Volume 123 · No. 10
Thursday, March 16, 2017
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Legislation proposes changes to domestic violence statutes The lifetime prevalence of rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner:
Heterosexual women: 35.0% Lesbian women: 43.8% Bisexual women: 61.1%
Heterosexual men: 29.0% Gay men: 26.0% Bisexual men: 37.3% The lifetime prevalence of severe physical violence by an intimate partner (e.g., hit with fist or something hard, slammed against something, or beaten):
Heterosexual women: 23.6% Lesbian women: 29.4% Bisexual women: 49.3%
Heterosexual men: 13.9% Gay men: 16.4% Bisexual men: N/A SOURCE: NATIONAL CENTER FOR INJURY PREVENTION AND CONTROL, A BRANCH OF THE CDC
Language change would extend law to same-sex cohabiting couples BY KATIE GAGLIANO @katie_gagliano
P
roposed legislation from state Rep. Patrick Connick, R-Marrero, aims to close a longstanding loophole in Louisiana’s domestic violence statutes. The legislation, House Bill 27, would alter the state’s civil and criminal statutes related to domestic violence, opening harsher sentencing to abusers in same-sex cohabiting relationships while also providing key public welfare assistance options to same-sex victims. The bill moves to strike “of the opposite sex” from the state’s definition of a household member, a definition that forms a foundation for the state’s domestic abuse battery and domestic abuse aggravated assault charges, as well as support services for victims. Louisiana law defines domestic violence in terms of violence perpetrated against family members, such as spouses or household members. Current state law identifies a household member as “any person of the opposite sex presently or formerly living in the same residence with the defendant as a spouse, whether married or not.” Louisiana and South Carolina are the only states that currently include explicit “opposite sex” distinctions in their domestic violence statutes. In 2013, the Montana Legislature voted to remove “opposite sex” from its partner and family assault statute. According to information from the American Bar Association’s Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence , many states’ statutes are silent on same-sex applications, extending domestic violence laws and protections to same-sex dating couples through broadly applied gender-neutral language. Only
see DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, page 7
HEALTH
University confirms mumps cases
BY STAFF REPORTS @lsureveille
The University sent out an email March 10 confirming several student cases of the mumps. The email said the Student Health Center worked with the Louisiana Department of Health to confirm the cases. The University also sent out information about the disease and ways to stay healthy. Any student with swollen and tender salivary glands — located under the ears or jaw — on one or both sides of the face should seek care at the Student Health Center or with a primary care provider as soon as possible. The Student Health Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. According to the email, students showing signs of mumps must be isolated for at least five days from the onset of salivary gland swelling. While there is no specific treatment for mumps, most people will recover fully. Mumps can occasionally cause complications. Infected individuals are typically contagious from three days before until up to nine days after the onset of symptoms. Two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine in one’s lifetime is the best way to prevent mumps, according to the email. Proof of immunity to mumps or proof of two doses of MMR vaccine is currently required for all students at the University. Most students on campus should be protected, though the vaccine is not 100 percent effective, and mumps infection may occur even in vaccinated students.
STUDENT LIFE
Adobe-sponsored Creative Jam offers competition, networking for designers BY NATALIE ANDERSON @natalie_mechell The Adobe Creative Jam was full of competition, inspiration and guidance as student designers challenged themselves to create and network with professionals. Ten pairs of designers gathered in the College of Art and Design Building Tuesday to put their creative skills to work. Each team used Adobe Creative Cloud to design a piece in the Creative Jam tournament.
Creative Jam co-host and Adobe senior community manager Megan Kirkwood said the theme of this year’s event was the color red, as red is the English translation for “rouge,” from Baton Rouge. Teams had three hours to complete their projects with the freedom to create anything from apps to posters to ad campaigns under the graphic design category or videos and animations in the motion design category. As the teams worked on their projects, four local creative
leaders provided one-on-one professional reviews of designers’ portfolios. The professionals included ThreeSixtyEight’s senior graphic designer Corey Schneider, art director and designer for Strike Visuals Co. Thomas Wimberly, director of digital strategy at MESH Jacob Jolibois and MESH creative director David Catoire. “We were simply looking at the quality and strength of the portfolio as a whole, as well as critiquing
see CREATIVE JAM, page 7
CHUNFENG LU / The Daily Reveille
Student team Scared Shiftless creates a visual design during the Adobe Creative Jam event on March 14 in the Design Building.
page 2
Thursday, March 16, 2017 B-16 Hodges Hall Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, La. 70803 Newsroom (225) 578-4811
Advertising (225) 578-6090
Editor in Chief ROSE VELAZQUEZ
in this
ISSUE
Bad Movie Club
Managing Editor APRIL AHMED News Editor WILLIAM TAYLOR POTTER page 9
CHUNFENG LU / The Daily Reveille
Deputy News Editor LAUREN HEFFKER
5
Sports Editor JOSHUA THORNTON
A new student organization is dedicated to watching the worst films ever made
Sister, Sister
Entertainment Editor ALLIE COBB Opinion Editor ANJANA NAIR
8
Aliyah Andrews follows in the footsteps of her former All-American sister
Power Surge
Production Editor RAMSINA ODISHO
9
Deputy Production Editor TAYLOR WILEY page 15
RYAN MCCARBLE / The Daily Reveille
Greg Deichmann provides powerful bat to LSU’s baseball team
Book Bazaar
12
Photos from the annual Friends of the LSU Libraries book sale
T-shirt Blankets
15
LEGACY strength in community MARCH 20
University student transforms old T-shirts into blankets with her business Sew-Shay
Reagan Legacy
Photo Editor ZOE GEAUTHREAUX Deputy Photo Editor HASKELL WHITTINGTON
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 e-mail editor@lsureveille.com.
ABOUT THE DAILY REVEILLE
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A columnist challenges President Reagan’s legacy and its modern-day glorification
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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. 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
SUPERHERO SCIENCE design by CAROLINE ARBOUR / The Daily Reveille
CONSTRUCTION
Master Plan to continue renovation strategy BY TAYLOR DELPIDIO @TD_Reveille
University of Minnesota professor James Kakalios talks the science behind comic books
BY EVAN SAACKS @evansaacks
Science professors often give lectures about the plethora of ways science can be used in real life. James Kakalios of the University of Minnesota instead applies his knowledge of science to a fictional world — comic books. Kakalios gave a lecture March 11 as part of the Department of Physics and Astronomy’s lecture series throughout the semester. Kakalios stopped at the University on his way to the American Physical Society’s conference in New Orleans, where he will be giving a similar presentation. Kakalios dressed like most esteemed professors usually do, besides his animated Fantastic Four tie. In 2001, Kakalios created a freshman seminar course at the University of
Minnesota called “Everything I Know About Physics I Learned From Reading Comic Books.” Kakalios said he thought using an exciting method of applying information, such as comic books, would be a unique way to teach students scientific concepts in a more engaging manner. “This is a real physics class that covers everything from Isaac Newton to the transistor, but there’s not an incline plane or pulley in sight,” Kakalios said. “Rather, all the examples come from superhero comic books, and as much as possible, those cases superheroes get their science right.” In May 2002, Kakalios wrote an article examining the science of a wellknown comic, “The Amazing Spider-Man #121,” to coincide with the release of the first Spider-Man movie. The article was
see SUPERHEROES, page 6
The University’s deferred maintenance backlog has grown exponentially in recent years. One of the ways the University has dealt with the problem is focusing efforts on renovating buildings in need. The Comprehensive and Strategic Campus Master Plan will continue this strategy. Currently, the University faces a total deferred maintenance cost of $718 million, a fraction of the overall $1.7 billion in costs for the LSU System. Roger Husser, assistant vice president of planning, design and construction, says the University is unable to invest in deferred maintenance to reduce the costs. “If there was funding to do routine maintenance, we wouldn’t have deferred maintenance.” Husser said. “We’ve been reliant on the State Capital Outlay budget to provide deferred maintenance funding to address those issues, and we haven’t received a new pinning since 2008.” Executive Director of Facility Services Dave Maharrey said the maintenance budget has been consistent over the past few years. “We operate at $3.77 per square foot. In 2008, it was $3.78,” Maharrey said. One of the ways the University addresses the maintenance backlog is by remodeling buildings in need. For example,
see MAINTENANCE, page 6 ACADEMICS
Survey shows pre-law students’ interest in political careers increasing Survey conducted after Trump’s election BY EVAN SAACKS @evansaacks Shortly after President Donald Trump’s election, Kaplan Test Prep conducted a survey of pre-law students and their possible future political aspirations. Fifty-three percent of students surveyed said they were interested in entering politics at some point in their career. Kaplan last conducted the survey in 2012, shortly after former President Barack Obama was elected to his second term. The response was considerably
lower, with only 38 percent of students surveyed expressing a desire to start a political career. This result came four years after the survey’s all-time high result, 54 percent in 2008. Entering politics with a law degree is not a foreign concept. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, RLouisiana, both graduated from law school. Twenty-five former presidents graduated with a law degree, showing that the fields of politics and law often intersect. The main reservation many pre-law students face when entering politics is having to stand up for personal beliefs and
see POLITICS, page 6
ACCORDING TO SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY KAPLAN TEST PREP:
2017
2012
FOLLOWING DONALD TRUMP’S ELECTION
FOLLOWING BARACK OBAMA’S ELECTION
53 percent of pre-law students said they were interested in entering politics at some point in their career
38 percent of pre-law students surveyed expressing a desire to start a political career
2008 In the survey’s all-time high result, 54 percent of pre-law students expressed an interest in entering politics at some point in their career
page 4
U New-REC
Thursday, March 16, 2017
The new additions to the UREC expansion finally opened on March 3. From the rock wall to the new lazy river, University students share their thoughts on this new expansion. BY KATHERINE ROBERTS @krobe844
“I actually only went to one section. I went to just play volleyball with some friends. They were really versatile courts because you could play soccer, volleyball or basketball on them.”
“I typically stick to free weights, but I know the rock wall has been a big hit, along with a lot of the cardio machines that they added.”
AJ Torres
Samantha Larsen
mechanical engineering freshman
sports administration freshman
“I think they did a good job spending [the money] there. Maybe not the LSU pool, but other than that, everything looks good.”
“It’s kind of like an amusement park. It’s super entertaining. There’s a lot of new stuff to do. It’s been more crowded than I’ve ever seen it.”
Melissa Currier
kinesiology sophomore
Jack Eroche
civil engineering freshman
Katie Como
biochemistry junior
“From what I understand thus far — from what people are telling me — is that it’s pretty massive now with a lot of stuff in it, which I don’t think is all necessary to have. But if it makes people happy and keeps people healthy, then so be it.”
CAMPUS CRIME BRIEFS
Student arrested after threatening 15-year-old crashes to set another student’s car on fire bike attempting to evade police, found with marijuana and brass knuckles
LSUPD spokesperson Lt. Kevin Scott said LSUPD arrested a 19-year-old University student for making threatening statements to another student on social media. Jolecia Brown reportedly sent a threatening message on a
social media website to a male University student on March 8, according to Scott. Brown allegedly threatened to set the other student’s car on fire and attack him and his mother, Scott said. Brown admitted to sending
the message but said she didn’t intend to harm the victim, Scott said. Brown was arrested, issued a misdemeanor summons for improper telephone communication and then released.
Fugitive arrested during traffic stop on Highland Road LSUPD arrested a 36-yearold non-student during a traffic stop for outstanding warrants in East Baton Rouge Parish, according to Scott. LSUPD conducted a routine traffic stop on March 11 at 2 a.m.
on Highland Road. As a result, Roy Jacobs of Zachary was arrested for multiple offenses and outstanding warrants. The warrants include simple battery, aggravated damage to
property and a traffic violation. He was charged and booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison for no license plate, driving under suspension, no insurance and three fugitive warrants.
LSUPD arrested a 15-yearold juvenile was arrested after he attempted to evade police on his bicycle, Scott said. An LSUPD officer attempted to make contact with a male on March 12 near Cypress Hall. The male then attempted to elude the officer on a bicycle and crashed as a result, Scott said. LSUPD identified the male
as a 15-year-old unaffiliated with the University, Scott said. The 15-year-old was found to be in possession of marijuana and brass knuckles, according to Scott. He was detained and later released to a “concerned adult” with charges of possession of marijuana and carrying a dangerous weapon in a firearm free zone.
page 5
Thursday, March 16, 2017 STUDENT LIFE
Bad Movie Club finds unintentional humor in poorly-made films BY EVAN SAACKS @evansaacks Only the most notorious films are fit to be viewed by the Bad Movie Club, a new student organization planning to watch some of history’s worst cinematic creations in 145 Charles E. Coates Hall. Some of the movies the club plans to watch are “Plan 9 From Outer Space,” “Manos: The Hands of Fate,” “Teenagers From Outer Space,” “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” and “Reefer Madness.” Longtime friends Richard Weaver, a sociology sophomore, and sports administration sophomore Joseph Mock had been trying to start a club at the University for some time. Their first plan was a club devoted to watching the popular television series “The Office,” but they felt the club would not have long-term sustainability after it had viewed the entire series. They then came up with an idea for a club based on a more niche subject — bad movies. Mock and Weaver have been watching “bad” movies since they were in seventh grade. While they were unsure if other people would be interested in the odd category, almost 100 students have expressed interest in joining the club. The pair knew soon after the club had the potential to be successful. The two club founders don’t have many rules for
determining whether or not a film is considered bad. The biggest criteria is that the humor must not be intentional and must be a result of poor production techniques or execution. “It’s something where you can tell [the producers] tried really hard to make a good movie, but it doesn’t really work and it’s hilarious to watch,” Mock said. “It’s [films with] bad acting, bad plot, bad effects and it has to be unintentional. It’s awkward stuff, and that’s what makes it funny,” Weaver added. Mock and Weaver intended to begin holding meetings in the fall, but they had copyright issues to navigate through first. They originally believed that, under the FAIR USE Act of 2007, they had the freedom to show whatever film they wanted, similar to a teacher screening a film for a class. The problem, Weaver said, was the law’s vague definition. “The FAIR USE Act is very grey. The whole point of it is that a judge can give his ruling or his interpretation,” Weaver said. To avoid any conflict, the club plans to screen only public domain films. These are movies whose copyright has expired, and the films are no longer owned by any studios or production companies. Many public domain films are considered historically bad films, which is why the studios do not feel the need to renew their ownership of the films. Despite the extensive catalog
to choose from, Mock and Weaver were still disappointed the club wouldn’t be able to watch some of the more notorious bad films. Before they encountered copyright issues, the first film they planned to screen was Tommy Wiseau’s “The Room” because it is widely regarded as the most famous bad movie ever released. The club founders knew airing the film would be a good way to kick off the club. “Everybody knows ‘The Room’ because it’s so bad and people who went to it would be interested in the rest of the club,” Weaver said. “It’s just a gateway to bad movies,” Mock said. Wiseau, who wrote, directed and starred in “The Room” has not been shy about the film and often travels to screenings to do Q&As. Mock and Weaver discussed the possibility of raising money to convince Wiseau to give them the rights to the film, but decided not to in order to keep club membership free. “That’s one thing we didn’t want to be — a club that is exclusive to people who pay,” Mock said. “We want to be a club where people go on a weekday and hang out.” After all the hoops Mock and Weaver have had to jump through, they finally hosted a screening of “Plan 9 From Outer Space” on March 16. They are excited to share their unusual passion with other students, and maybe in the
process discover more bad films to enjoy. Despite the endless possibilities of films to screen, they are still frustrated by the rules preventing them from watching
their favorite movies. “These copyright laws are tearing me apart, Lisa!” Mock said, in reference to a notorious line from “The Room.”
courtesy of WIKIMEDIA
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Updated campus map to be developed for new LSU app BY CJ CARVER @CWCarver_
In the next few months, the University will be rolling out a new campus map in collaboration with CampusBird that will include features like a virtual tour and integration into the new LSU app. The funding for the new map comes from a partnership between LSU Student Government and the Office of Risk Management. “We knew we wanted to get the app off the ground first,” SG president Zack Faircloth said. “Once we had that, I started working with [Division of Strategic Communications] and from the [Parking & Transportation Services] office, Jeff Campbell, to identify some pools of money that we could get this map on to campus.” The University has been attempting to collaborate on an updated map with CampusBird for a few years, which was the No. 1 request for the new app from SG’s Freshman Leadership Council, Faircloth said. In February, SG discovered the Risk Management account, which is controlled by the Office of Risk Management but funded by the University’s Athletics Department. For every home
game, the Athletics Department puts in $4,000. “I hadn’t thought of that before simply because the math didn’t really add up to pay for a $40,000 map,” Faircloth said. “It turned out we had some money pooled up in there.” SG was able to use the Risk Management account to cover the entirety of the initial $42,500 cost to create the map. Future annual costs will be covered by the Division of Strategic
Communications, Faircloth said. According to CampusBird, there is an eight to 10-week implementation period during which the map is rendered and created, meaning the new map is slated for release this summer. “There is a lot of opportunity here,” Faircloth said. “[There are] a lot of different features, and we made sure we got the best possible product to allow us to use all those features.”
The new features included on the app will include an interactive 3-D map, a virtual tour, notations for campus landmarks and navigation system, among others. Because the CampusBird map will not be finished when the new LSU app is released on March 30, an older version of the campus map will be integrated into the app in the meantime. “Come, hopefully, the end of May, when that eight to 10 week
timeline runs up, we’ll be able to instantly and seamlessly put that map up,” Faircloth said. “CampusBird has worked with Modo Labs in the past so it should be really easy.” If students want a taste of what the new app with full map integration will look like, Faircloth suggests checking out Texas A&M University’s app which was created by Modo Labs and features a map created by CampusBird.
AUGUSTUS STARK / The Daily Reveille
LSU Student Government meets on Feb. 15 in the Capital Chambers located in the LSU Student Union.
page 6
Thursday, March 16, 2017
If there was funding to do routine maintenance, we wouldn’t have deferred maintenance. ROGER HUSSER
assistant vice president of planning, design and construction
MAINTENANCE, from page 3 the renovation of Patrick F. Taylor Hall reduced deferred maintenance costs, an added benefit of the project. Many of the renovations are programdriven, Husser said, but the renovations are also benefiting the University by reducing maintenance costs. In the future, the Master Plan will continue to fix deferred maintenance problems. Research from the Master Plan shows that much of the deferred maintenance is needed in the facility services buildings and older buildings in South Campus. The Master Plan calls for these
buildings to be demolished and replaced with the proposed new library and other academic class spaces. The next step in the Master Plan process is prioritization, which means the Strategic Capital Plan will show how capital outlay will be spent. One of those priorities is renovation of the buildings on campus. “The Strategic Capital Plan will tell us exactly where the priorities are and where we need to invest over the next 10 to 15 years.” Husser said. “A big part of that plan should be to renovate our existing buildings on campus, which lowers that deferred maintenance cost.”
JORDAN MARCELL / The Daily Reveille
A worker takes a break on Sept. 9 as renovation operations continue on Patrick F. Taylor Hall.
[Law students] are realizing what issues really matter to them and the impact their voice can have. SARA GRACE SIRERA pre-law student
POLITICS, from page 3 values, according to Jeff Thomas, Kaplan’s executive director of pre-law programs. Thomas explained the difficulty in balancing a knowledge of law, personal agenda and a coherent and balanced argument. “When it comes to expressing political beliefs in your law school personal statement, we advise applicants to do it only when you can do a good job of weaving together your personal narrative and career goals,” Thomas said. “If you want to go into public interest law, by all means, talk about your college internship in the governor’s office or your canvassing job for an advocacy group. But just to spout your political opinions with no larger goal may alienate admissions officers who don’t agree with you or who think you didn’t use your personal statement wisely. It can show poor judgement.” Many pre-law students and analysts feel recent government turnover has resulted in the rise in political aspirations among students. Sara Grace Sirera, a pre-law student at the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, said the sweeping changes under Trump’s administration have made law students realize what their political ideals are and emboldened their desire to stand up for them. “[Law students] are realizing what issues really matter to
them and the impact their voice can have,” Sirera said. “While the legal profession is still pretty lucrative, I think this generation is driven more by the desire to make a difference and help others than the opportunity to make an impressive salary, so they’re using legal experience to achieve that goal through politics.” The Paul M. Hebert Law Center received 857 applications for the fall 2016 semester, making it one of the nation’s largest pre-law institutions. Some of the top law schools across the country have been accepting fewer pre-law applications since 2011, according to an article by Bloomberg’s Natalie Kitroeff. This was a conscious decision by many universities in response to the difficulty of finding a job many law school graduates faced upon graduation. Applications dropped as a result. “Since 2011, Michigan Law, considered one of the country’s top law schools, has cut its first-year class by 26 percent,” Kitroeff wrote in January. “The number of applicants to the school fell 20 percent over that period, according to data from the American Bar Association.” These numbers could begin trending in the opposite direction as a result of the growth in political interest. If the expected 53 percent does pursue a career in the political arena, rather than in courtrooms, the remaining 47 percent shouldn’t have much difficulty finding a job after all.
CHUNFENG LU / The Daily Reveille
University of Minnesota physics professor James Kakalios presents on March 11 in Nicholson Hall.
SUPERHEROES, from page 3 published the same day as the film’s release, and within three days, Kakalios received interview requests from CNN, BBC and the Associated Press. Kakalios capitalized on his success by digging into the science of other superheroes. He continued conducting research, studying subjects such as the science of the strength of SpiderMan’s web, the durability of the Fantastic Four’s costumes and The Flash’s ability to pluck bullets out of the air while running at super-speed. Kakalios said he was struck by how interested students tend to be in his research when they
are usually quick to dismiss science’s relevance to everyday life. “Many students don’t find their introductory physics classes relevant. This is illustrated by the standard student’s complaint, ‘When am I ever going to use this in my real life?’ Interestingly enough, whenever I use superheroes to illustrate physical principles, students never wonder when they’re going to use this in their real life,” Kakalios said. “Apparently, they all have plans after graduation that involve spandex and patrolling the city.” Kakalios has published two editions of “The Physics of Superheroes,” as well as other works
on scientific concepts relating to pop culture. He left his mark on the comic book world by acting as a scientific consultant on comic book movies like “Watchmen” and “Green Lantern.” While Kakalios is a college professor, he believes the concepts of science can be taught at a young age and that superheroes are a good medium to relate those concepts to, he said. “Science is really about asking questions. It’s not about knowing all the answers,” Kakalios said. “That scientific way of thinking about things — you can do it with comic books, you can do it with anything, and there’s really no age limit to when you can start doing that.”
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Thursday, March 16, 2017
Everybody needs to be protected [from abuse] no matter your sexual orientation. PATRICK CONNICK,
La. state representative, R-Marrero
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, from page 1 three states — Hawaii, Maine and Washington — and Washington, D.C. explicitly apply the law to same-sex couples. Connick said he filed the legislation on behalf of the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office, where Assistant District Attorney Sunny Funk is spearheading the change. Connick said the district attorney’s office handles domestic violence cases day in and day out and understands the community’s needs. Society is evolving, Connick said, and the legal change is necessary to ensure the state is doing its best to protect its citizens. “Everybody needs to be protected no matter what your sexual orientation,” he said. “Everybody needs to be protected from abuse.” Funk said the current law prevents the judicial system from treating victims and offenders in same-sex cohabiting relationships the same as their heterosexual counterparts. Instead of being charged with domestic abuse battery or domestic abuse aggravated assault, offenders would receive a lesser sentence. Mariah Stidham Wineski, executive director of the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said the state has strong penalties in place to counteract domestic violence, especially in instances of domestic abuse battery. The state’s battery law includes enhancements that increase sentencing when strangulation, burning or serious bodily injury occur, she said. Closing loopholes like the one outlined in HB 27 is crucial if the state is serious about ending domestic violence, she said. Wineski said the state legislature’s strong stance against domestic violence in recent years is encouraging for the bill’s success. In 2014 and 2015, then-Gov. Bobby Jindal signed approximately 10 bills related to domestic violence protections and requirements for offenders. Louisiana has a notable history of domestic violence. The state is currently ranked second in the nation for the number of women murdered by men, and has been ranked in the top 10 for the last six years, according to the Violence Policy Center. In 2016, there were 50 domestic homicides in the state. While domestic violence
statistics for heterosexual couples are well documented, little information exists about abuse in the LGBTQ community. According to the 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, “lesbian women and gay men reported levels of intimate partner violence and sexual violence equal to or higher than those of heterosexuals.” The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control survey had 16,507 survey respondents, including 9,086 women and 7,421 men. Of the women, 118 self-identified as lesbian and roughly 200 self-identified as bisexual. Among the men, 148 self-identified as gay while 89 self-identified as bisexual. In the survey, lesbian women, bisexual women and gay men all reported higher levels of severe physical violence by intimate partners than heterosexual respondents. Of the 118 lesbian respondents, 34 reported experiencing severe physical violence in their lifetime. Twentyfour of the 148 gay men reported similar experiences. Wineski said state data on LGBTQ domestic violence is minimal or non-existent, but the organization and its network of shelters does receive assistance calls from same-sex victims. Hopefully, changes to the law and greater understanding that same-sex offenders will be held equally accountable will encourage victims to report abuse, she said. Spectrum president Courtney Murr said even if the law doesn’t currently apply to LGBTQ students, knowing that same-sex couples are being afforded the same treatment as straight couples under the law is important. Cohabitation is becoming a more common option among couples, and every victim in a relationship should be able to seek justice, she said. Having gray areas in the law, like the state’s “opposite sex” requirement, can be detrimental to people’s safety, Murr said. Connick’s legislation signals that Louisiana legislators are working to protect their constituents. That hasn’t always been the case with LGBTQ protections, she said. “Louisiana has struggled in other areas of the law as it regards equality and providing equal protections under the law for the LGBT community, and I think this is kind of demonstrative of that fact,” Wineski said. This change is long overdue, she said.
CREATIVE JAM, from page 1 individual pieces,” Jolibois said. He said particular elements the professionals looked for in each design included typography, color, weight and balance. The professionals gave suggestions to students to finesse and strengthen their portfolios and ultimately help them get hired. Paul Trani, co-host and senior worldwide evangelist for Adobe, kicked off the Creative Jam by introducing the event’s three speakers. Three Sixty Eight co-founder and chief strategy officer Jeremy Beyt offered advice to designers with his speech “Creatives Can Be Pretty Bad at Business.” Beyt, a University alumnus, said that while he felt the need to graduate with an economics degree, he also began advertising his band in college as a way to fulfill his need for a creative outlet. His lecture highlighted three lessons for future designers on how to be financially responsible while still doing what they love. Beyt discussed how designers should learn to speak different languages for their clients and use popular social media to better understand, connect and come to terms with them. His second lesson focused on setting business ground rules, and the last taught students how to “deliver like a rock star” and build a reputation at being “awesome” to work with. Owner and artist of Smallchalk, a chalk illustration business in New Orleans, Ashlee Arceneaux Jones graduated from the University with a degree in mass communication. After having trouble finding a job post graduation, Jones began working as a waitress and was
CHUNFENG LU / The Daily Reveille
Student team Alt of Ctrl creates a design during the Adobe Creative Jam event on March 14 in the Design Building. asked to create a chalkboard sign outside of a restaurant one day. She was rewarded for her work with egg sandwiches. As she started doing more chalkboards, Jones decided to go back to school to study design because she was an untrained artist. “I needed to learn these skills,” Jones said. “I guess I’m just grateful that people believed in my natural talent.” Around 2013, Jones left the service industry and took her dream job as a store artist for Whole Foods Market. She progressed in her career, eventually being asked to make Super Bowl XLVII chalkboard signs for ESPN and a mural for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. “This was such a far cry from getting egg sandwiches,” Jones said. Andrew Reilley, owner and creative director of Slash, gave a speech entitled “I Create Because I Give a Damn.” As lead singer and guitarist of the modern alternative rock band Meriwether,
Jimmy Jimmy
he started designing T-shirts and merchandise for bands that toured with them. Reilley said he came back to the University to pursue a degree in digital arts and developed a love for web design. His wife encouraged him to pursue his passion, and he eventually began branding and rebranding companies. “At the end of the day, all we really want to do is travel and meet new people and create things that are relevant and constantly satisfy those services [we’re] providing,” Reilley said. “And only if you give a damn is that possible.” The judges’ choice for favorite graphic design was a tie between Team Annakim and Team Scared Shiftless. Team Ham & Cheese was the winner of the Judges’ Choice for favorite motion design. Team LDER won the People’s Choice for favorite graphic design and Team First Year (Last) Experience won for favorite motion design. The prize for the winning teams was a one-year subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud.
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Sports
page 8
SISTER,
SISTER
Freshman Aliyah Andrews follows in AllAmerican sister’s footsteps, hopes to make her own mark BY KENNEDI LANDRY @landryyy14
THE DAILY REVEILLE ARCHIVES and ALYSSA BERRY
[LEFT] A.J. Andrews and [RIGHT] Aliyah Andrews
When Aliyah Andrews was younger, she imitated everything about her former AllAmerican sister, A.J. From running the bases to catching out in the field, Aliyah wanted to be as great as her big sister. “My work ethic wasn’t always there as hers was,” Aliyah said. “She would force me sometimes to go to the field with her, and it paid off obviously, but I needed that push and that drive.” Aliyah has now found her way at LSU. The freshman outfielder is following in A.J.’s footsteps, but she wants to create a name for herself beyond just “A.J. Andrews’ little sister.” “They’re very different,” LSU coach Beth Torina said. “Aliyah plays defense a lot like her sister and she covers a lot of ground. She’s fast like her but she’s a completely different
type of hitter. She’s a very different type of person. Her personality is just different from A.J., and they’re both awesome and they’re both great in their own right.” A.J. played four years at LSU from 201115. She started every game of her sophomore, junior and senior years, totaling more than 200 starts in her collegiate career. A.J. was also a second round pick for the Chicago Bandits in the National Pro Fastpitch draft and made history last year as the first woman to be awarded the Rawlings Gold Glove, which is given to the top American League and National League defenders in Major League Baseball each year. A.J. has had her time at LSU, and she’s now passing the torch for her sister. “I can’t win any more awards,” A.J. said. “She wants to be better than me, to win more awards than me, and I want her to.”
see ANDREWS, page 14 FOOTBALL
LaCouture returns as senior leader after missing 2016 season BY BRANDON ADAM @badam_LSU
Christian LaCouture came back to LSU on a mission. After suffering a knee injury that caused him to miss his entire senior season, the defensive end was granted his fifth year of eligibility and decided to return to school. “I wanted to improve my draft stock,” LaCouture said. “Teams were scared with my knee and everything. I wanted to make sure I came back and show it’s OK, it’s healthy and
100 percent.” LaCouture has been a key cog on LSU’s defensive line the last three seasons and was expected to be a key contributor last season. LSU coach Ed Orgeron and defensive line coach Pete Jenkins re-recruited LaCouture and were a big factor in his decision to return. “I’m pretty sure I was gone,” LaCouture said. “I’m so excited to be back now. Coach [Orgeron] played a huge part in it, understanding what my role is for next year, and I am just excited
to be a part of it and I really can’t wait.” LaCouture, was one of the players that hoisted former head coach Les Miles on his shoulders after the Texas A&M game in November 2015. Although it was tough to see Miles fired, LaCouture said he was happy that Ed Orgeron got the job. “We were excited and we wanted him to get the job,” LaCouture said. “When he got the job, it was very exciting to see. Guys fought for him every
see LACOUTURE, page 14
THE DAILY REVEILLE ARCHIVES
LSU then-junior defensive tackle Christian LaCouture (91) tackles Auburn wide receiver Ricardo Louis (5) during the Tigers’ 45-21 victory against Auburn on Sept. 19, 2015, at Tiger Stadium.
page 9
Thursday, March 16, 2017 BASEBALL
Deichmann on pace to eclipse last season’s totals with fast start of greatness and now we’re realizing that greatness.” Despite having facial Greg Deichmann is on a surgery earlier in the season, Deichmann is currently tied for power surge. Through 17 games, the sixth in home runs and seventh junior right fielder has belted in RBI’s nationally. Deichmann said he’s been enseven home runs, which is four shy of matching his total from couraged by the start to his season and hopes to continue this last year. level of play. What’s changed “I feel pretty this year for Even with the success, locked in on both Deichmann? Well, for one, Deichmann is always sides,” Deichmann looking for ways to said. “I’m seeing the it could be his pitches pretty well confidence level. improve. and having some “He goes up strong at bats.” there thinking he’s Mainieri also mentioned that the best player in the country,” junior catcher Michael Papier- the biggest way for Deichmann ski said. “I’m just glad he’s hav- to keep up this level of success ing the success he’s having and is to not get impatient behind helping us win, and hopefully he the plate. “The biggest problem he’ll goes out there and continues to have now is to not get impatient,” do what he does.” So far this season, Mainieri said. “We don’t have a Deichmann has a batting aver- lot of home run threats in our order and so most teams go into age of .362 and has 23 RBI’s. Deichmann has also had the game with the idea to not let eight multi RBI games this Deichmann beat them. He’s got to make sure to not expand the season. He had 15 last season. “He’s become a man strike zone and get himself into before our very eyes,” LSU a slump.” LSU recently moved sophocoach Paul Mainieri said. “We always saw the potential more center fielder Antoine BY GLEN WEST @glenwest21
Duplantis to left field and is starting freshman Zach Watson at center. Deichmann said the change is all about communication. “We work on communication a lot in the outfield,” Deichmann said. “Watson has got some explosive speed, so I think he’ll do a good job out there, and we’ll have to see in a couple of days.” Mainieri added that the Tigers have a way of strong method for communicating and is not concerned with communication issues. “We have a standard way we communicate on balls,” Mainieri said. “Hopefully the two guys that will be in center field will communicate effectively, and it shouldn’t have any impact.” Even with the success, Deichmann is always looking for ways to improve and said he’s focused on staying consistent. “There’s always stuff you can improve on,” Deichmann said. “With me, and I think with a lot of people, [it] is just consistency. Getting a pitch and not missing it and making the routine plays every time and the exceptional plays every chance you get. Just working toward being perfect.”
7 HOMERUNS .362 BATTING AVG. 23 RBI’S Through 17 games*
GERS I T
CAROLINE MAGEE / The Daily Reveille
RIGHT FIELDER
GREG DEICHMANN
GYMNASTICS
Resilience, perseverance made Priessman talented gymnast BY HANNAH MCDUFFIE @hannahmcduffie_ Through numerous surgeries and setbacks, sophomore all-arounder Lexie Priessman has stayed motivated and determined in her gymnastics career. After completing several years of homeschooling to compete on the U.S. National Team, Priessman said she would do it all over again because of her passion for gymnastics. At the age of four, Priessman began her gymnastics journey with her twin sister Leah. Their older sister Jenna was in gymnastics at the time and influenced their decision to become involved in the sport. “Still to this day I have a passion for gymnastics,” Priessman said. “I always had that passion for gymnastics since I was a little kid. Some days, I’d be at gymnastics at six in the morning. It showed in the gym because I always wanted to be there. Leah didn’t like it as much so she stopped, but I stayed with it.” Lexie made a name for herself around the age of 11. “My first big competition was the Nastia Liukin Cup,” said Lexie. “That’s when everything shot from there.” When Lexie and her family recognized the potential she had, they began homeschooling her in sixth grade. “That [homeschooling] was hard for me at first,” Lexie said. “I have a twin sister who went to grade school and high school, and seeing her do that, make new friends and go to
proms and homecomings, even graduation, that was probably one of the hardest things for me. I didn’t do that.” Although Lexie didn’t have the normal high school experience, she is grateful for the opportunities and friendships gymnastics has brought her. She emphasized how her dedication and sacrifices have paid off to get her where she is today. “I look back and I wouldn’t change it,” Lexie said. “I loved gymnastics so much that homeschooling was so worth it. Because I loved it so much, I didn’t care that I missed out on things.” Lexie competed on the same team as Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and Gabby Douglas and cherishes their friendships, advice and support. “Being on the USA team with them is something to this day I still cherish,” Lexie said. “Knowing that they are Olympic gold medalist and I traveled and roomed with them is fun to look back at and see how far we’ve come.” During Lexie’s gymnastics career, she faced many injuries and underwent a lot of surgeries. Her dedication to gymnastics and support from Biles and her family members kept her motivated to recover and compete again. “Without their support, I wouldn’t have been able to get through my injuries,” Lexie said. Even though I didn’t make the Olympic team due to injuries, it never defined who I am as a gymnast.” Lexie underwent surger-
AUGUSTUS STARK / The Daily Reveille
Sophomore gymnast Lexie Priessman celebrates during the Tigers 197.425-195.425 win against Missouri on Feb. 3 In the PMAC. ies on her toe, left ankle and both shoulders. “My first surgery I ever had was on my toe,” Lexie said. “It would dislocate all the time. I had two ankle surgeries. I had reconstruction on my left ankle where they put pins and screws in. They actually had to go back in again and fix some more stuff. I had both my labrums, right and left, in my shoulders done.” After all the surgeries, Lexie kept a positive and resilient attitude. “It was all worth it,” Lexie said. “I’m here now. Sometimes, it gets to me and I wish I didn’t have to go through them, but it was all in God’s plan. That was
all in His plan, so I wouldn’t change it for the world.” Outside of gym, Lexie is always keeping up with her family and values the time spent with them. “My twin sister and I are both very outgoing,” Priessman said about Leah. “We both love talking to people, but we are still different. She’s a normal college student in cosmetology and I’m in the gym practicing. I love her to death and I’m blessed to have her as my sister.” When Lexie was younger, her mother would dress Leah and Lexie in matching outfits anytime she could. “We always had big bows,”
Lexie said. “At the gym, we wore the same leotards, and people had a hard time telling us apart.” Priessman has two older siblings that she loves and looks up to. Jenna is the oldest sister and second oldest sibling. Jenna did cheerleading at the University of Cincinnati. Her only brother and oldest sibling Nicholas played baseball at Eastern Illinois University. “Nicholas is a role model to me,” Lexie said. “He knows what it’s like going through a college sport and handling school and communicating with your family 13 hours away. He’s been there every step of the way, and so has the rest of my family.”
page 10
Thursday, March 16, 2017
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Lady Tigers heading to NCAA Tournament with new mentality BY JOURDAN RILEY @jourdanr_TDR For the LSU women’s basketball team, the NCAA Tournament is a new beginning. “Everybody starts over,” LSU coach Nikki Fargas said. “Everyone is undefeated going into NCAA play. There’s just more at stake because if you lose you go home … the opportunity, though, to have your name called says a lot about the body of work you’ve done leading up to this point.” The Lady Tigers (20-11, 8-8 Southeastern Conference) earned the No. 8 seed and will play against No. 9 seed California in the first round at 8 p.m. on Saturday in the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas. If the Lady Tigers win they will move on to compete against the winner between No. 1 seed Baylor and No. 16 seed Texas Southern. LSU has played in the NCAA Tournament 25 times, with five appearances under Fargas as coach. LSU did not get picked to play in the tournament last season after the Lady Tigers finished the year with a 10-21 overall record and 3-13 SEC record.
ALYSSA BERRY / The Daily Reveille
LSU sophomore guard Chloe Jackson (0) dribbles the ball during the Tigers’ 55-42 loss to the University of Kentucky on Jan. 19 in the PMAC. For senior guard Jasmine Rhodes, it is her third time competing nationally, along
with senior and junior guards Rina Hill and Raigyne Moncrief.
Rhodes said it’s time for the team to put its “best foot forward.”
“Basketball is a game of run so we’re going to try to make the best run we can this tournament,” Rhodes said. “We have nothing to lose. This is a new season. Everyone has the same record, zero and zero.” The trip is a first for freshman forward Ayana Mitchell and she said she’s ready to put it all on the court, she said. “It’s not enough just to make it to the tournament,” Mitchell said. “We also want to make some noise … we’re going to continue to practice hard.” The Lady Tigers go into the NCAA Tournament with the 2017 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Moncrief. She leads the team in points per game, rebounds per game, assists per game and steals per game in the SEC. She also ranks fifth in the country with 106 steals. Senior forward Alexis Hyder leads the team in blocks per game with an average of 0.8. Hyder said both the team’s losses and victories will help prepare them for what’s next. The Texas native will be back home to compete in the NCAA tournament. “It’s time to utilize all the things that we’ve learned,” Hyder said.
GYMNASTICS
No. 2 LSU heads to Florida for SEC Championship meet
BY KENNEDI LANDRY @landryyy14 The No. 2 LSU gymnastics team kicks off the postseason traveling to Jacksonville, Florida to compete in the Southeastern Conference championship. After clinching the SEC regular season title, the Tigers (13-1, 7-0 SEC) hold the top seed in the meet and hope to send a message going into the postseason by winning the SEC Championship as well. “I think it would be quite a bold statement coming into the national championship,” senior all-arounder Shae Zamardi said. “I think we’re very deserving of that, and if we just do our gymnastics like we do in the intersquad and in practice every day, I think we have a great shot.” Both Zamardi and senior all- rounder Asleigh Gnat agree that the SEC is the best conference in the nation, and it brings fun competition to the floor. “There’s no doubt about that,” Gnat said. “The teams that we’re seeing this weekend are similar to the teams we’ll be seeing at nationals plus a couple, so that’s motivating. It’s a great experience for us, like I said its preparation coming for what’s ahead so we’re excited to get out against all of them.” In Jacksonville, the Tigers will compete against No. 4
THE DAILY REVEILLE ARCHIVES
Then-LSU freshman all-arounder Lexie Priessman celebrates during the Tigers’ second place in NCAA Semifinals Session I with a 197.3375 team score to advance to the Super Six on Apr. 15 in Dallas Fort Worth. Florida, No. 6 Alabama, No. 8 Georgia, No. 12 Kentucky, No. 14 Missouri, No. 21 Auburn and Arkansas. LSU coach D-D Breaux always preaches to her team the importance of competing against every team in the country every week, so having them be on the same floor does not change
anything about their performance. The largest change going into the postseason is podium-style equipment that will be used at both the SEC and at the NCAA Super Six. The Mardi Gras Invitational in St. Charles, Missouri earlier this season prepared the Tigers
for the podium. Breaux said that the experience was a lesson learned for the team, as they relax and have fun going into the postseason. “The best part is that we’ve already seen it this year,” Gnat said. “We’ve already been on it All of us have experienced it. We know what it’s like so it’s not
really something that we’re super hyper focused on because we know how to handle it.” Breaux said the key to winning in the postseason is having depth and flexibility to your lineups. Breaux has interchanged her lineups often throughout the season, but her depth was shown most when sophomore all-arounder Lexie Priessman tweaked her knee, causing Gnat to compete in her bars spot. Gnat emphasized the importance of the alternate spot always needing to be ready and compete. “Throughout the season, we’ve been able to work our depth a lot,” Gnat said. “Everybody’s gotten a really good experience of what it’s like to compete so that really important going into the postseason. You never really know what’s going to happen. We’re excited. We’re motivated by the amount of depth that we have and we’re just going to keep pushing.” Breaux said she thinks the best thing the team can do to end this season on a high note is staying consistent to how they have competed throughout the season. “That’s the message,” Breaux said. “You don’t have to be anybody more special than you already are special. Bring your best gymnastics, bring what you do in practice because that’s what has got us to this point.”
page 11
Thursday, March 16, 2017
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Charter 11t h An n u a l School Teacher Fair
NEW ORLEANS
T H I S W E E K I N L S U AT H L E T I C S
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Pre-registrants 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Walk-ins 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
HYNES CHARTER SCHOOL 990 Harrison Ave., New Orleans, LA 70124 (Entrance to fair on French St.) Check vacancies and post your resume before the fair so Principals can review it immediately at www.gnocollaborative.com
Certified teachers and teachers working on their certification. Hundreds of positions available in Louisiana Charter Schools! Updated vacancies are posted year-round. Contact Principals directly by visiting www.gnocollaborative.com. Pre-registration for the fair is NOT required, but encouraged. For more information call (504) 897-6110 or email hharper@h2nola.com Supported by:
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Thursday, March 16, 2017
page 12
BOOK BAZAAR Students, locals attend annual book sale put on by Friends of the LSU Libraries, which contributes to an endowment of $2.2 million for library acquisitions and services photos by JORDAN MARCELL / The Daily Reveille
See more photos online at lsunow.com/photo.
Thursday, March 16, 2017
page 13
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Thursday, March 16, 2017
I’m so excited to be back now. CHRISTIAN LACOUTURE
senior defensive end
LACOUTURE, from page 8 week to make sure he could get the job.” Miles and LSU had high hopes when they entered last season. LaCouture figured LSU would be contending for the College Football Playoffs, but the Tigers came up short, finishing with 8-4 record. “It was rough,” LaCouture said. “We had a lot of high expectations for ourselves and as a team, but I also feel like things happen for a reason. I told myself that when I got hurt.” LaCouture is a key building block for defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, who looks to rebuild a defense that lost nine starters to the NFL. Orgeron named LaCouture a starter at defensive end heading into spring, a position LaCouture transitioned to when LSU switched to a 3-4 defense in 2016 after spending his first three
years at defensive tackle. “It’s great just trying to be that senior leader,” LaCouture said. “Understanding my role, and just trying to help the younger guys that are ready to go.” “Going out there, and [understanding] that I’ve got to be that team leader — just making sure that I listen to the coaches, and do what I can to become a better player every day.” LaCouture is one of the three defensive players participating in the spring with LSU that have double-digit starts. “It’s going to be hard for us,” LaCouture said. “We’ve got to understand that we lost a lot of great guys to the NFL. We can’t have guys doing one thing and another, and make sure as a defense as a whole that some guys might step up and have a bigger role. We gotta communicate and be on the same page. Just being one team, if we do that we will be a solid defense.”
ANDREWS, from page 8 Aliyah is one of seven freshman newcomers to the team this year. Through 25 games, she has a .333 batting average, with two stolen bases and a perfect fielding percentage in 19 appearances. Despite what should be pressure to live up to her sister, Aliyah is taking it all in stride. “It’s been a little bit of a challenge,” Aliyah said. “Just because I hear her name whenever I’m around but it’s not anything that going to hold me back. I’m just going to show that I’m Aliyah Andrews and be myself.” If anything, Aliyah is rising to the challenge of becoming even better than her sister, who finished her collegiate career
with 97 stolen bases, 179 runs scored and 19 triples. A.J. has made her fair share of show-stopping catches in center field, including diving into a fence to rob a home run, but the younger sibling seems to be giving her big sister a run for her money. “I’m in the outfield — catch every ball that comes your way,” Aliyah said. “I just hate the feeling of leaving the field thinking I could have caught that or I should have caught that. So I try to go for anything that comes my way, or else I will feel horrible after that game.” Both siblings agree that so much of what they do is similar, but A.J. says that while they’re both outfielders and slappers, there’s a recognizable difference in how Aliyah plays. A.J. sees everything that Aliyah
does as being so much more natural and simple for her. “I have heard that I look more athletic or I have more athletic abilities, but just watching my sister sometimes I’m like ‘Really, do you really think that?’” Aliyah said. “It’s great to hear that, and it’s an honor. I just think that she is so athletic and has a great work ethic and is a natural talent — so it’s awesome to hear her say that to me.” Torina said she fully believes Aliyah can surpass A.J. in the record books. “I just have to keep working, and I think that a lot of the things that I will do will be a lot that she has done already because she’s accomplished so much, but I just have to keep working at what I’m doing and be myself — but a better version of myself,” Aliyah said.
KELLY MCDUFF / The Daily Reveille
LSU freshman outfielder Aliyah Andrews sprints to first base during the Tigers’ 5-2 victory against OSU on Feb. 12 at Tiger Park.
MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR
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Known as the “Angry Man of Jazz,” Charles Mingus utilized group improvisation as well as classical techniques to create lasting performances and recordings that easily contend with the greatest works of more popular innovators such as Davis and Hancock. Among his best reviewed albums are the classic ‘Mingus Ah Um’ and masterpiece ‘Black Saint.’ Mingus worked with jazz giants including Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, and Eric Dolphy over the course of a sprawling career. JKL;J KL; TO KEEP
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page 15
Handwrittenwith love
MUSIC
Hydra Plane local band to watch
BY YSABELLA RAMIREZ @ysaram97
H
Former student teaches calligraphy in Baton Rouge BY KAYLEE POCHE @pochecanyousee Photos courtesy of HARLEY RICHEAUX
arley Richeaux has always been artistically inclined. She used to channel her talents through fashion and styling, but within the past few years, she has found herself drawn to a new creative outlet: calligraphy. “I often describe my journey into calligraphy as more of a stumble down a rabbit hole than anything remotely intentional,” Richeaux said. “It began as doodles during classes while I was studying fashion merchandising at LSU, but it eventually caught my interest much more than my classes.” Furthermore, she began to realize that fashion, while a great creative avenue for others, was more of a way for her to meet her own insecurities. “Calligraphy, on the other hand, I found was much more life-giving,” she said. “I found that the more I learned and practiced the skill, the more I realized how much weight and power words hold, and that was what sold me on it.” She credits the creative community in Baton Rouge for influencing her as an artist. “Baton Rouge is overflowing with unique, creative people who set themselves apart with
see CALLIGRAPHY, page 19
Baton Rouge has more to offer than what first meets the eye. In a city based on legislature, sports and LSU, culture can seem to be somewhat of an afterthought. Luckily, there is a small but talented local music scene that students and non-students alike should know about. Many bands and other musical acts are trying to make a name for themselves through shows at venues like Spanish Moon and house parties, relying on word of mouth and the Internet to grow their fan bases. Hydra Plane is doing just that. The self-described up-andcoming psychedelic surf rock band is from Baton Rouge. The band, made up of Jacob Stanley as the trio’s singer and guitarist, Eric Stewart as bass guitarist and Stephen Nelson as drummer, are all enrolled in the University’s College of Music. Stanley initiated the start of the band about a year ago when he was looking for a group to play with. Through mutual friends, he teamed up with fellow classmate Stephen Nelson, and Hydra Plane was born. The group was originally called No Diving after a brainstorming session by the pool one day. They kept this up for a few gigs until they learned that a band by the same name already existed in California. “We wanted to keep it aquatic, since we play surf
see HYDRA PLANE, page 19
ART
Student creates T-shirt blankets, making memories last BY RACHEL RATHLE @rachelrathle While many old T-shirts sit untouched in a drawer or box, Emily and Katherine Saucier take those commemorative garments and transform them into blankets for daily use. The two sisters live in different states but work together to create the blankets. They opted to name their business Sew-Shay because it’s pronounced the same way as their last name. “My favorite part is
balancing the colors and making a masterpiece of someone else’s memories,” Emily said. “Each blanket is special and none are the same. Each shirt represents precious moments like sports jerseys, prom shirts or sorority events.” Emily made her first blanket out of her high school Tshirts following her graduation in 2009. Throughout her college experience, she ran 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons and marathons, and she said her racing shirts made for a great T-shirt blanket.
After that, Emily began making blankets for her sisters, family and friends. “Initially, I would only ask them to pay for materials until it became an idea to sew them for extra money while in college,” Emily said. “Everyone needs money in college.” The business wasn’t official until mid-way through college, but it became busier over the past three years, Emily said. About a year ago,
see BLANKETS, page 19
RYAN MCCARBLE / The Daily Reveille
LSU pre-nursing freshman Katherine Saucier displays one of her T-shirt blankets on March 6.
page 16
REV R ANKS “HEARTWORMS”
The Shins
Lovers of both indie and rock music can agree this album was surely worth the five year wait. From the start of the album, fans can tell the band has found a new sound.
Thursday, March 16, 2017
‘Kong: Skull Island’ incredibly disappointing, major tonal issues opening scene of the film. Then, after a few scenes of basic character introduction, Kong is shown “Kong: Skull Island” is a again in a several-minute-long acstar-studded disappointment, tion sequence. There is no time to featuring Tom Hiddleston, Brie build up suspense for Kong’s big Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, John reveal or for any of the other horC. Reilly, John Goodman and rors the island holds. Another staple of the monsterCorey Hawkins. The film is the second entry movie genre is strong, memorainto Legendary Pictures’ Mon- ble characters. Let’s use “Alien” sterVerse, which began with as an example. The most memo2014’s “Godzilla.” Apparently, rable part of Ridley Scott’s clasLegendary decided it needed to sic isn’t the action. It’s Sigourney build its own cinematic universe Weaver’s historic performance to compete with Marvel Studios’ as Ripley and the sense of dread success, as so many studios are the crew faces throughout the entire film. trying to do today. It is incredibly disappointing The film also follows the trend of filling its soundtrack with pop when a film has such an incredmusic. This trend started after ible cast but fails to use its actors “Guardians of the Galaxy” pulled effectively. The characters in this it off and produced a best-selling film are bland and two-dimenalbum, but many films trying sional. Of the entire ensemble, only two characto copy that sucters show any kind cess, like “Suiof arc or progrescide Squad,” have The film also follows sion by the end of failed to leave the the trend of filling its the film. same impact. soundtrack with pop Preston Pack“Kong: Skull music. ard, played by Island” is no difSamuel L. Jackferent. There are son, is probably probably 20 difthe most interestferent classic rock songs played in the first act of the ing character in the film. Packard film alone, and half of them fail only seems to be happy on the batto fit the tone of their scenes. The tlefield, and as the film progresschoice of music feels like a forced es, he creates a sort of vendetta in attempt to draw the audience into his head. This vendetta takes over the reality of 1974 while simulta- his rationale, and the character is neously building the fantasy set- intriguing because of it. However, it’s John C. Reilly ting of Skull Island. The film does a poor job of meshing the two; who steals the show as Hank Marthe constant clash of reality and low, a World War II veteran who fantasy causes major tonal issues has been stranded on Skull Island for nearly three decades. Marlow throughout the film. A general rule of thumb for is the most entertaining characmonster movies is to refrain from ter, and Reilly succeeds in injectunveiling your monster for as ing his unique brand of comedy long as possible. Classic monster into the film. Most of the jokes in movies like “Alien,” “Predator,” the film fall flat, but Reilly’s goofy and “Tremors” only briefly show character is hugely entertaining. the creature until third act rev- Despite a handful of out-of-charelations. The golden example of acter moments, Reilly adds yet another noteworthy performance this rule is “Jaws.” In the Steven Spielberg to his already impressive career. Each actor in the film has masterpiece, the shark does not make a real appearance until the proven they are capable of givfilm’s second half. The audience ing stellar performances, but the knows the shark is real and kill- writing in “Kong: Skull Island” ing people, but the characters do is so poor it’s impossible to care not . “Jaws” ratchets up the ten- about any of their characters. Tom Hiddleston, for example, sion throughout its first half until finally revealing the shark to the made a name for himself as an characters and producing one of incredible villain in Marvel’s cinthe greatest lines in all of cinema. ematic universe. His portrayal of Instead of following this Loki has captured the hearts of structure, “Kong: Skull Island” many Marvel fans, but the charshows its monster in the film’s acter he plays in “Kong: Skull BY SCOTT GRISWOLD @griswold_ii
Ariana Scott @arianacscott
“HNDRXX”
Future
The project boasts 17 new tracks, with features from chart toppers like The Weeknd and Rihanna. Future seems more down-to-earth, reflective and genuine on this album, while still bringing in his noteworthy beats and auto tuned raps. However, many of his songs blend into the next with no real distinction.
Ysabella Ramirez @ysaram97
“NUMBER 1 ANGEL”
Charlie XCX
Charlie XCX’s upcoming album won’t mimic “Number 1 Angel,” but the mixtape proves her ability to write a perfect pop album in record time. Clever lyrics paired with demanding beats make the perfect backdrop for the hooks and personality Charli has become known for.
Ryan Thaxton @ryanthax
KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS E!
The season premiere of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” was nothing short of terrible. In fact, it was a complete waste of my time. Sunday night was the start of the show’s 13th season, not including spin off shows. This premiere was the worst yet, and in my opinion, a disgrace to every other premiere thus far.
Kennedi Walker @kennedibw
Read the full reviews online at lsunow.com/entertainment
courtesy of IMDB
Island” is just a generic action hero. James Conrad, Hiddleston’s character, is established as the tracker guy who is good at traveling uncharted islands. By the end of the film, Conrad is still just the tracker who is good at traveling uncharted islands. The same can be said for John Goodman’s Bill Randa, Brie Larson’s Mason Weaver and any of the soldiers on the island. Most of the characters in “Kong: Skull Island” seem like they are simply there to be thrown around by Kong. There is no reason to care for any of them, and the film is boring when Kong isn’t on the screen. However, when Kong is on the screen, the film is very fun. The fight scenes between Kong and the soldiers — or whatever other creatures he encounters on the island — look incredible. The visual effects and design of Kong and the other creatures are fantastic. Watching Kong wreak havoc is a blast. The problem is everything else in the film. There are a number of excellent shots worth noting. For example, in the opening action scene, Kong stands in silhouette of the setting sun as a fleet of helicopters approach. The image feels grand and captures the epic feel of the character. There are a handful of visually appealing, cinematic moments like that sprinkled throughout the film. In the end, “Kong: Skull Island” was merely a disappointing film with a few enjoyable moments.
page 17
Thursday, March 16, 2017
WHAT’S SPINNING AT @KLSURadio
NEW MUSIC
“Landmark” by Hippo Campus
7/10
KLSUradio
klsufm
ARTIST/ALBUM/LABEL
of the album, but nonetheless offers a glimpse of what follows. Specifically, the very first sound the listener hears is synthesized. This indicates the presence of an outside party, someone who isn’t a band member but whose influence on the direction of the album is inevitable. That someone is the record label. The subsequent tracks on the first half of the album follow suit. The anger from the band’s initial hits like “Suicide Saturday” is replaced by an overwhelmingly positive tone that feels a bit forced. It’s as if the label is steering the band toward festivals and arena shows when they would be more at home in more intimate venues, toward Top 40 hits when they might do better with a niche audience. All this breaks down with “Monsoon,” the ninth and longest track on the record. If the preceding songs were summer,
“Monsoon” begins a shift into fall. Lyrics like “’Cuz sunburned skin won’t agree with me,” and cascading guitar riffs remind the listener of falling rain. “Landmark” ends with what is perhaps its best song, “Buttercup.” It contains all of what Hippo Campus does best — youthful, fired up resilience over a steady, driving pace. To me, the refrain “She’ll be fine on her own” ushers a farewell to the doomed relationships of youth and the acceptance of inevitable change later in life. While “Landmark” may have been an unsteady first step, Hippo Campus seems to remind its audience that this record is no indication of where they might end up. For fans of: Vampire Weekend and Young The Giant
REVIEW BY DJ 440 HOST OF RADIO RHAPSODY, MONDAYS 11 P.M. TO 1 A.M. (CLASSICAL)
“Planetary 7/10 Prince” by Cameron Graves
Who remembers the outset of Kamasi Washington’s “Change of the Guard,” the first track of 2015’s “The Epic?” The commanding piano siren in that song is played by non other than Cameron Graves, whose recording debut as a leader, “Planetary Prince,” features Kamasi Washington and Thundercat. I wish I could have attended the release show for this recording because this material lends well to performance. All of the compositions that made the final cut of “Planetary Prince” have been popular with crowds in Los Angeles jazz clubs for a few years now. The songs on this release were formalized during the same mara-
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REVIEW BY CAPTAIN KIDD HOST OF HIGH TIDE, SATURDAYS 1 TO 3 P.M. The opening tracks of Hippo Campus’s debut album “Landmark” are reminiscent of a carefree youth. Jake Luppen’s soaring vocals placed over clear, layered guitars conjure images of summertime, adventure and possibility. This tone reflects the hopes of Hippo Campus, a young indie rock group out of Minnesota. Luppen, Nathan Stocker, Zach Sutton and Whistler Allen met as students at the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists and formed Hippo Campus in 2013. “Landmark” is the group’s first full-length album following its 2015 EP “Bashful Creatures.” “Landmark” begins with “Sun Veins,” a short, loosely formed introduction that transitions into a series of distorted guitar chords. Similar distorted vocals accompany eerily ambient instrumentation on this track. “Sun Veins” feels out of place on the first half
lsunow.com
thon recording session that produced “The Epic.” The opening track “Satania Our Solar System” is the most successful example of the boundless style of the album. It’s a little awkward to describe the transitions of this piece due to the group’s impressive ability to bleed in and out of styles as easily and frequently as they do. The execution of Planetary Prince is highly stimulating and enjoyable, encompassing lyrical piano beds, backbeat sections that can’t be flushed from your memory with the greatest of effort, and even subtle metal breakdowns. With an 80-minute running time, however, the consequences of chaos are realized. Graves’s
audience is left with no cohesive conception of what was just presented to them. “Planetary Prince” is part of a string of recordings by the Los Angeles jazz crowd. They offer a wide appeal as they revitalize mainstream jazz music and contribute to more popular genres, including metal, rap, and electronic styles. Many moments throughout “Planetary Prince” suffer from whiplash, but that can be forgiven when the protean skill of those involved is considered. Exciting times are upon us. For fans of: Captain Green and Kamasi Washington
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1 Thundercat/Drunk/Brainfeeder 2 Dirty Projectors/Dirty Projectors/ Domino 3 Jay Som/Everybody Works/Polyvinyl 4 Tennis/Yours Conditionally/Mutually Detrimental 5 King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard/ Flying Microtonal Banana/ATO 6 Los Campesinos/Sick Scenes/Wichita 7 Sinkane/Life & Livin’ It/City Slang 8 Froth/Outside (Briefly)/Self-Released 9 Dude York/Sincerely/Hardly Art 10 Thievery Corporation/The Temple Of I & I/ESL 11 Jesca Hoop/Memories Are Now/Sub Pop 12 Sallie Ford/Soul Sick/Vanguard 13 Clap Your Hands Say Yeah/The Tourist/ Wichita 14 The Dig/Bloodshot Tokyo/Roll Call 15 Busman’s Holiday/Popular Cycles/ Joyful Noise 16 Maggie Rogers/Now That The Light Is Fading/Capitol 17 Mr. Elevator And The Brain Hotel/When The Morning Greets You/Rat Cat 18 Foxygen/Hang/Jagjaguwar 19 Surfer Blood/Snowdonia/Joyful Noise 20 Why?/Moh Lhean/Joyful Noise 21 St. Tropez/St. Tropez/Self-Released 22 Cherry Glazerr/Apocalipstick/Secretly Canadian
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page 18
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Margaret Butler of Ggoolldd talks Baton Rouge, Feminism BY ABBIE SHULL @Abbielj Margaret Butler, frontwoman of indie rock/synth pop band Ggoolldd, sat down with The Daily Reveille to talk music, parties and her position as a role model for female musicians. The band will perform at the Spanish Moon on March 19. Ggoolldd, based out of the midwest, has toured with the likes of Blondie and Passion Pit. Later this year, they’ll play at South By Southwest in Austin, Texas. The Daily Reveille: You grew up in Baton Rouge, so how does it feel to be coming back to Baton Rouge on tour with Ggoolldd? Margaret Butler: “I’m really excited. I’ve been trying to get [the band] to come to LA since we started. I’m really happy to show the band my hometown and where I came from. We’re gonna take them fishing and have them eat crawfish for the first time. This is really a homecoming for me because I was a bartender at Spanish Moon for years. You could say I’ve been waiting on this day for a really long time.”
TDR: What was the initial inspiration to start Ggoolldd? MB: Actually, boredom mostly. I was living in Milwaukee. I was designing clothing and getting ready to open a store. On Halloween, which is my favorite holiday, me and my friend wrote a song called ‘Gold’ and decided we should dress up in all gold costumes and have a Halloween party and play this music. So someone went as a golden retriever and I went as Santigold, but it was just all gold Santa. It was supposed to be a one-time thing, but it was a ton of fun. Someone that was at the party asked us to play at a venue, so we did it again. People kept asking us to play, and we kept saying yes. So, we started writing more music, and now here we are. TDR: You’ve said before that you’re a performer before a musician, why do you think that is? MB: I’d never even thought of playing music a day in my life before I just did. I don’t play any instruments on stage. I help write the songs, but the thing that I love is dressing up, having a party and getting people excited about the music. You see
a Ggoolldd show, and it’s just a performance. It’s an experience, and that’s what I really love about being in this group. TDR: What has been the most rewarding part of this journey for you? MB: Just being in this band with my best friends. My job is to go to a different party every night and get people excited. And I get to hang out with my best friends while I do it. I couldn’t imagine a better job. I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect way to live. TDR: You’re working with Ben H. Allen, who’s produced some of the biggest acts of the last decade, like Walk the Moon and MIA. How has that experience shaped you and the band? MB: He’s a great producer, and we’re gonna be going back to get some more songs produced. I wouldn’t say he’s really changed our writing style. He’s embraced it. He’s just so cool and awesome to work with. TDR: Historically, femalefronted rock bands are so rare, do you feel any sort of responsibility or rather, empowerment toward other female artists or
courtesy of GGOOLLD
The Indie Rock synth pop band Ggoolldd will perform at the Spanish Moon on March 19. young women who might look to you for inspiration? MB: “I think responsibility is a great way to describe it. Yeah, 100 percent I do hold myself responsible to make sure I’m making a good example for other women on how to lead. Especially
younger women. I try to act in a way to let other women know that it’s absolutely 100 percent okay to be a strong woman and to be unapologetic about it. It’s more than that, I want them to know that it’s not only okay, but it’s badass to be a strong woman.”
University students and alumni star in “The Drowsy Chaperone” BY ABBIE SHULL @Abbielj On March 10, Theatre Baton Rouge began its run of the Tony Award winning musical comedy extravaganza “The Drowsy Chaperone.” “The Drowsy Chaperone” is a musical within a play, narrated by The Man in the Chair (Terry Byars) who listens to the record of the show and giving commentary to the audience. “The Drowsy Chaperone” tells the story of a wedding, or several weddings, and the hijinks that go along with the event.
The production features several University students and alumni, both onstage and off, including theatre senior Austin Ventura. Ventura plays Robert Martin, the groom-to-be Martin is a typical cheesy leading man with a toothpaste-commercial smile and Hollywood charm. “The biggest challenge with playing [Martin] is that he has to tap dance in the show,” Ventura said. “I’d never done it before, so I had to learn while doing.” This is Ventura’s third show at TBR, having previ-
ously been in the ensembles of “Evangeline” and “The Little Mermaid.” He said the cast of “The Drowsy Chaperone” is full of talented people that he’s wanted to work with for a long time. “The cast helped me get better as an actor,” Ventura said. “I feel like I grew as an actor and a singer and a dancer in this show.” The show is directed by University alumna Jenny Ballard, who is also the TBR artistic director. Earlier this year, Ballard played Lt. Cmdr. JoAnne Galloway in TBR’s production
of “A Few Good Men.” “Nothing fulfills me like being on stage does,” Ballard said. “Having said that, I love directing. There’s nothing like watching moments in your head come to life on stage.” Ballard said she believes audiences will love the show for the same reasons that she was immediately drawn to “The Drowsy Chaperone” — the laugh-out-loud humor. “I thought it was smart, original and so very funny,” Ballard said, adding that “the music is really great.” While the show has been
challenging for everyone involved, Ballard said the production has “been a blast.” “This show is nothing but fun,” Ballard said. “This has been a rough year, and this is a great way to relax, escape for a bit and enjoy a really, really funny musical.” “The Drowsy Chaperone” runs March 10-26 with matinee performances at 2:00 p.m. and evening performances at 7:30 p.m. The theatre will host an American Sign Language performance on March 19. Tickets are $29 for the public and $20 for students.
courtesy of MEGAN COLLINS
Theatre Baton Rouge’s production of the Tony Award winning musical “The Drowsy Chaperone” runs March 10-26.
page 19
Thursday, March 16, 2017 BLANKETS, from page 15 Katherine, a pre-nursing major at the University, began helping her sister with Sew-Shay when Emily moved to Boulder, Colorado. “I’ll basically recruit people and get the T-shirts from customers,” Katherine said. “I cut the T-shirts into squares, organize them and then mail them to my sister in Colorado.” While Emily lives in Colorado, she spends most of her time traveling across the United States. She travels 35 weeks out of the year to put on endurance sporting events. Emily organizes marathons, triathlons and obstacle runs across the country. “This week I am in Washington, D.C., next week I’ll be in Dallas, then San Francisco, then Raleigh and then Orlando,” Emily said. “I live out of a suitcase, basically.” Between working, being in school and traveling, Emily has 35 completed blankets under her belt. The blankets take between five to 10 hours to make, and some are dynamic and quite large. It’s during her two-week breaks from work that Emily stays busy with
HYDRA PLANE from page 15 rock,” Stanley said. “Hydra Plane is a play on hydroplaning and also incorporates the mythical creature of the Hydra. It’s a multidimensional name.” The trio eventually settled into the new name and have now played more than 20 gigs. When asked what type of music Hydra Plane plays, Stanley chuckled. “That’s a tough question that we’re still working to piece together. I would say we play a mix of psych rock, surf rock, jazz fusion and funk,” he said. The band mostly performs original songs, with the members collaborating equally. Stanley wrote the first few songs himself and brought them to Nelson and Stewart with a rough idea of how they should sound. From there, “the band just knew what to do, which was really cool,” Stanley said. Some songs are born out of improvisation, but a majority are based on Stanley’s ideas. Stanley said that even though he may write a song, he doesn’t just tell the other guys what to play. It’s a collaborative effort to work on the sound that best embodies Hydra Plane. The group also performs a few covers here and there, such as “Fire” by Jimi Hendrix and “Come Together” by The Beatles. “It changes pretty regularly,” Stanley said of his favorite song. “We perform the first song we ever did together, ‘Causality,’ pretty much every show, and we change it up a lot to keep it interesting.” Hydra Plane’s biggest and most successful show to date was this past February at the Varsity Theatre. Along with _thesmoothcat and Ship of Fools, they said they completely owned the stage with their performance.
the blankets. “My job is my dream come true,” Emily said. “It is my passion, my love and my life. It’s how I met my boyfriend of 3 years. We work together and travel the United States together. We call it ‘Another date, another state.’” Katherine enjoys seeing the reactions of her customers. The owner of Red Lerilles Health and Racquet Club in Lafayette gave the sisters every shirt he had from each year since the business opened to make a blanket. “His face was priceless,” Katherine said. These shirts are treated how they would want someone else handling their belongings, Emily said. “People express to me how special a shirt is and want it front and center because it was [from] their first kiss, first date, college graduation or first job,” Emily said. “These are milestones that I am cutting up and sewing back together to make something for them to treasure and snuggle with.” Their business can be found on Instagram @sew.shay_tshirtblankets.
CALLIGRAPHY, from page 15
“There was the most hype surrounding [this performance], and we worked really hard to get people to come out,” Stanley said. Even though Stanley graduates this semester, he said he has no intentions of putting Hydra Plane on hold. “The farthest I would move is to New Orleans, which gives me no excuse not to continue playing with the band,” he said. “I love playing with these guys.” Hydra Plane’s main priority is to go on tour this summer. Though nothing is official, look for possible performances in New Orleans, Lafayette, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and even Colorado. Stanley also revealed that the band is looking to put out an album before their summer tour. Hydra Plane currently has a couple of recordings on SoundCloud and their first ever recordings on Bandcamp. Along with three unreleased and five new songs, the band already has
a good discography, especially for being so new. Stanley said he wants to provide an “environment for people to come together.” He hopes the community can unite, as friends or even strangers, and listen to music they haven’t heard before, dance, and have a good night. “I want people to be really surprised and go, ‘Wow these guys are playing in my city, and I never knew about them,’” Stanley said. Hydra Plane’s next show will be at Spanish Moon on April 7. The band is the opening act for three other bands and plans to debut all new material. Be sure to follow them on Instagram (@hydra_plane), like them on Facebook, and support their music on SoundCloud, Bandcamp and at whichever show they’re playing next. With their infectious, dance inducing sound, Hydra Plane is sure to always put on a great show.
their willingness to push each other forward, rather than compete,” Richeaux said. “I think something about blending that Cajun, Southern culture with creativity produces a really special kind of support system that not everyone gets to experience in their craft.” However, it was not until she took a year off of school to travel and serve in her local church that she was certain of her decision to pursue calligraphy professionally. She launched her own calligraphy business, Wit & Fellow, in September 2016. Since then, she has worked on a variety of projects like wedding invitations and, more recently, calligraphy workshops. Richeaux is now able to help build the same community that helped her find her way creatively. She taught her first workshop March 4 in Baton Rouge and plans to hold more in the future. Having taught herself calligraphy by looking at others’ work, buying different supplies and trying new methods, she
YSABELLA RAMIREZ / The Daily Reveille
Local band Hydra Plane started about a year ago and have now performed more than 20 times.
understands the struggle of beginning the process. “This is one of the main reasons I love offering workshops — to help create an environment for others to learn the skill and thrive creatively without the middle process and wasted money of trying to figure it out on your own.” Another aspect of workshops that appeals to Richeaux is the sense of togetherness they foster. “It was so refreshing to see strangers come together and learn a new skill and gain a new community, all revolving around something that has brought me so much joy,” she said. Richeaux said she’s had women of “all ages” in a single room, laughing and practicing together, some in groups of friends and some with no connection to anyone there, but they “all left with new connections and a new skill.” While calligraphy is typically thought of as a more traditional
art form, Richeaux is able to combine both old and new techniques through her company. “Although I hand-letter and illustrate everything by hand first, I often digitalize or rasterize it so that it can be incorporated in a large-scale project like wedding invitations,” she said. The faith that helped guide Richeaux to pursue calligraphy continues to play an equally important role in inspiring her on a daily basis. “I draw inspiration from God and all that He has created first, which is why I think my work has a less structured and more earthy-organic feel to it,” she said. Richeaux advises those who are considering a creative career path to find their source of inspiration and run from comparison. “Don’t let competition or imitation steal what makes you unique, because you have something really special, and completely new to offer the world,” she said.
courtesy of HARLEY RICHEAUX / The Daily Reveille
Former student Harley Richeaux has begun holding calligraphy workshops. FOR RELEASE MARCH 16, 2017
THE Daily Commuter Puzzle ACROSS 1 Hauls into court 5 Leaning 10 Kindergartner’s recitation 14 Ensnare 15 Of the moon 16 Quick on the __; like skilled gunslingers 17 Meanie 18 Diminish 19 Widely used credit card 20 Word on a front porch mat 22 Most uncanny 24 Afternoon hour 25 Pack animals 26 India’s dollar 29 Club sandwich alternative 30 Is ahead, so far 34 __-friendly; easy to operate 35 Suffix for dirt or bull 36 Bone center 37 Pecan or filbert 38 Fast road 40 Unknown John 41 __ clef; musical symbol 43 Silent assent 44 Days of __; olden times 45 Aerosol 46 Feasted 47 Six-year-old’s grade, often 48 Landlord/tenant document 50 Youth 51 Soaks up 54 Most miserable 58 Common metal 59 Smackers 61 Disgusting 62 Created 63 Planet’s path 64 Part of the lower leg 65 Stick around 66 Tries out 67 Actress Lange DOWN 1 Store away
2 Craving 3 Late Chief Justice Warren 4 Ghost 5 Hertz rival 6 Toothpaste container 7 __ funk; blue 8 Most recent 9 Maple and yew 10 Counselor 11 Soft cheese 12 Mama __ Elliot 13 Hit 21 Run up a tab 23 Pass on, as a message 25 Cooked, but still firm 26 Littlest littermates 27 Take control by force 28 Actor Ustinov 29 Stinging insect 31 Passion 32 Entryways 33 Good-natured 35 Wrath
by Jacqueline E. Mathews
Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved
©2017 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.
36 38 39 42 44
Up in arms Circular; ad Misery “Nonsense!” European Jewish language 46 Relieve doubt 47 Passing craze 49 Monastery man
50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 60
Goes on & on Objectives Difficult child Soft drink Very short play Resound Pass over Actress Daly NBC rival
Opinion
page 20
No money, no support, no art As art becomes increasingly commodified, artists can no longer afford to work for free RYLED UP RYAN THAXTON @ryanthax
In a capitalist society, few things are cheap. Supplies for art, whether they be paint and brushes or editing software, are expensive and rarely a one-time cost. Thus, artists need support from their consumers — more than just appreciation and exposure, but money. For this argument, I’m avoiding the high-profile “entertainment industry,” and sticking to small-time documentary filmmakers and online artists. Many consumers claim exposure is pay enough for smaller artists. Writers are told to be thankful for their bylines and others are made to feel ashamed they want people to acknowledge their work with pay. Artists often open themselves up in their artwork. They put time, effort and parts of themselves into their work as well. An artist’s personal connection to their art can often lead them to accept the idea that attention and praise from consumers is
compensation enough. It takes serious confidence in one’s own intellectual property to want anything more. Even though my intention is not to focus on the mainstream entertainment industry, we can look at examples of exploited singers and musicians like Nina Simone and TLC who are some of the many talented artists who have been ripped off by their handlers. “Trust me, you can sell 10 million albums and be broke if you have greedy people behind you,” said Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, a member of TLC, at a press conference in the late ‘90s. These stars received fame and recognition, and most would agree they were cheated out of their fair share of profits. Yet the argument that more obscure artists who receive much less money than famous artists should be happy with fame and recognition alone is one most consumers make. If artists are forced to work other jobs to support themselves, the art becomes viewed as a hobby, secondary to their other jobs. But unlike most hobbies, artists’ art is enjoyed by viewers and partakers. If the artist is fine receiving little to no compensation, then fine. But why in a capitalist
society do we expect anything to be free? Art in all forms, including intellectual property by online influencers, small theater troupes and indie musicians should be paid for. If you’re listening to an artist’s album on Bandcamp, donate a few dollars to support them. One payment means a lot more to most artists than dozens of plays. Without payment, there is no incentive to create art, and with no incentive, less art will be made. The purist argument that art is simply about the art and not about the money is beautiful, but artists still need to support themselves. In a Branch conversation, Molly Crabapple, an artist and journalist, wrote: “We’re beings with finite time who tire and have kids and get sick and die, and need money to sustain life. It costs nothing to reproduce a song. But the artist who made that song still has to live.” A person tithes because they believe in the institution, and as partaking in a free service that is mainly spiritual and emotional, one pays to enjoy that experience in much the same way one would enjoy art. There are numerous
cartoon by BETSY PRIMES / The Daily Reveille
comparisons between religion and art — the two often overlap. I’m not saying give a set percentage of your income to an arts fund every month, but maybe make sure to pay a small portion of what you can afford to artists and artistic institutions you enjoy and value. Patreon is an internet-based platform that allows all sorts of content creators to run their own subscription services. The website gives artists a base to be supported by consumers in a context
that ensures the artist can still afford to create for those who enjoy their work. There are much better ways to appreciate an artist’s work than vocal support, and consumers of all types of art should make efforts to ensure the artist themselves are supported and recognized for their work through financial means. Ryan Thaxton is a 20-year-old mass communication sophomore from Monroe, Louisiana.
cartoon by NICK LEO/ The Daily Reveille
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Thursday, March 16, 2017
USA PATRIOT Act, other surveillance acts invasions of privacy DILETTANTE MATTHEW HUTCHINS @FailingReveille Sen. John McCain called on President Donald Trump to either provide evidence of the Barack Obama administration wiretapping Trump Tower or retract his claim. The claim came from the series of tweets by the President and was followed by a tweet stating “Arnold Schwarzenegger isn’t voluntarily leaving the Apprentice, he was fired by his bad (pathetic) ratings, not by me. Sad end to great show.” In the previous tweets, Trump accused former President Obama of wiretapping Trump Tower leading up to the election. The claim has faced scrutiny from both sides of the aisle as well as from the media. Trump supporters and critics of the media have pointed to a Jan. 20 article from The New York Times as proof that Trump Tower was tapped. The headline of the publication’s Inauguration Day article reads “Wiretapped Data Used In Inquiry of Trump Aides,” but if you find the article on The New York Times website today, it reads, “Intercepted Russian Communications Part of Inquiry Into Trump Associates.” The headline change reminded me of Winston’s jobin the dystopian novel “1984,” which was altering already printed articles so they aligned with the statements of the party. However, in the New York Times’ defense, the
initial headline came across as substantiating the claim that Trump Tower was wiretapped. Despite not proving the claim about Trump Tower, the article stated information picked up from wiretaps and other intelligence collected overseas, a process that requires no warrants, has been used in an investigation into ties between Trump and Russia. It’s a fact the government has the ability to tap the communications of nearly every person in the world, even the almighty Donald Trump. I’m going to assume that the President, who is in charge of directing intelligence agencies, was aware that such a high profile target was being tapped and that the tapping was done within the limits of the current laws. I’m also going to assume that Trump, who always presumes someone is listening in, would not leave any sort of trail that the government could use to incriminate him. As far as I’m concerned, the entire situation is another example of Trump using 140 characters or less to play the media like a fiddle. With that being said, I’m glad it might bring attention to the issue of wiretapping. The recent CIA leaks showed the government can hack into your smart devices in order to have eyes and ears on you, but who is really surprised? We really shouldn’t have been surprised when whistleblower Edward Snowden reconfirmed the government was watching basically anyone they could. Other whistleblowers, such as William Binney, a former top NSA analyst
and director, previously informed us of the Bush administration’s decision to gather information from American citizens shortly after 9/11. No American citizen is naive enough to think the lying, stealing, murdering government is going to respect our privacy unless we make them. Sure, mass surveillance could help prevent terrorist attacks. I mean, look at all the bombings, school shootings and other crimes it has prevented. The real question is why our elected Congressional representatives, many of whom possess a great understanding of the law or are at least surrounded by those that do, have allowed their constituents’ civil liberties to be trampled on. Thanks to the fear that possessed many Americans after 9/11, the USA PATRIOT Act passed through the Senate 98-1 and the House 357-66. The USA PATRIOT Act and its
reauthorization, along with the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 and its reauthorization, are the main examples of legislation passed to strengthen the ability of our government to spy on anyone they please. Where are the Republicans who fight for smaller government? Where are the Democrats who cherish civil liberties? After the Bush administration’s disgusting expansion of spying on American citizens, Obama ran on a promise to reform several aspects of the intelligence agencies’ practices. I guess eight years just wasn’t enough time. Obama expanded several aspects that he promised to curtail. During its final days, the Obama administration expanded the power of the NSA to share harvested information with 16 other intelligence agencies. Trump has expressed support for restoring the USA PATRIOT
Act. However, if the American people were to effectively protest the surveillance state we currently live in — and by protest I don’t mean walking around with memes on posters and chanting nonsensical phrases, but action closer to the organized protests of the Civil Rights Era, when the protesters presented themselves in a respectable manner and made their goals clear — then perhaps President Trump, who wants so badly to be liked, will use his powers to restore the Fourth Amendment. Until these acts are restored, we can place our hope in representatives such as Rand Paul and Bernie Sanders, who, despite being on opposite ends of the political spectrum, recognize the importance of privacy. Matthew Hutchins is a 20-yearold petroleum engineering sophomore from Birmingham, Alabama.
cartoon by BETSY PRIMES / The Daily Reveille
Restricting access to information hinders democracy HUMAN WRITES ALAINA DILAURA @alaina_dilaura Conspiracy theorist is not a term I would typically use to describe myself. When I wasn’t able to find information while researching for my columns, my first thought wasn’t to assume the government was censoring my search results. I often found myself spending an excessively long time scrolling through Google results, but I simply thought it was operator error on my behalf. I figured I wasn’t looking up the right terms or inquiring about the right topics. For weeks, I had myself convinced. Eventually, however, I began noticing an alarming pattern unfold. I could no longer ignore
the fact that search engines had become increasingly difficult to navigate. The first couple of times I couldn’t find supporting facts, quotes, articles and statistics, I didn’t really take notice. Scouring Google for information became a constant chore each time I researched for an article. I began wondering if the problem I was facing was a legitimate issue. It wasn’t that I couldn’t find any information. It was moreso the information I could find only supported one opinion and reflected one perspective on controversial issues. After hours upon hours of painstaking, fruitless research, a seemingly absurd thought crossed my mind. It occurred to me the government might be censoring my search results.
Don’t get me wrong — I’m a pretty rational person, and I don’t normally jump to conclusions. I went through countless possibilities in my head as I tried to understand why this was happening. Still, the problem persisted. Many of the topics I researched were extremely controversial — GMOs, educational voucher systems, global warming and immigration — and my personal stances on many have leaned toward a liberal bias. When I tried to find facts, quotes and statistics to support my argument, I had to scroll through pages of Google results just to find one article with useful information. Based on my own experience, I believe it’s linked to a much larger issue — one in which the government might inhibit the people’s free access to information.
President Donald Trump has made one thing clear: he is not fond of the media. In fact, he has said the most urgent problem facing America is the media “is out of control.” For someone who thinks journalism is plagued by “false, horrible, fake reporting,” is it really too far-fetched to say Trump might censor the internet? Restricting access to information is a hinder to democracy. History has shown the more democratic a society, the more news and information it tends to have. Trump has suggested freedom of speech is harming the fight against terrorism and has proposed “closing up” parts of the internet. “Somebody will say, ‘Oh freedom of speech, freedom of speech,’” Trump said, according to a December 2015 article by TIME. “These are foolish people.
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We have a lot of foolish people.” In January, the Associated Press reported Trump banned Environmental Protection Agency employees from providing updates on social media or to reporters. His actions are in direct contradiction to the EPA scientific integrity policy, which states, “To operate an effective science and regulatory agency like the EPA, it is also essential that political or other officials not suppress or alter scientific findings.” What will it mean to have a president undermine the free flow of information? Maybe I’m a little crazy for jumping to such conclusions. Then again, maybe I’m not. Alaina DiLaura is a 20-year-old international studies and mass communication sophomore from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Quote of the Week “Truth stands, even if there be no public support. It is self-sustained.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Civil Rights Leader Oct. 2, 1869 — Jan. 30, 1948
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Thursday, March 16, 2017
Reagan legacy falsely glorified, inconsistent with reality LYNNE YOU A HAND LYNNE BUNCH @lynnebunch11 During the second Republican primary debate of the 2016 election, the candidates and moderators said Ronald Reagan’s name 64 times. According to “The American Presidency Project,” a presidential data archive from the University of California at Santa Barbara, mentions of Reagan during the Republican primary debates have risen over the past five elections. UCSB’s data also showed Democratic primary candidates hardly mention former liberal presidents during their debates. In the 29 Democratic primary debates since 1999, Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton were name-dropped a total of only 97 times. In the 48 Republican debates since that time, Reagan was mentioned more than five times as often. Following the Iran-Contra Affair in 1986, nearly one in three Americans thought Reagan should consider resigning before his term ended. Despite his many failures as president,
right-wingers often show an overzealous love for him and ignore his record, which deviates significantly from both modern conservative rhetoric and policy positions. “Candidates will talk about the Reagan who cut government regulation, but not the one who increased the size of the federal government and the national debt,” said journalist Mark Fahey in an article for CNBC. “We hear about the Reagan who demanded that Mikhail Gorbachev ‘Tear down this wall’ and called Soviet Russia an ‘evil empire,’ but not the Reagan who later met diplomatically with Soviet leaders to form the foundation of nuclear disarmament.” Because of his administration, the poor became poorer, the inner-city communities became exploited for profit and many other minorities suffered and even died because of governmental neglect. Reagan tripled the Gross Federal Debt from $900 billion to $2.7 trillion and used “trickle-down economics” to expand economic inequality. According to the International Monetary Fund, when the top earners in society make more money, economic growth slows
down. However, when poorer people earn more, society as a whole benefits. The researchers’ calculations showed that the richest 20 percent of society increase their income by one percentage point, the annual rate of growth shrinks by nearly 0.1 percent within five years. “The benefits do not trickle down,” the researchers wrote in their report, which analyzed over 150 countries. Part of the reason Reagan tripled the debt is he wanted to finally end the Cold War and roll back communism by “peace through strength.” Anticommunist resistance became a centerpiece of United States foreign policy, and the “Reagan Doctrine” allowed the U.S. to provide military and other support to anti-communist movements in Afghanistan, Angola, Nicaragua and elsewhere. Many of Reagan’s foreign policy decisions hurt world relations in the long run, and arming and supporting the Mujahideen rebels in Afghanistan was perhaps his biggest mistake. Many members of the Mujahideen, including Osama bin Laden, used their experience in Afghanistan to help them form the terrorist
organization al-Qaeda. The administration’s judgement was clouded by the desperate desire to stop the flow of communism throughout the world. Consequences were destined to arise from arming rebel groups, and though the administration couldn’t have predicted al-Qaeda’s Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, they should have been more careful when arming non-American militant groups. Reagan’s administration has more documented corruption than any other president in U.S. history. Over 138 of his administration’s officials, including several cabinet members, were investigated for, indicted for or convicted of crimes. Many of these crimes were in relation to the administration’s foreign policy, and though some of them were pardoned by George H.W. Bush, their wrongdoings should not be overlooked. Reagan failed the country on many other issues, including the war on drugs and the AIDS crisis. His war on drugs helped exploit the poor and racial minorities for a profitable prison system, and the number of people behind bars for nonviolent drug law offenses increased from 50,000
in 1980 to over 400,000 by 1997. While Reagan gave attention to “drug problem” in America, he ignored the thousands of mostly gay men who died from AIDS. By the time he finally publicly mentioned the term AIDS in 1985, more than 5,000 people had already been killed by the disease. His proposed federal budget for 1986 actually called for an 11 percent reduction in AIDS spending, and the administration did everything it could to neglect the crisis because of the demographic it affected. Ronald Reagan was never a god, and he was nowhere near the president people make him out to be. He was a Trump-like candidate with better composure, and he used his fame as an actor to elevate himself to state and national politics. History may look back on him with a kind eye, but he was nothing more than a man lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, running for office in a country desperate for a new wave of conservatism. Lynne Bunch is an 18-yearold mass communication freshman from Terrytown, Louisiana.
Millennial technology usage could cause future consequences MY BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL CLARKE PERKINS @ClarkePerkins Pew Research Center data shows 95 percent of American adults own a cellphone — 77 percent owning a smartphone — compared to 65 percent who owned an ordinary cellphone in 2004, before smartphones were invented. Let that sink in. It’s unbelievable how quickly technology is evolving. We’re always looking for the easiest, most efficient way to do something, but it seems we’re not considering the long-term effects. When I was in high school, I watched technology change society — schools went from using overhead projector carts to SMART Boards, and now high school and college students use pen and paper to take notes only if their laptops die in class. Occasionally, my high school teachers would use SMART Boards to present notes and, if students were lucky, maybe once or twice a semester we’d get to use an iPad in class. However, my high school remained rather traditional — it was required we take handwritten notes in class. I preferred writing my notes, but many of my classmates were annoyed and questioned why we couldn’t be like other schools. They were always be reminded of the benefits of taking
handwritten notes: students are subject to better learning, understanding and retaining notes when they are handwritten. Forward to present day: my sister is a sophomore at my alma mater, and students are now required to have fancy thousand-dollar laptops to type their class notes. I was so disappointed when I discovered this. My high school fell into the trap of trying to keep up with society, while completely throwing out all former reservations of typing notes. It’s like we don’t ever consider the long-term effect because we’re too busy trying to keep up with technology. As much as I wish I wasn’t categorized in the group of people who are trying to keep up with society, I am. I want the latest gadgets, I love the convenience and efficiency of them — many of us do. Sure, life is much easier because we can now text our friends we’re outside rather than ringing their doorbell, but are there some unknown cons of recent technology? I’m not trying to undermine the benefits of technology; hopefully it’ll help someone find a cure for cancer one day. However, there are so many question marks surrounding it. When our parents were our age, they weren’t walking around a college campus with virtually three
cartoon by BETSY PRIMES/ The Daily Reveille
computers glued to them — an Apple Watch on their wrist, an iPhone in their left hand and a laptop in their right. We live our lives on precedent — we love to look at the previous generation to see what their lives were like and how they handled certain situations. We can’t do that with technology no one’s ever had. For all we know, we may drop dead at 55 because of our cell phone usage. This could be
considered an extreme, but we still don’t know. We can’t look at previous generations for answers or run tests because they didn’t have all of these current technological advancements. So, I guess we’ll keep on living our lives in our little tech bubbles and we’ll find out sooner or later the first-hand effects of our electronics. The thought of not knowing may be scary, but we’re the
guinea pigs for this new, advanced technological world. At least our children and future generations will be able to learn from us. Maybe in 25 years they’ll be back to ringing on each other’s doorbells or maybe they’ll be using their iPhone 32. Who knows? Clarke Perkins is a 21-year-old political science junior from New Orleans, Louisiana.
TH IS
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Thursday, March 16, 2017
Honey bee population in decline, individuals should be more proactive Houston, We Have a Column Casey Pimentel @CaseyPimentel1 As spring approaches and we begin to spend our days by the poolside, think twice before you smash that little honey bee flying around your Coke can. The world’s honey bee population is dying at an alarming rate. Since 2007, approximately 30 percent of all bee colonies in the United States have died every winter. The United States isn’t the only country with a terrifying decline in honey bees. In 2012, 20 percent of honey bee colonies died in Europe and 29 percent died in Canada. The percentages are twice as high as what U.S. beekeepers consider “economically tolerable.” This is unsettling and should incite fear in everyone who eats food. The honey bees need our help. Honey bees’ role in human survival is often overlooked. They pollinate many of the fruits and vegetables we eat on a daily basis. Of the 100 crop species that provide 90 percent of the global food supply, 71 crops are pollinated by honey bees. With a rapidly declining pollination force, our food industry will see major changes in not
only production, but quality, price bees is to avoid attacking them and availability. Fewer bees will while they are moving hives. result in higher prices of fruits Educate yourself on the process and vegetables as they become of moving hives. Swarming is harder to obtain. the natural process of honey bee If you care about global well- colony reproduction. A single being, your own health colony reproduces into and the preservation of multiple different colonies. During this proour Earth for generations to come, you will cess, the be es could be Now is the time without a hive and find heed this wake up call. Although the thought to take a stand themselves grouped for our bees. together on trees, play of the human population not being able to survive equipment, houses, etc. in our current, unstable It is important to know agricultural environthat they are not danment is frightening, gerous and are only trythere is good news. Small, indi- ing to find a new hive. A common vidual actions can create large- mistake people make is spraying scale change for our current situ- the swarms with chemicals to ation and preserve our crops for kill them. If you come across a generations to come. swarm of bees, simply call your Grab your car keys and head nearest honey bee farm and they down to your local Home Depot, will come take them to a farm for Lowe’s or gardening supply store. preservation. Cultivating flowering plants native Now is the time to take a stand from your region will attract bees for our bees. If we wait any lonand provide an environment for ger, who knows what will happen them to thrive in. Planting things to our food supply. Dying bees such as alfalfa and clover will also are not a joke, and they’re not a slow erosion and replenish soil nu- Twitter meme. It’s a real concern trients that aid in growing flower- and should scare everyone. Toing plants. Designating an area in gether, we can make a difference your front or backyard for a gar- and save the future of the honey den will benefit both you and the bees and our Earth. honey bees. It’s easy and affordable. Casey Pimentel is an 18-year-old Another way to ensure the mass communication freshman safety of our helpful little honey from The Woodlands, Texas.
cartoon by Betsy primes / The Daily Reveille
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