Dumpsters around campus look different this semester. Why?
LSU women’s basketball bounces back with win over Texas A&M.
LOUISIANA
SNOW UNIVERSITY
LSU students sled, throw snowballs and enjoy an 8-inch snowfall.
WINTER WONDERLAND
LSU students enjoy Baton Rouge’s second-largest snowfall
BY COURTNEY BELL Deputy News Editor
As around 8 inches of snow fell on LSU’s campus, students bundled up to enjoy the secondlargest snowfall in Baton Rouge history, according to the National Weather Service.
Though some students still had virtual class or assigned work to complete, many took to the Parade Ground to have snowball fights, build snowmen, make snow angels and enjoy a snow-covered campus. Others walked to the levee to sled using laundry baskets, cardboard boxes, plastic container lids and even an inflatable boat to coast down the embankment.
Dylan Viguerie, an architecture freshman, was making a block of snow on the Parade Ground. A Baton Rouge native, he said he was surprised it snowed so much. Though he has skied before, he hadn’t had much experience with snow and was excited about the wintery weather.
“I mean, I like the cold,” he said, “and you get off school.”
The last time Baton Rouge saw snow was 2017, when it snowed half an inch. Last week’s storm was eclipsed in size only by a blizzard in 1895, that left 12.5 inches of snow blanketing the city. Though northern parts of the state can expect around one to three snowfalls per year according to the U.S. Army, it’s rare snow falls in Southern Louisiana.
Another group of students came to the Parade Ground for a snowball fight. While waiting for their friends, they began to build a snowman. One student, communication studies freshman Hannah Kogul, said she was shocked to get a day off school in Louisiana for snow.
“I’m from Maryland, so I’m
used to the snow,” Kogul said, “but I never thought we’d get snow here.”
Kogul explained how nice it was to see so many students out in the snow and was happy to spend some time with friends.
“It just seemed so wholesome to build a little snowman and see everyone out. You see people you’re not seeing out usually,” Kogul explained. “It’s just really wholesome and fun.”
Sophomore Lucy Fisher, a sports administration major, was also working on the snowman. Having some experience with snow, she said she was skeptical of the weather reports this week.
“When I chose to go to LSU – I’m from Tennessee – I would
have never thought we were going to get this much snow,” Fisher said. “When they said there’s going to be six inches of snow, I said, ‘No way.’ I did not believe it.”
Kogul was also in disbelief, saying she thought the predictions were a “hoax.” Both students were unsure if campus would reopen Thursday at the time.
“It depends on how fast it melts,” Fisher said. “You know, we’re not used to the snow here. Nobody has plows or anything, so it’s like everything just shuts down.”
Alex Neswold, a freshman majoring in political science, also thought campus would remain closed Thursday. Being
from Chicago, Neswold is used to snowy weather and worries it will be too icy for students and staff to drive to campus.
“It’s all going to freeze over [Wednesday], and there’s no way that it’ll be safe to drive on Thursday,” Neswold said, “and there’s so many off-campus commuters.”
Ultimately, LSU did close campus Thursday. Classes resumed in person Friday.
Neswold said it was fun to see people from Louisiana trying to navigate the snow, which she saw as she drove around Baton Rouge Tuesday morning.
“I think it’s so fun because everyone is acting like kids again,” Neswold said. “I love it. I love seeing it.”
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PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille
Mike the Tiger enjoys the snow on Jan. 21 on LSU campus in Baton Rouge, La.
PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille Snow sits on a tree on Jan. 21 on LSU campus in Baton Rouge, La.
PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille
An LSU student throws a football in the snow in the Laville courtyard on Jan. 21 on LSU campus in Baton Rouge, La.
CHANGING HANDS
LSU College of Art and Design welcomes new dean from Purdue University
BY SHELBY VARGA Staff Writer
Arne Flaten, a well-traveled professor and distinguished scholar, is making Baton Rouge his new home as the College of Art and Design’s new dean.
Last week, LSU’s Executive Vice President and Provost Roy Haggerty thanked current Interim Dean Rod Parker and announced that beginning July 1, Arne Flaten of Purdue University will take over as dean.
Flaten’s father was a diplomat, so he grew up traveling the world. At an international school in Kigali, Rwanda, where his father was the U.S. ambassador, Flaten and his wife spent a year teaching. Flaten believes his life experiences have given him a unique outlook on the world, filled with empathy, creativity, patience and equity.
Flaten earned two bachelor’s degrees in studio art and English literature from St. Olaf College in Minnesota and obtained his master’s and doctoral degrees
Why did the dumpsters change?
BY ALAYNA FORD Staff Writer
LSU implemented a new garbage and recycling system over the winter holiday, affecting over 300 garbage and recycling units across campus except in four residential areas: Nicholson Gateway, Azalea Hall, Cedar Hall and Camellia Hall.
The change stems from the university’s new contract with garbage collection company Waste Pro, which has allowed LSU Facility Services to implement some new ideas.
The contract is set to be for three years, with the choice of another five after a renewal.
“You see the change in the color of the dumpsters,” said Tammy Millican, the LSU Campus Sustainability executive director of facility and property oversight. “And that was an effort to have them blend into the campus landscape better.”
The shapes of the dump -
in Italian renaissance art history from Indiana University Bloomington.
From here, Flaten worked as a visiting assistant professor at Virginia Tech. He held jobs as an assistant professor, associate professor and chair of the department of visual arts and art history at Coastal Carolina University, eventually becoming the associate dean of the university’s humanities and fine arts college. He has also been the director of the School of Art at Ball State University.
Flaten is a fully tenured professor and has been the head of the Rueff School of Design, Art and Performance at Purdue University since 2019.At his previous universities, Flaten brought in over $60 million in donations as well as expanded facilities and established entire new degree plans and study abroad programs. He is also an elected member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and holds membership with organizations like the National Coun-
ENVIRONMENT
cil of Arts Administrators, the Renaissance Society of America and the Phi Beta Kappa Society.
Flaten said it was Interim Dean Parker who encouraged him to pursue the job, leading him to visit campus where he was able to meet the students, faculty and administration. He said that everybody at LSU was so warm and welcoming, and he could really tell how people were committed to moving forward toward great things.
“The College of Art and Design has the potential to do really cool stuff,” Flaten said. “The more I spoke to people the more I realized this is a great opportunity to get involved with great faculty and do some really cool things together.”
At Purdue, Flaten oversaw all the degrees for art and design as well as music, theatre and dance. At LSU, he says he will be able to focus on the areas closer to his heart and skill set, prioritizing working with donors, trying to increase the gifts he can bring in to support the arts and ulti-
mately, supporting students and faculty beyond just the budget. LSU has expressed interest in joining the American Association of Universities, a group of
69 public and private universities that are considered the finest in research and education in
LSU researchers pioneer more efficient plastic recycling method
BY SHELBY VARGA Staff Writer
LSU researchers are challenging conventional recycling by developing a new, more environmentally friendly method for breaking down plastic while potentially utilizing renewable energy.
In 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that only 8.6% of the 35.68 million tons of plastic made that year were recycled. Although this percentage has increased, the total number of recycled plastics in the U.S. continues to be less than 10% of what’s generated annually.
Some plastics, such as polyester, are easier to treat than others. Polyolefins, like polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene, are the hardest. Yet, they are often mixed together in bins, making recycling these already difficult polymers even harder.
Shadows fall on Patrick F. Taylor Hall on April 16 in Baton Rouge, La.
Five years ago, Kerry Dooley, a chemical engineering professor, Dorin Boldor, a biological engineering professor, and James Dorman, a former LSU chemical engineering professor, joined together to research new recycling methods to handle all polyolefins.
“Lots of companies are trying to do polymer recycling in the United States,” Dooley said. “To my knowledge, nobody has tried to do it this way.”
Most companies use pyrolysis, a technique that melts polymers at a very high temperature and burns natural gas. This process is energy intensive and produces greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.
Dooley, Dorman and Boldor began working on a “chemical recycling” method. Dooley said
they wanted to know how to do it successfully and have it be relevant to future renewable electricity. The team found that radio frequency induction heating, combined with catalysts and magnetic materials, can melt polymers at a much lower temperature than pyrolysis, using less energy and causing fewer harmful environmental effects.
Dooley said this process is inherently adaptable to inter-
Roundup of construction projects since break
BY QUINN MARCEAUX Staff Writer
LSU completed a series of construction and maintenance projects over the winter break that focused on roadway improvements, parking lot upgrades and pedestrian safety enhancements.
One of the most significant of these efforts was the closure of Tower Drive, a key campus roadway, from Dec. 20 to Jan. 10 for general road improvements. Additionally, the inbound lane of South Stadium Drive from Nicholson Drive was closed on Jan. 7 to repave the crosswalk near Tiger Stadium. The lane reopened on Jan. 10, with the outbound lane remaining open throughout the project.
“This process is key for several reasons. It ensures the longevity and safety of the roadways and sidewalks,” said Yonas Yakob, director of the Office of Parking and Transportation Services.
Parking lot upgrades were an-
CAMPUS
CAMPUS
PHOTO COURTESY OF ARNE FLATEN
see
REAGAN COTTEN / The Reveille
LSU’s Textile & Costume Museum honors Louisiana fashion legend
BY SARAH WALTON Staff Writer
When one thinks about luxury fashion, Louisiana might not be the first place that comes to mind. An LSU museum is showcasing how a fashion designer from Louisiana became an American fashion legend.
The LSU Textile & Costume Museum is currently exhibiting fashion designer Geoffrey Beene’s award-winning work. As visitors shuffle through the museum, there are four decades of craftsmanship and art waiting to meet them. The walls of the museum display information about Beene with his sketches, designs and photos.
“Beene eschewed fashion as a trend and instead approached dressing as an artful expression and perhaps even a divine representation of female beauty,” the exhibit reads.
Hailing from Louisiana and trained in Paris, the exhibit shares Beene’s story.
“Mr. Beene was originally from Hainesville, Louisiana, which is a tiny, one stoplight town in the northern part of the state,” said Michael E. Mamp, the museum’s director and curator. “And he went on to be one of the most successful American fashion designers of all time.”
The exhibit touches on every aspect of Beene’s career, from his affinity for polka dots to his use of florals, lace, line and shape. In one part of the exhibit, Beene’s Southern heritage is spotlighted through the dresses and ensembles he designed.
All of the garments in the exhibit were donated to the LSU Textile & Costume Museum by Dr. Sylvia R. Karasu, a fan and long-time collector of Beene’s work. She donated 254 pieces with the hope that some of Beene’s work would be preserved in his home state.
Mamp discussed how museum visitors should look at Beene’s unique work, saying they “... have to look closely at the details because he was so focused on excellent craftsmanship, beautiful fabrications, finishing garments in a way that is really more akin to couture versus manufactured
RECYCLING, from page 3
mittent operations like renewable energy. Theoretically, this process could be used with renewable electricity, whereas other processes would continue to rely on conventional electricity.
A priority of the team is to make the system as robust as possible, scaling the process up.
Dooley said they will attempt to apply the method to mixed wastes rather than a single type of plastic at a time. They will also tinker with the exact catalysts used and how to feed the polymer, eventually refining the
ready to wear.”
“He wasn’t interested in necessarily being fashion forward,” Mamp said, “but just wanted to make beautiful, timeless clothes that people could wear over and over again.”
Mamp explained Beene’s legacy came from how well he constructed his clothes, saying the designer took “high end” approaches to fashion.
“Beautiful silk linings, attached petticoats underneath the skirt,” Mamp said. “Things that outwardly people wouldn’t see, but that make wearing the garment special for the person who puts it on.”
Mamp hopes students leave the museum understanding Beene’s dedication to creating fashion-
design enough that a company will license the patent.
However, Dooley said the project will die if it doesn’t obtain this license within the next four or five years, as another technology will soon supersede it.
This research is just one of five projects that Dooley is currently involved in, and Doorman has since left the university and is now a program manager with the U.S. Department of Energy. However, the team shows no signs slowing down, as they just finished writing another grant proposal.
“Hopefully, people will rec-
DEAN, from page 3
America. Joining the AAU is part of LSU President William F. Tate IV’s Scholarship First Agenda, the president’s plan for LSU to have the same nationwide prowess academically as it does in athletics.
Flaten, whose previous university was an AAU member, said having the arts be a fundamental part of moving the university into that membership is something he would love to be a part of.
“LSU is significantly more supportive of the arts as an environment, so that’s exciting for me to know that there’s that kind of support for the faculty, the students and the culture,” Flaten said.
CONSTRUCTION, from page 3
other major focus of the maintenance projects. Lot 402, near the Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, underwent significant improvements during its closure from Dec. 13 to Jan. 11. Lot 407, known as the Skip Bertman Gravel lots near Alex Box Stadium, saw phased closures for improvements, with one half closed from Dec. 9 to 11 and the other half closed from Dec. 11 to 13.
Additional maintenance included upgrades to Blake Hall’s lot 507,
DUMPSTERS
, from page 3
able pieces without compromising quality.
“Beene’s ability to be successful, his commitment and dedication to making beautiful clothes. He never really compromised his standards in that regard,” Mamp said. “It is a testament, I think, to students about what one can achieve if they want it badly enough, and if they work hard enough at it.”
“Coming Home: Geoffrey Beene” closed Jan. 24. The Textile & Costume Museum keeps hundreds of textile and fashion artifacts, preserving and creating space for centuries of human art and clothing. Their next exhibit, “Color Me Fashion,” will open on March 16. Admission to the museum is free.
ognize that we know what we are doing and we have some good ideas. Maybe it’s worth investing a little money in,” Dooley said.
Their impact on the subject can be seen in new literature by other experts. According to Dooly, practically everyone uses catalysts similar to LSU’s research and that their analytic work has also been copied.
“I am confident that eventually there is going to be a lot of chemical recycling of plastics in the United States,” Dooley said, “and I am confident that a lot of that chemical recycling will look something similar to this.”
In his first year in Baton Rouge, Flaten looks forward to listening a lot. He said he plans on spending the year getting to know the people, the culture, the traditions and the ethos of the university, as well as his college. From there, he will gauge what kind of growth opportunities there are, all while listening to the wants of the faculty, students and staff.
“I don’t come into a job like this thinking anyone there works for me,” Flaten said. “I work for the faculty, to help make them love their jobs even more and feel like I do: like you are one of the luckiest people that’s walked on this planet to be able to do stuff that you love so much.”
closed from Dec. 16 to 19, and lots 211, 219 and 105, near the West Campus Apartments and Natatorium, closed from Dec. 20 to Jan. 10. These efforts were part of an ongoing initiative to maintain and improve LSU’s parking infrastructure.
“While we know there are areas on campus that need attention, our focus will remain on addressing them based on priority, risk and the availability of funds,” said Broty Stelly, the communications specialist for Parking and Transportation Services.
sters and recycling bins have also been updated to include side door access versus opening from the top. The goal of these changes was to make them more accessible.
The cost of these changes came down to a bidding process, with the exact amount to be paid set to vary based on things such as collection frequency and services provided.
“It’s a lot of different prices, it’s not just one number,” said Lisa Mahoney, assistant director for Campus Sustainability.
“I haven’t heard recently that we can have a better price, like most things are inflation where increasing prices over services … Waste Pro has actually given us a cheaper price than what we were paying with the previous provider.”
Facility Services is planning to put labels on all the new bins soon to help distinguish the difference between the two. There will be front and side labels accompanied by QR codes for students that want more information about the bins.
It’s important to note that Facility Services didn’t receive a bid for recycling services over the break because of changes within the recycling system that resulted in a higher and more competitive price. However, this has motivated staff to rethink and enhance the program.
For instance, LSU has moved from a single-stream recycling system to a dual-stream, which means cardboard and paper will be collected separately as well as bottles and cans. Some dump -
sters will include cardboard slits on the side made specifically for this, as well as rolling carts stationed behind dumpsters for bottle disposal.
The trio recycling bins found around campus will also be reconfigured within the next couple weeks with the goal of consolidation.
“We think that this is going to be a really good thing for us because it’ll give us a lot more understanding of our waste stream,” Mahoney said. “It’ll allow us to communicate more effectively with the campus community on how to recycle properly.”
These recycling changes in addition to other efforts, including a reverse vending machine in the Student Union and recycling for glass, battery and toner cartridges, aims to increase community efforts to recycle.
“We are really thrilled to move into the system, and we know that there may be some changes, and change is hard but necessary, and it’s just a good opportunity to enhance the program,” Mahoney said.
CULTURE
ALEXIS PERSICKE / The Reveille Garbage bins sit outside Broussard Hall Jan. 14 in Baton Rouge, La.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LSU TEXTILE AND COSTUMING MUSEUM
PHOTO COURTESY OF LSU TEXTILE AND COSTUMING MUSEUM
ENTERTAINMENT
We read “Wicked” so you don’t have to. Here are the main differences from the movie
BY LEXIE WARE Staff Writer
Since its debut on the Broadway stage in 2003, the musical “Wicked” has had an enthusiastic following.
Fans of the musical were equally elated when the musical jumped to the big screen in November 2024. With a worldwide gross of nearly $700 million, “Wicked: Part One” has defied gravity in the box
office since its release. fans of the popular musical are in for a shock if they elect to read “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch” by Gregory Maguire.
Maguire wrote the novel in 1995 as a prequel to the original “Wizard of Oz” book. It tells the story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, before Dorothy came to Oz. Elphaba goes through many trials and meets many familiar faces, such as Glinda the Good.
The novel was later adapted to the Broadway stage in 2003 and became one of the most popular musicals of the 21st century, but how different could the book and musical possibly be from one another?
The “Wicked” musical adopts a mostly lighthearted tone, focusing largely on the growing friendship between the outcast Elphaba and the popular Galinda (and later their love triangle with Fiyero). The songs have uplifting messages of love, self-discovery and empowerment.
Readers of the novel will quickly discover that the musical massively watered down the original plot. Where the musical focuses on Elphaba and Galinda’s personal growth and redemption, the novel instead tackles Oz’s political corruption and Elphaba’s moral ambiguity.
Though the “Wicked” book and musical share a title and major characters, the contrast in tone between both are large. While all iterations of “Wicked” have strong themes of good versus evil,
the novel takes these themes one step further by discussing contro versial and graphic topics, from Doctor Dillamond being brutally murdered to Elphaba and Fiyero’s passionate affair.
Elphaba herself is not exactly ‘dancing through life’ in the novel; she leaves the familiar Shiz University to join a terrorist organization, goes on to have an illicit son with Fiyero and eventually join a convent. Her journey is arduous and ends in an agonizing death when Dorothy throws water on her.
Fans of the musical will also immediately notice key differences in characters when reading the novel. Several key characters, like Elphaba’s son Liir, are missing entirely from the stage adaptation. Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose, is born without arms in the book rather than being unable to walk. Additionally, characters like Fiyero, who survive in the musical, meet tragic ends in the novel.
Both the novel and the musical cater to different audiences and experiences. The novel appeals
to those who enjoy dark, thoughtprovoking fantasy; however, by making the plot of the musical age appropriate and universally appealing, it became more commercially successful and ‘popular.’
“Wicked: For Good,” the continuation of “Wicked: Part One,” comes to theatres Nov. 21, 2025.
UNIVERSAL PICTURES VIA AP PHOTO
PHOTO COURTESY OF BARNES AND NOBLE
SNEAUX DAY
LSU closed campus Tuesday, Jan. 21 through Thursday, Jan. 23 due to Louisiana’s record breaking snowfall.
Students sled down a hill in the snow near North Hall on Jan. 21.
An LSU student puts ESPN College Gameday gloves on his snowman in the Laville courtyard Jan. 21.
A dog plays in the snow on the Parade Ground on Jan. 21.
LSU Pete Maravich Assembly Center sits in the snow Jan. 21.
LSU students build a snowman on Jan. 21.
Students play in the snow near North Hall on Jan.21.
Students throw snowballs in the Laville courtyard on Jan.21.
A snowman sits in the Laville courtyard on Jan. 21.
LSU Tiger Stadium sits in the snow Jan, 21.
Photos by Payton Prichard, Alexis Persicke and Rei Zimmerman Page Design by Kaitlyn Hoang
BATON ROUGE BUCKET LIST
BY EMILY BRACHER STAFF WRITER
Baton Rouge is more than just the capital of Louisiana and the home of LSU. The city is full of places to see and people to meet. Whether you are visiting or live in the area, here are some must-try things to scratch off your Baton Rouge bucket list.
The Old State Capitol
This national historic landmark shows off Louisiana’s rich and unique history with exhibits throughout the building. Guests can walk around on their own accord or join a guided tour. Beyond history, many visitors come just to see the architecture, especially the intricate stained-glass windows that paint the rooms with color.
The Texas Club
The Texas Club is full of life with music, entertainment and history. For over 40 years, the venue has brought country music legends like George Strait and Hank Williams Jr. to Baton Rouge. The walls are decked out with posters from each and every performance that has happened there, showing off how impressive the place really is. Whether it is for live music, drinks or to meet new people, the Texas Club is a must.
Elsie’s Plate & Pie
The closest thing to a home-cooked meal can be found at Elsie’s Plate & Pie. The restaurant is named in memory of proprietor and chef Paul Chauvin Dupré’s grandmother Elsie Marie Campeau Rupe, known for her warmth and cooking. Pie was a major food group at Elsie’s table and can be ordered at the restaurant today. Customers can choose from an array of sweet and savory pies, along with other menu items like sandwiches and dips.
Dedicated to conservation, education, recreation and tourism, the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center allows people to connect with nature and learn about the environment around them. The 103-acre facility is home to multiple trails, plentiful wildlife and an indoor facility that houses live animal exhibits and educational exhibits.
N Jefferson Ave, Port Allen
Cross the bridge and make your way to Port Allen to find the West Baton Rouge Museum. Located on a six-acre campus, the museum offers seasonal exhibits, events, French programs/tours, art workshops and more. According to their website, they are the only museum to “trace the bittersweet history of sugar in Louisiana from the colonial period to the present day.” Not only does the museum focus on history, but it highlights local artists as well.
Highland Road, Baton Rouge
Spring means crawfish. When the time comes around, Sammy’s has some of the best crawfish in Baton Rouge. If you are not scared of spice and can take on three to five pounds, this is the place to go. There are many places to get crawfish in Baton Rouge, but nothing compares to Sammy’s. If you are not a crawfish person or if you have a shellfish allergy, do not fret. The grill has a big menu with items like po’boys and alligator bites.
SPORTS
MEN’S BASKETBALL FOOTBALL
LSU men’s basketball falls to
Alabama
BY TRE ALLEN Staff Writer
The Tigers went into Tuscaloosa looking to pull off an upset against the nation’s No. 4 team.
Although LSU ultimately lost 80-73, they battled the entire game and showed they could hang with some of the best in the conference and country.
Here are some notable takeaways from their matchup against Alabama:
Corey Chest leads the way
The redshirt freshman from New Orleans, had the best game of his young career. Entering this game, he had six points and seven rebounds, and for a player who is playing his first season of collegiate basketball, it’s not a bad start.
Chest has found his way into
see TAKEAWAYS, page 10
BOUNCE BACK
Women’s basketball topples Texas A&M
How could Kyren Lacy’s legal situation play out?
BY ISABELLE CALLHAN & ETHEN STENGER Staff Writer & Sports Editor
On Jan. 10, news that LSU superstar receiver Kyren Lacy had a warrant out for his arrest for negligent homicide and felony hitand-run broke just weeks after he wrapped up his last game in Tiger Stadium.
BY TRE ALLEN Staff Writer
Coming off a top-five showdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks, in which LSU women’s basketball fell short, losing 66-56, the Tigers looked to bounce back and get back into the win column against Texas A&M.
purple and gold. Foul trouble and poor shooting allowed the Tigers to have a five-point lead heading into halftime.
The Tigers got the job done, winning 64-51 in an unexpectedly tight game against the Aggies. It was not a pretty start for the
Four LSU players, including
see LOSS, page 11
LSU gymnastics’ loses to Arkansas on the road after disappointing showing on balance beam
BY GABBY GRAY Staff Writer
LSU gymnastics traveled to Fayetteville for their first road conference meet. The Tigers endured their first loss against No. 17 Arkansas, 196.600-196.875.
The team expressed enthusiasm to be on the road again, ready to perform somewhere else other than the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
“I’m very excited for another travel meet this season,” allaround freshman Kaliya Lincoln said earlier this week. “I’ve heard Arkansas is a very good environment.”
The Tigers arrived at Bud Walton Arena with a three-meet winning streak and entered the first rotation with a bang as they took to the bars, with all-around sophomore Konnor McClain leading the team with a 9.925.
All-around senior Tori Tatum made her season debut on bars tonight as well, with a score of 9.250, securing a total of 49.375 for the Tigers.
Moving to vault, fans eagerly watched to see if all-around graduate student Haleigh Bryant would finally make her way back to vault given her preseason injury.
“I assume we’re going to try and progress Haleigh,” head coach Jay Clark said this week.
“Whether that means fully functional on another event or not, but I’m sure we’ll be adding more to her plate.”
Alas, Bryant was not seen on vault. However, she could count on her team to help secure the advantage over the Razorbacks.
All-around freshman Kailin Chio brought home a 9.950, matching her personal best on vault.
Following Chio was fifth-year senior Chase Brock, who carried a 9.900.
With its combined scores alongside their teammates, LSU brought a 49.350, leading by 0.100.
Brock took to the floor in LSU’s third rotation, her routine earning a 9.825.
Fans were surprised to see graduate student Sierra Ballard missing from Friday’s lineup. Ballard, who usually starts the floor event, did not compete in the event tonight.
Instead, graduate Olivia Dunne opened and earned a 9.700.
Chio scored a 9.100, an uncharacteristically low score for Chio, her lowest on the floor this season.
Following Chio came Aleah Finnegan, who earned a 9.575. She received a neutral deduction from her routine for stepping out of bounds on the floor.
Finally, Bryant debuted on the
LSU gymnastics all-around Aleah Finnegan performs on the floor durinig LSU’s 197.550-197.450 win against the Florida Gators on January 17 in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La.
floor and received a 9.875.
Sophomore Leah Miller finished the floor event for the Tigers with a 9.550, setting LSU at a 147.575 as they swung into the fourth rotation. It was in the fourth rotation on the beam that Ballard performed in, opening with a 9.800.
McClain followed Ballard with a 9.575, one of the lower scores on the beam for the meet.
Still, the Tigers attempted to prevail as Chio took on the beam with a leading 9.850, Finnegan added a 9.925 and Bryant later tied with Ballard with a 9.800. Unfortunately, their efforts as
a team weren’t enough as they unexpectedly were beaten by 0.500 points on the balance beam, which led to the end of LSU’s winning streak.
The No. 2 Tigers, 196.600, fell before the No. 17 Razorbacks, 196.875, in a gut-wrenching loss in Fayetteville.
The Tigers have a lot to learn as they recover from what can be considered an irregular performance, particularly on the floor, given Ballard’s absence.
In the meantime, LSU is on its way back to Baton Rouge to prepare for the Missouri Tigers on Jan. 31.
The event occurred on Dec. 17 in Lafourche Parish, where two cars collided head-on in a fatal wreck on Louisiana Highway 20, resulting in the death of marine veteran Herman Hall as he was being transported to a hospital. Police officers then connected the incident to Lacy, who drove away from the scene.
According to the Louisiana State Police Department, “Lacy was driving at a high rate of speed and crossing the centerline and entering the northbound lane while in a designated No-Passing Zone.”
Many onlookers have jumped to the conclusion that Lacy is either guilty or innocent with certainty. However, the facts and legal nuances of the situation may be better understood with the help of experts.
What are the legal implications of Lacy’s situation?
According to the Louisiana Criminal Statute LSA-R.S. 14:100, “Hit-and-run driving is the intentional failure of the driver of a vehicle involved in or causing any accident.”
However, Lacy’s car wasn’t part of the collision, so can he still be legally responsible for the events that occurred?
“If the accident involved the two other vehicles, but Lacy did not hit any car, the prosecution would need to show that his actions caused the accident,” said John Parsi, LSU criminal law professor and former attorney in the office of the Federal Public Defender and the Alaska Department of Law. “The challenge sets in to provide concrete evidence that Lacy is the cause of (both actual and proximate) the accident.”
“He caused the accident even if had stopped and rendered aid [sic],” LSU criminal law professor Ken Levy said.
Both Parsi and Levy speculate that Lacy’s defense team may prefer a plea deal rather than taking the case to trial, especially with the NFL Draft looming in April. However, Lacy’s team is at the
MALEAH BOURGEOIS / The Reveille
PILAR FRANKLIN / The Reveille
LSU women’s basketball sophomore guard Mikaylah Williams (12) shoots a free throw during the Tigers’ game against Texas A&M on Jan. 26, at Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La.
BY TYLER HARDEN Staff Writer
At a university where nearly every athletic program is nationally relevant, there’s never a shortage of options. There are always electric playmakers to be found.
The Reveille Athlete of the Week is LSU women’s basketball forward Aneesah Morrow.
It was a tough week for LSU athletics, with women’s basketball suffering its first loss at the hands of South Carolina, and gymnastics falling to Arkansas. But in the midst of adversity, Aneesah Morrow was certainly a bright spot.
Morrow etched her name in the history books, as she now ranks No. 2 in NCAA Division I career doubledoubles.
Morrow, a senior forward, has recorded double-double performances in all but two games this season, and has recorded double-digit rebounds in all but one game.
TAKEAWAYS, from page 9
the starting lineup because of his tremendous rebounding and the effort he puts into his plays on the court. Both were on display against Alabama.
Chest was all over the boards early, as he had nine rebounds in only five minutes on the court. However, it did not stop there.
Chest finished the game with 12 and a team-high 18 rebounds against the Crimson Tide.
It was a beautiful sight for Tiger fans to see.
Chest is not exactly a scorer but finds ways to impact the game. Having a freshman bring intensity and energy to every game is something that LSU has been missing.
WHAT SPORT IS LSU MOST KNOWN FOR?
BY RAMI BURKS Staff Writer
Skip Bertman aimed to create a baseball dynasty at LSU, but over thirty years later, the SEC is primarily expected to be sufficient in one sport: football.
So, that raises the question: What sport is LSU known for?
We asked 48 college freshmen, including 23 LSU students and 25 others across the SEC: Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi State and Texas, to see their responses.
Most students said football, despite LSU being labeled the “baseball school” of the ‘90s and early 2000s.
“I said football since my mom’s family has been watching LSU football play for as long as I can remember,” Oklahoma University student Owen Cunnigham said.
In her two seasons at DePaul, and her season-and-a-half at LSU thus far, Morrow has averaged a double-double, making her arguably one of the most consistent post players in the college game.
But along with her consistency, Morrow has shown grit that has proven essential going into SEC play.
“Her motor. Her energy. You want to be people who have her kind of energy,” Mulkey said of Morrow.
Morrow had a season-high of 26 points along with 16 rebounds in LSU’s 100-54 win over Grambling.
In the team’s 117-44 win over Charleston Southern, Morrow recorded a season-high 20 rebounds along with 21 points.
“She’s a walking double-double,” Mulkey said. “She’s just a joy to coach because that’s how she is every day in practice.”
Morrow currently averages 18.5 points per game along with 14.3 rebounds per game this season.
The 6-foot-8 forward leads the team with seven rebounds per game. For someone who is not the tallest player on the team, it’s quite impressive.
Although the Tigers didn’t come out on top, Chest earned his role in the starting rotation. The need of another scorer
The losses of Jalen Reed and Tyrell Ward have continued to hurt LSU this season.
The Tigers’ offense has been unpredictable outside of Cam Carter and Jordan Sears, who are No. 1 and 2 in points per game.
LSU lost Reed earlier this season after he tore his ACL against Florida State, and with that loss, the Tigers lost their third-leading scorer. In the eight games Reed played, he averaged 11 points and
Eighty-eight percent of LSU students said football is the sport LSU is known for.
“Football because it is what put LSU on the map,” LSU student Tori Bonin said. “Like everyone around the country knows LSU football.”
A few LSU students said baseball is a close second, but more people said women’s basketball over baseball.
“I said women’s basketball because of the 2023 season and championship,” LSU student Mia Hattaway said. “I feel like it brought a lot of viewership and attention to basketball and women’s sports in general, but also later to the WNBA.”
Other SEC schools had a more diverse answer to the question than the LSU students. Fortyeight percent of other SEC students said a sport other than foot
six rebounds, shooting 60% from the field and 50% from three.
Ward stepped away from the team due to his mental health and will most likely not play this season. It was a significant loss for LSU. Ward added something that this team was missing: shooting.
Last season, Ward stepped into a role as a 3-point shooter, averaging nine points per game while shooting 41% from the 3-point line.
This season, it seemed almost assured that Ward would play a prominent role for the Tigers; his shooting would have been a great addition to the team as the shooting struggles remain.
It’s also important to note that freshman guard Vyctorius Miller
ball. Most students said women’s basketball. Dance, baseball and gymnastics were also popular picks.
“I chose women’s basketball because that’s the sport that I feel has become more prevalent within the past few years,” University of Tennessee student Aubrey Powell said. “The popularity of it at LSU has definitely boosted it around other schools and different leagues as well.”
Despite all the chatter from current students, LSU’s women’s outdoor track has the most national championships, with 14 titles. Football is fifth in line with four titles, baseball is third with seven and gymnastics and men’s and women’s basketball are tied for seventh.
But football is so deeply ingrained in American culture that it’s hard for a university in the SEC, a conference forever known for its prowess on the gridiron, to be known as anything more than a football school.
The new-look 12-team college football playoff’s quarter- and semi-final rounds drew an average of 16.9 million and 19.2 million viewers via Front Office Sports, respectively.
When compared to the average viewership of last year’s College World Series (2.82 million, via Sports Business Journal) and gymnastics national championship (1.02 million, via Front Office Sports), they are dwarfed by the presence of college football.
Women’s basketball is an outlier, with last April’s national championship setting a record as the most watched ever, averaging 18.7 million viewers and peaking at 24 million.
has missed time with an injury of his own, so the Tigers have been without their fourth-leading scorer in the past couple of games.
There hasn’t been a clear third option for LSU, and since Reed went down, this has been a problem for them.
The Tigers have to find someone else if they want to remain competitive in the SEC. Points in the paint
It’s no surprise that LSU again had a poor shooting performance on Saturday night against the Crimson Tide.
The Tigers came into this game shooting roughly 32% from beyond the arc, and tonight was no different. LSU shot an abysmal 13% from three, shooting 3-for-23 as a team. But the Tigers found
Football is by far not only the most popular college sport but also the most popular sport in the entire country. LSU will have to win multiple national championships in a sport other than America’s sweetheart and dominate while doing it.
South Carolina has built a women’s basketball dynasty in the last several years with deep postseason and national championship runs in recent years. Oklahoma has also done this with its four back-to-back national championships in softball.
It could take more than five years of deep championship runs in baseball, basketball, or gymnastics for LSU to be seen as it was in the ‘90s and early 2000ssomething other than a football school.
success in the paint.
LSU scored 43 of its 73 in the paint and kept themselves in the game the entire night.
Until a shooter unfolds for the Tigers, they must continue to attack the basket. It’s understandable if they need to chuck up a three to save the possession.
However, someone needs to attack the basket and get their feet in the painted area every possession for LSU. It was on display Saturday.
Getting in the paint with pickand-rolls and put-back attempts allows this team to find some sort of identity. Although basketball has evolved to a 3-pointdominant offense, attacking the basket is something LSU should look to do every game.
GRAPHIC BY JACOB CHASTANT
NATURE’S
COURSE
LOSS, from page 9
three starters, had two fouls by halftime, and 10 players each had a foul in the foul column by the end of the game. However impactful foul trouble may have been, the Tigers simply couldn’t put the ball in the hoop.
LSU shot a combined 12-41 from the field for a shooting percentage of 29%. The 3-point shooting was worse, as the Tigers shot 9% from the 3-point line.
The Aggies shot a better percentage in the first, but they were in the same boat. Texas A&M shot 32% from the field and 22% from three but still trailed. Even for a team that is 10-8 going on the road to play against a top-five team in the country, it wasn’t a death sentence.
Looking back at LSU football’s most iconic bad weather games
BY GORDON CRAWFORD Columnist
On Tuesday morning, Tiger Stadium felt snow for the first time in years. The roads were closed, curfews were imposed and many businesses shut down. Yet thousands took the opportunity to explore, to appreciate their state in a new form, and to create memories.
This is why bad weather games become the stuff of football legend.
On Nov. 19, 1988, 80,000 fans piled into Tiger Stadium to see the LSU Tigers take on the Miami Hurricanes. In the early half of the 1900s, the teams had been frequent foes, but the series had gone dormant after the Tigers decimated them 20-0 in their home stadium.
The Hurricanes, led by coaching legend Jimmy Johnson, were certainly not that same team.
The weather was relentless. Many tried to fight back with whatever they could find, but not a fan or player emerged dry that day.
Jimmy Johnson used the dreary weather to his advantage, relentlessly pressing the Tiger defense to a pulp. Many fand had piled out by the second quarter, but dozens stayed. It is a mesmerizing experience to watch men fight with every fiber of their being, against their enemy and their environment.
Mesmerizing as it was, the Tigers would still lose that game 44-3, the worst loss LSU had suffered in four decades.
While rain in Death Valley may be a symbol of bad luck, the Tigers have also been quite adept at seizing victories in the midst of Mother Nature’s fury.
In 1984, the Tigers traveled to Legion Field to play Alabama. LSU had not yet developed its deep hatred towards the Tide, but it still remained one of the toughest games of the season. It looked to be no different that year, despite a rocky start, Alabama was in the top 10, while LSU remained outside.
When both teams took the field, the skies were clear. Both teams played fairly well in the first half, each capturing a touchdown. By about midway through the second quarter, LSU had taken the lead.
Soon enough, rain began relentlessly assaulting the stadium. The turf became slippery, and the field was covered in tiny ponds. The weather proved such a menace that the scoreboard was forced to flash for a tornado warning.
Going into the second half, LSU stopped Alabama’s first drive, taking the ball into the end zone after a critical special teams blunder led to a blocked punt. However, Tiger coach Bill Arnsparger made the confusing call to go for two, which expectedly failed, leaving LSU leading 16-14.
Alabama desperately tried to get down the field, but in the heavy rain, Mike Shula threw a number of costly incomplete passes. The Tigers eked out the win.
In Shreveport, Louisiana, the Tigers faced the Michigan State Spartans in the 1995 Independence Bowl.
“I remember it was cold,” LSU fan Mike Nola said. “It was sleeting. It was miserable. Just relentless.”
The Spartans took the lead early in the game, but momentum had shifted entirely in the Tigers’ favor in the second half. LSU running back Kevin Faulk racked up 234 yards during the game, an Independence Bowl record, and LSU won the matchup 45-26.
Michigan State would never return to Shreveport, and their head coach, Nick Saban, wouldn’t return until 2007 when he led the Crimson Tide to the own Independence Bowl.
The LSU Tigers have a fickle relationship with nature. They hail from a state where rain is one of its distinctive characteristics. Some teams consider their native weather a home-field advantage. But for the Tigers, it is a force to be feared.
“I just need to do whatever to help my team as a freshman,” Richard said. “It’s kind of hard finding your role, but I’ve always been a leader, so just kind of trying to lead the players in the game, and as well as whoever else came in the game.”
The scoring remained the same in the second half as both teams scored less than 35 points and shot below 40%.
LSU finished the game attempting 21 more shots than the Aggies but only scored 13 more points.
However, in the end, LSU was able to pull away due to the second-half play of their dynamic duo of Morrow and Johnson.
LSU’s slight lead heading into halftime was thanks to Aneesah Morrow and Flau’Jae Johnson, who had 10 and eight points, respectively, but freshman guard Jada Richard also added a muchneeded spark to the offense.
“We just believe in her to be able to make decisions, even as a freshman,” Johnson said. “I’m just so glad that she got those minutes and she was able to do what she does.”
The four-star and top-100 prospect from Opelousas, Louisiana, scored seven points while shooting 50% from the field in her 17 minutes of play in the first half. The Tigers only had five different players score in the first half, and Richard was one of them.
mercy of the prosecution to provide a plea deal with a punishment they see fit.
If there is no plea deal, the case will go through the legal system, and the prosecution will aim to prove Lacy caused the two-car collision.
Less than 72 hours after the incident, Lacy declared for the 2025 NFL Draft on his Instagram.
“It looks insensitive and remorseless,” Levy said.
With the NFL combine coming up on Feb. 27, what kind of rapid movement will the defense team make to salvage Lacy’s chance of being drafted?
For his part, Lacy’s agent, Rocky Arceneaux, said he is “fully cooperating with authorities.”
“We strongly believe that the facts will ultimately demonstrate the truth, but still, we respect the need for a full and thorough investigation,” Arceneaux posted in a statement to his X (formerly Twitter) account.
Shortly after Arceneaux’s statement, Lacy turned himself in and was bailed out on a $151,000 bond.
What does this mean for Lacy’s draft stock?
Before this, Lacy was projected to be a top-50 pick in this spring’s NFL Draft. But as the dust settles, his draft stock is presumably in a free-fall. It’s challenging for NFL teams to take on a criminal liability.
Although most NFL teams aren’t unfamiliar with players having run-ins with the law, will
is rebounding in defense,” head coach Kim Mulkey said.
LSU outrebounded the Aggies 52-33 and added 18 secondchance points. In a game where LSU’s offense was nowhere near what people are used to seeing all season long, the Tigers found ways to outwork their opponent and found a way to win.
“Thirty offensive boards and holding your opponents to under 39 [field goal percentage] will always give you a chance when you just can’t find a bucket.”
The Tigers will be back in the PMAC on Thursday, taking on Oklahoma in a top-25 matchup.
Johnson finished the game with 22 points, five rebounds and four steals while Morrow added 19 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and four steals.
The offense was scarce, as Morrow and Johnson were the only two players to score in double digits.
Looking at the score and the shooting stats, it was an even game, but the one truly lopsided stat that allowed LSU to pull away was the turnover margin. LSU had 12 turnovers compared to the Aggies’ 21.
Another stat that eventually decided the game was the second chance opportunities. LSU leads the SEC in rebounds, which showed on Sunday against Texas A&M.
“When your shots aren’t falling, what keeps you in the game and gives you a chance to win
they want to add another risk to the roster? General managers have taken risks in the past.
Reuben Foster, then a linebacker at Alabama, was a unanimous All-American, national champion and projected high draft pick in 2017. However, Foster failed a drug test at the 2017 NFL Combine. The league eventually sent Foster home from the combine for “personal reasons” after he got into a heated argument with a hospital worker.
Foster’s combine fallout nearly saw him fall out of the first round, but the San Francisco 49ers picked him with the 31st pick.
After multiple injuries and runins with the law, including three arrests in 2018, the NFL suspended Foster for the first two games of the season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He was involved in two domestic disputes later that season and was cut, effectively ending his career.
Another example is Laremy Tunsil, a two-time first-team AllSEC left tackle at Ole Miss and a projected top-five overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Minutes before the draft, Tunsil’s social media accounts were hacked, and a two-year-old video of Tunsil smoking illegal substances through a gas mask was posted on his X (formerly Twitter). Screenshots of text messages of Tunsil asking Rebels head coach Hugh Freeze for rent money were posted to his personal Instagram account.
It was one of the most jawdropping scandals ever seen on
draft night, costing Tunsil millions. Tunsil fell in the draft to the 13th pick and lost over $8 million in signing bonus money, with his NFL dreams crumbling before him.
After three years with the Miami Dolphins, Grier traded Tunsil to the Houston Texans for multiple players and draft picks. Six years in with Houston, Tunsil is a fivetime NFL Pro Bowler and now makes $25 million a year.
So will Lacy drop in April’s 2025 NFL Draft? Probably.
But as the draft draws on and Lacy begins falling on teams’ draft boards for the charges he currently faces, we will eventually get to a point in the draft where an NFL front office looks at Lacy and thinks his talent is worth the risk.
LACY, from page 9
PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille LSU football 5th-year-senior wide receiver Kyren Lacy (2) looks at the football after failing to catch a pass Nov. 24 during LSU’s24-17 win against Vanderbilt at Tiger Stadium.
PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille
LSU women’s basketball junior guard Flau’Jae Johnson (4) attempts to score during LSU’s 83-77 win against Vanderbilt on Jan. 13, in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La.
OPINION
Churches are stripping away dignity in the name of righteousness
AMYRI’S
While scrolling through TikTok, I came across a video that deeply disturbed me: a pregnant teen stood before her church congregation, trembling, as she apologized for her “sin” of becoming pregnant out of wedlock.
Her voice quivered, and she could barely restrain her tears. It was clear this was no act of repentance but rather a humiliation ritual. The raw vulnerability in her eyes pierced me, and I couldn’t help but question how something so profoundly dehumanizing could be framed as “holy.”
After the video went viral, her mother defended the situation, claiming her daughter willingly approached the congregation and was embraced with love. But the truth was evident to all who watched, this was coercion, not choice.
It was a heartbreaking example of how the church, as an institution, often fails those it claims to serve, alienating its most vulnerable members under the guise of sanctity.
The internet was ablaze with opinions. Some called out the misogyny inherent in the spectacle— the girl shamed publicly, while the
boy responsible was nowhere to be found. Others decried the dangers of conservatism, and how it suffocates rather than nurtures.
Yet, an uncomfortable truth lingered in the shadows, one that few have dared to confront: the church, as an institution, is increasingly losing its divine essence.
Why are we hesitant to admit that the church, for many, has become a space of alienation rather than a sanctuary? There is nothing holy about stripping someone of their dignity in the name of righteousness.
The church was once the house of God, a place where his presence was palpable—a refuge for the weary, broken and outcast. Yet, in churches like this one, it feels as though you’re stepping into hell on Earth. When the pulpit becomes a throne for judgment and shame, where do the wounded go to heal?
If a church is no longer safe, then what is its purpose?
This is where religion, as a social construct, falters. It becomes less about God’s boundless love and more about rigid conformity to man-made standards. Abide by these rules or be cast out. Such institutions wield power not to uplift but to control, and in doing so, they choke the spirit. Perhaps what we need is not more religion but more God.
This isn’t to say that every church is corrupt or that Christianity itself is flawed. As someone who believes in the beauty of Christianity in its purest form, I see faith as a wellspring of hope, love and redemption. But Christianity has been hijacked by false prophets or wolves in shepherds’ clothing, who exploit faith for power. What was once a pathway to divine communion has, in many cases, become a mechanism of oppression.
What Christianity needs is a revival—a cleansing fire to burn away the chaff and reveal the unblemished heart of the gospel. It must return to following Jesus, not religion. Jesus, in his radical love, welcomed the very people society deems unworthy. He offered restoration, not condemnation. Religion, as we know it, kills the spirit, but Jesus resuscitates it, breathing life into what’s broken.
Perhaps this is what we’re being called to, not the dismantling of faith, but rather its transformation. A new movement, one rooted not in shame or control but in freedom, compassion and truth. A movement where the church once again becomes the house of God, radiant with love, instead of a tomb for the soul.
Amyri Jones is a 23-year-old digital advertising and religious studies senior from Baton Rouge, La.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Editor in Chief
Seasonal depression can make the spring semester hard
I have recently noticed a trend in work ethic and demeanor during the fall and spring semesters.
Since the names suggest that the former includes colder months, one would think that people who suffer from seasonal depression due to decreased sunlight would be more negatively affected during the fall. However, it can be just as, if not more, prevalent during the spring semesters.
Seasonal depression, formally seasonal affective disorder, is a type of depression that develops during periods of changing seasons, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The Cleveland Clinic describes the symptoms of SAD as fatigue, trouble concentrating and irritability, which I know from experience and psychology courses is comparable to major depressive disorder symptoms.
The main difference between the two is the causes, and while even that can be the same when the cause is a chemical imbalance, one cause is much more likely for SAD. During colder months, it is usually less sunny, which leads to people getting less vitamin D.
While many mental health issues can greatly impact a college student or anyone’s life, SAD may impact certain things specific to students. If someone suffers from SAD, they may struggle more during spring semesters because there are fewer sunny months in Louisiana.
Editorial Policies and Procedures
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 editor@lsu.edu 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.
Statistics from worlddata.info say that January is the least sunny month in Louisiana. This could mean that many students with SAD struggle most at this point in the year, and others may struggle because of the lack of sun, too.
A 2021 study by the Hawai’i Journal of Health & Social Welfare researched whether students from places with less variability between seasons were any less likely to develop SAD and any more likely to develop SAD while attending college out-of-state. Their research demonstrated that no matter how similar seasons are, every region of the United States has people who are just as likely to develop SAD.
If this makes the spring semester more difficult, there are ways to help alleviate symptoms besides seeking medical health professionals. The Cleveland Clinic suggests treatments specific to SAD, most notably, light therapy. If going to the doctor isn’t an option or you want something immediate, in some cases, going outside in the sun or taking a vitamin D supplement may help, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Still, it’s always best to get a medical professional’s opinion when possible.
While SAD is not the most common, it is an overlooked mental illness that may make this semester, and specifically this month, really hard on some students around campus. Thankfully, there are things you can do to help yourself and or your loved ones.
Kate Beske is a 21-year-old journalism senior from Destrehan, La.
Quote of the Week
“You define your own life. Don’t let people write your script.”
Colin Falcon
Managing Editor
Willis
Editor
Stenger
Butcher News Editor
Hamilton Opinion Editor
AP PHOTO/JESSIE WARDARSKI, FILE
Roughly a dozen people attend pastor Ryan Burge’s Sunday service at First Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, III., Sept. 10, 2023.
BESKE’S BUZZ
KATE BESKE
AMYRI JONES
ANNE LIPSCOMB/ The Reveille