The Daily Reveille 01-17-18

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Wednesday, January 17, 2018

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Volume 126 · No. 2

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LSU’s backfield is in question with the departure of Derrius Guice and Darrel Williams, leaving their fate in the hands of four potential starters. page 2

NEWS

SPORTS LSU junior guard Brandon Sampson is adjusting to new role off the bench, page 7

Calandro’s Supermarket gears up for Mardi Gras with new king cake flavors, page 4 Student Government prioritizes safety for spring semester, page 5

ENTERTAINMENT Mass communication freshman continues to expand modeling career, page 13

OPINION “The University should consider adopting a Bengal cat instead of a Bengal tiger,” page 17

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Wednesday, January 17, 2018

COVER STORY

Concerns surround LSU running backs heading into 2018

BY JACOB BECK @Jacob_Beck25

With junior running back Derrius Guice and senior running back Darrel Williams departing for the 2018 NFL Draft, the question of who will fill their void as running back remains to be seen.

Guice and Williams both combined for more than 2,000 rushing yards and 20 TDs last season, and more than 4,700 rushing yards and 48 TDs over the course of their careers.

In the 2017 season, Williams caught 23 passes for 331 yards, while Guice caught 18 passes for 124 yards with two receiving TDs. Needless to say, their contributions to the offense cannot be overstated.

Every spring, fans, pundits and sports writers alike attempt to figure out what a football team’s strengths and weaknesses are. In the LSU football team’s case, its strengths has been not only its depth at running back, but also the talent of those running backs.

Names like Leonard Fournette, Jeremy Hill and Charles Scott come to mind when

discussing the great running backs that LSU has had of late.

But heading into the 2018 season, one of the questions that everyone will be asking is, “Who is starting at running back?”

The answer to that question is certainly not obvious.

Junior Nick Brossette, sophomore Lanard Fournette and freshman Clyde Edwards-Helaire are the only running backs who will be on the 2018 roster who have had at least one rushing attempt in 2017 for the Tigers, with Brossette having the most at 19. The Tigers will also be adding freshman Chris Curry, who, according to 247Sports. com, is one of the top running backs in the class of 2018.

Of all the running backs, Brossette certainly has the most game time experience, having 46 career rushing attempts, an average of 6.7 yards per carry.

Although 6.7 YPC is nothing to scoff at, most of those carries were in games against inferior opponents with the outcome of the game already decided for the most part.

With that being said, Brossette was a highly touted recruit coming out of high

school, and a possible reason for his limited playing time is that he has been stuck behind the aforementioned Guice, Leonard and Williams, who were all highly productive at the running back position.

In his first season with the Tigers, Edwards-Helaire carried the ball nine times for 31 yards, and caught three passes for 46 yards. Edwards-Helaire was considered one of the top all-purpose backs coming out of high school, and like Brossette, had to compete with Guice and Williams for playing time in the 2017 season. Edwards-Helaire showed good burst and shiftiness returning kicks, and figures to have a prominent role as a pass catcher out of the backfield. However, due to his lack of size at 5-foot-8 and 208 pounds, that will more than likely prohibit him from having a sizable workload as a first and second down back.

After two seasons, Lanard has had only six carries for 20 yards. While Lanard is the younger brother of NFL rookie sensation Leonard, Lanard’s role thus far in his career at LSU has been nothing more than

providing depth at the running back position.

Whether or not his role will change next year remains to be seen, but given his limited experience, Lanard will almost certainly remain a reserve/injury fill-in for the 2018 season.

Curry, part of the 2018 signing class, rushed for nearly 3,000 yards in his high school career at Lehigh High School in Florida. Based on his talent, he should have some very meaningful carries for the Tigers in his freshman year. As far as being the starter, that all depends on how much he impresses the coaching staff during spring practices.

In short, it is currrently completely up in the air as to which one of those names will be the first to carry the ball for the Tigers in the season opener against Miami on Sept. 1. And from all of the evidence given, the likely end result will be a running back by committee approach, rather than one true workhorse back in the vein of Guice or Leonard. So to answer the question of “Who is starting at running back?” — well, it more than likely will not matter.

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CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS

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LSU freshman running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (22) warms up before the Syracuse game on Sept. 23 at Tiger Stadium.

LSU junior running back Nick Brossette (4) brings in the fourth quarter by holding up the number four during the Tigers’ 10-24 loss to the University of Alabama on Nov. 4 at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

EVENTS CALENDAR

18 jan

20 jan

LSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. AUBURN PMAC 7 P.M.

‘80s NIGHT SNOW BALL SPANISH MOON 9 P.M.

19 jan

21 jan

LSU GYMNASTICS VS. ALABAMA PMAC 7:30 P.M.

MOON MOUSE: A SPACE ODYSSEY MANSHIP THEATRE 2 P.M.

19 jan

22 jan

GNARLY BARLEY PINT NIGHT BURGERSMITH 6 P.M.

MINDFUL MONDAY: YOGA & WINE MAGPIE CAFE 6 P.M.

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News

page 3 ACADEMICS

photos by DILYN STEWART / The Daily Reveille

Volunteers teach week of law classes

BY LUKE JEANFREAU @LukeJeanfreau

Last Days Collin Richie’s photographs show lives of patients in final days

BY MATTHEW BENNETT @mcbennett4 The LSU Student Union Art Gallery will display 17 photographs of what was likely the last professional picture for a selection of end-of-life patients.

Collin Richie’s “Last Days” exhibit, showcasing until Jan. 19, shows the different attitudes and living conditions of Heart of Hospice patients whose days are numbered. Heart of Hospice provides companionship and care to patients who can no

longer survive comfortably on their own.

“I feel like a lot of people think hospice is a bad word,” Richie said. “They don’t realize, if you look at these people, a lot of them are surrounded by family and are having a good experience in their last moments.”

Richie is a professional wedding photographer by trade, but has worked on photography projects like this in the past. His contributions to the project “Humans of the Water,” which documented South Louisiana flood

victims, was nationally recognized. He is an LSU alumnus and does most of his work throughout Louisiana and Alabama.

Richie was hired to provide examples of real Heart of Hospice patients to prospective patients through his photography. He visited patients all across the state of Louisiana and captured their natural moods and expressions in each photo shoot.

“They show images like this and say ‘look it’s not bad,’” Richie said. “The

see COLLIN RICHIE, page 6

The Paul M. Hebert Law Center held its fifth annual LSU Law Apprenticeship Week from Jan. 8 to 12, featuring several mini-courses taught by industry professionals.

The program was open to second- and third-year law students, and enabled them to earn one credit hour, free of charge, for completing a volunteer-taught mini-course during the week.

“Apprenticeship Week provides our students with a unique opportunity to learn about a specialized area of law or practice from a distinguished and experienced group of outstanding lawyers,” said dean and Professor of Law Thomas C. Galligan Jr. “We are most grateful to the Faculty who donate their time and skills to teach our students.”

Associate Professor of Law John M. Church said the program was originally thought of by Chancellor Emeritus and Professor of Law Jack M. Weiss because they needed a new, innovative program to receive accreditation. Along with fulfilling this requirement, Church said, the program seeks to provide students with more practical experience and give them instruction in areas not covered by a standard curriculum.

“Even though it was done

see LAW CENTER, page 6

CAMPUS CRIME BRIEFS

Two men arrested for armed robberies near Kirby Smith, Blake Hall Tyzell Duncan and Ryan Veal were both arrested in connection with armed robberies which occurred on Jan. 10 and 11 outside Kirby Smith and Blake Hall, respectively, according to LSU Media Relations Director Ernie Ballard.

A University student was robbed of an iPhone near Kirby Smith Hall on Jan. 10 around 12:45 a.m. by three armed men who fled the area. There were no injuries, Ballard said.

The following night, a University student was robbed of an iPhone and purse outside Blake Hall by two armed men who then fled the area around 1:30 a.m.

Ballard said there were no injuries.

Baton Rouge City Police

arrested Duncan on several charges including one count of armed robbery on Jan. 13, Ballard said. He was already booked in East Baton Rouge Parish Prison for the BRPD charges and several warrants. He received a second count of armed robbery on Jan. 15.

Duncan and two other suspects seen in the released photographs were all identified by a tip given to BRPD, according to the affidavit from East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. He was arrested Saturday afternoon after BRPD responded to a call about a broken window.

Duncan was arrested on charges of criminal damage to property, illegal possession of a stolen firearm, illegal carrying of a weapon and resisting an officer.

According to the affidavit,

Duncan admitted he “hangs around” with the other two suspects, but did not admit to the armed robbery.

Veal was identified and arrested as a suspect connected to the armed robbery, and was booked in East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Jan. 16, Ballard said. He is not affiliated with the University.

LSUPD received a tip giving the names of the three men pictured in a Help Identify poster, including Ryan Veal, according to the affidavit from East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

Veal was identified by the victim as the subject who held the gun during the armed robbery, according to the affidavit.

Missing wallet returned empty

Damaged vehicle found in campus lot

A wallet was found in a men’s restroom in Himes Hall on Jan. 11. It was returned to the person who lost it with money missing. The matter is under investigation, Ballard said.

LSUPD officers reported a vehicle had a damaged windshield in the Public Safety South Lot on Jan. 1. This case is pending further investigation, Ballard said.

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Wednesday, January 17, 2018

BUSINESS

Calandro’s aims to exceed previous year’s king cake

BY SHERIDAN WALL @slwall7 Calandro’s Supermarket aims to eclipse last year’s king cake sales, despite a shorter carnival season, according to owner Blaise Calandro.

The supermarket’s bakery rolled out over 26,000 king cakes between its two locations last Mardi Gras season, Calandro said.

Calandro’s produces its high volume of king cakes with only nine bakers, three at the Government Street location and six at the Perkins Road location. This number of bakers pales in comparison to other bakeries that may have up to 25 bakers per store.

“It’s an incredible amount of work to make a king cake,” Calandro said.

Calandro’s king cakes are rarely more than a day old due to the speed of sales, Calandro said.

King cakes from the previous day are moved to the front displays in the store, but the bakery section is stocked with fresh king cakes made that day.

“Whether you’re buying from the front of the store or from the bakery, you’re getting cakes that are still within a day of baking and still very fresh,” Calandro said.

Calandro’s Supermarket opened in 1941 as a small convenience store on Government Street, Calandro said. His grandparents opened Calandro’s, originally called the Plee-zing Food Store. Calandro’s gained popularity as the family befriended local farmers and stocked its shelves with fresh produce.

Before Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s came to Baton Rouge, Calandro’s was the go-to place for organic produce Calandro said. The business has grown in its 77 years, expanding from a convenience store to a specialty supermarket and adding a second location in the early 2000s.

Between the two stores, Calandro’s has over 50 gourmet king cake flavors. The flavor selections differ between the two locations. Calandro said customers at the Mid City location love the almond flavored king cake, but Perkins customers favor the red velvet and pralines and cream king cakes.

Calandro’s, like other Baton Rouge king cake bakeries, initially modeled its king cakes after the traditional New Orleans style.

Other bakeries including Calandro’s started filling king cakes with cream cheese and fruit fillings, but mostly maintained the original New Orleans style, he said.

In the early 2000s, Calandro’s began experimenting with gourmet king cakes.

Their goal was to make the king cakes more moist while also adding a range of fillings and ingredients.

“As far as king cakes go, we led the charge there,” Calandro said.

Calandro’s king cakes now are not like those at other king cake bakeries, Calandro said. They are large, dense disks filled and iced according to the flavor choice.

All the king cakes start as a cinnamon “log” that the bakers undo and fill with the flavored

fillings, said Calandro’s baker Alethea Edwards. Then, the cakes are finished off with icing and toppings.

“There’s just so many flavors to choose from, but we [are] careful about how we do the process of them, which is why they taste so delicious,” Edwards said.

Calandro’s gourmet king cakes gained a lot of traction when they entered a taste-testing competition around 2010. Bakeries around Baton Rouge were invited to submit their best king cakes, and Calandro’s won with its Muddy Mississippi, a “killer” chocolate flavored king cake, according to Calandro.

Before the New Orleans Saints’ loss on Sunday, Calandro said the Perkins baker introduced Saints-inspired king cakes in honor of the successful football season. As a play on black and gold, the “Who Dat” king cake is what Calandro calls a “smashup” between a king cake and a Reese’s peanut butter cup with dark chocolate icing and a peanut butter drizzle.

The Perkins location also introduced the “Touchdown” king cake this year, which is stuffed with Nutella, cake infusions and “special secret” ingredients. Calandro said they also brought back the brownie king cake — filled with brownie batter and topped with a brownie crumble — this year. As an “Oreo fiend,” Calandro said his favorite king cake is the Mississippi Mud-a king cake filled and topped with Oreo crumble and cream filling-like icing. Calandro said other crowd favorites are the maple bacon

DILYN STEWART/ The Daily Reveille

King cakes are sold at Calandro’s Supermarket on Government Street. king cake Southern Belle and the Better Than Sex king cake.

International studies major Ethan Barbin said he grew up eating Calandro’s king cakes, as he spent most of his life around the corner from the Mid City store.

“It’s a place I remember fondly as a child,” Barbin said.

“Calandro’s is certainly what I would say a Baton Rouge institution.”

Barbin said his favorite king cake from Calandro’s is the classic cream cheese flavor. He said Calandro’s local vibe contributes to their quality king cakes.

“You know it’s made by someone in the neighborhood, someone who knows what they’re doing, someone who’s been doing it for a while,” Barbin said.

DILYN STEWART/ The Daily Reveille

Calandro’s Supermarket sits on Government Street on Jan. 15.

FACULTY

Oceanography professor co-authors article on ocean deoxygenation

BY LUKE JEANFREAU @lukejeanfreau LSU Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences Professor Nancy Rabalais recently co-authored a paper about deoxygenation in the ocean and coast waters that was published in the journal, Science, on Jan. 5, according to a news release.

Rabalais said she has been

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studying deoxygenation in the Gulf of Mexico for at least 34 years.

“There is a large area of low oxygen in the Gulf of Mexico that’s been low in oxygen probably since the 1970s, but we didn’t really get money to start studying it until 1985,” Rabalais said. “We found that it was a large and persistent area in the summer and that it’s related to excess nitrogen inputs from the Mississippi River.”

Rabalais said the increased nitrogen fuels phytoplankton growth. When these phytoplankton die, they fall to the ocean floor, where they are decomposed by bacteria. The bacteria, in turn, use oxygen to power this decomposition.

Although Rabalais’ research focuses on coastal deoxygenation, the paper shows the oceans are also losing oxygen. Rabalais said climate change has increased the temperature of the oceans, and warmer waters hold less dissolved oxygen. Although low oxygen levels happen naturally in some areas, climate change is causing these areas to increase in size.

Rabalais contributed to the

paper as part of a group called the Global Ocean Oxygen Network, established in 2016 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). According to the UNESCO website, the Network seeks to increase awareness of deoxygenation and its impacts, with an emphasis on educating policy makers.

Twenty-two separate authors contributed to the article. Rabalais said it is uncommon for Science to accept so many authors in a byline, but she and all her colleagues were able to successfully prove their contributions.

Rabalais was also impressed that Science gave them enough pages.

“To get 13 pages out of Science is saying a lot,” Rabalais said. “Science is one of the premier journals for academic research.

Like climate change, ocean deoxygenation is not an unsolvable problem, Rabalais said. She offered several solutions to keep oxygen in the oceans.

“A solution is to reduce carbon emissions,” Rabalais said, “as well as the use of artificial fertilizers on agricultural fields,

Courtesy of NANCY RABALAIS

A map of dissolved oxygen on the ocean floor using data obtained from the 2017 Shelfwide Cruise. which drain into the ocean and are the main cause of most of the coastal declining oxygen.”

Although these are large scale solutions, regular people can help, too. Rabalais said biking, driving fuel-efficient cars and using non-ethanol gasoline are all effective ways to curb the problem.

Non-ethanol gasoline is more

fuel-efficient, and requires less corn to produce, which can reduce fertilizer use.

Rabalais said students can get ethanol-free gasoline at the new Murphy’s Express at Burbank and West Lee drives. It is more expensive, she said, but it is also more conservative of carbon emissions.

The Daily Reveille

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

page 5

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Student safety a top concern for LSU SG in spring semester

BY MATTHEW BENNETT @ mcbennett4 LSU Student Government president Jason Badeaux and vice president Leah Sanders plan to emphasize student safety as they finish out their year of initiatives.

“As we go through our term and even into the next few years, the important thing is that we continue to make sure we’re working on the best interest of the students and the students’ safety,” Badeaux said.

“That’s what we’ve done last semester and will continue to do this semester.”

They are already working on several new initiatives to better students’ safety, convenience and enjoyment for the spring semester. Following two armed robberies on campus, both Sanders and Badeaux stressed the importance of downloading the LSU Shield App. “There’s a very large disparity of people who have the LSU [Mobile] App and don’t have the Shield App,” Badeaux said. “We highly suggest everyone download the Shield App, as well.”

The LSU Shield App allows students to call LSUPD to wherever they are on campus,

send crime tips to public safety forces and even let friends track their location if they feel unsafe.

Another safety issue brought to attention involves off-campus apartment complexes.

“There’s a lot of apartments around campus that are very student-dominated,” Badeaux said. “The student apartments look nice, but they’re not very secure. They’re not very safe.

There are a lot more calls for service to the Baton Rouge Police Department and DA’s office than there are in other locations around town.”

To combat these concerns, Sanders and Badeaux are working on partnering with LSU Office of Environmental Health and Safety, LSUPD and the district attorney’s office to come up with a platform to incentivize increased safety for these apartment complexes, they said.

They plan to create a panel to meet annually to review apartments who want to be labeled by the University as “gold-standard,” Badeaux said.

Those apartments would have to meet a certain number of requirements made by the panel to achieve this title. The Uni-

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LSU Student Government vice president Leah Sanders talks about hazing problems during the anti-hazing rally on Thursday, Sept. 21, at Memorial Tower on campus.

LSU Student Government president Jason Badeaux gives an introduction speech at the anti-hazing rally on Thursday, Sept. 21, at Memorial Tower on campus.

versity would then recognize gold-standard apartments and potentially time bus routes in favor of them.

The SG president and vice

president are also reviewing the SG election code.

“There’s a lot of things that just make it difficult for people to campaign,” Badeaux said.

“The election code, instead of focusing on the overarching elections, likes to pick apart very specific issues. And that’s not the way the election code should be written.”

One of these key issues, Badeaux said, is the way the code creates problems for the budgeting of election campaigns. Each candidate has a spending limit they can use to campaign. However, the money can only be spent if the candidate is opposed by another candidate on a separate ticket.

The candidates will find out if they are opposed just two weeks before the election takes place. The process of buying supplies and preparing a campaign takes much longer than the two weeks allotted by the code. This is just one aspect the SG executive branch looks to change before the next election, Badeaux said.

Along with these new initiatives, Badeaux and Sanders said they are also looking into making changes to the University’s grade exclusion policy to make things easier for students, and potentially partnering with a company like Uber to continue to improve safety on campus.

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The Daily Reveille

page 6 LAW CENTER, from page 3 originally for accreditation,” Church said, “I think that it’s become an important and integral part of our curriculum.”

The Apprenticeship Week program is optional for law students. However, Church said over half of the students eligible to participate did so.

“The numbers are just outstanding,” Church said. “They are almost as good as you can possibly imagine. The sort of comments that we get are, ‘We should have been doing this years ago,’ or ‘It’s the best thing I’ve done since I’ve been in law school.’”

Church said he had never seen the sort of positive reviews that have been associated with this program. The program was not only enjoyable for students, but for faculty, as well, Church said.

Church said he also believes the program will help attract students to the LSU Law School.

“A lot of potential students are looking to see what sort of programs like this one a school offers,” Church said. “When I talk to potential students, it is something I am able to sell.

It is very helpful in terms of attracting students.”

Although the program was originally introduced to receive accreditation, it has been beneficial to the Law School.

“When we first started this, I was a little bit of a skeptic,” Church said. “But it started off much more successful than I would have thought and it’s become much more successful than I would have thought.

I am very pleased with what we’ve accomplished in this program, and I think it does accomplish quite a lot.”

COLLIN RICHIE, from page 3 images are used to comfort prospective patients.”

The patients came from a wide range of backgrounds and were all at different levels of health. The black-and-white portraits are unnamed to respect the patients’ privacy. Richie spent over a year on the project and is glad to have taken part in such a unique experience.

Wednesday, January 17, 2018 “I just fell in love with the project,” Richie said. “At first, I was dreading it just because I thought it was going to be rough.

I too didn’t understand the word hospice. And then, being in it, I realized those people are really happy.”

As well as fulfilling Heart of Hospice’s commercial campaign goals, Richie gave each of the patients’ families copies of the professional photographs.

LSU Director of Event Management and Marketing Rachel Henry contacted Richie to help bring “Last Days” to the LSU Student Union Art Gallery.

“He is an extremely talented photographer,” Henry said. “The black-and-white images are insanely powerful. He captured it in a way that was very respectful and meaningful to people going through the exhibit.”

LAUREN WATSON / The Daily Reveille

LSU law students learn more about legislative hearings as they participate in a legislative law course on Jan. 12.

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Collin Richie’s “Last Days” exhibit sits in the LSU Student Union Art Gallery on Jan. 9.

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Sports

page 7 MEN’S BASKETBALL

Brandon Sampson adapting to new role

triple threat

BY GLEN WEST @glenwest21

Chloe Jackson uses off-court skills to excel in basketball

BY JARRETT MAJOR @Jarrett_tdr

photo by ALYSSA BERRY Few players have as much versatility on and off the court as LSU junior guard Chloe Jackson.

She is leading LSU in points (21.2 per game), minutes (38.2 per game) and steals (12). She is second on the team in rebounds (4.6 per game) and blocks (4) on the team in conference games. She has led the Lady Tigers in points

(16.9 per game) and steals (36) for the season.

“I am just doing what I need to be doing for my team,” she said. “I have just been shooting the ball pretty good. I am trying to stay in a rhythm, and trying to keep my confidence up.”

“She has played like a veteran,” said coach Nikki Fargas. “She has done a lot of great things for us offensively, but

also on the defensive end. She has someone who has worked on her craft and it is paying off.”

For Jackson, her skills go much further than just being talented on the basketball court. She is quite active off the court.

She used to play both the piano and the drums, but has not played them as much with basketball

see JACKSON, page 9

LSU junior guard Brandon Sampson has seen his role change many times this season.

Sampson came into the season as the leading scorer from last season, and many expected him to have a breakout junior year for the Tigers.

Averaging 13 points per game in the first three games, Sampson went down with a sprained ankle against Notre Dame in Maui. A six game absence gave transfer Daryl Edwards time to learn his role within the starting unit, and the Tigers were winning games.

Before the Alabama game, LSU coach Will Wade said the team needed to find a way to get Sampson rolling offensively.

“He’s been a great teammate,” Wade said. “He just wants to win, and has made some good plays for us. We’re very confident in him and we think his play will turn around soon.”

Sampson scored in double figures in each of the Tigers’ first three games, something he has only done once since.

The bench role has taken time to adjust to as Sampson has not connected on a three pointer in conference play and is averaging 5.5 points per game.

see SAMPSON, page 9

GYMNASTICS

Gnat’s parents inspired new role as LSU student coach

BY KENNEDI LANDRY @landryyy14

Ashleigh Gnat has had a long and illustrious gymnastics career, but this spring she takes on a new challenge.

With 17 All-American honors, 62 event titles, nine perfect 10s, a Corbett Award and an AAI Award, Gnat is no stranger to challenges, but her new role as a student assistant coach presents a different one.

“It’s definitely been a very different, a very new experience for me,” Gnat said. “I’m thankful that our coaches give me a lot of freedom to learn and to try new things. They give me a lot of responsibility which I didn’t expect at all. They’ve been so helpful in the teaching experience.”

The biggest challenge, Gnat

explained, is the weird “in between” position she’s taken on having to coach women she previously competed with.

Though treading that line is tough, the team is receptive to the way Gnat coaches and communicates with them.

“There’s a whole lot of ‘been there, done that’ and she knows the psychology, the mentality, that it takes,” LSU coach D-D Breaux said. “The kids really respond to her. It really has given us a lot of flexibility in how we train.”

Coaching gymnastics is different than so many other sports because it does not rely on any physical demonstrations. Gnat described gymnastics as a sport that relies on how the athlete feels her body and correcting those specific spots.

While Gnat won’t be on a

balance beam any time soon, she has no trouble communicating her thoughts to the gymnasts.

“You don’t necessarily have to do the skill, you just have to communicate the direction that you want them to go in,” Gnat said. “They’re so receptive — they’re so talented that they really don’t need a lot.”

Gnat comes from a gymnastics family, so her natural ability to coach and compete was no surprise.

Her mother Joan Gnat was a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic gymnastics team in Munich, while her father Ray was an All-American at LSU. Her sister Jeana Rice-Helms was an All-American at Alabama.

By the time Ashleigh was

see GNAT, page 9

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LSU senior Ashleigh Gnat performs her beam routine during the Tigers 197.425195.425 win against Missouri on Feb. 3 in the PMAC.

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page 8

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

OPINION

Tiger fans should keep optimism curbed heading into 2018 CAL’D UP CHRIS CALDARERA Columnist The LSU football program once again finds itself in uncharted waters at the conclusion of another season.

At the end of the 2016 season, the biggest question on the minds of Tiger fans was whether or not newly hired LSU coach Ed Orgeron would be well-suited to take the reigns of the LSU football team.

Some of the skepticism was based in the typical irrationality found in any sports fan base, but some of the doubt was warranted.

After all, each of Orgeron’s previous head coaching stints at USC and Ole Miss ended in disappointment.

Despite the detractors, Orgeron and the 2017 LSU Tigers won six Southeastern Conference games, the most for a Tiger team since the 2012 season.

There were hiccups along the way. Embarrassing losses to Mississippi State and Troy had fans in an uproar, and the bowl loss to Notre Dame hampered any hope of seeing the first 10-win LSU team

since 2013.

For all intents and purposes, though, Orgeron’s first year at the helm of the program could be considered a step forward, albeit a baby step.

Sadly, much of the optimism that was building during the course of the season is now overshadowed by feelings similar to the apprehension felt when Orgeron was first hired.

Matt Canada was hailed as one of the collegiate game’s offensive masterminds upon his arrival to Baton Rouge, but Orgeron has opted to part ways with Canada after a single season.

Last week, LSU decided to hire from within and elevated tight ends coach Steve Ensminger to replace Canada, and, once again, Tiger fans find themselves questioning whether or not a newly hired position coach is prepared to take on the pressure that comes with more responsibility.

After all, Ensminger not only has to install a new offense, he has to develop experienced talent quickly.

LSU is losing players in key positions thanks to early departures from Derrius Guice, Toby Wheathersby and Will Clapp; as well as the losses of Danny Etling

and DJ Chark due to graduation, but youth will be no excuse for fans who watched the national championship game between Alabama and Georgia.

LSU’s conference rivals played a spectacular game highlighted by performances from a slew of freshman players. Now, the bar for the speed of developing young players has been set, despite how unrealistic those expectations are, and Ensminger must move quickly to make the Tigers’ offense competitive.

Although fans have serious qualms about the fate of LSU’s offense, there are a few silver linings for you optimists out there.

The Tigers will attempt to make a noticeable improvement on special teams after struggling throughout the 2017 campaign, especially in the field goal kicking game where the Tigers finished the year with a 37 percent accuracy.

In response, LSU is adding highly touted Division II kicker Cole Tracy to the roster, along with a new special teams coordinator in Greg McMahon.

On the defensive side of the ball, Dave Aranda will reprise his coordinator role with the Tigers after rebuffing Texas A&M’s offer to hire him at the same position

WHITNEY WILLISTON / The Daily Reveille

LSU runs out of the locker room led by coach Ed Orgeron during the Tigers’ 17-21 loss to Notre Dame in the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, in Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. in College Station, and the LSU defense is returning ample young talent with experience.

Aranda’s success speaks for itself, and his defense will play a large role in establishing stability to a team surrounded in uncertainty.

In the end, only time will tell whether or not Orgeron and his new staff has what it takes to build a perennial winner at LSU. Unfortunately, it looks as though the Tigers will first have to weather a tough storm in 2018 to reach that point.

PUZZLES

Last Week’s Puzzle Solved

The Daily Reveille

Wednesday, January 17, 2018 SAMPSON, from page 7 “I just need to be aggressive,” Sampson said.

“Taking the right shots. I don’t have to score 20 points for us to win, but I do have to be a good defensive player if we want to win.”

Sampson said his ankle injury hasn’t flared up and believes his ankle is back to where it was before the injury.

“I still feel a little bruising,” Sampson said. “It’s gradually getting better, but I barely feel anything. My trainer has been on me about my treatments but I feel really good.”

The focus since coming back from the ankle injury has been the effort on the defensive side of the ball. Sampson has brought a burst of energy off the bench for the Tigers even though the statline has been underwhelming.

“I’m just trying to be that guy to bring a spark to the team,” Sampson said. “Talking on defense, not letting my guy score.”

Freshman guard Tremont Waters calls Sampson “Big Head Sampson,” while also admiring the work Sampson has done on the defensive end of the floor.

“He’s been giving us that spark on defense,” Waters said.

“He comes in and takes charges, is always in help position and always talking on defense. For me as a freshman player, he’s doing a great job of helping me to move and talk at the same time.”

Waters said after taking a charge against Arkansas, Sampson ran over to him and gave him some much needed advice on those types of plays.

“He said that’s big time,” Waters said. “I know you’ve been watching me in practice. I just try to learn as much as I can from him.”

JACKSON, from page 7 being her priority.

“I don’t play them anymore,” she said. “I think I was better at the piano, but I liked drums more.”

Her ability to utilize her instrumental skills on the court this season has been impressive.

“She is very creative,” Fargas said. “She is able to stay in rhythm. As a drummer, her hand-eye coordination is impeccable. It does not surprise me one bit that she excelled in that area, too.”

Along with her skill as a musician and talent as a basketball player, Jackson has shown her skills in other sports.

Jackson loves to play soccer and used to play it in high school before ultimately choosing to play basketball in college.

“I had scholarship offers in soccer and in basketball,” she said. “But the high school that I chose was a basketball school, so I ended up leaning toward basketball when it was time to

page 9 make my college decision.”

Like her musical skills, Jackson has been able to translate her talents on the soccer pitch to the basketball court.

“She comes from a soccer background, you can tell in her footwork,” Fargas said. “She has impeccable footwork. Her change of speed and direction is probably one of the reasons why she is so good at scoring the basketball. That soccer training she has had over the years is one of the reasons why she has been such a good basketball player.”

Her footwork has been on full display against SEC opponents this season. She has proven more than just difficult for opponents to defend.

Jackson has scored at least 20 points in four of LSU’s five conference games in the Lady Tigers’ three games against currently ranked teams.

While Jackson has been strong on the offensive end this season, her versatility has been on full display on the LSU’s defense.

“I definitely wanted to

improve my defense,” she said. “That was one of things I worked on in the summer – getting quicker footwork, getting in the passing lanes and intercepting passes.”

She has become an integral component for LSU, as she is averaging nearly 40 minutes per game for the Lady Tigers in conference.

Endurance has come easy for her.

“That has just come from working in the summer,” Jackson said. “Our strength coach Chris White did a pretty good job with making sure we were conditioned for four quarters.

He just worked on that. Endurance also came from soccer, being able to run up and down the field like that.”

For LSU, her stamina will be important for the remainder of conference play. When Jackson is at her best, Fargas believes Jackson has no limits.

“When Chloe puts her mind to something, and she really focuses in on it, she can accomplish anything,” Fargas said.

WHITNEY WILLISTON / The Daily Reveille

LSU junior guard Brandon Sampson (0) tries to avoid a defender during the Tigers’ 74-71 loss to Kentucky on Jan. 3 in the PMAC.

ALYSSA BERRY / The Daily Reveille

LSU junior guard Chloe Jackson (0) shoots the ball on Jan. 7 during the Tigers’ 83-70 loss against Mississippi State in the PMAC.

GNAT, from page 7

WHITNEY WILLISTON / The Daily Reveille

LSU junior guard Brandon Sampson (0) shoots during the Tigers’ 74-71 loss to Kentucky on Jan. 3 in the PMAC.

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a toddler, her parents Ray and Joan founded ACE Gymnastics, where she competed as a level 10 gymnast.

“They really cultivated a relationship where I loved the sport and they made sure that I continue loving it,” Ashleigh said. “I think that’s something I have to thank them for because they’re the whole reason I love the sport the way that I do. They’re still helping me now with coaching stuff.”

In every youth sport, there are always obsessive, helicopter parents that try to live vicariously through their children, especially when the parents double as coaches.

Ray and Joan were nothing like that. While coming from a family of accomplished gymnasts can be a lot of pressure, neither Ashleigh nor her sister were ever forced to participate.

“They actually asked me if I wanted to quit all the time because they didn’t want to be

those forceful parents,” Ashleigh said. “If I had a bad day or I was upset they would be like, ‘well you can always quit.’ I would get really mad like, ‘I’m never going to quit, I can’t believe you would even suggest that.’”

Ashleigh’s parents always instilled in her a love of gymnastics, and LSU coach Jay Clark even said Ashleigh coaches more like her parents than the LSU coaching staff because of her years being trained by them.

For so many years, Ashleigh wanted to be a club gymnastics coach like her parents until she came to Baton Rouge to compete for Breaux and fell in love with the environment at LSU. “As soon as I got introduced to college gymnastics, I fell in love with the team aspect of it,” Ashleigh said. “Once I became part of that, I realized that it’s just a completely different experience, being able to have that type of family environment and I knew that was something that I wanted to continue to be part of.”

WHITNEY WILLISTON / The Daily Reveille

LSU all-around senior Ashleigh Gnat celebrates with Coach D-D Breaux after her balance beam routine in the NCAA Semifinals Session II on April 14, 2017.

page 10

The Daily Reveille

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

The Daily Reveille

page 11 Music Box Village’s producer and public hours manager Leah Hennessy smiles in the “Bower’s Nest” on Jan. 13 in New Orleans.

T A o E t B d l e i h u t b The Music Box Village, located in New Orleans, stores a variety of artist-made, interactive musical houses for the community to flex its creative muscles.

PHOTOS BY DIANNA ROXAS

The Daily Reveille

page 12

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Entertainment

page 13 MUSIC

Eli Young Band plays Varsity Theatre

BY KIANA NAQUIN @Quinndaishone

ALYSSA BERRY / The Daily Reveille

Mass communication freshman uses talents for modeling career

BY KELLY SWIFT @kellbell237 While working at a snowball stand, Molly Graham, a then high school senior, received a notification about a casting for a modeling agency. After a mentor of hers, Ali McNally, said the agency was good, she headed out for the auditions, and the rest is history.

She spent that summer modeling for Heroes Models in

New York and worked on building her portfolio. Graham, now a mass communication freshman, looks to continue her modeling career.

Before Graham moved her skills to New York for the summer, she had experience modeling locally.

She started modeling in December 2015 when she attended New Orleans Center of Creative Arts with a focus on Violin. There, she met an important colleague at a young age: Tieler James, a former NOCCA student

see MOLLY GRAHAM, page 16

and multi-award winning designer.

Graham went to Vancouver with him and then began her life as a model.

She also modeled for Cake Magazine and L’Officiel Manila before going to New York two years later.

“I didn’t pay attention to my looks when I was younger,” Graham said. “I was involved in music so I was busy and didn’t really think about it.”

Modeling agencies now look for multi-talented people to model for them, Graham said. It has become

Eli Young Band has been hitting the music charts since 2011, and on Jan. 12, they made their way to Baton Rouge at the Varsity Theatre. As a country band that started as college students at the University of North Texas in Denton, it’s able to give a twist on the usual Baton Rouge music scene.

“Baton Rouge has been a place on our radar for a long time, and we always try to come at least once a year,” bassist Jon Jones said. “Baton Rouge was in the further reaches of where we could go and make fans who didn’t care that we weren’t on mainstream country radio, and they just liked to listen to live music and the Varsity is one of our favorite venues.”

Eli Young Band has played at many venues for a variety of people, but the band prefers a college crowd, guitarist James Young said.

“We identify with the college crowd really well,” Jones said. “Even though college was a while ago for us, we never stopped playing music together.”

The band loves interacting with the college crowds. They started off playing shows at their own college, so they always find a way to relate to their younger audiences.

see ELI YOUNG BAND, page 16

MUSIC

Orange Joe produces first full-length album

BY EMMA BURLETTE @theburlettegirl Baton Rouge-created band Orange Joe will release its first full-length album after announcing the new project in December 2016. After building funds for over a year, the record will drop sometime this spring. Select singles will be released prior to the entire album.

“I’m thinking closer to the summer, maybe April,” said lead singer and principal songwriter Phil Chandler. For this new project, the group has deviated from the modern rock/punk style of their first EP, “Pass It On.” Instead of a more fluid sound, each song will be different than the

one before it.

This album has been years in the making for the band. Orange Joe formed when lead guitarist Friedman, bassist Chris LeSage and Chandler became roommates at Southeastern Louisiana University. After the band’s drummer, Seth Jones, came on board in 2015, they just needed a band name.

“We’re really bad at naming things. We had a long list of names and we spent months trying to figure it out,” Friedman said.

The band decided on a name based on a joke from “Futurama” while on vacation in Tennesse.

“There’s a moment in one AURIANNA CORDERO / The Daily Reveille

see ORANGE JOE, page 16

Local band Orange Joe hopes to release its first full-length album before an unofficial spring break tour.

The Daily Reveille

page 14

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

STUDENT LIFE

Theatre junior pursues stand-up comedy as a career choice

BY KIANA NAQUIN @Quinndaishone Most students don’t go to college for people to laugh at them, but theatre junior Jeremiah Turner dreams about it. As an aspiring performer, Turner’s goal is to be a stand-up comedian and his theatre major is helping him achieve just that.

Turner has worked hard in school to be a great performer, starting as a child in fifth grade. However, it wasn’t until high school when he realized his true passion for the art, he said.

“My love for performing started in high school where my teacher Dr. Sibley put the love of theatre inside of me,” Turner said.

Turner knew he was interested in being a stand-up comedian because he had a knack for comforting people. He was always quiet and reserved, and making people laugh was a way of making friends.

“At lunch, I would always crack jokes with my friends, and I realized I loved making people laugh,” Turner said. “When my friends were upset or sad then I’d tell jokes and I realized you can’t cry when you’re laughing unless you’re laugh-crying.”

DIANNA ROXAS / The Daily Reveille

LSU theatre junior Jeremiah Turner talks about his future career as a comedian in the Music and Dramatic Arts building on Jan. 14.

Turner took his comedic ability lightly before he considered it as a career choice.

He wrote his material in his “Book of Puns” and only shared

it amongst his friends. He changed his attitude only after he realized he wanted to get serious.

“As Drake says, ‘you only

live once’ and you might as well make most of your life,” Turner said.

Turner started performing his comedy in December 2017.

Since then, he has had to balance a life as both a performer and student.

“I just make it work,” Turner said. “I go to school and work in the afternoons and at night I go to different venues where they do open mics for stand-up. Then I go home and do homework and, if God willing go to bed.”

Turner performs at Spanish Moon on its Tuesday open mic nights, Station bar on Wednesdays and Happy’s Irish Pub on Thursdays. With so much on his plate, Turner also finds time to enjoy other things in his life.

Within his major, he likes to do sound design and improv. He is also a photographer and has his own company.

All comedians have their own process to writing their material. Turner’s process is organic and creatively original, he said. He has a positive outlook on life and how to make it all work together. He sacrifices his time to get what’s important done and follow his dreams.

“I just analyze life, sometimes over-analyze, and look at my everyday surroundings and just find out what’s funny about this,” Turner said. “I’m a boring person but interesting things happen to me.”

MUSIC

Catbamboo to perform at Varsity Theatre on Jan. 26

BY KELLY SWIFT @kellbell237

[Catbamboo] started as a joke, but when I heard other people say it, it sounded really cool.

Ky Williams was just any other Walmart shopper until he spotted Fran Garcia in a “Protest the Hero” shirt, and their lives changed forever. They quickly started playing music together and haven’t put their guitars down since. Music alumnus Eric Stewart joined the two as a bass player and their band Catbamboo FRAN GARCIA was born. Since then, they have Guitarist played at venues like Varsity Theatre, Spanish Moon, MidCity Ballroom and House of Blues in New supposed to be a laugh turned into a successful band name.

Orleans.

Catbamboo’s naming philosoCatbamboo has an exciting few months ahead of it. The band will phy crosses over with its song be performing at Varsity Theatre names as well. They feel it’s imon Jan 26, along with the release portant to go with the flow when of their new extended play, which it comes to the artistic process, is expected to be out in late May Williams said.

“Whatever sounds like a cool 2018.

“It started as a joke, but when I name for a song is what we end heard other people say it, it sound- up naming that song,” he said. ed really cool,” Garcia said when “For example, I wrote the song ‘In explaining how they became the Wind’ while I was in the wind.

The song “Hills “Catbamboo.” The band wanted a The band’s favorite places and Valleys” was made while I was memorable, difto perform include Varsity in Mississippi, and ferent name that Theatre and MidCity it was hilly so it would stick. Luckily, it only took Ballroom. The energy of just made sense.”

C a t b a m b o o ’s them moments to the room is important to music ranges from find it. At a party the band. math rock to proaround a year ago, gressive rock. The a friend asked band’s favorite what their band’s name would be, Garcia jokingly song to perform together is an said, “Catbamboo,” and what was acoustic called “Snickle Fritz,”

which has a slow, complex and sophisticated sound. The song really comes alive when it is paired with musician Michael Moody’s voice from San Marcos. The song has enough elements in it to stand alone, which makes it even more powerful.

“It feels so natural to perform with these guys,” Williams said.

From Dec. 12 to 18, Catbamboo toured major Texas cities including Houston, Austin and San Antonio, but they are still a local band at heart. The band’s favorite places to perform include the Varsity Theatre and MidCity Ballroom. The energy of the room is very important to the band. If the room is well lit and has a fun, energetic crowd, the better the performance is for them.

“Everyone there was really nice, and it felt good to perform for them.”

courtesy of CATBAMBOO

DILYN STEWART / The Daily Reveille

Members of Catbamboo — (from left to right) guitarist Fran Garcia, guitarist Ky Williams and bassist Eric Stewart — sit in the Greek Theater at LSU on Jan. 12.

The Daily Reveille

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

REV R ANKS GROWN-ISH Freeform

The writers and directors of “Grown-ish” did not cut corners – they did not beat around the bush about what college students really see and go through. They sold the audience the truth and nothing but the truth.

Kiana Naquin @Quinndaishone

SATURATION III Brockhampton

What makes the album so special is the individualities of each member are highlighted in the music. The boys focus on how their broken childhoods have shaped them.

Kelly Swift @kellbell237

THE POST DreamWorks “The Post” continues to show audiences the importance of controversial journalism through its retelling of the historic battle surrounding the Pentagon Papers. The movie highlights a choice between justice and safety — and shows just how far a newspaper would go to protect the First Amendment.

Lynne Bunch @lynnebunch11

Read the full reviews online at lsunow.com/entertainment

page 15

The ‘End of the F***ing World’ comedic, heartbreaking

BY EMMA BURLETTE @theburlettegirl While Netflix tends to let viewers down with their documentaries, its original shows are absolutely fantastic. “The End of the F***ing World” is no exception.

Based off Charles Forsman’s comics of the same uncensored name, the 8-episode season tells the story of two troubled teens, James and Alyssa. Alyssa’s dad isn’t in the picture, her step-dad is creepy and her mom doesn’t seem to notice that she’s unhappy. James believes he is a psychopath who is ready to graduate from killing small animals to killing something bigger.

When Alyssa approaches James at school, he decides that she is the perfect candidate for his first human kill. Their friendship leads to an adventure filled with breaking and entering, stolen cars and murder — just not the murder you expect. Through their misdeeds, however, this coming-of-age show evolves from a dark comedy with a great soundtrack to something purely nostalgic and profoundly sad.

In the opening scenes of the first episode, you can’t help but want to laugh. James’s completely monotone voice, his brazen observation of his status as a psychopath and the dramatic doo-wop song in the background is so sad it’s funny. Alyssa’s dramatic outbursts about trivial matters — smashing her phone after her friend sends her a text while sitting two feet away — screams teen angst. Both characters try to appear calm, cool and collected but the viewer can hear their frenzied freak-outs happening within their own heads.

The dark subject matter is made hilarious due to the characters being completely out of their depth but pretending that they’re fine. This initial humor then transitions to plain melancholia.

James and Alyssa run away from home to escape their abysmal circumstances to find the greener grass. They soon learn their lives really aren’t as bad as they previously thought. As they make their way to Alyssa’s dad’s house, dodging the police and committing more serious crimes, James and Alyssa fall for each other.

James plays the savior figure

courtesy of NETFLIX

and Alyssa puts on her brave face as they navigate their new status as fugitives. The 17-yearolds mature throughout the season and learn the world does not work the way they think. To continue to live on the lam, the pair must keep committing crimes.

They dig their hole deeper and deeper but they begin to understand the gravity of their situation and that their actions have consequences. They’re just a couple of scared kids who did what they had to do to survive.

I, at least, cannot help but reflect on my own poor decisions and experience an intense nostalgia and understanding for James and Alyssa.

The love between the troubled teenagers and their origin stories break the hearts

of viewers. The show forces us to contemplate on the reality of humanity existing even in the darkest of circumstances or crimes. We remember kids are kids, no matter how wise they pretend to be. Younger audiences gain sympathy for their parents, who only want what’s best for their children — they just get it wrong sometimes. We understand that survival is messy but some actions are necessary.

The show invites us to think about what it means to be human, to be immature, to be homeless, to be troubled and to be helpless. It is heartbreaking and beautiful and an entirely human experience. I highly recommend setting aside three hours to binge watch this incredible, thought-provoking show.

The Daily Reveille

page 16 ELI YOUNG BAND, from page 13 “It’s not like we’re trying to relive our college days,” Jones said, “but we can feel a kindred spirit what everyone is currently living in the crowd.”

Eli Young Band performs whatever the crowd prefers — it knows how to work the audience and keep them entertained. Every time the band is on tour, it makes sure it is providing its audience with the best performance.

“College students coming to party so we help provide that atmosphere,” said lead

ORANGE JOE, from page 13 of the episodes where Fry calls himself Orange Joe,” Friedman said. “It’s not even really a joke, but we thought it was funny.”

With a new name and more than 20 original songs, the guys began to break ground on their first EP in 2015. Their recording sessions took place in Tennessee because of Friedman’s connections with a studio.

“We went up to Memphis, and it was the first thing we did as a band. I think we did the whole thing in three days,” Chandler said.

Despite the hasty recording process, the band has met with success. All five of itssongs on “Pass It On.” have received more than 1,000 views on Spotify. They also continue to book gigs regularly.

Orange Joe started play-

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

vocalist Mike Eli. “So if we’re having a good time partying on stage, the crowd is partying and having a good time as well.”

With each touring performance, Eli Young Band knows it has to be versatile in every location. The band is always ready for new ears to be exposed to its music, so it uses college towns as a tool to gain new listeners.

“We’ve been playing here for a while,” Jones said. “We know the people at the show tonight are not in school anymore, so they are also bringing new people out to hear us.”

LAUREN WATSON /

The Daily Reveille

Eli Young Band performs on Jan. 12 at the Varsity Theatre in Baton Rouge.

At this point, it’s just a matter of getting everything mixed and mastered.

FORREST FRIEDMAN

Lead guitarist

ing shows around Baton Rouge with groups like Foxhunter and Common Folk. The band still regularly book shows at the Varsity Theatre and the Atomic Pop Shop, but lately have been playing bigger venues in New Orleans. Orange Joe has also played in both Texas and Mississippi.

The band performs frequently with local powerhouses Neutral Snap and Nice Dog, where

they started debuting some of their new songs that have not been previously recorded.

With an unofficial spring break tour approaching for Orange Joe, the band members are hoping to have their record completely finished by then.

“We’re in the home stretch,” Friedman said. “At this point, it’s just a matter of getting everything mixed and mastered.

We’re cranking them out.”

MOLLY GRAHAM, from page 13 more about the individual, rather than just their looks. They also look for distinctive characteristics to create a more original concept. They want their clothes to stand out, and for that to happen they need an interesting model.

“My freckles are a big thing with my modeling,” Graham said. “They make me stand out.”

Agencies want more than just a pretty face, so Graham has an upper hand. She has mastered the violin from her days at NOCCA, and she is also very focused in her school work and wants to work for a design brand or a magazine after she graduates.

“A lot of people think that models are stuck up, and even though it may be common to find that in the modeling industry, it’s common to find in any industry,” Graham said. “I’ve met some really nice people and have also come across some really rude people. You have to take that negativity when you hear things you don’t want to and brush it off.”

When working in a profes-

sion that focuses on looks, it is important to accept constructive criticism and to know how to love yourself. Graham has become more confident in herself and her modeling career over the years.

One day, Graham hopes to model for Paolo Sebastian or Chanel. These brands fit her unique, feminine aesthetic.

“I love how elegant and enchanting the brands are,” Graham said. “However, it would be fun to model for Gucci. I love modeling streetwear and more realistic clothing.”

Graham’s favorite part of modeling is getting to meet many different kinds of people, learning about their lives and their stories.

“You make a lot of friends and you get to have a lot of different experiences that I wouldn’t have thought that I could have,” Graham said. “It’s fun to pretend to be something or someone that you’re not sometimes. Even when you’re doing something that isn’t typically your style, the model’s personality always shines through.

AURIANNA CORDERO / The Daily Reveille

Members of Orange Joe (from left to right) Chris LeSage, Forrest Friedman and Phillip Chandler meet at French Truck Coffee on Government street on Jan. 11.

ALYSSA BERRY / The Daily Reveille

Mass communication freshman Molly Graham poses on her balcony on Jan. 14.

Opinion

page 17

Tigers, other wild animals shouldn’t be kept on college campuses ACCORDING TO ASHLON ASHLON LUSK @shlinie Mike the Tiger shouldn’t live on campus. There is no reason to keep him at the University just to entertain students, teachers and passersby.

Tigers are wild animals and need space to roam around.

Mike sits in his cage all day alone with barely anywhere to explore. The only reason the University insists on keeping Mike is for bragging rights.

Wild animals do not belong in cages unless they are injured, when they can’t fend for themselves in the wild and would die anyway. Mike I, II and III were all purchased tigers. Mike IV to VII were rescue tigers.

The last tiger the University owned, Mike VI, was diagnosed with spindle cell sarcoma in May 2016 and died in October 2016. After Mike VI passed away, there shouldn’t have been a replacement tiger. Having a live tiger is a tradition for the University, but it’s one that should’ve ended a long time ago.

The Bengal tiger is an endangered species. There are less than 2,500 in Asia today and the population is rapidly decreasing. Mike should have been able to have a quality life in the wild.

ISABELLA ALLEN / The Daily Reveille

Mike the Tiger enjoys the cold weather on Jan. 14, in his habitat at LSU. Quality doesn’t mean dinners placed in front of him, a personal pool to play in and a mansion of a cage. This isn’t the life of a wild animal. Tigers like Mike should be roaming miles per

day, catching their own prey and living among other tigers.

Mike wasn’t the only captive tiger in Louisiana. Tony the Tiger lived at a gas station off I-10. Tony lived in his cage

with three other tigers until 2003. The United States Department of Agriculture removed the other three tigers and allowed the gas station owner to keep Tony because the cage was

technically big enough for one tiger. Tony’s cage was close to gas pumps and he had no choice but to inhale the fumes all day.

Tony died in October 2017 and the Animal Legal Defense Fund is trying to make sure the gas station doesn’t buy a new tiger.

Mike’s cage is large and he is well cared for, but he still doesn’t have the space he needs or the company of other tigers.

Tony’s cage was small and he was on the side of a highway next to a gas station without proper treatment. Though these are vastly different scenarios, neither should have been allowed to take place.

Other universities have live mascots that are appropriate to have on a college campus.

University of Texas at Austin’s mascot is a Texas longhorn.

Texas longhorns don’t need space to run around like tigers do. University of Georgia’s mascot is a bulldog, Texas A&M University’s mascot is a Collie and the University of Washington mascot is a husky. These are all domestic animals that typically live in houses. The University should consider adopting a Bengal cat instead of a Bengal tiger.

Ashlon Lusk is an 18-year-old mass communication freshman from Houston, Texas.

Female slang terms reinforce gender inequalities, degrade women SARAH SAYS SARAH GROBETY @sarah_grobety The ultimate insult for many men is being called a “bitch” or a “pussy” because these words are equated with femininity.

Femininity is used as an insult, as if it’s the worst thing in the world to be associated with the other half of the population.

The p-word is slang for vagina, part of the female reproductive system nearly everyone on Earth comes from.

The female reproductive system is by no means weak, and having one does not make you inferior in any way. It is illogical to even insult people with the term. When men refer to other men as the p-word, it is meant to demean them and give them “emasculating” feminine qualities. If two guys are at the gym and one can’t lift as much as the other, he may be called the p-word. When a man shows any sort of emotion — or, God forbid, cries — they may be labeled a p-word. The insinuation is men shouldn’t have feelings and if they do, they shouldn’t

ETHAN GILBERTI / The Daily Reveille

show them.

The word “bitch” has been used to refer to female dogs since 1000 AD, according to the BBC. When men use this term, they emphasize the female part.

The b-word, when used among women, can be endearing and a fun way to describe a good friend. The term is used to de-

grade both men and women, but in different ways. When used toward women, the term means she is too assertive, rude or commanding. When used toward men, it is emasculating.

Men use it in a similar way as they use the p-word, to insinuate femininity is negative. The word is also used by men to

express dominance.

When calling someone the b-word, subservience is implied.

“There’s not much distance between accepting these terms in social contexts and fostering a culture of disrespect and misogynistic branding,” said Oana Lungu Polanco in Verily Magazine.

There are also derogatory curse words that are demeaning to men. While masculine words such as “dick” are often used as insults, these words aren’t associated with weakness. Calling someone a “dick” usually insinuates the person is arrogant or annoying. Though these words aren’t polite, words like this are far less demeaning to the male gender as a whole.

Men need to put on their big boy pants and move past the definition of manliness as the inability to express weakness, vulnerability or emotions.

Men must stop being so “feminophobic” and begin trying to understand traditionally female characteristics and attributes are not a sign of weakness or inferiority.

Both men and women must work to reclaim these words from their negative connotations.

Stopping the use of female-degrading words is integral to ensuring equal respect for both sexes.

Come on, bitches. Let’s take our words back!

Sarah Grobety is a 20-yearold mass communication junior from Atlanta, Georgia.

The Daily Reveille

page 18

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Head to Head Oprah running for president not outlandish, possible in current political climate WELL, SHE TRIED. CHANTELLE BAKER @deannayukari Oprah Winfrey is a once-in-a-lifetime public figure whose impact has been greater than the average celebrity. She’s written a plethora of books, has an incredibly successful television network and has done so much more. It’s no wonder people were wishing she run for president in 2020 after the Golden Globes aired on Jan. 7. Although some may find it absurd, the odds of Winfrey becoming the next president aren’t as slim as people may assume.

Winfrey has been an idol for years.

She’s always been a great example for the youth and would certainly solidify her legacy if she became president.

Children are told they can be whatever they want to be as long as they believe, and I certainly believe Winfrey could be the next president.

President Donald Trump, against all odds, has managed to become president with no political experience. By these standards, Winfrey running for president isn’t so ridiculous. She may not have political experience, but the impact she’s had in the entertainment industry has been incredibly beneficial. Over the years, she’s had much more of a positive impact on her fans and the general public, making them a priority in her life.

Her years of philanthropic work are a strong argument for why she could be a good president. She has dedicated her career to helping others, even starting her own charities.

Trump also had his own charity. However, he shut it down after the revelation of his “self-dealing.” Our current president has proven to be untrustworthy while Winfrey has a history of being genuine.

Trump has already discussed

running for re-election in 2020.

There’s the possibility of Winfrey running as his opponent. Trump’s recent statement about “shithole countries” is only the latest installment of offensive statements and actions that are likely to deter voters. There are many reasons why he’s unfit to be our president. Knowing Winfrey’s background as someone whose desire is to help and heal, we can safely guess she’d prefer to say and do things far less offensive.

A great concern is whether or not Winfrey is qualified to hold a place in politics. Although not in political science, she already has an undergraduate degree in communications from Tennessee State University. If she chose to go back to school for political science, she could do so and finish by 2020. Even with this argument, there are quite a few presidents, including Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, who never attended college at all. Some of the country’s most wellknown presidents didn’t attend college, yet were able to make an impact that greatly affected our nation’s history. It’s safe to believe Winfrey can become well-educated enough, if she isn’t already, to take control of our country.

This country’s government is built on the idea that it’s the people’s choice. Knowing this, the odds of Winfrey becoming a candidate aren’t so unrealistic. Do I truly expect Winfrey to run for president? No. I don’t believe she wants to carry the task, and she has other obligations that she’d prefer to tend to. Is it still possible? Absolutely. She’s been the epitome of confidence for years. She believed in herself against all odds and that’s certainly the type of person I want running my country.

Chantelle Baker is a 21-year-old communication studies senior from Waipahu, Hawaii.

ETHAN GILBERTI / The Daily Reveille

Celebrity candidates tarnish the value of careers in public service THE NIEMAN NOISE SETH NIEMAN @seth_nieman Oprah Winfrey delivered an incredible speech at the 75th Golden Globe Awards. It shed light on the powerful #MeToo movement that is rightfully gaining momentum as we head into 2018 because of the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund. That fund has now raised north of $16 million toward providing “legal support to women and men who have experienced sexual harassment, assault, or abuse in the workplace and while in pursuit of their careers.”

Of course, an incredible speech could not be left as that. Americans currently living under the political turmoil of President Donald Trump’s administration immediately began calling for Winfrey’s 2020 bid. According to the website electionbettingodds.com, since the awards show aired on Jan. 7, ETHAN GILBERTI / The Daily Reveille Winfrey has climbed the rankings to become the second most editor-at-large of Vox.com, nearlikely candidate to be elected ly tweeted my exact thoughts the president in 2020, falling only morning after the Golden Globe behind Trump.

Awards: “Donald Trump will be vulI hold no opposition to the idea of nerable in 2020 in part because peoan Oprah Winfrey presidential cam- ple will be — hell, they already are paign. Winfrey, the most successful — tired of having a celebrity with no African-American businesswoman political experience fumbling around and one of the most powerful women as president. Not sure Winfrey (or Tom in the world, is an actual self-made Hanks, or Mark Cuban, etc) will be a billionaire, unlike Trump. To dis- compelling answer to that.” credit the idea of Winfrey running Winfrey’s words offered inspiration and a sign of hope is insulting to many Americans women in a nation that has have been longing for previously had But we cannot allow that feeling since former President Barack Obama no problem with of hopelessness to create an left the office in Janmale public figenvironment where we veiw ures running 2017. Let us not every inspiring public figure as uary for office. forget, even though America’s lone hope...

However, I it may have not been find it mightamongst a progresily strange sive base, Trump had that those who a way of inspiring have a strong dislike for Trump millions, as well.

We must place a higher value on also use him as a justification for lowering the bar on who should actual governing experience rather become the next president. than the ability to inspire. DemoTrump became president with cratic candidates planning to run in an absolute lack of political experi- midterm elections or against Trump ence, and although that is now the in 2020 have something to learn from least concerning thought of his presi- Winfrey’s speech. Tell your story, dency, it was a central argument for be inspiring and give voters a reawhy he should not have been elected son to believe they can relate to you.

It is evident this strategy creates a in the first place.

Yes, the U.S. is in a rough patch personal effect.

America does not want to right now with Trump, who carries a 38 percent approval rating, become a society where the pursitting in the Oval Office. Many suit of a career in public service people have grown tired of wak- becomes useless and inferior to the ing up each morning to discover a pursuit of celebrity and fame. There new political scandal has developed. is a place for celebrities in our soBut we cannot allow that feeling of ciety, but I am not convinced it is hopelessness to create an environ- in the White House. ment where we view every inspiring public figure as America’s lone hope Seth Nieman is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from to defeat Trump in 2020.

Ezra Klein, founder and McComb, Mississippi.

The Daily Reveille

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

page 19

H&M ad alienates American customers, damages brand FACT IS FICTION KIANA NAQUIN @Quinndaishone Recently, clothing retailer H&M ran an advertisement in which a black boy is depicted wearing a sweatshirt reading “Coolest Monkey in the Jungle.”

The ad caused immediate upset among loyal customers and led to a social media storm.

Though H&M is a Swedishbased clothing retailer, it has more than 500 locations across the U.S. In the past, H&M has utilized diverse groups of people in its ads to show the versatility of its clothing line. For it to turn a blind eye to the implications of the current ad has irreparably damaged its business.

A company selling clothes all over the world should not have customers questioning its moral standards. H&M surprised millions of its U.S. customers with the insensitive ad. Because H&M is a worldwide company, it should take care to ensure its advertisements are respectful and accommodating toward all

its customers Many Twitter users have expressed a strong discomfort with this. Twitter user Karamo Brown tweeted, “This is disgusting & irresponsible. You know the history of [racism] and using the term ‘monkey’ to demean people of African descent.”

Other celebrity sponsors have also decided to distance themselves from the company for such negligence. Following the incident, celebrities like The Weeknd and Lebron James chose to end their contracts and relations with the clothing company. With regards to the ad, The Weeknd tweeted, “Woke up this morning shocked and embarrassed by this photo. I’m deeply offended and will not be working with @hm anymore...”

When influential celebrities start to take notice and cut ties with your company, you know you messed up, big time.

H&M made a careless mistake and paid the price for it. Despite this, its ethics should not be questioned. By most accounts, H&M is not a racist or prejudice company. It’s

guilty of carelessness, not contempt. The designers and producers of the advertisement were negligent in running the ad and were most likely unaware of the implications.

H&M is a European-based company where racism is not as hot-button of an issue as it is in America. Some simple background research could have easily presented this mishap. The advertisers were irresponsible in their thinking. When sharing a product with the whole world, companies must consider what others will think and how they will view it.

Twitter user The King Center said it best: “Every company should invest in training that encompasses cultural competency and sensitivity. It is absolutely necessary.”

To make matters worse, the mother of the child wearing the offensive hoodie told the public to just “Get over it” in a series of deleted Facebook posts, according to New York Post. This is an astonishing announcement, but it’s amazing what money can do to people. Remorse will never

courtesy of WIKIMEDIA

Clothing retailer H&M came under fire after a recent controversial advertisement be felt for the H&M franchise.

The company released a public apology, but it came across as insincere. Many believe H&M didn’t do enough in the wake of the incident. It appears that it is taking a heavy subject and trying to make it seem as if it’s not a big deal. Though H&M

removed the ad, the problem is far from over. When companies use offensive advertisements and careless marketing strategies, nobody wins.

Kiana Naquin is a 20-year-old English sophomore from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Social bubbles inhibit political expansion, hinder societal growth OH, NOT AGAIN! KYLE RICHOUX @KyleRichoux After a full year of presidency, President Donald Trump has a historically low approval rating of 38 percent.

Despite avid supporters and sycophants, the current president has the lowest regular approval ratings seen in past decades, according to polls. A credible amount of people are evidently dissatisfied with government leadership, but one of the most popular mechanisms actually does more harm than good.

The “Not my President” concept has become a rallying cry for deluded liberals since the election, amassing supporters in droves on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media platforms.

Since the campaigning in 2016, Trump has made social media usage a staple of his daily routine, spouting his opinions left

and right. His Twitter account is more of a platform for his ideas than a news outlet.

Despite his wild and haphazard use of Twitter, few Americans keep up with it. Trump’s Twitter account boasts a solid 46 million followers. That number may seem hefty, but it falls flat compared to the 67 million American users on the platform.

The lack of constituents following the president on a popular social media platform exposes a primary problem with social media. These platforms allow us to form our own personal bubbles of information.

In the real world, we are forced to hear the opinions of different people. We meet liberals at work, we meet conservatives at coffee shops and we meet independents at church. We find radicals at concerts and find people who don’t care at all at football games. The ability to follow who we choose and block accounts we dislike allows us to essentially decide what information we want to hear, filtering out the

The Daily Reveille EDITORIAL BOARD Ramsina Odisho Natalie Anderson Evan Saacks Abbie Shull Hannah Kleinpeter

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

challenging content.

Challenges serve a purpose and removing challenging material serves only to limit progression. If each of us is in a bubble with only pleasing information and no one to argue against those ideas, we lose both philosophical diversity and the ability to find meaningful discourse. In this way, the conversation closes and we can find no way to compromise and move forward.

Our limiting bubbles affect our culture as much as they do politics. “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” film is a great example. The populace hyped the new film up as the thrilling and game-changing middle act to the newest trilogy, but the response to the movie was mixed at best. According to Rotten Tomatoes, “The Last Jedi” received a 50 percent approval rating from audiences, splitting fans right down the middle.

Disapproving fans went so far as to form petitions online.

One popular petition featured on Change.Org argues that the

ETHAN GILBERTI / The Daily Reveille

new film is a disrespect to the legacy of “Star Wars” as a whole.

The writer is not alone, as shown by the 83,000 supporters as of January 2018.

The author of the petition asks the Walt Disney Company to remove “The Last Jedi” from the “Star Wars” canon. This fan is upset that his personal bubble has been invaded by something he does not approve of. Because of the bubble’s limiting effects, he finds himself unable to cope

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.

with the movie not being what he expected.

We simply cannot proceed while putting a crippling limitation on our ability to solve issues.

Culture is our reason for going forth and politics is our method of doing it. When we limit these factors, we lose our ability to evolve.

Kyle Richoux is a 19-year-old sociology sophomore from LaPlace, Louisiana.

Quote of the Week “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”

Pablo Picasso

Painter Oct. 25, 1881 — April 8, 1973

The Daily Reveille

page 20

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Vermilion Parish teacher deprived of First Amendment right CHATTING WITH

ABI

ABIGAIL VARNADO

@ABI_VARN

The First Amendment of the Constitution grants U.S. citizens the right to freedom of speech.

At a recent Vermilion Parish school board meeting, one Louisiana resident and teacher was stripped of this right.

On Jan. 8, English teacher, Deyshia Hargrave, was forced to leave a school board meeting after stating her disapproval of the upcoming raise for the superintendent.

According to NPR, Vermilion Parish superintendent Jerome Puyau’s previous salary was about $110,000. The new proposed contract being addressed during the meeting would raise his salary to $140,000.

“I have a serious issue with a superintendent or any person in a position of leadership getting any type of raise,” Hargrave said in the NPR article. “It’s absurd that we’re even considering giving someone a raise when these teachers are working this hard and not getting a dime.”

One with common sense could not agree more with Hargrave’s statement. In the meeting, many teachers and people from the crowd voiced their outrage alongside Hargrave regarding the proposed raise.

courtesy of WIKIMEDIA / The Daily Reveille

Deyisha Hargave was removed from a school board meeting after expressing her opinion about the superintendent getting a raise.

The footage of the meeting is on YouTube. It’s obvious Hargrave brought up this deeply concerning matter without belligerence and spoke about her concerns in a logical and articulate manner. After the second time speaking out in the meeting, the judge had the officer remove her, much to the crowd’s shock and disappointment.

It is unclear whether she actually resisted the officer due to the lack of video footage in the

hallway during that time.

The real issue is not the details of her arrest, but the impediment of the teacher’s constitutional right to express her views freely. What was displayed during the meeting was an abuse of power that hindered the betterment of the Vermilion Parish school system. Such an act should not be tolerated by the state.

The superintendent with the six-figure salary should not be taking more money from the

current school workers. Rather, he should be giving back to improve the schools in the area.

Teachers and school workers deserve a salary that they can live on comfortably with a healthy dose of respect from employers, students and the community.

If teachers, school workers and schools received more money and respect, then the students would receive a better education with more resources

and an increased chance of a brighter future.

Teachers have some of the most important jobs in our country. They shape our children to be smart and functional members of society. Without teachers, our society would be composed of mindless, lawless citizens.

This situation should be taken as a lesson, just like Hargrave mentioned in her personal statement to The New York Times after the debacle.

“I want them to see past the handcuffs and the arrest, and I want change to come from this,” she said in the article.

People should take this as a sign to be more vocal about local issues, especially those in local school systems. We need to care more about what happens around us and do more to help our communities.

It’s as simple as attending town hall meetings, school board meetings or any type of meeting that affects the community. We all need to be aware of how and where our money is being spent, and what bills or notions are being passed.

Go out and get involved in the local legislature. Participating as a community will only strengthen us and make us better for future generations.

Abigail Varnado is a 21-year-old English senior from Amite, Louisiana.

Dave Chappelle stirs controversy, challenges free speech limits HAMMERING SEEKING NAIL

has failed to identify a hidden pattern that backlash to such controversial statements may not have grown, but exposure SOHEIL SANEEI to it has become more common. @SOHEILSANEEI Social media has given the Comedian Dave Chappelle public access to numerous released two controversial Net- cultures and opinions. One of flix comedy specials on Dec. the main objectives of social 31. Throughout his nearly two media is to expose people to decade long run as a come- views other than their own. No dian, Chappelle has frequently matter how much we surround been the center of media at- ourselves in an echo-chamber tention with his political and of people with similar views, social commentary. there is no escaping the outside For years, Chappelle only world. concerned himself with the Too often the idea of free free press. In recent years, speech is used to criticize uniChappelle has been at odds with versities for denying public a less avoidable medium: social speakers, to belittle those who media. Social media is an omni- are offended and to criticize our present tool ingrained into the society’s sensitivity. We must fabric of our lives. remember the true definition Chappelle has never been of freedom of speech and how politically it applies to our current society. correct as his In his recent speprofession cial, “Dave Chapmakes this character trait But just as it is his right pelle: Equanimity,” nearly impos- to satirize the community, Chappelle comments sible. In his it is their right to criticize on his quarrel with comedy spethe LGBT communihim for it. cial, Chappelle ty caused by his satirical pieces about uses obscenities to ironitransgender peocally describe ple. A supporter of Chappelle may how sensitive society is to vulgar words, a defend his right to use popular criticism in our political free speech to satirize climate. The common observer these groups.

courtesy of IMDB/ The Daily Reveille

Dave Chappelle satirized the LGBT community in his new Neftlix series.

However, the LGBT community is using their own right to free speech to criticize Chappelle. Both sides have the right to express their opinions.

The First Amendment protects individuals from government persecution of speech. It does not grant you immunity from judgement by everyday citizens and peers. No government is prosecuting Chappelle.

Many people accuse Chap-

pelle’s critics of being oversensitive to his material. Chappelle claims to support the LGBT community. But just as it is his right to satirize the community, it is their right to criticize him for it. Their ability to protest his speech is another right given by the Constitution.

Our society has begun to use personal freedom of speech in attempts to suppress others’ freedom of

speech. Greater exposure to differing beliefs will reveal to us that just as we have the right to speak freely, others have the same right to express their perspectives. We mustn’t forget freedom of speech does not solely extend to those with similar opinions to us.

Soheil Saneei is a 19-year-old biological engineering freshman from Metairie, Louisiana.