The Reveille 9-21-20

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PIECE OF THE PI

‘Do we really not tolerate [racist acts], or do we only not Black: 0.7% tolerate this when it goes viral?’ ‘An Instagram post shouldn’t be something Greek Life is ‘It’s not a Black perHispanic: 4.8% applauded for.’ son’s responsibility to Other: 3.9% Greek Life. teach someone who is not Black about racism. ‘We’re racism.’ ‘Equality supposed to have shared values.’

‘We cannot say we accept “We cannot everybody and let stay silent on White: 90.7% racist acts slide.’ Greek the injustices that ‘Actions do speak louder than words.’Black Americans have en*These numbers reflect the average demographics for Greek Life’s fall 2016 new member class, the most recent data available.

As Greek Life pledges to support Black Lives Matter, members share their encounters with racism within the predominantly-white system.

NEWS

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LSU students weigh in on wearing masks to class and adjusting to college life amid COVID-19.

ENTERTAINMENT

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Is TikTok the newest way for artists to get discovered? Will TikTok be banned in the U.S.? Here’s what we know.

SPORTS

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The long-awaited announcement of who will receive the honor of sporting No.7 and No. 18 is over.

OPINION

Read on

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“If students don’t take the proper precautions, the name ‘Death Valley’ could become a reality.”

L SU Re ve i l le.co m @l s u r e ve i l le

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‘ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS’ LSU Greek Life responds to Black Lives Matter movement

BY MARYKELLY MUNSTER @mkokayokay LSU Greek Life organizations individually released statements regarding the Black Lives Matter movement, but some members of Greek Life question whether the statements will be backed with positive action.

Greek Life at LSU is split into three separate councils: Panhellenic Council (PHC), Interfraternity Council (IFC) and the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC).

PHC is the governing body of 14 sororities on campus, IFC is the governing body of 20 fraternities on campus and the NPHC is the governing body of six historically Black fraternities and sororities.

Each of the three Greek Life councils released statements and began discussions about inclusion and diversity following the surge of Black Lives Matter protests over the summer.

Individual sororities and fraternities also released statements of varying clarity and took different approaches to addressing racism.

PHC sororities such as Delta Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta and Pi Beta Phi have spoken out against racism, donated to Black charities and begun educating members on diversity and inclusion.

Angela Guillory, associate dean of students & director of Greek Life, said Greek Life is developing universal regulations regarding racist behaviors among members of Greek organizations.

“There is [a] great opportunity to educate historically white fraternities and sororities on the importance of diversity and inclusion,” Guillory said. “Our goal this year is to focus on those conversations and education.”

Guillory emphasized the importance of working with students to determine their needs.

“We recognize that awareness and education must take place at a significant level,” Guillory said.

Mass communication and English sophomore Tatum Comeaux is a member of Alpha Delta Pi and found the statements from most Greek organizations to be empty.

“I don’t know if I can say I was impressed,” Comeaux said.

“An Instagram post shouldn’t be something Greek Life is applauded for. The [organizations] that posted statements seem like they were protecting themselves and trying to save face.”

However, Comeaux found IFC’s statement to be one example of how to correctly address the Black Lives Matter movement.

IFC’s executive board offered condolences to George Floyd, his family and all other victims of racism across the country and raised money to support the movement.

“We do not accept racism of any kind in our IFC community and our Greek Life community

as a whole…” the IFC Instagram post on June 1 read.

Makayla Terrell, a junior in English secondary education and a member of Pi Beta Phi, said she holds herself to a higher standard to avoid being dismissed as a “crazy” or “sassy” stereotype.

Despite a positive Greek Life experience, she believes her sorority sometimes relies too much on her for guidance on how to maneuver through matters of race.

“It’s not a Black person’s responsibility to teach someone who is not Black about racism and discrimination,” Terrell said.

“It’s been very traumatic as a Black person to talk about my experiences with racism over and over and over again to people who will never understand what I have been [dealing with] my whole life.”

Terrell said that while she has not experienced outright racism

a whole. It does, however, record the racial demographics of new members.

The most recent annual Greek Life report available from fall 2016 shows there were 465 new IFC members and 1,134 new PHC members. Of the total new IFC members, three members, around 0.6%, were Black. Of the total new PHC members, eight members, around 0.7%, were Black.

In the 2016-2017 new member classes, 91% of fraternity members and 90.4% of sorority members were white overall.

An additional report in 2013 revealed that out of the 1,500 first-year students who pledged a fraternity or sorority that fall, four were Black.

In addition to the four Black students, 73 Hispanic students and 49 students from other ethnic and racial backgrounds were included in the overall number of freshmen with memberships to

We as [members of] LSU Greek Life cannot say we accept everybody and let racist acts slide. We’re supposed to have shared values and support each other.

MAKAYLA TERRELL

Junior English secondary education Member of Pi Beta Phi from members of her sorority, she has experienced microaggressions, remarks or actions derogatory in nature without intending any harm, about her hair.

She said she did not attend exchanges with fraternities her freshman year to avoid possible exclusion or fraternity members who might discriminate against her in rituals such as pledge pick-up.

“We as [members of] LSU Greek Life cannot say we accept everybody and let racist acts slide,” Terrell said. “We’re supposed to have shared values and support each other.”

More than 22% of undergraduates, around 5,000 students, are involved in Greek Life, according to the LSU Greek Life website.

The University reported 4,239 Black students enrolled at the University as of fall 2019.

The Reveille requested data for a diversity breakdown of individual Greek organizations, but the University cited an exception to the Louisiana Public Records Act because the document does not exist.

The University is not required to create documents to satisfy requests under the law, said Johanna. Posada, one of the University’s attorneys, in a Sept. 18 email declining the request. The University does not keep a racial demographic record of each fraternity and sorority on campus as

predominantly white Greek organizations in fall 2013.

As of 2020, there were no Black members in leadership positions in PHC or in IFC. Psychology senior and former member of Chi Omega Kaylee Patillo believed her former sorority’s response to the Black Lives Matter movement was insufficient. She created a Twitter thread to call for the sorority to do more.

“They just wanted to ignore the Black Lives Matter movement until it went away,” Pattillo said.

“It’s an uncomfortable topic, so it’s easier to act like it’s not there than to face it head on.”

After Pattillo commented under Chi Omega Nationals’ statement, the LSU chapter of Chi Omega posted an excerpt from the Nationals statement on June 4.

“And as an organization of purposeful women, we cannot stay silent on the injustices that Black Americans throughout our country’s history have endured and continue to endure today,” the post read.

Pattillo later requested the rulebook to see if the local chapter or national enforced nondiscriminatory rules but came up emptyhanded. She also researched past racist behaviors exhibited in the Greek community and found inconsistent repercussions.

While an alleged Tri Delta

member was kicked out after a Snapchat video of her and two other girls using racial slurs went viral in June, two girls who posted a photo dressed as a prisoner and a cop with a “#policebrutality” hashtag a few years earlier remained in their respective sororities.

“Do we really not tolerate this, or do we only not tolerate this when it goes viral?” Pattillo said. “If there’s no rule that states members cannot use racial slurs, there’s no grounds to punish those people.”

The LSU section of Pledge Against Racism is a website that allows people to anonymously submit testimonies of racism they have experienced or witnessed.

Incidents range from the use of the n-word to cutting potential new members during recruitment because of their skin color.

A Delta Zeta alumna alleged she was forced to discriminate against women of color.

“I watched as women who were supposed to be ‘sisters’ cut down people who they claimed to hold close to them,” she wrote.

“Greek Life and chapter advisers need to be held accountable and shouldn’t have as much say over who gets to join the chapter, especially since DZ advisors have been known to discriminate against Black [potential new members].”

One Chi Omega alumna, active from 2008-2011, alleged that the sorority prohibited her from bringing her Black boyfriend to functions or the sorority house.

“I’ll never forget wishing I had not chosen Chi O and feeling like I wasted my chance at a great Greek life experience because I was completely ostracized for dating a fellow LSU Tiger who happened to be Black,” the anonymous alumna wrote.

Guillory said Greek Life was not previously aware of the allegations listed on the Pledge Against Racism website.

“Anonymous comments make it very difficult to allow for an organization to respond to allegations or incidents,” Guillory said.

Terrell said more collaborative events like Step Up or Step Aside between PHC, IFC and NPHC would offer white members exposure to the struggles of people of color and help unify the councils.

“It would be important to do collaborative events with NPHC,” Terrell said. “[In the future], PHC could share more about the history of stepping. It’s not just a big competition between sororities. This is something created by Black culture.”

Terrell said she hopes the future of Greek Life can improve.

“Actions do speak louder than words,” Terrell said. “We can’t say we’re accepting and not have the action behind it. Educate yourself. Our world is really changing.

Let’s make our legacy a better, a bigger imprint than the past.”

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NEWS

page 3 ACADEMICS

Provost discusses pass/fail option for the fall semester

UNMASKED.

BY NICK FREWIN @itsnickfrewin

LSU students weigh in on adjustments to campus life.

JALEN HINTON / The Reveille

A mask lays on the ground on Sept. 11 on LSU’s campus.

BY TAYLOR ELLIS @tay_delaneyy University students and employees are required to wear masks upon returning to campus in the fall as part of the University’s COVID-19 safety measures.

Interim President Thomas Galligan said he has been gen-

erally impressed with students’ compliance in an Aug. 31 interview with the Reveille. Still, wearing masks has significantly altered on-campus culture.

Pre-physician assistant freshman Toni Ledwig said science shows that wearing a mask is the safest thing to do.

“It’s also the easiest because everybody has access to them

so I don’t see why not,” Ledwig said. “Even if science is wrong, it’s not that bad having to wear one.”

Ledwig came to LSU from Japan and said living in the foreign country made her accustomed to wearing a face mask on a dayto-day basis.

“In Japan, anytime that you are sick or just have allergies,

you wear a mask,” Ledwig said.

“For me, it was already something that I knew how to do and it just makes sense.”

While students are mandated to wear face coverings and remain six feet apart in public spaces, others are tasked to enforce COVID-19 regulations to

see FACES, page 4

After the switch to 100% online instruction in the 2020 spring semester, the University temporarily implemented the pass/no credit option as an alternative to traditional letter grades. “P” indicated the student passed the course and received the designated number of credit hours, while “NC” indicated the student completed the course but won’t receive credit.

For undergraduates, grades between A+ and C- were reported as a “P” while grades between a D+ and F were “NC.” Graduate students had to earn a B- or above to receive a “P.” A grade reported as a P/NC did not affect a student’s GPA. Executive Vice President and Provost Stacia Haynie said the P/ NC option was introduced for the

see PROVOST, page 4

FACULTY

LSU community says goodbye to Ms. Joyce McKnight

BY JOANNA CLARK @front_row_jo Joyce McKnight spent 22 years working at The 5 Dining Hall, where she swiped TigerCards, served meals and made students feel welcomed at the University.

McKnight, who was lovingly referred to as “Ms. Joyce,” died Sept. 2 at age 78.

Fashion merchandising sophomore Jordan Hebert said McKnight was one of the first familiar and friendly faces she encountered on campus.

“Acquaintances often ask how you are as a formality, but she genuinely wanted to know,” Hebert said. “She often let my best friend come eat with me even though she didn’t have a meal plan. I’m going to miss her so much, but I’ll always have the best memories of her.”

LSU alumna Leslie Wheatley was sad to hear about McKnight’s passing and credits McKnight with keeping her in school.

Wheatley said her first semester at LSU was tough and lonely.

She only knew three people on campus and seriously considered going home. Wheatley ate at Highland Cafe, an old dining hall on campus that closed before The 5 opened, every day

for lunch. She said she was always greeted by McKnight with a warm smile and a welcome.

One particular day, McKnight could tell that she was struggling and asked her what was wrong.

Wheatley said she’s had a special place in her heart for McKnight ever since.

“Ms. Joyce was there every day through my four years at LSU with a smile and encouragement,” Wheatley said. “She helped me get through finals, failures, my first big heartache, the death of a grandfather and so much more.

She has enriched and touched so many lives over the years. I will always cherish the moments we shared together. She was a light.”

Architecture senior Mason Orantes said he was deeply distressed when he heard the news.

Orantes lived off campus freshman year, so he would only eat at The 5 when his friend swiped him in. Orantes would watch in amazement as his friend would greet McKnight. He would walk around the desk, she would step out and they would hug like they were lifelong friends.

Orantes said trips to The 5 always began with his friends commenting on how sweet she was.

“Watching Aubry do that [every time] with someone I would’ve otherwise thought was a complete stranger brought a patience to me, and a joy in that moment,” Orantes said. “I wish I had eaten there on a regular basis. I might’ve gotten to get to know her as well as him.”

Several former LSU athletes tweeted their condolences, including long snapper Blake Ferguson and kicker Colby Delahoussaye.

“This woman knew nearly every student that walked through the doors by name,” Ferguson wrote. “The world is a better place because of Ms. Joyce.”

“I’ll always remember those sweet ‘Hey baby, how you doing today,’ she would give everyone,” Delahoussaye wrote.

One of McKnight’s granddaughters, Dominique McKnight Zenon, responded to the outpouring on Twitter.

“She was an angel. She LOVED every one of you,” Dominique tweeted. “She loved working at LSU and you all made her so happy. She would always come home with cards and gifts, and stories from y’all. I’m so glad you all loved her!”

In 2019, McKnight was highlighted by “Humans of LSU,” a

THE REVEILLE ARCHIVES

Joyce McKnight was featured on “Humans of LSU” April 9, 2019. photo project inspired by the “Humans of New York” series and an attempt to capture the lives of LSU students.

“I try to make friends with

all the kids and get to know all of them before they graduate,” McKnight said in her interview.

“That’s why I’ve been at this job so long.”

Monday, September 21, 2020

page 4 FACES, from page 3 limit the spread around campus.

“It’s actually a part of my job today,” journalism freshman Chloe Carygehman said. “I’m passing out masks because I’m a part of the COVID-19 relief team.”

Carygehman said there are challenges in reinforcing University protocols toward students who refuse to adhere to the campus mask policy.

“The students can be kind of mean,” Carygehman said. “They just say no to your face and walk away.”

Carygehman said wearing a mask is a “small” part of what she can do to tackle the spread and keep others safe.

“Wearing a mask around campus doesn’t affect me for the most part,” Carygehman said.

“It’s only annoying when I am ordering [food.]”

Being back on campus amid a pandemic proves to be an unavoidable battle for many University students. Industrial engineering freshman Holden Amedee said students need to “push through it.”

“Coming back to campus didn’t really bother me because I knew COVID-19 was going to happen and I knew we couldn’t avoid it,” Amedee said. “I’m wearing a mask to protect the safety of everyone else around me.”

Amedee said requiring face coverings at all locations on campus is a good idea that people should follow.

“I think the mask mandate around campus is a good idea and everybody should follow it in order to be considerate of others instead of just themselves,” Amedee said.

Math sophomore Trevor Billiot said there’s “not much to think about” in regards to pandemic protocols.

“It’s a little hot, but that’s just the inconvenience of wearing a mask,” Billiot said.

See pages 6-7 for pictures of students affected by the adjustments made to campus life.

“There [are] a lot of people around and I wanted to be as safe as possible. I think having to wear a face covering is definitely a lot safer than not.”

Graphic design junior Sophia Simon said wearing a mask is safe and not difficult to do.

Along with persistent mask wearing, Simon remains on campus with little fear due to minimal contact with other students and community members.

“I don’t really talk to many people. so it’s not really an issue,” Simon said. “I go on campus because I don’t think I’m going to catch corona just by going to one class.”

The University reported 788 cases of COVID-19 as of Sept.

20, according to the University’s

COVID-19 reporting dashboard.

With these rising numbers, students like music and microbiology sophomore Emma Stevens have taken social distancing measures a step further to “protect myself and protect others.”

“I don’t mind wearing a mask, I don’t think it’s an infringement on anything,” Stevens said. “It’s a small part that I can do to care about other people on campus. Even though they say cloth masks aren’t as effective as surgical masks, it still stops transmission. Anything to do my part to help people who are immunocompromised or don’t have the financial means to go get hospital care.”

Stevens is an out-of-state student and said she still wanted to come to LSU to get “in the swing of college” because she didn’t want to be stuck at home.

While living on campus, Stevens has taken extra initiatives to remain cautious of her health and others.

“I don’t sit down at restaurants and if I do, I sit outside,” Stevens said. “I also maintain a group of 10-15 people in my social circle and [I’m] not really branching out until I know it’s safer.”

For psychology freshman Mia Robinson, having family that could be infected when she goes home on the weekends is a strong factor in continuing pandemic safety measures.

“I think it’s fair to have to wear a mask,” said Robinson.

“Obviously, there’s something going on and it’s the least we

PROVOST, from page 3 spring semester only to help students with the unexpected online transition.

“Typically, syllabi are created at the beginning of the semester, so students and faculty have a plan for the rest of the semester, but that was a two week pivot to an entirely remote schedule. Of course our faculty and students realized that was a challenge for everyone,” Haynie said. “So, the Faculty Senate and the Student Government, both working in

JALEN HINTON / The Reveille

LSU’s Provost, Dr. Stacia Haynie, speaks during an interview on Sept. 18 in her office at Thomas Boyd Hall.

can do.”

Though family remains a risk, Robinson decided to live on campus for academic reasons.

“I want to have a normal col-

lege experience and I can focus better here than I can at home,” Robinson said. “I don’t really go out though. I stay in my dorm room most of the time.”

JALON HINTON / The Reveille

A mask lays on the ground on Sept. 11 on LSU’s campus. partnership, promoted providing that type of flexibility for our students.”

With most students still receiving some of their education via online instruction this semester, some are calling for the continuation of P/NC grades.

Psychology sophomore Chloe Yaya said the University should reimplement the revised grading scale.

“If the University cannot provide equal opportunities for every student to have the same quality of education then they should most definitely have the option,” Yaya said. “there are kids that do not have internet and can’t get on Zoom every day. If people are struggling to get As in the current environment, then that’s a perfect reason to have the option available.”

Haynie said that regardless of if the students’ education is being delivered in-person or digitally, the quality of the education provided by faculty members will remain the same.

“You are certainly still working with the same high-quality faculty that you expected when you arrived, pandemic or not,” Haynie said. “This fall, faculty members had an entire summer to think through what it means to teach online and what would that look like.”

Interior design sophomore Caroline Smith agrees the P/NC option should be available for this semester and does not think stu-

dents taking advantage of the option would be a problem.

“I definitely think that [the University] should; it doesn’t hurt anybody if they don’t use it, but some students aren’t getting the education they need. That would really help them,” Smith said. “I think the students that use it are the ones that actually need it.”

The University is open to working with Student Government and the Faculty Senate to determine decisions regarding the addition of the P/NC option for this semester.

“At this point, that has not been something that has arisen from either our Faculty Senate or Student Government,” Haynie said. “We would certainly look to partner with them and look to their guidance in terms of any decision involving that.”

Haynie said the University understands this semester is not ordinary, but believes in the LSU faculty and the preparations they have made for this semester.

“To be sure, this is still not a normal semester, but certainly, students have started adjusting, and faculty have been able to plan for an entire semester of what type of assessments they would have and how they would approach it,” Haynie said. “We certainly are hoping that we don’t have another massive disruption like we did in the spring and shift fully to remote and any of those sort of challenges we faced in the spring.”

ENTERTAINMENT

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GRAPHIC BY SOPHIE VAGIANOS

t he App f o e r u t u F n i a cer t n U d n a e s i T he R

BY OLIVIA DEFFES @liv_deffes & BRITNEY YOUNG @byoun99 Once seen as a joke, the app TikTok has taken over as one of the most popular apps among young people. It can be argued that this is our generation’s version of Vine, and TikTok has many creative opportunities for a new age of creators and influencers. This app has become a way for underground artists to hype up their music and for attractive teens to make it big just by dancing.

Let’s be honest. Who had heard of Roddy Rich or Surfaces before they heard their songs as sounds on TikTok? Other well known artists, such as Morgan Wallen, have recently created sounds for the apps featuring one of their new songs before it came out.

This helped the song get exposure before its release and got fans hyped about hearing more than the short clip used in the background of people’s videos. This is just one of the many ways artists have used TikTok to promote new music.

You can’t turn on a today’s hits radio station without hearing a plethora of songs that you would hear scrolling through your For You Page on TikTok. This app is responsible for helping some of today’s major pop artists get their start with their songs blowing up as sounds on TikTok. TikTok is also responsible for making a ton of attractive and arguably untalented teens famous for no reason at all. If you know how to pick up simple dance moves and have a pretty face, odds are you could be tomorrow’s

next TikTok star.

Most famously, Addison Rae Easterling dropped out of LSU a few months into her first semester of her freshman year because she was discovered on the app. Once a mass communication major from Lafayette, Easterling is now the highest paid TikTok star and can even be seen lounging poolside with the likes of the Kardashians.

Easterling is like many other young teens who have made it big on the app for dancing along to dances that they didn’t even come up with themselves.

Now, these teens are living in large mansions together and are creating a new generation of influencers with content that’s not entirely entertaining. These so-called TikTok stars are receiving brand deals and millions of followers across all social media apps.

Much like the old app Vine, it’s easy to go viral on TikTok, but you only have a limited time for your contact. The length of videos varies, and TikTok offers way more time than six-second vines. Most of the viral TikToks often involve cooking, comedy or a trend that goes along with a sound widely used on the app.

All in all, TikTok is the new

“it” app of the young generation. Originally started under the name Musical.ly, TikTok has come far from its early days as an app where old Vine stars and celebrities would lip sync. This app is now one of the main ways pop music becomes, well, popular.

It’s a way for underground artists to make it big with a hit

song, and a way for wellknown artists to appeal to thousands of active users on the app. In contrast, the app

is also responsible for making good-looking teenagers famous for just dancing in 15-second video.

TikTok is a platform that allows ordinary young people to get famous for dancing to songs, which in return allows for artists to gain more exposure for their music.

Where would the boys of Sway House be without TikTok? Would “The Charli” drink at Dunkin’ Donuts ever exist without TikTok? Ti kTok is a l s o adored

by many.

“I love this app,” said Molly Vidler, a mass communication senior.

“Whenever I can’t find anything to watch on Netflix or Hulu, I can count on TikTok to keep me entertained by scrolling through my For You Page.”

Many others don’t use the app, but they still see the impact it has made. It seems like it would be hard to avoid TikTok because it has an easy sharing feature where someone’s TikTok can reach multiple platforms.

“It’s the most auditory social media app that we have at the moment. Everything on the phone seems to be words and visuals. TikTok provides a different aspect, and the

repetitiveness seems to hook people,” explained mass communication junior Gideon Fortune.

It’s interesting seeing the growth of TikTok. There was an audience in 2018, but we didn’t imagine TikTok to be this influential. Social media is growing into different shapes and forms at fast rates. It’s even hard to keep up with the trends on TikTok. Social media keeps us on our toes, and we will never predict what will be the next popular app of our generation.

But, we also could have never predict its downfall. On Sept. 18, President Donald Trump announced that TikTok will be banned at 11:59 on Sept. 20. The app would no longer be in the App Store.

This situation is similar to Flappy Bird where the users can still have the app on their phone if they don’t delete it, but there will be no software updates.

However, on Saturday Sept.

19, Trump agreed to a deal where Oracle Corp. and Walmart Inc. would partner with TikTok, making the app a U.S. based company. The ban originally scheduled to take place Sept. 20 at midnight has now been moved back to Sept. 27, pending negotiations about the deal.

There’s a genuine concern about privacy during this digital age, but it seems like entertainment will always be the victor in situations where people’s careers depend on TikTok. With the future of TikTok still so uncertain, interested users may still want to consider downloading the app before it’s too late.

FOOD & DRINK

McDonald’s introduces Travis Scott Meal for a limited time

BY BRITNEY YOUNG @byoun99 I never thought this day would come. The day that Travis Scott would feature a meal on McDonald’s menu. The golden arches meets AstroWorld. The unexpected collaboration has sparked memes and jokes, and it’s out for a limited time until Oct. 4. It sure is lit.

McDonald’s describes the meal as Scott’s favorite picks at the fast food chain. All for $6 customers can get a Quarter Pounder with cheese, bacon and lettuce.

The meal also comes with a Sprite and medium fries.

This meal caused a commotion online and confusion of why is happening. I think the simple answer is capitalism and marketing. I think we’re at their peak when it comes to the point that Scott is giving us the luxury of his McDonald’s order and a chicken nugget body pillow.

Read that again. Scott is selling a chicken nugget body pillow with other merch. The website isn’t up anymore to show the shirts, pants, decorations and body pillow that are McDonald’s themed, but you can enter your email at shop.travisscott.com/ password for updates.

On Saturday, I went out to try

this Travis Scott Meal. I wanted to be a part of something that will probably not happen again.

It is out for a limited time, and I wanted to say that I had the Travis Scott Meal.

I went out on the five minute journey with my friends, but the worst outcome happened. They ran out of the Travis Scott Meal.

Imagine the horror on my face of the realization that I fell victim to a high demanding product that sells out. I didn’t give up hope and went to another McDonald’s.

But, they were also sold out. It was devastating for me. Although, I ordered a 40 piece McNugget to

make up for it. I had to somehow cope with the pain of not having a Travis Scott Meal.

The meal has also gone viral on the internet, but it’s mostly customers bothering McDonald’s employees by blasting “Sicko Mode” by Scott. I also saw a video of a person stealing the McDonald’s promotional poster off the building. That’s not lit.

McDonald’s also tweeted, “Say Cactus Jack sent you.”

This caused confusion between customers and employees because in some videos, employees had no idea what they were talking about. But, a few mess ups

can’t stop the power of the Travis Scott Meal.

There has been a surprising number of events that have occurred this year, but I don’t think the Travis Scott Meal takes the prize for the most bizarre event to happen. It’s bizarre but not as bizarre as Planter’s making a baby peanut commercial. I’m also amazed that it aired this year.

Well, I may never get the Travis Scott Meal, but I’m wondering what McDonald’s will come up with next time. I hope a “WAP” inspired chicken wrap might come to light. All I can do is get lit.

Monday, September 21, 2020

Monday, September 21, 2020

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page 7

Child and family studies freshman Kaia Bonnette poses for a photo Sept. 17, in front of the Pentagon Community on Dalrymple Drive on LSU’s campus.

Graphic design junior Sophia Simon poses for a photo Sept. 17 in front of the Student Union on Veterans Drive on LSU’s campus.

Industrial engineering freshman Holden Amedee stands for a photo Sept. 17, outside of Cypress Hall on LSU’s campus.

Faces of Campus

photos by Abby Kibler

LSU students share their opinions Sept. 17 about wearing faces masks on campus. See more on Pg. 3

Journalism freshman Chloe Carygehman of #MaskUpLSU poses for a photo Sept. 17, on a bench outside of Coates Hall in the Quad at LSU.

Psychology freshman Mia Robinson stands for a photo Sept. 17, in the booths near Starbucks inside the Barnes & Noble at LSU.

Math sophomore Trevor Billiot stands for a photo Sept. 17, outside of the Enchanted Forest on LSU’s campus.

Music and microbiology sophomore Emma Stevens poses for a photo Sept.

17, on the corner of Highland Road and Veterans Drive on LSU’s campus.

Pre-physician assistant freshman Toni Ludwig stands for a photo on Sept. 17, on the steps of the Student Union at LSU.

Classifieds

Monday, September 21, 2020

page 8

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THE Daily Commuter Puzzle ACROSS 1 Postgrad degree letters 4 Bessie or Will 9 Couch 13 Toy with a string 14 Drink served warm 15 “Mata __”; Greta Garbo film 16 “On top of that…”

17 Failed to notice 19 Got together 20 U.S. state capital 21 Deceptive tricks 22 Wed without fanfare 24 Stetson or sombrero 25 Threaded fasteners 27 Arranges 30 Assumed name 31 Cone-shaped home 33 Eggy drink 35 Singer Springfield 36 Fit for a king 37 Peddle 38 __ daze; stunned 39 Father children 40 Farr or Foxx 41 “All in the Family” role 43 Thrifty shopper’s clipping 44 “Peter __” 45 Beach souvenir 46 Actress Pompeo 49 Courtroom event 51 Not quite sane 54 Borderlines 56 Watched 57 Carried 58 Stay away from 59 Swerve 60 Drove 90 mph 61 Trusty horse 62 Didn’t __ up; made no sense DOWN 1 South __; Amundsen’s discovery 2 Panic-stricken 3 “Zip-a-Dee-__Dah”

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The LSU Office of Student Media is seeking an at-large student to serve a one year term on the LSU Student Media Board.

The Student Media Board is comprised of LSU students, faculty, staff and media professionals who are responsible for interviewing and selecting students who have applied for the top editor or manager positions for The Reveille, Tiger TV, KLSU Radio and Gumbo Yearbook. The at-large student must not hold office in Student Government, must not be enrolled in the Manship School of Mass Communication and must not be employed by LSU Student Media. Availability for Friday afternoon meetings up to three times per semester is required.

The first meeting is Friday, November 6th via Zoom. If interested, please email studentmedia@lsu.edu and include a brief statement about your interest in LSU Student Media and why you want to serve on the board.

Deadline: 12 p.m., three school days prior to the print publication date

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by Jacqueline E. Mathews

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4 Ice cream portions 5 Date night option 6 Coats a cake 7 Wrenched apart 8 Man’s nickname 9 Hollers 10 Acorn droppers 11 “__ Willy”; film about a whale 12 Assists 13 Orange potato 18 Give a speech 20 Present toppers 23 Roof problem 24 Command to Fido 25 Wraparound dress 26 Hold on tightly 27 Squabble 28 Jobless 29 Jonas Salk’s focus 31 Ancient Roman garb 32 Storm center 34 Singer Campbell 36 Harness strap 37 Paul, before his conversion

9/21/20

Saturday’s Puzzle Solved

©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

39 Mark one’s cattle 40 Singer/pianist Billy 42 __ up; shared one’s feelings 43 Ran after 45 Prolonged attack 46 Flows back 47 Stunt pilot’s maneuver

9/21/20

48 Entice; tempt 49 Jogging gait 50 Hitchhiker’s hope 52 Nourish 53 WWII president 55 Craigslist postings 56 Longoria or Mendes

SPORTS

page 9

BREATH OF FRESH HEIRS PATRICK PETERSON

TYRANN MATHIEU 2011-2012

2008-2011

D.J. CHARK JR.

GRANT DELPIT

JACOBY STEVENS

2014-2017

2017-2020

2020

Nagurski Award Finalist Consensus AllAmerican Jim Thorpe Award

National Champion Second-Team AllSEC Three-time SEC Defensive Player of the Week

2014-2016

“Honey Badger” “The Flash” SEC Player of the Year Tied for team-high Chuck Bednarik Consensus AllChuck Bednarik honors in Award American Award Jim Thorpe Award First-Team All-SEC receiving touchdowns Consensus AllTwo First-Team AllSeond-Team All-SEC Second-Team All-SEC American Heisman American awards Finalist

No. 7

MATT MAUCK 2003

No. 18

LEONARD FOURNETTE

Led the Tigers to their first national championship since 1958 SEC Championship Game MVP

TRE’DAVIOUS WHITE 2016 Consensus AllAmerican First-Round Draft Pick

CHRISTIAN LACOUTURE & JOHN DAVID MOORE

see JERSEYS, page 10

see SAINTS, page 10

K’LAVON CHAISSON

CHRIS CURRY & DAMONE CLARK

2019

2019

2020

National Champion National Champion Curry–16 carries for Second-Team All- First-round draft pick 89 yards in CFP SemiAmerican CFP National final vs Oklahoma Academic Honor Roll Third-Round Draft Semifinals Defensive Clark– 51 total tackles Moore–First-Team Pick MVP vs Oklahoma and 3.5 sacks Academic All America

The long-awaited announcement of who would receive the honor of wearing the No. 7 jersey after Ja’Marr Chase vacated the number with his opt-out and the coveted No. 18 jersey has finally arrived.

LSU announced Friday afternoon that senior safety JaCoby Stevens will wear No. 7, and redshirt sophomore running back Chris Curry and junior linebacker

started the tradition of passing on No. 7. Other previous standouts of the jersey in years past include Tyrann Mathieu, Leonard Fournette and D.J. Chark Jr. “What this number means to me is to be complete–to be a complete person on and off the field,” Stevens stated. “That’s how my parents raised me. To be a complete person in everything I do whether it’s in football or in life.

I can go on and on about wearing this number and what it means to me. It’s a huge honor.”

NATASHA MALONE @malone_natasha

Curry and Clark have been held in high regard by the LSU staff for a while, but Tiger fans did not get to see either in action much until last season. Curry played in 14 games last year, with his most notable performance being his only start against Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff Semifinal, where he ran for 90 yards on 16 attempts while filling in for Clyde Edwards-Helaire who was nursing an injured

LLOYD CUSHENBERRY III

2017

Damone Clark will each wear No. 18.

Stevens follows another great LSU safety in wearing No. 7, with last year’s honoree being AllAmerican Grant Delpit. The senior safety has been a leader onand-off the field all preseason.

The number has sentimental value to Stevens, as he wore it as he played high school football and AAU basketball. He also mentioned that he chose No. 7 originally because of LSU standout cornerback Patrick Peterson, who

Column: No Thomas, no problem After the much-anticipated Week One matchup featuring two Hall of Fame quarterbacks— Drew Brees and Tom Brady—the Saints solidified their first check in the win column but lost arguably one of the best wide receivers in the league.

Michael Thomas, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, will be sidelined with a highankle sprain for “several weeks,” leaving Brees without his go-to man and Saints fans discouraged.

I am here to say: No Thomas, no problem.

Saints fans are quick to jump to the conclusion that the offense will take a blow in its production without Thomas. While that may be true to some extent, the Saints will still be able to produce, and last season should give the Saints faithful hope for that.

Under one of the prolific offensive minds in football, head coach Sean Payton, the offense will be fine.

After yet another tragic ending to the Saints’ season in 2019, it is

Trio of LSU players chosen to sport coveted No. 7, No. 18 jerseys

BY JARED BRODTMANN @_therealjarbear

OPINION

WOMEN’S GOLF

LSU women’s golf begins 2020 play with unfinished business

BY JOE KEHRLI @joekehrli9 Tiger fans, we are now only 18 days away from the start of LSU golf. On Aug. 22, women’s Head Coach Garret Runion and the SEC finalized the fall schedule. This season will be limited to three inconference tournaments, and all play will be held in the Southeastern region.

“My team is very excited to play and is looking forward to playing in, basically, the SEC Championship three times in a row,” Runion told lsusports.net. “It will be a great test and should show who took advantage of their time this summer to keep their bodies and games in shape and who didn’t.”

The first tournament will be the Blessings Collegiate Invitational, hosted by the University of Arkansas. Blessings Golf Course, which held the 2019 NCAA championship, will also hold the first tournament for the men’s squad as well. Both the men’s and women’s tournament play will be aired on the Golf Channel.

“You can’t beat having a fall tournament on the Golf Channel,”

LSU Director of golf Chuck Winstead told lsusports.net. “That will give our fans and families a chance to watch the action when they normally don’t have the opportunity to do so. It puts LSU and the SEC on the national stage and gives us a chance to showcase our talents.”

The second tournament will be hosted by Mississippi State University at the Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point for the Ally tournament. The women’s squad will have a comfortable look at the new style of play while still in a pandemic.

The third tournament, the Liz Murphey Fall Collegiate Classic, will be hosted by the University of Georgia. Following this tournament, the Tigers should be back in the full swing of tournament play and prepared to conquer the spring season.

The women’s team is coming off a great season that got cut short this past spring. The Tigers finished the season ranked No. 12

by Golfweek and No. 13 by GolfStat. They won three of the seven tournaments they competed in and COURTESY OF LSU CREATIVE SERVICES

see GOLF, page 10

LSU women’s gold head coach Garrett Runion coaches Kendell Griffin in 2011 at The University Club.

page 10

Monday, September 21, 2020

SAINTS, from page 9 easily forgotten how the Saints got there: without Brees.

If the Saints were able to go undefeated over a six-week stretch without Brees, under the command of Teddy Bridgewater, and secure the NFC South for the third consecutive year, they will manage without Thomas.

Although Thomas is the household name of the receivers, he is surrounded by an abundance of talent.

Behind Thomas lies Tre’Quan Smith. Despite not recording eyeopening numbers in his previous season, hauling in 46 catches for 661 yards, Smith is due to see an uprising in the amount of targets he gets.

In the offseason, the Saints picked up Emmanuel Sanders, whose presence added great depth to the wide receiver corps and gave Brees another tool in the shed to utilize. The two-time Pro Bowler is the main-man I expect Brees to target in crucialdown situations.

Speaking of utilizing tools, Payton is keen for the amount of

contribution from undrafted free agents and under-the-radar players he has had during his tenure in New Orleans. Not only do they receive, but some have played a pivotal role in the Saints overall success.

Most notably, Taysom Hill is a perfect example of Payton’s scheme. Hill, who went undrafted in 2017, has become a household name across the league. Payton has completely transformed the former BYU quarterback, turning him into an all-around tool. Over the stretch without Thomas, look for Hills reps on the offensive side to be increased.

Along with Hill comes wide receiver Deonte Harris. Harris, whose break-out speed has mostly been utilized in the return game, could be used in short-yardage situations or in the screen game.

Marquez Callaway is also a name to keep an eye out for. The former Tennessee wide receiver could be the next name of undrafted free agents to make an impact for the Saints squad.

In week one’s victory over Tampa Bay, it was veteran tight

end Jared Cook who led the Saints in receiving. Cook hauled in five receptions for 80 yards, 46 of which came on one snap.

After an ongoing ankle injury rendered his ability to produce in 2019, running back Alvin Kamara looks to be healthy and ready to go. His versatility will benefit the Saint’s immensely. Since entering the league, Kamara has always been a force to be reckoned with. Most notably, we are accustomed to seeing Kamara’s flashy moves in and out the backfield, with a combination of rushes and screens. His role on the team is going to become even more vital under Thomas’ absence. Although New Orleans possesses weapons out wide, I would not be surprised to see Payton put more emphasis on the ground game.

Combine these players with the NFL all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns and the Saints offense will still find a way to put up points.

In the meantime, the Thomas train has been pulled to an abrupt halt. The Saints path to conquering a Super Bowl must and will go on.

JONATHAN BACHMAN / Associated Press

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) reacts in the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015. Brees tied an NFL record for the most touchdown passes in a single game. The Saints won 52-49.

JERSEYS, from page 9

GOLF, from page 9

hamstring. Clark played in all 15 games with three starts, where he finished with 50 tackles, ranked sixth on the team.

This is the third time in four years LSU has awarded No. 18 to both an offensive and a defensive player. 2017 honorees were defensive lineman Christian LaCouture and fullback John David Moore, and 2019 saw center Lloyd Cushenberry III and defensive end K’Lavon Chaisson wear the revered jersey. 2018’s No. 18, tight end Foster Moreau, was the sole owner that season. The tradition of No. 18 started in 2003 after quarterback Matt Mauck, the first No. 18, led the Tigers to their first national championship since 1958 with a win in the BCS championship game over Oklahoma.

LSU will begin its season Sept.

26 in Tiger Stadium against Mississippi State with kickoff slated for 2:30 CT. No. 7 and both No. 18s will be more than ready for the challenge that awaits.

finished in the top three in six of the seven tournaments. The team wishes to pick up where it left off last season, bringing back its top five players: Ingrid Lindbald, Lattana Stone, Kendall Griffin, Alden Wallace and Kiana Oshiro.

This offseason, the squad strengthened its depth by recruiting two renowned international players: Jessica Bailey and Carla Tejedo Mulet. Bailey, a native of Leicester, England, is a junior transfer from Daytona State University, where she was a major contributor to her No. 2 ranked team in the NJCAA. Mulet, a native of Castellon de Plana, Spain, is hoping to leave her mark on SEC golf. She is currently ranked No. 45 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

This team has unfinished business from last season and a title for the taking. This season will excite the LSU community, giving the women’s golf program the attention it deserves.

JALEN HINTON / The Reveille

LSU senior safety Jacoby Stevens speaks to the media about the protest on Aug. 28 in front of the LSU president’s office.

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OPINION

page 11

Reflecting on the legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg CLAIRE’S COMMENTARY CLAIRE SULLIVAN

@sulliclaire

Seventy years ago, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was in her first year of college.

She would go on to lead a remarkable life, one rich with achievement and influence. As an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union she would champion gender equality in the U.S., arguing case after case against the arbitrary, archaic gender differences in our country’s legal code.

Eventually, she would become the second woman appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States, where she voiced opinions and dissents that would echo for generations to come.

In the year 2020, I am now a young woman in my first year of college—just as Justice Ginsburg was all those years ago—and I cannot help but reflect on how distinctly different my world is from that of a young Ruth Bader.

It is the courage of women like

Ginsburg that has afforded this generation of women opportunities that were once unimaginable.

We chart the progress still yet to be made on the shoulders of the women that came before us.

Her legal platforms—as a majority member and perhaps especially as a dissenter—have been some of the most influential of our lifetimes.

In United States v. Virginia, Ginsburg argued the majority opinion that the Virginia Military Institute’s exclusion of women was unconstitutional, setting a precedent that opened doors for women in the military across the country.

In 2007, she offered a scathing dissent in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, arguing that discrimination occurs “whenever a paycheck delivers less to a woman than to a similarly situated man.” Ginsburg’s sharp criticism of the Court’s “cramped interpretation of Title VII” inspired the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, which would aim to fight against discriminatory payment practices.

Ginsburg was a woman that

spent much of her career in spaces where women were not expected to be. She was soft-spoken, letting her words show their strength in their content rather than their volume.

As a quiet, but opinionated woman, I always admired this about Justice Ginsburg. She proved women do not have to change themselves to succeed in male-dominated areas; or, in a broader context, that one should never change to meet the expectations of others regardless of sex.

Ginsburg serves as an inspiration to young women like myself. Her legacy also tells a deeply American story.

From a modest upbringing in a low-income neighborhood in Brooklyn, Ginsburg defied expectations at every turn. In a life marked with difficulty, Ginsburg was full of an unwavering and profoundly admirable grit.

When both were in law school, Ginsburg’s husband battled with cancer. She took notes for him and dictated his papers as he spoke aloud. After he and their infant daughter went to sleep, she would spend all night completing

her own work. Every morning she would get up and do it again.

Ginsburg always spoke of her mother as one of the great role models of her life. She died when Ginsburg was a senior in high school but left her with a lifetime of inspiration. As a justice, Ginsburg reflected on how remarkable it was that “the difference between a bookkeeper in the garment district and a Supreme Court justice” was but “one generation.”

It is no secret that throughout her time on the bench, Ginsburg struggled with various health complications. At the advice of former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Ginsburg “schedule[d] her chemotherapy on Friday,” so that she would “have Saturday and Sunday to get over it” to be back at the Court on Monday.

The sense of responsibility she had for her work was clear, and it is without question that Justice Ginsburg gave all she could for her country even in her final hours.

In a time so fractured by the nastiness of partisan politics, Ginsburg’s friendship with her

colleague and ideological opposite, the late Justice Antonin Scalia, was an example to us all.

Together they enjoyed operas, regularly putting aside their differences of opinion in the interest of their shared humanity.

Her passing leaves this country with much uncertainty, especially as the Senate has already begun speaking of her replacement. This comes at odds with both the precedent set in 2016 and Ginsburg’s own dying wishes on the matter.

There is no question that great difficulty lies ahead of us. But the most profound lesson Ginsburg leaves behind is that compassionate courage is the greatest asset one can have amid such strife.

There is a strength in kindness that cannot be drowned out by harshness, and there is a power in justice that cannot be satisfied with any amount of partisan rhetoric. May this nation follow in her memory as we face the uncertain future.

Claire Sullivan is an 18-year-old coastal environmental science freshman from Southbury, CT.

LSU needs to mandate COVID-19 testing for football SPILL THE TEA WITH MARIE MARIE PLUNKETT

@MarieC_214

On Sept. 14, around 1 pm, students received an email informing them that “priority consideration for student tickets” would be given to those who have had a COVID-19 test “completed and reported to the University” after Aug. 15.

Two hours later, leaving a class in Hodges Hall, I was shocked to see a swarm of students crowding the COVID-19 Testing Pod IV on Dalrymple Drive. After getting home and checking my email, it all made sense: they wanted football tickets, but they hadn’t been tested yet.

I have to commend the University. Holding football tickets hostage until students do what they were supposed to be doing anyway is brilliant. Individuals who previously would never have gotten tested are finally making an effort now that football is at stake. Unfortunately, the plan is flawed and the effects only

temporary.

Once students receive their tickets, they’ll go back to doing the bare minimum to protect themselves and others—if that.

The football culture our University has cultivated over the years is not exactly pandemic-friendly; even if the administration bans tailgating, that’s not going to stop students from gathering prior to and after sporting events somewhere off-campus.

If students don’t take the proper precautions, the name “Death Valley” could become a literal reality.

COVID-19 can be spread through aerosols or airborne particles, meaning that when we sneeze, cough, talk, speak or even breathe, we increase the change of infecting those around us, According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Screaming, chanting and singing are all breath-heavy activities and result in even more airborne particles than regular speaking or breathing—and as every Tiger fan knows, our football games involve a lot of shouting.

In order to avoid making

every football game a potential super spreader event, the University should require students to be tested for COVID-19 before every game they plan to attend.

The University already requires students to complete a daily symptom checker and has access to student-reported COVID-19 test results. Taking it one step further and requiring students to get tested within a two-week period before a game is the only reasonable conclusion.

Not only would it keep fans safe; it would help protect staff members, as well as the athletes, band members and coaches who are required to be in Tiger Stadium for games. Many of our football players have already contracted the virus, as the Reveille previously reported, and it’s not fair for fans to put them at even more risk.

It may seem inconvenient for students to get semi-regular testing, but it’s not an unreasonable request. Testing services are provided free of charge to students and the process doesn’t take much time. If it seems too unreasonable or inconvenient to

you, you probably don’t deserve to enjoy attending football games at the expense of others anyway.

ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille

Thousands of fans gather to celebrate the national champions at a parade on campus following their victory.

Editorial Policies and Procedures EDITORIAL BOARD Bailey Chauvin Brittney Forbes Anna Jones Katherine Manuel Grace Pulliam

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

Marie Plunkett is a 21-year-old classical studies senior from New Orleans.

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

Quote of the Week “Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.”

Ruth Bader Ginsburg U.S. Supreme Court Justice (1933-2020)

Monday, September 21, 2020

page 12

Kanye West is in need of professional help, not ridicule GABBING WITH GABBY GABRIELLE MARTINEZ

@martinez_g0 If you ask anyone about Kanye West in 2020, it’s more likely they’re going to bring up his outrageous tweets or his shortlived bid for presidential office than his award-winning discography or streetwear label.

West’s been exhibiting some odd behavior lately. But it isn’t for your entertainment — it’s a grim reminder that mental illness can affect anyone, regardless of celebrity status.

In his most recent string of tweets, on Sept. 16, West released private information on a Forbes editor as well as a video of himself urinating on his own Grammy award. While these events earned him a temporary lock on his Twitter account, West has yet to stop his public rants about notable brands like Adidas and

Puma and artists such as Drake and Taylor Swift.

This episodic behavior isn’t unfamiliar to West, his family or his fans. The 43-year-old has long been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a condition the National Institute of Mental Health describes as causing “unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, concentration, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.”

This is far from the first time West has trended on Twitter for similar reasons. His last manic posting spree included accusations that his wife was cheating.

Those now-famous tweets resulted in Kim Kardashian West finally speaking up about his mental health on July 22, saying: “I kindly ask that the media and public give us the compassion and empathy that is needed so that we can get through this.”

As observers, it’s important we keep this statement in mind during West’s public outbursts.

These tweets shouldn’t be used as joke material or proof to call him

“crazy” or “insane.” Instead, they should bring awareness to the unhealthy stigmas around mental illness in our society, as well as to the fact that anyone can be suffering at any time.

Celebrities aren’t the only people who face challenges like these. Roughly 5.7 million Americans above the age of 18 suffer from bipolar disorder, According to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance.

While most people don’t have millions of spectators watching their public breakdowns, mental illness can still have dangerous effects on their relationships with friends, family and coworkers.

As an outsider, it’s hard to navigate disengaging these behaviors while simultaneously trying to be supportive.

One of the only things you can really do is encourage that individual to seek help. It’s important to make sure they’re surrounded by people who only want to see them get better instead of continuing to act on their impulsive

and radical behaviors.

While West’s rants are unfortunate and sad, they have rightfully brought mental health discussions back to the forefront of our pop culture to remind us that

empathy at this time is more important than ever.

Gabrielle Martinez is a 19-yearold mass communication sophomore from Gonzales.

MATT SAYLES / Invision/Associated Press

Kanye West accepts the Video Vanguard Award at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Aug. 30, 2015, in Los Angeles.

A beautiful campus is more important than we think EVAN ON EARTH EVAN LEONHARD

@evan_leonhard

In the Spring of 2020, before the world started ending, I had the displeasure of taking a course in Lockett Hall. Per campus lore, the infamous brick box—with its collapsing ceilings, electrical-wire lined wall and mind-numbing cubicle classrooms—is universally seen as an educational hellscape.

Although its state of general disrepair is typically what makes Lockett a hot topic of contention among students, most would agree that it could be in perfect condition and still be considered one of the most repulsive buildings in existence.

The course I took was a

survey in world literature; an exploration into the beauty and profundity of human expression around the globe. I will never forget the strange discomfort I felt sitting through those lectures. My professor was discussing some of the greatest questions of the human condition while standing amid a certifiable trash heap.

The scene raised an important question for me: what does the way our universities look say about what goes on inside them?

Although Lockett is an extreme and frequently-referenced example, this complete disregard for aesthetic quality can be seen in much of the contemporary architecture on campus. Following the lead of the massively influential 20th century architect Louis Sullivan—known as the “father of skyscrapers”—many of our newer buildings adhere to a strict “form follows function” standard.

From the outside, the buildings that house our classes and dorm rooms could just as easily be factories... but it doesn’t matter what these places look like, right?

Isn’t functionality enough?

This tendency to emphasize the practical is, for many of us, a natural reflex—maybe even a sort of comfort zone. American culture is permeated with an intense sense of pragmatism, wherein art is simply a luxury with no real bearing on whether something is useful.

Sir Roger Scruton, renowned for his work in the philosophy of art, considers this “flight from beauty” to be one of the principal failures of modern culture.

In his 2009 documentary “Why Beauty Matters,” Scruton claims a prevailing “cult of utilitarianism” in today’s architecture is gnawing away our senses of dignity and self-respect.

THE REVEILLE ARCHIVES

LSU students crowd the halls of the Lockett basement, attempting to get to class on time.

This may seem a rather radical or confusing stance to take.

For those of us who have beenbrought up in such a pragmatic culture, there might not seem to be a critical connection between environmental beauty and human dignity.

It’s helpful to look to the past.

Consider Andrea Palladio, an architect of the Italian Renaissance, who understood his work as an explicit attempt to facilitate human flourishing. There’s a balance in his creations, and a sense of rhythm, which he intended to ennoble the human spirit and guide the mind toward virtue— not simply to provide a blank space in which to exist.

On a related note, it seems we have abandoned the tradition of physically enshrining the ideals and practices that are most important to us. The sublimity of medieval cathedrals, ancient

temples and historic government buildings are all a testament to this forgotten practice.

This used to be the case for university campuses as well.

Look at places like Oxford and Cambridge, with their magnificent gothic libraries, and lecture halls that elevate the practice of learning to a near sacred status.

Our campus’ earlier architecture makes an attempt at this. The Renaissance-inspired architecture of the Quad, in some ways similar to the work of Palladio, does offer at least some suggestion of grandeur. It’s the University’s more recent, post-War buildings, which are haunted by an almostdystopian sense of utility.

In a post-truth era of careerism and anti-intellectualism, I cannot help but see the decline of campus architecture as being intrinsically related to the increasingly casual way our culture views the value of a college education.

Learning is no longer a sacred practice of self-realization. Higher education has been reduced to a sort of factory operation; students are sent to college only to leave as quickly as possible, able to pursue few endeavors other than training for the workforce.

The buildings we inhabit reflect this. If our idea of college is no more than a stepping stone to a salary, it makes no sense to beautify our campuses.

Yet beauty is much more meaningful than our culture permits. The “ugly campus” problem is a visual symptom pointing toward a much deeper crisis of our understanding of what universities are and what they do.

THE REVEILLE ARCHIVES

Evan Leonhard is a 19-year-old English and philosophy major from New Orleans.

Live oak trees sit in the Enchanted Forest behind the Greek Theater.