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The Daily Reveille Est. 1887
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Volume 127 · No. 1
lsunow.com/daily
CURVEBALL Nagging injuries, veteran departures hinder LSU baseball team, despite growing contributions from young talent, page 2
CHRISTA MORAN / The Daily Reveille
NEWS
ENTERTAINMENT College of Science Dean named one of Business Report’s “Influential Women of 2018”, page 3 Louisiana residents express frustration with state’s roadways, page 3
Pop Shops Records opens under new ownership on Government Street, page 4 “Once again, 13 Reasons completely missed the mark, and although it’s starting a conversation, it’s not starting the right conversation,” page 5
OPINION “For Meghan Markle ... having the ultimate fairy tale ending might mean losing her freedom,” page 7
“The financial sacrifice of an unpaid internship is one many low-income students are not privileged enough to shoulder,” page 7
page 2
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
COVER STORY
Hidden gems, rising stars shine in 2018 campaign BY GLEN WEST @glenwest21 Despite a disappointing end to the season, the 2018 LSU baseball campaign shouldn’t be looked at as a failure, but rather a team that faced too many obstacles. LSU coach Paul Mainieri knew this season would be difficult in replacing many veteran leaders but the added stress of reshuffling lineups due to injury didn’t help matters. Heading into the season, the Tigers lost infielders Kramer Robertson and Cole Freeman, their complete starting rotation in Alex Lange, Jared Poche and Eric Walker, a defensive wizard in catcher Michael Papierski and power slugger Greg Deichmann. After the first series of the season, sophomore shortstop Josh Smith suffered a stress reaction in his back and played in only one other game the entire season. Center fielder Zach Watson missed a month of the season with an oblique injury and pitcher Nick Storz made two appearances after being a coveted recruit in this year’s class. JUCO junior and transfer Brandt Broussard was batting over .400 the first 20 plus games of the season, but a broken thumb held him out three weeks and when he returned, struggled to find his rhythm again, batting at .260 for the season. The Tigers went 39-27 on the season and 15-15 in the SEC, good for a third place tie in the West division. Needing to perform well in the SEC tournament to ensure a spot in the NCAA tournament, the Tigers rattled off four wins in five days to advance to the SEC Championship before falling to Ole Miss. With all the injuries and losses from the 2017 season, opportunity was gained for many younger and forgotten players on the LSU roster. Perhaps no light shined brighter than on freshman outfielder Daniel Cabrera. Cabrera turned down $1 million from the pros to come to LSU and was sensational in the second half of the season. Cabrera
THE DAILY REVEILLE ARCHIVES
Sophomore pitcher Zack Hess (38) pitches during the Tigers’ 4-2 win against Missouri on March 16 at Alex Box Stadium.
earned a spot on the All-SEC freshman first team on his way to batting .315 with eight homeruns and 54 RBI. LSU found another freshman gem in pitcher Ma’Khail Hilliard who started 12 of his 17 appearances, going 9-5 with a 3.79 ERA. Hilliard along with fellow freshman AJ Labas, won a total of 15 games with Labas mainly used as the midweek starter. The injury to Smith was certainly a huge blow to the LSU offense, but the Tigers reaped the rewards defensively with freshman Hal Hughes who took over the position. Hughes boasted a .957 fielding percentage even though he did struggle at the plate, batting .221 with 20 RBI in 65 games. Senior Austin Bain may have been the story of the season as LSU looked for answers to fill out the infield. Many times, Mainieri has called Bain the MVP of the 2018 season for the Tigers as he played first base, second base and pitcher. Bain got his chance in the fall when he started taking some swings and Mainieri liked what he saw, so he put Bain in the lineup where he batted in the threehole much of the season. Bain batted .311 with three homeruns and 42 RBI on the season, not bad for someone who hadn’t picked up a bat since high school. “We’re going to miss him terribly,” Mainieri said. “He showed everybody just what kind of a ball player he is and what a great competitor. Nobody loves LSU more than him, and I’m just really happy for Austin that, in his senior year, he did as much as he did.” Fellow senior Beau Jordan and junior Bryce Jordan took on the responsibilities of being the vocal leaders of the team, and backed it up with their play. Beau spent most of his time as DH and left field while Bryce would play some at first and DH. Beau hit .299 on the season with a team-tying eight homeruns in 63 games while Bryce hit .256 with 17 RBI in 37 appearances. The Jordans were hit by a combined 19 pitches, both leading the
DILYN STEWART / The Daily Reveille
Senior infielder Austin Bain (18) runs toward home plate during the Tigers’ 7-0 victory against Sacred Heart on March 3 in Alex Box Stadium.
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LSU baseball players watch from the dugout during the Tigers’ 8-0 win against Lamar on April 24 at Alex Box Stadium. team. Despite graduating, Bryce has another year of eligibility after suffering a torn ACL before the 2017 season so one Jordan twin will be back in uniform next year. LSU could be in jeopardy of losing the talents of Watson, Antoine Duplantis and Zack Hess, but none* were selected on the second day of the MLB Draft. Watson, despite missing a month of the season, returned and spent time as the leadoff and cleanup hitter after a sensational freshman season. The sophomore batted .308 and blasted seven home runs and 34 RBI in 57 games with Mainieri admitting it wasn’t quite the season he or Watson had expected. The Tigers also returned reliable junior right fielder Duplantis. Duplantis, after a historic sophomore season where he drove in 61 batters and two home runs, delivered a very impressive junior campaign. Duplantis started all 66 games of the season, the only player to do so, and batted .328 with two homeruns and 48 RBI. “I’m not sure what’s going to happen with Antoine, but if that’s the last game that Antoine’s played for LSU, he’ll go down in history as one of the greatest of all time,” Maineri said after the
THE DAILY REVEILLE ARCHIVES
Junior outfielder Antoine Duplantis (8) runs across the field during the Tigers’ 8-1 victory against Toledo on March 2 at Alex Box Stadium.
regional loss to Oregon State. “If he wants to come back for his senior year, I’ll be glad to have him, and he may go down as the greatest player of all time.” Much like Watson, Hess showed flashes of the superstar pitcher he can be, but didn’t sustain the level of consistency on the mound he hoped for. Hess threw a team leading 107 strikeouts on his way to a 7-6 record and 5.05 ERA. Control of the fastball was an issue as Hess frequently found himself in high pitch counts early in games. LSU is hoping all three will return to the program next season with a healthier and improved roster on the horizon. The 2018 season certainly had its moments whether it was Josh Smith’s go-ahead homerun on opening night, or Beau Jordan’s grandslam on senior night that secured a 7-5 win over Alabama. Maybe it was pitcher Todd Peterson’s double in extra innings that helped LSU defeat South Carolina 6-4 in the SEC tournament. One thing you can say about the LSU program is that every season is unique in its own way, despite the outcome of the season. *This story will be updated online as the draft continues.
DILYN STEWART / The Daily Reveille
Sophomore outfielder Zach Watson (9) swings at the ball at the Tigers’ 2-4 loss against Hawaii on March 9 at Alex Box Stadium.
GLEN WEST Entertainment Reporter
CLAIRE BERMUDEZ Opinion Columnist
HANNAH KLEINPETER Opinion Columnist
RACHEL MIPRO Copy Editor / Page Designer
RAMSINA ODISHO Copy Editor / Page Designer
JENNIE DELATTE Photographer
DILYN STEWART
CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS The Daily Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure its readers the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards. This space is reserved to recognize and correct any mistakes that may have been printed in The Daily Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified, please contact the editor at (225) 5784811 or email editor@lsureveille.com.
ABOUT THE DAILY REVEILLE The Daily Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Daily Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. A single issue of The Daily Reveille is free. To purchase additional copies, please visit the Office of Student Media in B-39 Hodges Hall. The Daily Reveille is published weekly during the fall, spring, and summer semesters, except during holidays and final exams. Second-class copies postage paid at Baton Rouge, LA, 70803. Annual weekly mailed subscriptions are $125, semester weekly mailed subscriptions are $75. Non-mailed student rates are $4 each regular semester, $2 during the summer; one copy per person, additional copies 25 cents each. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Daily Reveille, B-39 Hodges Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.
News
page 3 CRIME
GET DOWN TO
BUSINESS DILYN STEWART / The Daily Reveille
LSU College of Science dean recognized in 2018 Influential Women in Business by Baton Rouge Business Report BY BRITTNEY FORBES @itsbritforbes
A
fter the LSU College of Science saw a 46 percent increase in undergraduate applicants from the year before, Dean Cynthia Peterson was named one of Baton Rouge Business Report’s 2018 Influential Women in Business. Peterson graduated from the University in 1979 and became the first female dean of the College of Science in 2014. Peterson learned her love for science as a teenager, crediting her junior high teachers for making science an exciting challenge. “I had a teacher who once said, ‘you think this is hard? You just wait until you get into college and do organic chemistry,’” Peterson said. “That planted a seed, and I was like ‘okay, I’ll go to college and take organic chemistry.’”
Although the STEM field is predominantly male, Peterson found that being a woman in STEM is an opportunity. She said she’s doing whatever she can to “make sure that science is accessible to everyone.” “What national data will tell us is that women are approaching fields like biology, lagging way behind in fields such as math and physics, and we’re paying attention to that,” Peterson said “We’re recruiting a lot of students and women into those fields. The College of Science recently held a commencement address where one of the speakers, a Nobel Prize winner from MIT, mentioned how impressed he was with the number of
see PETERSON, page 6
BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY
La. residents feel its roadways pose dangerous threat BY JOSEPH BOURG Manship School News Service Biology senior Chris Jeanlouis has only one thought when he sees a pothole on a Louisiana roadway. “The first thing I think is … ‘where can I swerve to get around this?’” Jeanlouis said. Jeanlouis’ problem is all too common. In the case of many Louisiana residents, potholes are believed to be a statewide issue. State roadways are often considered to be among the worst in the nation. A recent Reader’s Digest study found that Louisiana’s roadways rank as the worst in the nation. A study from U.S. News and World Report ranked the state’s infrastructure as the 44th-best in the nation. The issues associated
with the state’s roadways affect residents in a number of ways. Nobody likes potholes, but in Jeanlouis’ case, the hatred stems from a painful memory. The lifelong resident of New Iberia said his worst run-in with a pothole occurred in November 2016, less than two weeks after becoming the owner of a 2004 MercedesBenz CLK 500. While making a routine crossing of the railroad track at the intersection of Brightside Drive and Nicholson Drive, Jeanlouis’ car scraped the track, leaving a section of the vehicle’s bottom panel hanging. Later, while driving to a friend’s house down Burbank Drive, he hit a pothole that completely tore off the hanging portion. “I looked in my rearview mirror and thought, ‘Oh, that
happened?’” Jeanlouis said. The 23-year-old is used to dealing with problematic roadways. He said the main road leading to his house was narrow all his life, and even though a small shoulder was added to the road, a valley eventually formed between the road and the shoulder, creating bumps and potholes. He said that outside of newer areas such as Broussard and Livingston, roads in the Acadiana area are a “chronic” problem. Kinesiology sophomore Alyssa Kaigler is a Louisiana resident with a worldly perspective. The 19-year-old was born in Japan and has lived in four different states. Kaigler lives off of Dodson Avenue, a road she said is a burden her car regularly bears.
see ROADWAYS, page 6
THE DAILY REVEILLE ARCHIVES
Louisiana’s roadways rank as the worst in the nation, according to a Reader’s Digest study.
Former student imprisoned for child pornography STAFF REPORTS @lsureveille A 21-year-old former University student was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison after being convicted of transportation of child pornography. Andrew Easterly will also be required to serve 10 years on supervised release after his release from prison and register as a convicted sex offender, according to United States Attorney Brandon Fremin. In a press release, Fremin said the majority of the child pornography was produced by Easterly in his college dorm or at his parents’ home. Following an off-campus investigation by the state Office of the Attorney General, Easterly was arrested Oct. 29, 2015 on several charges related to child pornography, including filming juveniles in the Herget Hall communal showers. According to an LSUPD officer incident statement, two juvenile girls identified in photos found on devices belonging to Easterly told officers they met Easterly at a party. The girls, who are not LSU students, told officers they “concocted a story to fool their parents” and agreed to go with Easterly to the LSU vs. Auburn football game on Sept. 19, where he made advances on both and “inappropriate statements about one of their butts.” After spending about an hour drinking whiskey provided by Easterly, the three left Easterly’s dorm room in Herget Hall to attend an off-campus party, according to the report. Officers reviewed surveillance footage from Herget Hall on the night of the incident and confirmed the two girls arrived with Easterly, left soon after and came back later that night, the statement said. When they came back to his dorm, both girls decided to take a shower before going to bed. “They advised that during the time they were showering, neither were aware that they were being photographed during their shower,” the report states. Officers also “captured a very brief image” of Easterly walking from the showers back to his room behind one of the victims. The full forensic recovery report on Oct. 22, 2015 found 23 different photographs of child pornography on Easterly’s external hard drive.
Entertainment
page 4
SETTING UP
SHOP
Pop Shop Records opens new Government Street location, puts greater focus on Baton Rouge community BY CLAIRE BERMUDEZ @claireebermudez
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op Shop Records celebrated to the stage at 3 p.m. The young their grand opening Satur- cover band played a variety of day afternoon, featuring songs, opening with Vance Joy’s live music, food and, of course, “Riptide” and transitioning to an records. array of classic rock. The shop was packed with an The Rakers came on at 4 p.m., assortment of vinyl records. One with Smith joining them to sing. could find music of any genre, The band played until the event with artists ranging from Cage wrapped up at 6. The Elephant to Pop Shop Records is the headPink Floyd. line sponsor for People were lining up to buy “We want to make it Baton Rouge GalMovies records and even a little bit more than lery’s and Music on the record players. Attendee Lauren just a record store.” Lawn. “We wanna Spillmon said she have more collabohad been considerCHARLOTTE SMITH ing purchasing a rations with the Co-owner, Pop Shop Records record player for city,” Smith said, some time, and the “so we’re collaboshop’s grand opening provided rating with Baton Rouge Gallery her with the perfect opportunity in a pretty big way. That’s something that’s important to us.” to finally do so. Smith and Sweeney want to “I’ve always wanted to get a record player, and after coming use their space for local musihere, I finally talked myself into cians to gather once a month to it,” Spillmon said. “I bought a few openly discuss their music. Smith albums, too, and I can’t wait to said she hopes the store will bego home and set it all up. I’ll defi- come a safe, kind environment nitely be coming here a lot in the for others to showcase their work. future.” “We want to make it a little bit Located at 2963 Government more than just a record store,” St., Pop Shop Records was for- Sweeney said. “We’re out to supmerly named Atomic Pop Shop. port the community and the arts. Co-owners Charlotte Smith and We want to make Mid City and Kevin Sweeney want to keep the Baton Rouge a place where people same vibe as the old store but be want to be.” more involved with the commuSmith said she wants to add nity. books to the store’s inventory in The event kicked off at noon the near future — not only musicwith a blessing by the Rev. Tom- related books, but ones written by my Dillon and a sage cleansing. local authors as well. At 2 p.m. the stage welcomed vo“We sell stuff by local musicalist and guitarist Christina Oc- cians — why not stuff by local aumand. thors?” Smith said. Store majority-owner Smith Smith and Sweeney agreed the took the stage to deliver a teary- support they’ve received from the eyed speech, thanking her part- community is beyond their expecner Sweeney, friends and the tations. community for their support. “I’ve had a lot of dreams “The outpouring [of support] where only seven people show up has just been overwhelming,” to this,” Smith said. “The support Smith said. has just been completely overSmith welcomed FrostBite whelming. It’s been wonderful.”
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
The Daily Reveille
page 5
REV R ANKS
‘13 Reasons Why’ misses mark on suicide prevention again BY CLAIRE BERMUDEZ @claireebermudez Despite backlash and controversy, Netflix released season two of “13 Reasons Why” on May 18. The Netflix original revolves around Hannah Baker, a 17-yearold who commits suicide and leaves behind cassette tapes to explain why she did it. The series is based off the best-selling novel of the same title. However, season one ends where the book ends, leaving the content of season two entirely in the hands of the show’s writers. The first season of the show received constant criticism — and for good reason. It glorifies suicide and portrays it as a way to get back at someone. The show was even blamed for causing “suicide contagion,” or copycat suicides. Season two isn’t very different. The central plot revolves around the lawsuit Baker’s mother files against the high school for negligence. Through testimonies given by students, we see there were more sides to the stories Baker told us in season one. Another plot closely follows
Clay Jensen, who’s still pining over Baker. In season two, he keeps seeing her ghost, which waters down the plot and adds unanswered questions. It’s hard to tell the writer’s intentions for making him see her ghost. This season contains equally, if not more, disturbing scenes than its predecessor. Many people have taken to Twitter to warn viewers of a particular scene in episode 13. It shows an extremely graphic rape scene, which personally made me sick to my stomach. The second season opens with an advisory warning delivered by the show’s main stars. They warn viewers the series deals with sensitive subjects such as sexual assault, substance abuse, suicide and more. They even state if you’re struggling with these issues, then you shouldn’t watch the show at all. “By shedding a light on these difficult topics, we hope our show can help viewers start a conversation,” said Katherine Langford, who plays Baker, in the warning. Although it’s important to have a conversation about mental ill-
nesses, the show went about it in the wrong way. You’d think after the criticism the show received last season, they would consider not doing a second season or at least try to take a different angle, but they didn’t. Since the show’s release, multiple mental health professionals and agencies have expressed their concern about the series. The International Association for Suicide Prevention released a briefing in which they explained the risks and negative impacts the show has on teenagers. IASP states the media should steer away from melodramatic depictions of suicide and its aftermath. By seeing Baker memorialized after death by her peers and getting the attention of her love interest, vulnerable teenagers will think that’s what they’ll get if they commit suicide. The show advises people who struggle with mental illnesses to not watch, but I advise people in general to not watch. Once again, “13 Reasons Why” completely missed the mark, and although it’s starting a conversation, it’s not starting the right conversation.
courtesy of NETFLIX
‘Deadpool 2’ boasts impressive supporting cast, but lacks where original succeeded Cable is a time-traveling warrior hell-bent on destroying Julian Dennison’s Firefist, Fans of “Deadpool 2,” I ask a teenage mutant exploring the for mercy as you read the fol- boundaries of good and evil. In lowing: I did not enjoy Ryan a possible future, Firefist kills Reynolds’ second round as the Cable’s wife and child — Cable foul-mouthed bad-boy of the carries his daughters scorched teddy bear throughout the film superhero genre. As a lover of the X-Force to determine whether he changsaga, I was really looking for- es the fate of his family. For the most part, “Deadward to seeing my personal pool 2” works as favorite chara fantastic enacter, Domino semble film, with (Zazie Beets), and I was im- Ultimately, the film is dry a richly developed cast. pressed by and leaves much to be supporting Teenhow director desired until about 90 Negasonic age Warhead (BriDavid Leitch minutes in. anna Hildebrand) brought her is just as delightunique powfully droll and uners the screen. impressed as ever, Domino is an exciting, creative force but gets the addition of girlthroughout the film, as is the friend Yukio (Shioli Kutsuna) rest of the supporting cast making her the first openly led by Josh Brolin’s Cable and queer superhero in the Marvel cinematic universe. Stefan Kapicic’s Colossus. BY ABBIE SHULL @AbbieLJ
courtesy of 20TH CENTURY FOX
However, the real draw of the first Deadpool was Reynolds’ cheeky, outrageous turn as the titular character. This film loses much of what makes the character enjoyable, by taking a dark turn within the first fifteen minutes of the movie. Spoiler Alert: Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) — Deadpool’s girlfriend who he works so hard to save in the first film — is dead within about ten minutes of the start of the movie. So, much of the first half of the film is spent watching Wade wallow in grief, attempt suicide and accept his own death. Sure, there are funny bits and one-liners — and many jabs at other superhero films — but ultimately, the film is dry and leaves much to be desired until about 90 minutes in when Cable and Deadpool ultimately join forces.
The Daily Reveille
page 6 PETERSON, from page 3 women who were graduating in math and the number of African-Americans graduating with Ph.D.’s from LSU. “I’m very proud to be the first female dean of the college,” Peterson said. “Since I’ve been dean, we’ve had huge successes bringing in faculty from the best institutions from across the globe here at LSU. We’ve
certainly taken advantages of the opportunities to broaden the diversity of our faculty across the board.” Peterson has been encouraging students to take on science in their careers by promoting K-12 science and math education and teacher preparation courses. In partnership with the College of Science, Peterson showed the film “Hidden Figures” to middle and high school students with a
panel discussion of women in the STEM workforce. Recently, the College has had a 46 percent increase in undergraduate applicants from the year before. Peterson said the College of Science is seeing “record size” classes. Peterson is planning on launching a first year seminar for students in the hopes of making the University feel “smaller.”
Wednesday, June 6, 2018 “It will help them go through adjusting to college with what to expect in a classroom that’s different than what you’ve been exposed to up till now,” Peterson said. “A lot of students come into college with a science major with a very sharp focus as to what they want to ... and one of the things we like to do early on is to open people’s minds up to show them a wide variety of things they can do with a major
ROADWAYS, from page 3 “It’s really taxing on my car,” Kaigler said. While potholes and bumpy roads aren’t new to Kaigler, the differences in her eyes are the care the roads receive and the mentality of those who drive on them. She said that during her time in Washington, D.C. and Virginia Beach, she noticed a healthy number of potholes, but both cities were good about filling them in. But in her opinion, to find truly exceptional roads, one needs to look to other countries. “The roads in Japan are the best,” Kaigler said. “They’re the narrowest, but people in Japan are the best drivers.” After moving to Louisiana in July 2014, Kaigler has spent her time between Houma and Baton Rouge. To her, Houma’s smaller area lends itself to having better roads, while Baton Rouge’s much larger size factors into poorer quality roads in many areas of town. The sophomore said that Dodson’s litany of potholes “sucks” to deal with, a problem magnified by the fact that the road is barely wide enough to service one car at a time. She said it’s difficult to see roads like Parker Boulevard and Lee Drive receive smooth new lanes while Dodson rarely receives temporary patches to fill the potholes. Kaigler isn’t alone in her frustration with Louisiana’s roadways. A recent non-random survey of 100 Louisiana residents found that only one respondent rated roadways in the state above “average.” Asked to rate state roadways on a scale of “very below average” to “very above average,” nearly 85 percent of respondents selected a rating below “average.” Seventy survey respondents selected Interstate highways such as I-10 or I-12 as the bestmaintained roadways in the state, while only three selected state highways such as LA 30 in Baton Rouge or LA 182 in Houma. Conversely, 55 percent consider state highways to be the worstmaintained roadways in the state compared with only six percent who said Interstate highways were the worst. Eighty percent of survey respondents said they do not believe driving in Louisiana is a pleasant experience. 64 percent said the state’s roadways are not safe. Distracted drivers were ranked as the greatest roadway threat, followed by drunk drivers, roadway conditions — such as potholes — and finally
THE DAILY REVEILLE ARCHIVES
Louisiana’s roadways rank as the worst in the nation, according to a Reader’s Digest study. roadway environment factors, such as lighting and speed limits. Fifty-six percent of survey respondents said they believe the first step to improving roadway safety in Louisiana is improving existing roads, while 18 percent said they believe constructing new roads in areas of high congestion would be a good first step. Mass communication sophomore Olivia Rackley said she believes Louisiana’s network of roadways is unsafe. A native of Destin, Forida, she cited rough patches and potholes as just a couple of a number of problems the state’s roads face. “Flooding around the uneven road surfaces have caused engine issues to many cars,” Rackley said, “With all of the frequent blockages, traffic gets heavy. People don’t pay attention and accidents are more likely to occur.” Rackley said in her mind, a potential first step the state could take toward improving roadway safety would be to take on more overnight construction projects in favor of those that take place during the day. She said that while the addition of lights and round-the-clock workers would be costly, she believes the jobs could be completed quicker and safer with fewer people on the road. Rackley said she believes the wear and tear on Louisiana’s roadways are “a hazard to every car.” In the short time since she moved to Louisiana, she’s had to get her tires realigned six times. Her overarching opinion on the roads can be summarized succinctly. “The roadways in Louisiana are terrible,” Rackley said. Rackley said she believes the LADOTD does not have the requisite support to improve the state’s network of roadways. She said the problem is urgent and
needs to be addressed. “It’s been overlooked for years now, and I haven’t seen much improvement at all,” Rackley said. According to public records, the LADOTD only saw a four percent increase in its final budget from fiscal year 2016 to fiscal year 2017, a year that saw the department’s final budget come in at just over $610 million. Federal funding in particular saw a 9.9 percent year-over-year increase. Mass communication professor Robert Mann said federal funding levels for the LADOTD are not up to par for the job the department faces on a daily basis. Mann, the Douglas Manship Chair at LSU, said that improvement has occurred in some areas, but problems have persisted for far too long in other cases. “There’s no doubt they don’t have nearly the money to do what they need to do,” Mann said. Mann said one area that’s seen marked improvement is the ease of traveling from Baton Rouge to other major cities around Louisiana. What used to be a five to six hour trip to Monroe, Ruston and other cities in northern Louisiana on a two-lane road, he said, is now a sub-four hour journey on a fourlane highway. On the other side is the deteriorating network of bridges and smaller, rural roads across Louisiana, Mann said. He said he believes neglect has been a key component in the overall degradation of roadways in the state. “None of these things are built to last forever,” Mann said. “They have a half-life.” Mann said he believes the consequences of poor roadways go far beyond the depreciation of cars and an extra safety hazard. He said higher insurance rates as a result of the punishment cars take, a lack of LADOTD funding to undertake new construction
projects and a missed opportunity to raise gas taxes when fuel prices were at record lows a decade ago have all played a role in the condition of roads today. Mann said that beyond the condition of the roads today, the sins of inaction will come back around to hurt future generations. “We just haven’t taken care of our business,” Mann said. “If we didn’t have the political will then, it’s hard to imagine when we ever will.” The consequences of poor state roadways go beyond heightened levels of frustration, popped tires and potholes. A 2010 report from The Road Information Project found that roadways cost the average driver in Baton Rouge an extra $1,052 per year in various repairs and unforeseen maintenance costs. At the center of the public storm is LADOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson. An executive in the department for more than 13 years, Wilson said the nearly 16,000 miles worth of roadways in Louisiana creates a conundrum his staff has to figure out how best to manage. Wilson said safety is the department’s top priority, trumping many other decisions they make. The dollars the department spends on safety measures is “much more proactive than reactive,” he said. One of the federal government’s requirements the LADOTD must meet is the existence of a preservation program. Wilson said that it makes sense, then, that the department takes care of existing roads before undertaking any new construction projects. “You can’t just go to Walmart and get a new bridge, a new road,” Wilson said. Wilson said the LADOTD’s
in science.” Peterson said she hopes to reach out to all 1,200 incoming freshman in the College of Science. “Do science and learn facts,” Peterson said.“That’s what science is. It’s actively asking questions and approaching things in a methodical and very exciting way. There are lots and lots of opportunities in our state and in our nation.” budget, as with other departments, is driven by tax money. He said gas tax is the department’s only source of revenue. Louisiana’s 16 cent per gallon gas tax, instituted in 1990, is only worth about seven cents to the department due to inflation. Wilson said 47 states have raised their gas taxes since 1990, 30 of which have raised their taxes since 2012. State residents and legislators alike have searched, often to no avail, for various other methods to help the LADOTD fund a transportation needs backlog that totals in the billions. A constitutional amendment to create an infrastructure bank failed in a 2014 election. The state’s Transportation Trust Fund often sees funding diverted to other projects, chief among them being state police operations. Secretary Wilson said the larger, different population of vehicles on the state’s roadways has presented another unique challenge the department must work to overcome. Louisiana boasts approximately 12,900 bridges, 3,000 of which are at least 50 years old. Wilson said the older bridges and roads in the state were not built for the number, weight and frequency of vehicles driven today. Wilson also cited population growth as an extra variable the LADOTD must consider when deciding where to spend its money. He said there are more cars per household than there were 50 years ago, and that only about 10 states have fewer miles of roadways with more people to service than Louisiana. The divide on roadway quality and safety in Louisiana is one that runs deep. On one side are residents like Chris Jeanlouis, Alyssa Kaigler and Olivia Rackley, all of whom have felt the impact of the state’s depreciated roadways in the form of vehicular damage. On the other side is Secretary Shawn Wilson and the rest of the LADOTD, a department that many believe does not have enough resources to tend to the thousands of miles of roadways in its jurisdiction. While there are many differences, one commonality the two sides share is the heavy economic consequences the roadways carry. Mann said that in order for the LADOTD to do anything to improve roadway quality and safety, it will have to spend money it currently doesn’t have. “That’s a recipe for disaster,” Mann said. Editor’s Note: Olivia Rackley is an employee of Tiger TV in the Office of Student Media.
Opinion
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Unpaid internships unreasonable, favor financially privileged HAN-SPLAINING HANNAH KLEINPETER @0728hannah Internships are the most prevalent avenue for college students to gain work experience, meet other career-driven individuals and network with higher-ups. Internships allow students to form relationships with potential mentors, hone their professional skills and explore potential fields without contractual obligation. Such coveted opportunities help form more well-rounded and experienced employees, all before walking across the graduation stage. So, what’s the catch? For many students, it’s the word “unpaid” before internship. The financial sacrifice of an unpaid internship is one many lowincome students are not privileged enough to shoulder. Gone are the days where unpaid internships masquerading as entry-level jobs are acceptable.
courtesy of WIKIMEDIA
A 2014 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers reported a 37 percent hiring rate among former unpaid interns, compared to a 63 percent hiring rate for paid interns. The idea of a full-time internship without compensation isn’t far-fetched for those with full financial support from parents, relatives or other benefactors. For those already struggling to pay the escalating price of college tuition, the promise of a $0 paycheck is a nonstarter. Unpaid internships exacerbate pre-existing disparities by hindering low-income students from gaining the experience necessary
to enter some careers. Unsalaried jobs perpetuate systemic barriers to success and upward mobility for those who are less financially privileged. Careers in politics, law and medicine are made increasingly difficult to enter for students who cannot afford to freely volunteer hundreds of working hours. Wealth and financial privilege should not be prerequisites for entering a career field. Rather, many fields would benefit from an influx
of socioeconomic diversity, particularly the political sphere. The first step in paving an achievable path is paying interns a fair wage. The drawbacks of unpaid internships reach beyond the immediate obstacles. Studies show the odds of being hired post-unpaid internship are dismal. A 2014 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers reported a 37 percent hiring rate among former unpaid interns, compared to a 63 percent hiring rate for paid interns. With little promise of future employment, incentive for low-income students to take part in unpaid internships only shrinks. In January, the U.S. Department of Labor moved to loosen restrictions on the “primary beneficiary test,” the test which determines whether an internship is eligible for unpaid status. The seven benchmark criteria provide education and experience standards, including a clause stating the intern’s work cannot displace that of other paid employees. The test is considered “flexible” — employers aren’t required
to meet the majority of criteria for eligibility. Guidelines on intern compensation are murky, to say the least. The subjective nature of the test gives employers not only the ability, but the incentive, to maneuver their way out of required compensation. Many internships require students work full-time hours, leaving little to no time for another paying job. The cost of college is already astronomically high, and only getting worse. With the average cost of earning a four-year degree at a public college averaging over $55,000, it isn’t feasible for students to spend all summer toiling away for a nonexistent bottom line. You don’t need two master’s degrees and 10-plus years of experience for your time to be considered valuable, or at the very least, worth minimum wage. As for this summer, take advantage of your unpaid internship. Goodness knows your employer does. Hannah Kleinpeter is a 20-year-old mass communication senior from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Meghan Markle’s royal wedding not a fairy tale ending EVERY DAY THE RACHEL WAY RACHEL MIPRO @remroc15 Everyone loves a good Cinderella story. There’s something undeniably satisfying about watching the virtuous, beautiful girl finally get rewarded, get her prince and her rightful place. However, there’s also a dark side to these types of fairy tales, and I don’t just mean the evil stepmother. It’s the idea of the ultimate reward for a woman being a husband and a home — of dependency being a requirement for happiness. For Meghan Markle, the American woman who is now a member of the royal family, having the ultimate fairy tale ending might mean losing her freedom. At her first public appearance after the wedding, Markle wore nude-colored tights that didn’t match her skin color. It is a fitting symbol for the British monarchy: outdated, needlessly prudish and unnecessary. British royal
women are never to be seen in public with bare legs. It’s not becoming of their roles as shining examples of British virtue. Henceforth, the legs of Meghan Markle will never be seen by the commoners. Over 2,500 common British citizens were invited to celebrate the royal wedding on the grounds of Windsor Castle. British citizens are far too invested in the exclusive royal family. The monarchy cost the United Kingdom nearly 350 million pounds in 2017-2018. The royal family is almost entirely sustained by U.K. taxpayers, yet they didn’t provide any sort of refreshments to the commoners outside the castle waiting for a glimpse of the bride and groom. The guests, who were chosen from diverse backgrounds to make the new couple seem inclusive and beloved by all of the public, were allowed to watch the carriages enter and leave from the grounds of Windsor Castle. No one got so much as a cup of water as they stood watching from outside, which seems terribly wrong.
The Daily Reveille EDITORIAL BOARD Evan Saacks Editor in Chief Abbie Shull Managing Editor
But that side of the royal wedding wasn’t really the focus of mainstream media reports. Instead, we received the details of the cake — elderflower and lemon; where her bouquet ended up — on the Grave of the Unknown Warrior; and gushing reports from almost every newspaper and magazine. As Americans, it’s weird that so many of us were so invested in Markle’s wedding. Markle is an American, but she married into a problematic, outdated power structure that functions around the idea that certain people were born better and should be held in high regard by the public. By celebrating the royal wedding, we were celebrating the monarchy and reinforcing the idea that the system is somehow still important and worthy of our interest. It’s really not. Why should we be emotional about the antiquated, anti-democratic values of an unremarkable family almost 5,000 miles away from us? It’s one thousand small, stifling things which makes it seem very strange that Mar-
courtesy of WIKIMEDIA
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend church at Sandringham on Dec. 25. kle’s wedding is something to be celebrated by hundreds of thousands of people. It’s the story of a successful, biracial American actress burying herself in the ridiculously oppressive and useless British monarchy. It’s not a very
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The Daily Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Daily Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, The Daily Reveille or the university. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to opinion@lsureveille.com or delivered to B-39 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must provide a contact phone number for verification purposes, which will not be printed. The Daily Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Daily Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Daily Reveille’s editor in chief, hired every semester by the LSU Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.
good story. At any rate, not one that should be read to little girls at bedtime. Rachel Mipro is a 19-year-old mass communication sophomore from New Orleans, Louisiana.
Quote of the Week “People always ask me, ‘Where do you find inspiration?’ and I think it’s a difficult question to answer because – everywhere.”
Kate Spade
fashion designer Dec. 24, 1962 — June 5, 2018
The Daily Reveille
page 8
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
SUMMER SERIES THURSDAY
june
07
‘80S NIGHT DANCE PARTY SPANISH MOON 9 P.M.
FRIDAY
june
08
MAMMA MIA (OPEN) THEATRE BATON ROUGE 7:30 P.M.
SUNDAY
june
FRIDAY
june
08
RIVERSIDE W/ FIBBRA MID CITY BALLROOM 8:30 P.M.
SATURDAY
june
09
BR UNITED V. MISS. BLUES OLYMPIA STADIUM 4 P.M.
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MAGIC OF GIVING GALA L’AUBERGE CASINO & HOTEL 6 P.M.
SUNDAY
june
FRIDAY
june
08
LADIES NIGHT: PRIDE EDITION SPLASH NIGHTCLUB 9 P.M.
SATURDAY
june
09
CHASE TYLER THE TEXAS CLUB 8:30 P.M.
10
EARTHLESS W/ HERE LIES A MAN SPLASH NIGHTCLUB 8 P.M.