The Daily Reveille 3-30-2017

Volume 123 · No. 12

Thursday, March 30, 2017

EST. 1887

lsunow.com

BY WILLIAM TAYLOR POTTER @wmtaylorpotter and NATALIE ANDERSON @natalie_mechell

With the Louisiana Legislature’s 2017 Regular Session rapidly approaching, legislators have pre-filed several bills relating to higher education – as well as several others on topics ranging from tax codes to the death penalty.

The Daily Reveille took a look at some of the bills worth watching once the session is underway.

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Legislators pre-file bills on higher education, hot-button topics HOUSE BILL 194 House Bill 194, proposed by Rep. Gene Reynolds, D-Minden, would raise the minimum GPA requirement for initial TOPS Opportunity Award eligibility from 2.50 to 3.00. The new standard would be applied to high school students graduating during or after the 2020-2021 school year.

The bill also changes the continuing eligibility requirements to specify that entry into the workforce qualifies as an enrollment exemption and the maximum extension for entering the workforce is five years. This change will affect high school students graduating in the 2016-2017 school year or later.

HOUSE BILL 122 Rep. Vincent Pierre, D-Lafayette, pre-filed House Bill 122 — a bill that would prohibit public colleges and universities from asking about criminal history on initial applications. The college would not be able to ask about criminal history until after an interview or the college extends a conditional offer. Colleges and universities would still be able to consider criminal history for the final decision. The bill would allow the colleges to consider the gravity of the criminal conduct, the time since the criminal conduct and the bearing the criminal conduct will have on the student’s ability to meet requirements.

HOUSE BILL 133 Rep. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, proposed House Bill 133 to require each public postsecondary education management board to develop a “centralization plan and a cooperative unification plan.” The bill would require each board — including the LSU Board of Supervisors — to review the possibilities of centralization and the short- and long-term costs and savings.

Rep. Steve Pugh, R-Ponchatoula, pre-filed a bill in February that would merge all the higher education boards into one Louisiana Postsecondary Education Board of Trustees.

HOUSE BILL 184 House Bill 184, by Rep. Mark Abraham, R-Lake Charles, would establish the La. Jobs Now Fund, which would be appropriated to postsecondary management boards for degree production in STEM fields – science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The treasury would be directed to transfer $34 million from the state general fund annually. Fifty percent of the money would be appropriated to public four-year universities, while the other half would go to two-year community or technical colleges.

HOUSE BILL 117 Rep. Franklin Foil, R-Baton Rouge, proposed to raise the requirements for high school seniors to be eligible for a TOPS Award in House Bill 117. The minimum GPA required for a TOPS Opportunity award will increase from a 2.5 to a 3.0 Additionally, the minimum GPA required for a Performance Award will increase from 3.00 to 3.25 and from 3.00 to 3.50 for an Honors Award. These changes will become applicable to graduating high school seniors during or after the 2020-2021 school year.

READ MORE ABOUT PRE-FILED BILLS FOR THE 2017 REGULAR SESSION ON PAGE 7

STUDENT LIFE

Discover Day to be held on April 4

BY EVAN SAACKS @evansaacks LSU Discover will host its fourth annual Discover Day on April 4, showcasing research conducted by students along with creative works. However, there is one big change for 2017’s event — students from other Louisiana universities will be allowed to participate.

The event was first hosted in 2014, a year after the LSU Discover department was founded.

The program was created to encourage students to use the resources and utilities available to them to conduct research on campus. Unlike past years, when only University students were showcased, the 2017 event will feature nearly 200 students from other schools, including the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Baton Rouge Community College and the University of New Orleans.

Another new addition is the use of the Student Union Art Gallery, which will feature art showcased on Discover Day throughout the entire month of April.

Visitors will be able to vote on their favorite works and presentations. Ninety-five faculty, staff and doctoral students will serve as official judges for the event.

Discover Day was intended not only to showcase

see DISCOVER DAY, page 7

RESEARCH

Researchers discover new method of directing x-ray pulses

BY KATHERINE ROBERTS @krobe844 It takes a village — especially when working on high level research.

Researchers from LSU and Lund University in Sweden collaborated to find a new method for using strong laser pulses to direct short bursts of x-ray light.

Department of Physics and Astronomy professor and lead researcher Kenneth Schafer, Department Physics and Astronomy professor Mette Gaarde and graduate student Seth Camp worked together to understand the theory behind this new method in directing and controlling x-ray light discovered by Lund University.

“[Lund University] came to us with some data they didn’t really understand, but which showed that they could control the direction the x-rays were going in,” Schafer said. “They designed what is like a switch that they could use the strong laser to turn on. The x-rays were going [one] way, and they could turn on the strong laser and it would make them go [another] way.

The question is why? So that’s where we got involved.”

Gaarde said with this new method, they can control where the x-ray light goes, as well as how long it lasts. When the laser’s light is turned on, it manipulates the direction of the short bursts

see X-RAYS, page 7

Professor Kenneth Schafer, graduate student Seth Camp and professor Mette Gaarde worked to understand the theory behind a new method to direct and control x-ray light.

KATHERINE ROBERTS /

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News

page 3 STUDENT GOVERNMENT

2017 election results announced

HIGH-TECH

HEALTH

BY NATALIE ANDERSON @natalie_mechell Jason Badeaux and Leah Sanders secured the 2017 Student Government president and vice president positions, respectively, after running unopposed on the Affect ticket.

“We’re just excited to sit down and finally get to work and start making these moves for the students,” Badeaux said.

Both Badeaux and Sanders said not having an opposing ticket has allowed them to begin their work for the University early.

One of the first tasks on the agenda is to hire an executive staff.

The applications opened March 29 and will remain available for the next few weeks. Badeaux said he and Sanders look forward to interviewing and hiring the applicants, whether they were on the Affect ticket or not.

Badeaux said the first goal is to expand the LSU Student Union hours of operation during finals week.

They have plans to work on the remaining initiatives during the summer, he said.

SGB No. 4 was proposed to reallocate 10 cents per student into the New Initiatives Programming Fund, 65 cents per student into Organization Initiatives and Conference Support, and 25 cents per student into the Testing Materials Fund each semester. The proposal was passed, with 79.4 percent of the votes.

SGB No. 20 was proposed to amend the bylaws of the Graduate Organizational Relief Fund.

The amendment will increase the current limit from one graduate

Assistant professor uses technology to explore health care solutions STORY BY KATIE GAGLIANO | @katie_gagliano PHOTOS BY RYAN MCCARBLE

E

lectrical engineering assistant professor LaVonda Brown is bringing a human touch to the field of robotics.

Brown, who joined the electrical engineering faculty in January, is researching ways to leverage robots and other health care technologies to improve people’s quality of life. Though Brown has aspirations to be a leader in the field, she said her route to health care robotics wasn’t always obvious.

Brown said as an undergraduate she knew she didn’t fit the stereotypical profile of an electrical engineer. She was outgoing, wanted to work on interdisciplinary teams and wanted to see her work make an impact in people’s lives in real time.

The marriage of her personality and research interests brought her to the realm of human-robot interactions. First, as a Ph.D. candidate, she researched utilizing a Robotis Darwin humanoid robot as an educational tutor for math, and the interactive technology eventually led her to a focus in health care robotics.

Brown said her work allows her to positively impact people’s lives and pay forward the support and assistance she’s received throughout her life.

“It gives me purpose,” Brown said. “It makes me wake up and want to come to work every morning, just knowing that somebody is going to benefit

see BROWN, page 6

see ELECTION, page 6

STUDENT LIFE

Society of Peer Mentors use robotics to mentor local students

BY NATALIE ANDERSON @natalie_mechell Robots may lack feelings, but they are being used to create bonds between local and University students.

The Society of Peer Mentors is a student organization dedicated to promoting leadership in the College of Engineering by allowing University students to be mentors and participate in outreach to local elementary, middle school and

high school students. The robotics program is one aspect of the organization that provides outreach for local students whose schools have robotics programs.

Adrienne Steele, the Society of Peer Mentors adviser, said the college wrote a grant to the National Science Foundation to fund a retention group for engineering students. She said the student organization stemmed from the grant and was recognized in 2012.

Mechanical engineering junior

and Society of Peer Mentors robotics chair April Gaydos said the mentors advise students on conflict resolution skills and serve as a resource for teachers who may not be as familiar with robotics.

“We are there to close the gap because we have the engineering background to answer questions and know what will work and what won’t work and help the kids come to a solution and a product,”

see ROBOTS, page 6

The College of Engineering’s Society of Peer Mentors helps students at the 2017 Bayou Regional FIRST Robotics Program.

courtesy of KARL SCHULZE

page 4

Thursday, March 30, 2017

BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY

Broome transition team highlights millennial issues

BY KATIE GAGLIANO @katie_gagliano A team of collegians and young professionals wants to make Baton Rouge a hub for millennials.

On March 15, Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome’s transition team released over a dozen recommendation reports, each containing suggestions for how the new administration can improve quality of life in the city-parish.

The reports covered a range of issues, including youth mentorship and career development programs, transportation and increased mobility and equal economic opportunity.

Broome’s 16-person millennial agenda team focused its efforts around four key ideas: reform, reinvigorate, retain and recruit.

Team co-chair Courtney Scott, managing principal at strategic branding firm The Byan Group, said it’s crucial for millennials to have a seat at the table and assist in planning the future of the city.

“If you do not invest in any core group of people within the city, you’re going to disenfranchise the chance of collaboration and progressive movement toward the future,” Scott said.

“Millennials are a core part of change and invigorating the future.”

Scott and fellow co-chair Matt Adams, a Forum 35 board member, worked with their team to develop solutions that touched on the needs of each group of millennials, from current collegians to those in their mid-30s who are settling down and building careers. Scott said the team worked to see the city

from all vantage points — from the eyes of residents who were born and raised in the city to potential recruits in other areas of the country.

Scott and Adams pushed the team to brainstorm likes, dislikes and potential solutions before whittling down the results to a core set of actionable proposals. Scott said the final result was a collaborative effort. Many of the team members had little previous interaction and opinions varied widely, but everyone forged together for a common cause, she said.

Report recommendations include launching a city-parish wide employment website to connect young professionals to employment opportunities, facilitating alternative education programs for at-risk millennials and partnering closely with higher education and local civic and professional groups to leverage resources and opportunities.

The recommendations also focused on equity issues and improving general quality of life in the city-parish. The proposals focused on developing a racial toolkit to ease division within the city-parish, establishing a Young Professional Council to provide feedback on city-parish planning and investing in improved and diverse transportation options.

Scott said strong communication is an important facet intersecting each of the recommendations.

The city needs strong communication between the administration and the community, and regional stakeholders and interest groups also need to communicate in order to foster collaborative solutions, she said. This includes developing

a stronger city-parish social media presence in order to meet millennials where they are.

Scott said it’s undetermined how or if the recommendations will be implemented, but she said she hopes to see increased growth and opportunity for the city and its residents.

Political science sophomore Max Martin, one of five University students on the team, said it’s important the city-parish create an environment where the best and brightest want to set up shop.

Baton Rouge and many rural and smaller urban areas are seeing a significant brain drain, with capable, educated young adults leaving for bigger cities and opportunities, Martin said.

According to data from Niche, Baton Rouge ranked 90th among 227 cities for its appeal to millennials in 2016. Though the city ranked well for access to restaurants and bars and overall cost of living, its lower percentage of residents with college degrees, unemployment rate and low general safety grade lowered its ranking.

Martin said improving racial and economic equity is an important factor in preventing this brain drain and improving the city’s appeal. Increased transportation options and improved career opportunities open new doors for people of color and are good first steps to improving equity in the city-parish, he said.

While it’s important the cityparish invest in its citizens, it’s equally important that millennials commit to the community. Millennial investment in the city will beget even greater improvements, he said.

“Whatever you expect out of your community has to be

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome’s millennial agenda seeks to ensure millennials are involved in planning the city’s future. met with a commitment and an investment on the side of the citizen, especially for the millennial generation,” Martin said. “We as

young Baton Rougeans need to invest and lay stake and claim to our community as we ask for it to be changed.”

CAMPUS CRIME BRIEFS

University students Two juveniles caught trying to steal arrested for chalking bike at Kirby Smith Hall campus to advertise apartment complex Fugitive arrested in stolen vehicle in Tiger Band Hall lot LSUPD spokesperson Lt. Kevin Scott said two University students were arrested after they used chalk on University property to advertise for an off-campus apartment complex.

LSUPD responded to reports of vandalism at the LSU Student Union on March 22 at 9:30 a.m., according to Scott. As a result, University

students Emilie Lege, 23, and Paris Lamotte, 25, were arrested, Scott said.

The two students were reportedly seen using “spray chalk” on University property to advertise for an off-campus business.

Lege and Lamotte were both arrested for criminal mischief, issued misdemeanor summons and then released.

Visit lsunow.com/news for the latest crime updates

A 13-year-old and 15-yearold were arrested for attempting to steal a bicycle at Kirby Smith Hall Sunday evening, Scott said.

LSUPD responded to Kirby

Smith Hall where two juvenile males reportedly attempted to steal a bike on March 24 at 8:30 p.m., according to Scott.

The two juveniles were then

detained by LSUPD, Scott said.

Both were charged with possession of burglary tools and released to “concerned adults,” he said.

A 54-year-old non-student was arrested on multiple charges in the Tiger Band Hall parking lot March 24, Scott said.

LSUPD observed a suspicious vehicle parked in the aforementioned lot at 6:30 p.m., according to Scott.

LSUPD confirmed the vehicle was reported stolen through the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, Scott said.

As a result, Tracey Cothern of Greenwell Springs was placed under arrest.

Cothern was arrested for one outstanding fugitive

warrant, illegal possession of stolen things, possession of schedule II (6.8 grams of methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia. Cothern was charged and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on the aforementioned charges.

page 5

Thursday, March 30, 2017 STUDENT LIFE

Alyssa Ceasar crowned Miss LSU-USA at 19th annual pageant

BY EVAN SAACKS @evansaacks Delta Zeta hosted the 19th annual Miss LSU-USA pageant March 26, crowning psychology senior Alyssa Ceasar Miss LSU-USA 2017.

Delta Zeta hosts the pageant every year as a charity event.

Philanthropies supported by the chapter include The Emerge Center, St. Lillian Academy and the Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area. The pageant has grossed more than $400,000 over the past decade, including $97,000 from the 2016 pageant alone.

The pageant began with an opening statement from emcee Candice Marie Bennett, former NFL cheerleader and Miss Louisiana-USA 2015. The field of contestants was composed of 19 University students of varying ages and fields of study.

After introducing themselves and their interests, they each took turns modeling in swimsuits and evening gowns while Bennett read their respective hobbies and life mottos to the audience.

The judges were five prominent figures in the Baton Rouge and the University communities selected by the pageant committee. One of the

KELLY MCDUFF / The Daily Reveille

The winner of the 2017 Miss LSU-USA Pageant, psychology senior Alyssa Ceasar, poses with the past four winners on March 26 in the Student Union. judges, LSUsports.net reporter Emily Dixon, had never been a pageant judge before and said she was surprised to learn how much went into the show beyond looks.

“There’s a lot of things these girls do outside in

their community and in the interview process that also factors into the winners,” Dixon said. “It’s not just the swimsuit competitions or the evening gowns. It’s the fullrounded young woman. That really opened my eyes to what

it’s all about in the pageant.”

In addition to the judges’ scores, the pageant held an online vote in the weeks leading up to the event and took those scores into consideration.

Before announcing Miss LSU-USA, the awards

for Most Photogenic, Miss Congeniality, Fan Favorite, Best Interview, Best Swimsuit and Best Evening Gown were given out.

After narrowing the field down to five finalists, Bennett announced the runners-up in reverse order with Ceasar being crowned Miss LSU-USA 2017. Ceasar spent nearly half an hour taking pictures with friends and family after receiving her crown and still could barely put into words what the achievement meant to her.

“Pure shock. I am honestly speechless,” Ceasar said. She went on to explain the importance of pageants, saying “they are empowering for women. It shows people that pageantry isn’t all just about who’s beautiful. It’s about who’s beautiful on the inside as well.”

Ceasar, a Lake Charles native, is the recruitment chair of Pi Beta Phi and the assistant director of Organizational Outreach for LSU Student Government. She plans to use her platform to raise awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving after recently losing a friend to an accident.

She also plans on advocating for mental health awareness and ending sexual violence on college campuses.

TECHNOLOGY

University, BREC partner for NanoDays event at Highland Park Observatory Nanoscience displays encourage STEM interest

BY KATHERINE ROBERTS @krobe844 The University partnered with BREC Parks for a kidfriendly NanoDays event March 25 at the Highland Road Park Observatory to teach the public basic science concepts.

NanoDays is an annual “nationwide festival of programs about nanoscale science and engineering” and the potential future uses of nanotechnology, according to a news release from the LSU College of Science’s Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Assistant physics professor Juana Moreno provided several interactive presentations, including a kinetic versus regular sand activity and a demonstration to show how interacting with liquid crystals that are found in devices like TVs and cell phones can change their colors.

A nanometer is one billionth of a meter, Moreno said.

People use devices every day that involve the nanoscale and do not realize it, which is why there are NanoDays

to teach the community what event. Observatory manager happens at the nanoscale, Christopher Kersey said the Moreno said.

Department of Physics and As“It’s to make people more tronomy owns the telescopes familiar with this technology,” in the building while BREC Moreno said. “People use it manages the observatory.

NanoDays is just one of the every day, but they don’t realize the science behind it. [We events BREC hosts at this obwant] to educate more people servatory. Other events include and make it more familiar International Astronomy Day to them.” and Spooky Spectrum around Simon Lorenzo, president Halloween. The observatory is of the Society of Physics Stu- opened for two major meteor dents, said they teamed up showers, and it is also open with Moreno to volunteer at the most weekends for nighttime event. Members of this organi- viewings. zation helped demonstrate exNo matter how much or how periments involving light and little someone knows about scimaterials at the ence, Lorenzo nanoscale. said there’s always something Lorenzo said new to learn at the goal of the NanoDays. club is to encourage excitement “It’s kind of for and interest a fun experience,” Lorenzo in STEM — science, technology, said. “I learn a engineering and lot. When I came JUANA MORENO math — fields. [to NanoDays], I assistant physics professor “A n y t h i n g understood the where kids are physics behind it, excited about science or math, but I didn’t know exactly that, they can come ask questions, or for instance, churches in mediwe can help foster that kind of eval Europe used gold particles to stain the glass. I learn a lot enthusiasm,” Lorenzo said.

BREC also gave tours of and I’m sure we all learn a lot the telescope in the main ob- from the volunteer work, so we servatory building during the both benefit.”

“People use [nanotechnology] every day, but they don’t realize the science behind it.”

CAROLINE MAGEE / The Daily Reveille

The Department of Physics and Astronomy teamed up with BREC to host NanoDays, which included demonstrations of nanoscience and technology.

page 6

Thursday, March 30, 2017

ROBOTS, from page 3 Gaydos said.

Schulze said the program mentors a total of 14 local schools.

They participate in STEM nights at local schools and activities the students have put together, like Snap Circuit, a simplified circuit board students have put together to work on. The program also sponsors Louisiana Art and Science Museum Day. The College of Engineering also has its own Supplemental Instruction program, independent of the Center for Academic Success.

The robotics program has particular areas of robotics that students learn about. The For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology program, commonly known as FIRST, has a Junior FIRST Lego League for kindergarteners and first graders and a FIRST Lego League for elementary and middle school students that focus more on programming and testing.

VEX robotics gives students all year to design, build and compete in a smaller scale challenge.

The FIRST Robotics Competition is an expensive event for students to compete in, and not every school has the funds to participate. However, the FIRST Technological Challenge is an inexpensive option for students, Gaydos said.

Karl Schulze, a mechanical engineering senior and Society of Peer Mentors Robotics co-chair, said he was introduced to robotics during his junior year of high school. He said it inspired him to pursue robotics as a career choice.

He participated in the Encounter Engineering Bridge program as an incoming freshman and joined the program, eventually making his way up to a leadership position.

“It was difficult at first, but learning through different leadership styles of how [students] work and what personality [they are] and how my personality would work well with them,”

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women in STEM disciplines.

“Even though they might not go into a STEM field, this gives the resources to kind of plant a seed in that they can believe in themselves, they can do what they want, they don’t have to be told what to do,” Gaydos said. “It’s kind of like an empowerment.”

The 2017 Bayou Regional FIRST Robotics Program was held at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner, Louisiana, March 23-25.

A total of 60 teams were present, from Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama, as well as one team from Mexico, one from China and one from Turkey.

Schulze said all the teams learned about the game for the competition at the same time and had six weeks to design, build and test their robots before having to bag up the robots and leave them alone until competition.

Schulze said the mentors were there to help out and ensure the robots were inspected before competition.

The top eight teams moved on from qualification matches to elimination matches, and each team formed an alliance with three other teams for a double-elimination bracket.

The winners were Team 3616 — Phenomena from Lafayette, Louisiana; Team 3937 — Breakaway from Searcy, Arkansas; and Team 281 — The Green Villians from Greenville, South Carolina.

These teams will go on to compete internationally in Houston, Texas, and St. Louis, Missouri.

Gaydos said she helped with judging at the competition. She said two awards will send students to the international event after the teams present outreach with STEM and volunteering to judges.

Team 1912 — Team Combustion from Slidell, Louisiana won the Chairmen’s Award and Team 3278 — Lambot from San Luis Potosi, Mexico won the Engineering Inspiration Award. These two teams will join the winning three to go to the international competition.

ELECTION, from page 3

University graduate and veterinary school student organizations.

The bill was passed with 78 percent of the vote.

Another ticket, Grad Gold, had students running for seats in the Graduate School, Paul M. Hebert Law Center and LSU School of Veterinary Medicine.

or veterinary student within an organization to a maximum of six to be considered for travel funding to academic events.

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Schulze said. “And if not, how can I improve that. Definitely getting out there and experiencing that was pretty cool.”

Gaydos, on the other hand, has had experience working with robotics her whole life. She said she had no intentions of getting involved with them during college, but eventually did, and assumed the chair position her second semester as a freshman.

She said she created and led a workshop to help teachers learn what resources are needed to further educate students based on what the students have expressed.

“Being a part of this has given me the practice and resources to be able to talk about it and communicate it effectively,” Gaydos said.

“It is honestly the reason I got an internship last year and still have it today. And I do owe that to being a part of this program.”

She said during her involvement in the program, she has been able to inspire girls to beat the stigma associated with

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BROWN, from page 3 from this and I can improve their quality of life.”

Brown’s research has focused on programming Darwin robots to serve as therapists for children with motor-skills disorders like cerebral palsy. Brown said the robots can be programmed to assist patients in physical therapy exercises by offering instruction, encouragement and performance feedback.

In some cases, robots may be viable alternatives to human therapists, Brown said. The need for assistance for children with motorskills disorders currently outpaces the number of therapists available.

Robots could provide patients with the daily physical therapy assistance they need while alleviating the load for families and therapists alike, she said.

Brown’s research interests also extend beyond robotic platforms.

Brown is currently collaborating with Emory University’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center to develop low cost eyetracking technology that can contribute to the detection of early onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Brown said the longitudinal study is entering its second year and new data is being collected weekly.

Brown said she designed the program as a multi-camera system that monitors eye gaze as subjects interface with a series of images.

The cameras track the movement of the subject’s eyes as they scan the screen, and the results are analyzed to determine if trends exist for people with cognitive impairments and disorders, she said.

The assumption is that people with cognitive impairments will scan the images differently when

viewing repeated images than someone with good memory. If the study is successful, Brown and her fellow researchers plan to scale the technology down into a mobile version, hopefully an app, that would utilize cell phone cameras to test for Alzheimer’s and similar disorders.

Electrical and computer engineering division chairman Jerry Trahan said Brown’s work adds valuable expertise to the college.

Innovation in health care robotics and instrumentation is growing in demand nationally as the need for improvements to health care systems and delivery grows, he said.

Brown’s research and knowledge of robotics builds on the College of Engineering’s growing health care focus. In the classroom, Brown’s background helps her expose students to the more tangible, hands-on perspective of what’s possible in electrical engineering, Trahan said. Having a new take on the field could help motivate and inspire students, he said.

Brown said she hopes to heavily involve students in her lab and research efforts. She’s interested in a diverse range of issues, and having a variety of perspectives helps bring new and valuable ideas to the table. She wants the students to have an equal hand in the research, and for her lab to operate as a team.

In the future, Brown hopes to continue diversifying her research, possibly researching obesity. There’s no set plan now, but Brown said she’s going to follow her passions.

“I want to be involved in things I’m genuinely passionate about.

That’s what makes the research successful,” she said.

page 7

Thursday, March 30, 2017

PRE-FILED BILLS, FROM PAGE 1 HOUSE BILL 135 House Bill 135, by Rep. Valerie Hodges, R-Denham Springs, proposes to prohibit “sanctuary policies,” or any policies that discourage the cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The proposed law will define any sanctuary policy as any ordinance, rule, law or policy that prevents law enforcement officers from exchanging information with I.C.E. This proposal will also prevent law enforcement from inquiring any suspect or arrestee about identifying information, including name, date and place of birth or immigration status.

HOUSE BILL 101 Proposed by Rep. Terry Landry, D-New Iberia, House Bill 101 will eliminate the possibility of a death penalty as punishment for offenses of first degree murder, first degree rape and treason. The proposal would be effective for these offenses on or after Aug. 1. Present law allows for either life imprisonment or the death penalty for first degree murder offenses. Treason is punished by death. In cases of first degree rape where the victim is 13 or younger, the district attorney can seek the death penalty, though this provision was ruled unconstitutional by the 2008 Kennedy v. Louisiana U.S. Supreme Court decision.

Students might not know that this event is an excellent opportunity to learn more about undergraduate research opportunities on campus.

SARAH FERSTEL

LSU Discover program manager

DISCOVER DAY, from page 1 students’ achievements, but to demonstrate to other students what they can achieve through research. LSU Discover program manager Sarah Ferstel said the event is a great place for students wondering about ways to learn more on campus.

“Students might not know that this event is an excellent opportunity to learn more about undergraduate research opportunities on campus,” Ferstel said. “Students are encouraged to visit to the event and talk to the presenters and ask them questions about their research experiences.”

Each year the department names up to 10 Discover Scholars and awards them a $1,000

travel stipend along with a plaque at a special recognition ceremony during Discover Day. These students are nominated by a faculty member to be evaluated by the LSU Discover Advisory Board, which selects the scholars.

After the presentations, the event will wrap up with a reception and speech from keynote speaker Ginesse Listi, the director of the LSU Forensic Anthropology and Computer Enhancement Services Laboratory. Listi is also an assistant professor in the Department of Geography and Anthropology.

Discover Day will be held April 4 from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Student Union and is free and open to students and the public.

HOUSE BILL 134 Rep. Kenny Havard, R-Jackson, proposed House Bill 134 to replace the state’s graduated individual income tax rates and brackets for 2 percent on taxable income. The current system puts a 2 percent tax on the first $12,500 of net income, 4 percent on the next $37,500 and 6 percent on net income over $50,000.

THE DAILY REVEILLE ARCHIVES

Those in attendance visit the different displays on April 7, 2016, during LSU Discover Day in the LSU Student Union Royal Cotillion Ballroom.

X-RAYS, from page 1 of x-ray light. When the laser is turned off, it controls how long the x-ray pulse will last.

Camp designed the calculations to correlate with Lund University’s experiments.

Camp said this new method will have different uses depending on whether researchers and groups look at it from an experimental viewpoint or with theory in mind. Lund University focuses more on the experimental viewpoint, while LSU focuses more on theory, he said.

“We theorists in exploring atomic physics think we have a unique use for it as well because it makes use of residences,” Camp said. “Normally when we study these residences, we have to study them on a background of x-rays. Now, because we can choose to send off light, we can send off this resident light and separate it from the background.

It’s background free at this point. You can get direct access to the light generated from these atomic residences rather than having to study them indirectly.”

Gaarde said working with experimentalists is exciting, as the University concentrates on theory.

“We have slightly different expertise, although from the outside it really all looks the same,” Gaarde said. “All of this has come together to make this kind of large scale comparison of what they can measure in the experiment and what we can calculate. The calculations and simulations really help us to understand how it works.”

Just like LSU, Lund University had several professors and a graduate student working on the experimental aspect of this method. Schafer said most of the time with high level research, there’s usually several people, and many other institutions or universities working together for a discovery.

Schafer calls it a “giant spider web” of people collaborating on research.

“You need as much expertise as you can bring together, especially in our field, studying ultra-fast light,” Schafer said. “There’s really the expectation that you’ll bring together theory and experiment.

It’s really hard for a university to support big programs in both theory and experiment.”

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page 8 MEN’S BASKETBALL

Benford hired to Wade’s staff

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Wade tasked with exciting students

BY JOSHUA THORNTON @JoshuaThornton_

CALLED UP CHRIS CALDARERA @caldarera11 Whether you like it or not, LSU has a specific reputation in the state and even throughout the country.

When people hear these three letters associated with the flagship university of Louisiana, they immediately think of sports.

Discussions about LSU are not related to academics, research or scholarship. They’re about balls, bats and final scores.

Athletic teams are what make the university notable, and no team is more notable than the football team.

For years, LSU football was the state’s best sports team, and the people of Louisiana rallied around their beloved Tigers.

These fans passed their love for LSU football to their children, culminating in the footballdriven culture which is now prevalent throughout the state.

Despite the state’s footballfirst attitude, new basketball coach Will Wade has the opportunity to change the sports atmosphere at LSU. It won’t be easy, though, especially after LSU basketball’s anemic 2016-17 season.

The Tigers finished the year a dismal 10-21 (2-16 Southeastern Conference) and missed postseason play for the second consecutive season. Like salt in a wound, this historically bad year was coupled with less audience

THE DAILY REVEILLE ARCHIVES

next in line Heading into final season, Donnie Alexander looks to follow Riley’s and Jones’ path

BY BRANDON ADAM | @badam_TDR Donnie Alexander is ready to follow the same path as Duke Riley and Deion Jones in his senior season.

Alexander, who will be under Dave Aranda’s tutelage for a second-straight season, said he is prepared for what it takes to start at middle linebacker every game in the Southeastern Conference.

“It’s kinda like a big role,” Alexander said, “But coach [Dave] Aranda got me, and Devin [White] prepared for it last year by putting us in those few games last year.”

Both Jones and Riley showed improvements in their senior seasons.

Jones went from primary contributor

see WADE, page 10

on special teams to being drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round.

Riley followed Jones and led LSU with 93 tackles last season and could go high as the third round in the NFL draft.

When asked about the comparison to Jones and Riley, Alexander said he sees the similarities, but the way they play differs.

“I would say they are accurate,” Alexander said. “Just because the things we went through in our careers up until our senior year, but when it is time to play, I think our game will be [kind of] different.”

Alexander primarily played special

see ALEXANDER, page 10

Will Wade has added the newest member to his coaching staff.

Less than a week since he was introduced, Wade has added former North Texas basketball coach Tony Benford to hi staff. LSU made the hire official on March 28.

“I am excited to have Tony Benford join our staff,” Wade said in a news release. “His experience as both a head coach and long-time assistant on the recruiting trail will help us in our stated mission to recruit the best players that want to come to LSU and make LSU a consistent winner. Tony is also a fine on-court coach, and his track record shows that he is able to develop players that can live out their dreams once they have finished at LSU.” Benford, who replaced former LSU coach Johnny Jones at North Texas, has a career 62-95 record.

The 53-year-old coach has an extensive basketball career.

He worked as an associate coach for Marquette in 201112 and was an assistant coach from 2008-11.

Benford was also an assistant coach at Nebraska and UTEP. Benford’s longest stint with a school was from 1998-06, where he was the associate head coach at Arizona State.

“First of all, I’m extremely excited to be a part of the basketball program at LSU,” Benford said in the release. “I think Coach Wade is one of the best young coaches in the country and having the opportunity to work with him and restore the great tradition here at LSU is something I am really looking forward to. I feel like his style of play will be very attractive to recruits.”

GYMNASTICS

No. 2 LSU gymnastics team not overlooking NCAA Regionals matchup

BY KENNEDI LANDRY @landryyy14 With an off week between the Southeastern Conference Championship and regionals, the No. 2 LSU gymnastics team had a chance to rest and focus on the challenges that lie ahead.

The Tigers are traveling to Lincoln, Nebraska, on April 1 for the first time in their previous 32 Regional appearances.

LSU gymnasts are no stranger to competing in the postseason, but the Tigers are strangers to Lincoln.

“We’re obviously really excited competing in an away environment — it’s always a new challenge for us,” senior allarounder Ashleigh Gnat said.

“We like to get into new environments and see what the energy is like and be able to make our own space, kind of. Create our own environment and really just get out there and show everybody what we’ve got.”

LSU coach D-D Breaux said that now is not the time for changing or altering routines, but for perfecting the little things, like landings and executions, and

making adjustments where they are needed.

Despite the Tigers’ aspiration for a national championship, LSU gymnasts realize they still have to have a strong showing in Lincoln.

“They want us to be exactly the same, and they want us to get better continuously as we go into the next meet,” Gnat said. “So this week, we’re taking things just as seriously no matter who we’re competing against. We want to be our best, and we want to use that as a spring forward as we go into

see REGIONALS, page 10

LSU coach D-D Breaux celebrates with her team after finding out the team will be competing in the regional competition in Lincoln, Nebraska, on March 20 in the gymnastics practice facility.

CAROLINE MAGEE /

The Daily Reveille

page 9

Thursday, March 30, 2017 FOOTBALL

Sophomore linebacker Devin White ready for new role

BY BRANDON ADAM @badam_TDR

counted on to replace former linebackers Kendell Beckwith and Duke Riley, played in 12 If Devin White had to pick games last season as a backup a teacher, it would be Dave linebacker.

Aranda.

The sophomore lineback“He is not the guy that’s er said he struggled with the [going to] holmental aspect ler at you and of the game, but all that,” White “I am [going to] teach he felt he broke said about his through in the defensive coor- them everything they Missouri game. dinator. “But he need to know so they “I had a third makes sure he down stop,” can play.” gets his point White said. “I across and he let had another stop you know what on the quarteris expected from back, so I was DEVIN WHITE you. He is a great just playing Linebacker person to learn my gap and my from. He is a gap helped me great teacher.” make plays.”

White credits Aranda’s White finished his freshmethods teaching as a big rea- man year with 30 tackles, two son why he was able to make of which were game-changing the transition to linebacker in plays late in the season. The college after being a running first came against Texas A&M back in high school. when White brought down an Aranda said White is Aggie ball carrier and forced progressing well but is in a fumble, and the second was a line for something big this sack against Heisman Trophy upcoming season. winner Lamar Jackson.

“He is setting himself up for With the absence of great things,” Aranda said in an Beck with and Riley on defense, interview at the LSU coaches White is expected to step up as Clinic last week. “I think there a leader. is still a lot of work to be done, He even received a phone but he’s got the mindset call from former running back to do it.”

Leonard Fournette, who told White, who will likely be him what it takes to be a young

leader on the team.

White also knows communication is key in Aranda’s defense, and he has no issues talking on the field.

“Coming in, I love the game,” White said. “So I talk trash to the offense all the time.

Another player that helped me with that was Jamal Adams. Me and him had a bunch of talks, and we still do to this day.”

Something else that’s changing for White this season is his jersey number.

White made the switch to wearing No. 40 in honor of Riley, someone he says taught him everything.

“Duke [Riley] taught me like he wanted me to take his spot,” White said. “I really enjoyed that because he wanted to see me have a bright future. I am going to do that to the next guy — I am gonna teach them everything they need to know so they can play.”

So far, through the first few weeks of spring practice, Aranda has noticed a different level of play from White.

“I’m a big fan of Devin,” Aranda said. “I think he’s matured greatly. I think he is working himself to be a team leader.

I know he has the respect of our room — he’s got the respect of our team.”

THE DAILY REVEILLE ARCHIVES

LSU then-freshman linebacker Devin White (24) practices football drills before the Tigers’ 42-7 victory against Missouri on Oct. 1 at Tiger Stadium.

FOOTBALL

After limited playing time, Rashard Lawrence set to contribute

BY SETH NIEMAN @seth_nieman Back for his sophomore year, defensive end Rashard Lawrence is ready to make a name for himself.

The 6-foot-3, 300-pound Lawrence said he learned a lot in his freshman year with the Tigers, and most of that knowledge came from a 75-year old defensive line coach by the name of Pete Jenkins.

“It was good because I got introduced to coach Pete Jenkins,” Lawrence said. “He helped me out a lot, and I think a lot of the defensive lineman like Davon Godchaux and Lewis Neal.”

Jenkins took over as interim defensive line coach when Ed Orgeron became interim coach in September 2016. Jenkins immediately made an apparent impact on the Tigers’ defensive line.

“He’s the best,” Lawrence said. “We have a lot of old film from guys that he coached in the past. As far as technique, he really sits down and explains to you what you have to work on.

When we get on the field, for him to be as old as he is, he’s still getting around good. He’s right there, hands-on, every day.”

JORDAN MARCELL / The Daily Reveille

LSU freshman defensive end Rashard Lawrence (90) persues the play on Oct. 22 during the Tigers’ 38-21 victory against Ole Miss at Tiger Stadium.

Lawrence finished his freshman campaign with a line of six tackles and one sack in nine games, which was in LSU’s bowl game against

Heisman-winning and quarterback Lamar Jackson of Louisville.

While Lawrence would like to have a larger role on the squad

this upcoming season, he has taken a level-headed approach into spring practices.

“I’m trying to start and everything, but it’s all about

making the team better,” Lawrence said. “With Coach Orgeron, we preach ‘one team, one heartbeat,’ so whatever I can do. We all have our different roles, so we’ll put it all together and see what we can do with it this year.”

Another mentor of Lawrence’s is incoming senior defensive end Christian LaCouture.

LaCouture missed the 2016 season with a knee injury, so Lawrence is excited to see him back out on the field.

“The last time I saw him in pads was fall camp, so it’s special to have him back out there,” Lawrence said. “We’re just trying to make each other better every day. He’s been around.

He hosted me and everything, so for this to be his last year is kind of special because now we’re going to be out there playing together. It’s going to be fun.”

LaCouture was recently awarded the No. 18 jersey for LSU in the upcoming season.

“He’s definitely deserving,” Lawrence said. “He’s a leader. He’s a top-notch guy and been a leader ever since I came here. I’ve known Christian for a while now, so he’s definitely deserving of No. 18.”

page 10 WADE, from page 8 participation from the student body that simply stopped going to basketball games.

If Wade wants to truly change the sports culture of the school and state, he’s not only tasked with putting a more competitive product on the hardwood, but also with energizing a student body that has never really seen a great LSU basketball team.

The 2005-06 season was the last time the Tigers made an appearance in the Final Four, a time when students at LSU were throwing rocks at their grade school crushes on the playground and eating paste in class.

However, after Wade was introduced to the student body in the LSU Student Union on March 22, I am confident that the basketball program can bring itself back to the top.

Since Wade’s introduction had more student attendance than many basketball games this year, I’d say many of my peers share my optimism.

Wade is well-known for his great work ethic and high-en-

ALEXANDER, from page 8 teams and had a reserve role his first two seasons and started the last two games of LSU’s season, after former linebacker Kendell Beckwith tore his ACL in the second quarter against Florida.

Alexander finished his junior season with 45 total tackles and an interception against Arkansas.

Alexander said both he and freshman linebacker Devin White have been breaking down extra film with Aranda and refining key details in preparation for the 2017 season. The two will be calling the plays on the field for the Tigers’ defense.

Alexander and White were named the starting inside linebackers by coach Ed Orgeron in his first press conference of spring.

The duo will be the most experienced linebackers on

Thursday, March 30, 2017 ergy coaching techniques. His teams apply heavy defensive pressure and are known to “get in the face” of the opponent.

The energy his teams play with has often translated to wins, and Wade’s teams are no stranger to the postseason.

He previously led VCU to a back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in 2016 and 2017, a feat that LSU basketball hasn’t been able to accomplish since 2006.

Recruiting is yet another encouraging aspect that Wade brings to the LSU table. In fact, Wade has recruited prospects from Louisiana before, most notably VCU point guard Malik Crowfield.

Wade will have to continue to garner commitments from the bevy of in-state basketball players in order to put LSU basketball back on the map.

Although it’s still too early to tell, I think Wade’s youthful energy, coaching savvy and recruiting skills will positively affect not only LSU’s basketball program, but also a student body that had painfully watched a fair share of terrible basketball. the roster sans junior outside linebacker Arden Key. Despite the young crop of defenders, Alexander remains confident in the defense, which is losing nine starters, headed into 2017.

“I feel like we have good players coming that can step in,” Alexander said. “And be just as good as the players we lost.”

Besides taking over as a starter, Alexander will have the opportunity to teach the next group of linebackers behind him. The Tigers are set to add four-stars Jacob Phillips, Tyler Taylor and Patrick Queen in the summer.

But after three years of waiting on for an opportunity, Alexander is prepared for his new role.

“My play is [going to] show it,” Alexander said. “I have been waiting on it for a minute. So I just have a lot I want to get off my chest.”

THE DAILY REVEILLE ARCHIVES

LSU fans cheer from the seats in the PMAC.

REGIONALS, from page 8 nationals.”

Joining the second-ranked Tigers in Nebraska will be No. 11 Boise State, No. 14 Nebraska, No. 25 Arizona, Iowa State and Minnesota.

Breaux said that having a third seed as the host can be a “dangerous” position because of the strength of the qualifying team.

“Nebraska is a really good team. We’ve seen them, not this season but last season, and they have talent, and so does Boise State,” senior all-arounder Sydney Ewing said. “So we’re not going in there with any type of ‘It’s going to be given to us’ attitude. We’re going to have to perform well and that’s what we want to do.”

LSU needs to constantly bring their “A-game” to compete against the rest of the country, Breaux said. “[You’re] only as good as

your next one,” Breaux said. “We best,” Gnat said. “But there’s no just need to stay in the process. number on it, there’s no exact defiWe talk to the kids a lot about nition of what it’s going to look like, staying in the zone, working on but I do really think that it’s in the your mental cues and knowing future.”

Building up confidence and that you’re really prepared when you step up to the apparatus and its competing to their best ability is key for the Tijust another meet. gers during the They know the significance of it.” “[You’re] only as good last few weeks of Though the as your next one. We the season.

Ewing said Tigers have had posting a good much success this just need to stay in score at regionseason, both Gnat the process.” als will give them and Breaux believe that confidence that their best meet and perception for is yet to come.

D-D BREAUX Nationals.

Breaux deLSU coach scribes Auburn, “You can have Florida and Alaa little bit of swagbama as some of their best meets, ger, a little bit of self confidence but the entire team has never been because self confidence is the first great at once. prerequisite to great undertak“I would say that our best ings,” Breaux said. “So you go in meet is an environment where with that self confidence, you’re we’re all relaxed and loose and just a little bit cocky, you’re setting just getting ready to do our yourself up to have success.”

ZOE GEAUTHREAUX / The Daily Reveille

LSU then-junior linebacker Donnie Alexander (48) attempts to drag down Louisville senior running back Brandon Radcliff (23) on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016, during the Tigers’ 29-9 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl win against the Cardinals at Camping World Stadium in Florida.

JORDAN MARCELL / The Daily Reveille

LSU coach D-D Breaux speaks with all-around junior Lauren Li after her beam routine during the Tigers’ 197.875-195.300 victory against the University of New Hampshire on Friday, March 10 in the PMAC.

page 11

Thursday, March 30, 2017

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MEN'S TENNIS VS. OLE MISS

APR

BASEBALL VS. GRAMBLING

2

5 PM • LSU TENNIS COMPLEX

NOON • LSU TENNIS COMPLEX

4

4/6 PM • LSU TENNIS COMPLEX

6:30 PM • ALEX BOX STADIUM

Thursday, March 30, 2017

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a

HOLI affair PHOTOS BY KIM NGUYEN

Indian associations from Baton Rouge and Lafayette come together to celebrate Holi, a Hindu spring festival also known as the “festival of colors” or the “festival of love”

page 13

Thursday, March 30, 2017

See more photos online at lsunow.com/photo Become a

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Thursday, March 30, 2017

page 14

SEC STANDINGS

BY SETH NIEMAN @seth_nieman

With six fellow Southeastern Conference opponents ranked within D1Baseball.com’s Top 25, LSU has a rough road ahead in the latter half of the 2017 season.

LSU has begun the season 4-2 in conference play, sweeping the

Georgia Bulldogs but going 1-2 in last weekend’s series against the Florida Gators, rallying in the last game to win 10-6.

The Tigers still have SEC challengers, including Arkansas, Ole Miss, Kentucky and South Carolina, remaining in regular season play. Here are The Daily Reveille’s picks for the SEC’s top 10 teams:

1. FLORIDA (17-9, 2-4)

Florida’s pitchers showed what they’re capable of against LSU. Sophomore pitcher Alex Faedo stalled the Tigers’ offense in his seventh inning start on the mound without giving up a single run and recording seven strikeouts. The Gators would have completed a sweep of the Tigers if it wasn’t for a late six-run rally by LSU in the eighth inning of the final game.

2. LSU (18-8, 4-2)

With the duo of junior pitcher Alex Lange and senior pitcher Jared Poche on the mound, and the bats that make up the LSU lineup, it’s hard to count the Tigers out following a series loss to Florida. Eight of nine starters in LSU’s lineup are hitting .298 or better, and senior right fielder Greg Deichmann is one of three SEC leaders in home runs with eight.

3. AUBURN (21-6, 5-1)

Auburn began conference play with arguably the best start in the SEC with a sweep of the Florida Gators, including an emphatic 14-3 opening victory.

Junior pitcher Keegan Thompson has the second best ERA in the conference of 0.70, giving up only three earned runs in six starts.

4. SOUTH CAROLINA (18-6, 5-1) Following a sweep of Tennessee and a series victory over Alabama, the Gamecocks have gotten off to a strong start in conference play. Junior pitcher Clarke Schmidt has an ERA of 1.12 in five starts, and junior infielder Matt Williams leads the team in batting average, going .358 at the plate.

5. KENTUCKY (19-7, 5-1) The Wildcats are coming off of a series victory over Ole Miss and a sweep of Texas A&M. Unranked to begin the season, Kentucky has taken many by surprise. Sophomore infielder Luke Becker and senior outfielder Zach Reks have taken control of the Wildcats’ lineup, batting .373 and .371 respectively.

6. ARKANSAS (20-5, 5-1) Arkansas swept Mississippi State and went on the road to take a series over the previously ranked No. 24 Missouri Tigers to start conference play. The Razorbacks have four batters in their lineup with a batting average above .316.

7. OLE MISS (16-9, 3-3) The Rebels are still waiting for their bats to get warm. Not a single batter in the Ole Miss lineup is batting above .286. Ole Miss went 2-1 against Vanderbilt before going on the road to drop a series to Kentucky.

8. MISSOURI (21-4, 4-2) After beginning the season with a 6-2 loss to Eastern Michigan, the Tigers went on a 20game winning streak, which included a sweep of Alabama, before losing to Arkansas on March 24. However, the Tigers have one of the biggest weapons in the conference: In-relief pitcher TJ Sikkema has a 5-0 record in 32 and one-third innings and has pitched with 49 strikeouts.

9. MISSISSIPPI STATE (16-10, 3-3) The Bulldogs have the SEC’s top two leaders in batting average, Brent Rooker and Jake Mangum, batting .427 and .407 respectively. After getting swept by Arkansas on the road, Mississippi State turned things around with a sweep of Tennessee.

10. VANDERBILT (17-9, 3-3) The Commodores have two aces that have led them thus far on the mound. Patrick Raby and Drake Fellows currently sit within the top 10 ERAs of the SEC. Vanderbilt began conference play with a series loss to Ole Miss, but responded by going 2-1 against Texas A&M. The Commodores are known as a consistent force within the SEC East.

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Entertainment

page 15 MUSIC

Smooth Raps

Former University student has completed over 30 tracks, performs at local venues

Ebb and Flow Fest features music, art

BY KENNEDI WALKER @kennedibw photo by JORDAN MARCELL / The Daily Reveille

STORY BY YSABELLA RAMIREZ @ysaram97 Baton Rouge’s local music scene offers many bands for people to enjoy, but rappers are also an important element. Former University student Joshua Henderson, also known as _thesmoothcat, is definitely one to watch.

His chosen name, _thesmoothcat, can be traced back to Henderson’s childhood. He spent a lot of time in the highend shoe store his father managed and said the smooth jazz playing from the speakers left a profound impact on him and ultimately helped form his rap style.

He first considered music as a career on an eighth grade field trip to Washington, D.C., where his good friend

Julian asked if he thought they could be rappers.

Julian referenced Lupe Fiasco and stated that if he could do it, they could, too. Even though this was said jokingly, the duo began to keep a notebook full of their written raps and would recite them at lunchtime to other classmates. Henderson points to this as the start of it all.

“Luckily it wasn’t until two years ago that I dropped anything because everything before that would’ve been so garbage,” Henderson said. “It takes time to develop.”

Baton Rouge’s first Ebb and Flow Festival, a free arts and music festival, will be held April 1-2.

The Ebb and Flow Festival, located on the riverfront downtown, will be kicking off the April festival scene. In the coming weeks, Louisiana will be home to larger music festivals like the French Quarter Festival, the Baton Rouge Blues Festival and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

This two-day festival, in its inaugural year, is based on the long-running Fest for All. The Ebb and Flow Festival gives Fest for All a modern twist.

The festival will include a diverse music lineup, representing a wide variety of artists. The headlining acts are Tab Benoit and funk band Cameo.

“This event includes many interactive components from the arts, water ecology, humanities and science sectors,” said Arts Council President and CEO Renee Chatelain. “Audiences can participate in makerspaces [and] dance to the diverse array of music on three stages throughout the area.”

see _THESMOOTHCAT, page 18 see EBB AND FLOW page 18

FILM

University film committee to present at Take 3 Film Festival

BY ABBIE SHULL @AbbieLJ This year, the University Film Committee produced its own short film, “We’re Together,” which will be presented at the Take 3 Film Festival on April 30.

The festival has expanded this year and is now more educational and experience-based.

Take Film festivals set out to promote and celebrate the films of all University students and alumni.

On the day of the festival, workshops will be held by representatives from Canon, adjunct professor and “Stranger Things” star Joe Chrest and several other industry professionals.

The festival’s judging panel will consist of four film professionals from across the country.

This will be the students’ first opportunity to show off their work to the industry.

Awards will be given for best directing, cinematography, actress/actor, editor, writer and best overall audience and alumni film.

Senior theatre major and Film Committee president Cole Barranco said throughout the event he hopes to illustrates students’ are professional capabilities.

“We want people to show up to see that younger, student work is not what they think it is,” Barranco said. “[The festival] pushes students to have a reason, other than class, to make great quality films.”

The Film Committee worked with Delta Rouge Films to bring together the film and television program as a cohesive unit. The program often coordinates with the production company to offer students a venue to gain experience.

“The goal of the departmental film was to give the students great on-set film experience

and the opportunity to produce a high quality product,” theatre sophomore Joe Carleton said.

“With ‘We’re Together,’ we believe we have done just that.”

Carleton, a producer on the film, was in charge of drafting budgets and organizing the crew and creative teams while Barranco acted as the film’s director of photography.

“I think we’ve got some beautiful shots, so I’m really excited to see it edited and everything,” Barranco said.

The director of photography supervises the film’s look in terms of light, framing and movement. Barranco said he is responsible for “basically everything the camera does.” He collaborates with the director to make the shots.

“We’re Together” tells the story of interracial couples and racial tensions present in society.

see TAKE 3, page 18

KELLY MCDUFF / The Daily Reveille

Members of the University film and television program work on their feature film on March 12 in Hill Memorial Library.

page 16

REV R ANKS JANE THE VIRGIN

The CW

The third season of the CW’s “Jane the Virgin” is in full swing, and it is by far the most emotional season yet.

The series has come a long way from its original premise — a religious and abstinent young adult named Jane Villanueva is accidentally artificially inseminated by her gynecologist.

Kaylee Poche @pochecanyousee

LIFE

Skydance Media

After a slew of award-winning movies detailing human conquest in space-related adventures, “Life” reminds us that the unknown can be scary and dangerous. “Life” does not equal the current era of space movies, marked by winning awards outside of typical categories like cinematography, making it both subpar and refreshing.

Ryan Thaxton @ryanthax

MORE LIFE

Drake

Drake’s surprising and sudden release of his 22-track project titled “More Life” has fans buzzing. Described as a “playlist of original music” rather than a traditional album or mixtape, the playlist is similar to Drake’s recent works. However, “More Life” is a step up from his previous album, “Views.”

Ysabella Ramirez @ysaram97

Read the full reviews online at lsunow.com/entertainment

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Latest ‘Power Rangers’ reboot biggest surprise of year so far

BY SCOTT GRISWOLD @griswold_ii “Power Rangers” is directed

by Dean Israelite and stars Dacre Montgomery, Naomi Scott, RJ Cyler, Ludi Lin and Becky G as the five rangers. These actors are supported by Elizabeth Banks, Bryan Cranston and Bill Hader.

The Power Rangers series has always been incredibly cheesy.

However, when the initial advertising for the film came out, it looked like Lionsgate Films was going for a gritty look to bring the series into the modern day, disappointing some fans.

While “Power Rangers” has the color palette of a dark, gritty film, it plays on the feel of the original show. But more importantly, the film is fun.

The film struck the perfect balance between being a cheesy nostalgia trip and standing on its own merit. I am happy to say “Power Rangers” surpassed all of my expectations, and the final product is incredibly entertaining.

What was most surprising about the film was its characterdriven plot. The film spent quite a lot of time building the group dynamics while also focusing on the individual characters.

I think the film took a risk by casting five relatively unknown actors and turning a campy kid’s show into a character-driven action film. But hats off to the filmmakers, because they pulled it off. The five rangers stole the show, despite not appearing in their iconic armor until late into the film.

The chemistry among the actors was apparent on screen, and each character had at least one memorable moment in the film.

While the plot didn’t break new ground, there were a handful of moments when the film went in a different direction than I was expecting. The film managed to subvert a handful of tired tropes that too often turn a film into a predictable story.

Another quality aspect of the film was its cinematography. The way the camera moved around the scene kept the audience interested in the film, and it refrained from the trend of choppy editing to hide an actor’s lack of fighting skills.

The pacing of the first

two acts was well done. The filmmakers had a sense of when to slow down and speed up the plot to keep the audience’s attention.

While there were no glaring flaws in the film, the pacing of the third act felt rushed. A common way to tell an origin story is to keep the villain’s plan small and contained and allow room for the character to grow without spending too much time building up to the climax of the villain’s plan.

The first “Iron Man” film is a good example of this. The villain tests the character, but the stakes are more personal.

“Power Rangers” went straight to saving all of humanity, and there was no time for buildup to those stakes, leaving the third act feeling rushed.

Another issue was Banks’ performance as villain Rita Repulsa. While the rest of the cast went for more serious portrayals of their characters, Banks gave a performance that might

have been straight out of the ’90s show.

While her performance was not bad or unenjoyable, it caused an awkward tonal clash against the rest of the film.

Even before the box office success of the film, Lionsgate planned to turn “Power Rangers” into a series.

Producer Haim Saban said in a Variety interview that they have plans to make a six-movie story arc. However, the film avoided devolving into blatant sequel-bait.

“Power Rangers” told its story to completion and can easily stand on its own as a film.

While there were hints at sequels sprinkled throughout the film, there were no loose ends in the plot, and everything was resolved.

“Power Rangers” is an entertaining film that surpassed many expectations. It plays on the nostalgia factor but never overstays its welcome.

courtesy of LIONSGATE

page 17

Thursday, March 30, 2017

WHAT’S SPINNING AT @KLSURadio

NEW MUSIC

“Hot Thoughts”

by Spoon

8/10

KLSUradio

klsufm

ARTIST/ALBUM/LABEL

status may be changing.

The real surprise comes with “Tear It Down.”

Here Daniel offers a deceptively simple resistance, declaring, “They can build a wall around us/it’s just bricks and ill intentions/they don’t stand a chance/I’ll tear it down.”

The lyric seems to be a reference to President Donald Trump’s planned wall, but it’s also designed to champion our own personal connections, something all of “Hot Thoughts” does successfully.

“Pink Up” is likely the record’s softest track.

Staggering percussion forms the heart of this song as Daniel whispers, “Everything you think we are, we are.” It’s as if he knows he has his listeners under his thumb, and we like it. Man, is he right.

Finally, “I Ain’t The One” cuts this persona back down to the raw sincerity and emotion that Spoon will forever embed into its works.

Personally, the song that pulled me the most was “WhisperI’lllistentohearit.” Spoon really shows off its sultry sound and sleekness. The song is effortlessly demanding yet musically involved. Pulsating synths make their entrance before Daniel and electric guitar join in.

Just when you’re settling in and hanging on every lyric, the rest of the band launches the listener into a fast-paced hot hit, complete with a perfectly placed guitar solo.

Daniel’s vocal delivery peaks on this song, grabbing the listener by the arm as he says, “Come on, give me some spirit, don’t take too much to get me excited.” The song continues to intensify until it’s end to carry you through your day with feelings of bliss and content.

Well done and press on, Spoon.

“Blossom” 4/10

by Milky Chance

1 Dirty Projectors/Dirty Projectors/ Domino 2 Tennis/Yours Conditionally/Mutually Detrimental 3 Jay Som/Everybody Works/Polyvinyl 4 Animal Collective/The Painters [EP]/ Domino 5 Hurray For The Riff Raff/The Navigator/ ATO 6 King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard/ Flying Microtonal Banana/ATO 7 Thievery Corporation/The Temple Of I & I/ESL

For fans of: Dr. Dog and TV On The Radio

REVIEW BY CLAIRE BERMUDEZ KLSU NEWS ANNOUNCER After finding success in its first album “Sadnecessary,” German folk group Milky Chance attempts to lure fans back with its new record “Blossom.”

The group, however, pulls away from its alternative roots and resembles something closer to pop, making some of its songs difficult listens.

The fourth track “Doing Good” begins with an interesting guitar riff, but quickly loses quality as lead vocalist Clemens Rehbein repeats, “I’m doing, I’m doing, I’m doing, I’m doing, I’m doing, I’m doing so good,” for 70 percent of the song. The upbeat tempo might make it enjoyable when sitting poolside over spring break, but it serves no

225 578 5578

TOP 30 PLAYS

REVIEW BY LONDON MARCHAND KLSU NEWS ANNOUNCER Based in Austin, Texas, rock band Spoon re-emerges after a three-year intermission and releases it’s ninth album, “Hot Thoughts.”

The lead singles “Hot Thoughts” and “Can I Sit Next To You” both sweep the album into a discostudded indie rock vibe without changing the core essence of the band. Singer Britt Daniel’s sleek, sexy vocals gorgeously chant “Hot thoughts melting my mind/Could be your accent mixing with mine,” over ’80s pop synthesizers.

You can hear bits of Radiohead in the poignant track “I Ain’t the One,” while the band tries it’s hand at disco on “First Caress,” a tune made for dance floor featuring vocals from Sharon Van Etten.

I must say, this is Spoon’s first time introducing some dynamic new ideas. While the nostalgia of records like “Gimme Fiction” remains, listeners get the warm sensation that the band’s

lsunow.com

8 Thundercat/Drunk/Brainfeeder

purpose in nearly any other scenario.

However, some tracks on “Blossom” do return to the group’s origins. The title track has a catchy beat and takes after what made earlier songs like “Stolen Dance” such hits. Showing off Rehbein’s unique, raspy voice, the catchy track reminds listeners why they liked Milky Chance in the first place.

“Blossom” lacks lyrical depth, but what makes it worth listening to at least once is Rehbein’s distinguishable vocal tone. Songs like “Firebird,” “Stay” and “Piano Song” exemplify those vocals beautifully.

Milky Chance is at its peak when playing

softer, acoustic songs, which is why the deluxe version of “Blossom” is the way to go. With six bonus tracks featuring acoustic versions of songs on the album, listeners get the raw sounds that first gave Milky Chance its popularity.

This album is best paired with a sunny spring day, but I wouldn’t waste time listening for quality. However, I have to give Milky Chance props for recording “Blossom” with live instruments instead of sampling sounds like on “Sadnecessary.” It truly gives the record a more organic feel.

For fans of: Alt-J, The Lumineers and Glass Animals

9 Laura Marling/Semper Femina/More Alarming 10 Ne-Hi/Offers/Grand Jury 11 Bleached/Can You Deal?/Dead Oceans 12 Karriem Riggins/Headnod Suite/ Stones Throw 13 Conor Oberst/Salutations/Nonesuch 14 Los Campesinos/Sick Scenes/Wichita 15 Dude York/Sincerely/Hardly Art

WHAT WE’RE PLAYING

16 Tim Darcy/Saturday Night/Jagjaguwar 17 The Shins/Heartworms/Columbia 18 Real Estate/In Mind/Domino 19 Clap Your Hands Say Yeah/The Tourist/ Wichita 20 Spoon/Hot Thoughts/Matador 21 Maggie Rogers/Now That The Light Is Fading/Capitol 22 Stef Chura/Messes/Urinal Cake

The Digital Skyline brings you the best in synthwave and electro-pop, and no other artist combines the two quite as well as FM-84. This west coast neon dream debuted its first full-length album “Atlas” last year. The record earned itself a spot on the charts, especially on tracks like “Don’t Wanna Change Your Mind” and “Arcade Summer.” Tune in to 91.1 KLSU to hear a few of the band’s earlier singles and more.

While Prince himself doesn’t fit into the Femme FM lineup, a sick cover of one of his greatest hits definitely does.

Shilpa Ray goes beyond doing the late legend justice on her rendition of “When Doves Cry.” She creates a whole new world within the song and trades in the shredding interludes for a darker, more minimal synth sound. Vocals pay homage to the Prince original while sounding much more dire, carrying a heavy weight unheard of on an ’80s pop radio hit. Released as a single with a cover designed as her own spin on the iconic “Purple Rain,” Shilpa Ray’s “When Doves Cry” is all that a Prince tribute could hope to be.

Sleep, dream, wake up, and jam out with some ripping electric melodies from Pepe Deluxé first thing in the morning. I’ll be showcasing my favorite track from this Finnish electronic band, “The Storm.” This song has big band jazz rhythms mixed with a booming chorus and electric guitar to help start your day like a king. It feels vintage and sounds like the distorted ’60s. Join me for a shot of musical espresso and kick start your Friday’s Eve.

DJ Outrun

Cherry Bomb

Traffic Cop

HEAR IT ON THE DIGITAL SKYLINE SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 7 TO 9 P.M.

HEAR IT ON FEMME FM (FEMALE ARTISTS) FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 9 TO 11 P.M.

HOST OF TRAFFIC REPORT TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, 6 TO 9 A.M.

23 Froth/Outside (Briefly)/Self-Released 24 Why?/Moh Lhean/Joyful Noise 25 Pissed Jeans/Why Love Now/Sub Pop 26 Alex G/Rocket [Advance Tracks]/ Domino 27 King Woman/Created In The Image Of Suffering/Relapse 28 Ty Segall/Ty Segall/Drag City 29 Ron Gallo/Heavy Meta/New West 30 The Shacks/The Shacks [EP]

UPCOMING SHOWS THURSDAY

30

mar

JACK ELLIS PRESENTS: WOUNDED DOVES, _THESMOOTHCAT, QUASH AND MORE// SPANISH MOON 7:30 P.M.

FRIDAY

31

mar

HIPPIE SABOTAGE, KUR, LOMEYN// REPUBLIC NOLA 9 P.M.

SATURDAY

01 apr

ALLAH-LAS AND THE BABE RAINBOW// ONE EYED JACKS 9 P.M.

Catch Los Angeles-based surf rockers Allah-Las at One Eyed Jack’s in New Orleans. Tickets are $15, but you’ll also enjoy opener The Babe Rainbow from Australia. Both indie rock groups will carry you away on dreamy guitars and spring-ready vocals. If you’re into psych and garage rock, you won’t want to miss this one.

page 18

Thursday, March 30, 2017

_THESMOOTHCAT, from page 15 Only recently did he actually record his first song. He describes his process as mainly writing lyrics, regardless of beats or instrumentals.

Henderson considers his biggest influences to be Lupe Fiasco during his “Food & Liquor” era, Jay-Z’s “Reasonable Doubt,” Curren$y’s work ethic and WuTang Clan member RZA’s beats and production quality.

“I feel like somewhere down the line, I can’t really pick it out or notice it, but Kid Cudi’s in my music somewhere too,” Henderson said.

Writing all of his own raps, Henderson said he reaches out to producers he has met over the years and friends for some of his beats.

“I bought my own drum machine about a year ago to start making my own,” he said.

“I’m not perfect at it; I still have to get better with mixing and mastering.”

When he first started out, he recalls using beats he found on the internet, only to have them later taken down for copyright issues. Henderson realized this wasn’t a good option, and that he had better resources he could use for beats and instrumentals to accompany his raps.

As for producing and recording the finished product, Henderson said he does some himself but often employs the help of friends to mix

and master.

“Now, it’s all about the best quality,” Henderson said of the more than 30 songs he has completed. He hasn’t recorded everything, but many tracks can be found on his SoundCloud page or Band Camp (@_thesmoothcat).

Balancing work, school and other side projects, Henderson still finds time to always be working on some new music.

One day over winter break, Henderson said he found a beat and wrote a whole rap to it in an hour. He recorded it right after but said he felt that something was missing.

He asked a friend with talented vocals to come over and sing on the track, “On the Dash Pt. 2.” All in one day, he wrote, rapped, recorded, mixed and produced his favorite song to date.

“It was so spur of the moment. I really surprised myself and I like the way it comes together,” he said. “For doing the whole thing in a day, I feel like it’s really put together.” _thesmoothcat has performed at house parties as well as some venues around town, like Barcadia, the Culture Reggae Club and the Varsity Theatre. He opened for local bands Hydra Plane and Ship of Fools at the Varsity, which was Henderson’s biggest show to date.

His favorite show, however, was at The Howlin’ Wolf in New Orleans. In the middle of his

FOR RELEASE MARCH 30, 2017

THE Daily Commuter Puzzle ACROSS 1 Chances 5 __ it all; use up one’s money 10 Study right before a test 14 Ring out 15 More sickly looking 16 Wahine’s dance 17 No longer wild 18 Soldier’s gun 19 Lawn trees 20 Said “Achoo!”

22 Most miserable 24 Compete 25 Wanderer 26 Hard to climb 29 Laying bird 30 Work 34 “Yours, Mine & __”; Dennis Quaid movie 35 Skirt’s edge 36 Colorful shawl 37 So. state 38 Moms & dads 40 Actress Arthur 41 Fate 43 __ uncle; admit defeat 44 Give, but expect back 45 Say something 46 Big __; semi 47 Unkempt 48 Acting parts 50 Lisa Simpson’s instrument 51 Unconventional 54 Piano student’s event 58 Objective 59 Large parrot 61 Outer garment 62 Exasperate 63 Portion 64 Plow pullers 65 BPOE folks 66 Derisive smile 67 Robert De __ DOWN 1 __ for; chooses 2 Martin or Cain 3 Knighted British woman

show, he messed up the lyrics, only for the crowd to help him out and sing them instead.

“It made me think, ‘Damn, they really know the lyrics,’ and it made me want to do more and make more music,” he said. “It uplifted me and brought me back where I needed to be and I just finished the song. It was a really good feeling.”

His velvety raps induce an effortless hip hop feel to his music that is enjoyable to hear. Henderson explained that he tries to go for songs with meaning and hopes to make a statement with each track.

“Even if the hook is stupid and catchy, I’m gonna make sure [I] put something with meaning in the verse,” Henderson said. “My main goal at the end of the day is to make songs that can help someone or that people can relate to.”

Henderson doesn’t limit himself to just his own music. He collaborates with other local artists, like Hydra Plane, and is learning how to better play guitar. Henderson is also apart of a clothing brand called Forever Dumb Clothing Company, where he gets to put his graphic design skills to good use.

“In the future, I don’t see myself just making rap,” Henderson said. “In 10 years, I might be making some soul or funk music, honestly. Once I get the resources and the know-how, I’ll be doing all of that.” Henderson said that while he wants to be remembered for his music, he also wants to

EBB AND FLOW, from page 15

by Jacqueline E. Mathews

The performances will be held on 7multiple stages including the Headliner Stage at Repentance Park, the Cox International Music Stage at Riverfront Plaza and a Buskers Stage at the Baton Rouge Dock.

Festival-goers will also be able to soak up performance art, dance and theatre, while interacting with sculpture from local and international artists.

Chatelain said she is most looking forward to the “incredibly diverse offerings and the way that the creative sector has enthusiastically embraced the event.”

The Ebb and Flow Festival will feature printmaking with

JORDAN MARCELL / The Daily Reveille

Joshua Henderson (_thesmoothcat) pumps up the crowd with his opening set during the KLSU College Radio Day celebration on Nov. 4 at Barcadia on Highland Road. make a difference.

One day I was just laying down wondering what I wanted to do with my life, thinking about what I could leave behind when I’m gone. And it just came to me.

Music. I want to make an impact on at least one human being.”

Henderson said. “I’m looking forward to producing that feeling.” _thesmoothcat is definitely one rapper to keep an eye on.

He knows how to put on a good show,and relates to the audience with his smooth raps and almost tranquil stage presence.

a steamroller, a human library, yarn bombers and sculptures from Icelandic artist Steinunn Thorarinsdottir, along with an array of food and drink options.

Chatelain said the idea for the festival, which has been in the works for a year, first stemmed from conversations she had with stakeholders concerning “the need to create an appealing cultural brand for the Capital City.”

The festival is in the first phase of a plan that will be unfolding over the next three to five years, Chatelain said.

The festival will eventually include exhibitions on barges and an internationally-juried design competition.

Chatelain said she hopes festival-goers “gain pride and confidence in their city” and that tourists see “Baton Rouge as a city in forward motion that embraces diversity, creativity and education.”

“We wanted the festival to celebrate the history, but also the forward movement of the arts and culture, as well as the water industry here,” she said. “When we began to discuss the way that Baton Rouge historically allowed Louisiana’s gifts to flow through it to other areas of the state … we wanted to celebrate all that is actually in our city and region — what ebbs and flows here.”

The Ebb and Flow Festival is free, and open to the public.

TAKE 3, from page 15 4 Coat parts 5 Shopping __; spender’s fling 6 __ for; bought 7 North Pole worker 8 Ozzie or Willie 9 Reverie 10 Cheese variety 11 Bylaw 12 Money donated to the poor 13 Ship’s pole 21 __ code; part of an address 23 Evans and Robertson 25 Archenemy 26 __ up; absorbs 27 Bulb flower 28 __ a hard drive; delete all info 29 __ Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 31 “__ in Toyland” 32 Unlocks 33 All prepared 35 Biretta or derby

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

©2017 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

36 38 39 42 44 46 47 49 50

Pigpen Tea variety Henpeck Child's game Dictionary Keep Apple computer Light sources Seamstress

51 Meanie 52 Aluminum wrap 53 Actor Peter __ 54 Marathon 55 Cab 56 Copycat 57 TV’s Jay __ 60 Bee’s follower

“We wanted to address tensions in the film industry,” Carleton said. “With a strong female lead, we hoped to accurately address both commonplace struggles and issues with casting in the film industry.”

Carleton said he hopes their film represents the committee’s stance on acceptance and diversity in everyday society and the entertainment industry.

“The film threw me into a setting for real world application that class simply doesn’t provide,” Carleton said, adding that the film allowed him to deal with “real-world challenges” and apply the skills he’s learned from his classes.

Festival submissions can be made until April 14. The only

KELLY MCDUFF / The Daily Reveille

University film committee will debut “We’re Together” at the Take 3 Film Festival in April. requirement is that participants are present or former University students and have made a film in either 2016 or 2017 that is between 30 seconds and 12 minutes in length.

The Take 3 Film Festival will be held in the Shaver Theatre on campus. Donations are being accepted to assist the festival and can be made on its GoFundMe.

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Thursday, March 30, 2017 MUSIC

Alternative rock singer Dustin Kensrue pursuing solo projects

BY KAYLEE POCHE @pochecanyousee California alternative rock singer Dustin Kensrue lives and breathes music in all of its forms, whether it be through his role as lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Thrice or through his various solo projects.

Fans will be able to see this passion as he combines Thrice songs, solo tracks and covers during live performances. He performed March 28 at the Varsity Theatre and will be performing March 30 in Houston at White Oak Music Hall.

Kensrue released his most recent solo album, “Thoughts that Float on a Different Blood,” in 2015.

The album consists of song covers ranging from Miley Cyrus’s “Wrecking Ball” to Radiohead’s “Creep.”

While Kensrue has been playing covers for a while, he said he decided to make a live acoustic cover album — which he admits may not sound like the best idea on paper — because people kept “bugging him for copies of them.”

He began pursuing solo works for similar reasons.

“I would write [different songs], and they didn’t feel like

they made sense with Thrice at the time, but I still liked them and would play them around,” Kensrue said.

Eventually, he said enough people started asking him to write more, so he did.

Another aspect of performing solo that appealed to him was the ability to perform in an acoustic, stripped down setting. “[There’s a] very different vibe at a live show when there’s nothing else really going on — no other distractions — and I can really control the dynamics. Both during the songs and in between,” Kensrue said.

While the songs covered on the album vary greatly, Kensrue said they were all ones he felt he could work with dynamically, with just him and his guitar. “[I was] looking for something that I could really push in a different direction and that could be interesting and exciting in a stripped-down format,” he said.

The album’s title, “Thoughts that Float on a Different Blood,” comes from C.S. Lewis’s “The Space Trilogy.”

“They’re discussing [in the books] how humans don’t have any way to hear thoughts that

they say float on a different blood,” Kensrue said.

Covering songs, he said, is a way for him to “embody [the song] and breathe and experience these thoughts that come from someone else and take them upon [himself].”

Kensrue said that while he listens to all sorts of music, his favorite current artists include Radiohead and The National.

He also recommends Tom Waits, whose music he’s currently making a playlist of, in hopes of encouraging people to give it a listen.

This will be a busy year for Kensrue as, along with touring, he is also writing for Thrice’s new record and working on a project with his brother.

“It’s not yet titled, but it’s a little more electronic, indie pop oriented, so that should be fun,” he said of the project.

Kensrue said that while making music, he is focusing less and less on others’ perceptions of it.

“I really just try to do my best work,” he said. “I feel like the less I’m trying to have some specific outcome, the better.”

The show will begin Thursday night at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased on the venue’s website.

courtesy of MYRIAM SANTOS

Dustin Kensrue will perform March 30 at White Oak Music Hall in Houston.

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A Thought to Remember cartoon by BETSY PRIMES / The Daily Reveille

LYNNE YOU A HAND LYNNE BUNCH @lynnebunch11 A 2007 study by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill showed people are more likely to remember things they want to forget the most. The researchers, who studied more than 200 participants, found their subjects could not intentionally forget emotional events as easily as mundane ones, especially when the memories were created through visual cues.

When memories are overwhelming, people often want to forget their problems. However, while forgetting our problems may seem like an easy solution, realistically, it is impossible to naturally forget traumatic events.

Researchers are looking for ways to help people forget bad experiences, but science hasn’t found a delete button to

eliminate certain memories just yet. Therefore, it is important for people to take hold of the past and use it to better their futures.

Dr. Susannah Tye, an assistant professor in the departments of psychiatry and psychology at the Mayo Clinic, says bad memories can affect people on two levels: the recollection of the traumatic event and the physical aspect.

According to Tye, both can be debilitating for the person suffering the trauma.

Rather than ignoring trauma, it is best to find other ways to cope in a healthy and productive manner. Tye suggests finding “a psychologist or psychiatrist with expertise in trauma” to facilitate progress, according to a 2014 article published by the

Unpleasant memories shape character, lead to greater appreciation of life

Chicago Tribune.

For those who can’t afford professional help, there are other healthy options to increase chances of success in the recovery process. For example, University students can seek out school resources like the Student Health Center. There are also national and local organizations, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness, that help people experiencing mental health issues as a result of stress or trauma.

For those who don’t want to seek help from other people, there are many internet resources about learning how to develop productive coping mechanisms.

Any of these options are better than letting your past stew in

the background of your life. To really move on, you need to come to terms with what you have been through and make peace with it.

Living a happy life despite struggles is no easy battle, but because forgetting problems doesn’t do any real good, it is important to make the best out of a bad situation. Living with pain can be excruciating, but it is better to work through the pain than to let it slowly eat at us.

As someone who has struggled with trauma, I do not try to forget my past. Though I once wished I could forget my bad memories, I realized how much I cherished those memories when I discovered I had a strong family history of Alzheimer’s disease.

Because I may lose my

memories, I understand that all memories, even the bad ones, are blessings. Tragedies happen to everyone, and although it would be easier to repress them, it is best to keep them with us. We all remember things we wish we could forget, but tragedies are what truly shape us as people.

When we forget the bad things in our life, it makes it harder for us to appreciate the good things.

If you haven’t lived through hell, then there is no way to know what heaven is like. If you have not suffered, you cannot know what happiness is.

Lynne Bunch is an 18-year-old mass communication freshman from Terrytown, Louisiana.

U.S. must take action to lower maternal mortality rate OSIE SAYS OSIE EVANS @osiezz The U.S. maternal mortality rate is a shame to the nation.

Unlike every other developed nation, which has seen their maternal mortality rates steadily decline for years, the U.S. maternal mortality rate continues to experience upward trends.

According to the Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, there are currently 18.5 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in the United States. This rate is more than three times

higher than the rate in Canada and the U.K., which makes us the country with the worst maternal death rate of all developed nations.

There’s also a large racial disparity in these deaths. Black women are three times more likely than white women to die from complications. For Texas, the state with the worst rate in the developed world, the situation is even more dire. Between 2011 and 2012 the state’s death rate doubled, hitting a high of 33 per 100,000 live births in 2012, according to a study published last year by the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The reasons for these deaths are complex, and researchers point to a multitude of contributing factors. For Texas, the main

causes are hypertension, heart problems and drug overdoses.

Some women’s health advocates point to the 2011 state cuts to Planned Parenthood and other family health clinics, as well as the rejection of medicaid expansion. Nationwide experts say multiple causes, such as obesity, age and unequal health care access all play a role.

However, not all states are suffering from this trend.

Alarmed by its rising maternal mortality rate, California took action in 2006 by forming the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative, dedicated to maternal and infant health.

It reviewed every maternal death for almost a decade, and identified common risk factors.

The state used the results

to create a training program to help hospitals deal with pregnancy complications and emergencies. The program has been remarkably successful. While the nation’s maternal mortality rate continues to rise, California’s is steadily declining and is currently at a rate of 6 deaths per 100,000 live births.

The successes in California and other developed nations prove that this trend can be reversed. With so much national attention on healthcare reform, it’s important to keep the health of pregnant women and the U.S. maternal death crisis at the forefront of public discussion.

Health care access is key to having a healthy low-risk pregnancy. Demands by some

politicians to repeal the laws protecting maternal benefits in health insurance and make cuts to medicaid could threaten that access for many lower income women.

Placing barriers on pregnant women’s health care is always unconscionable, but it is especially so at a time when the United States is already falling so far behind other developed nations in preventing maternal deaths. Citizens must remain vigilant in protecting programs that help pregnant women have safe, healthy pregnancies and access to health care.

Osie Evans is a 21-year-old English junior from Natchitoches, Louisiana.

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Thursday, March 30, 2017

Male bathrooms should be required to have baby changing tables HOUSTON, WE HAVE A COLUMN CASEY PIMENTEL @CaseyPimentel1 As if Ashton Kutcher hasn’t done enough incredible things for entertainment and the community, he has also played an important role in the shift from traditional gender roles to modern realities.

With help from Kutcher and his “Change” campaign, Obama signed the BABIES Act into law.

This act required all restrooms in publicly accessible federal buildings to contain baby changing tables.

The reality of parenting in today’s world is it is no longer just a woman’s job. Men are stepping up and taking equal

responsibility in an increasing number of homes. Our society has grown from the traditional ideology of men going off to work in the mornings while the women stay behind to cook, clean and take care of the children. In 2011, the U.S. Census reported that 32% of married fathers are a “regular source of care for their children under the age 15.” This number is up from 26% in 2002.

The importance of this gender role evolution is something we cannot ignore. The BABIES Act was the first of a hopeful series of events that will continue to nurture the long-awaited gender role transformation.

Although the Act requires baby changing tables in federal buildings, there is no law

stating the same for all private establishments. Every bathroom should have a baby changing table. Period.

There are so many times men have to search for changing tables and still come up short. Think about the single dads who don’t have the option to hand the baby off to their wife so they can use the women’s restroom. Think about how gay couples with children struggle to find a place to take proper care of their child. It’s nor fair nor is it right.

Doyin Richards, dad and blogger, has been an active advocate for potty equality. “Dads are more involved today than ever,” Richards wrote. “We love our kids and we want to have all of the tools at our disposal that moms have to be the best

parents we can be. Equal access to changing tables are a big part of the discussion.”

The solution is simple — businesses should be required to have a baby changing table in every restroom. According to Global Industrial, it costs approximately $200 to install the changing table and takes less than 30 minutes. That’s a small price to pay considering people will always need a place where they can take care of their children.

Although it is a rarity to find changing tables in men’s restrooms, there are also many women’s bathrooms that lack changing tables, which needs to be corrected as well. Forcing a parent to change their child on the floor or go out to a car is inconvenient and

unnecessary.

Times are changing, and we have to hold our government and businesses responsible to keep up with change. A future filled with involved parents looks bright and shouldn’t be discouraged due to inconvenience. No matter how long it takes, we should never stop pushing for advancement and never stop encouraging parents. So, you go, Ashton Kutcher. Thank you for shedding light on an issue that often gets overlooked. When it comes down to it, men’s public restrooms are not fit for the modern dad and we must stand for change.

Casey Pimentel is an 18-year-old mass communication freshman from The Woodlands, Texas.

Early American ideals could be used for progressive reforms RYLED UP RYAN THAXTON @ryanthax Today, many define the American Dream as the ability and opportunity to pull oneself up by one’s bootstraps. These same people idealize anyone who achieves such accomplishments, putting the lucky individual on a pedestal as proof that everyone else who fails at this is simply lazy.

While this inaccuracy has always plagued American fantasies, it was actually an achievable and accurate depiction of the opportunity the new world offered at one point. Yet, somewhere along the way, we forgot how this once achievable idea of opportunism and hard work became nothing more than myth.

Reading J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur’s “Letters from an American Farmer” in my early American literature class, we examined the mood of early America: what other countries thought of the world’s newest nation, whether the expectations for the new nation were being lived up to, and how a burgeoning society set apart from the rest of the modern world developed.

Of course there were contradictions in opinion: Crevecoeur predicted a dissolvement of religion while Alexis de Tocqueville, author of “Democracy in America,” argued religion would save democracy.

Yet overall, everyone viewed American democracy as a success.

Equality was the biggest contributing factor noted by outside observers. Tocqueville wrote in volume two of “Democracy in America,” “Because they sympathize with the sufferings of their fellows, Americans are quick to give assistance. Equality also makes Americans see that they are all weak and subject to similar dangers, so they tend to lend mutual help when needed.”

Crevecoeur spent a large portion of “Letters” giving an example of established Americans helping immigrants succeed. These examples created the idea of coming to America and gaining the ability to make something of yourself due to an abundance of resources.

Yet the main resource most people omit when espousing bootstrap arguments today is empathy. Crevecoeur describes Americans providing housing and lending land to immigrants who lacked financial backings. In one section, Crevecoeur illustrates nearby Americans joining together to clear land for a new immigrant family’s farm.

Crevecoeur listed two key elements of the young country as reasons to its societal success and profusion of empathy: the lack of class divisions and an abundance of land.

Granted, these characteristics are impossible to preserve as a nation expands in size and population.

This change is another

element many Americans disregard when mourning the change in American society along with empathy (and slavery and sexism which Crevecoeur and Tocqueville both acknowledged as America’s weaknesses).

We cannot directly apply one period’s ideas to another era hundreds of years in the future. With advanced technology and a shifting landscape, it is impossible for a new society to ever revert back to the old.

Ironically the American

Enlightenment occurred during the writings of Crevecoeur and Tocqueville and the birth of the nation, including the central tenet that ideas should not be given credence simply because they were traditional.

It is not wrong to try and recreate what our nation once had at its robust birth, and we should effuse some elements of early America into today’s America. But many conservatives who would like to keep America as it

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

The Daily Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Daily Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, The Daily Reveille or the university. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to opinion@lsureveille.com or delivered to B-39 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must provide a contact phone number for verification purposes, which will not be printed. The Daily Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Daily Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Daily Reveille’s editor in chief, hired every semester by the LSU Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.

was founded forget the country’s evolution and inventiveness is what made it so successful.

It is one thing to learn from history and identify things that once worked to make America such a revered nation, but reverting back to such a time is futile and counterintuitive to dominant beliefs during the creation of America itself.

Ryan Thaxton is a 20-year-old mass communication sophomore from Monroe, Louisiana.

cartoon by BETSY PRIMES / The Daily Reveille

Quote of the Week “Let us not be content to wait and see what will happen, but give us the determination to make the right things happen.”

Horace Mann Educator, U.S. Representative May 4, 1796 — Aug. 2, 1859

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Thursday, March 30, 2017

Familial support uplifting for college students in times of need HUMAN WRITES ALAINA DILAURA @Alaina_dilaura Too often I hear the plight of my peers. With no moral support from their families, college is a constant struggle.

College is a time of growth.

Or so they say.

When you’re in the heat of the fire — three exams, two quizzes, a tutoring session and a project all due the same day — the growing feels a lot like going up in flames. It’s hard to remember the end goal when you already forgot about the quiz due 20 minutes ago.

Not to mention the stress of remembering you have to work shifts at your actual job in between the demands of school to ensure you won’t be eating ramen for the next two weeks.

College is hard. They don’t tell you about all the nights you’ll spend crying, trying to hold your life together by the last thread of your greasy, unwashed mane. They don’t tell you what to do when you catch the “LSU plague” and have to miss a full week of class because you can barely move.

Like most high school students, I couldn’t wait to get to college. It was a gleaming opportunity to me. The chance to learn, explore and innovate thrilled me. The reality of college was much different than what I expected.

I wanted to be independent and self-reliant. I wanted to find, pursue and conquer my passions. I certainly wasn’t going to rely on anyone to hold my hand to get me through the tough stuff. I was an empowered young woman, and good golly, I was going to get everything I wanted out of college if it was the last thing I did.

The go-it-alone mentality

courtesy of BETSY PRIMES/ The Daily Reveille

gave me a harsh reality check my first semester of college.

I realized I wasn’t invincible, despite my prior assurances.

I needed the love and support of my family.

I needed my mother’s loving touch at 12 a.m. during midterms week when my anxiety was through the roof. I needed the consolation of my father, who loved and believed in my international passions, even when

I was unsure of them myself. I needed and still need my family, who continues to offer peace in the sea of turmoil I call life.

College students face countless challenges throughout their college careers. Self-doubt is inevitable as major changes, life obstacles and crushing defeats suck the life out of you.

I don’t think enough recognition is given to the families who try to adapt to meet the

needs of their students, whether by offering moral support or general guidance. Here’s to appreciating the support systems in the world who understand the persistent struggles of college students in their time of growth and discovery.

I realize not everyone is blessed with the same support system. Many people don’t have a network of supporters standing behind them,

cheering them on. It’s no fault of their own. What we can all do is recognize college is much easier when you have people on your team reassuring you. It’s as simple as lending an ear, a hand or a heart to a college student in need.

Alaina DiLaura is a 20-year-old international studies and mass communication sophomore from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Black organizations result of historical discrimination MY BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL CLARKE PERKINS @ClarkePerkins Last month, after a White House meeting with the leaders of several historically black colleges and universities, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos released a statement saying HBCUs are “real pioneers when it comes to school choice.”

Pioneers of choice … really? She says that as if black students always had a choice of where they wanted to attend school. I’ve realized over the years many people share that same misinformed mindset as DeVos — it’s believed these organizations were created

simply out of students’ desire to choose.

LSU only began accepting black students in 1953, yet people like DeVos probably believe Southern University was founded across town because black people wanted more options.

This assumption of choice is relevant to other institutions aside from universities, as well.

I’m affiliated with a few black-rooted organizations: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the University’s Black Student Union and Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Contrary to some people’s beliefs, I’m not a part of these groups to be around fewer white people — if that were the case, I probably wouldn’t attend the University.

I’m constantly asked, “Why

do you segregate yourself? Why are you a part of all these black organizations? What’s the point in them if some already exist?”

People within the black community receive questions like these all the time. While I have different personal reasons why I’m a member of each organization, there are three general statements I have in response to those questions.

First, these organizations weren’t created because black people wanted to isolate themselves; they were created because for decades, black people weren’t accepted into white schools, social clubs or Greeklettered organizations.

We didn’t aim to separate ourselves — we just created the opportunities for ourselves that we were

never given.

Second, for the majority of our everyday lives, black people are surrounded by white people.

It can be hard for white people to understand what it’s like to yearn to be around people who understand and relate to you, for at least some of the day, because that’s a given for them.

Third, why don’t white people join black organizations?

Why are we supposed to give up what we have? Our organizations were created because we weren’t accepted into others, and now they are established and prospering, though underfunded.

Our organizations don’t discriminate against any race; we welcome people of all colors.

The purpose of these groups

isn’t to “get even” — we don’t look at white people and say, “They can’t join ours because we coudn’t join theirs.” For example, the Black Student Union is open to all students. Many times, we express problems within the black community and discuss possible solutions. We’d love for all races to be in attendance for these meetings as that’s the best way to progress in society — through dialogue.

People must understand that black organizations were created and still act to unite and uplift the black community, as many times it seems as though society tries to tear it down.

Clarke Perkins is a 21-year-old political science junior from New Orleans, Louisiana.

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