmer profits by 68 percent. To understand how the consumer is affected, we need a crash course in economics. When the supplier is able to produce a higher yield of crops at a lower price, the consumer sees the benefit at the register. Suppliers are able to charge less when they can produce goods at a lower cost. Thus, more people are able to purchase

the good. Without GMOs, food prices in grocery stores would be significantly higher around the world. GMOs make food affordable, protect our environment, feed the world’s hungry and allow producers to utilize more environmentally friendly planting techniques that cut down on soil erosion, greenhouse gas emission and water use. In 2012, 17.3 million farmers around the world grew genetically modified crops, and more than 90 percent of them were small-scale farmers in developing countries. If this trend continues, GMOs could help provide critical jobs for farmers across

nations and food for those facing hunger. There’s no doubt we would be less advanced as a society without GMOs. They have pushed the boundaries and limitations of sustainability and growth. If we want to continue to move forward into technologically advancement, we must address the misconceptions surrounding GMO use to maximize our potential as a society. Alaina DiLaura is a 20-yearold international studies and mass communication sophomore from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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Thursday, March 9, 2017

Louisiana should adopt public-shaming practices for DUI offenders NO FORTUNATE SON CHRISTOPHER GODAIL @ChrisGodail If you drive a vehicle under the influence of an illicit substance, I have a problem with you. It was just a mistake, and you’re sorry? Sorry, that doesn’t cut it for me. As a society, we’ve passed the point where we can play dumb regarding the effects of alcohol or drugs on our driving. Denying this is choosing to be ignorant. On Feb. 25, Neilson Rizzuto in New Orleans injured 28 people when he plowed into parade goers at the Krewe of Endymion. That was just the tail end of his

stupidity — he also struck two vehicles prior to leaving the roadway and mowing down the crowd. Following the incident, his blood-alcohol level was measured at .232 percent, nearly three times the legal limit of .08 percent. His charges include first-degree vehicular negligence resulting in injury, reckless operation of a motor vehicle and hitand-run driving. Hopefully, he’s prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Some scumbag attorney will probably attempt to negotiate a plea bargain on his behalf, but he doesn’t deserve one, and neither does anyone else who drives under the influence, regardless of injuries. Sadly, the culture of south Louisiana, complete with to-go

cups in entertainment districts and roadside daiquiri shops, encourages excessive alcohol consumption in the name of “having a good time.” Saints game? Drink. LSU game? Drink. Mardi Gras? Drink. Hurricane coming ashore? Drink. While I personally don’t see the point in drinking to everything, there’s nothing wrong with that — as long as you don’t drive. If you do drive, I hope you get arrested. Not everyone who gets caught is going to be Neilson Rizzuto and have their faces plastered across national news outlets when they drive under the influence. In fact, the vast majority of people who drive drunk get away with it. A 2014 FBI study concluded approximately 300,000 people

operate a vehicle under the influence daily, but only 3,200 are arrested. That same study discovered that those arrested for drunk driving have driven drunk more than 80 times before facing justice. It’s almost never a one time incident, and those who do it fail to realize they’re driving a weapon that weighs a couple thousand pounds. All things considered, Louisiana should publicly shame those convicted of DUI by adopting Ohio’s restricted plate policy. Under this policy, those convicted of DWI may be given restricted license plates that must be affixed to their vehicle. The plates are bright yellow, and serve as a warning to other motorists that they’re driving near someone who’s proven to be unsafe. As

a driver, I feel this knowledge is owed to me, just as much as knowing a sex offender moved in the neighborhood. I’m not a prude. People love to change the way the brain works, and I’m certainly no different. I get my Don Draper on every now and then with a stiff old fashioned, and I also enjoy Yuengling beer among other things. I have my vices just like everyone else. Have a good time with whatever your vice is. Please, just don’t drive afterwards. You have no right to endanger the lives of others because of your carelessness. Christopher Godail is a 27-yearold interdisciplinary studies junior from Kenner, Louisiana.

North Louisiana has as much culture as southern counterpart OSIE SAYS OSIE EVANS @osiezz When most people think of Louisiana, they reduce it to Mardi Gras, French heritage and New Orleans. Residents have developed their own stereotypes as well. One of the most pervasive stereotypes is the idea that northern Louisiana is a boring cultural wasteland while southern Louisiana, the “true Louisiana,” contains everything that makes the state great. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Northern Louisiana actually shares a lot of heritage and history with southern Louisiana, in addition to its own quirks that make the area special. The first difference people think of between northern and southern Louisiana is the upper region’s supposed lack of French influence. However, there are pockets of strong creole heritage in northern Louisiana that date back over centuries. One of these pockets is Natchitoches, a small town located between Alexandria and Shreveport. Founded in 1714 by French colonists, it is the oldest city in the Louisiana Purchase, even older than New Orleans and Lafayette. The early settlers were a mix of French and Spanish colonists, African slaves and local Native American tribes. They brought with them the same Creole traditions and cuisine common to southern Louisiana. Natchitoches has become famous throughout the South for its meat pies. This popular regional dish,which originated in this area, and the Lasyone’s restaurant in downtown Natchitoches is famous for its excellent meat pies and other creole dishes. Natchitoches Parish is still inhabited by many of the colonial inhabitants’ descendants. Just outside of Natchitoches in the

cartoon by BETSY PRIMES / The Daily Reveille

Cane River-Cloutierville area is a thriving Creole community. In addition to its French heritage, northern Louisiana is a cultural melting pot in its own right. Contrary to the popular image of northern Louisiana as a blandly homogenous area dominated only by Protestants, the area is actually very culturally diverse. Shreveport has an established community of the descendants of Lebanese, Jewish, Italian and German immigrants. Minden, Louisiana, was founded by German immigrants in 1824. Minden residents continue to keep the city’s

German heritage alive with events like Fasching, a festival that occurs every November with German inspired food, clothes and dances. Even the descendants of the British and African American populations aren’t quite like any others in the American South. They have blended Mardi Gras with their Protestant faiths and happily adopted Creole and Cajun cuisine and music. Northern Louisiana may have a more Protestant Anglo-American influence than the rest of the state, but the people still participate in the traditions associated with Louisiana

heritage. Northern Louisiana is also home to some of the most beautiful natural sites in the state. It’s largely because of this region that the state has earned the nickname of “Sportsman’s Paradise.” The region’s forests and clear lakes are popular destinations for nature lovers. The state’s only national forest, Kisatchie Park, is located there, across 604,000 acres of land. Toledo Bend, located near Logansport, is one of the top five bass fishing lakes in the country, and the docks, parks and log cabins near the shore make it a lovely weekend

swimming and boating destination. In addition to the area’s natural beauty, the low population of the area has also helped to preserve important landmarks of Louisiana colonial and pre-colonial roots. Poverty Point, a historical site with prehistoric earthworks and mounds built around 1650 and 700 B.C. is a popular site for tourists and archaeologists to learn more about Louisiana’s early native American communities. Los Adaes, located in modern day Robeline, was the site of a Spanish colonial fort and was once the capital of Spanish Texas. It’s one of the most intact former Spanish colonial sites in the world. Today, the site is an exhibit dedicated to educating tourists about Spanish Texas. Natchitoches was once the site of the French Fort St. John Baptiste, and the nearby community of Isle Brevelle still has some of the original homes and other buildings of the early planter’s intact. With all northern Louisiana has to offer, other residents of the state shouldn’t be so quick to write it off as merely an extension of Arkansas. Northern Louisiana isn’t exactly like its southern counterpart, but neither is most of southern Louisiana anything like New Orleans and the surrounding areas. Every region of the state has its own unique traditions, and it’s these differences that give Louisiana the cultural diversity it’s so famous for. We might have a little influence from Arkansas and Texas, but we still love LSU, crawfish and Gumbo, and our Mardi Gras celebrations are pretty impressive. Before you draw that border between the “real Louisiana” and “south Arkansas,” come and see what we have to offer. Osie Evans is a 20-year-old English junior from Natchitoches, Louisiana.