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OVERWHELMING
EXPECTATIONS
LSU RAs facing pressures amid crowded dorms and COVID-19 restrictions
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LSU Res Life addresses allegations of mold outbreak in WC after student posts viral Tweet.
ENTERTAINMENT
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“It may be popular at tween slumber parties, “The Kissing Booth 2” did not live up to the hype of other Netflix originals.”
SPORTS
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After patiently waiting his turn, Myles Brennan is locked in and ready to fill the shoes of LSU’s next signal-caller
OPINION
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“The circumstances the class of ‘24 is facing will make their first year of college unlike any other.”
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‘It’s University mandated monopoly’: LSU RAs speak out against working conditions BY NICK FREWIN @itsnickfrewin The University started the fall semester Tuesday and is expected to break last year’s record number of freshmen. University alumna and former residential assistant for the University, Kate Roy, thinks that LSU Residential Life is unable to handle that many students properly without overworking their RAs. “The University doesn’t have the facilities to take care of 7,000 freshman.” Roy said. “Maybe in five years when those new dorms on the east side of campus go up.” Roy was an RA in Kirby Smith Hall from 2018-2019, and she expressed concern for the current RAs who have the usual workload but now also have the added responsibilities of maintaining rules and procedures implemented to keep residents safe from COVID-19. “The RAs this year have to do so much more than when I was an RA.” Roy said. “It’s insane because of how much the workload already was.” Both Roy and a former RA, who only spoke to the Reveille on the condition of anonymity, agreed that Res Life doesn’t adequately detail how tolling being an RA is in the hiring process. RAs are paid for 20 hours of work a week, according to the former RA, RAs are told that some weeks they will work more than 20 hours and some weeks they will work less than 20 hours. “I can’t think of a single week where I worked less than 20 hours.” the former RA said. “I’ve told supervisors I’m off the clock and been told that the last time they checked, an RA is always supposed to be there to help their residents.” RAs are expected to prioritize their RA responsibilities over everything besides their school work and should limit their involvement with clubs and organizations to fulfill their responsibilities, according to the Resident Assistant Employment Agreement. All extracurricular activities are subject to approval by a supervisor. First-semester RAs are prohibited from having any outside employment. The agreement also states staff are not granted any paid leave and their travel is restricted during certain times of the year, including professional staff training, graduate staff training, RA training, fall opening, fall closing, spring opening, spring closing and RA selection weekend. Each RA is expected to create a board for their residence hall every month that displays information that students could find helpful. RAs are also responsible for connecting with their residents and writing “journal entries” about how their residents are doing. Another RA, who also spoke
to the Reveille on the condition of anonymity, details how when he worked at the Edward Gay Apartments, they started accepting packages for residents, which is against Res Life policy. “We stopped doing it after we got complaints, but they told us they don’t want us to ever admit we did anything like that.” the second RA said. “I got in trouble a week later for explaining to a resident that we stopped accepting packages.” While Roy was an RA at Kirby Smith Hall, she believes that Black residents were not given the same attention as white residents by her boss, and expressed the concern that her boss was not treating students equally when she was being interviewed by supervisors to be rehired. Roy was not rehired the following semester, even though in her time at Kirby she had been nominated for RA of the month on four different occasions. When questioned as to why, her boss told Roy she isn’t comfortable giving her the reason why she wasn’t rehired. “I put myself and other RAs I knew in a group chat and said ‘here’s what is happening, and I’m going to the Reveille about this, and if you don’t want the risk of losing your job leave now.’” Roy said. “They all left within five minutes.” RAs are allowed to talk to reporters, according to Assistant Vice President for Residential Life Steve Waller, they are just not allowed to represent the organization. “There is no prohibition on them speaking as individuals.” Waller said. An Advocate article published Aug. 11 stated that RAs are forbidden from speaking to the media, “particularly the on-campus newspaper.” RAs were told not to inform the media and fellow students if their charges tested positive for COVID-19. Three students out of around 250 RAs quit because they were concerned with how Res Life was handling coronavirus, according to the article. The official RA media policy states that the executive director and/or associate director of communications & development are the official spokespersons for the department, and all media requests should be directed to them in crisis situations. This includes student organizations such as TigerTV, KLSU and the Reveille as well as full-time media professionals. The policy allows RAs to speak to the media in non-emergency situations but encourages them to use discretion. “This is not an appropriate time to air your disagreements with Residential Life,” the policy reads. “Any such disagreements should be discussed with the Residential Life staff followed by appropriate avenues of
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EMILY SCHEXNAYDER / The Reveille
Parents and incoming students unload their belongings on Aug. 17 at West Laville Hall on South Campus Dr. appeal on campus if necessary.” Regardless of the emergency status of the situation, RAs are required to inform the executive director or associate director of communications & development after speaking to any reporter. Not returning for another year as an RA isn’t uncommon, with Res Life retaining 40-50% of its employees, according to the Director of Residential Life & Education Bill Mattera. This year there will be 248 RAs on campus to handle the incoming freshmen class. Any RA that decides to quit their job will have to pay the housing contract cancellation fee, which, depending on the date it’s submitted, can range from $250 to thousands. This fee prevents some RAs that are overwhelmed with the workload from quitting their job. “That’s why people go through with it at the end of the day — the free housing.” Roy said. “If you try to quit and live off campus you have to pay them $4,000 just to break the housing contract.” Mattera stated that RAs who are terminated from the position do not have to pay the cancellation fee, a loophole that some students have taken the opportunity to exploit. “There is literally a culture of people who will try to get themselves fired.” Roy said. “I know of an RA who just let somebody without a Tiger Card into a room just so they would get fired.”
When asked if he has ever been aware of an RA deliberately getting themselves fired, Waller said he was not. “My best friend got fired on purpose actually,” a former RA said. “He told his bosses he wasn’t going to show up for anymore shifts so [they could fire him whenever they wanted]. He was not going to quit and pay the cancellation fees.” Providing access to spaces without authorization is one of the offenses that results in immediate termination, according to the 2020/2021 RA Manual. Other such offenses include involvement with a discrimination incident, sexual misconduct, intoxication while in public or working in an official capacity, consuming alcohol while underage or with community residents, illegal drug use and breach of confidentiality. A breach of confidentiality includes releasing sensitive information to the media or allowing the media to access areas beyond the residential halls’ public spaces. Roy believes that since the University implemented its first year housing expectation in 2018, it has allowed ResLife to not be truly concerned with its reputation because freshmen have no choice but to live on campus. “It’s a University mandated monopoly.” Roy said. “It won’t affect their business model if they have a bad reputation because you are now required to live on campus.”
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ABOUT THE REVEILLE The Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. A single issue of The Reveille is free. To purchase additional copies, please visit the Office of Student Media in B-39 Hodges Hall. The Reveille is published biweekly during the fall, spring, and summer semesters, except during holidays and final exams. Second-class copies postage paid at Baton Rouge, LA, 70803. Annual weekly mailed subscriptions are $125, semester weekly mailed subscriptions are $75. Non-mailed student rates are $4 each regular semester, $2 during the summer; one copy per person, additional copies 25 cents each. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Reveille, B-39 Hodges Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.
NEWS OUT WITH THE MOLD BY EMMA ZIRGIBEL @EZirgibel LSU Residential Life responded to a viral Tweet about an alleged mold outbreak in West Campus Apartments Aug. 16. The original post attached a picture of mold on a student’s chair. She said that was “just a little bit of the mold” she found, and that it’s “absolutely disgusting.” “So I moved in on LSU’s campus today and I found that my entire apartment, walls and all, were covered in mold,” @itssszayy wrote on Twitter. LSU Residential Life issued a response apologizing for the student’s first experience on campus and said the mold was a result of the air conditioning left on the incorrect setting after cleaning. “Our team has been cleaning and replacing furniture,” @LSUResLife wrote. According to Poison Control, mold, which is technically varying types of fungi, can induce allergies and respiratory conditions. Asthma may be aggravated as well as coughing, sneezing, and possibly respiratory infection. In 2019, a mold outbreak in South Hall caused several residents to be relocated to WCA. LSU Residential Life Communications and Development Associate Director Catherine David said the residential halls being at full capacity that year combined with the warm fall temperatures may have contributed to the mildew related work orders.
Assistant Vice President for Residential Life Steve Waller said the dorms are still near full capacity this year despite COVID-19 social distancing measures. Only 75 beds out of a total 7,000 are not in use. In this case, the mold in @itssszayy’s room grew over a few days after an A/C error that caused warm air to be drawn in from outside. “After the final cleaning, some apartments in WCA had the A/C setting switched from ‘auto’ to ‘fan,’” Waller said. “Any space with an imbalance of air temperature and humidity levels, like the apartments became in this scenario, is an open invitation for mildew to develop.” According to Waller, there were two reported cases of mold or mildew in the WCA that both stemmed from the same air conditioning issue. Residential Life made it clear that the conditions of both rooms were unacceptable for student living. “A campus space in that condition is not up to our standards,” Waller said. “We regret the residents had this experience.” After the reports, Waller said Residential Life attempted to rectify the situation. “We worked directly with [the students] to clean the apartment spaces and replace furniture,” Waller said. LSU Res Life adheres to all the CDC regulations regarding coronavirus, according to the LSU Residential Life website. Some of their cleaning measures
see MOLD, page 4
HEALTH
LSU providing free face masks BY MADELYN CUTRONE @cutronemadelyn
courtesy of
@ITSSSZAYY
The student announced that she found this chair, along with other areas of her West Campus apartment, covered in mold on Aug. 16
LSU is providing free masks to students, faculty and staff to promote mask wearing on campus in compliance with the LSU Presidential Directive on COVID-19 Safety. Students can pick up their mask at the UREC front desk or the Olinde Career Center during business hours. Masks are limited to one per student. The directive specifies that masks must be properly worn over the mouth and nose at all times when inside buildings or when 6 feet of social distancing cannot be maintained. Vice President for Student Affairs Jeremiah Shinn noted that while the mask mandate and COVID-19 precautions are new to everyone, it’s important that students are ready to comply when classes begin. “We need and expect cooperation with the face covering and physical distancing requirements from day one,” Shinn said. Before the beginning of the school year, Interim President Thomas Galligan said he is optimistic students will voluntarily follow the mask mandate in order to keep their fellow students and community safe. But, if necessary, the policy will be strictly enforced. If a student arrives to class
see MASKS, page 4
DIVERSITY
LSU student creates free hotline to end mental health stigmas within the Black community BY AMBER BUETTNER @Amber_Buettner A Black mental health hotline was created by and LSU student and will open to the public Sept. 7. Psychology senior Tai Lambert got the idea for the Black Mental Health Hotline when she was home in New York. She was inspired by a hotline for Asian people being discriminated against because of the COVID-19 outbreak “I noticed there wasn’t some kind of service like that available to the Black community,” Lambert said. “Especially with COVID, civil unrest-- having to see things on the news that are incredibly traumatizing and triggering.” Over 7 million Black people in the U.S. reported having a
mental illness in the past year, according to statistics from Mental Health America. Black teenagers are also more at risk than white teenagers of attempting suicide. Lambert said the cost of therapy was another driving factor in why she felt a free hotline, especially for the Black community, was important. More than 1 in 5 Black people in the U.S. lived in poverty as of 2018, according to the United States Census Bureau. And 1 in 5 people out of the entire U.S. population are deterred by obstacles such as out-of-pocket cost or finding a therapist who accepts their insurance, according to the National Alliance on Mental Health Illness “In my background men-
tal health isn’t something that is taken seriously,” Lambert said. “I guess you would say and you see the effects of it in the household but you don’t really see that outreach or that resources are being made that are available to our community specifically.” A study conducted by Ward, Wiltshire, Detry, and Brown in 2013 analyzed attitudes toward mental health treatment in the Black community. They found Black Americans, and especially Black men, hold stigmas against seeking psychological help. These stigmas can be offset by increased awareness about mental illnesses or exposure to others who struggle with similar problems.
see HOTLINE, page 4
courtesy of
TAI LAMBERT
The free, 24/7 Black mental health hotline created by psychology senior Tai Lambert will be open to the public starting Sept. 7.
Thursday, August 27, 2020
page 4 FACULTY
LSU School of Social Work awarded $2.5 million grant for mental health workforce A new partnership between the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) and the University’s School of Social Work aims to fulfill the needs of the Louisiana public school system. The ratio of social workers to students in Louisiana public schools is 1,277:1, over five times the ratio recommended by the National Association of Social Workers. The new Louisiana School Social Work Expansion Project gives the opportunity for graduate students to participate in internships at Louisiana public schools under the supervision of public school social workers. The goal is that students gain field experience from the time spent in-person on the job and Louisiana’s school-based mental health workforce grows with the addition of each intern. The program will assist children in high-need K-12 schools. Assistant Professor of Professional Practice Brandi Conrad serves as the principal investigator for the project. “The graduate student interns have the amazing opportunity to work closely with the students in elementary, middle, high school, charter and alternative schools in Louisiana,” Conrad said. “Our
students assist school social workers with both the mental health and academic needs of our students.” Conrad said the program will also have the state create a School Social Work Chapter of Louisiana. The new chapter hopes to bring in more resources and representation for social workers. “The creation of a new SSW Chapter of Louisiana will bring much needed resources to our school social workers in the state,” Conrad said. “We hope to increase networking, resources, workshop CEUs, consultation and supervision for our school social workers.” Another action the state will be taking is the creation of a new social work position within the LDOE. “The social work position within LDOE will ensure proper credentialing of school social workers in the state and advocate for policy issues important to Louisiana social workers providing mental health services in schools,” Conrad said. The program pays public school social workers to take on LSU graduate students as interns. One supervisor at THRIVE Academy, LSU alumna Chelsea Trice, said funding has exacerbated the shortage of social workers in public schools. “With the budget, you are basically faced with the deci-
sion of ‘Do you hire another teacher or do you hire another SPED educator or do you hire someone who can teach English as a second language or an elective teacher, or do you hire a social worker?’” Trice said. “The classroom sizes are already so large, so in many situations I think it’s a very difficult choice for administrators to make.” During the internship, graduate students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in their field of study. Trice said the interns do everything from group therapy to crisis response. “We do a lot of group therapy and they’ll help plan different groups that we lead; social skills groups, intermanagement groups, other social and emotional development groups,” Trice said. “They get experience doing psychosocials, which is how you get history-taking and background information, as well as symptoms a child might be experiencing. We also do a lot of crisis response and crisis management plans.” The grant will fund the program for the next five years, according to a press release by the Office of Research and Economic Development, and the school plans to continue with the internships this semester through the hybridization of public school classroom settings.
MOLD, from page 3
MASKS, from page 3
include disinfecting elevators several times a day, placing hand sanitizers at every entrance and various other locations throughout the building and disinfecting common spaces four times a day Monday through Friday. ECA and WCA bathrooms, along with community bathrooms, receive a full detail cleaning and an electrostatic sprayer disinfection once per week. “Students remain responsible for their individual room’s cleanliness and taking preventative measures,” the website reads. Additionally, @itssszayy tweeted that Residential Life told her they were trying to find her and her roommate a new apartment but they would have to wait for everyone to move in. The staff also replaced the couches, stools and chairs and cleaned everything with bleach.
without a mask, the faculty member in charge will gently remind them of the mandate. If they do not or cannot comply, they will be asked to leave the room and return at a time when they can wear a mask or face covering. According to the directive, if the student refuses to cooperate, it constitutes a violation of the LSU Code of Student Conduct and will be addressed through the Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability. “We want to give people every opportunity to cooperate, but we’re not going to do so at the risk of the health and safety of our community,” Shinn said. “We don’t expect perfection but we do expect students to be in cooperation with the presidential directive as soon as they’re reminded.”
LSU is committed to providing an on-campus experience for students that can continue throughout the fall semester. Shinn noted the increasing cleaning protocols LSU has implemented upon reopening. “We feel confident that we’re providing a very safe, clean environment for students,” Shinn said Efforts toward the health and safety of students extends to not just on-campus behavior, but activities students engage in outside of the classroom. Shinn said there are three basic guidelines students should practice at all times. “If students are wearing face coverings, washing their hands frequently and thoroughly, maintaining physical distance and avoiding large gatherings on and off campus [...] we’re confident that we’re going to have a good semester where we keep each other healthy and safe,” Shinn said.
HOTLINE, from page 3
supposed to launch on Aug. 1, but is now rescheduled to launch Sep. 7. Lambert decided to push the launch date when she saw that her volunteers needed more training. “I really want to make sure our volunteers are trained and ready to go,” Lambert said. “These are people’s lives that we are handling right now, so I just want to make sure that they have the highest quality of training.”
BY JACOB LOFTON @jacobalofton
The volunteers for the hotline are not professional counselors, but everyone undergoes extensive training on how to communicate with the people who are calling. “Some people just need someone to listen to them that won’t call the crazy for feeling how they feel,” Lambert said. The hotline was originally
courtesy of
BRANDI CONRAD
Assistant Professor of Professional Practice Brandi Conrad
JALEN HINTON / The Reveille
An LSU mask sits on a desk on Aug. 25 in West Campus Apartments.
CALL THIS FREE HOTLINE 1-833-800-2644
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED 2-6 CALL HOURS PER WEEK ANYONE CAN APPLY!
APPLY HERE: http://lsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3qvjvjsLITPo7jL
ENTERTAINMENT
REV R ANKS
page 5
MINISERIES
WACO
Paramount It is very saddening to see how many people died due to the lack of respect the government had for their religion. As viewers watch, the feeling of sympathy and anger will arise and you will soon be on the side of the Branch Davidians--or, at least, I was.
Caroline Hebert @sister_carols
MOVIE
SUMMERTIME
Chaz Productions Aside from the occasional awkward melodrama, Summertime whisks you away with picturesque scenes of the Adriatic coast. It also brings diversity into Italian shows that you usually do not see. If you are truly missing the beach and traveling, this show will cure your wanderlust.
Ariel Baise @arielbianca
MINISERIES
HOLLYWOOD
Netflix The Golden Age of Hollywood has always been known as a time of glitz and glamour, but Ryan Murphy shows the audience what would happen behind closed doors. The mixture of real life and fiction tells an interesting story of revised events in history. Murphy answers the question of what could happen if people of color and the LGBTQ+ community had representation in the ‘40s.
‘The Kissing Booth 2’ is better off as satire, not a romantic comedy BY OLIVIA DEFFES @liv_deffes Netflix strikes again with yet another cheesy, teen romance movie with a predictable plot and a happy ending for all. Not that we needed it, a sequel to the streaming service’s original film “The Kissing Booth” came out last month. Although it may be popular at tween slumber parties, “The Kissing Booth 2” did not live up to the hype of other Netflix originals. Elle (Joey King) is starting senior year and is dealing with big problems. Along with doing long-distance with her boyfriend Noah (Jacob Elordi) while he’s attending Harvard University, Elle also has to decide where she will attend college. She could choose to attend Berkley and stay in California with her best friend Lee (Joel Courtney) or she could follow her heart and Noah to Boston and apply to Harvard. This film, in my opinion, portrays a lot of toxic behavior
in a relationship. From Elle not trusting Noah to have a friend that’s also a girl, to Noah trying to convince Elle to go to school in Boston even though he knows she wants to go to Berkely, the two don’t handle long-distance well. I also took off major points over how unrealistic the plot is. I’m not really sure if this movie is meant to be serious or if it was written intentionally for people to make fun of. For example, Elle doesn’t look into scholarships or a student loan when her dad tells her that college will be a financial struggle, but instead, she earns college money by winning a dance video game competition. To make Elle and Noah’s relationship even more complicated, the new stud at school, Marco (Taylor Zakhar Perez), begins to fall for Elle after becoming her partner for the competition. They win the contest and share a kiss that Noah sees from the crowd which makes things all kinds of awkward.
The film ends with Noah and Elle making up after a whole school year of petty arguments and misunderstandings, but unfortunately, we are left with another cliff hanger which could only mean that we’re not done with “The Kissing Booth” movies. In the final scene, Elle stares at acceptance letters to both Berkley and Harvard before the movie cuts to the credits without telling us about her decision. We also see that Marco still has feelings for Elle despite seeing her happy with Noah. All in all, I would give this film 5/5 stars if it was a satirical comedy about teen romance, but it’s not. This film is so cringeworthy that I could not for one second take it seriously. Don’t get me wrong, I found it incredibly funny and easy to make fun of, but I’m not sure that was the audience reaction that the director was hoping for. I’m sorry, Netflix, but two is not better than one in this case, and we most certainly don’t need three.
Britney Young @byoun99
SERIES
THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY
Netflix The new characters were great additions,;there were some twists I wasn’t actually expecting and some much needed character growth. The show was good in other aspects, like the crazy but cool soundtrack and fun dance sequences. If you’re debating on watching the series or starting season two I say just go for it. It’s a fun ride. EnJanae’ Taylor @_queenet_ Read the full reviews online at lsunow.com/entertainment
COURTESY OF NETFLIX
Thursday, August 27, 2020
page 6
Thursday, August 27, 2020
page 7
How to Get a COVID-19 Test 1. Schedule an appointment by visiting https://relieftelemed.app.link/lsu. 2. When you get there, trained medical personnel will help you administer your nasal swab test. a. Remove swab from wrapper b. Insert swab into nostil and push until you feel some resistance, then go a little farther c. Swirl for five seconds. d. Repeat for other nostril. e. Place swab in tube. f. Place tube in bag.
27
EMILY SCHEXNAYDER
/ The Reveille
An LSU worker sets up one of the four LSU COVID-19 testing centers on Aug. 22, between the Greek Theatre and the Pentagon Residence Halls on Dalrymple Drive.
Near Pentagon Residence Monday -- Friday, 9:00 a.m. -- 5:00 p.m. Saturday -- Sunday, 10:00 a.m. -- 6:00 p.m.
EMILY SCHEXNAYDER
/ The Reveille
Student Union Tent Monday -- Friday, 9:00 a.m. -- 5:00 p.m. Saturday -- Sunday, 10:00 a.m. -- 6:00 p.m.
EMILY SCHEXNAYDER
/ The Reveille
One of the four LSU COVID-19 testing centers sits outside on Aug. 22, across from the Laville Residence Halls on South Campus Drive.
Across from Laville Residence Halls Monday -- Friday, 9:00 a.m. -- 5:00 p.m. Saturday -- Sunday, 10:00 a.m. -- 6:00 p.m.
3. You will be emailed your results within 24 hours.
By Food Trucks near Tureaud Hall Monday -- Friday, 9:00 a.m. -- 5:00 p.m. Saturday -- Sunday, 10:00 a.m. -- 6:00 p.m.
4. If you test positive for COVID-19, a contact tracer will call you.
EMILY SCHEXNAYDER
/ The Reveille
One of the four LSU COVID-19 testing centers sits on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 next to the LSU Foundation Building on Nicholson Drive.
Matherine’s at Nicholson Gateway *Health insurance is required; however, testing will be available to all students regardless of their ability to pay.
Stations sit on Aug. 22, for COVID-19 testing outside of the Student Union on LSU’s campus.
Monday -- Friday, 9:00 a.m. -- 7:00 p.m. Saturday -- Sunday, 10:00 a.m. -- 6:00 p.m.
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page 8
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THE Daily Commuter Puzzle ACROSS 1 Word before crackers or pop 5 Hidden supply 10 Injure with a dagger 14 Lamb bearers 15 Rudely brief 16 Gigantic 17 Poland’s Walesa 18 Recalled 20 Winner of 4 U.S. presidential elections 21 Groupies 22 Comes to shore 23 Blackish wood 25 “Death Becomes __”; Meryl Streep film 26 Gazed long and hard 28 Many a midwesterner 31 Desert refuge 32 Kid 34 Derek & others 36 On a __; impulsively 37 Incline 38 Radar screen image 39 Prince Louis, to Prince William 40 Berate 41 Birds in a gaggle 42 Thick sweet drink 44 __ wire; prison fence topper 45 Plague carrier 46 State-run game 47 Part of Poe’s name 50 Significant other 51 Monogram for Mamie’s man 54 “Nonsense!” 57 Gentlemen 58 TV’s “__ Bloods” 59 Self-confidence 60 Pile 61 Views 62 Grand home 63 Jittery DOWN 1 __-righteous; smug
by Jacqueline E. Mathews
Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews
2 Had bills to pay 3 Dwindling 4 __-blond; hair color 5 Leave high and dry 6 Minuscule 7 Weapons 8 180 degrees from NNW 9 Skirt’s edge 10 Large scissors 11 Rotate 12 Elderly 13 Pieces of furniture 19 Mix together 21 Opponents 24 Teacup’s edge 25 Sentry’s cry 26 Moms of piglets 27 CA/NV border lake 28 Warmhearted 29 Strong & healthy 30 Racket 32 Drain problem 33 Actor Holbrook 35 __ off; floored it 37 Falkirk fellow
8/27/20
Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved
©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.
38 Yellow Muppet 40 Catch in a trap 41 Fence door 43 Report card letters 44 Pester 46 Cowboy’s rope 47 Recedes 48 Valley
8/27/20
49 Elmer’s product 50 Primary 52 Boring event 53 Catch sight of 55 Record speed letters 56 __ number on; treat badly 57 That woman
SPORTS
page 9 FOOTBALL
MYLES AHEAD
Arik Gilbert. Gilbert was the highest-ranked tight end in 247Sports history and has already had a strong showing in camp. “I don’t think he’s missed a single pass since we started camp,” Brennan said. “He’s an outstanding athlete and we are very, very, very grateful to have him on the roster.” Senior safety JaCoby Stevens said Brennan has shown confidence running the offense since the start of camp. “Myles knows his checks, he knows where he can throw his check-down, he’s good at reading defenses, and he has a strong arm,” Stevens said. “Myles always had a strong arm, and that’s one thing
see BRENNAN, page 10
see ORGERON, page 10
ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille
LSU sophomore quarterback Myles Brennan (15) running with the ball during the Tigers’ 42-6 win against Utah State on October 5, 2019 at Tiger Stadium.
Despite consistently recruiting exceptionally talented wide receivers and running backs, LSU has not been able to field quarterbacks of the same caliber over the last decade. Until last season, that is. Joe Burrow stepped into the offense and took it to unimaginable heights. He put together arguably the greatest individual season in NCAA history. Burrow threw for 5,671 passing yards, which tied him with former Houston quarterback Case Keenum for 3rd all-time. He also had 60 touchdown passes, a single-season FBS record. Burrow also won the 2019 Heisman by record margin, becoming
the first Tiger since Billy Cannon in 1959 to win the award. The same trophy is not out of the question for senior QB Myles Brennan. Brennan currently has the 3rdbest odds to take home the Heisman, tied at 14/1 with Miami QB D’Eriq King. Oklahoma QB Spencer Rattler has the next best odds at 9/1 while Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence is the favorite at 2/1. Burrow appeared on the Big Podcast with former LSU basketball star Shaquile O’Neal back in April and was asked to share his thoughts on Brennan. Brennan was met with praise, as Burrow had high expectations for his understudy. “He can really spin it,” Burrow said. “He’s going to be a really good player. He’s a smart dude, can
spin it. I’m excited to see what he can do this year.” Brennan is hailed as a legend in Mississippi, as he owns every high school passing record in the state. He said LSU’s spread offense is extremely similar to the one he ran at St. Stanislaus High School. “I feel really comfortable with the whole playbook and reminds me so much of what I did in high school in terms of RPO’s and having that run-pass option and throwing the ball down field,” Brennan said in an interview Wednesday. “To just put the ball in our playmakers’ hands and let them go make plays is the biggest thing.” Those playmakers include 2019 Biletnikoff Award winner Ja’Marr Chase, junior Terrace Marshall Jr., senior Racy McMath and freshman
BY JARED BRODTMANN @_therealjarbear Ed Orgeron has seen a lot of talent come in and out of his program over his tenure at LSU. With a record-tying 14 players selected in the 2020 NFL draft, the Tigers continue to show their ability to produce top tier football talent. As the prep for the oncoming season continues, this year seems no different. A mix of veteran leaders and young playmakers to bolster behind has put the Tigers, who were ranked sixth in the Associated Press’ preseason Top 25, in a position to make a strong run at the playoffs this season, even with a harsh SEC-only schedule. Orgeron believes they have a keen focus on their goals. “I’m very pleased with the mindset of our football team, eliminating distractions,” Orgeron led with in a press conference Tuesday. He cited the ongoing pandemic and severe weather caused by tropical force storms this week as potential deterrents from staying their course. “Hurricanes are something we deal with,” Orgeron noted of the weather. “Year in and year out in Louisiana, and we’re still here, we’re not leaving.” Orgeron said the team plans to practice as normal this week until told otherwise, as they’ll be focusing on important redzone sets and simulating in-game scenarios. Luckily enough, the team has also avoided any major injuries thus far. The head coach has placed a
Myles Brennan ready to go as LSU’s next signal-caller BY ANTHONY MOCKLIN @anthony_mocklin
Orgeron Talks Up New Additions
MEN’S BASKETBALL
NCAA: Will Wade made ‘impermissible payments’ to recruits BY REED DARCEY @byreeddarcey The NCAA is alleging that LSU men’s basketball coach Will Wade directed “impermissible payments” to at least 11 recruits, ESPN reported on Wednesday morning. ESPN obtained documents that say the NCAA’s enforcement staff learned Wade “arranged for, offered and/or provided impermissible payments, including cash payments, to at least 11 men’s basketball prospective student-athletes, their family members, individuals associated with the prospects
and/or nonscholastic coaches in exchange for the prospects’ enrollment at LSU.” In 2019, Wade was suspended and subsequently reinstated during the Tigers’ NCAA tournament run after audio recordings came to light of Wade discussing a “strong ass offer” he had made to a recruit, widely believed to be now-LSU point guard Javonte Smart. The NCAA’s enforcement staff requested that the case proceed through the Independent Accountability Resolution Process, formed to adjudicate complex cases. NCAA vice president of en-
forcement Jonathan Duncan wrote in a July 15 letter that the Wade case met the criteria
required to refer the case to IARP. “Many of those factors are
Will Wade suspended indefinitely after audio recordings surface April 14, 2019 March 8, 2019
triggered by the actions of
HBO documentary, “The Scheme,” previewed audio recordings discussing recruit offers
see WADE, page 10
July 15, 2020
March 31, 2020 Wade’s contract was amended with reinstatement
NCAA’s Duncan writes letter stating case satisfies criteria for referral to the IARP
page 10 ORGERON, from page 9 key emphasis on graduate transfer linebacker Jabril Cox, who has more than settled into his own as the defense’s top linebacker. “When we left the field a couple of days ago, I thought he was the best player on the field,” Orgeron boldly said on ESPN 104.5 FM’s Off the Bench Tuesday morning. He added to those thoughts later in Tuesday afternoon’s press conference. “He came up with a great attitude,” Orgeron complimented Cox. “He’s focused, razor-sharp. He’s always studying. Very smart, he knows the defense. He’s very fast, I think Jabril’s about 6’3”, about 225230 pounds.” Cox played three strong seasons at North Dakota State, where he was awarded two All-American awards while helping the Bison win three FCS championships. He has been named to the Chuck Bednarik preseason watchlist, along with fellow LSU standouts cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and cornerback JaCoby Stevens.
BRENNAN, from page 9 that’s really difficult about covering all the guys is that he makes you cover the entire field.” Despite not starting for three years, Brennan said he has always wanted to be LSU’s quarterback. Instead of transferring with hopes of receiving more playing
Thursday, August 27, 2020 “Obviously, he has a lot of experience in playing the position,” Orgeron added. “He’s a physical tackler, he can key and diagnose, he can shed blocks well, he can rush the passer well, he drops in coverage. He’s a complete linebacker.” “What I saw on film was a big linebacker that can run, can hit, can key and diagnose. I didn’t know he was going to be that good.” Orgeron maintained that Andre Anthony and Travez Moore would be the two starting edge rushers, with Anthony at right end and Moore at left end. Ali Gaye and BJ Ojulari are following closely behind. Orgeron noted that Ojulari recorded four or five sacks in practice on Monday and that fans could expect to see him on third downs and in the Tigers defensive rotation this fall. Wide receiver has always been thought of as a strong position for the Tigers coming into this season with the return of 2019 Biletnikoff Award winner Ja’Marr Chase and seasoned veteran Terrace Marshall Jr. However, the Tigers are loaded
behind their two starters, with veteran Racey McMath leading the way as the Tigers’ third receiver option. He is expected to be the starter but is trailed closely by more depth in the likes of Jontre Kirklin, Kayshon Boutte, and one other surprise standout. “The guy that I’m really impressed with is Koy Moore,” Orgeron said, highlighting the freshman from Rummel High School in New Orleans, who shares his alma mater with Chase. “He has done a great job. I think he is going to have an excellent freshman year.” And the packed wideout room is not alone, because the Tigers have highly ranked prospect Arik Gilbert coming in to start at tight end next to them. He has done everything the coaches have asked for and more so far. “Arik is [a] type of tight end we’ve been looking for to stretch the field,” Orgeron said. “Yesterday we ran a vertical route right up the field, he beat the Mike linebacker, touchdown. That’s a dagger in the heart to the defense. But we can spread him out, he can play X, he
can play Z.” Orgeron said that in redzone drills, the quarterbacks have been finding Gilbert a lot in the corner of the endzone and has been dominating in one-on-one matchups. “I mean just like in the backyard of South Lafourche, just throw the alley oop, catch it, and touchdown,” Orgeron described Gilbert’s redzone prowess.
time, Brennan was willing to stay patient to take the reins of the Tigers’ offense. “I came here for a reason,” Brennan said on LSU Athletics’ Hey Fightin’ Podcast. “I stayed true to my word. I understand why people do transfer. I’m not against it, but I knew being here would be best for me.”
Brennan said he has the utmost respect for Burrow and what he did for the program but tries not to compare himself to him. Right now, he is focused on the team’s future and ultimately proving himself. “It’s my time,” Brennan said. “I fully understand that, and I’m going to do everything in my power to take full advantage of that.”
WADE, from page 9
The Tigers will open their season Sept. 26 at home against Mississippi State. Until then, Orgeron and his program will continue to build on the work they have been accomplishing amidst all the possible obstacles the world continues to hurl their way. It’s the only way Orgeron knows how to do it: just like in the yards of South Lafourche.
ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille
Coach O cheers on his team on Jan. 13 during LSU’s 42-25 National Championship win against Clemson in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Will Wade, head men’s basketball coach at Louisiana State University,” Duncan wrote. “Some of his underlying actions gave rise to this case and his tactics during the investigation have delayed resolution dramatically. He is employed in a lead-
ership position at LSU, yet the institution has been unable to secure his full cooperation and is accountable for his behavior.” LSU amended Wade’s contract in 2019 as part of his reinstatement deal. Wade agreed not to sue LSU if fired with cause, if the coach is found guilty of Level I or Level II violations.
OPINION
page 11
What does your choice of face mask say about you? GABBING WITH GABBY GABRIELLE MARTINEZ
@martinez_g0
In 2020, face masks and coverings are all the rage. They keep you healthy, make you seem mysterious and are the perfect accessory to complete any look! These days, you can tell a lot about a person just based on what kind of mask they’re wearing. 1. The Classic The most classic iteration is the one-time use surgical mask. If you wear one of these, you’re probably a simple person with simple tastes and a complete disregard for our environment, climate change and the end of the world as we know it. 2. The Cotton A reusable, cotton mask signals a crafty homebody with an ability to care for others. While this type of mask is the most common, the designs and patterns one chooses to adorn it with can help distinguish them from the rest of the population. The possibilities are endless. 3. The No-Nose You’re bad at reading direc-
tions, but at least you tried. 4. The Class Clown Wearing a mask with a mouth on the front of it is the equivalent to being confident in an outfit at home and then immediately regretting your decision once you go in public. While you ordered that funny mask thinking it’d be a hoot, you’re now getting a lot more concerned stares than laughs at the grocery store. 5. The Suburban Spaceman Transparent face shields that wrap around the head are great for people who need to show others their beautiful smile in the middle of a Walmart. This futuristic option provides a chic and avant-garde look to any outfit. Paired best with a hazmat suit and a cute pair of platform boots, these shields say, “I’ve done my research. It’s all on Facebook.” 6. The COVID-19 Cowboy Neck gaiters are the easiest indicator of a man with a fragile masculinity or one too many beers in his belly. These individuals usually spring for designs featuring skulls, the Confederate flag or some unholy combination of both. 7. The Halloween Mask
Okay, these are pretty funny. 8. The Karen If you’re over 50 and you’re wearing a mask with your eyes rolled, this is indicative of a general distaste for teenage service workers who are doing their jobs and/or pent up anger towards your younger relatives who force you to wear one when you go out together in public. 9. The Plague Doctor You’re a little bit retro! You’re most likely to be found interpreting animal bones, speaking in tongues or digging through your collection of leather-bound tomes in search of forbidden knowledge. Your Spotify feed is full of Gregorian chants. Also, nobody’s ever seen you without your mask on. They’re starting to get a little concerned. Do you even have a face underneath there? 10. The “I Have COVID-19” Wearing no mask means you have an utter lack of empathy and a complete disregard for anybody’s life besides your own. Put on a mask. Don’t be a jerk. Gabrielle Martinez is a 19-yearold mass communication sophomore from Gonzales, LA.
Cartoon by BRANDON SHEPERD / The Reveille
This year, don’t forget about the incoming freshmen FROM THE CRO’S NEST ELIZABETH CROCHET
@elizabethcro_
Anyone who’s gone to college knows moving onto campus as a freshman is something you’ll never forget. There are so many emotions involved: happiness, anxiety, doubt--even outright fear. Just last year, this was me. I didn’t know what to do or even think once my family left after helping me move in; I was ready to be independent, but I couldn’t fathom that I had made it so far. Looking back on that day now, I can only think of this year’s incoming freshmen class and how nervous they must be. Not only do they have to juggle the various social and academic concerns typical of college freshmen, but they’re expected to do so during a pandemic. A pandemic that, for all intents and purposes, has changed everything about the way we interact in our society. The circumstances the class of
‘24 is facing will make their first year of college unlike any other. Things as natural to us as walking to class, meeting friends at the Student Union for lunch and attending football games in Death Valley will be entirely different for them. Clubs and organizations on campus will follow stricter safety protocols. Some aspects of campus life will be different than expected or erased entirely. All of this can be upsetting to think about for freshmen and non-freshmen alike. Heck--even as a sophomore it was hard for me to leave home and move back to Baton Rouge. But it will get better. The adversity this freshman class will face in their first semester of college will make them stronger; they’ll bond through shared hopes and struggles. As Tigers, we can adapt. We can find new ways to welcome the incoming freshman class. They’re a part of our family now, and it’s our job to make them feel like they’re at home. Student organizations have the opportunity
Cartoon by BRANDON SHEPARD/ The Reveille
to get creative with their out reach.It’s important members of the community remember that just because we can’t meet this freshman class on campus like we normally would, they’re still here, and they’re still Tigers. To the class of 2024: know that
you will always be welcome here at your new home. We’re so happy to have you. You’ll face some extra challenges this year in getting adjusted--there’s no denying that--but we’re all in this together. The LSU family will do all we can to make this a good semester for
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Editor in Chief Managing Editor News Editor Deputy News Editor Opinion Editor
The Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, The Reveille or the university. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to opinion@lsureveille.com or delivered to B-39 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must provide a contact phone number for verification purposes, which will not be printed. The Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Reveille’s editor in chief, hired every semester by the LSU Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.
everyone. At the very least, it’ll be a memorable one. You’ve got this. We’re right here with you. Elizabeth Crochet is a 19-year-old political communication sophomore from New Orleans, LA.
Quote of the Week “No one cared about me until I put on the mask.”
Bane, The Dark Knight Rises
Thursday, August 27, 20
page 12
Fall football amid the pandemic could spell disaster DOM’S UNCANNY DISCOURSE DOMENIC PURDY @tigerdom16 On August 11, the Pac-12 and Big Ten decided to postpone their fall sports seasons into 2021, citing the health of their fans, athletes and staff as the rationale for their decision. Simultaneous to this ultimatum was the SEC’s choice to refine their schedules to a conference-only model rather than postpone the season into the new year. With football season scheduled to kick off in less than a month, LSU fans are anxiously awaiting the fate of Saturday nights still to come. Bolstered by a nationwide attitude that the pandemic is not only over, but that the luxuries of pre-pandemic life can just continue with no consequences, many sports fans, specifically those in the south, see football as an essential activity that must continue regardless of the dangerous potential. Even if the SEC and other conferences that decided to play football this fall operate with safety as their highest-level priority by isolating athletes and limiting attendance, the culture surrounding southern football has a superspreading event embedded right
into its DNA: tailgating. Sure, limiting attendance to a fraction of pre-pandemic numbers could decrease the odds of Death Valley itself becoming a viral epicenter, but what of the countless tailgates on campus? A humid environment with little airflow where people exchange airborne particles by devouring food and drink in close proximity sounds like a coronavirus hotbed, especially in 90+ degree weather that makes mask-wearing unbearable. It seems far-fetched to assume these tailgating patrons would be willing to forego their Saturday night experience entirely, or that campus and local law enforcement would even be able to enforce against such large congregations. Even if the NCAA, the SEC or the University sets rules against large tailgates and gatherings, what’s stopping people from migrating off-campus to even more cramped locales at an ever greater risk of prolonging the pandemic? Fall football and tailgating during the pandemic will not only hinder any progress the University and Baton Rouge have made so far but also put lives in jeopardy when the virus follows fans and tailgaters home. The dangers of potentially infecting members of our community should overshadow any desire to cram into and around Tiger Sta
cartoon by BRANDON SHEPERD / The Reveille
dium during the largest global pandemic in over a century. But to some, it seems, football means more than protecting public health. If the SEC and the University truly care about their students and
fans, then they should be actively campaigning to sacrifice one season of football in exchange for a more expedited return to ‘normal.’ On the upside, if the University and the conference choose to post pone the season, Tiger fans can
take pride in knowing they’ll still be the reigning national champions for another year. Domenic Purdy is a 19-year-old journalism sophomore from Prairieville, LA.