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E s t. 18 87
T hu r s d ay, Nove m b e r 7, 2 019
“WE
AIN’T ” BACKING DOWN!
No. 2 LSU hopes “perfect storm” on offense is enough to defeat No. 3 Alabama.
Read on
page 2 photos by AURIANNA CORDERO AND ABBY KIBLER
NEWS
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LSU students are no strangers to attending away games, including the LSU-Alabama game in Tuscaloosa.
courtesy of XXXXXX XXXXXX
ENTERTAINMENT
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‘NOLA’ clothing brand creates merchandise based on one central belief — No One Likes Alabama.
SPORTS
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After 45 NFL draft picks played in LSU and Alabama’s game in 2011, both teams began using NFL history as recruiting pitch.
OPINION
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“Despite all this evidence, congress is nevertheless divided on the issue of impeachment along clear partisan lines.”
L SU Re ve i l le.co m @l s u r e ve i l le
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LSU-Alabama to be career-defining LSU lands game for Joe Burrow No. 2 in initial CFP rankings BY JACOB BECK @Jacob_Beck25
Amidst one of the best statistical seasons for a quarterback in LSU history, senior Joe Burrow will be playing in the biggest game of his career, one that could catapult him into the upper echelon of LSU football history. Burrow and the No. 2 Tigers (8-0, 4-0) will travel to Tuscaloosa to play No. 3 Alabama (8-0, 5-0) on Saturday. Called one of the “top-5 recruits, if not the top recruit in LSU history” by LSU coach Ed Orgeron, Burrow has transformed from being a solid starter in 2018 to a Heisman front-runner and first-round NFL draft talent. Through eight games, Burrow has surpassed the LSU record for passing touchdowns in a season with 30 and is sixth all-time in passing yards in a season (2,805). Burrow had the second-most passing yards for a LSU quarterback in a single game, 471 against Texas in September, and has thrown four or more touchdowns in a game five times this season, including a school-record six touchdowns against Vanderbilt. Burrow will face his toughest task of the season on Saturday — ending an eight-game losing streak to the Crimson Tide. Last year, Burrow’s performance was not too dissimilar from his predecessors, going 18-35 for 184 yards and one interception. LSU’s offense failed to score for the second time in three years. Orgeron saw the writing on the wall — something had to change.
Since the 2011 National Championship game, LSU quarterbacks averaged 165 yards, less than one touchdown and almost one interception and a quarterback rating of 38, 14-for-27 passing, in seven losses to Alabama by a combined score of 172-73. Meanwhile, in nine games Alabama lost over that same stretch, quarterbacks averaged 282 yards, two touchdowns and a quarterback rating of 71 on 22-for-34 passing. Enter Joe Brady, who has transformed the Tigers’ offense into something LSU fans have never seen before. While Brady has rightly earned high praise for the offense’s success, Burrow has also gained his fair share of applause. Burrow is a leading candidate for the Heisman and averages 26for-33 passing, 351 yards, almost four touchdowns and a quarterback rating of 91. Perhaps the most noticeable improvement has been his pocket presence, showing on numerous occasions his ability to move around the pocket avoiding the defensive pressure and throwing accurately. The play that in some ways signified the transformation of both Burrow and this LSU offense came on third-and-17 in the fourth quarter against Texas. The Tigers were up six points with 2:38 seconds left. Instead of running the ball, Burrow dropped back to pass and after narrowly evading pressure, stepped up in the pocket and threw a dart to junior wide receiver Justin Jefferson for a 61-yard touchdown. It was a sign of the times, as LSU
proceeded to score 36 points or more in every ensuing game besides its 23-20 victory over No. 9 Auburn. But Alabama has been a different animal for the Tigers since 2011 — the monkey on its back that it just can’t seem to reach. Even with the gaudy numbers and eye-popping performances of this LSU offense, there’s still that doubt as to whether LSU can pull off the victory. The Tigers opened up as seven-point underdogs, and the line hasn’t moved much in LSU’s favor, despite concerns over an ankle injury to Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, whose season has been equally as impressive as Burrow’s. Tagovailoa has completed 145of-194 passes for 2,166 yards and 27 touchdowns to two interceptions. Not only will Burrow have to beat Alabama’s defense, he also has to keep up with Tagovailoa and Alabama’s offense. But Burrow believes LSU’s offense has the perfect storm to shake the Tide. LSU’s wide receivers are considered one of the top-three groups in the country. The offensive line is much improved compared to last year, and junior running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is averaging almost six yards per carry. “We have all the confidence in the world in each other, and I have all the confidence in the world in this coaching staff, the scheme and my teammates,” Burrow said. “So I think that’s what the perfect storm has been — being together, extra work and confidence in each other.”
BY BRANDON ADAM @badam___ The College Football Playoff rankings were released on Tuesday, but unexpectedly, Ohio State landed at No. 1. LSU, Alabama and Penn State rounded out the top four. Defending national champion Clemson landed at No. 5, followed by Georgia at No. 6. It’s LSU’s second time being ranked No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings, which began in 2014 once the playoff was instituted. LSU was previously ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in debut rankings in 2015 and 2018, respectively. However, LSU then lost to Alabama the following week in both seasons. This season No. 2 LSU and No. 3 Alabama square off in Tuscaloosa this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. LSU has not defeated Alabama since 2011, when the No. 1 Tigers knocked off the No. 2 Crimson Tide 9-6 in overtime. Instead of a defensive slugfest, many are expecting a highscoring offensive affair. Both LSU and Alabama are averaging over 45 points per game,w and rank in the top 10 for offensive yards per game. “Well, SEC championship, SEC West, going to the SEC championship, having a chance to be in the college football playoffs, having a chance to win the National Championship,” said LSU coach Ed Orgeron when asked what this weekend’s game means. “I mean, but that’s every game for us in the SEC. “I mean, to get to where you want to go, it seems like you have to go undefeated. You have to beat Alabama, you have to keep on going and then you have to win the SEC championship. Then, you have to get to the college football playoffs. So, if you start thinking about all that stuff it becomes overwhelming for your football team.”
Full CFP Top 10
MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille
LSU senior quarterback Joe Burrow (9) runs the ball during the Tigers’ 42-28 victory over Florida on Oct. 12 at Tiger Stadium.
1. Ohio State (8-0) 2. LSU (8-0) 3. Alabama (8-0) 4. Penn State (8-0) 5. Clemson (9-0) 6. Georgia (7-1) 7. Oregon (8-1) 8. Utah (8-1) 9. Oklahoma (7-1) 10. Florida (7-2)
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NEWS FANS ON THE ROAD
page 3 FACILITIES
PFT wins Baton Rouge Gold Rose Award
BY PERLA RODRIGUEZ @perlajasminee
vironment. It was really cool to see how other schools did their game days,” Roberts said. Tailgating was not as prevalent in Auburn as it is here in Baton Rouge, she said, she still saw college students and families pregaming near campus. Roberts said she and her friends tailgated with some of the Auburn students before the game. Roberts also enjoyed the game because she got to experience it with her friends.
Patrick F. Taylor Hall is more than just the home of the LSU College of Engineering— it is an architectural gem in Baton Rouge. Patrick F. Taylor Hall was awarded the AIA Baton Rouge Gold Rose Award in August. This award recognizes exceptional designs by local architects in hopes of bringing the community together and spreading awareness of the outstanding work across the greater Baton Rouge area. College of Engineering Dean Judy Wornat said receiving the award is an honor for the College of Engineering. “Receiving the Gold Rose Award is an honor, as it reflects the collaborative spirit that was very much a redesign of Patrick F. Taylor Hall,” Wornat said. “Each day, our faculty and students are working together, sometimes across disciplines, to create solutions to the world’s most pressing technical challenges, and our state-of-the-art facility helps drive those efforts.” Patrick F. Taylor Hall, referred to as “PFT” by many students, was recognized for its innovative integration of transparent and collaborative interior architecture. PFT was designed by Perkins+Will and Coleman Partners Architects and completed in 2018. According to AOS Interior Environments, the project in-
see AWAY GAMES, page 4
see PFT, page 4
LSU students weigh in on attending away games ahead of Saturday’s LSUAlabama football game
LSU fans cheer during the Tigers’ 40-32 victory over UCF in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1 at State Farm stadium in Phoenix, Arizona. MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille
BY JULIA CLAIRE-EVANS @juliaclaire1026 With the LSU-Alabama game this Saturday, a large number of LSU students and fans are expected to make the 345-mile trek to Tuscaloosa to watch the Tigers take on the Crimson Tide. While many University students travel across the country to attend away football games, some students, including education junior Meg Brown, feel games in Tuscaloosa are an entirely different experience.
Brown attended the 2017 LSU-Alabama game in Tuscaloosa. She had fun, but said some Alabama fans were too intense. “Some man in Alabama’s stadium asked if me and my friend, who was also from LSU, wanted an M&M,” Brown said. “We politely said no, and he said ‘darn, I was hoping y’all would choke on it.” Brown also traveled to the 2018 LSU-Arkansas game in Fayetteville. She said she had a better experience, largely because the Arkansas fans did not
have as many comments when they heard she was visiting from LSU. “They were more relaxed.,” Brown said. “Also, the parties were more fun.” Mass communication sophomore Hallie Roberts traveled to Auburn to see the LSU-Auburn game last season with a few of her friends. She enjoyed experiencing college football in another, slightly less intense, environment. “I liked it because while it wasn’t as intense as LSU’s en-
STUDENT LIFE
LSU alumnus donates almost 1,000 wheelchairs to Africa BY ANNA JONES @annajoneses After graduating from the E.J. Ourso College of Business in 2015, Michael Panther Mayen started using his newfound entrepreneurial skills to spread a message of hope throughout Africa. “Being from Africa, and then having the opportunity to come to America, I realized I had a chance to do something to bless other people,” Mayen said. “When you’re blessed, you have a choice: you can either keep it to yourself or share it.” Mayen’s home in South Sudan did not have any medical facilities to help him when he was diagnosed with tuberculosis as a 10-year-old. After a two-year wait,
he was finally admitted to a hospital in Kenya. Missions Doctor Tim Mead performed surgery on Mayen to save his life, but his motor function never returned. Now, Mayen’s non-profit organization, Living with Hope, is sharing mobility devices and empowering people living with disabilities. Disabled people in Africa are often cast to the side, with little to no resources, Mayen said. “They are seen as people with no value,” Mayen said. “They literally crawl on the ground. There are people just laying in their homes waiting until they die. They don’t have any chance at life.” Mayen was given a second chance when Mead and his wife, Jana, helped Mayen stay in Kenya and finish school. Once he gradu-
ated high school, the couple took him to the U.S. to look at colleges. Although he was originally looking at Michigan State, Mayen decided on LSU because of the warm weather. Mayen planned on leaving if he didn’t like it after the first semester, but ultimately felt welcomed by the University community. “I thought I was going to be a little different, being in a wheelchair and being from Africa,” Mayen said. “But all of the other students and the professors just embraced me.” Mayen was elected Homecoming King during his senior year in 2015 and enjoyed his time as the president of the International
see HOPE, page 4
COURTESY OF MICHAEL PANTHER MAYEN
Michael Panther Mayan sits with wheelchairs being donated to Kenyans in need.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
page 4 PFT, from page 3 cluded a 130,000 square-foot expansion of the existing 300,000 square-foot building, and it is now the largest academic building on the University’s campus and in Louisiana. PFT is also one of the largest freestanding academic buildings in the U.S. PFT received its name from 1959 alumnus Patrick F. Taylor. Taylor, an LSU petroleum engineering graduate, is responsible for the creation of the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, better known as TOPS. “[Taylor] believed that everyone deserves the opportunity to earn a college degree regardless of his or her economic means,” reads the College of Engineering’s website. “His legacy continues today with the newly renovated and expanded Patrick F. Taylor Hall.” PFT provides students and staff with 134,989 square feet of teaching and laboratory space and 41,202 square feet of student collaboration space, according to the College of Engineering’s website. These spaces are intended to stimulate innovative thinking and foster breakthroughs in science and engineering. Engineering students, including chemical engineering sophomore Brennan Hagan, have taken advantage of the many areas to learn and study that are avail-
able to them in PFT. “PFT has such an open environment with plenty of study spots and rooms to choose from, along with many modern labs and classrooms,” Hagan said. The transparency of the classrooms and study spaces at PFT reveal their theme of “Engineering on Display.” By simply walking through the halls, one is able to see students and professors at work. The design of PFT supports 21st-century learning, providing students and faculty with a variety of spaces for collaboration and independent work so they can choose how they prefer to learn, gather and work. The interior of PFT can be described as modern and is unique compared to the interior of other buildings on the University’s campus. AOS helped procure lounge seating that demonstrates the spirit of the University, with gold fabrics against purple textures and supports, and its commitment to modern teaching methods, education and research. Students on campus agree that PFT provides students with modern and innovative study spaces that promote learning. “PFT’s modern design enables me to be motivated to stay ahead on my schoolwork because it has such a productive atmosphere,” computer science sophomore Justin Nicols said.
HOPE, from page 3 Student Association, executive director of Students Outreach in Student Government and founder of the LSU Disability Student Organization. “LSU was a perfect fit for me,” Mayen said. “It was truly my home.” Mayen also heavily credits his background with business and finance as one of the major reasons he was able to successfully start a non-profit. Living With Hope has already made two trips to Kenya, distributing almost 1,000 wheelchairs to people in need. On each trip, Mayen is accompanied by a team of physical therapists and mechanics. He said team members became emotional when over 1,000 people showed up for the 200 wheelchairs they brought on their first visit in September 2018. “Most of them cried, seeing these people with joy,” Mayen said. “They literally come to us crawling on the ground, and you just changed their whole life. They can sit on a wheelchair with dignity.” For their next trip in July, Mayen said, the team doubled their efforts so they could bring more wheelchairs. The next trip is scheduled for March, and Living With Hope has collected over 400 wheelchairs so far. Wheelchairs are sometimes
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: HTTPS://WWW.LSU.EDU/SUSTAINABILITY/PLANNING/FUND.PHP OR EMAIL THE LSU OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AT SUSTAINABILITY@LSU.EDU
donated by churches and schools, but pediatric wheelchairs are harder to find, and usually have to be bought new. In Kenya, the cost of a pediatric wheelchair is $270, and the cost of a shipping container is $11,000. Only the upper-class or those with connections can afford the exorbitant prices. Living With Hope is currently accepting wheelchair and monetary donations to pay for pediatric wheelchairs. There will also soon be opportunities for interested volunteers to join Mayen and the team of physical therapists and mechanics on service trips. Mayen said he has been in contact with the University, and hopes to start a program for engineering students to design specialized wheelchairs that can maneuver rugged landscapes. “I would love to build a factory there and produce wheelchairs,” Mayen said. “There could be a special type of ‘LSU Wheelchair.’” Right now, an estimated 35 million people in Africa are in need of wheelchairs, according to the Living With Hope website. Mayen said he hopes to eventually spread his work to other areas of Africa besides Kenya, and that the people of Kenya may be able to start building and distributing wheelchairs themselves. “I just want to let these people know that they are special and you can be somebody in life,” Mayen said. “That is hope right there.”
AWAY GAMES, from page 3 “Traveling all the way to Auburn made me and my friends that I traveled with that much closer too,” Roberts said. Biological sciences senior Christine Beaullieu attended the LSU-University of Texas game in Austin in September, and loved it. “I’m a senior and just went to my first away game,” Beaullieu said. “And yes, Matthew McConaughey was there. That was a plus.” She said she loved spending time in Austin, especially on Sixth Street, where she stayed with one of her friends’ family. The large number of LSU fans in attendance made the trip more exciting, according to Beaullieu. Beaullieu and Roberts both recommended students attend at least one away game while at the University in order to have an unforgettable experience cheering on the Tigers in another stadium. “More people should go because it’s good to go on adventures,” Beaulllieu said. “You should travel and do as much as you can.” “More people should go to away games,” Roberts said. “It’s cool to see a different environment and campus and to meet new people.”
ENTERTAINMENT HATE WEEK WARDROBE ‘No One Likes Alabama’ makes dressing easy for the big game page 5
BY ENJANAE’ TAYLOR @_queenet_ “At last, something we can all agree on.” That’s what a happy customer told ‘No One Likes Alabama’ owner James Osborn. It wasn’t football season, but the fan captured how Tiger fans feel toward our rival. Born in Spain, Osborn spent most of his life in Florida but has lived in Louisiana for nearly 20 years. He’s worked across the world, but it brought him to the Pelican State. Although Osborn attended Florida State University and The University of South Alabama, he’s found it easy to embrace Louisiana’s football culture. Like many, Osborn realized that no one does college football like LSU. “It’s a great capital city. You have great food, great people, just a great passion for football,” Osborn said. “I mean, it almost sounds cliché, but that’s what makes LSU and LSU Football so great for friends, family and fans.”
His love for the city and its atmosphere helped him create his clothing line NOLA. Like most good things, the name that plays homage to the state was created by coincidence. While sitting at a bar that one of his friends in New Orleans owned at the time, someone drew NOLA and then later said, “No one likes Alabama.” They then wrote it on a piece of paper and put it up on a mirror, and the rest is history. Osborn worked for several years to make the brand and came up with a perfect original design. The end result tied elements of Louisiana and of course the dislike of our greatest football rival, Alabama. “It’s just a nice play on words because most people think it’s attached to New Orleans,
Louisiana, and then they get a kick out of it when they actually read it,” Osborn said. It’s kind of fun for New Orleans, Louisiana and the Tigers, and it has so many
different dynamics.” Now, with Hate ‘Bama week in full effect, NOLA is a one-stop shop for spirit items for this weekend’s game. NOLA offers tees, hats and more with the long sleeve classic t-shirt being the current hot ticket item. The unisex shirt comes in white and lavender and are made by Comfort Colors and Bella-Canvas for a soft and comfortable feel. Party flags are another popular item Osborn sells to people across the country wanting to put them in their bars and party rooms. It’s not too hard to sell LSU vs. Alabama items to Louisiana natives year-round, but Osborn does a lot of tailgating and uses word of mouth to promote his brand. Osborn creates designs for the brand himself and runs the website and its social COURTESY OF NOONELIKESALABAMA.COM media accounts. The creator
is always drawing, designing and tinkering. The result is fun and creative items for every SEC team. “I’ve been in the clothing and retail industry for a long time, and I’ve seen what some companies do well and what they don’t do well, and I’ve just come up with something fun that I think can be marketed during the football season,” Osborn said. “Especially when LSU is no. 1 and Alabama is no. 2, I mean, that doesn’t hurt. It makes it more interesting,” he joked. When asked who he thought would win Saturday’s big match up, Osborn had no problem choosing the Tigers. “Oh, no contest, LSU. I think Alabama is nine and a half-point favorites, but I see LSU actually turning that around,” Osborn said. “They’re either going to win by seven or win by 10; I feel really good about that.” NOLA apparel is perfect to wear to Alabama if you’re going to the game or to wear to your tailgates, watch parties and post-game celebrations this week and for the rest of the season.
REV R ANKS Album
JESUS IS KING Kanye West
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA
BY CHARLES JONES @saxycj The enigmatic and influentialartist Kanye West had one of the best years of his musical career in 2018, producing numerous well-received albums. It was also a controversial year in
the public eye. From troubling com ment s about slavery, his open support of controversial President Donald Trump, and the scrapping of the highlyanticipated album “Yandhi,” West found himself often at the mercy of the public’s critiques. Despite this, it seems as though West has turned a new leaf. His popular, yet enigmatic, Sunday Service went all across the country (most recently this past Friday in Baton Rouge) starting on the first Sunday of 2019. It features gospel rearrangements of his discography, original songs and classic gospel hits. Rumors spread that this Sunday Service and accompany-
ing choir would be featured heavily on West’s next album. The title, “JESUS IS KING,” began to surface, yet the album was repeatedly delayed. But it is finally here. “JESUS IS KING” is a departure from West’s previous work. West brings forth the Sunday Service choir from the first track and sings of God’s mercy, grace and power throughout the brief 27-minute run time. However, West’s ego and sense of self importance get in the way during several tracks. This results in an album that, while musically brilliant, gets in its own way, and questions the very message it seems to be pushing. Sonically, the production on the gospel-rap-soul combination on “JESUS IS KING” is phenomenal. Richly layered and beautifully performed gospel lines provide the genetic makeup for many of the tracks West is at the top of his game with his delivery and flow. His singing, surprisingly, is abso-
lutely stunning, with tracks like “Closed on Sunday” and “God Is” allowing him to show these skills in a way that took me by surprise. There are also some terrific guest artists featured on the album. Ant Clemons, Ty Dolla $ign, Fred Hammond, Kenny G and the aforementioned Sunday Service Choir bring their unique voices and styles. This the album a sense of diversity despite its brevity. Unfortunately, “JESUS IS KING” struggles lyrically. West who recently called himself the “greatest artist of all time,” in an interview, can’t help but interject with self-obsessed lines about his rising from the metaphorical ashes, and the reactions HE will garner from Christians, on songs like “Hands On.” In gospel, all the love and attention goes to Jesus. Messages of forgiveness, love, patience and kindness are constantly referred to. For West to interject himself into several of the tracks is simply
an exercise of ego in my eyes and muddles the message he is trying to portray. The best parts of the album come when West speaks purely on God and allows the music to enhance the praise he’s given. Tracks like “God Is,” “Use This Gospel,” and the opening track “Every Hour” are some of my favorite Kanye tracks ever. It’s a shame that West couldn’t resist throwing himself into the message. If I were to rate “JESUS IS KING” solely on musical production, it would perhaps top my list of favorite Kanye albums. Unfortunately, West’s insistence on reflecting the attention to himself results in an unfocused and confused message that often distracts from the music underneath it. While not West’s worst effort, “JESUS IS KING” falls short of the rapper’s high standard and fails to become the true gospel album it so desperately wants to be.
THE A TIGER TRADITION!
SCARLETT ABRAMS
MICHAEL BORDELON
MARY CARR
CODY DUNKLEY
ANNE HERRING
ALEXANDRA ACHESON
JOAN BOUCHOUX
CAMILA CARRERA
KRISTEN DUNLAP
MICHAEL HICKMAN
SARAH ACHORD
ALAN BOUDREAUX
BROOKLYN CEDOTAL
MEGAN DUPUY
MAISIE HILL
ALLIE ADLER
TARA BRIAN
ALEC CHAMPAGNE
ZUWENA EASTERLING
LAUREN HINKEL
MIDYEN AHMAD
HAGAN BRIGNAC
CORINNE CHANDLER
JESSICA ELLIOTT
PEYTON HODGES
MICHAEL ALI
ESSENCE BROOKS
ASHTON CHERIZARD
EVAN FERNANDEZ
AUBREY HOLT
KAYCIE ALLEN
EMILY BROSSETTE
DYLAN CHESTERMAN
ZACHARY FONTENOT
ROBERT HUDGINS
GABRIEL AMAR
CASSANDRA BROUSSARD
CHLOE CHRISTMAS
MATTHEW FREEBURGH
CLAUDIA HUERTA
MARY APFFEL
EMILY BROWN
RACHAEL CICERO
ALEXANDRA FREEMAN
MATTHEW HUGHES
JOSHUA ARDOIN
JOHN BRUCE
ANNA COLEMAN
SARAH FRITH
BRIANNA HUMPHREY
KASSIE ARTUS
ISAAC BRYANT
HUNTER COLLINS
KAITLIN FUNDERBURK
SYDNEY HUTHNANCE
NEVILLE ATAKERE
ARIANA BUCKNER
BROOKE COMEAUX
NICOLE GALBRAITH
JOSEPH IMBRAGUGLIO
BRYNNE BABIN
GENEISHA BUGGAGE
MATTHEW CONDE
PENNY GALLEMORE
TROILYN JACKSON
HALEY BAKER
REAGAN BUNCH
KELLIE CONSTANTINE
CAROLINE GARCIA
PEYTON JEFFCOAT
CAITLIN BARRA
DESTINY BURAIMOH
ANNA COOK
TY GARCIA
ALEXANDER JETT
BREANNE BARRIOS
KIERA BURKE
MARY CREECH
ANNURADHA GARIB-BASANT
HALEIGH JONES
EMILY BATTAGLIA
CALEB BURKS
ONESTY CULPEPPER
DESTINY GAUTREAUX
SIDNEY JONES
CARSON BAYLE
KATELYNN BURNS
JOY DAS
MATTHEW GEGG
FELTON JONES III
KAITLYNN BEALER
FERNANDO BUSTOS
ZACHARY DAVIS
LOGAN GOBERT
CHRISTOPHER JORDAN
CHANTELLE BEAUCHAMP
RICARDO CABRERA JR
GABIE DEBRULER
HARRIS GOLDSTEIN
HUNTER JUNEAU
ASHTON BELLOTT
NICK CADENA
DEREK DELAHOUSSAYE
OLIVIA GOODSON
ABIGAIL KAHRS
ISABEL BENJAMIN
BRADY CALCOTE
NICHOLAS DEMUTH
ANDREW GREFER
KATHERINE KELLEY
ALYSSA BERRY
CASEY CAMPBELL
NICHOLAS DIAS
GARRETT GREMILLION
KEIGHLEY KELLEY
REBECCA BERTRAND
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ANNA HABACON
DEVON KELLY
VICTORIA BIEBER
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CHRISTIAN BILKE
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JIMMY DOAN
ALEXIS HART
ANTHONY KIDDER
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KIRSTEN CARDINALE
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BRE BLOUNT
ALYSSA CARMONA
TY DUGAS
SYDNI HENKE
JORDAN KISH
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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FALL 2019 RING RECIPIENTS WHO WILL RECEIVE THEIR RINGS FROM MIKE THE TIGER AT THE RING CEREMONY ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2019!
ASHTON KNOWLES
HARRISON MILLAR
TAYLER PIERRE
JACKSON SCHINDLER
CONNOR VAUGHAN
KAYLEE KNUPPEL
AMBER MILLER
GREGORY PLAISANCE
MADELYN SCHWEPPE
KYLE VENTOLA
DANE LANDRY
LINDSAY MILLER
JOSEPH PORCHE’ III
EMILIE SCHWING
CHRISTOPHER LANEVE
MATTHEW MILLER
STEPHANIE POURCIAU
KOLBY SCULTHORP
ANNALISE LASAVIA
SCHYLER MIRE
MARGARET PREJEAN
JON SEGURA
ALEXIS LATOUR
DAMARCUS MITCHELL
EMILY PUTMAN
ALLISON SEWARD
JAMES LAWRENCE
ERIC MONROE
LIA RAMIREZ
NISREEN SHEIKHA
AGNES LEBLANC
CAITLYN MOORE
CHANDLER RAMSAK
STEVEN SHUMAKER
NICOLE LEBLANC
ANA-MARIA MORALES
GABRIELLE RASP
AAYLIA SMITH
KAYLIN WALLACE
TROY LEGIER
MATTHEW MOREAU
BRITTANY RATLIFF
COBI SMITH
ASHLEY WEAVER
JACOB LEJEUNE
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Classifieds
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THE Daily Commuter Puzzle ACROSS 1 As __ as molasses 5 Sound of a sneeze 10 Range viewed from Salzburg 14 Easy pace 15 $1000 16 Lawn mower brand 17 Like petits fours & eclairs 18 Lawn game 20 __ favor; polite Spaniard’s phrase 21 Unpleasantly moist 22 Musical speed 23 Got up 25 Jon __ Jovi 26 Inventor’s paper 28 Moans and __ 31 Otherwise known as 32 Parable’s lesson 34 “Cat __ Hot Tin Roof” 36 Clippety-__ 37 “__, Jose!” 38 Antlered animal 39 Relatives 40 Like a dull & hackneyed joke 41 Similar 42 Chaperone 44 Willis & Lee 45 Word attached to chair or rest 46 Ill-gotten gain 47 Dangerous critter 50 Tumor 51 Chad’s continent: abbr. 54 Beside the point 57 As busy as __ 58 Leoni’s namesakes 59 __ Castro 60 Singer Campbell 61 Quiche ingredients 62 Waterbirds 63 Hit hard DOWN 1 Lose one’s footing 2 Crazy 3 Surgeries 4 Took a mate 5 Horrified
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6 Hag 7 “__! The Herald Angels Sing” 8 Walk-__; movie set extras 9 “__ to Billie Joe” 10 Greek goddess of wisdom 11 Weaving device 12 Abbr. in some high school names 13 Mediocre 19 Bar seat 21 Puts on, as clothes 24 “As ye sow, so shall ye __” 25 Donkey’s cry 26 Prepare to move 27 TV’s “Kate & __” 28 Elephant’s color 29 Obvious 30 Simple plumbing tool 32 Comedian Sahl 33 On one’s __; independent 35 Middle __; historical period 37 Accepted standard
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38 Insulting remark 40 __ reef; atoll 41 Rainbows 43 Embrace 44 Hustle and __ 46 Paths 47 Refer to 48 “The Beaver State”: abbr. 49 Boast
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50 Created 52 “I __ Pretty”; “West Side Story” song 53 Torn in two 55 Encycl. volume, perhaps 56 __ for; strive to win 57 Bell’s monogram
SPORTS COACH O’S CALL
page 9
Michael Divinity no NFL talent on LSU, Alabama used as pitch to help bring in elite recruits longer a part the NFL. That they don’t go to shuttle with a 42.60 vertical any school in the country, his of LSU football BY NATASHA MALONE the NFL and just bomb out. They at The Opening during the pledge to the Tigers gives them @malone_natasha After LSU’s third top-10 win of the football season, recruits from across the country started to buy into coach Ed Orgeron’s program. After gaining pledges from four-star safety Malcolm Greene, flipping four-star defensive end BJ Ojulari and a monumental commit from the highest-rated tight end ever rated by 247Sports, Arik Gilbert, the Tigers sit at No. 2 in the country, according to 247Sports. Now on the backstretches of both the football season and recruiting season, LSU has a chance to finish strong. No. 2 LSU will line up against No. 3 Alabama in the biggest game of the season on Saturday. Similar to 2011 when these two teams faced off as the top two teams in the nation, there will be future NFL players all over the field. Twenty-one players who played in that 2011 game for LSU were drafted, and 24 Alabama players were also drafted. These numbers don’t include other players who weren’t drafted but still made it to the NFL. “When we recruit we talk about the NFL a lot,” Orgeron said. “We talk about how many players we have in the NFL, how many first round draft choices we have and about the success that our players have in
have a lot of success. They’re MVPs, and they play for years to come.” There is not a program in the country with more recruiting momentum than the Tigers right now. Greene, a 5-foot-10, safety from Highland Springs, Virginia, committed to LSU after taking an official visit for LSU’s 42-28 victory over Florida. Greene ranks as the No. 310 overall prospect in the nation, coming in as the No. 26 safety nationally and No. 6 in Virginia. Recruiting analyst Brian Dohn had this to say about the four-star safety: “Good frame with skill set to play safety with nickel ability. Comfortable in backpedal. Easily flips hips and runs with receiver. Does not shy away from contact.” After searching for more edge rushers, Orgeron got his wish after gaining a commitment from former Tennessee pledge, BJ Ojulari. The Tigers landed a verbal commit from the Top-150 prospect the day after the Auburn matchup. Ojulari is highschool teammates with Gilbert, who shocked the world by committing to LSU less than a week earlier. The 6-foot-2.5, 222 pounds, Ojulari is one of the most athletic edge rushers in the country. He clocked a 4.78 40-yard dash and a 4.49
offseason. Ojulari is ranked as the No. 9 weakside defensive end in the 2020 class. LSU pulled off one of the biggest recruiting upsets in recent years after landing a commitment from Arik Gilbert leading up to the Auburn game. LSU beat schools like Alabama, Georgia and Clemson. While Gilbert could have picked from
a special edge to this recruiting class, as he holds many unique skill sets. Coming in at 6-foot-5 and 253 pounds, Gilbert has great size to match up with any player at the collegiate level. With his commitment, he joins cornerback Elias Ricks and wide receiver Rakim Jarrett as five-star recruits heading to Baton Rouge in 2020.
THE REVEILLE ARCHIVES
LSU junior safety Grant Delpit (7) waits the the whistle during the Tigers’ 45-38 victory over Texas on Saturday, Sept. 7, at Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium.
BY BRANDON ADAM @badam___
Michael Divinity Jr.’s football career at LSU appears to be over. The senior outside linebacker has been removed from the team, according to Brody Miller and Bruce Feldman of The Athletic. LSU coach Ed Orgeron said Divinity left the team for personal reasons, and when asked if there’s a chance Divinity could return, Orgeron said, “We’re not going to close the door on that, but we’ll see.” The senior also made an Instagram post on Monday afternoon. “I am sorry I can’t be on the field for you guys,” Divinity said. “My goal is to get myself back to 100% in time to graduate in December and be back on the field fighting with my brothers soon.” Divinity, who leads the team with three sacks, was one of the most experienced players on LSU’s defense. Viewed as a leader by the coaches, Divinity was moved to middle linebacker in the spring to help fill the void left by Devin White after primarily playing outside linebacker his first three seasons in Baton Rouge. However, Divinity’s time on the field this season had been inconsistent. He was held
see DIVINITY, page 10
Ayana Mitchell reaches 1,000 career points; Lady Tigers defeat UNO BY HARRISON VALENTINE @HValentineLSU LSU women’s basketball coach Nikki Fargas and the Lady Tigers start the 2019-2020 season in the win column after defeating in-state rival New Orleans 83-49 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Tuesday night. The Lady Tigers started the game on a 6-0 run and never surrendered the lead, controlling the pace of play on both sides of the floor for most of the contest. Scoring her 12th point at the 3:40 mark of the third quarter, senior forward Ayana Mitchell became the 33rd player in program history to record 1,000 career points, finishing the game with 15 points, 13 rebounds and her 28th career double-double. Mitchell was named to the preseason All-SEC women’s basketball team and started all 29
games a season ago. “I knew I was close,” Mitchell said on scoring 1,000 points. “It’s a blessing to be in that category with some of the greats that have been here. I give credit to my teammates. They always find me in the right spots at the right time.” Freshman guard Tiara Young posted a game-high 19 points in her long-awaited LSU debut, while junior center Faustine Aifuwa posed a significant presence in the paint, tallying 15 points and five rebounds of her own. LSU made a living around the basket, scoring 54 points in the paint to UNO’s 16. The Lady Tigers also dominated the battle on the glass, out-rebounding the Privateers of UNO, 55-29. “To out-rebound your opponent, that’s one of our goals,” said Fargas. “[Rebounding] is
always something that we’re going to look at on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.” Free-throw shooting was major point of emphasis for the coaching staff during practices this offseason after the Lady Tigers went just 61% from the line last year, but Fargas’ squad continued to struggle from the charity stripe, going 17-of-35 (48.6%) in Tuesday’s opener. “It’s going to be a work in progress,” said Fargas on free-throw shooting. “It’s not a matter of the team not getting in the gym. We have to be more intentional and focused on making those free throws in the game. This group can make free throws. I’ve seen them do it. Now it has to convert and carry over to the game.” There were certainly many positives to take away from the Lady Tigers’ opening win
on Tuesday night, but coach Fargas knows there’s still a lot to clean up. Along with going 48.6% from the free throw line, LSU committed 19 turnovers and went just 22.2% from behind-the-arc. Despite her strong play, Aifuwa struggled at the free-throw line (1-of-4) and also had eight of LSU’s 19 turnovers. “That’s uncharacteristic of Faustine,” said Fargas on Aifuwa, who led the team with eight turnovers. “You take her turnovers out of the equation, and our turnovers are right where they need to be. She did a lot of other good things for us.” Next, the Tigers will host No. 12 Florida State at the Maravich Center at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Free admission will be available for military families and first responders in honor of Veterans Day.
BEN CAPLAN / The Reveille
LSU Senior Forward, Ayana Mitchell shoots a Free-throw in the PMAC on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
page 10
Thursday, November 7, 2019
LSU not concerned about losing streak to Alabama, preparing for Tagovailoa to play BY ANTHONY MOCKLIN @Anthony_Mocklin It’s an exciting time to be an LSU fan. For the fifth time in school history, the football team is 8-0 to start the season. The Tigers have not had such a record since 2011, which is also the last time they defeated Alabama. LSU has lost their last eight meetings to Alabama, but the team is only looking ahead to this year’s matchup. “What happened in the past has nothing to do with this,” said LSU coach Ed Orgeron. “This is a new game, a new week, a new football team. Are they as dominant as they have been in the past? We’re going to find out.” Although the 2011 and 2019 teams are vastly different in terms of rosters, coaching and playstyle, the circumstances of these games are identical. The 2011 matchup featured No. 1 LSU traveling to Tuscaloosa to take on No. 2 Alabama. This year is no different, as it will
DIVINITY, from page 9 out of games against Georgia Southern and Northwestern State due to a “coach’s decision” and suffered an ankle injury against Vanderbilt that caused him to miss LSU’s next game against Utah State. With the return of sophomore K’Lavon Chaisson, whose role Divinity took over after Chaisson tore his ACL in the season opener in 2018, and the surge by junior Patrick Queen and sophomore Damone Clark at inside linebacker, the senior’s playing time took a tumble. Originally, Divinity was set to start next to junior Jacob Phillips at inside linebacker, but due to his absences and Queen’s play, Divinity became more of a situational player. After his return from injury, Divinity did not start against either Florida or Mississippi State. However, he remained a crucial part of LSU’s pass rush package called the “green team.” Against the Gators, Divinity tallied three tackles. Then against Mississippi State, he had four tackles, two tackles-for-loss and one sack, and. in his final start against Auburn, Divinity made five tackles and added another sack. Divinity finished the season with 23 tackles, four tackles-for-loss and three sacks in five games, which is one more than what is allowed to qualify for a redshirt. He ends his career with 105 tackles and nine sacks in 37 games. Now LSU seeks to replace one of its best pass rushers, and the chance will likely fall to either juniors Andre Anthony and Ray Thornton or freshman Marcel Brooks. Anthony, Brooks and Thornton have combined for 15 tackles and two sacks.
determine who the best team in the nation is truly — if Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa plays, that is. Tagovailoa, a Heisman Trophy candidate, is coming off of a high ankle sprain suffered during their win over Tennessee on Oct. 19. He has practiced three times since the injury on a limited basis, and Alabama coach Nick Saban says he will be a game-time decision for Saturday’s game at LSU. The Tigers have had two weeks of preparation for Alabama following their bye. While Saban insists Tua’s status is uncertain, LSU is prepared for him to suit up this Saturday. Should Tagovailoa play, a win would unquestionably make LSU the best team in the nation, likely netting them the top spot in the College Football Playoff. With or without Tagovailoa, Alabama is still the No. 2 team in the country and should be treated as such. While the Tigers have been looking forward to it, Orgeron downplayed the
matchup despite what’s at stake in their most important game of the season. “We’re not going to treat this game different than any other game,” Orgeron said. “This is the next game in our schedule. There will be bigger games down the road for us. We have respect for Alabama. We understand what they do well. We understand what we do well. It’s going to be a great game.”
2011: LSU 9, Alabama 6 2012: Alabama 21, LSU 0 2103: Alabama 27, LSU 17 2014: Alabama 38, LSU 17 2015: Alabama 20, LSU 13 (OT) 2016: Alabama 10, LSU 0 2017: Alabama 25, LSU 10 2018: Alabama 29, LSU 0
AURIANNA CORDERO / The Reveille
LSU senior quarterback Joe Burrow (9) prepares to throw the ball during the Tigers’ game against Auburn on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Tiger Stadium.
Column: The Battle of the Trenches key for LSU BY MYLES KUSS @KussMyles
The trenches. Where boys become men and wars are won and lost. A thin line that separates the good from the evil. A border that symbolizes the end for any incoming enforcer. On Saturday in Bryant-Denny Stadium, the thin one-inch line of scrimmage will be the battleground to decide which team will be the favorite to hoist the National Championship Trophy in January. People avoid calling this game a rivalry, and, unfortunately, there is a major case for this point. The Tigers have not beaten Alabama since 2011 when a grueling 9-6 game ended up giving both teams an inside tract to the National Championship game. The Tide defeated LSU 21-0 in the rematch, setting off a dominant eight-game win streak over the Tigers. Since 2015, most of the contests between the Tide and the Tigers have been more hype than substance with Alabama outscoring LSU 83-26. Most importantly, a Steve Ensminger led offense has never scored a single point against Alabama. With all this said, this game will renew the rivalry that is the best in college football for a multitude of reasons. This is not the same Tide defense that has dominated in years past. They have allowed over 100 yards rushing
in every game this season except one and allow 4.54 yards per play. LSU rushed for over 180 yards against the best defensive line in the country in Auburn two weeks ago. This could be an opportunity for junior running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire and freshman running back Tyrion Davis-Price to make a lasting impact on this rivalry. Secondly, the LSU offense is led by the best quarterback in the nation, Joe Burrow, and will throw the football like Alabama has never seen from an LSU offense. While Ensminger is back in the booth for another try, he now has a companion that will not allow this scoreless streak to continue. In his first season as passing game coordinator, Joe Brady has been the godsend that the Tiger offense has needed for years. He continues to utilize every athlete clad in purple and gold to fantastic results. Burrow will not be afraid in this matchup after having a year of experience under his belt and three wide receivers that are only matched by Alabama’s Henry Ruggs III, DeVonta Smith and Jerry Judy. Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and Terrace Marhsall can matchup with the big three above and provide the spark that is needed late in the game. Lastly, this is a more tested and tougher LSU team than in years past. The Tigers have beaten an aspiring Texas group on the road, a Gator squad that still ranks in the top ten and an Auburn team that has shown they have what it takes to end the year as the top
defensive team in the nation. The only major win that Alabama can boast at this point in the season is against an unranked Texas A&M squad that sits fourth in the SEC West. With these points in play, it comes down to one thing: the trenches. LSU cannot lose their identity as a passing power, but EdwardsHelaire is the key to victory as the running game opens everything else up on the offensive side of the ball.
The offensive line needs to supply the run to make pass protection easier for Burrow to deliver the ball to his athletes in space. The trenches are going to turn these boys into men and will renew this historic rivalry, but LSU will have to bring everything they can muster to escape Tuscaloosa with the win. At the end of the day, Coach Ed Orgeron said it best: “We’re coming, and we ain’t backing down.”
MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille
LSU senior defensive linemen Rashard Lawrence (90) chases down the quarterback during the Tigers’ 55-3 victory over Georgia Southern on Saturday, Aug. 31,at Tiger Stadium.
OPINION
page 11
Toxic masculinity does not refer to truly masculine men Your Best Brett BRETT LANDRY @bmlandry The virtues of classical masculinity have been ruined by the new term “toxic masculinity.” The term is used by social justice groups to inaccurately label ideas of and in order to lay the foundation for blame on men who indeed are toxic but lack true masculinity. Toxic masculinity has been defined as, “a cultural concept of manliness that glorifies stoicism, strength, virility and dominance, and that is socially maladaptive or harmful to mental health,” according to Dictionary.com. From the definition to its input on society, “toxic masculinity” is a farce. It is used to define the actions of aggressively hyper-sexualized, undisciplined men. But let’s set the record straight, those kinds of men are not at a toxic level of masculine, because they are not even really masculine. The only thing labeling such delinquency as toxic masculinity is doing is ruining the name of the good men who seek true manhood and masculinity. Most Americans look toward the classical western interpreta-
tion of manhood to solidify their notion being a masculine man. These ideals trace back to Aristotle and the ancient Greeks, who claimed that true manhood and masculinity were achieved through a virtuous life. The Greeks and modern Americans look toward the virtues of courage, loyalty, resiliency, personal responsibility and self-reliance, among others, to judge the manhood of a man. Generally speaking, boys are only beginning to grasp these virtues, and while men may falter occasionally from upholding these virtues, they should have a reliable mastery over these qualities most of the time. Those who riot, take advantage of others, are sexually aggressive towards non-consenting women and possess the other undesirable reputations of society, do not uphold these qualities. It is not their masculinity that causes them to engage in such unfavorable way. In fact, if it anything, it shows a lack of true masculinity and manhood because they engaged in such behavior. Society is projecting the wrong notions of masculinity. The issue hurts our men trying to be better men, and more importantly, it hurts our boys trying to grow into men in the first place.
Foremost, strength is never a bad thing. While the first image to mind is that masculinity is trying to forge a gaggle of macho meat heads, classical masculinity teaches that boys and men should seek to develop strength in both body and mind. A truly masculine man is forever working on himself to keep himself at his peak performance to defend the life of himself and the ones he loves. There is nothing wrong with this notion, rather it should be celebrated. As far as dominance is concerned, society misconstrues the ideals of dominance to project a negative idea of what classical masculine teachings really include. Dominance, in regards to classic masculinity, is more related to dominating one’s own business and profession, not dominating others. The next misunderstood farce is stoicism, spurring from the miscalculation that classical masculinity requires men to be emotionless, with a stiff upper lip and surely never crying. Once again, this could not be further from the truth. Classical masculinity teaches that men should have a handle on their emotions, understanding how to control them to prevent emotions from controlling the man. For example, men are expected to have a control on
CARTOON BY ETHAN GILBERTI/ The Reveille
their own temper, as to have uncontrolled outbursts can even be dangerous to others. The same logic applies to crying. It is perfectly acceptable for men to occasionally cry, classical masculinity urges men to not allow the man to be a slave to his grief. The final aspect of the definition of “toxic masculinity” is virility, which is the possession of traditionally masculine traits. Right out the gate, virility is not toxic. Once a man understands what it means to be classically masculine, he should seek to
possess as many masculine virtues as possible. Boys will inevitably want to be men. Men should always seek to be better men. It is doing the male population no service to be perverting the ideals of what it means to be an actual masculine person. It is time society and reality got their definitions in check, and the term “toxic masculinity” is forever disposed of. Brett Landry is a 20-year-old mass communication senior from Bourg, Louisiana.
“With Halloween over, stores and consummers everwhere quickly jump to the next commodified holiday” CARTOON BY ETHAN GILBERTI/ The Reveille
Editorial Policies and Procedures EDITORIAL BOARD Caleb Greene Hailey Auglair Baily Chauvin Rachel Mipro Ashlon Lusk
Editor in Chief Managing Editor News Editor Deputy News Editor Opinion Editor
The Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, The Reveille or the university. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to opinion@lsureveille.com or delivered to B-39 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must provide a contact phone number for verification purposes, which will not be printed. The Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Reveille’s editor in chief, hired every semester by the LSU Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.
Quote of the Week “If everything was perfect, you would never learn and you would never grow.” Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter Singer-songwriter 1981 — present
page 12
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Impeachment of Trump is important for both political parties Sauce Boss Cécile CÉCILE GIRARD @_cegi_ The threat of impeachment has been floating around since the early days of Donald Trump’s presidency, yet never has it seemed more imminent than now. Headlines appear daily with news on impeachment efforts, more elected officials are vocalizing their opinions and nearly every friend and family member has a thought or two to say on the issue. With only a little over a year left of his presidency, many of us are left wondering, is it worth it? It is impossible to argue that Trump has done nothing worthy of impeachment. Between hosting government functions at his privatelyowned resorts and hotels and blackmailing foreign governments, into investigating political opponents, there are a wealth of options to pick from at the impeachment charges buffet. Despite the evidence, Congress is nevertheless divided on the issue of impeachment along partisan lines. According to The New York Times, of the 235 Democrats in the
House of Representatives, 227 have announced support for an impeachment inquiry. Of the 197 Republicans, 183 have said they would vote no to an impeachment inquiry. For many, wasting time on a lengthy process is their main deterrent in supporting impeachment. Concern for the efficiency of the chamber seems like a noble reason to withhold impeachment, but it is just another weak excuse for letting Trump off scot-free. Refusing to hold him accountable for his actions because it would take time is a slap in the face to constituents that voted for their representatives. Making sure that the president, the most powerful elected official in the nation, is not abusing his powers is just one of the many duties of congressional representatives. Impeachment is not as many Republican representatives have suggested a way for Democrats to replace a president that they do not agree with someone more liberal. If Trump were removed he would only get replaced by the equally conservative Mike Pence. Impeachment is to maintain our democratic systems. It keeps out the usual woes of high-power positions, like extortion, cor-
CARTOON BY ETHAN GILBERTI / The Reveille
ruption and treason. Once these basic legal trespasses are disregarded by a majority of our governing bodies, we are left to wonder how much longer it will take for other legal standards to become irrelevant. When the president is
hardly reprimanded for crimes that would derail the average American’s life, the double standard created deepens political disillusionment and mistrust. It delegitimizes democratic institutions. The least our elected representatives can do is take
the time to check Trump’s abuses of power before they irreversibly damage to our democracy. Cécile Girard is a 19-year-old biology and psychology sophomore from Lake Charles, Louisiana.
More scholarship opportunities after death of international student Dear Society JASMINE EDMONSON @edmonsonjasmine The University needs a scholarship program specifically for international students and should raise the stipend these students receive. Unfortunately, the death of civil engineering graduate student Binod Nepal, 26, emphasized the two necessities. A car hit Nepal when he was walking home from a class on Burbank Drive on Sept. 23. Nepal was in critical condition when an ambulance transported him to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. He died on Sept. 27. Nepal started classes at the University in the fall. He was conducting research with the Louisiana Transportation Research Center and serving as public relations chair of Nepalese Student Association at LSU. Most of Nepal’s family couldn’t travel to Baton Rouge from their homes in Nepal. This caused members of Nepalese Student Association to handle Nepal’s funeral arrangements. The process of organizing Nepal’s funeral was difficult for association members be-
cause Nepal’s health insurance didn’t cover all expenses. Nepal didn’t have International Student Services’ recommended health insurance plan which is $200 a month. He had a cheaper one which only covered $14,000 of his funeral costs. Members of Nepalese Student Association had to pay $4,000 out-of-pocket. They created a GoFundMe to reduce the financial burden of the funeral. Nepal’s father plans to use the excess money, accumulated from GoFundMe, to start a scholarship fund for children in Nepal who would like to receive an education. The University grants all graduate students a minimum stipend of $10,000. Students used to have 50% of their health insurance covered by the school, but this practice stopped in 2015. The University couldn’t help pay for graduate students’ health insurance because premiums went up. Ten-thousand dollars may seem like a lot, but it’s not enough for students who aren’t completely or partially dependent on someone for financial stability. Graduate students use the stipend to pay for school supplies, rent, groceries, transportation and insurance poli-
cies among other expenses. Most international students use some of the stipend to visit their family and friends in their home country. Some of them need to use the stipend to send money back home to their loved ones. Graduate students are not allowed to work outside their graduate assistant-ships or on-campus jobs. Those who obtain these forms of income are capped at 20 hours a week. I understand students are only allowed to work a maximum of 20 hours a week to focus primarily on school work. However, international students aren’t receiving sufficient funds they need to thrive financially while living in another country. In the U.S., international students can only work offcampus jobs if they applied for a U.S. visa. It would be cheaper for international students to attend universities in their home countries, but some students receive their education in the U.S. because their home universities don’t offer studies their interested in. Some countries’ universities aren’t as adequate in education or have well-rounded programs graduate students are interested in. It’s difficult being an inter-
COURTESY OF RAJAN DHAKAL / The Reveille
Civil engineering graduate student Binod Nepal died on Sept. 27 after suffering critical injuries from a Sept. 23 collision on Burbank. national student in the U.S. They have to learn a second language and translate in their head when talking to a native English speaker or taking notes in class. They must immerse themselves in a culture different than their own, which can make them feel alienated. Most live far away from their family and friends. The University can at least give international students, specifically those who are in a graduate program, scholarships. Those who can’t obtain a scholarship because of lim-
iting funding shouldn’t have to worry much because an increase in stipends offered to international students will help them financially. International students are a part of the student body and deserve to be financially supported by the University. They help shape this institution into the flagship university it is today. Jasmine Edmonson is a 21-year-old mass communication junior from Denham Springs, Louisiana.