@lsureveille
The Daily Reveille Est. 1887
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Volume 125 · No. 7
lsunow.com
INVESTIGATION
LSU student’s death ruled suicide STAFF REPORTS @lsureveille East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner William “Beau” Clark confirmed the death of Michael Nickelotte, Jr. was a suicide. Clark said Nickelotte, shot himself in the head. The Louisiana State Police Crime Lab confirmed the human remains found Friday night in a wooded area less than a mile away from Ben Hur Road belonged to Nickelotte. Nickelotte was last sighted in his East Campus dorm room around 1 a.m. on Sept. 18. East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Casey Rayborn Hicks said his body was discovered by hunters around 6:30 p.m., about 60 yards away from the road in the woods. LSU Media Relations Director Ernie Ballard said LSUPD confirmed Nickelotte’s bike was found at the scene. “We must now begin the sorrowful process of honoring his short life with us and laying him to his eternal rest,” the family said in a statement posted on Facebook. “The support all have shown over this difficult time has been heartfelt and inspirational. Please continue to hold us in your prayers so that we may get through this difficult time.”
STRONG AS IRON
Dekeriya Patterson overcomes anemia to play for the Lady Tigers BY JARRETT MAJOR | @Jarrett_TDR
PHOTO BY WHITNEY WILLISTON
Before LSU freshman women’s basketball player Dekeriya Patterson ever played a minute of high school, basketball in she was offered scholarships from its top programs. Louisville, the then defending national runner-up, and LSU were among the universities that offered her a scholarship. But by the time of Patterson’s sophomore season, things had changed. Patterson was struggling to get down the court and was losing the interest of the big time schools. She lost 20 pounds in weight and struggled to sleep; things had taken a turn for the worst. Patterson was diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia but is now back at the top of her game. “Now that I am healthy, I am going full force,” Patterson said. “I am ready for the season to come. I feel more confident than I felt before.” Iron deficiency is common with more than 1.5 billion cases worldwide, and is quite treatable with only 54,000 deaths attributed to iron-deficiency anemia. But Patterson could have been a
statistic. When she was playing without treatment she was at increased risk of a heart attack and stroke. Her doctors were surprised that she was even able to play. “It was really heartbreaking,” Patterson said. “I felt like I was not going to be able to play basketball again.” Patterson was offered a blood transfusion to get her blood iron content to a healthy level, but that would have meant she would not be able to play her junior season. For Patterson, that was never an option. Instead, Patterson took a series of beet juices and iron pills. In a week her blood iron content was back to a healthy level, and Patterson was able to play again. Her game improved dramatically. Patterson was able to get down the court without tiring and was able to practice without having to rest. She led her high school, Dunbar High in Fort Myers, Florida, to the state tournament. By her senior season, she was back at the top of her game.
BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY
see PATTERSON, page 5
FOOTBALL
Live2Serve serves local youth through interaction, play
Orgeron hopes, prays to solve LSU’s problems in the trenches
BY MACKENZIE TREADWELL @mackenzieelizaa
BY BRANDON ADAM @badam_TDR
Every Wednesday afternoon, Jacob Allen Nichols heads to the Baranco-Clark YMCA to host Live2Serve, his personal project in the downtown area since 2011. The nonprofit organization strives for authentic investment in Baton Rouge youth through interaction and play. It all began when Nichols met 7-year-old Tyler one day at a gas station in 2010, during Nichols’ freshman year at the University. Over shared candy bars
The Tigers may have two losses on the season, but they have continuously lost at the line of scrimmage throughout the season. Offensively, the line cannot protect senior quarterback Danny Etling, and defensively, the line fails to generate consistent pressure and consistently gets blown off the ball in the run game. Excuses have been made about depth and experience, but LSU just flat out lacks elite-
see LIVE2SERVE, page 5
KATE ROY / The Daily Reveille
Kinesiology sophomore Brooke Holley carries a child on the way to Live 2 Serve’s headquarters on Sept. 27.
see LINEMEN, page 5
KIM NGUYEN / The Daily Reveille
LSU senior fullback John David Moore (18) prepares for a play during the Tigers 45-10 victory against Chattanooga on Sept. 9 at Tiger Stadium.
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Wednesday, October 4, 2017
The Daily Reveille B-16 Hodges Hall Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, La. 70803 Newsroom (225) 578-4811
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Editor in Chief
WILLIAM TAYLOR POTTER
in this
ISSUE
Hazing
Managing Editor
RAMSINA ODISHO News Editor
NATALIE ANDERSON page 6
WHITNEY WILLISTON / The Daily Reveille
EVAN SAACKS
6
Sports Editor
HANNAH MARTIN
Phi Delta Theta placed on interim suspension in 2016 following hazing allegations
Deputy Sports Editor
BRANDON ADAM Entertainment Editor
8
Better Than Ever
Deputy News Editor
LAUREN HEFFKER
Debbie Hahn makes strong comeback following ACL surgery
Opinion Editor
LYNNE BUNCH Production Editor
Eye on the Target
12
HA-VY NGUYEN page 12
CHRISTA MORAN / The Daily Reveille
Discover BREC’s ‘Guardians & Me’ program teaching beginner archery technique
Southern Pride
Deputy Photo Editor WHITNEY WILLISTON
14
CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS
Mass communication junior to develop documentary exploring LGBTQ student life
Spooky Series
Fenty Envy
The Daily Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure its readers the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards. This space is reserved to recognize and correct any mistakes that may have been printed in The Daily Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified, please contact the editor at (225) 5784811 or email editor@lsureveille.com.
18
Check out this calendar of Halloweenthemed events throughout October
Photo Editor
HASKELL WHITTINGTON
page 14
ISABELLA ALLEN / The Daily Reveille
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A columnist’s take on the rising diversity in makeup foundation shades.
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THE DAILY REVEILLE ARCHIVES
ABOUT THE DAILY REVEILLE The Daily Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Daily Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. A single issue of The Daily Reveille is free. To purchase additional copies, please visit the Office of Student Media in B-39 Hodges Hall. The Daily Reveille is published weekly during the fall, spring, and summer semesters, except during holidays and final exams. Second-class copies postage paid at Baton Rouge, LA, 70803. Annual weekly mailed subscriptions are $125, semester weekly mailed subscriptions are $75. Non-mailed student rates are $4 each regular semester, $2 during the summer; one copy per person, additional copies 25 cents each. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Daily Reveille, B-39 Hodges Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.
News
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CULTURE
STUDENT LIFE
for a CAUSE Hispanic Student Cultural Society gives back, aims to unify students of all backgrounds BY ABBIE SHULL | @Abbielj
photo by ISABELLA ALLEN / The Daily Reveille
Through cultural celebration and community involvement, the Hispanic Student Cultural Society aims to educate students about people of different backgrounds. HSCS is a relatively new organization to the University. This year the group hopes to get involved with more philanthropy, specifically to help with the recent tragedies in Mexico City and Puerto Rico. Film and media arts senior Hannah Mizwa is president of the organization, but said she had no idea HSCS existed until this semester. She said when she learned about it, she did everything possible to get involved. “When I learned about HSCS, I went straight to the advisor,” Mizwa said. “...I even told them I’d be interested in
running for president and now here we are.” Mizwa and elementary education junior Karla Rendon are helping HSCS collaborate with the Cajun Airlift. Similar to the Cajun Navy, the Cajun Airlift’s goal is to collect goods and supplies for victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Mizwa said a few professors from the University who are originally from Puerto Rico approached the organization hoping they would be interested in helping with relief efforts. HSCS meets every week, and typically holds social events for students to go into the community and support Latino-owned businesses. “We like to give back to specific restaurants that are actually [owned] by
Hispanic people,” Mizwa said. “I’m from Houston, and the Hispanic population there is huge, but [in Baton Rouge] ... not so much. Mizwa said it is important for students to expose themselves to people of different backgrounds to “chip away” at any ignorance they have about that culture. “A lot of times, Hispanics or Latinos are just seen as Mexican. There’s over 230 countries in Latin America,” Mizwa said. “People need to see how diverse we are, even within our ethnic background.” Mizwa said while HSCS is not the biggest group on campus, they have a lot to offer. Hispanic Heritage Month will be celebrated through Oct. 15 and HSCS is hosting a number of events, along with the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Mizwa
see HERITAGE, page 7
Students react to Middleton Library’s new hours BY ASHLON LUSK @shlinie In past semesters, students could leave the first floor of Middleton Library to study in a quieter environment on the second, third and fourth floors until midnight. Now at 10 p.m. students must move to the first floor. “We are closing the circulation desk earlier because people weren’t checking out books after that time,” said Director of Library Communications and Publications Sigrid Kelsey. The first floor has added new furniture and more space to study. The library has accommodated for more people coming down at 10 p.m. and needing to study until later in the night. “I don’t think there is really a downside or an upside,” Kelsey said. “They still have space on the first floor to study. We have a new study space to hopefully carve out some more room that they’re missing from the upper floors.” Kelsey said the staff was unnecessarily having to work because there are less people upstairs after 10 p.m. The hours changed so those students could be safe downstairs with staff to monitor them. “For staff it’s really just not a good use of staff time to have them in the library when their
see MIDDLETON, page 7
GREEK LIFE
Greek activities to be reinstated, chapter meetings restored BY EVAN SAACKS @evansaacks After suspending all Greek Life activities following the potential hazing death of Maxwell Gruver, the University is taking steps toward returning Greek activities to a new sense of normalcy. The University reinstated Greek organizations’ privilege to have chapter meetings on Oct. 2, but has not yet reinstated new member initiation or social events. LSU Student Advocacy & Accountability plans to meet with chapter officials to determine when all activities would be reinstated, according to Dean of Students Mari Fuentes-Martin. “We have to go chapter by
chapter and make sure the safeguards are in place that hazing will not return the minute new member education returns,” Fuentes-Martin said. “Each chapter must give us how they’re going to resume new member education so that we go back to a safe place. For some people, when you say we go back to new member education, you go back to hazing. That’s what we’re trying to control.” One of the bigger initiatives as a result of the Greek Life suspension was the new tailgating policies for all student organizations. These policies required student organizations on the Parade Ground to register several days in advance, report to an assigned 30 by 30 feet area and not set up before
8 a.m. Organizations also could not have a tent larger than 10 by 10 feet, common source drink containers, glass containers, tablecloths, furniture (with the exception of folding chairs, lawn chairs and tables), stages or other structures, vehicles of any kind, tent walls, drapes or stakes to anchor tents. Organizations also had to clean up before the game began. Feedback on the new policies was positive, although there were only five organizations on the Parade Ground, the designated area for student organizations. Many Greek organizations held tailgates away from the Parade Ground, which the University cannot regulate. KIM NGUYEN / The Daily Reveille
see TAILGATING, page 7
Trash cans sit in the sun at the Parade Ground on Sept. 20.
The Daily Reveille
page 4
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
FACULTY
LSU adjunct professor wins part of 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics BY NATALIE ANDERSON @natalie_mechell The 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded Tuesday to leaders of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory for the first detection of gravitational waves, according to a University news release. The detection confirmed Albert Einstein’s major prediction of the 1915 general theory of relativity. The discovery opens a new window into the cosmos. LIGO was awarded the prize by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden, after LIGO observed ripples in the fabric of spacetime in the LIGO observatories in Livingston, Louisiana and Hanford, Washington. These gravitational waves were predicted by Einstein more than 100 years ago to arrive at Earth from a cataclysmic event in the distant universe. On Sept. 14, 2015, the two observatories detected gravitational waves from two black holes colliding over a billion light years away. Leaders included LSU Adjunct Professor and MIT Professor Emeritus Rainer Weiss and California Institute of Technology Professor Emeriti Kip Thorne and Barry Barish. Half of the prize was awarded to Weiss and the other half was dedicated to Thorne and Barish. Both Weiss and Thorne
courtesy of LIGO
This illustration shows the merger of two black holes and the gravitational waves that ripple outward as the black holes spiral toward each other. The black holes — which represent those detected by LIGO on Dec. 26 — were 14 and eight times the mass of the sun, until they merged, forming a single black hole 21 times the mass of the sun. co-founded the LIGO/VIRGO Collaboration, while Barish led the final design stage, construction and commissioning the LIGO interferometers in Livingston, Louisiana and Hanford, Washington. The LIGO Livingston observatory is located on University property, and University faculty, students and research staff
have contributed to the international LIGO Science Collaboration. The location of the two observatories with another one in Europe creates a triangle that can verify astronomical observations. The University’s contribution in gravitational-wave detection spans more than 40 years, which is among the longest of the
institutions contributing to the present discovery, according to the news release. “This Nobel Prize recognition is in part an outcome of the University’s long-term vision and commitment to high-risk, highpotential gain scientific research,” LSU President F. King Alexander said in a broadcast email.
“Congratulations to all of our students, faculty and staff who have been a part of the research efforts that contributed to this Nobel Prize-winning recognition.” This is the third year scientists from the LSU Department of Physics & Astronomy have been among the scientific research teams involved with the Nobel Prize in Physics. In 2011, LSU Alumni Professor Bradley Schaefer and colleagues from the Supernova Cosmology Project received a share of the prize. Their share was rewarded for their observation of distant supernovas. In 2015, LSU physics professor Thomas Kutter and his group of postdoctoral researchers were awarded for the fundamental discovery of neutrino oscillation and properties. “This is an exciting time for LSU and the College of Science,” Dean of the College of Science Cynthia Peterson said in a news release. “As scientists, we are in constant pursuit of more knowledge and understanding of our place in the universe. This discovery, 100 years in the making, is a leap forward in this pursuit. LIGO’s history-making work has given us new insight into our universe. We salute the LSU scientists who contributed to this discovery and all of the members of the LIGO scientific collaboration.”
ADMINISTRATION
LSU, Governor’s office file breach of contract against BRF BY DENA WINEGEART @DenaWinegeart
The University and Gov. John Bel Edwards have officially filed separate breach of contract notices to the Shreveport-based Biomedical Research Foundation that controls North Louisiana’s safety net hospitals. The breach of contract notices are the first step in the Governor’s Office and the University’s effort to remove BRF as the operator of the safety net hospitals, according to The USA Today Network of Louisiana. The most recent notice is the third BRF has received since 2015, with the first coming from former Gov. Bobby Jindal’s office. In 2013, Congress passed legislation that revoked federal funding for the state’s health care expenses, originally passed in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita damaged much of the state. Jindal turned over the operations of all state safety net hospitals to capable, private or non-profit operators to circumvent a fiscal disaster for the state. Most of the safety net hospitals operations went to experienced operators on short notice, said associate professor of political science at LSU-Shreveport Jeffrey Sadow.
However, the two northern hospitals in Shreveport and Monroe had been run by the LSU system for years, and there was no clear, experienced operator in the region. That’s when BRF came into the equation. The LSU system alleges in the breach of contract notice that BRF has not made on-time contracted payments. “The way cashflow works is sometimes you have a lot going out without a lot coming in … and BRF, as a result, had trouble paying bills on time,” Sadow said. BRF cited the unbalanced funding model that has contributed to their lack of funds in a press release. “North Louisiana hospitals get only 32 cents per patient for every dollar received by New Orleans,” said Chair of BRF Malcolm Murchison in a press release. “We will fight for a funding model that treats the citizens of North Louisiana fairly, and provides for adequate health care for those who need it most.” Further, BRF said it is “not going to prioritize paying LSU ahead of the needs of [its] patients…” and that the state’s failure to fund as promised and LSU’s “failure to document its claims have caused” BRF to withhold payments. If BRF is removed, there are other options LSU and the
HASKELL WHITTINGTON / The Daily Reveille
The Louisiana state capitol stands tall on Oct. 2 in downtown Baton Rouge. Governor’s office are looking into to take over operations. Sadow said the less “politically problematic” organization to take over operations is the Ochsner Health System, a not-forprofit health care provider just outside of New Orleans, which has a heavy presence in South
Louisiana. Willis-Knighton Medical Center, on the other hand, has a stronghold in the North Louisiana region. If they were to receive the contract, WillisKnighton would nearly have a monopoly in the region, Sadow said. The next step after the breach
of contract notice is a time of 45 to 60 days to outline and make corrective actions before going to court to remove BRF as the operator of University Health in Shreveport. The Governor’s Office did not respond to a request for comment.
The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, October 4, 2017 LIVE2SERVE, from page 1 and soda, the pair developed a friendship, with Nichols acting as a mentor. When Tyler told Nichols about his dream of playing baseball for the Houston Astros, Nichols was taken aback when he realized Tyler didn’t even own a glove, while Nicole himself had plenty of gear. The two began meeting on Saturdays to play baseball. When he and Tyler’s regular game of catch at a nearby park grew to include more than 30 other children, Nichols invited members of his church, University Baptist Church, to join. They dove right in, Nichols said, and the weekly event was soon termed Live2Serve. The meet-ups, however, lacked a proper place to be held they had been playing games in the streets near the Baranco-Clark YMCA. In 2011, Nichols began hosting Live2Serve in the Baranco-Clark YMCA and from there, the organization blossomed. Today, Live2Serve has nearly 3,000 University student volunteers throughout the year, Nichols said. “College kids want to help, [they] want to do great things,” Nichols said. “Live2Serve makes that possible.” Every Wednesday, Live2Serve volunteers walk through the neighborhood near the BarancoClark YMCA to pick up children who readily anticipate the event all week, said kinesiology sophomore and girls outreach director Brooke Holley. While the weekly program consists of outdoor games, Bible study and crafting, all the volunteers agree it’s more than that. Holley fondly remembers a moment in which one of the children, nicknamed “Lolo,” ran to her and told her,
PATTERSON, from page 1 In her final home game, with LSU assistant Tasha Butts in attendance, Patterson hung 40 points in a 63-49 win over Cape Coral High School. “She is one of those players that has so many skills on the offensive side,” Butts said. “She can shoot the three. She can create her own shows. She showcased all of that in her last game.” While Patterson had options other than LSU, including Louisville and South Florida, the team that the Lady Tigers will open the season against, Patterson chose to go to LSU because the Lady Tigers stuck by her when others left. “I had plenty of offers before I even started playing,” Patterson said. “Once everyone started figuring out I had anemia, a lot of schools backed out. LSU never did. Even when I was down and out, I felt like they really wanted me.” Now that Patterson is at LSU, she is expected to make a big impact immediately. The Lady Tigers were last in the NCAA at making three-point shots last season. Patterson is capable of helping the Lady Tigers improve. “She is very capable of
“You’re my best friend.” “You don’t think you’ll make these close of bonds, but really, they remember you because they enjoy it so much,” Holley said. Many of the children don’t have constant adult figures in their lives, and through Live2Serve have the chance to see familiar faces, kinesiology junior and director of volunteer outreach Elissa Nunnally said. Through genuine, authentic relationships, Live2Serve reminds children they are cared for and pushes them to a higher standard in life and the classroom, Nunnally said. This dynamic not only helps the children, but changes volunteers as well. As University students walk through the neighborhood to pick up the children or listen to their conversations, their eyes are open to a different world, psychology junior Allie Smith said. When people of varying races, socioeconomic backgrounds and religious beliefs come together for two hours a week for simple fun, a powerful avenue for dialogue and understanding with volunteers and children alike is built, education sophomore Sarah Morgan Sivils said. “Deep down, we’re all the same, and this is a step in the right direction,” pre-nursing sophomore Matthew Miller said. While there’s negativity in everyone’s day-to-day life, Live2Serve gives its volunteers and kids something good within its walls, Nichols said. “If you come into it with an open mind, Live2Serve has the power to change your life,” Holley said. Live2Serve is every Wednesday from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. at the Baranco-Clark YMCA at 1735 Thomas H. Delpit Rd. scoring the basketball,” LSU coach Nikki Fargas said. “She has range. Her conditioning and nutrition is something that we take seriously, even if she did not have deficiency. She has done a great job of taking what our nutritionist and strength coach tell her to do to stay healthy.” Patterson already has made waves at LSU. She started for the Lady Tigers in a win over 83-50 FSG Academy in Italy. Patterson scored 11 points in that game for the Lady Tigers, as one of three newcomers to start for LSU in Italy. “It was a great experience to play with a college team,” Patterson said. “It was fast paced and really different from high school. It was good for my conditioning.” Now that practice has started for the Lady Tigers, Patterson is focused on helping LSU get back to the tournament for a second year in a row. She is sticking on a routine to stay healthy, that includes drinking beet juice with a recipe prepared by her mother. Her coaches text her reminders to make sure she is on track. “It is something she is always going to battle,” Butts said. “But now she has it under control.”
page 5
KATE ROY / The Daily Reveille
The management team poses for a photo at Live2Serve’s headquarters, the YMCA on Thomas H. Delpit Drive, on Sept. 27.
LINEMAN, from page 1 level talent, especially without junior offensive tackle Toby Weathersby and sophomore defensive end Rashard Lawrence in the lineup. Since 2013, LSU has signed 16 players that ranked in the top 10 at their positions on the offensive and defensive line. Only four — senior nose tackle Greg Gilmore, junior offensive guard Garrett Brumfield, junior outside linebacker Arden Key and freshman linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson — played meaningful reps on Saturday. The lack of depth and elite talent up front has caused noticeable problems for LSU’s defense. In the last four games, the Tigers have given up an average of 4.4 yards a carry and seven rushing touchdowns. In the two of three games Mississippi State and Troy the team played without Lawrence, the defense gave up 491 yards on 90 carries and five touchdowns. With Lawrence, the numbers are vastly different. Against BYU, and Syracuse, the Tigers only allowed 71 yards on 41 carries. “On defense, our best player is Rashard Lawrence,” said coach Ed Orgeron. “We don’t have Ed Alexander out there. We don’t have Frank Herron out there. So we have the guys that are doing the best they can. But Glen Logan was a redshirt freshman and played almost every snap at right end.” “It was kind of difficult to hold the point. We wish we could have rotated him, but we couldn’t. And we think that we can have some help with Rashard Lawrence this week and Ed Alexander and Frank Herron against Auburn.” While it appears that reinforcements are coming on the defensive line, LSU is stuck
DILYN STEWART / The Daily Reveille
LSU junior offensive center Will Clapp (64) prepares for a play during the Tigers’ 2421 loss against Troy at Tiger Stadium on Sept. 30. with who they have on the opposite side of the ball. The offensive line appeared to be one of the Tigers’ strengths heading into the season with four returning starters. Then, former starting guard Maea Teuhema left the team in August, joining three other offensive linemen who left in the spring. The Tigers’ offensive line woes run much deeper than a lack of depth for this season. Left tackle KJ Malone is a senior, guard Garrett Brumfield and center Will Clapp are redshirt juniors and right tackle Toby Weathersby is a junior. With a potential mass exodus at hand, Orgeron said he plans to target the junior college ranks for help on both sides of the line. The Tigers,
however, a bit limited, in scholarships they can hand out. Orgeron and his staff already has 18 commitments and appear to be the top choice for multiple players in the secondary and at wide receiver. “[We] had a recruiting meeting this morning. We need a JC lineman. We need a JC tackle. We need two JC offense linemen and two JC defensive tackles. We’re looking for those guys.” “I’m always looking for holes on the roster to fix. And we feel, with this recruiting class, we have some young freshmen that could come in and help us.” Orgeron said his strategy for making the members workwas simple. “Hope and pray.”
The Daily Reveille
page 6
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
GREEK LIFE
Phi Delta Theta suspended in 2016 for hazing allegations BY NATALIE ANDERSON @natalie_mechell
Less than a year before the potential hazing-related death of University student Maxwell Gruver at the Phi Delta Theta house, the fraternity was placed on interim suspension following a complaint about alleged hazing of new members. Associate Dean of Students and Student Advocacy and Accountability Director in 2016, Jonathan Sanders, informed the Phi Delta Theta fraternity of an ordered interim suspension of all chapter events on Nov. 15, 2016. The chapter was placed under an investigation per the interim suspension, according to emails obtained via public records request. On Oct. 14, 2016, Associate Dean and Greek Life director Angela Guillory addressed the chapter by email on behalf of the Greek Accountability Team regarding a possible risk management violation after receiving a complaint report. According to the complaint, it was alleged new members were required to buy chewing tobacco and cigarettes, keep them on them and give them to the older fraternity brothers. The report alleged pledges were required to be at the fraternity house at 6 a.m. every
day and report to tailgates at 1 a.m. before home games. Further, the report alleged pledges were to be available to the older fraternity brothers at any time of the day, excluding times when pledges were in class, were 24 hours from a test or when parents came into town. The report stated pledges were called to deliver food and pick up brothers from bars at 3 a.m., and they were “exhausted all of the time.” In the email, Guillory said the University’s partnership process allows organizations the opportunity to facilitate their own investigations and provide Greek Life with a report. After receiving no response from the chapter, on Oct. 25, 2016, Guillory said in an email to a redacted individual, it was necessary to “move to the right hand side of the chart and charge the chapter with hazing,” per the partnership process on behalf of the Greek Accountability Team. She said the chapter had until 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 27, 2016, to provide a report. The suspension included no communication between newly initiated members and active members through direct, virtual or third party contact outside of approved ritual and chapter meetings at the fraternity house. The
chapter was not allowed to host or participate in social activities, including exchanges, socials or parties, both on and off campus, according to the documents obtained by public records request. Additionally, the chapter was restricted from participating in intramural activities and meetings not part of the investigation. The chapter could, with Alumni Advisory board members present, conduct ritual meetings to facilitate new member education and carry out essential chapter business. All chapter functions during the suspension had to be approved by Greek Life in writing, 24 hours in advance. Then-Phi Delta Theta Fraternity president submitted an incident report on Oct. 27, 2016 detailing investigation results from the complaint against the chapter. The report stated a number of new members who did not smoke tobacco or cigarettes had them during interviews for the investigation, even after the chapter had been addressed of that issue earlier in the semester, which led the fraternity to believe “isolated instances” of the issue occurred. The report stated both active and new members were proportionally assigned shifts and overnight watches because
driver program,” the president said in the report. The fraternity’s incident report, submitted by the fraternity, said allegations of early morning requirements were discovered to be false, as no new members said they had to come to the house at 6 a.m. Only five members lived in the house at the time and said they did not see that issue occur. Results of further investigation were submitted Nov. 7, 2016. A second investigation was conducted on Nov. 2, 2016, at a regularly scheduled chapter meeting. Per suggestion by the Greek Accountability Team, active members were questioned, as a group, separately from new members. Each group was asked about the specific allegations or conduct similar to the allegations. While some members reported conduct the fraternity felt did not “form to substance of the allegation,” such as borrowing a cigarette from a new member or riding with a new member to the grocery store when that member was already going grocery shopping, one member did say he asked a new member to purchase cigarettes for him on one occasion. One member said he allowed other members to anonymously
there had been a reports of stolen tailgating equipment from the Parade Ground. However, it was discovered active members were skipping shifts and leaving overnight watches to the new members. The president reported while no new member had been asked to be available at all times, it was discovered active members had been calling new members to run errands. This was an issue that had been a problem in the chapter the report stated. A program the chapter established included a rotation of designated driver shifts, where both active and new members had to sign up for multiple shifts in the semester to serve as designated drivers for other members. Typically, the program required two designated drivers each night. It was reported on nights when both an active and new member were scheduled, only new members were being called, possibly even by active drivers telling others to call new members first. “We believe a number of these issues are the result of a lack of management of these programs and are actively taking steps to ensure more oversight by the Executive Board of our tailgate chairman and risk management chairman for the designated
see SUSPENSION, page 7
A CAMPUS TRADITION SINCE 1996. Open late ‘til 3:30AM Thu-Sat: Highland & State St. | Burbank & Lee Dr.
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C1 - “"The "Mothership
C2 - "The Deuce
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The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, October 4, 2017 TAILGATING, from page 3 eSportsLSU Vice President Madison Shields said the new policies were helpful and convenient for a club having their first tailgate. “I think it’s super cool [the University] reserved us a spot like this because we wouldn’t have had such a large area, and would have had to set up a tent the night before, but they did all this ahead of time so we just show up whenever and set up,” Shields said. “There was definitely room to [tailgate] beforehand, but now it’s more accessible.” LSU President F. King Alexander announced the formation of a Task Force on Greek Life on Sept. 29, which includes representatives from several different faculty and studentled departments and will examine how the University handles aspects of Greek Life. LSU Foundation Board of Directors member Rob Stuart will serve as chair of the task force. Other members include LSU Executive Vice President and CFO Dan Layzell, LSU
Student Government president Jason Badeaux, LSU Faculty Senate president Kenneth McMillin, LSU Dean of Students Mari Fuentes-Martin, LSU Athletics Department representative Verge Ausberry, Interfraternity Council president Mason Tusa, National Panhellinic Council president Anesha Pink, Panhellinic Council president Madison Hopper, LSU Residence Hall Association president Camille Flint and Kappa Sigma House Corporation representative BJ Billeaudeau. “Maxwell Gruver’s death was a tragedy, not only for his family, but for the entire LSU community,” Alexander said in a statement. “The Task Force will look deeply into our Greek community, the University structures and policies that support it and the strengths and weaknesses that define it.” Fuentes-Martin said there is no timetable for when all Greek Life activities will resume because the events surrounding the suspension are always changing and developing.
HERITAGE, from page 3 said she is most excited for the showcase, which will be held in the French House on Oct. 13. “It’s a huge embodiment of all the events throughout the month,” Mizwa said. “We’ll have speakers, some performers and it’s just going to be a lot of fun.” This is the first semester Rendon has been involved with HSCS. She has been a member of the Minority Women’s Movement for two semesters, and said both organizations have helped her feel less out of place at the University. “HSCS encourages people to learn about your own culture or another,” Rendon said. “You can become more open and educated
page 7 about ‘latinx’ cultures.” Rendon said during Hispanic Heritage Month, she hopes people will have fun at the events, but also learn about the beauty of Hispanic culture. “I hope people learn about the struggles that Latinos go through and become more open,” Rendon said. “These events bring awareness to issues people might not know about.” On Sept. 28, HSCS hosted a “Salsa Night” in coordination with the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Minority Women’s Movement. Over 100 students attended and participated in salsa lessons taught by instructors from Salsa Ardiente. Interdisciplinary studies se-
nior Josh Malone has been involved with HSCS since his freshman year. He said he joined to learn more about Hispanic culture. “I’m a Spanish minor, so I really just wanted to learn about the culture,” Malone said. “I’m not Hispanic, I just wanted to know more.” Mizwa said HSCS wants students to know that everyone is welcome at their events and meetings. “You don’t have to be Hispanic to join,” Mizwa said. “Of course, we encourage Hispanics and Latinos to join so that they can engage with people on campus, but at the end of the day, we want to spread the word and help people.”
ISABELLA ALLEN / The Daily Reveille
Members from Salsa Ardiente Dance Company teach students how to salsa during an event hosted by the Hispanic Student Cultural Society on Sept. 28 in the Student Union theatre reception room.
MIDDLETON, from page 3 KIM NGUYEN / The Daily Reveille
Members of Delta Chi fraternity tailgate along Dalrymple Drive on Sept. 30.
SUSPENSION, from page 6 report to him instances related to the allegations, as he said he knew certain members might be hesitant to report other members in a public setting. According to the further investigation report, when new members were questioned, without active members present, they said they were not asked to buy tobacco or cigarettes. Two new members reported instances where an active asked if they had a cigarette and the new members who smoked would offer one, which was consistent with reports from the actives. New members emphasized they remember being told at induction “they were not servants” and never felt pressured to do anything, like be available at all times, according to the report. However, after the investigation meetings, anonymously submitted reports showed discoveries of truth to some of the allegations. Multiple individuals reported having knowledge of one alumnus asking new members for rides and/or cigarettes.
Multiple individuals reported knowledge of requirements for new members to purchase a certain member meals. Two members individually reported knowledge of requiring a new member to bring a certain member food without paying for it, and bring a member to get food and not pay for it, reported respectively. Once those allegations were received, each active member was contacted regarding the allegations. The three members maintained the alleged events did occur, even though the new members were not obliged to participate in them. Sanders approved a request on Nov. 16, 2016 to allow the chapter to conduct business related to officer transition and closing out the semester, but the suspension still applied for social and intramural events. The University removed the “Interim Suspension of Activities for all chapter events” by letter from Sanders on Dec. 21, 2016. The chapter was approved to conduct business and resume normal activities in line with the University policies.
services aren’t needed,” Kelsey said. English sophomore Hayden Guidry said his study habits had to change because of the new closing times. He would usually be able to study all night because most people left around midnight. “I would stay on the third or fourth floor until midnight and then come down to the first floor. Everyone at that point would be leaving, so it would be quiet
on the first floor,” Guidry said. “Now since they close it at 10, the first floor is way too loud to get anything done.” Guidry said he thinks the library hours changing was probably for safety, but it does not change the fact he cannot study there past 10 p.m. because of how loud it is on the first floor. “It is just a lot harder to study, so I just go home,” Guidry said. “It causes a break in my studying, so I get less done and I’m less productive.”
Psychology sophomore Ethan Olsen said he has felt a rift in his studying schedule and does not come to the library to study during the night as often. Olsen now studies in the library during the day, he said. There is not space or silence on the first floor at 10 because there are so many people there. “We’re here for academics and this is an academic space,” Guidry said. “There’s not enough room for everyone at 10 o’clock on the first floor. It just doesn’t work.”
DILYN STEWART / The Daily Reveille
Troy H. Middleton Library operates during regular business hours on Aug. 16.
Sports
page 8
BETTER than ever Debbie Hahn thrives in senior season after ACL injury
KENNEDI LANDRY @landryyy14 An ACL injury is often the most detrimental thing that can happen to an athlete’s career. Injuries of that caliber can completely change the identity of a player, so when senior defender Debbie Hahn went down with a non-contact ACL injury during spring practice, nobody expected her to come back even better than before. “Whenever I’ve had teammates that came back from [an] ACL injury, they never were the same,” senior defender Jordane Carvery said. “But Debbie is the exact same person, even better than she was. That’s just awesome to see how she persevered and came back and overcame those challenges.” ACL injuries usually have a six to eight month recovery period for women, but Hahn made it back just at six months. She said she didn’t even think she would be back until next season and gives all the credit to LSU’s doctors whose rehabbing gave her the opportunity
FOOTBALL
LSU football getting back to old ways Lawrence, Alexander to return against Florida
to come back so quickly. “I think that when you go down with that type of injury, you have, in my case, six months where all I focused on was my health and my fitness and my strength,” Hahn said. “If you focus everyday on just your body and your fitness, then you can’t really go anywhere but up.” Hahn made her return to the pitch in the third match of the 2017 season against Lamar and showed no signs of still recovering from a major surgery just months prior. Carvery has no doubt that Hahn plays at 100 percent every time she is on the field, and even more so after surgery. “Whenever Debbie steps on the pitch, she does whatever she can to win that ball,” Carvery said. “So we have full faith and trust in her that if someone’s coming at her, I know she’s going to win that ball and make the move forward.” However, even with all the improvement and recovery Hahn has had, not everything in her game is perfect. After a surgery of this magnitude, there are little kinks in her game that are to be expected.
BY HANNAH MARTIN @hmartin_ The LSU offense has taken a step away from being their typical selves — that being how they were playing during spring practice all the way through fall camp. “We’re ready to get back to what we’ve been doing,” junior center Will Clapp said. “We’re going to get back to ‘us.’” Heading into Troy, coach Ed Orgeron wanted to simplify the offense and ultimately stepped in to make sure that a simplified offense is what he got. The team ran less shifts and motions with two freshmen on the offensive line, but the offense struggled to find a rhythm or identity the entire game. “We were a good offense,” Clapp said. “Doing our shifts and motions and using that to our advantage and making those right reads. We just got into a funk as an offense. Obviously we haven’t been playing that well. We want to get back to having big runs and electric plays and get back
see HAHN, page 11 AURIANNA CORDERO / The Daily Reveille
see OLD WAYS, page 11
BASKETBALL
Reath, Mays, Sampson endured ‘three days of hell’ BY GLEN WEST @glenwest21
LSU basketball is now four days into practice for the upcoming season and players are already starting to feel a difference in their mindset and bodies. Senior forward Duop Reath, junior guard Brandon Sampson and sophomore guard Skylar Mays are among the returning players to a team that finished 10-21 overall and 2-16 in Southeastern Conference play a year ago. The addition of coach Will Wade gave the team a much needed cultural shock, one that the players feel will be beneficial. The biggest difference Reath has noticed about Wade’s coaching style is the attention to
detail. “Every little thing matters to him,” Reath said. “He’s very analytical. Everything that we do affects everybody. If one person is late on something, it affects the whole group.” Each player had a designated offseason program to come back stronger for this season. Reath played at 225 pounds last season but concentrated on adding weight in the offseason and is now up to 244 pounds. Mays spent the offseason improving agility to help on the defensive side of the ball. “I think the defensive end, that was also a big focus this year,” Mays said. “I really want to be that guy that [Wade] depends on to defend the other team’s best player.”
Sampson is expected to spend time running at the two and three spot this season so adding weight was important to be guarding bigger guys. “I’ve gained 10 pounds,” Sampson said. “I think that’s a good thing because you get those bumps in the SEC.” Mays is expected to split time at the point and two guard spot with freshman Tremont Waters who is carrying some of the ball handling duties as well. The six-foot-four Mays had high praise for Waters, and considers him to be a key to LSU’s success this season. “Tremont is always going to play point guard,” Mays said. “His vision is awesome.
see RETURNERS, page 11
The Daily Reveille Archives
LSU freshman guard (4) Skylar Mays calls a play during the tiger’s 81-66 loss to the University of Alabama on Jan. 14, at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Announcements
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Let Your Business Bloom Place a Classified LSUNow.com 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 Daily Reveille, Tiger TV, LSUNow.com, KLSU Radio, Legacy Magazine, and the 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, October 27th. 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.
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Non driver needs ride to and from Denham Springs to LSU. Hours are 11AM- 12PM and 4PM to 5PM. Choose one or both shifts. $10/hr. to start. Contact: ellieroyer@yahoo.com. Use “Job Applicant” for subject. Cashiers - Maxwell’s Market is hiring friendly cashiers. Weekday morning and lunch shifts available. Apply in person at 7620 Corporate Blvd. Terrific part time (20-30 hrs per wk) job opportunity at John`s Pro Window Cleaning for honest, motivated, physically fit college students. Great pay ($10/hr. to start, with $1.00 monthly raises to $17/hr.) Flexible scheduling, gas allowance, 8 paid holidays, and considerate easy going boss. If you’ve got your act together, and have great references, email resume to: apply348@gmail.com Brew-Bacher’s Grill is looking for a few friendly people to fill all positions! Please apply in person at our Drusilla Lane or Bluebonnet Blvd. locations to get started in a fun, flexible and fast-paced work environment.
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Wednesday, October 4, 2017
OPINION
FBI scandal reveals NCAA running out of time to clean up its act CAL’D UP CHRIS CALDARERA @caldarera11 Imagine the scene of a poorly-lit restaurant at the end of a long weekday. It could be any day of the week, but let’s imagine it’s a Tuesday because no one really cares about Tuesday. The local high school has been out of session for hours now, with practice and extracurricular activities recently finished, placing our story around 8 p.m. Two men are sitting in the back corner of the restaurant, out of sight from the majority of the other tables. The age difference between the two is striking. One looks like a current high school student, and the other looks old
enough to be the younger man’s father. The two men rise from the table and shake hands. The older man pays the bill, and the two depart from the eatery in opposite directions. The restaurant’s patrons and bus boys do not realize that the inception of an illegal deal has been formed in their midst. The young man, a gifted high school athlete, has agreed to commit to the older man’s university in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars. I have no idea if this is the way this type of quid pro quo takes place, but there are two certainties. You’re still reading this article because of that colorful story, and the illegal payment of college athletes is no fantasy. On Sept. 26, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern
District of New York revealed the findings of an FBI investigation that involved multiple toptier NCAA Division 1 universities and the multi-million dollar sports apparel company Adidas. The sport at the center of this controversy is basketball, and the schools embroiled in this quagmire are Louisville, Arizona, the University of Southern California, Miami, Oklahoma State, Auburn and South Carolina. The claims against each university vary, but all of the allegations are par for the course as far as massive corruption in college athletics go. High school prospects were offered hundreds of thousands of dollars to play at one university instead of another, university coaches were bribed to influence their players to sign with Adidas
once their players enter the professional ranks and Adidas funneled money to universities to help those schools sign the top high school prospects. These claims represent a vicious cycle of extreme misconduct, as well as one of the worst bribery scandals in NCAA history. The FBI investigation also proves what many fans already believed to be true. College athletics is a shady business wrought with unseen scandal and illegal activity. And why not? The universities and institutions make millions off of athletes who don’t get a slice of the fiscal pie. High school and college athletes are left susceptible to the exorbitant amounts of money they are offered, and there is incentive for the universities
to make these offers in order to keep their schools competitive and the gravy trains flowing. I’m not advocating for any “pay-for-play” solution because the issue is more nuanced than some realize, and I’m simply not educated enough on this topic to give a worthwhile opinion. I am saying that it is time for those who are well-briefed on the problem, namely the NCAA president and board of governors, to seriously discuss the issues at hand instead of turning a blind eye to the problems that money in college athletics creates. To do otherwise would be a disservice to the fans, schools and athletes that follow the rules, and it would continue to taint the pure “love-of-the-game” reputation that amateur athletics are supposed to showcase.
BASKETBALL
Will Wade expects contribution from freshman trio
BY BRANDON ADAM @badam_TDR
The 2017 recruiting class is the cornerstone for Will Wade’s rebuilding of LSU’s basketball program. The five-man class finished ranked No. 16 in the nation by 247sports.com, and included top 10 point guard Tremont Waters, swingman Brandon Rachal and an athletic post player in Mayan Kiir. The three freshmen are players that Wade expects to contribute in big ways this season. “I guess one thing that stands out to me through these days in practice is that we have three freshmen who can help us,” Wade said. “You never know how the
freshmen are going to be when facing live bullets and when you start going up and down.” “They bring different things to the table, and will be able to contribute to our team this year. We needed some of those guys to contribute, and I think all three of them will be able to contribute for us at some level which will be a positive for us.” Waters, although undersized, is expected to be the biggest contributor of the class. The 5-foot11, 167-pound point guard has impressed the coaching staff and fellow players with his court vision and gifted passing ability. “He made a pass to [senior forward Aaron] Epps yesterday that was phenomenal,” Wade said.
“Epps caught it and had a point blank layup and laid the thing in. Our guys are getting adjusted to that, and he is certainly going to help us as a primary ball-handler.” With the addition of Waters on offense, Rachal is an equal addition on defense. Rachal has the ability and size to guard players at four different positions if necessary. Wade described him as a “pitbull” on defense, and complimented his defensive IQ on the court. Rachal was ranked as the No. 2 player in Louisiana’s class of 2017, and helped Natchitoches-Central win two state championships. “He’s a good player, tough kid,” Wade said. “He’s been well
KELLY MCDUFF / The Daily Reveille
LSU basketball coach Will Wade talks at media day on Sept. 25, in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
coached. He’s well schooled, he knows what he is doing. A very good athlete, he had offers for football at wide receiver. He’s a heck of an athlete. He’s built like a freight train. He just turned 18 this weekend, so he is even young for his grade. He defends, he goes to the offensive glass, a powerful driver, he’s going to draw some fouls.” “He does a lot of good things that contribute to winning. His box score won’t show how much he contributes to winning.” The third freshman in the trio is Kiir. The South Sudan native originally signed with Wade when he was the head coach at VCU, and quickly followed him to Baton Rouge.
“Kiir plays with an extremely high motor,” Wade said. “He doesn’t do everything perfect, but he plays really really hard and that makes up for a multitude of sins and any mistakes he will make.” As the team gets closer to the season, Wade knows it is important to figure out the role for each player and how to motivate them, especially the freshmen. The trio are key components in improving on the worst season of LSU basketball in school history. “Every kid has a code to the lock,” Wade said. “You want to figure out the code to the lock. You got to figure out that code to every kid and every one of them is different.”
courtesy of LSUSPORTS.NET
Wade said he expects Tremont Waters (left) to be the biggest contributor of the freshman class.
The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, October 4, 2017 HAHN, from page 8 “I think the only thing I’m lacking would be game fitness,” Hahn said. “I think strength, I’m stronger than ever. Just being able to fully play 90 minutes would be my next step.” Hahn had started in every match of her LSU career before her injury, and has often been an undeniably important asset to LSU’s defense and the team as a whole. LSU coach Brian Lee confirms Hahn as a definitive starter on the team, but redshirt freshman Lindsey Eaton and sophomore Ellie Weber have stepped up in her brief absence this season. Because of Hahn’s game fitness level, both Eaton and Weber have also come on for her midgame multiple times throughout the season. The younger defenders wasted no time doing what was asked of them and keeping the momentum going with Hahn on the bench. “It’s very comforting to know
RETURNERS, from page 8 Unbelievable passer, he makes everybody better. I think he is going to be a fan favorite this year.” Wade left an impression with the players last week when he put them through a three day boot camp to test their athleticism. While Reath said boot camp was fun, Sampson had a much stronger reaction. “Three days of hell,” Sampson said. “It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life but
that if I step off to get a break, then the level of play is going to stay the same, if not be better,” Hahn said. “So it’s just a testament again to the team’s character that anyone on the bench can step in and just keep the level up there.” Lee has continuously spoken about how Hahn assimilated back into the team and built the chemistry on the backline, especially with freshmen Tiana Caffey and Chiara Ritchie-Williams, starting at left and right back. She had no trouble meshing with them at a chemistry level, but other personal issues present themselves. “The freshmen have been outstanding,” Hahn said. “Much better than I ever would have been as a freshman in the backline. Integrating into it, the main thing, my biggest struggle would be just my fitness. Just being able to last as long as I can at the same level. That’s the only thing I feel like I need to vastly improve.”
I think the team can sit here and say they got through it.” Defense has been the main focus during the first four days of practice. Wade said defense is an area they need to improve in and has spent a significant amount of time on with the team. “If you’re going to be a championship level team you have to have foundations for what you’re doing,” Wade said. “We have to turn our defense into offense and I think our guys are getting better.”
The Daily Reveille Archives
LSU junior forward Duop Reath (1) scores a point during the Tigers’ 78-70 loss to Arkansas on Feb. 11, at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
page 11
AURIANNA CORDERO / The Daily Reveille
LSU senior defender Debbie Hahn (31) gets holds the ball in during the Tigers’ 0-1 loss against Vanderbilt on Sept. 17, at the LSU Soccer Stadium.
OLD WAYS, from page 8 to being an explosive offense.” So what exactly does LSU have to do get back to that? Senior quarterback Danny Etling says it’s execution. “We usually have a pretty good game plan and a pretty good idea of what the other team is going to do,” Etling said. “For us, it’s just about execution. We need to make sure we study and prepare. A lot of the miscues have happened because maybe a lack of preparation.” LSU will travel to Gainesville, Florida, as an underdog for the first time this season. The Tigers have put behind them the last time they faced the Florida Gators as it ended in a last second loss in Tiger Stadium. Sophomore defensive end Rashard Lawrence will be
returning to the lineup and his memories of Florida aren’t so fond. “[I remember] when they won the game and they ran on our field and how they celebrated on our field,” Lawrence said. “That’s what I remember. I felt disrespected.” Lawrence has sat out three games this season due to ankle injuries. Two of those games LSU has lost to Mississippi State and Troy. Though just a sophomore, Lawrence has taken on a leadership role and Orgeron has expressed what a difference he makes on the defensive unit as a whole. “I earned my spot in practice,” Lawrence said. “That’s something that’s very important to this team is practicing hard and doing things the right way, making the plays. When guys
see you out there doing the right thing, that’s leadership.” Playing behind Davon Godchaux last season, Lawrence didn’t take into account what role he would play this season until spring came around. After that, he took everything different about the way he practiced and studied film. “After last year,” Lawrence said, “Watching what Godchaux did and how he elevated his game and when coach Pete [Jenkins] came, I knew I could do the same things. I wasn’t worried about who was in front of me or all the outside talk. I knew what I had to do and went from there.” Sophomore nose tackle Ed Alexander will also join the lineup after suffering a hand injury against Mississippi State, a player that Lawrence says will be crucial to have back.
WHITNEY WILLISTON / The Daily Reveille
LSU sophomore defensive end Rashard Lawrence (90) tackles during the Tigers’ 35-26 win against Syracuse on, Sept. 23, at Tiger Stadium.
page 12
The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
The Daily Reveille
BREC’s Guardian and Me program teaches family and friends the entry level skills in the field of archery. PHOTOS BY CHRISTA MORAN
EYE ON THE
TARGET
page 13
Entertainment
page 14
MUSIC
FILM
Local band Hydra Plane, one year later
Student to develop LGBTQ documentary
Trio to release first fulllength album Sunday
"Southern Pride" highlights gender, sexuality
BY YSABELLA RAMIREZ @ysaram97 Local band Hydra Plane went from small gigs and a handful of recordings to opening for popular bassist Thundercat this Sunday night. When The Daily Reveille previously sat down with lead singer and guitarist Jacob Stanley in March, the band was gaining traction with its EP, “The Ether,” on Bandcamp and opening for Ship of Fools at the Varsity Theatre. Now the trio has finished its first full-length selftitled album, slated for release Sunday and have around 50 gigs under their belts. Stanley graduated from the University in May, while bassist Eric Stewart and drummer Stephen Nelson, jazz studies senior and percussion performance senior, respectively. While, Hydra Plane is still based in Baton Rouge, Stanley hopes to make larger nearby cities like New Orleans regular venue spots, he said. “It’s been a pretty steady incline as far as chemistry [among us], but [our first year] was a lot of trial and error because we’re still mostly in Baton Rouge,” Stanley said. Since its inception in 2016, the group’s self-described surf-rock, psych-fusion sound has evolved into a more experimental style. “Every once in awhile those influences will come out, but we’ve definitely shifted [our sound] since then,” Nelson said. “[To describe our music is] a year-long question that we still haven’t found an answer for.” The album’s 10 tracks are all original songs. A few, like popular track “Shit Storm” will be familiar to longtime fans, while others have only been performed only a handful of times; however, the entirety of the tracklist has been played live at one point or another, Stanley said. Selecting the tracklist wasn’t difficult for the group. Since releasing its first EP, Hydra Plane has written seven new songs that are now on the new album. For the remaining three songs, the band picked tracks they felt the crowd most related to, Stewart said.
see HYDRA PLANE, page 19
PAINT THE TOWN BY KATIE GAGLIANO @katie_gagliano PHOTOS BY AURIANNA CORDERO
LSU Painters' League creates space for art enthusiasts of all backgrounds
T
he University’s Painter’s League is leaning into the bohemian artist stereotype and shrugging off the typical student organization structure for a more inclusive and free-form arrangement. “I’ve been advertising it as a group of artists that like to hang out, and we get to call it a club,” said president Suzannah Burke, a studio art senior. “There’ [are] no dues or fees. We don’t want to make it something that’s a struggle for anyone.” While the group isn’t entirely lax — artists appearing in the group’s annual student art sale are required to work shifts — the focus is less on structure and more on creating a supportive community for art lovers to focus on personal development, Burke said. The club is comprised of both studio art majors jors, rangand non-mai ng f r o m related fields such as graphic design and ceramics to mathematics and psychology. Having diverse perspectives in the club brings a fresh energy to discussions of art and students’ creations, social media director and graphic design senior Jeffrey Colegrove said. Non-art majors are often the most shy about their passion, but majoring in a field doesn’t
necessarily denote ability, Burke said. Art careers are often romanticized, but they’re a profession like anything else, Colegrove said. Like people in most professions, artists become bogged down in the quest to produce successful work. The Painters’ League brings fun back into the equation, Burke said. Members of the group participate in a show on the atrium wall in the Design Building, an annual or semi-annual student art sale and trips to local museums and galleries in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The organization also holds group painting critiques and is considering expanding into group painting sessions. The events create a sense of morale and group camaraderie, Colegrove said. That morale provides a comforting space where student artists can paint without feeling pressured to create a marketable or successful product, and hobby enthusiasts can break through the intimidation that sometimes makes the art world feel exclusive, Burke said. Potential art lovers are sometimes alienated by the pretentious aura artists can project, she said. The Painters’ League aims to break that stereotype. “[When you enter a gallery] there’s an intimidation to know artists and art history. You really don’t have to. You don’t have to go into a gallery and know everything,” Colegrove said. Observing as much art as possible, soaking in the ambiance and finding creative inspiration is more important than being an expert art historian or having a “feeling” when you view artworks, he said. The league fosters students’ self-confidence so they can embrace art no matter their skill level or background, Burke said.
BY BOBBY CRANE @b_crane22 Whatever comes to mind when you think of the University, mass communication junior Aiden Craver wants to challenge that association with his upcoming documentary, “Southern Pride.” In development since last year, “Southern Pride” will give an overview of what it’s like to be an LGBTQ student at the University. Craver wants his passion project to show the experience of students whose voices aren’t always heard in a large southern school, he said. Craver, who identifies as a transgender man, wants to focus more on gender than sexuality, but sees the two as overlapping, he said. Craver’s mission is to include any student who feels as if they are overlooked or aren’t traditionally given visibility or leadership opportunities. The idea for the film initially came from Craver’s personal experience at the University. “I didn’t want to come to LSU because I was just coming out and becoming comfortable with my own sexual identity and gender identity,” Craver said. “I was very nervous that I was going to get here and find a community that didn’t support me. I can happily say that wasn’t the case at all.” Craver wasn’t alone in having this mindset. Many of his peers were also unaware of how welcoming the University community was until they arrived, he said. By creating his documentary, Craver hopes to change that narrative. He aspires to portray an open and inviting persona for the University by shining a light on one of its strongest communities, Craver said. “I want there to be a little gay kid or a little trans kid who’s looking for colleges, and they seriously consider LSU as an option because they know it’s a community that’s going to support them — not degrade them, not use inappropriate slurs towards them and not question their place in a restroom based on how they look,” Craver said. He hopes to ignite dialogue not only among the University
see CRAVER, page 19
The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
page 15
THEATRE
LSU School of Theatre’s ‘LMNOP, The Muzical’ to debut Friday
BY CORRINE PRITCHETT @corrineellen The LSU School of Theatre’s “LMNOP, The Muzical” portrays a cautionary tale about government extremism in a whimsical, storybook fashion, debuting Frday at the LSU Shaver Theatre. Based on the novel “Ella Minnow Pea” by Mark Dunn, “LMNOP, The Muzical” is a historical fable about an island community fighting for freedom of speech as local leaders ban every letter that falls from a statue in town. The story’s heroine, Ella, is a determined teenage girl. When chaos in her town begins to escalate, she uses the extremism in her community as an opportunity to fight for what she believes
is right. Theatre performance sophomore Rebecca Smith is taking on the challenge of a character with major depth, she said. “She is wise beyond her years, and longs for something more out of life — a purpose, something to fight or strive for,” Smith said. Learning the poetic musical was a challenge with its complex jargon, Smith said. “I’m most excited to see all of our hard work come to fruition,” she said. “This show was a monster to take on.” Freedom of speech is one of the most important aspects of this play, especially as imagining a world without communication for today’s society is nearly impossible to wrap one’s
head around. “This play puts emphasis on the importance of language and communication,” Smith said. “Without it, we wouldn’t be human beings. So for that right to be taken away ... it’s particularly jarring to think about.” The show will leave the audience with a new appreciation for the privilege of communication and speech, Smith said. “Our cast has handled it wonderfully, and I’m excited to see that culminate in our performance,” she said. The preview performance is $9 on Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Shaver Theatre. It runs through Oct. 15. Tickets are $19 for general admission and $11 for students.
CHRISTA MORAN / The Daily Reveille
The cast of “LMNOP” rehearses at the Shaver Theatre on Sept. 29.
BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY
Local barber, LSU MoA work to improve youth literacy BY KATIE GAGLIANO @katie_gagliano A good haircut can be transformational. For the young boys who spend their evenings at O’Neil’s Barber and Beauty Shop the first Monday of each month, each haircut yields more than just a style change. Those evenings the owner of O’Neil’s, 36-year-old O’Neil Curtis, opens his doors on his day off as part of Line 4 Line, a literacy and arts education program connecting underserved two to 13-year-old boys with male role models. The program, founded in 2014 as a subsection of the LSU Museum of Art’s Neighborhood Arts Project, is now an independent nonprofit operated by Curtis. The organization developed when Curtis and then-Museum of Art education curator Lucy Perera realized students in underserved Baton Rouge communities were performing below average in reading. Perera and the Museum of Art had already formed relationships with the community through NAP and recognized there was an opportunity to further serve, said Museum of Art communications coordinator Brandi Simmons. Perera based the program on popular Barbershop Literacy Project events across the country and a partnership was born, she said. The program exploded in popularity quickly after the inaugural event. At each event, boys are offered a free haircut, during which they chat with Curtis and three or four of his barbers who provide mentorship to the children. While talking, they’ll also read a book to build their reading comprehension and pronunciation skills. Before and after the haircut, the boys enjoy catered snacks, play basketball outside O’Neil’s shop and participate in art projects with volunteers from the
Museum of Art, Curtis said. Reading is a foundational subject and sets kids up for success in other areas. When they’re performing well in reading, it makes it easier for the other subjects to fall in line, he said. Curtis said his goal is to make reading a fun experience and dispel ideas that intellectual growth isn’t cool. “That’s the problem kids are having today. When they’re young nobody wants to be labelled as smart. Everybody wants to hide that, so we try to make it fun for them. It’s all right to be smart. It’s all right to take honors classes and challenge yourself,” Curtis said. To increase the boys’ connection to the readings, the program focuses on books that feature African-American history and African-American characters, Simmons said. The theme of representation and timeliness also carries into the art projects the Museum selects, which typically reflect things happening in the community or at the museum, she said. Arts education, like reading, is a tool that helps children bridge the gap between different subjects, said Museum of Art education curator Rebecca Franzella. Art helps children recognize relationships between the past and present, develop empathy and constructively channel their emotions, she said. “Art can help them see that the world is much bigger than anything they might be struggling with in their lives,” Franzella said. Using art to serve the community is a core tenant of the museum’s mission. Making the children comfortable both with art and the museum opens them to more resources in the future and increases their success in school, Simmons said. Oftentimes the best way to offer this service is to meet the community members where they are, she said. Museums
ISABELLA ALLEN / The Daily Reveille
The LSU Museum of Art outreach program, Line 4 Line, offers a variety of books for children to read, Oct. 02 at O’Neal’s Barber Shop on Acadian Thruway. can have a reputation for being stuffy and elitist, but the Museum of Art’s goal is to have more community involvement with the museum and its future. Though the museum belongs to the community, visiting the downtown location can either be unachievable or intimidating. Going into the community to discuss and make art helps break down barriers and dispel misgivings about art, Simmons said. When the University and its various branches come into the neighborhood, the children take note, Curtis said. “LSU plays a big part in the city, just like Southern,” he said. “My big thing is when everybody works together we can make things happen. We don’t have to be divided by this school and that school. (The children) think LSU won’t come in the minority neighborhoods or something like that, but we can work all together for one cause.” For Curtis, there’s no better cause than helping the neighborhood children. He said it feels like a calling and children have
always taken to him naturally. He uses his natural rapport with the area children to get them to open up about their grades, behavioral problems in school and other things they’re struggling with. Sometimes they open up to Curtis when they won’t talk to their parents, he said. He often receives calls from parents asking him to set their children straight when their grades are sliding. Having a successful male mentor outside of their immediate family adds weight to directives to work hard in school and stay out of trouble, especially for children in singleparent households, he said. Curtis said he wants to expand the program’s reach to serve more area children. In 2016, Curtis and several of his barbers broadened the program to include visits to East Baton Rouge elementary schools. The groups goes zip code by zip code and selects schools with low reading scores, setting up a portable barber shop in the auditorium with free haircuts and
books once a month, he said. His next plan involves taking the program into more barber shops. It’s a tricky business, because not everyone is naturally good with children and you need men who are enthusiastic and invested for the long haul. Curtis said he’s talking with two childhood friends who share his vision and own barber shops in the city, and hopes to use donations to the nonprofit to expand to their locations soon. Finally, he wants to expand the nonprofit to include programming for young girls. Curtis said his 10-year-old daughter, O’Nya, wants to participate and he wants to provide other girls like her opportunities to achieve better literacy skills. It’s funny, he said, because his journey with literacy and the University began when he enrolled O’Nya in University reading programs as a toddler. Now it’s like they’ve come full circle since then. “I guess it was just meant for me to do this,” Curtis said.
The Daily Reveille
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REV R A N KS HARD
The Neighbourhood
California-based alternative rock band The Neighbourhood’s five-song EP titled “Hard” brings a familiar sound to listeners while showing signs of maturity in its sound. In just 18 minutes, The Neighbourhood establishes itself again in the alternative rock genre.
Myia Hambrick @MyiaChristine
THE GOOD PLACE NBC
What happens when we die? This topic has been debated sometimes contentiously for centuries. NBC’s “The Good Place” takes a light-hearted, quirky approach to this age-old question that is sure to have you laughing the entire time.
Kaylee Poche @kaylee_poche
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Netflix’s ‘American Vandal’ a clever must-see
BY MACKENZIE TREADWELL @mackenzieelizaa
New Netflix satirical original series “American Vandal” plays upon pop culture phenomena such as NPR’s “Serial,” and Netflix’s “Making a Murderer,” to create a hilariously clever work. While the series mocks the true-crime genre, it creates an intricate and enticing mystery through well-developed characters and story lines. Created by Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda, the series documents fictional Hanover High sophomore and filmmaker, Peter Maldonado and his friend, Sam Ecklund’s, investigation in the case against Dylan Maxwell, who was expelled for vandalizing 27 faculty cars with obscene images. Maxwell, played by Jimmy Tatro, is an idiotic yet lovable character the audience finds themselves oddly rooting for — whether it’s because of his childlike, nonchalant demeanor or his immediate status as an underdog, I’m not sure. Maldonado and Ecklund, played by Tyler Alvarez and Griffin Gluck, respectively, are a self-aware dynamic duo whose
investigation in the case goes beyond the immediate conviction and expulsion of Maxwell as they dive into various leads such as teenage summer hookups, pranks and eyewitness reliability. The unbiased truth the pair devotedly search for is challenged by their biases and sometimes leads them to unintentionally hurting classmates, members of the community and each other. What’s brilliant about this show is its dedication to an intricate story line that mocks the true-crime form while not relying on humor alone. The use of old home footage, one-line-statements and ominous music in the series trailer feels real despite the ridiculous subject matter. One of the first things viewers will notice during the opening credits is that all attribution including direction, filming and production is given to Maldonado, Ecklund, and other members of the fictional high school. Even a small detail like this is critical to bringing believable characters to the story right from the start. The series acknowledges
how ludicrous the subject matter is, but takes seriously the repercussions this could have on Maxwell’s life, creating an undertone that allows for investigation to take place without being overshadowed by comedy. What’s most impressive and convincing about the series is its copious use of information that’s all been developed in studio. Throughout eight episodes, Maldonado and Ecklund use tweets, Snapchat footage, Instagram photos, Facebook pages, family photos and home footage. Each character has a clean-cut, developed back story that creates a cohesive narrative. In the end, the show gets deeper as the characters’ high school experiences come to an end. Maldonado examines societal stereotypes high school students face and what this does to people’s expectations of one another and themselves. Overall, “American Vandal,” is a clever mockumentary that utilizes humor to pull people in, but uses an intricate plot and in-depth look at high school life to keep you constantly hitting “Next Episode.”
YOUNGER NOW
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus’ vintage pop soundtrack “Younger Now” takes fans back in time to the Nashville native’s roots and creates a sound that was seemingly always meant for her. The lone disappointment of the album is that it doesn’t have any songs where Cyrus really belts it out, similar to her hit “Wrecking Ball.”
Corrine Pritchett @corrineellen
Read the full reviews online at lsunow.com/entertainment
courtesy of Netflix
The Daily Reveille
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Wednesday, October 4, 2017
SPOOKY SERIES
In Baton Rouge, there are lots of different ways to get into the Halloween spirit: here’s a list of the best options to put you in the fall mood and prepare you for the spookiest night of the year. BY BOBBY CRANE | @b_crane22
CORN MAZE AT BURDEN At the LSU AgCenter’s Botanic Gardens, you can enjoy a corn maze, pumpkin decorating, giant slingshots and a Hay Mountain every Saturday in October.
THE 13TH GATE Open until Nov. 4, this haunted house takes you through 13 nightmarish realms that tap into all of your worst fears.
‘80S NIGHT DANCE PARTY HALLOWEEN BALL Doors open for this Spanish Moon event at 9 p.m. on Oct. 27 for this supernatural dance party and costume contest featuring the best dance hits from the ‘80s.
THEATRE BATON ROUGE PRESENTS THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW Theatre Baton Rouge is putting on “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” as a part of its Holiday Specials series, running from Oct. 19 to Oct. 28.
HOCUS POCUS ON FRIDAY THE 13TH For an extra spooky Friday the 13th, the East Baton Rouge Parish Library will host a free showing of the classic “Hocus Pocus” at 7 p.m. in the Main Library.
TERROR TUESDAYS Every Tuesday at Louisiana Technology Park, University alumnus Connor Tarter will put on double features of horror classics such as “Night of the Living Dead” and “Friday the 13th,” from 6 to 10 p.m.
PSYCHO AT THE MANSHIP THEATRE Doors open at The Spanish Moon at 9 p.m. on Oct. 27 for this supernatural dance party and costume contest featuring the best dance hits from the ‘80s.
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The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, October 4, 2017 CRAVER, from page 14 community but on a larger scale as well. With “Southern Pride,” Craver wants to encourage discussion of gender as a spectrum, especially in an academic setting. Students aren’t taught to see gender and sexuality as fluid in the classroom, he said. Although these topics may be difficult to talk about, Craver believes he’s been given a special platform as a trans man and would be wrong not to use it, he said. Craver also hopes his documentary will attract University administrative attention to inspire action, he said, such as posting signage for gender-neutral restrooms on campus and allowing students to use their preferred name on their Tiger Card. “I’m hoping that the administration — if they do see [the documentary] — will notice that they do have students here, students who matter, students who are passionate, students whose educations are being hindered because they sit in their classroom, and they don’t know where to go to the bathroom,” Craver said. “Southern Pride” will feature interviews with LGBTQ University students discussing their experiences on campus as minorities. Craver plans to interview as many students as possible, hoping to represent every aspect of the LGBTQ community on campus. In order to film his documentary, Craver will use the University’s resources. He
I want to create things that inspire people to do better and learn more about the world. AIDEN CRAVER
Mass communication junior
page 19 HYDRA PLANE, from page 14 A majority of the album was recorded on campus in the recital hall of the School of Music with the help of University recording technician Bill Kelley, Stanley said. The self-title album “Hydra Plane” features some surprises as well, such as guest horn players on “Googa Dooga.” Fellow local musician _thesmoothcat is also featured on the album and has performed several joint shows with the band. Along with finishing the album, Hydra Plane has put much of focus on their upcoming show this weekend. The group had already planned an album release party, but when Stanley realized one of the band’s largest influences, Thundercat, was playing the following night, he saw an opportunity. After some persistence and a month of waiting, the band was approved as an opener. “Releasing our album was going to be our biggest moment so far, and it just so happened to coincide with one of our favorite
bass players [coming to Baton Rouge],” Stanley said. “It’s the perfect situation that could’ve happened.” Baton Rouge’s music scene has been on the incline over the past few years, Stewart said, as Hydra Plane's well-attended performances and frequent appearances show. “All local bands we’ve played with so far have been phenomenal,” Stewart said. “It’s so great seeing our friends [in bands] doing their thing, and there’s lots of support among [the scene]. It’s nice to see everybody reaching for the same goal.” For the near future, a possible tour is regular talk among the trio, as well as playing music festivals throughout the state. One of the loftiest goals for Hydra Plane is to eventually play the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Stewart said. In the span of a year, Hydra Plane crafted its original, danceinducing sound into a full-length album — paired with its alluring stage presence, the trio has figured out how to make a lasting impression on audiences.
ISABELLA ALLEN / The Daily Reveille
Aiden Craver sits in the Art and Design Quad on Wednesday, Sept. 27. hopes to release it by late 2018. Regardless, Craver said he wants the finished product to be something he will be proud of, he said. He hopes his documentary will provide people with a better understanding of the University’s small but mighty LGBTQ community.
“I don’t want to add to the clutter of the world,” Craver said, “I want to create things that inspire people to do better and learn more about the world. If we all took a pledge to learn something that we don’t know about, I think the world would be exponentially better.”
AURIANNA CORDERO / The Daily Reveille
Hydra Plane plays music on Sept. 28 in the KLSU room located in Hodges Hall.
Opinion
page 20
ROCK THE VOTE Informed voting more effective than rants on social media
IT B THAT WAY SOMETIMES BREANNA SMITH @Bthejournalist A 2016 study by WalletHub, a personal finance website, ranked Louisiana as the worst school system in the nation. Education in Louisiana is something people are quick to jump on Twitter or Facebook to rant and argue about, but only action can make a difference. On Oct. 14, residents of East Baton Rouge Parish will be able to take action and make a difference in local education. Among other elections and proposed amendments, appointed board member Michael Gaudet will face Brian Adams and Belinda Davis in the race for a seat on the EBR School Board representing District Seven. If you think voting doesn’t do anything, you couldn’t be more wrong. Voting makes your voice heard in your local community and leads to positive changes you
can benefit from. Instead of a scathing Facebook post or witty tweet about how poorly Louisiana schools perform, take your frustration to the voting booth. But first, take it to the internet or the local newspaper to read up on candidates and their proposed solutions. I’m not here to tell you who to vote for because everyone has a different opinion of what needs to happen and the best course of action. That’s the beauty of democracy. Since 2009, the number of students in Louisiana scoring “mastery” and above on national assessments has increased by 17 percent according to a report by the Louisiana Department of Education. The state was ranked No. 1 in overall growth of fourth-grade reading, and second in overall growth of fourth-grade math. We are improving, but we still have a long way to go. Next year, Louisiana will follow suit with most other states and only consider students scoring “mastery” or “advanced” on
standardized assessments as proficient. The change in policy will cause district report card scores to go down, since we currently consider students scoring “basic” and above as proficient. We’re raising the bar for students in the state, so we should raise the bar for ourselves as adults. According to the Louisiana Secretary of State, the statewide turnout for the 2016 Louisiana State Senate runoff election was 29.2 percent. Those numbers are pathetic. If we want to see change, we have to make it ourselves. Protesting makes your voice heard, and so does casting a vote. The reason our elected officials seem disconnected from the average person is because the general populous is not going to the voting polls and choosing leaders they want. Whether you vote for the Democratic black man, Republican white man or Democratic white woman, it doesn’t matter to me. What matters is voter participation and showing our next
courtesy of NICHOLAS CHRASTIL / Manship News Service
Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler is at the New Orleans Museum of Art unveiling the new “I voted” stickers featuring art by the late George Rodrigue. generation of leaders, educators and great thinkers we have their best interest in mind. Students can’t vote for the people making decisions about their school district, but you can, if you’re older than 18 and
not a convicted felon. Instead of Twitter fingers, let’s get ballot and research fingers. Breanna Smith is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty is proof makeup lines can be more diverse WELL, SHE TRIED. CHANTELLE BAKER @deannayukari Rihanna’s new line of makeup, Fenty Beauty, released Sept. 8, and has caused a huge uproar with its consideration of diversity. After two years of development, Rihanna has managed to release a line of foundations with 40 shades, catering to women of all colors. To other high-end makeup brands: where the hell have you been? Most makeup brands don’t do all they should when considering darker women. Women of color are always searching for shades that aren’t too dark or light and won’t oxidize or turn grey on their skin. It seems brands don’t consider any in-between shades when working on the darker side of the spectrum. Rihanna, however, has managed to do so, and it’s quite honorable. According to CNN, eight of the 10 deep foundation shades sold out by Sept. 13. Clearly these women are impressed by more than just the name. They’re pleased they can find the shades that match their skin tones.
courtesy of WIKIMEDIA
Fenty Beauty, released Sept. 8, promotes inclusivity and diversity for women of color. Few other brands have done their best to release shades for women of color. There are only some brands of high-end makeup addressing those desires. Makeup Forever too has 40 shades of its Ultra HD foundation, and we should commend the company for it. However, women of color shouldn’t be limited to two brands of foundation. Beauty vlogger Jackie Aina,
who has 1.6 million subscribers, acknowledges how respectable it is for Rihanna to have released a line with so many shades. She’s a serious advocate for beauty products being more women-of-colorfriendly, giving her a lot of influence over whether people can trust a brand or not. “Forty is what I think the standard should be for most cosmetic brands, so I really felt like that
was one of the things that stood out to me about Fenty Beauty,” she said in a video reviewing the product. Aina’s claim that 40 shades should be the standard should have people wondering why 40 isn’t the standard. Too Faced recently launched six more shades of its Born This Way foundation, with only three of its 24 shades being darker tones. Other compa-
nies lack of inclusion of shades for women of color is why Rihanna’s line has been so awe-striking. People are only considering expensive makeup brands. L’Oreal’s True Match foundation, known for having an array of shades for many undertones, has 33 shades. Impressive for a drug store brand? Yes. Enough? Not at all. It runs deeper than just foundation-shade exclusion. People are aware it isn’t just women of color struggling to find their shades. However, we all have seen since the existence of beauty standards that women of color don’t always receive the love they deserve. The white-washed beauty industry just enforces how little they pay regards to women of color by not allowing them to find makeup in their tones. All women should be able to find makeup in their skin tone. Makeup is a fun for many and it isn’t fair to exclude an array of skin tones from the fun because makeup lines are insensitive to the wants of dark women. Rihanna did well by causing an uproar in the makeup community. Chantelle Baker is a 20-year-old communication studies senior from Waipahu, Hawaii.
The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
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Hypermasculinity toxic to men, society as a whole MILES AWAY FROM REALITY
MILES JORDAN @MilesBJordan The United States is in a period of its history that is riddled with political unrest from both sides of the spectrum, becoming more and more polarized. People are having conversations about everything: abortion, gun control, sex workers and even athletes protesting. While there are many dialogues taking place, a particularly interesting conversation is the one about masculinity. Merriam-Webster defines masculinity as “having qualities appropriate to or usually associated with a man.” That can be as simple as having facial hair or as robust as being dominant. The problem with the definition is no one can truly define manhood.Masculinity is an idea presented to boys at a young age. When watching television programs or kids movies, masculinity is omnipresent. Masculinity is shown when prince charming saves the woman in distress or when men run the household in TV shows. Boys are programmed to desire to be masculine, and the ideas most closely associated with masculinity are disgusting and abusive in some way or another.
Masculinity seems to bring out a side of people most associated with dominance, which oftentimes presents itself in the worst ways. Men will shame a woman for being a sex worker yet want to objectify women at every turn. This form of masculinity is typically referred to as hypermasculinity. Hypermasculinity is a psychological term for the exaggeration of stereotypically male behavior. Hypermasculinity is usually an emphasis on strength and aggression — both sexually and physically. Hypermasculinity is shown and called out on Twitter all the time. Men may dismiss how their behavior is disrespectful or even abusive, but we as men need to hear it. The issue with hypermasculinity, and thereby masculinity itself, is it is a direct parallel and direct conflict with femininity. There are a couple of ways to see how this is true: one example is the larger portion of men who are staunchly homophobic. Homophobia may have something to do with an individual’s religious beliefs, but it is more likely that it has to deal directly with men deeming homosexuality as feminine. It is the same reason why some men are against moaning during sex. Believing a man could be attracted, love and have sex with another man is considered wrong. Straight men believe it’s wrong because being
cartoon by ETHAN GILBERTI / The Daily Reveille
a homosexual male is equatable to being feminine putting it in direct conflict with the masculine individual. Men claim to care for and love femininity when it’s a woman’s trait, but dislike it as a man’s characteristic. Femininity, viewed in a masculine perspective, revolves around the stereotypes of women being kind, being the caretaker and oftentimes being
weak. This means the issue with gay men is them being feminine. That calls into question the actual ability to love women if the inherent issue is femininity. The answer is men are not actually loving women. Men are objectifying and loving the presence of a woman but not what a woman is. Men need to take a step back and begin to listen to what women have to say when we are
being critiqued. It is time for hypermasculinity to end. It’s also time to learn to love women — and people — for themselves and not what we want them to be. Femininity is not wrong and it presents a lot of lessons for men to learn. Miles Jordan is a 19-year-old liberal arts sophomore from New Orleans, Louisiana.
Students shouldn’t feel pressured to prioritize football games POP, LOX AND DROP IT JORDAN MILLER @ jmiller101696 LSU football is entertainment for the city, a weekly unifier for the student body and a good ‘ole southern source of pride. When you decide to attend the University, it’s more or less expected that you’ll jump on the “Geaux Tigers” bandwagon and cherish every Saturday home game. It’s nice that students and residents have so much pride in the team, but students shouldn’t feel pressured to make football games their priority. Friends shouldn’t give you a puzzled look or stink eye when you tell them you picked up an extra work shift or are going back to your hometown for the weekend instead of attending the next home game. Games are fun and a great way to spend the weekend, but it’s
not fair to expect every student to exude the same amount of passion for the games. Some students need to spend that day working because they need the money, and others want to go out of town or stay at home on game days. Maybe crowds might cause anxiety or you just don’t want to deal with getting to and from campus on a game day. Most recently, a Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur, fell on a Saturday and those students may have been in a temple instead of Tiger Stadium. No matter the reason, it’s perfectly OK to miss a game or two, or even all of them. Generally, there are six home games during football season. It may not seem like many, but not every student wants or can afford to give up that many Saturdays. For a lot of young women, they feel it’s necessary to get new cute outfits for tailgating, while the gentlemen might also spend a little bit of extra money getting new cowboy boots or
The Daily Reveille EDITORIAL BOARD William Taylor Potter Ramsina Odisho Natalie Anderson Evan Saacks Lynne Bunch
Editor in Chief Managing Editor News Editor Deputy News Editor Opinion Editor
another Saturday item. Not everyone wants to put in the effort and participate. It’s great so many people thrive on Saturdays when the Parade Ground is mobbed with friends or family and you get to settle into Tiger Stadium. However, people don’t attend for a variety of reasons and all of those reasons are valid and acceptable, so other people need to stop acting like they aren’t. The LSU football team has a reputation and so does the student body. As a large Southern school we love football, tailgating and having our Saturdays revolve around those things. However, not every student here is Southern and not everyone wants to partake in every Southern tradition. Participating or not participating doesn’t make you any more Southern, popular or fun. Jordan Miller is a 20-year-old elementary education junior from New Orleans, Louisiana.
ISABELLA ALLEN / The Daily Reveille
Mike the Tiger shields his eyes from the score during the Tigers’ 24-21 loss against Troy in Tiger Stadium on Sept. 30.
Editorial Policies and Procedures
The Daily Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Daily Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, The Daily Reveille or the university. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to opinion@lsureveille.com or delivered to B-39 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must provide a contact phone number for verification purposes, which will not be printed. The Daily Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Daily Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Daily Reveille’s editor in chief, hired every semester by the LSU Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.
Quote of the Week “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.”
Ernest Hemingway Novelist July 22 1899 — July 2 1961
The Daily Reveille
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Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Gym facilities should be communal place for self-improvement JUST A WRYTER ETHAN GILBERTI @EthanGilberti The gym can be a communal space for everyone and anyone who wants to either live a healthier life or simply have fun. Unfortunately, there are social barriers preventing many from enjoying themselves. Without fail, anyone who goes on social media or sees an advertisement is presented with unrealistic body standards. This problem is prevalent for both men and women, overweight and skinny. Even as kids, body-shaming is far too common and normalized, setting a terrible precedent for the future. Going so far back as middle school, Rebecca Puhl, Ph.D, reports in a journal of school health that over 84 percent of students observe body shaming in gym class. With shaming at this level, not only do children grow up under the mindset that shaming is acceptable behavior, but those who are shamed end up being labelled
KATE ROY / The Daily Reveille
French and English sophomore Grace Galeziewski balances herself atop nine crates at the UREC’s Grand Opening event on Sept. 8 as the “fat” or “skinny” kid. While many tend to believe people choose the way they look, they are ignorant of the fact that those who are unhappy with their bodies are often trapped. Those who wish to change are forced to stay that way due to their current mindset, biology or even economical background. When called “overweight” or “skinny”
people tend to believe they cannot change. This sense of hopelessness and depression leads to a lack of motivation to change. In fact, those who are defined by these terms usually tend to gain weight later on in life. Sometimes, people’s bodies are made a certain way. Some are made to be bigger or smaller than others, and only
so much can be done naturally to change it. Women who go to the gym to be a size negative two and men who work out to become Hercules will be duly disappointed. Unfortunately, these fantasized ideals mixed with prevalent shaming lead to many feeling too inadequate to go to the gym in the first place. This thought process leads to many avoiding the advantages granted. With an access to the various resources of the gym, anyone can go to live a healthy lifestyle, yet there is a harmful misconception that the gym belongs to the athletic alone. With all of the “Greek gods,” people feel the need to look a certain way before going to the gym as opposed to going to the gym to look or feel a certain way. Those who go to the gym are there because they want to make an effort. Regardless of whether this effort is to look fitter, feel healthier or have fun, everyone has a right to be there. With more and more people staying on the couch to watch Netflix, a trip to the gym should be encouraged instead of berated.
People like Milo Yiannopoulos seek to degrade those who try to better themselves if they do not already look drop-dead gorgeous. While taking a picture of an overweight man at a gym, Yiannopoulos commented that “fat must be shamed whenever and wherever it occurs.” His justification says fat-shaming provokes those who are overweight to exercise. He is in every way wrong. By shaming, he drives his victims into depression and further discourages those who wish to practice healthier lifestyles. The purpose of exercising is not to look perfect but to feel healthy, which everyone should feel encouraged to seek. If anyone should deserve to go to the gym, it’s those who need it most, not those who need to add another pack to their twelvepack abs. Instead of focusing on what others think or say of you in the gym, focus on the benefits of going and trying your best. Ethan Gilberti is a 19-year-old English sophomore from New Orleans, Louisiana.
Proximity to disasters dictates public’s level of empathy STOP! HANNAH TIME HANNAH KLEINPETER @0728hannah
A poll conducted by the Morning Consult following Hurricane Maria found only 54 percent of Americans are aware that those affected in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens. The study
also found 81 percent of those aware of the U.S. citizenship of Puerto Ricans would support sending aid, while only 44 percent of those who did not would support sending aid.
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The public’s lack of concern for devastation of this scale speaks to a larger apathy towards tragedies not geographically proximate to the U.S. Simply put, if Americans cannot directly identify with those in crisis, they do not care as much. Because many Americans feel far-removed and are largely unaffected by Hurricane Maria, the severity and devastation of the storm was notably less publicized than Hurricane Irma and Harvey. Additionally, far fewer federal personnel were sent in response to Maria and though the financial burden of the disaster is still unclear, significantly less money has been donated to aid the situation, according to CNN. Apathy toward this devastation even reached the White House. President Donald Trump spent the better half of the weekend after Hurricane Maria made landfall golfing in New Jersey and tweeting about recent controversies involving the National Football League. Instead of hastily sending support through whatever means necessary, Trump hurled insults at the mayor of San Juan and delayed taking action toward aiding our fellow American citizens. Televised news coverage of such events has both furthered and hindered the public’s ability to sympathize with those affected by tragedies which may have once appeared distant. Televised coverage allows viewers to witness live, sometimes graphic, footage of devastation. On the other hand, viewers are
often inundated with so much coverage of death and destruction that many become desensitized to its existence. It is possible following the extensive coverage of the catastrophic effects of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the American public has become numb towards these types of natural disasters. However, it is hard to imagine Americans would ignore the complete destruction of Arkansas or Mississippi, states with lower populations than Puerto Rico, just because they were tired of hearing about hurricanes. A 2013 Pew Research Center study found Americans are far more likely to approve of cutting foreign aid than of domestic spending. This finding is a reiteration of the public’s disassociation with those who are not in close geographic or cultural proximity, even in times of desperate need. If Americans aren’t quick to reach out to help fellow U.S. citizens in a time of severe need, then it’s scary to think of how little support foreign countries will receive. It can become second nature to judge who is worthy of our sympathy and assistance by measuring their geographic or cultural proximity to one’s self. However, Americans should not become numb to the plights of others simply because those affected seem distant. No place on this planet is tragedy so remote that the shock waves are not felt across the world. Hannah Kleinpeter is a 20-yearold mass communication junior from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
page 23
Hollywood needs more original content, less remakes ANNAIRIGIONAL TAKE ANNA COLEMAN @_annacoleman_ From “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and “Beauty and the Beast” at the box office this summer to “Fuller House” and “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life” streaming on Netflix, we are living in the age of the sequel and the remake. Admittedly, I always feel a twinge of excitement when I hear that a favorite show or movie of mine is being remade. It is fun to think about seeing my favorite characters again and imagining all of the ways that the storyline will change or stay the same. However, when the time comes to actually watch the remake, I am almost always disappointed. Most sequels never seem to live up to the quality of their predecessors. The anticipation of the show or movie is oftentimes better than the content itself. Sometimes the reuse of old ideas can lead to fantastic content. Without sequels, there would be no “Star Wars” or “Harry Potter” and without remakes, popular films like the 2007 rendition of “Hairspray” and the 2010 rendition of “True Grit” would have never been made. But does the world really need another 90s cartoon remake, “Fast and Furious,” or “Despicable Me?” Sequels and remakes are popular and profitable, but in the context of every movie
ever produced, they are still not as popular as original quality content. The top ten grossing movies of all time, when adjusted for ticket price inflation, include zero sequels or remakes. Sure, people will line up down the block for the newest sequel or remake, but production studios forget why — viewers loved their original production. It might be much more difficult to achieve massive success with an original production, but it is worth it when it ends up as a smash hit. There are still some rewards for originality, but it is clear why studios feel that it is more lucrative to stick to old ideas. Original 2017 releases like Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” and Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk” earned a notable $165 million and $127 million at the box office, respectively. However, these figures are dwarfed by the massive profits raked in from liveaction remakes like “Beauty and the Beast” and sequels like “Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2” that earned $483 million and $342 million respectively. Though production studios are the ones actually making movies and shows, they do not hold all of the blame for this age of the remake. Americans, on average, buy only four movie tickets a year and largely choose to use those four tickets on sequels or remakes that ultimately disappoint them. It is easy to see why the average moviegoer or television watch-
THE DAILY REVEILLE ARCHIVES
The Cinemark movie theater at Perkins Rowe operates during its normal business hours. er would choose a remake or sequel over a new production. Many of us feel like sequels and remakes have a lower risk of letdown since we know we already like the basic plot and characters. However, seeing a boring and uninspired movie is oftentimes just as much of a letdown as seeing a new film that you ultimately do not care
for. Whether audiences truly enjoyed the movie or not, buying the tickets to sequels and remakes in the first place gives movie companies the cues that more sequels and unoriginal content is what people want. We need to collectively decide to take the gamble on lesserknown original content. This
will not only let studios know that it is okay to take the risk on a new story, but also give us new and exciting things to watch and help end the age of the sequel and remake. Anna Coleman is a 19-yearold mass communication junior from Kennesaw, Georgia
Board games promote mental growth for both children, adults JUST A WRYTER ETHAN GILBERTI @EthanGilberti With the rise of television and electronic gaming, tabletop board games have taken a back seat for the past decade. However, with advent of a French study devised by Jean François Dartigues in 2013, board game sales have risen drastically in the past few years. Not only do board games promote mental growth, but they also break down social barriers, allowing for a more personal experience and social development. Not surprisingly, many children hate learning. Even less surprisingly, many children hate math. Therefore board games present the best alternative to traditional methods of teaching at a young age. Schools throughout the country are beginning to incorporate games into their curriculum. These games, like Monopoly, strengthen logical thinking, planning and cooperation, vital skills needed in the real world. Board games are not just for
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children. The board game market for adults is exponentially expanding. While our brains are slightly more developed than a child’s, an untrained mind dulls, and there is always a need to apply practical cognitive skills in a risk-free environment. Tabletop board games challenge players in different ways at every turn while strengthening their mental
capabilities along the way. For instance, chess challenges the players to devise a strategy far in advance to corner their opponent while learning to adapt said strategy along the way. Even one of the most commonplace of tabletop games, Monopoly, holds practical application. While the game may seem simple at first glance, it still forces the
players to engage in financial budgeting as well as negotiating with other players. In order to succeed, you must devise a strategy as to which real estate to purchase, expect future setbacks and prepare accordingly. When money is thin, you must rely on negotiation to get ahead. While simplified, these real life skills are still put to use in a unique and entertaining way. Contrary to the misconception that board games are for the antisocial, playing board games actually requires a great deal of personal interaction. Tabletop games like Werewolf force face-to-face communication amongst players and often require negotiation in order to succeed. Even complete strangers can become instant friends over the competitive intricacies of a game. Despite the ability to play games over the internet, facing a screen is infinitely less personal than facing a real person. This social interaction strengthens your ability to communicate as well as increases the competitive aspect by making the game more personal. In addition to strengthening your skills of budgeting, man-
agement and negotiation, board games also increase mental response time. With constant practice in quick thinking, gamers are able to respond with answers far quicker than the average man. Dartigues’s study in France shows that those who play board games regularly have a lower risk of developing dementia as well as Alzheimer’s. For example, in chess, physically picking up a game piece and placing it according to a set strategy uses a combination of both mechanical as well as cognitive functions. By exercising the parts of the mind that deal with complex thought as well as memory formation, you can help prevent future mental ailments. These results cannot even be achieved through active reading. With all its advantages, board games solidify a place and need in our society. Surrounded by screens all day, everyone should find time to sit around face-toface with friends and have fun with a board game. Ethan Gilberti is a 19-year-old English sophomore from New Orleans, Louisiana.
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