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BR EN S STEM Three years after Max Gruver’s death, an LSU fraternity member is arrested on criminal hazing charges, the first arrest made under the 2018 Max Gruver Act.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF HILARY SCHEINUK
NEWS
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Hazing still occurs at LSU despite mandatory anti-hazing courses. Should the University reconsider its prevention efforts?
ENTERTAINMENT
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Parson James brings light and positivity back to 2020 with his new song “High Tide, Low Tide.”
SPORTS
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With the No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide coming to Baton Rouge on Saturday, LSU may still be without quarterback Myles Brennan.
OPINION
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“What happens to a culture when it does away with its conventions for acknowledging and processing death?”
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HISTORY SHOULDN’T REPEAT ITSELF Phi Kappa Psi hazing allegations bear resemblance to 2017 Max Gruver case
BY ANNA JONES @annajoneses LSU suspended all activities for its chapter of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity after a night of partying on Oct. 19 ended in a new member’s hospitalization. The new member was drinking at an off-campus gathering but had returned to a female student’s off-campus apartment before some fraternity brothers saw he needed assistance. The fraternity brothers then brought him to Baton Rouge General Medical Center. The female student died by suicide a few hours after the new member was hospitalized for severe alcohol poisoning. The new member has since been released from the hospital. On Nov. 2, Phi Kappa Psi new member educator and political science student Terry Pat Reynolds II was arrested on counts of felony and misdemeanor criminal hazing, along with failure to seek assistance. He was released the same day on a $13,500 bond. The incident came as a shock to many students who still vividly recall the death of Max Gruver in 2017, but it wasn’t the first time Phi Kappa Psi faced hazing allegations. Just last month, a new member reported coercive behavior through the LSU Division of Student Affairs website. The student, who requested anonymity in the report, said he was required to participate in extraneous workouts at an off-campus location and was hit in the head with a baseball bat. This was part of a recurring event known as a “pizza party,” in which new members were routinely subjected to demanding physical activities without air conditioning, according to the report. The incident occurred Sept. 13 and was reported to LSUPD the next day. The fraternity’s “pizza parties” hold an eerie resemblance to Phi Delta Theta’s “Bible studies,” where members were quizzed on fraternity history and forced to take drinks of Diesel, a 190-proof liquor, when they answered incorrectly. It was at one of these “Bible studies” where LSU freshman and Phi Delta Theta pledge Max Gruver died of alcohol poisoning in 2017. In Max Gruver’s case, the heavy drinking was enforced by new member educator Matthew Naquin, who was ultimately convicted of negligent homicide and sentenced to five years in prison with two and a half years suspended. The similarities surrounding these two instances were not lost on Max Gruver’s mother, Rae Ann Gruver.
“It’s the same thing that happened with Max,” Rae Ann said. “Just that forced alcohol consumption, and having too much too fast.” Reynolds sent a group text to 62 new members the night of the incident instructing them to “get over to my place,” and adding, “hope you’re ready to get hammered if you pull up,” according to the arrest report. Once at the house, new members were instructed to consume large amounts of alcohol and were not allowed to leave until they finished their bottles. “The defendant would then retrieve more alcohol for them to consume because they did not finish the previous bottle fast enough,” the report said. “This behavior went on until multiple bottles and cans of alcohol were consumed by the new members.” The new member had a BAC of .451%. Max Gruver’s was .495%. Both are nearly six times the legal limit to drive in Louisiana.
is cooperating with the investigation. We simply want to know what happened in order to take the appropriate actions.” As a result of Max Gruver’s death, LSU Greek Life was temporarily suspended and Phi Delta Theta was banned until 2033. While Phi Psi is currently under investigation and on interim suspension, the rest of LSU’s Greek community remains unaltered. “It makes you wonder, why hasn’t Greek Life been suspended while they go in and do these investigations on all the chapters? Something needs to happen, and it needs to happen big,” Rae Ann said. “And I don’t mean somebody dying, I mean the University taking the reins and doing something before somebody actually dies again.” In addition to the September hazing allegation, Phi Psi faced two complaints in 2017. LSUPD shut down an unsanctioned Phi Psi party in 2017 after staff reported it involved alcohol.
If you witness or suspect hazing, contact the appropriate University officials immediately. You can contact LSUPD at 225-578-3231 or report hazing on LSU’s website. You may also report anonymously to Baton Rouge Crime Stoppers at 225-344-STOP (7867). “I’m so glad someone took him [the new member] to the hospital, thank God, because in Max’s case they didn’t,” Rae Ann said. “Even though they knew Max was in trouble and having serious problems.” The University implemented a number of anti-hazing measures since Max Gruver’s death three years ago, including mandatory hazing prevention courses for all student organizations and medical amnesty granted to those who seek help in emergency situations. The Max Gruver Act passed by the Louisiana Legislature in 2018 also instituted state-wide hazing definitions, penalties and prevention education. Despite these efforts, hazing is still an ongoing force at LSU. “I’m speechless,” Rae Ann said. “What’s gone wrong? What’s not getting through to LSU’s Greek culture, that something’s got to change and that hazing’s got to end?” East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore III also made the comparison between Phi Kappa Psi’s recent hazing investigations and the Max Gruver case. “This case looks unbelievably similar to the Gruver case,” Moore said. “There are a lot of parallels, with one exception: Everyone who has been questioned so far
In October of that same year, a complaint from a pledge’s sister alleged that the new member was dealing with verbal assault, last minute requirements by older members and lack of sleep due to late-night obligations. “What is called ‘hell’ week is coming up. My brother is a nervous wreck and so am I. He is terrified of speaking out and has not even told me,” the anonymous report read. It is unclear what steps the University took to address this report, which was filed a few weeks after Max Gruver’s death. Just last year, the LSU chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon was closed after findings of a hazing investigation. Nine members were arrested for hazing offenses ranging from pouring gasoline on new members, kicking them with steel-toed boots, beating them with a metal pipe, burning them with cigarettes and ordering them to lie face down on a basketball court covered in broken glass while being urinated on. Rae Ann was initially encouraged by the strong response to the DKE allegations, but now thinks the University has taken “two steps backward.” “It was showing that ‘hey, you are going to get arrested if you are hazing,’” Rae Ann said. “For
this Phi Psi group to then do this hazing. . . it’s like, what are you not believing about the law?” Another LSU fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, is currently under investigation for an incident on Oct. 3. The online complaint filed Oct. 14 was from a third party alleging physical and alcohol related abuse during a game day event. Media Relations Director Ernie Ballard said the University was investigating this incident as well as the recent activities of Phi Kappa Psi. He also confirmed that a hazing complaint made against Kappa Sigma in September was unfounded. “The University has stated on multiple occasions that hazing will not be tolerated and the University acts swiftly when any hazing allegations are brought forth,” Ballard said. “Now that the LSU Police investigation has led to an arrest, the University’s office of Student Advocacy & Accountability will also conduct an investigation regarding any possible Student Code of Conduct violations.” Director of Greek Life Angela Guillory said the Greek Life staff is revisiting health and safety efforts for next year, but this was already in the works prior to recent hazing incidents. “We are in the initial stages of discussions,” Guillory said. “Hazing prevention will always need to be an ongoing campus-wide initiative. Our office is committed to continue educating the Greek community on this topic.” Despite the recent hazing crimes on the same campus where her son was killed three years ago, Rae Ann believes national awareness has expanded. Each week, she gets emails from students who were in dangerous overdrinking situations but thought of Max and remembered to call 911. Back in 2017, she said, any conversations surrounding hazing were “hush-hush.” But, she said the University needs to take immediate, decisive action to prevent another tragedy. Such action could include a temporary suspension of all Greek Life activities while University administration reevaluates the root of extreme hazing. “The University needs to take a stand and say, ‘we’re not tolerating this,’” Rae Ann said. “They keep saying it, but you’re still tolerating it if you’re not stopping it.” “To me, it’s insulting to Max. That’s exactly how he died or was killed, and this young man did the same exact thing. What did you not learn from what happened three years ago on the same campus?”
See page s 6-7 for national hazing incidents timeline
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NEWS
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CAUGHT IN A HAZE
Wrongful Conviction Clinic coming to LSU Law Center
BY POET WOLFE @PoetWolfe
mandatory hazing prevention training. This year, the 30-minute virtual training sessions take place on Moodle. In-person hazing prevention training is usually offered, but the pandemic forced the University to offer virtual training exclusively.
LSU Law and Innocence Project New Orleans (IPNO) received a nearly $500,000 two-year grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to establish a Wrongful Conviction Clinic at LSU. LSU students and experienced IPNO attorneys will work together to assess cases of incarcerated people with innocence claims associated with available DNA evidence. Assistant Dean for Experiential Education Robert Lancaster said some of these cases include “false confessions, mistaken identification, faulty forensic evidence, prosecutorial/police misconduct, racial bias and other issues.” LSU Law Interim Dean Lee A. Lockridge said the goal is to pinpoint cases that could benefit from additional DNA testing, and complete the testing once the
see HAZING, page 4
see LAW, page 4
LSU Student Government responds to recent hazing incident COURTESY OF THE ADVOCATE
The Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge. BY CAROLINE SAVOIE @carolinesavo A recent hazing incident that led to one student’s hospitalization and another student’s death has sparked a dialogue that echoes campus conversation following Max Gruver’s death in 2017. Students have called for
Student Government and University administration to take action against hazing. Student Government Vice President Hannah Barrios said she and other students are tired of hazing in the LSU community. “As a member of Greek Life, I find it so disappointing to see that hazing is still occurring,”
Barrios said. “SG has to reiterate again and again that hazing is absolutely not tolerated at LSU. I know LSU has said this and SG has said this, but hazing keeps happening. It simply should not be a part of our culture and our community.” All members of LSU student organizations must go through
BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY
Local vacant building to be transformed into arts center BY AMBER BUETTNER @Amber_Buettner
This summer, the empty triangle-shaped building on Saint Ferdinand Street will become a unique space for local artists. The Cary Saurage Community Arts Center will serve as the new home for the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge and is scheduled to be completed by July 2021. The building, located at 233 Saint Ferdinand St., has been out of use for the last two years. While most were afraid to take on such an odd-shaped building, the Arts Council thought it was the perfect location, according to CEO and president of the Arts Council Renee Chatelain. “For an arts organization to be in a triangle-shaped, midcentury modern building is perfect,” Chatelain said. “We felt it was really important that we keep the structure intact even though we are redesigning the whole interior.” The Arts Center will be available for anyone in 11 Baton Rouge-area parishes, including
Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, Washington, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana. One of the Arts Council’s main goals is diversity; it includes one representative from each parish to ensure the community’s best interest. The council rotates every two years, and anyone can apply. “In 2017 we really adopted what we call ‘arts IDEAS’ as a core value for the organization,” Chatelain said. “IDEAS is an acronym for inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility and sustainability.” The facilities are priced on a scale. However, artists who are making a project to better their community can apply to be an artist resident and get the space granted to them for free. Students can also volunteer at the Arts Center to earn use of the space. “Let’s say that you are a student and you want space to do
see ARTS, page 4
KRISTEN YOUNG / The Reveille
Construction is underway at the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center, located at 233 Saint Ferdinand St., on Oct. 25.
Monday, November 9, 2020
page 4 HAZING, from page 3 “I think in-person training is very effective,” Barrios said. “It’s more effective than virtual training, but I’m glad LSU implements that virtual training because some sort of training is obviously necessary.” Mass communication junior Abby Alonzo said virtual courses clearly do not stop hazing behavior. “I can tell you we all click through the Moodle trainings,” Alonzo said. “The quizzes aren’t hard at all. I understand they’re trying to prevent hazing with these trainings, but they do not work.” An LSU fraternity member who wished to remain anonymous said mandatory hazingprevention efforts need “serious reconsideration” to have a positive effect. “Given that hazing training is the most involved it’s ever been and we still had [this recent hazing incident], these trainings do not help at all,” he said. “They’re just busy work that guys do without paying attention. It’s just
LAW, from page 3 case is identified. Lockridge said the Wrongful Conviction Clinic will be “a great opportunity for LSU Law students to gain real legal experience prior to graduation.” “Our students will benefit immensely not only by working on incredibly meaningful criminal legal cases but also by gaining practical experience with complex evidentiary issues and by working side-by-side with experienced lawyers to learn essential skills and professional values that will serve them well in any area of practice after graduation,” Lockridge said. Executive Director of IPNO Jee Park said that LSU Law was fitting for the Wrongful Conviction Clinic because of its already “robust clinical program,” Park also said IPNO is “thrilled” to be partnered with LSU. “[LSU Law] provided IPNO with an opportunity to teach future leaders of the legal profession in Louisiana the value of serving the poor through pro bono work, particularly imprisoned men and women who have
checking off a box. It’s unrealistic to think that any Moodle training is going to make irresponsible people into responsible people.” Barrios and SG President Stone Cox said that while SG has no hazing prevention initiatives currently in the works, recent events have compelled them to consider possible plans of action. “We are very aware of this, and we’re listening to students,” Barrios said. “After recent events, Stone and I have talked about what we can do in conjunction with our Department of Safety to go over initiatives we can bring forward. We’re going to look at other campuses to see what efforts they’re making that we can learn from.” The passage of the Max Gruver Act in 2018 implemented harsher legal penalties for hazing. A student found guilty of hazing can face a felony charge and time in prison, along with fines. Alonzo said the threat of legal consequence has not effectively deterred hazing at LSU. “They feel like they’ve earned the right to put the pledges through hell because they went
through it,” Alonzo said. “Is it worth your whole future to get a boy to drink an entire bottle of whiskey? So you get an 18-yearold boy really drunk one night. What comes out of that? You can lose your future, your career and possibly end someone’s life, and for what?” Barrios said students are aware of what hazing behavior looks like, and they’re tired of the emotional toll it takes on the community. She said SG will make efforts in the future to eradicate hazing in student organizations. “We’re going to figure out something because [hazing] is just unacceptable,” Barrios said. “SG is here to give students the safe experience they deserve at LSU and I promise we’re working to do exactly that.” SG has put together a Night of Remembrance to honor the students that have died this semester, and all students are welcome to attend. The memorial will be on Nov. 12 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Greek Theater. Due to COVID-19 regulations, students are asked to RSVP through TigerLink.
no one to turn to, regardless of their field of practice,” Parker said. Park said through the clinic, LSU Law students will “learn how to become effective advocates for justice and equity, and free wrongfully convicted, innocent prisoners.” “Wrongful conviction cases make us take a closer look at the history of our criminal legal system, policing practices and norms, how prosecutors exercise their discretion and power, how public defense is funded and why we too often fail to administer justice in a fair, unbiased manner,” Park said. Second-year law student Richala Jackson said the Wrongful Conviction Clinic is a great addition to LSU Law. “I’m really excited to hopefully apply to be on the clinic,” Jackson said. “I think it’s a great way for LSU to give back to the community. We already have a lot of different programs here already that do that like the Parole Clinic, Immigration Clinic and things like that. I think it’s a great addition to the law school and I’m really excited about it.”
The Cary Saurage Community Arts Center is being built Oct. 25 in place of the abandoned building at 233 Saint Ferdinand St.
COURTESY OF STONE COX AND HANNAH BARRIOS
KRISTEN YOUNG / The Reveille
ARTS, from page 3
COURTESY OF JEE PARK
COURTESY OF LEE ANN LOCKRIDGE
Jee Park (left) is the executive director of IPNO. Lee Ann Lockridge (right) is the interim dean of LSU Law Center.
work but you really don’t have money to rent a space,” Chatelain said. “We can work out a program where you can give us some hours at the front desk or help us with an event, and you can use those hours as a credit toward the space so you don’t have to pay.” On the first floor of the Arts Center, there is an art gallery, artist co-op, recording studio and a black box theater. The artist co-op has two kilns and all the furniture is moveable, so the space is as collaborative or separate as needed. The art gallery can be used for traveling art shows, workshops and
“IDEAS is an acronym for inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility and sustainability.” RENEE CHATELAIN
Arts Council president more. The recording studio is a state-of-the-art sustainable design with sound recording and new mechanical systems. The second floor contains the Arts Council offices, creative conference space and more of the art gallery. The conference space is available for rent with
discounts for nonprofits and individual artists. The second floor contains an exhibit called Writings on the Wall, a feature of local literary artists’ work. “Writings on the Wall is a repository of local artists who are in the literary arts, whether it’s poets or writers,” Chatelain said. “There will also be an artist lounge. If you are a writer or a journalist and you want to do your work there, you’ll have some resources from the Writings on the Wall, but you’ll also have a lounge space.” There is also a rooftop terrace available for guests of the Arts Center to use. It will have a piano, seating and a view of the skyline and the river.
ENTERTAINMENT ARTIST HIGHLIGHT BY ENJANAE’ TAYLOR @_queenet_
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Parson James took his experiences in quarantine and created one of the catchiest songs of 2020. You may know the singer from his massive hit with Kygo, “Stole the Show,” which blew up in 2015. Now, James is on a mission to uplift and inspire his listeners with his pop tunes. Growing up in a small Southern town in South Carolina, James established a love for music at a young age. Between being around singers at church, his town having a big jazz presence and his grandmother playing classic soul records often, James was set up to be a musician. Even though he dealt with many hardships, James credits his time growing up in the South for helping shape his artistry. After moving to New York to develop his craft, the singer wanted to discover his identity as a songwriter. He quickly found out while he was trying to move on from the bad memories in his past that he wasn’t writing music he connected to. Once he began to mend his
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wounds and revisit his past, he realized that his story made him identifiable. “I went back and dug into those moments I was in church,” James said. “The sounds, the organs, the choirs, the verbiage, all of that and I started making my first EP, which was completely about me coming out in the religious South. This EP, titled “The Temple EP,” included many gospel elements and helped him solidify his image. His religious Southern background helped him discover himself as an artist, develop his writing style and make his moniker. Born Ashton James, the singer swapped his first name for Parson, which is also known as a parish priest. He rounded out the imagery by adding his signature hat and single dangling earring. Everything from his style to his artwork comes together to represent James as an artist. Though he doesn’t necessarily agree or connect with his upbringing, it helped him begin his career and it has continued to inspire him. Viewing himself as a very biographical and conversational writer, James writes his songs as if he’s outside of himself telling his own story. He focuses on honesty and hopes to make music people can relate to. “I find that I use my lyrics to just be as honest as possible,” James said. Taking inspiration from lyri-
page 5 cal greats like Amy Winehouse and Adele, whose timelessness, storytelling and vulnerability he admires, James himself is a pro at writing meaningful lyrics to go along with his catchy songs. Speaking of catchy songs, no song is as ridiculously catchy as his new song “High Tide, Low Tide,” a quarantine baby that blessed the world in September. Feeling uninspired at the beginning of quarantine, James met someone who he suddenly found himself writing many songs about. One of those songs was “High Tide, Low Tide,” which not only represents the ups and downs of the relationship, but the tides at the beach, where they would go often to spend time together. The opening lyric, “my empathy is killing me,” starts the song off strong and is about how hard it was for the person he was with to be emotionally available. As his feelings intensified, James got caught in the tide of this relationship. “A big central theme of my upcoming work is how much I do for others or care for others before doing for myself,” James said. As a lyric person, I appreciate his attention to detail and raw heartfelt lyrics. James uses his experiences to write songs that reflect on his life so he can learn where to improve. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to his music, you’ll be sure to get caught up in James and his magical melodies.
Parson James brings good vibes back with “High Tide, Low Tide” TRAVEL
Catching flights, not COVID-19: Flying during a pandemic As the world moves forward during this pandemic, more people have begun to book flights. However, flying is not for everyone these days. If you have health issues or feel that you are more at risk to get the virus, please continue to refrain from flying. If you are equipped to fly and plan on doing so in the near future, please be sure to take extra safety precautions. Now that we have gone over who should board, I will continue to explain what airlines, based on my experience, seem to be putting safety first. As October approached, I had two flights scheduled, despite the pandemic. My first flight was to Dallas Love Field Airport, and I flew out of the new Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. MSY airport is new, shiny and very clean, but a lot of the restaurants within the airport were closed. Other than flyers wearing face masks and spaces
between seats at the terminal, my experience was “normal.” Dallas Love Field Airport was also clean and, just like MSY, had many safety additions to the building, such as instructions on how far to stand or sit from one another and a face mask requirement. I flew Southwest Airlines to Dallas and my experience was splendid. Southwest, at the time, was keeping middle seats open and not fully filling the plane to encourage safety on flights. Snacks and beverages were still provided, and the bathrooms remained open. Although they did not do a temperature check during the boarding process, I still felt better due to the cleanliness of the inside of the plane itself. Later in October, I flew to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The Atlanta airport was very crowded and a tad musky. Safety measures such as social distancing did not seemed to be enforced. I flew Spirit Airlines for this trip. Yes, we all know Spirit loves to have cheap rates, and as
an end result, your experience is never quite great. When I fly Spirit, I know my mindset is more “you’ll get there in one piece, but you won’t enjoy it,” and sadly that statement remains the same. The flight was completely full. I expected a temperature check since we were sitting so close to one another but nope. One passenger refused to wear their mask, so it delayed our flight and also put people at risk. The plane itself didn’t seem that clean. There was an empty bottle on the floor, and it scared me that they didn’t wipe down the seats in every row. The ride itself was not horrible, but sitting shoulder-toshoulder during times like these made me super uncomfortable. However, what I did see while waiting for my flight was Frontier Airlines checking people’s temperature during the boarding process.
This made me happy to know other airlines are taking more precautions. My experience flying during a pandemic was quite new but at the same time felt normal. Wearing a mask and trying to remain socially distant is just part of life now. Flying
right now should definitely not be on the top of your to-do list, but sometimes, it is inevitable. When you do fly, be sure to always bring a couple of masks, hand sanitizer and wipes if you feel the need to. Getting tested before and after your flight is also another way to keep you and everyone around you safe.
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BY CAROLINE HEBERT @sister_carols
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Timeline of hazing incidents that led to the nationwide exposure of hazing culture BY BRITTNEY FORBES @itsbritforbes
The culture of hazing has not disappeared on campuses throughout the country. Students and communities are calling for action against hazing, including on LSU’s campus. Hazing prevention at the University is not limited to Greek Life anymore; all clubs, associations, service groups, athletic groups, spirit groups and all other student organizations on college campuses will have to abide by anti-hazing mandates. All students are required to report any and all instances of hazing and must take an anti-hazing education course. If any student is caught hazing, they will be subjected to expulsion or suspension. Max Gruver, a freshman Phi Delta Theta pledge, died in September 2017, just three years ago after attending one of the fraternity’s “Bible Studies.” LSUPD investigations confirmed that “Bible Study” was a hazing ritual where new members were forced to take “pulls” of 190-proof liqour after incorrectly answering questions about the fraternity’s history. Gruver, a targeted pledge, died the next morning with a 0.495 blood alcohol level, which is four times over the legal limit. Since then, LSU and schools across the country have had to implement changes and face public backlash for their responses to hazing incidents.
Monday, November 9, 2020
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February 2017 Sophomore Jim Piazza, a Beta Theta Pi pledge, died during a hazing ritual at Pennsylvania State University.
October 2017 After Max Gruver’s death in September 2017, four former students (Ryan Isto, Sean-Paul Gott, Patrick Forde and Matthew Naquin) were arrested for hazing charges for Gruver’s death.
May 2018 Gov. John Bel Edwards signed the “Max Gruver Act,” an anti-hazing law stating that deaths linked to hazing will be considered a felony in Louisiana. Hazings that don’t end in death will result in six months in confinement and fines costing up to $1,000. If the hazing results in injury, individuals are subject to a $2,500 fine, five years in confinement or both.
October 2019 Antonio Tsialas went to a “dirty rush” event on Oct. 24, hosted by Phi Kappa Psi at Cornell University, and went missing shortly after. By Oct. 26, his body was found at the Fall Creek gorge.
December 2019 Forde faced up to 30 days in jail for his role in Gruver’s death, the maximum penalty allowed under Louisiana law. He testified at Naquin’s negligent homicide trial and told the court he saw Naquin hand Gruver a bottle of 190-proof liquor, telling him to chug from it. Phi Delta Theta is banned from LSU until 2033.
January 2020 Naquin was sentenced with negligent homicide and hazing with five years in prison and must also complete 1,000 hours of community service. Once released, he must also face three years of probation and pay a $1,000 fine.
Sept. 13, 2020 LSU received notice that a student was hazed at an off-campus Phi Kappa Psi event. The student said he was forced to complete “strenuous workouts with no air conditioning,” at an event known as a “pizza party.” Per the report, he was hit in the head by a baseball bat.
The Reveille Archives
Police investigate the death of an LSU student on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2017, at the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house.
Oct. 19, 2020 LSUPD received word of criminal hazing conducted by Phi Kappa Psi at an off-campus location. Unlike in the Gruver case, a Jesuit graduate was brought to BR General Medical Center for severe alcohol poisoning. He is now discharged.
Oct. 20, 2020 LSU placed Phi Kappa Psi under an Interim Suspension of Activities.
Nov. 2, 2020 COURTESY PKP FACEBOOK
Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house sits October 2019 at 3970 West Lakeshore in Baton Rouge, La.
Terry Pat Reynolds III, a student and member of Phi Kappa Psi who was involved in the hospitalization of the freshman member, was arrested by LSUPD on the charges of felony and misdemeanor criminal hazing and failure to seek assistance.
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THE Daily Commuter Puzzle ACROSS 1 Narrow cut in a skirt 5 Donation for the poor 9 Clumsy oaf 13 Forrest Gump’s portrayer 15 __ ripper; tailor’s tool 16 Bee colony 17 Bar of gold 18 Cops 20 “One __ customer”; sale table sign 21 Certain vote 23 Bleak 24 Singer/pianist John 26 Argon or neon 27 The Curies’ discovery 29 Trickery 32 Wife on “The Honeymooners” 33 Imbibe 35 __ Zeppelin; English rock band 37 Mirth 38 Looks for 39 __ hooky; skip school 40 Cursing or coveting 41 Irritate 42 Throw water on 43 Engraver 45 Ill-fated 46 Trash can cover 47 Native New Zealander 48 Horrify 51 Abnormal 52 Scolding spouse 55 Wound coverings 58 Proverb 60 Female animals 61 Part of the neck 62 Went out with 63 Light on one’s feet 64 Hair color 65 Pharmacy orders DOWN 1 Send a parcel 2 Clark Kent’s Lois
by Jacqueline E. Mathews
11/9/20
Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews
3 Recipe item 4 Bout stopper, for short 5 Quaking tree 6 Tolstoy or Durocher 7 Prefix for function or practice 8 Tiny bits 9 Pizza topper 10 __ beans 11 Put one __ on; dupe 12 Declare untrue 14 Art gallery piece 19 Hairline fracture 22 __ Kippur 25 Scalp problem 27 Car wash supply 28 TV’s “Kate & __” 29 Water barrier 30 Brighten 31 Josh with 33 Forest animal 34 Gun the engine 36 Prepared Easter eggs 38 Very young tree 39 Needy
Saturday’s Puzzle Solved
©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.
41 Donahue & Mickelson 42 Thingamajig 44 Elegant 45 Family man 47 Walk leisurely 48 __ up; tallies 49 Stage object 50 Look searchingly
11/9/20
53 Elderly 54 High school diploma equivalents 56 VP Rockefeller’s initials 57 Student’s avg. 59 Grand Coulee, for one
SPORTS Georgia (12) 4-2
Florida Arkansas (6) 3-3 4-1
28-44
vs
page 9
24-13
Mississippi Tennessee State 2-4 2-4
24-17
Texas A&M Vanderbilt (5) 0-5 5-1
48-3
Next week for LSU
@ 6 p.m.
home vs (1) Alabama
MISSING MYLES
Quarterback Myles Brennan remains questionable for Alabama game BY HARRISON VALENTINE @HValentineLSU Ed Orgeron listed starting quarterback Myles Brennan as “very doubtful” to play against Alabama on his weekly radio show on Wednesday night. Brennan practiced for the first time in full pads on Wednesday after suffering an abdominal injury against Missouri on Oct. 10, but Orgeron said Brennan was still hurting. “He tried to practice today,” Orgeron said. “He practiced a little bit. It wasn’t very good. It was hurting. So we’re going to see again tomorrow and see how much he can practice next week. Right now, I’d have to say he’s very doubtful the way it is.” With Clemson falling to Notre Dame in overtime on Saturday, Alabama will come to Baton Rouge as the new No. 1 team in the nation in the latest AP Top 25 rankings. The Tigers may have to depend upon a pair of freshmen in TJ Finley and Max Johnson to fill the void once again.
After an impressive debut against South Carolina on Oct. 24, Finley struggled on the Plains at Auburn last weekend, going 13-for-24, for 143 yards and two interceptions. Johnson saw some reps toward the end, going 15for-24 passing for 172 yards and a touchdown. “We’re going to have a competition between Max and TJ just like we had (last week), and let’s see who does the best job,” Orgeron added on Wednesday night. “And whoever does the best job, we’re going to start him.” In the three starts he’s made this season, Brennan’s thrown for 1,112 yards and three touchdown passes. Even with a 1-2 record, he proved to be one of the SEC’s top quarterbacks through that span. In fact, Pro Football Focus graded him the second-highest graded quarterback in the conference behind Alabama’s Mac Jones. His status or potential return from the injury both remain unclear at this time. The fear for
see BRENNAN, page 10
South Carolina 2-4
FOOTBALL
Hold that Tiger: Orgeron picks up new recruit BY REED DARCEY @byreeddarcey
ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille
LSU football junior quarterback Myles Brennan (15) prepares to throw the ball Sept. 26, during LSU’s 44-34 loss against Mississippi State game in Tiger Stadium.
It has been an uncharacteristic year for the Tigers on Saturdays, but one thing that has remained the same was their success on the recruiting trail. Despite having a bye this past weekend, LSU was still able to make some noise on the recruiting trail. When asked about his recruiting plans, Ed Orgeron said his team needs to shore up the safety position. “There is a deficit. I think we need to recruit more safeties in our program,” he said. “I’m gonna solve that problem by getting more junior college transfers or in recruiting.” Consider that problem solved. About a week after those re-
see DAVIS, page 10
WOMEN’S GOLF
LSU finishes tenth, Lindblad ties for seventh at Liz Murphey BY JOE KEHRLI @joekehrli9 LSU women’s golf traveled to Athens, Georgia, for the final SEC tournament of the fall, the Liz Murphy Collegiate. The women’s team did not fare as well as it had hoped. Following a battle-tested second round score of 7-over 295, the team fell to seventh place. On Sunday, the Tigers failed to move on the leaderboard in the right direction. They dropped three spots and finished tenth. Entering the tournament, the women’s team was ranked No. 1 by Golfweek, and Head Coach Garret Runion told The Advocate that they must still perform well despite the ranking. “I never talk about rankings that much,” Runion said. “I want us to focus on what we can control. If we put in the work, the rankings will follow. That’s what I said three years ago when we were ranked 65th or 70th, and
that’s what I say now. But it’s a nice validation that we are on the right path in the things we’re doing. It is a nice feather in the cap.” The only thing the Tigers had the ability to control was their performance at the Liz Murphy Fall Collegiate. Round three, which took place on Sunday, did not go well with no Tiger posting a sub-par final score. Sophomore Ingrid Lindblad was able to collect a little mojo, carding 14 pars on her third round. Lindblad led the team with a score of even-par 216. This score fueled her, as it was her third consecutive top10 for lowest individual score. Among the SEC field, Lindblad finished tied for seventh and continues to bolster her claim for the ANNIKA Award this spring. Another ANNIKA Award candidate, sophomore Latanna Stone, padded her resume in
see LINDBLAD, page 10
COURTESY OF LSU ATHLETICS
LSU golf sophomore Ingrid Lindblad slaps a shot from the fairway at the Liz Murphey Collegiate in Athens, Ga., on Nov. 7.
page 10
Monday, November 9, 2020
OPINION
Column: Fans, don’t expect normalcy to return to sports soon MICHAEL SANCHEZ @MikeSanchez525 The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world in numerous ways. Everyone has to wear a mask in public, large gatherings can no longer occur and sporting events have little to no fans this year. For sports, expect the changes due to the pandemic to stay in place for the foreseeable future. The sports world has seen some innovative ways to combat the virus while providing the nation with the sporting events they love. The NBA saw the most suc-
BRENNAN, from page 9 many is that the injury could continue to linger throughout the season. The Crimson Tide opened as a 22-point favorite over LSU on Sunday, a line that is expected to rise over the coming days. Ala-
cess with their bubble. During the stint in the bubble, zero players were infected by the virus and the league was able to complete a successful season, crowning the Los Angeles Lakers champions. Unfortunately for the NFL, its organizations are too large to enclose in a bubble. The NFL has had to cancel and reschedule multiple games through the first eight weeks of this season due to coronavirus outbreaks. Luckily for the league, with proper rescheduling, there has not been any drastic changes to the schedule. As far as fans go, teams are slowly allowing them back into the stadium to enact home-field advantage. Even though this is a step in the right direction, do not
expect things to go back to normal anytime soon. Once there is a vaccine in place, players will be properly protected from the virus. For fans, they will most likely not be required to have a vaccine shot to enter a game. For this reason, organizations will still have to regulate how many fans are allowed to be in a stadium at once. In a perfect world, one would hope that 2021 brings everything back to normal. Reality check: this pandemic is one of the worst things this country has had to face in a very long time. Be patient and understand that with the proper precautions things will get back to normal, but do not expect normalcy within the next year or two.
bama is coming off a 41-0 beatdown of Mississippi State, a team LSU lost to in its season opener. “We’ve got the University of Alabama coming up, our biggest rivalry. That’s enough right there. It’s very challenging right now but we’ve gotta fix us, there’s a lot of mistakes,” Orgeron said. “There’s
a lot of new players but we’ve gotta learn that in the SEC you must come ready to play every game. You’ve gotta go through some hard knocks to build that character, that grit that you’re gonna need several seasons from now when these young players are gonna learn how to win.”
ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille
LSU football junior quarterback Myles Brennan (15) prepares to throw the ball Sept. 26, during LSU’s 44-34 loss against Mississippi State in Tiger Stadium.
DAVIS, from page 9 marks, LSU landed verbal commitments from the top-two safeties in the 2021 class. Derrick Davis Jr., the No. 2 ranked safety in the 2021 class, committed to LSU on Saturday, 247Sports reported. On Saturday, Oct. 31, a week before Davis announced his decision, LSU picked up a commitment from Sage Ryan, 2021’s top-ranked safety. Davis is from Monroeville, Pennsylvania. Over the course of his recruitment, many expected him to stay close to home. Instead, he chose a move down to Baton Rouge instead of a short trip to Ohio State or Penn State. 247Sports ranks him No. 53 overall in his class. “I feel like that is the perfect place for me,” Davis told 247Sports. “It reminded me of home. The staff really showed a lot of love toward me and my family. They see me
doing a lot of big things for their team, for their program.” Davis’ commitment is another feather in the cap of Bill Busch, LSU’s safeties coach. Davis told 247 his relationship with Busch and his comfort in Baton Rouge pushed him to LSU. “He’s just a real great guy,” Davis said of Busch. “I just love the way he does things. His communication was great with me. That, and he is a cool guy. He is always calling just to check up on me. He was always calling my dad, always trying to call my mom just to see how she was doing. It doesn’t even have to be about football.” Davis said his recent visit to campus was a crucial factor in his decision. “I definitely was surprised,” he told 247, “mainly with how diverse it was down there. That is what surprised me the most. The people down there are so nice, and
they are all about LSU and Baton Rouge. It just felt like home.” Davis’ pledge, on Saturday boosted the Tigers already highly touted top-5 recruiting class, according to 247Sports. After many years of LSU focusing its eyes on in-state recruits, the recent expansion shows for itself. Orgeron and company now hold verbal commits from 10 different states, focusing on getting top talent on all areas of the field. LSU now has three scholarships left to award to the 2021 class. Reportedly, the Tigers are firmly in the mix for Maason Smith, five-star defensive tackle from Terrebonne, and Brian Thomas, four-star receiver from Walker. Korey Foreman, five-star edge rusher from California, and Tristan Leigh, five-star tackle from Virginia, are two out-of-state prospects who reportedly have an eye on Baton Rouge.
ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille
Physical distance stickers and zipties sit on stadium seats Sept. 26, before LSU’s 44-34 loss against Mississippi State in Tiger Stadium.
LINDBLAD, from page 9 Georgia. Stone tied for 26th with a score of 7-over 223, the second lowest team score. Following Stone, freshman Carla Tejeda Mulet signed a 8-over 224 scorecard, tying her for 33rd. Senior Kendall Griffin throughout the whole tournament failed to gain momentum to produce a low score, as she had difficulty playing the front nine on all three days. Griffin’s average score on the front nine for the tournament was 3.33over. Griffin finished 10-over and tied for 42nd. Junior and transfer student Jessica Bailey posted a score of 11-over, tying her for 45th place. Bailey carded one of the only three eagles for the field during the tournament. Regardless of the rankings following the performance in Georgia, the LSU women’s team will always remember its efforts and performances it took to achieve the No. 1 spot. “I told them no matter how old they are or where they are,” Runion told The Advocate, “they can always say they played on the No. 1 team in the country.” The women’s squad had to overcome a rush of emotions
that was abruptly cut short this past spring, as it was lightning hot and projected to be a major contender. Golf’s spring season, along with all other spring sports, was canceled due to the pandemic, and its effects have rippled into the fall season. The fall season was condensed and enumerated with several new protocols that must be adhered to for play to continue. The pandemic will continue to present a challenge for collegiate golf into the spring season, when Runion and the Tigers hope to return to the top of the golf world again. “If we stay healthy and do what we’re doing we have a good opportunity to give ourselves a chance for sure,” Runion said. “The talent and work ethic is there. A lot of things have to line up, but that’s certainly our goal.” The women’s team is currently scheduled to host a NCAA Regional on May 10-12 at the University Club, where the Tigers will look to claim what was stripped of them last year. “The girls are definitely motivated and excited,” Runion told The Advocate, “But we also know we would rather be No. 1 at the end of May.”
ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille
An LSU football player practices Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020 on the field before LSU’s 44-34 loss against Mississippi State in Tiger Stadium.
OPINION
page 11
All Souls’ Day deserves a cultural renaissance in America EVAN ON EARTH EVAN LEONHARD
@evan_leonhard
Last weekend, my family and I made our annual All Souls’ Day pilgrimage to family tombs across New Orleans. We brought flowers, paid our condolences and talked through a brief survey of family history. As I grow older, I am becoming increasingly aware of just how profound and psychologically necessary it is to maintain a tradition like this. Celebrated every year on Nov. 2, All Souls Day has been a staple of traditional Christian cultures for centuries. It is simply a day set aside for acknowledging our spiritual and historical continuity with the dead. Americans are probably most familiar with the holiday through its Mexican manifestation known as El Día de Los Muertos or “The Day of the Dead.” Recently,
children’s films like “Coco” and “The Book of Life” seem to have brought the holiday to the forefront of public consciousness. In New Orleans, where my family still clings to the tradition, All Souls Day has not enjoyed the same vibrant legacy. The holiday has lost its cultural footing. This is not unique to our local culture. I’m under the impression that New Orleans is a stronghold for what is left of this quickly dilapidating tradition. I am sure all would agree that the loss of such an ancient and beautiful tradition is a shame, but will it have actual significant repercussions? What happens to a culture when it does away with its conventions for acknowledging and processing death? I have been thinking a lot recently about how the tragedy and loss that has come to define this year has forced our culture to grapple with aspects of the human condition that it would oth-
erwise push to the side. Modern American life is a generally privileged one. The wonders of contemporary science and technology have, for better or worse, kept the worst parts of human life out of sight, and ultimately out of mind. Illness, aging and suffering, as if a mess to be mopped up, has in large been shoved to the periphery of society. These inescapable specters of humanity lurk behind closed doors and thick walls. They have been exiled to hospitals, nursing homes and prisons; places where death can be compartmentalized and contextualized without being dealt with directly. This all seemed to change when 2020 let loose a frenzy of natural disasters and civil unrest. Suddenly, the worst aspects of human life and nature were no longer locked away. They were at our doorstep. This year has proven why traditions like All Souls Day are so vital.
CARTOON BY BRANDON SHEPHERD
Growing up visiting family tombs every year, I was forced to confront my mortality in a very unique and visceral way. There is something indescribably spinetingling about visiting the place your own body might be buried someday. It sounds morbid, but in many ways, that’s exactly the point. You honor the lives of those
who came before you — and realize, quite soberingly, that someone will one day see you in the same light. In that moment, you have no choice but to put everything into perspective. The blunt reality of it is arresting. Evan Leonhard is a 20-year-old English and philosophy junior from New Orleans.
Learn to cook on campus for nutritional, mental health SAUCE BOSS CÉCILE CÉCILE GIRARD @_cegi_ As campus prepares to close for Thanksgiving in two weeks, students must decide soon whether they want to stay on campus or go home. If you haven’t decided yet, here’s something that might make your decision for you: all dining
halls and most fast-food restaurants on campus will be closed starting Nov. 25. Chances are, if you live on campus, you have a meal plan. All of your meals are a short walk away, and budgeting food is as easy as checking how many swipes you have left on your Tiger Card. Once Thanksgiving break begins, however, this simple lifestyle will be no more. For perhaps the first time in
CARTOON BY BRANDON SHEPHERD
many freshmen’s lives, they will have to cook entirely for themselves — and when you live in a traditional residence hall, this can be an entire production. Residence halls are no longer renting out cooking equipment due to COVID-19, so first and foremost, you’ll have to make sure you have everything you need. Then to cook, provided it isn’t too busy, you should plan on hauling all cooking equipment and ingredients to the communal kitchen, cooking, cleaning and returning everything — plus your dinner — back to your room. For the many on-campus residents without a car, grocery shopping — be it for lunch meat or lobster — will be complicated. The grocery stores closest to campus are the infamously expensive Matherne’s Market at Nicholson Gateway and the CVS on Highland, which is only a valid option if you feel you can survive on beer and granola bars. Despite these hurdles, if you remain undaunted by the prospect of learning to feed yourself, congratulations! Prepare to become a better person, because cooking a good homemade meal has nutritional, psychological and social benefits.
In one correlational study of over 11,000 people, “eating home cooked meals more frequently was associated with better dietary quality and lower adiposity [obesity].” People who cooked more than five times a week ate significantly more fruits and vegetables — and significantly less fat and sugar — than those who cooked less than three times a week. Granted, it’s impossible to know from this data whether home cooked meals are actually healthier, or if people who like to cook also just like to eat healthy. What’s the harm in cooking for yourself, though, and seeing what happens? Although cooking can be a chore, it serves as a creative outlet, a mindful exercise, or a way of reconnecting with your heritage through family recipes. Plus, it focuses your attention span and can help reduce anxiety (provided nothing catches fire). After hours of staring at Word documents and Zoom squares, imagine the relief of connecting with your food. Unlike Moodle assignments and discussion posts, a meal has full sensory proportions — you can smell and touch and taste it. It’s a fruit of your labor that serves an imme-
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Editor in Chief Managing Editor News Editor Deputy News Editor Opinion Editor
The Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, The Reveille or the university. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to opinion@lsureveille.com or delivered to B-39 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must provide a contact phone number for verification purposes, which will not be printed. The Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Reveille’s editor in chief, hired every semester by the LSU Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.
diate purpose, and an important one at that: feeding you! In a non-COVID-19 era, cooking dovetails nicely with being around friends, chatting and having a good time as something simmers on the stove nearby. Such scenes are rarer these days, but by honing your cooking chops you can be prepared for the dinner parties of days to come. Besides, wooing potential partners is infinitely easier when you know how to cook. That’s not to say you should date someone just because they make the best pasta carbonara you’ve ever eaten, but — well — the pasta definitely helps. If you’re willing to invest the time, energy and money into cooking for yourself — or just unwilling to go home to your family just yet — then you should give it a try this year. Cooking could make you healthier, happier, more popular with your friends and potentially more attractive. If all else fails, at least you will have learned how to chop an onion. Of course, if you have $6.98 laying around, why not just splurge on a Cane’s box combo? Cécile Girard is a 20-year-old psychology junior from Lake Charles.
Quote of the Week “My heart seems to heal, so that speaks well for my future.”
Alex Trebek Jeopardy Host 1940 — 2020
page 12
Monday, November 9, 2020
The US government needs to do more to help #EndSARS GOING SOUTH TAMIA SOUTHALL
@tamiabrem_
As protests against police brutality were sparked across the world in light of George Floyd’s death, the citizens of Nigeria have been protesting against their own corrupt law enforcement division, an anti-theft branch known as the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The SARS unit has a long history of complaints regarding corruption, particularly when it comes to the extortion and abuse of Nigerian citizens, yet little has been done to protect those in Nigeria from the group’s brutality. Violent crime plagued Nigeria after the country won its independence from Britain in 1960. In 1992, SARS was implemented as a response to this criminal activity. Since then, SARS officers have attacked, tortured, kidnapped, raped and extorted many Nigerian citizens without facing consequences. “Young people — particularly men with nice clothes, watches or dreadlocks — were accused of being “Yahoo boys” (a lo-
cal term for internet scammers), shaken down, detained and tortured,” Amnesty International Nigeria Program Manager Seun Bakare told Time Magazine in October. This year, Nigerians have taken to the streets and social media to finally let the world know what is going on in their country. Still, there has been little media coverage in the U.S. of the extent of SARS’ brutality. President Trump did not hesitate to tweet about the parade held for him in Nigeria yet still has not acknowledged the exhausting fight for justice also going on there. The U.S. government needs to intervene and help put an end to this organization’s inhumane rule, and American citizens need to understand that just because it is not happening on our land or directly to us does not mean it isn’t affecting us. We need to educate ourselves on what is going on outside of American borders. Even though Nigeria is on a different continent, social unrest in the country often results in economic changes that also impact America. This is especially serious considering that Nigeria’s economy is the largest and
most influential in Africa. As a major exporter of crude oil — with Americans investing millions in the country’s petroleum industry — Nigeria is also one of our largest trading partners in Africa. The American government created the UN after World War II in order to maintain peace between countries and promote human rights. Under the Trump administration, the U.S. has withdrawn from the United Nations’ Human Rights Council and stopped providing funds to the organization as a whole. Our federal government needs to step in and help the Nigerian people combat these human rights abuses. Downplaying what is happening there solely because it is not happening on American soil is ignorant. People are being killed in the streets of Nigeria— we cannot ignore their cries for help any longer. President Trump has ignored the severe human rights abuses happening in Nigeria, but I can log onto Twitter right now and see videos of peaceful protests followed by pictures of those same protestors’ lying dead in the dirt.
CARTOON BY BRANDON SHEPHERD
We need to do something. America needs to do something. The UN needs to do something. People are dying — children are dying — and we cannot watch and wait around for Nigeria
to collapse at the hands of corruption. Tamia Southall is a 19-year-old mass communication major from New Orleans.
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