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UNFEESIBLE LSU graduate student fees, at around $4,600, are rising and are among the highest in the country. BY BAILEY CHAUVIN @BaileyChauvin
Sociology graduate student Dustin Lovercamp learned about graduate students’ required semester fees after his classes were purged during his first semester last year. When he contacted the University to learn why his classes were purged, he learned he owed about $1600 in fees. “[The fees] came as a big surprise,” Lovercamp said. “I came from an undergraduate university where fees were included with the tuition. When I signed my graduate assistant contract, there was no mention of fees. It made it seem like everything was covered.” LSU’s required graduate student fees, approximated at $4600, are among the highest in the nation, according to Georgia Institute of Technology Biological Sciences professor and Director of the Interdisciplinary PhD in Quantitative Biosciences Joshua Weitz. Like undergraduate students, graduate students must pay fees each semester. However, these fees aren’t included with tuition. Graduate students are told they will have to pay required fees when they sign their graduate assistant contracts, but Creative Writing graduate student Christie Lauder said many graduate students aren’t aware of the specific price they will pay. “I was lucky to have talked to an administrator who said to estimate my fees at about $3000 a year,” Lauder said. “That was because I personally sought somebody out and asked them. For everyone else, all you get is a letter that mentions the fees, but you don’t get told what those fees are.” These fees can increase substantially from year to year, partially because the University is unable to raise tuition. The required fees from fall 2017 and spring 2018 were each about $1650, and totaled about $3315. During fall 2018 and spring 2019, graduate student fees totaled at about $3890, with about $1940 per semester, according to the 2017-18 and 2018-19 fee schedules. 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 fee schedules
see GRAD SCHOOL, page 2
$ NEWS
p ag e 5
Taylor Scott becomes first black female vice president in SG’s over 90-year history.
SPORTS
p ag e 7
LSU gymnastics seniors finish careers as one of the most successful classes in program history.
ENTERTAINMENT
p ag e 14
Atomic Burger’s second-ever location opens on Burbank Drive nearing Arlington Marketplace.
OPINION
p ag e 21
“The government seems to think the color of your skin reflects the danger you present to the country.”
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
page 2
L SU Re ve i l le.co m
COVER STORY
@l s u r e ve i l le
LSU graduate student fees among highest in the nation GRAD SCHOOL, from page 1 Graduate student fees have generally increased from year to year, but biological sciences graduate students Luis Santiago-Rosario and Alicia Reigel found that the Student Excellence Fee, first introduced in spring 2016, has increased the most. In spring 2016, the Student Excellence Fee was $128, but increased to $305 during fall 2016 and spring 2017. Today, the Student Excellence Fee is $857 and is the largest required fee, according to Santiago-Rosario. Graduate students take on a large number of roles within their departments. Besides enrolling in their own classes, graduate students teach and provide support to undergraduate students and participate in research. SantiagoRosario said graduate students are often the first points of contact for undergraduate students. Graduate students are compensated through an annual stipend, which varies by department. However, paying their required fees for the fall and spring semesters automatically reduces their stipend. “None of us came into this expecting huge savings when we
graduate, but none of us expected to pay a fourth or more of our salary,� Reigel said. Unlike several other graduate schools across the country, these fees don’t include health insurance. Reigel said the fees can also affect students’ income tax brackets because the fees are deducted after students pay taxes. These fees are particularly problematic for international students. Sociology graduate student Josh Hunter is a resident of Scotland. Like Lovercamp, he was shocked to learn that he owed about $1600 in fees during his first semester. Hunter’s visa legally requires him to have health insurance, which he purchased from the University at almost $1000 per semester. Despite his health insurance, Hunter said he is returning home over the summer for an arm surgery that his insurance doesn’t cover. Hunter said he wishes there was more support available for international students who are confused about their fees and health insurance requirements. “We don’t have insurance back home, we have a public health service,� Hunter said. “There was no
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We knew [our annual fees] were high, but we didn’t realize how far off we were from everyone else. ALICIA REIGEL
that no longer are accepting our offers.� Graduate students at the University have discussed these fees for several years. When Weitz posted a chart of graduate student fees for several universities on Twitter in April, students learned that LSU’s annual fees, estimated at $4653, are far above other universities. “We knew ours were high, but we didn’t realize how far off we were from everyone else,� Reigel said. “When that was clear, we realized this wasn’t normal. When you see it tangibly on a graph like that, it’s painful.� After seeing Weitz’s post, several graduate students at the University began being more vocal on Twitter about the effects these fees have on their ability to learn and work. Santiago-Rosario even posted his own graph showing how graduate student fees have increased from year to year. Santiago-Rosario and Reigel are advocates for a graduate student fee waiver, similar to the tuition waiver graduate assistants receive. They stressed that graduate students’ concerns about their fees should not be taken as a sign of unhappiness with their experience at the University. “We love LSU,� Reigel said. “We love working with the undergrads and teaching and mentoring them. I can imagine all the things we could do to benefit the undergrad experience if we weren’t worried about this.�
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Biological sciences graduate student one helping me and I didn’t have a clue. You just get there and they hand you a bill.� The financial burden of paying required fees, health insurance and other living expenses on a stipend of less than $20,000 per year is a source of stress for many graduate students who otherwise enjoy their experiences in their departments. “This is the end of my fourth year and I love LSU,� Reigel said. “I love the professors and the community here, but the financial situation is so awful.� Graduate students work within their departments for 20 hours a week and are not permitted by their contracts to find outside work. However, several graduate students reported they know of other students who have no choice but to find outside work due to their financial situations. The University’s required fees can also deter prospective graduate students from enrolling in the program. Biological Sciences Associate Chair of Graduate Studies Michael Hellberg said he’s noticed a slight decrease in the number of graduate students enrolled in the Biological Sciences program. “We try to get the best possible students, so they’re going to have multiple offers they’ll have to compare,� Hellberg said. “Sometimes there’s someone they really want to work with here, but I think there’s a number of students in past years we would have gotten
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NEWS FAMILY MATTERS
page 3
RESEARCH
Undergraduate receives grant to research concussion effects BY RAYMOND CONSTANTINO @r_dog_3
pregnancy-related conditions as excused absences. “If my son is sick and I’m the only one in charge of him at the moment, I have no other choice but to stay with him,” student-parent and mass communication sophomore Kerrell Robinson* said in an interview with the group. “Him being sick is the same as me being sick. If he’s out of commission, so am I.” Due to this oversight, pregnant students and student-parents are
Concussions are often thought of as a temporary condition that increases the possibility of certain ailments much later in life. But new research led by a University student and faculty adviser indicates that concussions may impair cognitive function for years after the injury. Kinesiology senior Abby Caffey and assistant kinesiology professor Marc Dalecki are researching whether cognitive deficits from concussions sustained in late childhood or early adolescence carry over into young adulthood. Caffey said their work thus far shows that participants experience inhibited brain function for an average of four years after their concussion. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Sports Medicine website states that between 1.7 to 3 million sports or recreationrelated concussions occur yearly, and every five of 10 concussions go unreported or undetected. “People with a concussion history have a significantly higher margin-of-error and a significantly
see PARENTS, page 6
see CONCUSSIONS, page 6
THE REVEILLE ARCHIVES
Mass communication students work to create attendence policy to accomadate student-parents BY SOPHIE LIBERTO @LibertoSophie There are 4.8 million studentparents enrolled in universities across the U.S. They make up 26% of the undergraduate population, but only 28% complete their degree, according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. Mass communication seniors Elise Armand, Sarah Grobety, Hannah Kleinpeter*, Dena Winegeart* and Delaney Wismans and junior Lynne Bunch* founded Supporting Parents on Campus in their politi-
cal communication capstone class with Manship Chair and professor Robert Mann. The group’s mission is to work toward making the University a more accommodating and conducive environment for studentparents, pregnant students and students with pregnancy-related conditions to foster their success at the undergraduate and graduate level. “I realized how big of a group this is on campus, not just at LSU but nationwide,” Armand said. “I think it is very important that
LSU equips all students to succeed academically no matter what challenges they are facing.” When the group began researching what unique obstacles student-parents and pregnant students face on campus, they found the University-wide attendance policy, outlined in Policy Statement 22, had a glaring deficiency. Although the attendance policy states illness and serious family emergency are valid excuses for absence, it fails to list illness of a dependent family member or
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Taylor Scott first black female SG vice president in 14 years BY KARLI CARPENTER @karlicarpenter_ LSU Student Government vice president Taylor Scott is the first black woman to fill that role at the University in 14 years. Scott was preceded by Jenny Byrd, who served as vice president in 2004-05. The mass communication and African and African American studies junior from Beaumont, Texas, said she never had lifelong dreams of attending the University, let alone making history there. “Coming here and being able to be the first black woman VP [in over a decade] just means a lot,” Scott said. “I’m humbled.” Scott said neither of her parents attended the University, and securing the role of vice
president has reassured her that she’s exactly where she’s meant to be. Scott said she believes her new role is meaningful to other students, particularly those whose backgrounds and demographics are not always reflected by the University’s leadership. “That means the most to me — that someone else is going to be able to see me here and say, ‘I can be there,’” Scott said. Scott said she has the responsibility of representing and advocating for minorities, women and out-of-state students, since she will be working with some of the University’s top officials, such as LSU President F. King Alexander and Executive Vice President and Provost Stacia Haynie. Scott said she wants to be a familiar face to the students she represents,
and she wants them to trust her enough to bring their concerns to her and expect her to deliver. “I’m determined to take this position and do something with it that no one has ever done,” Scott said. Scott said she wants to implement initiatives that direct minority students to leaders and faculty members who look like them and can address their needs. She said it’s important that students know that no matter who they are, someone who looks like them is advocating for them at the University. Scott’s success is especially remarkable given the University’s history of attempted segregation. The first black undergraduate student,
see SCOTT, page 6
NAIF OTHMAN / The Reveille
The student body vice president elect Taylor Scott speaks at the Student Government inauguration ceremony that took place at the Law school on Apr. 2.
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
page 4 BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY
Communities near LSU lead Baton Rouge in HIV, AIDS cases The survey asks about healthcare, current medications, sexual activity and prior knowledge of Baton Rouge is ranked No. 5 HIV. It is open to both students in the nation for HIV and AIDS, and faculty members. according to the Center for DisBoles said he was partially ease Control and Prevention. Ad- inspired by his roommate who ditional studies from the Louisi- volunteers for Open Care Health ana Department of Health have Clinic in Baton Rouge, a local shown the majorclinic promotity of these cases “There’s no magic ing HIV prevenare in close proxtion through the bullet for these imity to campus. PrEP and Pep Math and bioprograms. PrEP issues. We have chemistry senior is a once-a-day abysmal sex Joseph DeCorte pill taken to preeducation in this and microbiology vent HIV, and Pep senior William is a pill taken to state that has Boles are tired reduce risks up of seeing Baton certainly undermined to 72 hours after Rouge ranked on any efforts to prevent exposure. Takthe list over and ing the PrEP pill HIV.” over again for as directed can the past decade, reduce a person’s WILLIAM BOLES so they decided risk of contractMicrobiology senior to do something ing HIV by 90%, about it. according to the The two students formed an Open Health Care. Boles said anonymous survey promoted with the pill’s high success rate, on the myLSU page. The goal of there is no reason for HIV to be the survey is to promote future so prevalent. press regarding this issue, since “We don’t have to have the those aged 18-24 are at the high- stats that we have,” Boles said. est risk for HIV. Neighborhoods “We’ve just allowed it to happen, surrounding the University ad- so we’re doing something about ditionally have the highest HIV it.” rate in the area, according to the Another disturbing statistic Louisiana Department of Health. from the LDH estimated that
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50% of people aged 18-24 who have HIV are unaware of their positive status. “That’s a really scary thing,” DeCorte said. “When that half of the HIV population doesn’t even know they are HIV positive, that’s a really bad place to start out.” One of the potential reasons people don’t take advantage of prevention products is lack of awareness and availability. Through research, Boles and DeCorte hope to educate students and break down accessibility barriers. “Most people have heard of it, but the problem is resources in the community,” Boles said. “They don’t know how to get it or they said, ‘I don’t need that.’ The drug is not for everyone, but it can be helpful to higher risk individuals. One common trend is increased HIV rates among lower income communities, according to statistics from the CDC. Cost can be another barrier when it comes to prevention methods, which is another thing DeCorte and Boles are trying to tackle. Right now, LSU health insurance covers the PrEP drug with a $75 copay. Without insurance, it costs about $2,000 per month. Decorte and Boles want to see the drug be free for everyone. “Any cost barrier is going to stop some people from getting the care they need,” DeCorte said. “The more barriers you put up in front of care, the less likely people will be to utilize that.” DeCorte and Boles want to utilize the results of their research to meet with the Univer sity’s higher administration to petition for health care policy changes. Meanwhile, they are laying the groundwork through networking and com-
cation in this state that h a s certainly undermined a n y ef for ts to prevent
HIV.”
mun it y outreach. The two often stand in Free Speech Plaza giving away condoms, sunglasses, pamphlets, tshirts and other items provided to them by Open Health Care Clinic to raise awareness for their cause. Still, Boles and DeCorte said no amount of free products or informational booths is going to change the problem overnight. With both students planning on graduating next month, they knew they had to continue their legacy through younger students. “There’s no magic bullet for these issues,” Boles said. “We have abysmal sex edu-
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T h e t w o seniors enlisted a committee full of underclassmen to continue their work through the coming years. New committee members already started formulating policies to expand outreach at the University and in the Baton Rouge community as a whole. DeCorte and Boles hope to see their vision for HIV awareness and health care policy change carried out even in their absence. DeCorte said he would like to see the University set a precedent in terms of HIV prevention and awareness rather than continue to serve as a breeding ground for the disease. “When you look at the statistics and see we have some of the highest rates in Baton Rouge, even higher rates in this area and the highest for those ages 18-22, that leads me to think LSU is probably a cesspool,” DeCorte said. “As the flagship University, we need to be setting an example for the rest of the state.” Boles and DeCorte devoted their senior year to a cause that has little to do with their fields of study, but Boles said it is important for people in all different academic spheres to contribute their skills to solve the HIV crisis. Ultimately, their drive stems from disgust with current statistics, a desire to see improvement and a concern for the well-being of their fellow classmates. “We both just saw something we were rightfully enraged by,” DeCorte said. “That is what motivated us to do something about it.”
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
page 5
ADMINISTRATION
SG, LSU Libraries to implement textbook lending program BY KARLI CARPENTER @karlicarpenter_ LSU Student Government is partnering with LSU Libraries to implement a textbook lending program at the University in which single copies of 15 textbooks will be available for students to check out and scan passages from. Political science sophomore Miranda Campbell toured the libraries at Duke University and North Carolina State University in December with former SG president Stewart Lockett and Director of Development at LSU Libraries Virginia Archer. That’s where they found out that those universities had successful textbook lending programs. Campbell said NC State has every textbook for every course included in its program, whereas Duke’s program only includes textbooks for its top 100 enrolled classes. “That’s kind of where we got the idea of looking at enrollment count, rather than just picking random classes,” Campbell said. Campbell said 14 of the textbooks that will be part of LSU’s program are for classes with high-enrollment counts, including
accounting and management classes, among others. Student Senate passed a finance bill on April 3 to allocate $3,436.95 from the SG surplus account to fund the purchase of the books. The money from the account came from student fees. Campbell said one copy of an additional textbook for an entry-level art class has been pledged by the University’s College of Art and Design. She said the College of Human Sciences and Education has pledged $1,500, and she will work with the college over the summer to see which textbooks it wants to provide. Archer wrote in an email that, starting in the fall, the textbooks will be available for checkout for up to three hours through Access Services on the second floor of Middleton Library. Students will be able to use two scanners to convert portions of the books into PDFs. One scanner will be located at Access Services, and the other will be in room 141 of the library. Students can scan the books an unlimited number of times. “The scanners are limited in how much you can scan,” Campbell said. “I think it’s a maximum of roughly 100
CHRISTA MORAN / THE REVEILLE
LSU students study material from a textbook on April 23, 2019. pages, so you’re never going to be able to scan the whole textbook.” This is because of copyright law restrictions, and Archer said students need to follow relevant copyright laws, which will be posted near the scanners. Campbell said it’s important that students know about the program and utilize it, especially since students are not always aware of SG initiatives. “We want to go into those classrooms and actually advertise
that this is available,” Campbell said. Campbell said she plans to ask more professors which textbooks are required for their classes so more students can have free access to necessary books. “It’s mainly targeted at people who cannot afford this stuff otherwise,” Campbell said. Expansion of the program to future years is dependent on funding received by LSU Libraries. “We, SG, have funded the
pilot program but, at this time, there’s not an expansion plan using our money,” Campbell said. “The idea is that we can demonstrate to the library [that] this is a successful, popular program and then have them take it over.” Archer wrote that if the University increases LSU Libraries’ acquisitions budget, or if private funding becomes available, it will continue the SG-sponsored program after the 2019-20 school year.
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
page 6 SCOTT, from page 3 A.P. Tureaud, enrolled at the University in 1953, according to the Clarence L. Barney Jr. African American Cultural Center. The Reveille reported that in 1956, former LSU President Troy Middleton fought to prevent African Americans from enrolling by presenting a report titled, “LSU and Segregation” to the Board of Supervisors, explaining that the University’s historical policy was to not admit black students. “When you think [that] three generations ago, people weren’t even allowed that look like me to come to this school, [being] in a position that’s recognizable means a lot to me,” Scott said. Former SG president Stewart Lockett was the University’s first black SG president in nearly 30 years, and he said Scott may inspire others to take on leadership positions. “She creates change wherever she goes,” Lockett said. “She isn’t going to let things go stagnant.” Scott served on Lockett’s executive staff during his term, and Lockett said he saw first-hand that she’s a hard worker and a great fit for the position. “I think she’s going to tap into a group that no one in leadership has been able to tap into and really resonate with them,”
Lockett said. “Not only is she a black woman, she’s in black Greek Life.” Scott is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at the University and said that SG vice presidents are often white women in Greek Life. But AKA is part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, the governing body of historically African American sororities and fraternities, which has two sorority and two fraternity chapters at the University. Other primary Greek Life councils at the University include the Panhellenic Council and the Interfraternity Council, comprising 14 sororities and 18 fraternities on campus, respectively. Scott’s position will allow her to represent members of NPHC chapters, which contrasts with other SG executives who were members of the PHC or the IFC. SG president William Jewell said he wants students to feel empowered by Scott and her leadership. He said the increased diversity is great, but Scott didn’t get her position just for the sake of diversifying SG — she earned it because she was the best and most qualified candidate for it. “There’s nobody else that I would’ve wanted to run with,” Jewell said. “I’m really just proud to call her my friend and proud to call her my vice president.”
RESEARCH, from page 3 slower response time than people who didn’t have a concussion history,” Caffey said. Participants have an average of two concussions, Caffey said. To be included in the study, they had to have been diagnosed with a concussion by a doctor, and cannot play contact sports. Caffey is able to conduct her research in part thanks to the LSU Discover Scholar grant she received right before this semester began. The grant awards up to 10 students $1,500 per semester to support their research, according to LSU Discover’s website. The Discover program also acts as a resource base with faculty advisers and research workshops open to all students. To apply for the grant, Caffey had to submit a research proposal and budget summary and have a faculty mentor supporting her efforts. Caffey said she first became interested in researching concussion effects because of a rare neurological disorder she suffers from called reflex sympathetic dystrophy. The New York State Department of Health’s website states that this disorder is characterized by severe burning pain usually affecting the arms, legs, feet or hands. No known cause exists for RSD, nor is there a cure. “Not knowing why my body functions the way it does re-
courtesy of ABBY CAFFEY
Kinesiology senior Abby Caffey stands by her research presentation at LSU Discover Day on April 9. ally sparked my curiosity in neurological function and cognition,” Caffey said. The next step in Caffey’s research is to see how concussionrelated effects change after four years, and if any difference in concussion effects exists between sexes. A long-term goal is to get MRI scans of participants brain activity at LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center. Unlike some research relationships where undergrads take on less meaningful roles, Caffey takes the lead on her area of research while Dalecki focuses on other areas. Caffey said she and Dalecki
often go back-and-forth, with Caffey relaying her ideas and Dalecki offering advice on the feasibility and practicality of her suggestions. Caffey said without Dalecki, her research would not be possible and she would never have gotten the grant. Caffey recently presented her research at LSU Discover Day, a research showcase for Discover Scholars, where she and her colleagues won second place. She said she hopes to take her research to Chicago during the summer to present at a conference for the Society for Neuroscience.
PARENTS, from page 3
WAIT LISTS NOW OPEN
often forced to share overly personal and sometimes HIPAA privacy-protected information with professors to advocate for excused absence on their own behalf. Pregnant students and student-parents who are not comfortable sharing the intimate details of their or their child’s life can face failing grades, delayed graduation or even forced withdrawal. The group advocates for professors to include the following in their syllabi as valid excuses for absence in addition to those stated in PS-22: •Illness of a dependent family member •Pregnancy (childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy and recovery therefrom) and related conditions for so long a period of time as is deemed medically necessary by the student’s physician The group found other peer institutions, such as Texas A&M, University of South Carolina and Mississippi State University, have university-wide attendance policies that do include these in reasons for excused absences. Because excused absences are up to the discretion of individual professors, the group decided the best place to start was by speaking directly with individual Manship professors. So far, they have the support of 20 Manship School of Mass Communication professors who pledged to adopt the proposed language into their syllabus and the number is growing. Many of the professors have offered to speak about this in faculty meetings to spread aware-
THE REVEILLE ARCHIVES
The LSU Child Care Center on Aug. 28, 2016, on Gourrier Avenue. ness. They also have a professor willing to speak with Faculty Senate about the initiative. “I think it was really smart to focus on one school and get almost the whole faculty on board. I hope it doesn’t die with them,” Mann said. “I hope another group will pick it up and try to spread it across campus.” The group has corresponded with the University’s registrar’s office and they said they are drafting new language for PS-22, but do not have an official timeline. The University’s attendance policy has not been updated since 2007. Through research, the group also found that if a single mother gets a college degree, it increases the likelihood her child will go to college. An increase in “positive parenting behaviors” shows improved outcomes for children. This is even when controlling for socioeconomic factors related to
college access. The group found that the most common reason a woman chooses to have an abortion is because of the interference with her work or education. That makes it is imperative that institutions consider helping the 4.8 million students in the U.S. who are parents, including requiring professors to offer more flexibility on assignments and absences. Armand, Bunch, Groberty, Kleinpeter, Winegeart and Wismans hope the group that takes over their initiative next semester continues to put pressure on the University to incorporate their proposed language and expedite the new draft.
*Editor’s Note: Lynne Bunch and Hannah Kleinpeter are current employees of The Reveille. Dena Winegeart and Kerrell Robinson are former employees.
SPORTS
page 7
FINAL FLIP
ALYSSA BERRY / The Reveille
LSU seniors reflect on championships, fond memories of college careers BY KENNEDI LANDRY @landryyy14 FORT WORTH, Texas — “What does this senior class mean to you?” senior all-arounder Lexie Priessman was asked after LSU’s second place finish at the NCAA Championship meet. “Literally everything,” Priessman responded as tears fell down her face. “These girls have been my roommates since freshman year, and we’ve been through everything together whether it was being hurt, sickness, family, Gracie passing away. No matter what it was, we stuck together. “We weren’t finished until McKenna landed that last pass. I’m liter-
ally forever grateful for them and...” “You can’t do this to us,” fellow senior Sarah Finnegan cut Priessman off as she began to shed some tears of her own. “I love them and they’ll be my best friends forever,” Priessman finished. Priessman and Finnegan, as well as fellow seniors McKenna Kelley and Julianna Cannamela ended their LSU gymnastics careers Saturday night as one of the most dominant classes in program history. They totaled three National Runner-Up titles and three Southeastern Conference titles in their four years. The group finished in second place as freshman in 2016
in the exact same arena, the Fort Worth Convention Center. “I can’t say enough wonderful things about Sarah Finnegan, Lexie Priessman, McKenna Kelley and Julianna Cannamela,” coach D-D Breaux said. “They have led this team with pride and passion since they hit campus, and I’m so proud.” Finnegan opened the meet with a 9.9125 on vault for the Tigers and McKenna Kelley closed it by anchoring on floor to secure LSU’s second place finish with a 9.95. Kelley was in tears the moment she landed her last tumbling pass that likely ended her LSU career. Breaux spent the entire season talking about the leadership
Head
to
LSU baseball is a College World Series team CAL’D UP CHRIS CALDARERA @caldarera11 My eardrums nearly burst as the person sitting behind me belted out a high-pitched scream. I could barely let out a whimper as the wind began to whirl past me. As the roller coaster hurled its riders back to Earth, I began to question why I decided to get on the ride in the first place. In the midst of hanging on for dear life, I briefly took notice of how others were coping with the experience. Some reacted like the first-timer sitting behind me, yelling at the top of their lungs as if they were expecting a tragic derailment. Others embraced the thrill of the ride, throwing their hands in the air for full effect. That’s when I realized that, while there isn’t
a wrong way to react on a roller coaster, you certainly get more out of the ride if you’re not trembling in fear the entire time. A typical college baseball season is packed with games from start to finish that take fans on a journey of highs and lows similar to a roller coaster ride. One day, an opponent defeats you by seven runs, the next day you beat the same opponent by 12 runs. That’s simply one example of the many times baseball doesn’t seem to follow a logical pattern, but it certainly doesn’t stop fans from screaming at the top of their lungs when it feels like the season is about to fly off the tracks. This is especially true for the passionate LSU fan base. Many don’t think this year’s LSU baseball team has what it takes to be great, and some have downright given up on the season already. No sooner the University announced that
see WORLD SERIES, page 10
that this group brings to the gym week after week, and how they never lost sight of the ultimate goal, despite some early struggles. LSU lost its first meet in five years against Auburn in the regular season and fans and media alike were worried about what was to come of the ever-consistent Tiger gymnastics team. Breaux wasn’t worried because of who was on her team. They ended up where they always thought they would — competing for a national championship. “I think this senior team — they drove that SEC Championship, they drove it last year and every year they have accomplished more and more,” Breaux said. “But it’s not
just the championships, it’s the pride and the passion that they represent LSU. They’re always, always doing it for LSU. They’re at the top of our pyramid and this team has no regrets.” And Finnegan will go down as one of the greatest — perhaps the greatest from Breaux’s point of view — to wear an LSU leotard. She may even be one of the best LSU athletes in any sport. Breaux said it will take a “superior athlete” to come in and do what Finnegan has been able to do both in and out of the gym. In her final performance as a Tiger, the reigning bars national
see GYM, page 10
Head LSU baseball is good, but only enough for a Regional exit KUSS WORDS MYLES KUSS @KussMyles
Perfection — a word that is used literally and figuratively to describe a number of topics from work ethic to personal achievement. While perfection is unattainable, people continue to use it, especially in the sports world with the often used expression, “practice makes perfect.” Even if the LSU baseball team did not practice for a single day, the Tiger fans expect perfection and do not take less than that. Who can blame them? They are constantly the loudest fans year in and year out, and Alex Box is always sold out. So, don’t the fans deserve perfection?
Maybe even something close to it? The answer is yes, but the fans would settle for less than perfection if an Omaha trophy was brought back to Baton Rouge. Unfortunately for the Tiger-faithful, the team is solid, but not solid enough for a deep run against tough pitching. The problem for LSU coach Paul Mainieri is never talent, and this year is no different. The problem comes down to two areas: the mound and a power bat. The dirt pile that resides 60-feet6-inches from home plate usually decides the game. Look at Florida. That bullpen is what led the Gators to beating the Tigers in Omaha in 2017. LSU does have a solid pitching staff, but no one that will scare you inside the box. Zack Hess used to be the man out of
see REGIONAL, page 10
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
page 8
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Nuss, Coppola become winningest duo in program history all individual matches in post season so far. No. 4 LSU made it to the finals of the CCSA LSU beach volleyball has Tournament, but ultimately fell been breaking all sorts of re- to No. 3 FSU. They will begin cords this season, but the most to compete in the NCAA tourimpressive might be from the nament to chase the National new two winningest players in Championship starting May 3. “It’s really just an honor and program history. something speJuniors Kriscial,” Nuss said. ten Nuss and “They’ve always “I’ve always Claire Coppola been good. To be dreamed as a kid became the two winningest play- able to do what they playing at LSU, being from New Orers after their 81st career win over did and get as many leans, so to kind Houston Baptist wins as they did, of say that we’re now in the record in the LSU Beach it says way more books really is Invitational. Since then, they have about their heart and something special something bumped it up to their attitude and and I didn’t think an impressive 89 commitment.” would happen. It’s wins. The duo has really just an honcompeted in every or and I’m super match since their RUSSELL BROCK excited.” freshman year to Beach volleyball coach Over the sumpass the former mer, Coppola and record holder Nuss were able to Katie Lindelow. “It’s a huge honor,” Coppola represent the USA in the FISU said. “To be able to share it with World University Games in MuKristen, too, I couldn’t ask for nich, Germany. The opportunity anything more. Just the names came up after they won the USAV on the list that we surpassed, Collegiate Beach Championship. those are girls I looked up to for The two trained with Team USA a long time and it’s an honor I in California throughout the even get to be on the list with whole summer. This opportunity them. I’m just very excited and gave the duo advantages going honored I get to represent LSU into the regular season. “It was incredible,” Coppola while doing it.” The duo went 23-3 in the said. “It was a collegiate world regular season and has won championships thing that we BY MATTISON ALLEN @mattisonlsu
qualified for at the end of last season. It was the most insane experience we’ve ever had. We just got to meet athletes from all over the world and went with other USA team members to hang out with them. Just to represent LSU and USA was something that I will cherish forever.” Coach Russell Brock has said that, in theory, there was no reason for them to do so well their freshman year. He put them together on a whim, even after they didn’t practice in the preseason together, but it was instant chemistry. The duo has been unstoppable ever since and is deemed one of the best beach volleyball duos in the nation. “One of the most impressive things about how they’ve gotten to this point is that they didn’t have the luxury of starting off easy,” Brock said. “They had to start playing at the [number] one against real lineups because the ones from other teams haven’t just gotten good — they’ve always been good. “So their freshman year, to be able to do what they did and get as many wins as they did, to put them in this position at this point is incredibly remarkable. It says way more about their heart and their attitude and commitment. Cause now, they’re juniors, they’ve proven that they’re great.”
KRISTIN SELLE / The Reveille
LSU juniors Kristen Nuss (13) and Claire Coppola (14) celebrate during the Tigers’ match against USM at the LSU Beach Volleyball Stadium on Saturday, March 23.
page 9
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
SEC
LSU coaches optimistic for Scott Woodward in AD position “I know the feeling, being from Louisiana and getting hired from LSU is an honor. “This is a place that everyAlmost three years ago, LSU brought home a Louisiana where we’ve been — I’ve been guy to coach the football team. at USC, at Miami — but we’ve Last week, LSU hired another always wanted to come back to LSU. There’s Louisiana guy that to take over as “The people in the something attracts us. It’s athletic director. state of Louisiana that Cajun blood “We represent that we have.” the people of the have a unique Woodward met state of Louisiana,” Orgeron culture. They like to with all the LSU coaches prior to said. “The people talk, they like to his introductory in the state of have fun, they like press conference. Louisiana have a Orgeron, as well unique culture. to be exciting. softball coach They like to talk, That’s what LSU is as Beth Torina liked they like to have all about.” the things he said fun, they like to and are excited be exciting. That’s and optimistic what LSU is all ED ORGERON about what he can about.” LSU head coach bring to all the LSU O r g e r o n programs. said he thought “I’m excited,” about his own introductory press conference Orgeron said. “I loved his interwhen new LSU athletic direc- view and I love the things that tor Scott Woodward was intro- he had to say. I met with him duced to the media and public this morning. Scott has been very supportive of me. I’m very Tuesday afternoon. “I thought about it, especial- excited of the job that we’re doly when it mentioned his par- ing. We want to win champients and how proud his parents onships, and we all know the must be of him,” Orgeron said. expectations at LSU.” BY KENNEDI LANDRY @landryyy14
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MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille
LSU athletic director Scott Woodward holds an introductory press conference in the Journalism Building on Tuesday, April 23, 2019. Torina said she spent a couple of days researching Woodward and she felt like she
came to an understanding of who he is and what he stands for. Torina emphasized that
LSU stands for excellence and believes that Woodward is the man for the job. “I think he understands LSU and that’s a big key,” Torina said. “I think that’s kind of the feeling you get. He knows more people in the room than I do and I’ve been here for the last eight years. I think he knows the lay of the land and I think he’s well equipped for the job.” While they are excited about Woodward, both coaches are grateful for the opportunity the former athletic director gave them. “When Joe Alleva hired me, I loved him,” Orgeron said. “I’m very loyal to him and I’ll forever be indebted to him.” “I’m very loyal to Joe,” Torina said. “He gave me an opportunity that has changed the outcome of my family’s life forever. I think I will always be grateful for him and this opportunity. I’m very confident in LSU and I wouldn’t be here if LSU didn’t stand for excellence in everything that we did.” Woodward said the sports in this athletic department are like his children — he can’t prioritize one or two over the others, even if some produce more revenue than others. He wants to be hands off, while also providing help wherever necessary to every single program. “He wants it to be about the coaches and the athletes, which is very similar to my feelings too,” Torina said. “I want it to be about the athletes, not about me. I’ve had an opportunity to play the games. I liked a lot of the things he stood for, and we’re going to do it the right way. That’s how we want to live and what we want LSU to represent.”
Wednesday, April 24, 2019 GYM, from page 7 champion, SEC Gymnast of the Year and AAI Award winner finished first in the all-around with a 39.7625 with a 9.9125 on vault and 9.95s on bars, beam and floor. Breaux said the humility of Finnegan shines above her talents. She was always more worried about the team than her individual accolades. “Yesterday [winning the individual award] was cool, but tonight was definitely the cherry on top,” Finnegan said. “I couldn’t have asked to end this season better, with this group of girls. “They’re so special to me and we’ve had an amazing season. We had lows, we had highs, we broke records, we got accolades — we did everything together and I’m just so proud of the growth that this team has shown.” “Being a part of something special makes you special,” Rachel Berry said in the pilot episode of the Emmy Award-winning show “Glee.” This senior class knew they were a part of something special at LSU. Breaux has always emphasized the “pride and tradition of the LSU Tigers” throughout her 42 years of coaching. This senior class became a model of that pride and tradition. “We’re always taught to lead by example and keep up the culture that we’re created for our LSU program,” Finnegan said. “We’ve told [the underclassmen] to continue the traditions and continue the pride and passion that we have for
REGIONAL, from page 7 the bullpen that threw 98 mph and with a devastating spinner that could throw any batter in the late innings off balance. Starting is a different game and Hess knows this reality firsthand. While he has shown signs of the great weekend starter that all of Tiger Nation wants, his earned run average is in the low fours and has not thrown a solid start against a contender in over a month. Other than Hess, there are no scary pitchers left on the staff. Cole Henry has shown signs and has the best starter ERA on the team, but has not proven to be intimidating just yet. Eric Walker has picked up
page 10 this school. “At the end of the day, it didn’t matter what place that you had because you knew that your team was there for you. You knew that you were surrounded by a bunch of girls that loved you with their whole heart and cared for you. I hope that they carry that on because it is something special.” After the meet was over, when all was said and done, like Breaux said, nobody had any regrets. “I told [the seniors] how much I loved them and just the incredible price that they have paid and what they have done to elevate LSU gymnastics and how well they represent what I think is a great university,” Breaux said. Kelley said her only goal for the weekend was to enjoy being on the floor one last time with her team. Kelley has joked in the past that she doesn’t think it’s normal for teams to love each other as much as this year’s Tigers do, and she wasn’t worried about anything but having fun with them. “I could not be more proud of this team,” Kelley said. “I know I can’t do it without my team. I know that this sport is a once in a lifetime type of thing and it teaches you things that you can’t just learn in life. “I’m so thankful for this sport and these girls. To know that our university took 16 girls from the nation and hand picked us and brought us together because they thought we were something special. Just the tradition and pride that we bring — it’s remarkable.”
Scott Woodward would take the reigns as the new athletic director, fans began voicing their opinions about how LSU coach Paul Mainieri should be one of the first coaches evaluated. Give me a break. Upset that the Tigers lost a few pointless midweek games? Angry that team has fallen from their preseason No. 1 rank? This may surprise some people, but the LSU team that began the season as a preseason No. 1 is the same LSU team now. I still believe the Tigers represent one of the best baseball teams in the country and have a legitimate chance at going to the College World Series this year. I understand making the World Series is a task easier said than done though, and it’s going to take the right combination of pitching and hitting if the Tigers want to make another trip to Omaha, Nebraska. While LSU’s pitching staff has only posted the seventh best earned run average in the Southeastern Conference up to this point in the season, more consistency could be around the corner for the Tigers as the starters begin to establish themselves. Pitcher Cole Henry has the ability to be an ace in LSU’s pitching rotation, and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be the Friday night starter moving forward. Sunday is another obvious call with pitcher Eric Walker, who performs more like he did before his 2018 Tommy John surgery with
his game as of late, but mostly relies on soft stuff and poking around the zone, which worked last year but not off to a hot start this year. The pitching staff has a tremendous amount of talent and can wake up at any time, but this fact makes them more dangerous than a top contender. Secondly, there is no big bat in the middle of the lineup that can turn a deficit into a lead when the time comes. Now, Omaha is very much a pitcher’s park, so if the Tigers can make it there, it is anyone’s title to win. Making it there could be the problem. The usuals are doing their thing at the plate as Antoine Duplantis and Josh Smith are bat-
ting .310 and .349 respectively. What is unusual is Duplantis tied for the lead in home runs with Daniel Cabrera at seven. Smith also possesses some pop, but this lineup always feels like it is missing an LSU staple in the spontaneous home run that can change the momentum and win a game even when LSU is not playing their best ball. This team can win the rest of their games as easily as they can lose them. They have an electric young group mixed in with age that can lead a team into Omaha, but the team has not shown enough consistency to be able to weather the storm. I will be cheering on Tiger Nation throughout the process, but I think fans should expect way less than perfection as the
RESOLVE TO
TRIM DOWN THIS YEAR!
WORLD SERIES, from page 7
each passing week. The Saturday starting role belongs to Zack Hess as soon as he returns to full health. While Hess has proven time and again to be one of LSU’s best pitchers out of the bullpen, there isn’t another pitcher with the experience and the ability to anchor a starting pitcher job like Hess. LSU’s bullpen could also see improvement as the coaching staff continues to become familiar with the relievers that represent the best fit in certain situations. The hitting lineup is the area that could go in a few interesting directions. By that, I mean that LSU’s best lineup may involve moving outfielder Zach Watson to second base. This may seem crazy on the surface, but I’d like to remind everyone that Watson was a star shortstop in high school. My idea is also not out of the realm of possibility as Austin Bain converted from fulltime pitcher to part-time second baseman last year. With Watson at second, Giovanni DiGiacomo would move to centerfield leaving the designated hitter spot open. From there, Mainieri is free to choose the hottest bat among the likes of CJ Willis, Drew Bianco, Brock Mathis, Brandt Broussard and Hal Hughes to fill the DH spot. Chris Reid and Cade Beloso are the obvious choices to hold down the third and first base corners, respectively, and I think
MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille
LSU baseball players celebrate after the Tigers’ 2-1 victory over Kentucky on March 16 in Alex Box Stadium. Saul Garza is finally proving himself as this team’s catcher. Since there’s only a minuscule chance that Mainieri reads this column and an even smaller chance that Mainieri reads this and decides to use my idea, it’s safe to say we’ll never see Watson in the infield. LSU is a World Series caliber team no matter who plays second base. The Tigers are a projected national seed with one game back from first place in the SEC West and are in perfect position to hit their stride at the right time. The roller coaster ride is almost finished, but fans will miss out on what could be a special season if they continue to complain the entire time. Enjoy the ride, Tiger fans. It goes by faster than you think.
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MANAGEMENT
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
page 11
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Wednesday, April 24, 2019
BIG STICK
PHOTOS BY A
LSU gymnastics celebrates placing second in
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
K ENERGY
ALYSSA BERRY
2019 NCAA Women’s National Championship.
page 13
ENTERTAINMENT OVER THE MOON From the big easy to the red stick: Mac & Moon’s got your vegan sweet tooth covered
page 14 FOOD AND DRINK
Atomic Burger opens location on Burbank BY RICHARD HAYDEL @magnetodorito
BY LIA SALIME @liasalime
The only downside to Metairie food paradise Atomic Burger was that the restaurant’s signature taste and flair was exclusive to those who reside within the boundaries of the Big Easy for five years running. Now, with the opening of a new location on Burbank Drive, a whole new community is able to experience first-class burgers and an ambiance and service that is second-to-none. Featured as one of the 100 best burgers in America, according to Thrillist magazine, Atomic Burger has given New Orleans its fair share of quality food at a reasonable cost and affordable time. Boasting natural fresh beef and a plethora of sides, including shakes frozen in liquid nitrogen, the joint finally makes its presence known in a brand-new city. Co-owner Joe Spitale, who graduated from the University of New Orleans alongside his brother and other co-owner Nick, commented on the mantra that he founded the basis of Atomic Burger upon — namely how fast food was not particularly being held accountable by the eyes and taste buds of the general public. “Atomic Burger started with the idea that fast food was
Leave room for dessert! Tasty vegan treats are coming to White Star Market. Opening in early May, Mac & Moon will offer vegan macarons, vegan rolled ice cream, vegan bubble teas, vegan milkshakes and some weekend savory items. The macarons, which are gluten free, are made with aquafaba or garbanzo bean water instead of egg whites and almond flour in a temperaturecontrolled production facility. This will be the second location for Mac & Moon, the first one located in Auction House Market in New Orleans. Concept owner and creator Kristina Ostrom, a New Jersey native, also operates Lafayette-based French macarons and rolled ice cream parlor Karmacaroons. “I’ve always had a decadent Baton Rouge following with Karmacarons (the wholesale macaron company), so I’ve been wanting to get to BR for quite some time,” Ostrom said. Ostrom traveled around the country to music festivals and had small wholesale accounts until she opened the first location of Mac & Moon in Auction
see MAC & MOON, page 18
courtesy of MAC & MOON
see ATOMIC BURGER, page 18
FOOD AND DRINK
Kung Fu Tea opens, delivers variety of tapioca-themed beverages BY RACHEL MIPRO @remroc15 Baton Rouge tea aficionados now have another way to get their fix. Since opening a few months ago, the Baton Rouge branch of Kung Fu Tea has been serving up countless tapiocathemed beverages. Reagan Boritzki, an English literature senior and barista at Kung Fu Tea, says that the atmosphere has been very welcoming, with a active staff and lots of friendly customers. “We opened early December and ever since then we’ve just been slinging bubble teas,” Boritzki said. “We get a lot of nice people.”
The store, while probably best known for bubble tea, has a lot of options, although most of the drinks have a base of one or two types of tea. Some of their most popular drinks include Matcha Milk, Mango Slush and Oreo Milk Tea, though there’s a lot of mix and match options and topping choices. “We sell coffee, like espresso drinks. We have a bunch of different kinds of tea, like fruit tea, milk tea, stuff like that,” Boritzki said. Though the store has only opened a few months ago, it has gotten steady crowds and diverse customers. Boritzki says that people from out of the country seem to frequent the shop more.
“A good amount of people know about it, a lot of our customers are international people, which I think is really cool,” Boritzki said. “It’s nice to work in a place where you get to have a lot of diversity and international people that you get to interact with, and maybe they’re more familiar with bubble tea and the joys.” Kung Fu Tea’s really benefited from the recent bubble tea craze, which Boritzki says has spread around Baton Rouge. The store is one of many recent pop-ups dedicated to providing people with the tapioca-themed tea they crave.
see KUNG FU TEA, page 18
courtesy of KUNG FU TEA BATON ROUGE
Kung Fu Tea offers bubble tea, Matcha Milk, Mango Slush and Orea Milk Tea.
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
page 15 FASHION
Southern sisters use their LSU degrees to build boutique you graduate, and sometimes people they’ll say ‘I’m not even using my degree or I’m in a difLSU alumnae Chelsey Blan- ferent field completely,’ but I kenship and Annie Claire Bass would say Annie and I are reuse their southern style to grow ally applying what we learned at LSU to our business, and it’s their business. The sisters started SoSis invaluable,” Blankenship said. While Blankenship uses her Boutique online in 2014. Blanmass comkenship, who munication also works in degree to social media help advermarketing tise the bouand website tique, Bass development, “I would say Annie and uses her deuses her mass I are really applying gree in fashcom mun icawhat we learned at LSU ion merchantion degree dising to buy to help build to our business and it’s and style for their online invaluable.” the business. presence. The two sisAfter doters use their ing multiproximity ple pop-up to the Unishops around versity in CHELSEY BLANKENSHIP the city and Local business owner promoting discovering a their brand large amount and choosof their firsting the most time sales appealing from customers were in person, they decided merchandise. The sisters use search ento open a storefront. The sisters believe their degrees give them gine optimization to have an advantage in their field and their merchandise appear in help them take their business to the top results when students, alumni and fans around the unithe next level. “You know a lot of times versity search for purple and BY ENJANAE’ TAYLOR @_queenet_
gold attire. “For advertising we primarily advertise digitally on social media. LSU students are one of our top audiences that we want to target, so we do target by interest or by University on Facebook and Instagram,” Blankenship said. SoSis Boutique has a wide range of fashionable and fun styles that everyone will enjoy at a reasonable price. Boutiques are known to generally be more expensive, but the sisters keep their target audience in mind when choosing merchandise for their store. After years of experience, the sisters know their customers well enough to choose the best brands to sell at the boutique. Bass, who always wanted her own store, continued to turn her passion into a business with creating Annie Claire’s Designs which the sisters also sell in stores and online. “It’s evolved into its own sort of business, and now to this day I have several locations that carry my jewelry, I do a lot of pop-up shops with SoSis and I primarily carry all of my jewelry inside of the store.” Bass said. So, I have kind of a corner within the store.” Approachability and authen-
PHOTOS BY LACEY RABALAIS AND TAYLOR HUNTER / The Daily Reveille
Chelsey Blankenship and Annie Claire Bass used their LSU degrees to create a reasonably-priced boutique that values authenticity.
NOW OPEN Located at the New Nicolson Gateway, Across from Tiger Stadium. On the Bus Route!
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ticity are a huge for the sisters, so they connect to their customers by doing things like uploading frequently on social media and blogging. They include a personal touch by adding a sister feature in October, showcasing different sisters locally around their birthday that helps them connect with their followers and personifies their brand. The sisters have continued their branding by including LYLAS boxes, which stands for love you like a sister, a phrase the pair has been using for years. The themed quarterly subscription box has different style options to remain customizable to the customer. “We’ve had a few people who have brought them for their sister, which was kind of fun.“ Blankenship said. “Also, it could be for a person you call your sister like your best friend or things like that or it could be for anyone just a gift in general.” Blankenship and Bass hope to grow their business by continuing to do pop-up shops and in-store events like paint parties or private shopping nights. Their goal is to reach new people and increase their online sales. “LYLAS Box is just one way we’re hoping to get there. We’re also hoping to increase how much blogging we’re doing, how many look books, you know all of the things we do online that impact how we are found in search engines,” Blankenship said. We’re hoping to improve and increase how much of that we’re doing.”
page 16
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
DON’T FEAR FINALS BY WHITNEY HICKS | @whitchicks
If you’re struggling to get through the semester, use these tips to help ace your finals without all the stress and worrying.
GET SOME SLEEP Pulling an all-nighter to study for a big final is rarely going to result in a perfect grade. Instead of studying all night, get some sleep so you can concentrate for your final. If you don’t know it by 2 a.m., you’re not going to know it in the morning.
BUDGET YOUR TIME Make a list of all of the finals, papers and presentations you have due for finals week. Try to accomplish tasks in the order that they are due and space out your work so you aren’t pressed for time on any assignments.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF Make sure to remember to eat healthy meals, especially breakfast. It’s important to keep a good schedule and keep yourself feeling your best. Carve out time in your day to eat, and make sure to keep yourself hydrated.
REWRITE YOUR NOTES Rewriting your notes takes minimal concentration and is an efficient way to review old notes and textbook materials. Review all your notes and organize them in a way that makes studying them easier for you.
TAKE A BREAK If you’re feeling overwhelmed and can’t concentrate, take a meaningful break. Don’t nap for five hours. Try going for a walk or a drive and let yourself brainstorm and think about the subjects you are studying.
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
REV R ANKS SOMEONE GREAT
Netflix
The film has everything, from skeevy ex-boyfriends and present-to-past flashback sequences relating the rise and fall of Jenny and Nate to fabulous drug dealer Hype (RuPaul Charles). RuPaul as a drug dealer was perfection. The writing in this film is so, so good that I actually laughed.
Lia Salime @liasalime
VENTURA
Anderson .Paak
The smooth neo-soul environment that is cultured throughout “Ventura” only continues to blossom through tracks like “Reachin’ 2 Much” and “Chosen One,” which enlist some of R&B’s up-and-coming artists like Lalah Hathaway and Sonyae Elise to put the listener in “that” kind of mood.
Richard Haydel @magnetodorito
FAMILY GUY: SEASON 17
20th Century Fox Television
The season also departed more for the formula it had fallen into, allowing for more time to focus on other characters. One episode focuses on a woman Brian falls in love with and marries, while another focuses on Quagmire discovering that he has a daughter, and another focuses on Lois’ relationship with her father, Carter.
Barrow Clement @ClementBarrow
GARAGEB&
Jesse Rutherford
“My Ways” is my absolute favorite from the album and is a classic upbeat Jesse bop. Toward the end of the album, you hear more of the ‘90s influence and nostalgic sounds. “Bi” and “Rock & Roll DJ” are catchy fun tunes that end the album on a high note.
EnJanae’ Taylor @_queenet_
Read the full reviews online at lsunow.com/entertainment
page 17
‘The Perfect Date’ recycles bland, stereotypical storylines BY RACHEL MIPRO @remroc15 “The Perfect Date” is a garden variety rom-com, serving up some bland old tropes. While I was outraged in the beginning of the movie because I though they were trying to rip off “Ten Things I Hate About You,” the best movie of all time, I quickly realized it’s just a boring original. The movie is about, of course, the perfect date. The plucky main character, Brooks Rattigan (Noah Centineo) starts up an app where he pretends to be the perfect date for any girl who requests him. His end goal is earning enough money to go to an Ivy League, but his real journey is about finding himself. Whoa. His love interest, Celia Lieberman (Laura Marano) is a typical rebellious girl. Unlike the other girls at her school, she wears leather jackets and boots so you can tell she’s quirky and different. She’s the first girl Brooks escorts for money, and she gives him the idea for his app. The main issue with this premise is that it’s hard to believe that that many women would pay for an escort. I feel like the Mendes) who’s popular and majority of people would pretty. Brooks apparently also just ask their friends to events, instead of hiring a has huge issues with being as poor, even teenage stranger off the perceived internet. It feels a little though he seems solidly middle c l a s s — H e ’s sad that all going to get of them don’t a full ride to have any othcollege, just er options, or not the colfeel pressured Unfortunately, even lege he wants to bring a date the quality of acting —he has a car to all these can’t fix this movie. and his house events. Despite attempts to seems pretty But anyshake things up, the nice. way, Brooks He acts movie is just OK. is hugely like a jerk popular, pridin his obsesing himself sion with geton changing ting the best personalities, of the best, being whatever people want him to be. being mean to his dedad because he but who does he want to be? pressed Whoa. Deep. Celia helps sees him as a failure, ignorhim with this, even as he’s ing his friend and treating trying to pursue her Shelby as a trophy instead classmate, Shelby (Camila of a person. This guy might
courtesy of NETFLIX
honestly need some therapy, especially with how changeable his personality is. While the general plot isn’t great, there were some redeeming qualities. The side characters are really funny, especially Brooks’ mopey dad and his best friend, Murph (Odiseas Georgiadis) who creates the app and is hilariously bad at talking to his crush. There’s also some funny moments, like the montage of Brooks dressed as different personas and his dialogue with Murph as they work together at their part-time job at a sandwich shop. There’s a lot of upbeat energy in the movie, and Noah Centineo really shines in his role. Unfortunately, even the quality of acting can’t fix this movie. Despite attempts to shake things up, the movie is just OK.
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
page 18 MAC & MOON, from page 14 House Market when she was 26. Now at 27, Ostrom will be opening her second Mac & Moon location in Baton Rouge. It’s been a long time coming for Ostrom, who’s worked in the food industry for over a decade. “When I was 23, I was working at a chain grocery store on the marketing team teaching healthy eating classes, when suddenly the position got eliminated throughout the whole company,” Ostrom said. “I had to work in the prepared foods department instead, and I felt like as a young mom I was taking a giant step back in my life.” Now, Ostrom wholesales the macarons as well as in her own locations. Ostrom, who in addi-
tion to being an entrepreneur is the mother of four-year-old Kannon and one-year-old Kali Moon, started the business when she was 24. “I’d worked in kitchens since I was 14 — I was ready for something new,” Ostrom said. “I set my mind to making the first vegan French macaron and I failed. Lots of times. When I finally got it right, people on my own personal social media were so excited that I just launched from there. Everything about the company has been very serendipitous.” Mac & Moon is on Instagram at @macandmoon, and White Star Market at @whitestarmarketbr. White Star Market is located at 4624 Government St.
courtesy of MAC & MOON
Mac & Moon creates vegan and gluten free desserts.
ATOMIC BURGER, from page 14 broken, particularly the burger segment of fast food,” Spitale said. “Basically, burgers shouldn’t really cost like a dollar or $2 or $3, and if they do, you really have to wonder what you’re eating and what compromises have been made along the way… Everything’s cooked to order – burgers, fries, even the shakes are frozen to order with liquid nitrogen, so we wanted to take a basic, elemental approach to fast food, hence the name Atomic Burger.” At either location, one can immediately notice the minimalist atmosphere that Atomic Burger leans on. It’s a simple and subtle statement — they’re dedicated to no-frills cooking. Spitale believes it is best this way. “I think we wanted it to be a comfortable place, so contemporary but not sterile. I think we wanted to give sort of a nod back to a time when food was simpler, right? And less processes and less manipulated,” Spitale said. “And so, those were sort of our design goals.” A deliberately simple menu at the register outlines the certain types of burgers one can order, from the Green Chile Burger to a pair of sliders. And Atomic Burger keeps those who don’t prefer to eat meat in mind. They host a wealth of options for vegans, Keto followers and gluten-free advocates. “We also offer a cauliflower bun, which we make in-house, that’s also gluten free,” Spitale said. “A number of our shakes are gluten free, so even on the existing menu, we have really a number of options for people on dietary restrictions.” To campus life, Atomic Burger is geographically a no-brainer — a new piece to the continuing development that grows on the intersection of Burbank and BenHur. There is potential for a fresh meal inbetween the rigor of the college schedule. In addition to these perks, Spitale said the staff is considering fielding the possibility of including TigerCash as a form of payment in the coming
SALVATORE CAMARDA / The Reveille
Atomic Burger operates during normal buisness hours on April 22 on Burbank Drive. months. The opening of a second Atomic Burger location in Baton Rouge is a special sight to see because of the special care and treatment that Spitale and his staff puts into each order. In fact, Spitale is still making sure all is well even after the building opened its doors. “We’re grateful for the response that we’ve received from Baton Rouge,” Spitale said. “My
brother and I feel like that level of interest and excitement in a restaurant comes with great responsibility so we made the decision to hold off on opening the drive-thru fully until we increase our staffing levels sufficiently, get our new team members properly trained, so that we can really control the quality, control our service standards, and make sure that everything’s done in accordance with our vision.”
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Boritzki said she thinks the bubble tea trend might’ve started on Instagram, with its pleasing aesthetics. “I guess you go on Instagram, you see cute stuff, delicious stuff and you want to try it. Maybe bubble tea is one of those things, where it was some places in Taiwan or China, Japan. Maybe people saw it initially and thought, ‘Oh, that’s great and ever since then it’s become more of an international thing and people just really like it,” Boritzki said. “Or it’s probably just tapioca. People like tapioca.” Either way, Kung Fu Tea seems to have made a good impression in Baton Rouge. “It’s definitely the most family-oriented place I’ve worked and we have really good drinks,” Boritzki said. “It’s addicting, so watch out.”
OPINION CHASING PAPER
page 19
College offers more than diploma, educational experience
SMITT’S TEA JAMES SMITH @itssmitt After four short years, I’m graduating in a few weeks. I wish I could stay around a bit longer. Despite everyone’s assumptions that I’m excited to move on to the next phase of my life, I feel like I’m just beginning to take advantage of everything the University has to offer. The last four years have been painfully challenging and equally rewarding. I have memories and knowledge for the rest of my life thanks to the University. However, I do wish I could press rewind and redo a few things. I hope these next few paragraphs provide the guidance I should have taken more seriously. Don’t think of college only as a service to acquire a credential. Sure, on its surface, the goal is to receive a piece of paper certifying your educational achievements. That’s all it is — a piece of paper. Those intellectual and potential financial achievements don’t always result in happiness. Fulfillment comes in an assortment of ways, it’s much more than a
diploma. College is about molding the basis for your most fulfilling life on your terms. Use those short few years to find whatever makes you happy. Don’t pursue a soul-crushing major for the chance of a high-paying job or for the approval of a family member. If you love science or math, explore those fields. If you love English or teaching, explore those. Pursue what you’re passionate about and stay open to opportunities and the rest will work itself out. For some less idealistic advice, address your mental health concerns. Talk to a friend, peer, family member or even a professor about whatever you might be struggling with. Then, most importantly, talk to a healthcare professional. It’s their job to help, so let them. I put my mental health on the back burner for far too long, and the consequences are evident. College, as fun as it can be, has the potential to wreck a vulnerable mind. If you think that could be you, be proactive and take preventative measures. On the same note, learn healthy coping mechanisms that work for you. Creative and physical outlets are some of the best antidotes for negative
feelings. Our minds are happy when we take care of them — that includes a healthy sleep schedule, time management, alcohol and drug moderation and enriching relationships. All-nighters aren’t a sustainable method to get through a semester. Invest in a planner and use it. Chart out your days and allocate blocks of time to school, work and leisure. Leisure can certainly include a night out to Tigerland, but be mindful of the poisons you introduce to your body. The hangover probably won’t be worth the fourth, fifth or sixth drink. Alcohol can easily turn into a toxic friend. Friends and relationships will come and go. Let go of those who hold you back and don’t over-invest in a partner. Keep close those who encourage you to grow and surround yourself with people you can learn from. Go to your professors’ office hours and form relationships with them. They can be the key to future opportunities or they can lend an ear after a tough week. Don’t forget to maintain relationships with family members back home. Our roots are the basis for everything we blossom
cartoon by ETHAN GILBERTI / The Reveille
into. They’re just as important as all of the newfound support you find in college. Go into every situation with an open mind. Try new things and embrace the possibility of failure. If there’s any time to fail in life, it’s now. Read what your professors assign. Take a mental health day if you need. Forgive yourself and
others. Carrying hate in your heart is a self-prescribed burden. Lastly, ask as many questions as you possibly can. Who knows when you’ll be in a place as great as the University again. James Smith is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Grand Coteau, Louisiana.
Menstrual products not luxury items, should be less costly OLIVE’S GARDEN OLIVIA JAMES @afroliviaa Tampons and pads are not luxury items. They are bare necessities for women, and I challenge every woman who disagrees to go without them during their time of the month and see how they like it. Periods are biological processes, and I hypothesize that if men had periods, the necessary menstrual products would be totally free or at least cheaper than they are now. I’m not saying that tampons and pads should be totally free for everyone, but they should cost less and be provided for women in all prisons in America, homeless women and anyone else who can’t afford to pay $10 for the good brand of tampons. Conservatives, before you begin to get angry, know that your beloved state of Louisiana is surprisingly at the forefront of providing pads and tampons for women. In May 2018, Gov. John Bel Edwards signed Baton Rouge Rep. Regina Barrow’s Dignity for Women Incarcerated Act into law, requiring that all female in-
courtesy of WIKIMEDIA
An Arizona lawmaker concluded that women have to work 27 hours to afford a basic pack of ampons in prison. mates in Louisiana have unlimited access to tampons and pads at no cost. All women in Louisiana prisons were originally issued only 10 pads a month. This is ridiculous because women have varying flows, and some women could use several pads in a single day. Any extra menstrual products had to
be purchased. Female prisoners were forced to fashion pads and tampons out of tissue and other tools or work nonstop to buy more. Women in prison can work to earn money to spend in commissary, where they can purchase items including feminine hygiene products. An Arizona lawmaker
concluded that women have to work 27 hours to afford a basic pack of tampons. This is cruel. And though federal prisons are now required to issue women tampons and pads, most women incarcerated are in state prisons. Alabama has recently followed suit with Louisiana to become one of the few states granting basic hu-
man rights to its female prisoners. Though Louisiana did take that great leap forward, we took a step backward when Sen. JP Morrell’s,D-New Orleans, proposal to exempt feminine products and diapers from sales tax was blocked from passing. Hopefully, another lawmaker will bring this to the legislature again. There are so many women in Louisiana living in poverty who can barely afford food. How can we expect them to afford feminine products? If we aren’t going to make them free, they should be sales tax-free at least. If a black woman can get a bill allowing for the free distribution of feminine products to incarcerated women in the notoriously and often times unfortunately conservative state of Louisiana, every one of the 50 states can. It is time for America to stop denying women their dignity and selfrespect. It is absolutely disgusting knowing that the powers that be are intentionally degrading women in this manner and that other women across the country support it. Olivia James is a 19-year-old mass communication freshman from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
page 20
Forgoing social media irresponsible, enables misinformation LET ME BE FRANK MICHAEL FRANK @bigmpfrank98 When speaking about social media, reactions tend to vary from the self-aggrandizing, noxious fumes spouted by influencers bragging on the recent likes garnered by their goat yoga pictures to the reactions of social media aesthetics, self-proclaimed exemplars of moral fortitude reminding you that social media is toxic. Then, there’s the social media middle ground, or the vast majority of people who have accounts because of networking benefits or because they just like sharing videos from that one account with the kittens frightened by cucumbers. Although unbearable, the holier than thou social media forgoers make valid points from time to time. Elsewhere, I’ve written about how social media lends itself to the widespread propagation of misinformation, especially when it comes to politics. But what makes this such a dangerous phenomenon is the fact that no one really seems sure about how to handle it. “It’s hard to cite facts or create an argument in 140 characters,” novelist Jonathan Franzen said of
Twitter in a 2012 speech at Tulane University. “It’s the ultimate irresponsible medium.” And Franzen is right — at least, in part. Twitter users don’t always care so much about facts as they do about filling the space provided with egoistic nonsense in the hopes that their opinions will be noticed, commended and perhaps even given a much lauded position on the site’s “trending” page. You might ask what the difference is between a Twitter user’s bid for an ego boost and my own, in having written this opinion column. The difference, and I believe Franzen would agree on this point, is the medium. Franzen went on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2015, and Colbert asked him about his disdain for Twitter. “It’s hard to create a sentence that uses the word ‘although’ in it in 140 characters,” Franzen said. Of course, Franzen was being hyperbolic, but he was making a point about nuance. Not every Twitter user is so keen on spending time fleshing out opinions in a multi-tweet thread, with adequate links to each source. An unfortunate example of social media’s negligent use came to public attention after the Notre Dame Cathedral Fire in Paris. On April 15, after various videos and accounts of the 850-yearold cathedral burning surfaced
online and in the media, people on the internet began to conjecture about the source of the fire with the tenacity of Alex Jones at an Apollo 11 convention. Social media was flooded with bigoted conspiracies about the fire, with posters claiming it was an act of arson started by Islamic extremists or anti-Catholic terrorists. The sheer fact that these claims were a possibility at the time should not have been enough to justify their public avowal. In other words, these claims were irresponsible and, worse, likely bids to incite turmoil. Even Fox News anchors deemed these right-wing conspiracies as beneath the level of justifiable news. Fox anchors Shepard Smith and Neil Cavuto were both forced to cut-off guest commenters, who started to speak on their theories without evidence. Whereas media sources are regulated by editors or news anchors, social media doesn’t benefit from such arbiters. Conspiracy theories and hateful attacks were allowed to flourish on social media, with little to no regulation besides that of the users themselves. In 2015, when Colbert asked Franzen to elaborate on his opinions, the writer noted that it’s not as if he’s trying to “disinvent Twitter.” Basically, social media is the guy at a party who some people see as an obnoxious distraction while others find him fun. If he breaks a couple things in the process, that’s just part of the fun. Like him or hate him, he’s here to stay. It falls on the people who see the destruction this guy can
cartoon by ETHAN GILBERTI / The Reveille
cause to curb the damage, maybe follow him around with a dustpan or maybe lock him in the coatroom when he gets too wild. It’s not about whether social media lends itself to irresponsibility. Cars lend themselves to irresponsibility as well, but we don’t try to ban car usage. We set rules and road regulations to increase safety. Barring adequate social media regulation, it falls on the users to ensure the medium’s responsible use. The more responsible users ready to decry misinformation as a harm to
society, the better. We’ve reached a point where the irresponsible ones are those who see the damage social media can cause and elect to do nothing about it, whether that means not speaking out or forgoing these mediums altogether. The only way to fight against irresponsibility is to familiarize ourselves with the irresponsible. Michael Frank is a 23-yearold political science and English senior from New Orleans, Louisiana.
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Wednesday, April 24, 2019
page 21
Racist double standard evident in domestic terrorist treatment ELLIPHANT IN THE ROOM ELLI KORN @kornstellation From 2009 through 2018, right-wing extremists accounted for 73% of deaths in terrorist attacks, according to the AntiDefamation League. In contrast, the ADL found that Islamist extremism only accounted for 23% of deaths. Right-wing extremism is on the rise, white assailants have been behind the majority of attacks. And yet, white assailants are continually not charged with terrorism. Here lies the terrorism double standard, where the government thinks the color of your skin reflecwts the danger you present to the country. Since 9/11, the Justice Department has repeatedly chosen not to bring terrorism charges against right-wing extremists, even when their crimes meet the legal definition of domestic terrorism — acts that are harmful to human life, that are ideologically motivated to intimidate civilians, to influence policy, or to change government conduct — according to an Intercept analysis of federal prosecutions. Take Rachelle “Shelley”
Shannon. On Aug. 19, 1993, she shot one of the few doctors known to perform late-term abortions, Dr. George Tiller, five times as he drove out of his clinic, wounding both of his arms. After being detained for the attempted murder of Tiller, Shannon was also indicted for attacks on nine other abortion clinics, with 30 other charges including arson, interference with commerce by force and interstate travel in aid of racketeering. Judge James Redden went beyond sentencing terms for Shannon’s crimes, giving her 20 years. “Though I am loath to call anyone terrorist, you are a terrorist,” Redden said. “The defendant has engaged in a long pattern of terrorist activity,” said Stephen Peifer, an Assistant U.S. Attorney. “Her purpose is not to destroy property but to instill fear in people.” Shannon was called a terrorist and denounced as one, so why was she not charged with domestic terrorism? Islamic Extremists are almost always formally charged with terrorism. Those who threaten violence in the name of Allah will almost always be charged with terroristic threat. But, white terrorists are continually charged with charges
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA
Shaker Aamer, an innocent Muslim man, was held in Guantanamo Bay for almost 14 years. that do not carry the gravity clinic, Aid for Women, in Kansas City, Kentucky, by catching of terrorism. “This double standard has him on camera, according to the had powerful consequences Huffington Post. Roeder had glued all the for how the FBI and other law enforcement agencies allocate locks shut, and the owner of counterterrorism resources, Aid for Women, who wished to leading invariably to interna- remain unknown so as to not be tional threats being prioritized made a target of further terrorover domestic ones,” explained ism, said that he had video of RoTrevor Aaronson in his article eder and knew his license plate “Terrorism’s Double Standard” numbers, but authorities did not pursue action. for The Intercept. There was Shannon was more than enough a part of a group for the called Army of Right-wing extremism is reason FBI to be vigilant God, a group that is currently iden- on the rise, and in past of Roeder, and tified by ADL to years, white assailants yet, they weren’t. after Roeder be an active terhave been behind the Even was put on trial, rorist group. She majority of attacks. he was charged was even close to for first-degree Donald Spitzer, murder and two leader of the counts of aggragroup, and convated assault, and tinued to advise the group from prison, which not for domestic terrorism desomehow aroused no suspicion. spite his testimony on the stand For someone who was called where he explained he shot by her prosecution “a threat Tiller because that was what even from behind bars,” Shan- “needed to be done to protect non was continually allowed to the children.” Contrast the fact that Shanadvise the Army of God from prison and meet with other non and Roeder were not anti-abortion extremists, which charged nor treated like terrorI think points to a lack of ists to the U.S.’s heartbreaking treatment of Shaker Aamer, an oversight by the FBI. In fact, it’s clear that the FBI innocent Muslim man that was was not effectively monitoring held in Guantanamo Bay for alanti-abortion terrorism because most 14 years without trial and without charge. lightning struck Tiller twice. Aamer, born in Saudi Arabia, On May 31, 2009, Tiller was ushering for a Sunday ser- was a U.K. Citizen with a wife vice at Reformation Lutheran and four children, who all sufChurch in Wichita, Kansas, fered from Aamer’s arrest. His when he was shot point-blank children went 14 years within the head with .22 caliber by out a father, and Aamer even Scott Roeder. Tiller had been told his father-in-law that his wearing body army, and had wife could divorce him if she been since 1998, when the FBI wished after learning that he told him he was a target of would likely not be released for several years. anti-abortion terrorism. The British Government conBoth the week and day before Tiller’s murder, a different tinually asked the U.S. to release owner had reported Roeder’s him. Campaigners for Aamer’s name and license plate to the freedom began to believe he police and the FBI warning them was being held out of fear that that he was likely an anti-abor- Guantanamo’s brutality would tion terrorist. The owner called be exposed. After Aaamer’s release, both times after he discovered that Roeder had vandalized his Aamer said that he had been
beaten, waterboarded, forced to go without food, as well as endure other horrors. The worst, he said, was when officials threatened to rape his daughter. “‘If you don’t start talking, we will rape your daughter and you will hear her crying, ‘daddy, daddy,’” Aamer said the officials told him while incarcerated in an interview with BBC. “That was the hardest thing, the hardest thing that I ever hear. That was completely inhumane. It was worse than the beating, as well, worse than everything, just thinking of my daughter and I just sat there silent.” In truth, Aamer was detained and even tortured just on the suspicion that he was possibly an accountant for Al-Qaeda, whereas Roeder not only met with Shannon at least 25 times but vandalized Aid for Women twice before killing Tiller. I repeat, there is a double standard for domestic and international terrorism. While it is still legal to donate to the Army of God, it is illegal to donate to the Army of Islam, despite both being terrorist groups. In fact, it is also legal to donate to the equally disgusting militant Atomwaffen Division, a neo-nazi terrorist group that has produced its own high count of murderers. In 2018 alone, over 50 lives were claimed by right-wing domestic terrorism. Those 50 or so deaths were preventable. Tiller’s death was preventable. The U.S. does not need any new laws to to prosecute and surveil right-wing extremists, it merely needs to acknowledge the threat of domestic terrorism, condemn domestic terrorists and formally charge them with such. The U.S. must employ the same intensity of measures to combat domestic terrorism as it does to combat international terrorism.
Elli Korn is a 19-year-old mass communication sophomore from Dallas, Texas.
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
page 22
Students undervalue library, other on-campus resources LET ME BE FRANK MICHAEL FRANK @BigMpfrank96 The University provides its students with the resources needed to thrive during their time working on a degree and after graduation. Every student is well aware of the renovated UREC, the campus eateries, and — how could anyone forget — the graphemic lazy river. However, students often forget about one of the biggest and most useful resources on campus — Troy H. Middleton Library. Without a doubt, students know about the library. There’s a daily influx, around 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., of zombified and cranky individuals ready to cure their caffeine withdrawals with a “supergrande mochasippi, add an extra shot.” And, on the third and fourth floors, there are always students, some studying, some sitting at the window desks, staring listlessly at trees in the Quad while passersby whisper obscenities about the waste of a power outlet. Sure, students use the library every day, but the majority of students never see it as more than a quiet place to study, or somewhere with computer access and printers. Together with the Hill Memorial Library, Middleton boasts access to more than four million texts, not including access to the online databases. There’s been many times where a classmate approached me for help when they haven’t bought the books for class and a paper deadline is looming. Pointing them to the library is much simpler than the awkward Seinfeldian scenario, which could ensue from lending out my copies of the class readings.
Most majors eventually require students to do research in some form or another, so every student should be at least superficially familiar with the online library databases. Yet, despite the relative ease of access, students continually neglect these resources outside of the most utilitarian need for research material. A case study performed at the University of Wollongong Library by Manager of Quality and Marketing Brian Cox and University Librarian Margie Jantti found that there was a direct correlation between database usage and student grades. This could simply mean that those students who are making better grades also tend to use the library more often, but it could also mean that library usage creates better students. It’s not clear what’s exactly causing the better grades, but at the very least, it’s been proven that using the library is beneficial. Perhaps the staggered library use among University students is indicative of the larger decline in America. In a 2015 study performed by the Pew Research Center, only 44 percent of Americans reported visiting a library or bookmobile, while 31% claimed they used the library website. In 2016, Pew found that these numbers continued the downward trend. Although Pew attributed the decline to a change in the technological landscape, the Institute of Museum and Library Service found a correlation between library funding and public use. An updated library could mean increased student traffic. In 2017, the University announced that library renovations were projected for completion by 2020. In 2019, it doesn’t seem that renovations will be complete on Middleton anytime soon, but if it’s possible that a
You Are Not Alone.
photos by DILYN STEWART AND LAUREN WATSON / The Reveille
In 2017, LSU announced that library renovations were projected for completion by 2020. better library means better grades, then these renovations can’t come soon enough.
Michael Frank is a 23-year-old political science and English senior from New Orleans, Louisiana.
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Quote of the Week “When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my visiom, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid”
Audre Lorde
writer & feminist Feb. 8, 1934 — Nov. 17, 1992
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
page 23
Black Americans, minorities face unfair healthcare treatment I SAID WHAT I SAID MAYA STEVENSON @MayaSStevenson In February 2018, Vogue published a profile about superstar athlete Serena Williams where several dimensions of her life were discussed. One of those dimensions was motherhood. Part of her motherhood journey was a terrifying moment after the birth of her daughter, Olympia. While recovering in the hospital, Serena felt short of breath and suspected a pulmonary embolism. Upon alerting a nurse and doctor with her needs, Williams found herself being ignored. After finally following Williams’ suggestions, the medical team found several blood clots in her lungs. After the Vogue profile went viral, a clip of Dr. Neel Shah, Harvard medical professor and practicing obstetrician, circulated the internet in its wake. In the clip from a CBS interview, Shah explains the reason why African American women are three to four times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy-related issues. In New York City, the rate jumps to 12 times that of their white counterparts.
“We believe black women less when they express concerns about the type of symptoms they are having, particularly when it comes to pain,” Shah said. Unfortunately, the unequal treatment Shah speaks of extends to all African Americans, not just black women. A 2016 study by the University of Virginia quizzed white medical students and residents to see whether they would believe inaccurate and even absurd statements about differences between white and black people. The study found that half of the future health professionals thought at least one of the false statements presented was, “possibly, probably or definitely true.” Those who expressed belief in the false statements rated black patients’ pain as, “lower than that of white patients and made less appropriate recommendations about how they should be treated.” I don’t believe all medical professionals are racist or incompetent by any means. I respect anyone in a medical field immensely, simply because of the hard work they had to do to get where they are. Medical professionals are, in general, intelligent, helpful and vital to the workforce. Unfortunately, they’re also human. As much as we don’t want them to, they make mistakes like
courtesy of WIKIMEDIA
Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy related conditions. the rest of us. And just like nonmedical professionals, sometimes they can make mistakes without realizing. In many cases where black women have been ignored, the mistake was the implicit bias the medical professionals had. Implicit bias can be described as a bias in judgement that happens below our conscious awareness and usually without intentional
control. In the healthcare setting, implicit bias can be especially dangerous, as it can be a case of life or death. The disproportionate rate at which black women die because of pregnancy-related conditions is an example of this. These things are all wrong, and quite frankly, reprehensible. Medical professionals owe it to
themselves, and more importantly their patients, to ensure they can work in an objective manner and “do no harm.” No patient deserves to have their concerns ignored or overlooked based on their race.
Maya Stevenson is a 20-yearold English and economics sophomore from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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Wednesday, April 24, 2019
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Lowering dating standards leads to settling for poor treatment TE’KAY SAYS TE’KAYLA PITTMAN @QueenTekay In most dating situations, we are blinded by a person’s pros and don’t pay attention to their cons. When you allow your partner to act negatively toward you in the beginning, nine times out of 10, your partner will not change. You begin to lower your standards for your partner without realizing until it’s too late. Women often lower their standards because they may feel that no man could ever meet every rule in their book. We search endlessly for the pros to erase the many cons. Disregarding the cons of a man who continues to disrespect you allows him to believe that you are OK with it. This false belief results in him never changing and possibly becoming worse. You have to start showing your man or partner how lucky they are to be with you. We fail to realize our worth until we have to face the harsh reality. A man treats you how you allow him to. Set your standards high when you first meet a person, so you can clearly see the things they do and don’t have to offer. Nobody is perfect, but you
should know what you should accept and what you won’t. Some may think that lowering your standards is a good thing. If you lower your standards, it may seem easier to find Mr. or Mrs. Right. How is that the right person for you if you aren’t truly happy and satisfied? There is a difference between being realistic and living in a fairy-tale. Not everyone is going to meet every mark on your list. It just isn’t possible. You have your standards, then you have your expectations. “Your standards are core personal beliefs such as how you want your significant other to treat you and your family,” life coach Tess Brigham said. “These are the things that you should keep high. If you lower your standards, you start to settle for less than you deserve. Expectations, however, are the more superficial things, such as height, weight, job and family size.” You have to be yourself and allow your partner to do the same. It is better if you and your partner have some of the same standards, that way you can save your relationship from a lot of problems. “It is said that the single most important component that allows a relationship to last is similar philosophy,” counselor Diana Lang said. “Everything else can be different between a couple — where we come from, how much money
we have, the color of our skin, our ages, our interests — but if our standards are in conflict, then there will eventually be philosophical differences that can become an immense obstacle to sustaining the relationship.” Before you even decide to be in a relationship with the person, you must make sure that you know yourself and your partner. There are some things you may not learn until you actually get into the relationship, but it helps to know their foundation. You have to not only set “rules” for your partner, but also for yourself. If you set rules for yourself on what you will accept in the relationship, and stick to them, you won’t find yourself being disrespected. In this day and age, we don’t jump into relationships or we act like we’re in a relationship but without the title. Often when our partner does something that hurts us, like talking to someone else or finding a way to disrespect you, we make excuses for them. It is common to make excuses for those we care about and who also hurt us. A common excuse is that we aren’t together, so you can’t get mad if he or she is acting single. That excuse is a slap in the face to you. Don’t make excuses for anyone that hurts you. I believe in giving two chances. The first time your partner steps
cartoon by ETHAN GILBERTI / The Reveille
out and decides to do wrong by you, give them a warning. They’ll more than likely apologize or say that you two aren’t together so they don’t understand why you’re mad. If they wrong you a second time, leave them alone if you two are not in a relationship. The adage, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me,” rings true. There is no room for a third time. If you wouldn’t treat your partner like they are treating you, why should you continue to reward them with your presence? They are taking you for granted because you have told them that you will stay with them no matter how many times they disrespect you. There are plenty of fish in the
sea, including fish that are more respectful and could be better partners. You must stay true to you and not let yourself get lost behind your partner. You matter and so does your happiness. No one is worth more than that. Having standards is knowing what you want and what you deserve. It doesn’t make you cold or unapproachable. Don’t regret the way that you are and how you think. If they want you, they need to learn how to get you.
Te’Kayla Pittman is a 19-year-old mass communication freshman from Atlanta, Georgia.
Stephenson Information Systems Information systems is the study of technology, business processes, people and organizations, and the relationships among them. Information systems is people-oriented; its primary focus is not on how or why technology works. Using business processes and technology as raw materials, students build systems and solutions to maximize efficiency, strategic options, and profitability. The Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems offers a BS in Information Systems & Decision Sciences and minors in information technology management, analytics, and entrepreneurship. “LSU’s information systems program enabled me to have success in enterprise application support and IT project management. The comprehensive curriculum prepared me for both traditional and non-traditional roles in technology.” — Taylor Voigt ’17 ITS Administrator | Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
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