The Reveille 10-10-24

WHERE IT NEVER RAINS

Memories of Tiger Stadium after 100 years

BY MARTIN SULLIVAN

@marty_sulli

Tiger Stadium is built not just of concrete and steel but of the devotion and tradition of one of sports defining fanbases. It holds over 100,000 fans and ranks in the top 10 largest U.S. stadiums but now it also holds a century of memories and relationships built around football.

This week, LSU celebrates the centennial of Death Valley, a place with a heartbeat as strong as an earthquake. It’s known for the gridiron titans that clash on the field, but its true trademark lies in a folklore of dedication and community.

“The fans are everything that we desire to have as a player,” former LSU wide receiver Eddie Kennison (1993-95) said. “Hearing the roar of the crowd, that gives us that extra boost of energy.”

Tiger Stadium is considered one of the epicenters of college football and among the most difficult environments for opposing teams to play in.

“Our stadium, it’s like its coming down on you,” former LSU linebacker Walter Moreham (1998-2001) said. “The whole stadium feels like a rabid student section.”

Former LSU linebacker Eric Hill (1985-88) considers the fanbase responsible for a significant number of wins in the stadium.

“That energy that you pull from the fans, that’s different,” Hill said. “That is that premium additive that nobody gets a chance to get.”

But just as strong as their undying intensity is the strength of community.

“They make you feel good about the choice that you made years ago,” Hill said. “Because you’re always welcome. You’re part of the family.”

The fan experience

Few outside of Louisiana comprehend the gravity of it all. Those who bleed purple and gold

are professionals when it comes to tailgating.

“Those RVs start rolling in on Thursday,” Hill said. “So those tailgates, they get cranked up early. By Saturday night, they’re on the three-day drunk.”

As a player, after every game, Moreham would head straight for a certain tailgate that had a sourdough sandwich topped with gravy waiting for him. Once he became a graduate assistant, that came with a beer.

These rituals do not reschedule, deviate or surrender. Because what would a Louisiana Saturday night be without them?

Just as often, this fanaticism makes its way from its designated tailgating spots to opposing stadiums. Like filling a coach bus with 40 LSU superfans in pimp attire.

On a trip to watch LSU in 2002, Brian Rappold and a number of friends cruised in a Winnebago to a CD hip-hop mix labeled “Pimpin’ to Blacksburg.”

The natural progression, of course, was a six-season commitment to a yearly Pimp Nation mi-

gration.

Rappold made his suit out of Crown Royal bags, and another was made by a friend’s motherin-law out of LSU bedsheets.

The ensemble included a mix of canes, fur coats, rings, glasses, capes and suspenders.

Eventually as Pimp Nation grew, the commute expanded into a coach bus. The ride featured drinking games, card games, pen-to-paper prop bets, yelling, booze and camaraderie.

On a trip to Starkville, the bus was stopped by a police officer.

After pulling him over, the cop asked the bus driver, “What do you got back there?” Unsure how else to say it, he replied, “I got like 40 pimps.”

After some complicated explaining, the officer escorted the bus to campus and proceeded to take photos with the group, including a few miming arrest.

The severity of LSU football loyalty varies person to person, but many are diehards willing to go to seemingly absurd lengths.

Raising a six-month-old baby

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kept Mike Nola and his wife plenty occupied, but not enough to miss football.

In anticipation of what would become the historic 1972 “foursecond game” against Ole Miss, Nola was eager for a ticket.

“We needed to go to this game,” Nola said. “Somebody offered us tickets; it was impossible to get a ticket.”

Because of the last-minute opportunity, he and his wife were left unsure of what to do with their baby. So, they found a creative solution.

“We looked at classified ads, found a lady in a trailer that was babysitting for the football game,” he said.

Prior to the game, the couple stopped by a trailer park and handed off their child to a stranger. All ended well, though Nola said he regrets taking such a risky decision.

The spirit squads

“No bored moments are to be permitted the spectators in the short periods of inactivity during a game,” then-LSU cheerleader

W.B. Graham said in a 1924 issue of the Reveille. “Win or lose, it’s going to be one grand jubilee from start to finish.

Today this jubilee is characterized by the pageantry of the spirit quads: Color Guard, cheerleaders, the Golden Band from Tigerland and, of course, Mike the Tiger.

Former Mike the Tiger mascot Alex grew up in the shadow of Tiger Stadium and was among the longest-serving mascots in school history.

“Whether it’s football or even just outside events, LSU and Mike the Tiger just means so much to the local community that it really makes you emotional sometimes,” Alex said. “Being able to provide that kind of happiness, that kind of thrill to fans was one of the best parts of the job.”

On a game day, Alex would visit familiar faces at tailgates, take pictures with kids, march down Victory Hill and lead the team out the tunnel with fire

PHOTO COURTESY OF LSU UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES

Tiger Stadium, 1926.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LSU UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES Tiger Stadium, 1988.

PHOTO COURTESY

Tiger Stadium, 1936.

NEWS MEET THE

BY GRACELYN FARRAR @gracelynfarrar

There are four candidates in the East Baton Rouge mayor-president election that polled above 2% – incumbent Sharon Weston Broome and Ted James, both Democrats, and Republicans

“Sid” Edwards and Steve Myers.

Themostrecentpoll,conductedattheendofAugustbyJMCAnalytics,shows29%forBroome, 23% for both Edwards and James, and Myers at 3%.

The East Baton Rouge Mayoral Candidate Forum will be hosted at the Baton Rouge High School Theater on Thursday, Oct. 10. The top four candidates will be able to address issues in

East Baton Rouge Parish.

Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. The last day to register electronically is Oct. 15 and the last day to request a mail-in ballot is Nov. 1. Early voting begins Oct. 18 and runs through Oct. 28.

Sharon Weston Broome

CANDIDATES

Current Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome is running for re-election. As the incumbent, Broome believes she is the best candidate because she has been in the role for eight more years than her opponents. If elected, this would be her third and final term.

She has projects she hopes to complete in a third term, such as a riverfront development highlighting the Mississippi River. Another project her administration has already begun is transforming the Raising Cane’s River Center into a hotel and conference center. She believes that by addressing “quality of place” issues in Baton Rouge, the city will be able to retain talent better.

Broome started out on the Metropolitan Council, moving on to serve in both the state Senate and House of Representatives. Having now served two full terms as mayor-president of East Baton Rouge Parish, she said “no other candidate has that experience.”

“I believe when people look at the work that I’ve done over the past eight years, they will see someone who is knowledgeable, but who also demonstrated corresponding action to the issues that we face in our city and in our community,” Broome said. “I believe we are on a path to a new city image that illuminates inclusivity, that’s welcoming and that will be safe, vibrant and creative.”

Ted James

Former State Rep. Ted James is running for mayor-president with a vision for the city-parish that includes investing in small businesses to stimulate economic growth. Previously, James served as the regional administrator for the Small Business Association where he oversaw SBA’s programs, offices and operations in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. In this position, he saw how other cities were managed and was devastated to come home and see Baton Rouge “stagnant.” He hopes to change that through economic development and a commitment to improving education and public safety.

“Communities are outpacing Baton Rouge because we don’t have a vision for the future, and we have lacked the type of leadership needed,” he said.

In reference to the recently defined city of St. George, James said, “We need to come to the table with a spirit of working together, not a spirit of continuing to fight.” He said that as someone who has experience working with people he doesn’t always agree with, he is the best for leading the transition.

“I’m going to use my experience at the legislature and in the federal government to make sure I’m pulling down resources to fix age-old prob lems in East Baton Rouge Parish that have been ignored,” James said.

James earned the Baton Rouge Democratic Party’s endorsement over Broome.

Coach “Sid” Edwards

Endorsed by the East Baton Rouge Parish Republican Party, “Sid” Edwards has a campaign platform based on crime cleanup, city aesthetics and infrastructure improvements, a combination of which Edwards says will result in economic development for the city of Baton Rouge.

While Edwards is not the traditional politician, he has garnered support from the community through his long history as a high school football coach. Currently, he is the dean of students and head football coach at Istrouma High School.

According to a report by The Advocate, Edwards has not voted in the past 25 elections – criticism that the candidate rebutted by saying he became “apolitical” and was “tired of the corruption” at a debate and forum last week.

Steve Myers

Republican Steve Myers is running for mayor-president with a low-budget campaign, appealing to undecided voters. He takes the “everyman” approach, emphasizing issues like crime and infrastructure. He also advocates for more transparency in the city and parish governance. He proudly refers to himself as a “gadfly”, or someone who asks questions and challenges the status quo politically.

“Society, we don’t move forward unless there’s somebody out there that’s willing to challenge the status quo,” Myers said.

Myers has run in multiple area race elections as both Democrat and Republican. He’s a lawyer in Baton Rouge and previously created and reported for Tiger Rag. If elected, he only desires one term in office and is in support of separating mayor-president into two positions – a parish president and a mayor for the city of Baton Rouge.

“I’m going to do it right, and I’m going to do it for the benefit of the common people and the general welfare, not for some insider who wants a contract out of the city,” Myers said.

When,

where and how to Geaux Vote

BY ASHLYNN BAILLIO @ashlynnbaillio

As the 2024 election season approaches, it’s important for students to prepare and stay informed about how, when and where to vote. Whether you’re a Louisiana resident or an out-ofstate student, here’s everything you need to know to make sure your voice is heard this election.

For Louisiana voters, key races include gubernatorial and municipal elections, as well as some judicial races. Baton Rouge residents will be voting for mayor and Metropolitan Council seats.

“You can check your voter registration and see exactly what you have to vote for by using the GeauxVote app or the secretary of state’s website,” said Melissa Flournoy, a political science professor at LSU and former Louisiana House Representative.

Flournoy emphasized that Louisiana students can register using either their permanent address or their school address in Baton Rouge.

“They have the option to register to vote here in Louisiana using their student address, wherever they live in Baton Rouge,” Flournoy said.

Though the deadline to register to vote in person passed this week, students voting in Louisiana can still register to vote online by Oct. 15.

Out-of-state students should look up absentee voting options for their home states. To see these options and request an absentee ballot, Flournoy says these students should check with their secretary of state or commissioner of elections.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5, but Flournoy encouraged students to consider voting early, which runs from Oct. 18 to Oct. 29 and includes two Saturdays. “If you don’t want to miss a day of school, schedule your trip to early vote in your home parish,” she suggests. This way, you can avoid Election Day crowds and ensure you don’t miss out if something unexpected comes up.

Flournoy urges students to do their homework on candidates and issues. Doing research ahead of time ensures that when it’s time to vote, students are ready to make informed choices.

“The best way to be informed is to follow reputable news sources, check out the candidates’ websites and think about your personal priorities,” she says.

WHEELS TO WALLS

BR food trucks are opening permanent locations

BY QUINN MARCEAUX @quinnmarceaux

From the fiery embrace of Nashville hot chicken to the comforting allure of savory grilled cheese and the soul-shining goodness of a southern-cooked meal, Baton Rouge has witnessed a myriad of food truck favorites offering diverse, innovative dishes on wheels.

However, for some food truck owners, the dream extends beyond the mobile kitchen to a permanent, brick-and-mortar establishment. While this transition presents opportunities for growth and stability, it can also present a roadblock to the true passion of cooking.

Sameer Abudyak, one of the

owners and founders of Chicky Sandos, is one such example of a food truck owner who has successfully transitioned to a permanent restaurant. Around five years ago, Abudyak began trying Nashville hot chicken in different states nationwide and fell in love with the style, wanting to bring the taste sensation to Louisiana.

“No one was really doing it in Louisiana at the time,” Abudyak said.

Upon returning to Louisiana, Abudyak along with some friends launched Chicky Sandos, a food truck dedicated to serving chicken sandwiches infused with Nashville heat.

After opening in late 2020,

Chicky Sandos quietly transitioned to a permanent restaurant on Jefferson Highway in May, where Kolache Kitchen used to be. Abudyak says he is now focused on improving Chicky Sandos’ customer experience by making the hours more accessible for those who work.

“Right now, we have limited interactions with our customers; they take it and eat it … but now we get to have more customer interactions, which I personally like,” Abudyak said.

The new location boasts several enhancements, including a drive-thru and a kid’s menu. Looking ahead, Chicky Sandos is open

see RESTAURANTS, page 5

City Pork in Foster Hall’s basement?

BY QUINN MARCEAUX @quinnmarceaux

Despite its prime location, the restaurant area below Foster Hall, where City Pork is temporarily located, has become a revolving door for restaurants, cycling through three different establishments in just four years.

The basement of Foster Hall has been struggling to hold businesses in its restaurant location, with Foster Cafe, Subway and most recently T-Beaux’s Creole Cafe all leaving the location. Now City Pork occupies the location while the Art and Design Building is being renovated. But why have there been so many restaurants in this location in such quick succession?

“The main gist of it is that LSU is just not providing the resources for a sustainable business there,” said Emma Frens, a senior majoring in English who works at City Pork.

Many workers and frequent patrons of City Pork are not fans of the new location. They say it’s too cramped, depressing and less inviting than the previous location in the Art and Design Building.

“I honestly thought City Pork wasn’t on campus anymore since they moved,” said first-year law student Ethan McCorquodale, a patron of City Pork. “I used to go to the last location every week. I still go to the new location, but it’s just not as enjoyable for me.”

see CITY PORK, page 5

Faculty still wary of AI in classrooms, data shows. Policies from LSU admin unlikely.

BY JOHN BUZBEE @thebuzzbuz

Nearly half of LSU’s faculty don’t see a place for generative AI in the classroom, a survey conducted on behalf of the Faculty Senate, Information Technology Services and the Office of Academic Affairs shows.

Just 27% of faculty members polled said they felt compelled to incorporate AI in the classroom. About 25% said they felt unsure, leaving the remaining 48% against it.

A total of 508 faculty members participated in this part of the survey. There were roughly 1,650 faculty members employed by the university in 2023.

“It’s new for everyone,” said Roy Haggerty, executive vice president and university provost. “I think it’s natural for people to be hesitant.”

The hesitancy reflects broader, global concerns about AI and its impact on jobs, privacy and ethics,

he said reflecting on the survey’s results. It shouldn’t really come as a surprise that it’ll take some time for LSU’s faculty and the world to adjust to the rapidly evolving technology.

Lots of faculty who took the survey said that they felt a need for university-wide ethics courses and for administration to hammer out concrete usage policies, but these, Haggerty said, ultimately fall to the faculty to create, as they regulate the university’s wider curriculum.

Haggerty’s view is such that it makes more sense to mold policies with AI in mind but in such a way that doesn’t specifically target the technology.

“I don’t think that we should have one overarching policy for AI, for the same reason that AI is going to affect everything,” Haggerty said. “I think what we will need is to take the existing policies and adapt them for AI.”

He said instead of blanket rules

for AI, it makes sense to update existing policies, like those on academic integrity, to account for new technologies. The goal being, he said, to provide flexibility that allows individual faculty members freedom in deciding how best to incorporate AI into their classes.

He predicts AI’s future in the classroom will vary major by major, as it varies in different sectors of the economy.

For some, like for coding and more broadly the computer science field, it might become integral to generating code. For others, perhaps writing and broadly the English language arts field, it might only be tangentially useful as something of an advanced word processor. It might be discouraged altogether, he said.

With the policymaking ability up to faculty, Haggerty said, it allows for them to make decisions based on their understanding of and expertise in the technology.

Haggerty was a pioneer in creating the first class at LSU to address and incorporate AI in a businessdevelopment setting. This is his third year teaching the class alongside two other specialized instructors. It gives students hands-on experience with real-world problems to solve.

Haggerty compares the democratization of AI to the introduction of the internet. There was hesitancy then too, but now it’s integral to the way academics – and the world –works.

He’s optimistic about the technology’s advancement and its further refinement. Perhaps in the very near future, he said as an example, it can be used to correct for human bias when it comes to job applications.

“Hesitancy around AI won’t necessarily hinder progress; it’s more of a signal that we need to continue conversations about how to best use it,” Haggerty said.

PAYTON PRICHARD/ The Reveille

The Big Cheezy sits Oct. 9 on West Chimes Street in Baton Rouge, La.

VOTING, from page 4

To vote in person on Election Day, students must bring one of the following to the polls: a driver’s license, a Louisiana Special ID, an LA Wallet digital driver’s license, an United States military identification card that contains your name and picture or some other generally recognized picture ID that contains your name and signature. Students can find their polling locations by accessing their voter portal.

Whether you’re a first-time

RESTAURANTS, from page 4

to future expansion but remains focused on maintaining the quality and consistency of its flagship location before pursuing further growth.

The Big Cheezy, the popular food truck renowned for its grilled cheese sandwiches, has also undergone a significant transformation. This Baton Rouge eatery has moved from its home in Tigerland to a permanent brick-and-mortar establishment since May.

The decision to establish a permanent location marks a significant milestone for Big Cheezy and its owner, Blaize Romancik. What began as a small food truck venture serving food to hungry students in

voter or a seasoned one, Flournoy underscores the importance of participating in elections.

“I really want to encourage everybody who is eligible to vote because the act of protecting democracy by voting is very important,” she says. “It’s important to create a habit of voting.”

By registering, staying informed and casting your ballot – whether, early, absentee or on Election Day – you’re contributing to the democratic process and making sure your voice is heard.

Tigerland has blossomed into a cult culinary sensation, drawing in fans with its cheesy creations.

“We had been told by more and more people that we needed to open up a physical place, so we finally did,” Romancik said.

Recognizing the growing demand from customers, particularly LSU students, Romancik decided to pursue opening a permanent location. Situated at 1444 West Chimes St., adjacent to Insomnia Cookies, the chosen location reflects Big Cheezy’s desire to remain close to LSU’s campus.

At the new location, Big Cheezy has extended its operating hours until 3 a.m. on weekends to capitalize on its customer base of students looking for a meal late at

CITY PORK, from page 4

City Pork’s coffee options, the restaurant’s biggest business drivers, are yet to be completely available in the new location. Frens names LSU’s neglect as a big reason they do not have these options yet, saying the university has been dragging its feet on installing a water line that would allow them to hook up the espresso machine and serve specialty coffee. They have sent many work requests and emails but have yet to find success. Currently, they can only serve drip coffee and cold brew, while spe -

night. Additionally, the restaurant aims to attract customers through creative promotional strategies, including giveaways and collaborations with local athletes and influencers.

“In the past, I have not spent money on advertising, usually just using word of mouth, a kind of grassroots type of way of spreading our name but now that will probably change,” Romancik said.

Although Abduyak and Romancik’s stories may provide hope to others looking to transition to a permanent establishment, cautionary tales like that of Soulshine remind other owners that a food truck may be the best vehicle for their restaurant dreams. Today, Soulshine is back to its food truck

cialty coffee remains unavailable.

Frens said this is hurting the workers’ incomes, as people tip less on food than they do on coffee.

“Coffee is my whole job . . . My title is cashier-barista,” Frens said.

Stephen Hightower, vice president of City Group Hospitality, who owns City Pork, said the restaurant’s move to Foster Hall was very sudden; once LSU realized that the Art and Design Building was “falling apart,” they had to adapt quickly, Hightower said. City Group Hospitality did not have a choice of where the restaurant would move,

roots after owner and chef Danny Wilson made the tough decision to return to the medium in 2023.

Wilson carefully considered the decision to close his permanent location, where Big Cheezy is now. However, he wanted to return to a less restrictive way of operating and liked being able to focus more on his cooking rather than the restaurant’s day-to-day operations.

“I love being a chef above all else. Closing the restaurant was a way for me to get back to the kitchen,” Wilson said.

Wilson has been in the culinary world for more than 30 years and has even appeared on the Food Network’s Superchef Grudge Match. Soulshine’s food is inspired by his southern roots and features

and were quickly spirited away to the Foster Hall location.

City Pork’s move is only temporary. Hightower says that the company hopes to return to its old location in the Art and Design Building in a year once the construction has finished. However, Hightower sees this location in a much more positive light and welcomes the challenges it poses.

“I believe that we can succeed in any location. We have to work hard every day to stay on top of it, but I believe with our wonderful staff, we can succeed,” Hightower said.

seemingly routine items like burgers, wings and nachos with Wilson’s own soul-satisfying twist known to elevate the food beyond what it may seem.

“I think carefully about every dish that I serve. I change the menu up pretty regularly, but the same ideas are always present,” Wilson said.

However, Wilson has not given up on the permanent restaurant business and since July has been the head chef of Var’s Pizza, located off Perkins Road underneath the overpass. This location features Wilson’s creative twist, but this time with pizzas. Soulshine still operates and can usually be found in front of Pelican to Mars on Government Street.

ENTERTAINMENT

LSU HOMECOMING WEEK

BY SAMAIA SINGH @SamaiaSingh

THURSDAY AT 5:30 p.m.

OCTOBER

10th

SATURDAY AT 6:30 p.m.

OCTOBER

12 th

Want to see your event in the Reveille? Email information to editor@lsu.edu.

Greek Life Block Party Sorority Row

Hosted by the Panhellenic Council and the Interfraternity Council, this lively event will feature music from Thomas Pate and The Bends, a jambalaya cook-off, food trucks and yard games.

Homecoming Parade West Lakeshore Drive

DJ Diesel—better known as basketball legend and pop culture personality Shaquille O’Neal—will headline the Homecoming Concert at the University Recreation Field Complex near Alex Box Stadium. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the concert begins at 8 p.m. The event is free for students, who must present their Tiger Card for entry.

OCTOBER

11th

LSU vs Ole Miss Tiger Stadium

LSU Tigers take on the Ole Miss Rebels in Death Valley. Fans can cheer for the Homecoming Court as they walk down Victory Hill before kickoff, at 6:30 p.m. The 2024 Homecoming Queen and King will be crowned during the halftime ceremony.

Popeyes Wing Truck Tour’s first stop is BR

BY CHLOE RICHMOND @chlorichmond

Before you head to Tiger Stadium this Saturday, make sure you swing by the Popeyes Wing Truck, as the Popeyes’ Nationwide Wing Truck Tour is making its first stop on Saturday, Oct. 12, right here in Baton Rouge.

The truck will be located in the Southgate Towers Apartments parking lot at 4005 Nicholson Drive from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The truck will feature some of Popeyes’ most popular chicken wings, including its newest Sweet ‘N Smokey Chipotle Wings.

“By bringing our Wings to watch parties and tailgates across the country, we’re not only serving up those bold, Louisiana flavors our fans know and love, but also making sure that Popeyes is at the heart of every football celebration,” Bart LaCount, Popeyes’ chief marketing officer, said in a statement.

There’s plenty of fun scheduled for homecoming week, and being a part of the tailgate tour is

another event you won’t want to miss. The tour is limited to select dates and stops:

Oct. 12: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Oct. 19: Greensboro, North Carolina

Oct. 26: Atlanta, Georgia

Nov. 2: Tallahassee, Florida

Nov. 16: Athens, Georgia

Nov. 30: Columbus, Ohio

Homecoming week kicks off with multi-organization donation drive

BY CAM CHEHREH @Camryncherries

Homecoming Week kicks off today with its packed schedule of events and a new way to show spirit. This year, LSU is partnering with the Tailored Tiger, Swap Shop and the LSU Food Pantry for a Homecoming Donation Drive.

LSU encourages students to serve their community by donating pantry staples, gently used business clothing and household objects. All donations will be accepted at the Global Community Center at 3365 Dalrymple Drive, Baton Rouge LA by noon on Oct. ober 14.

The Food Pantry has requested staples such as peanut butter, jelly, canned meat, pasta, pasta sauce, spices, mixes, condiments and sauces. Additionally, the Food Pantry has requested no canned vegetables be donated. An Amazon wishlist is also available.

The Tailored Tiger Profesional Career Closet was founded this

semester as a way for students to obtain professional clothing free of charge. The closet accepts donations of business suits, dress pants, blouses, dresses, blazers, skirts, ties and belts. Jeans, shoes, purses and jewelry aren’t accepted.

The swap shop is accept-

ing any home items for offices, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and living room spaces. Some of the shop’s highly needed items are pillows, towels, wash cloths, clothes hangers, dishes, pots, pans and cleaning supplies. The shop is not accepting any clothing or large furniture items.

DYLAN BOREL / The Reveille

LSU Food Pantry sits Feb. 16, 2022, on the first floor of the Student Union on 310 Student Union.

2024 HOMECOMING COURT

Twelve LSU seniors will walk across the turf of Death Valley Saturday night as part of the 2024 homecoming court. But only two will leave the field with crowns and the titles of king and queen.

LSU’s Homecoming Week lasts through Saturday, bringing with it the competition to see which students will be crowned Homecoming King and Queen.

the LSU community. She’s currently the assistant director of communications for Student Government and the director of freshman leadership initiative for the Student Philanthropy Council. She is involved with the student organizations Women in Business, the Vietnamese Student Association, Asian Student Union, Alpha Delta Pi and community organizations Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank and Knock Knock Children’s Museum.

Emma Long is a political science and mass communications senior, as well as a member of the Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College, in which she is a Louisiana Service and Leadership Scholar. Currently serving in Student Government as a senator, Long has been involved in politics at both the national and local levels, spending time as an intern for both a ranking member of the U.S. Senate and a member of the House of Representatives, a research assistant in LSU’s Department of Political Science and Manship School of the Mass Communication and previously served a term as Student Senate speaker pro tempore. Long is also the president of Geaux Vote.

Payton Manuel is a mass communication senior with a concentration in broadcast journalism. She’s been a news reporter and anchor for TigerTV for a year and is an ambassador for her senior college, the Manship School of Mass Communication. She was involved with the LSU Cold Case team as the media personnel and is a member of the NPHC sorority Delta Sigma Theta. She is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and Her Campus LSU. She’s involved with the African American Cultural Center and volunteers for the Communities in Schools program nationally. Manuel also makes blankets for Project Linus.

The students of this year’s Homecoming Court feature representation from multiple colleges, evaluated by LSU staff based on their GPA requirements, disciplinary checks and official academic classification before eventually being selected after several rounds of interviews, according to LSU’s website.

Voting has already begun for king and queen on Tigerlink, with polls set to close at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday. The results will be announced at LSU football’s home game against Ole Miss Saturday during halftime. Kickoff is slated at 6:30 p.m.

Nicole Monceaux is a dual-major senior studying political science and interdisciplinary studies, with concentrations in sociology, communication studies and leadership development. Monceaux has been involved with the sorority Alpha Phi as Lady Chaplain and the director of health and wellness. She’s spent three years in the Student Senate and is now the chief of staff for the executive branch. In the Freshman Leadership Council, she was a mentor to freshmen for two years. She was on the communications committee for Student Philanthropy Council for two years and is the former director of Greek outreach for Tigers Against Sexual Assault. She’s been involved in LSU Ambassadors and is now president of the Asian Student Union after being the secretary for two years.

Corbitt Driskell is a senior majoring in accounting and economics at the E.J. Ourso College of Business, and a member of the Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College. He currently serves as chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee in Student Government, and a tour coordinator for the Office of Admissions. He is a member of Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Fraternity and Tau Sigma National Honors Society.

Zachary LeBlanc is a pre-med senior with plans to pursue a postgraduate medical degree. He has held multiple positions in Student Government over four years including deputy attorney general, and is a member of the four different honor societies and the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, where has served on both the brotherhood and recruitment boards.

Crockett

entrepreneurship. He currently works as a front desk worker in the College of Engineering, and has been named LSU Ambassadors’ Kayne Finley’s Associate Member of the Year and a member of the E.J. Ourso College of Business’ Outstanding Eight.

Mason Pfeffer is an information systems and decision sciences senior minoring in analytics and leadership development. He is the director of finance in Student Government, a participant in Leadership LSU

Photos courtesy of candidates

Paradise Kellem is a political science senior. She is currently the president of NAACP at LSU and has served as vice president of Bridge LSU. Kellem is also active in Student Government, where she co-chairs the Outreach Committee and is the vice chair of Budgets and Appropriations. Additionally, she holds leadership roles in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the National Society of Leadership and Success.

Peter Vallet is a chemical engineering senior minoring in mathematics. He is in the Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College and, as of this summer, is an Astronaut Scholar, making him a recipient of a prestigious STEM scholarship awarded for work in research and engineering. He’s been involved in Greek life, student organizations like Geaux Green and Student Government as the director of technology.

Madeline Le is a marketing major with a concentration in professional sales and has served in a variety of roles in

Crockett Comeaux

Brian Gage

Mason Pfeffer

Corbitt Driskell

Zachary LeBlanc

Camille Cronin, a political science senior with a minor in history, has been actively involved in numerous leadership roles at

Peter Vallet

Camille Cronin

Paradise Kellem

Emma Long

Madeline Le

Payton Manuel

Nicole Monceaux

Spread by Kaitlyn Hoang

SPORTS

BRING ON OLE MISS

Here are the biggest challenges the Rebels will pose to LSU

BY TYLER HARDEN @ttjharden8

Ole Miss will present arguably LSU’s biggest challenge yet this season.

The Rebels started the season 4-0, outscoring their opponents 220-22. However, they took a loss to Kentucky at home 20-17 in Week 5.

Because of that loss, the implications for LSU’s matchup with Ole Miss grew. But Ole Miss responded with a 27-3 win over South Carolina – a team LSU defeated by just three points – the following week.

With Ole Miss back in the winner’s circle, here are the biggest challenges LSU will have to face when the Rebels come to Baton Rouge.

Quick, pass-heavy offense

Ole Miss may have one of the most intense, pass-heavy offenses in not only the SEC but the entire country. The Rebels average 372.8 passing yards per game and 576.8 yards of total offense per game.

Quarterback Jaxson Dart is the ringleader of the offense’s quick tempo. He currently ranks second in the country with 2,100 passing yards on the season, along with 13 touchdowns through the air.

The Rebels have a knack for stretching the field and playing vertically. Of Dart’s 127 completed passes on the season,

100 YEARS, from page 2

him and a giant flag in hand.

“No matter what the outcome is, no matter how it played out on the field,” Alex said. “I had to represent my school to the fullest. It’s very easy to do when things are going well, but no matter what, you got to get out there.”

Most games, cheerleaders wake up at 6 a.m. to do hair and makeup. Once they arrive, they warm up, do promotions, meet families, do pregame preparation, march down Victory Hill, warm up again and go onto the field for hours of physically demanding performance.

“I think it shows that we care a lot, and we really care with what we do,” current cheerleader Maggie Hawkins said. “That we’re 100% in with everything.”

Morgan Schooler, a current member of the Color Guard, shares this understanding of the commitment behind every game day.

“When I’m on the field marching pregame and you hear the TI-G-E-R spell out — it’s echoing, I can’t hear myself breathe, I can’t hear myself think,” Schooler said.

109 of them were 15 yards out or more, and 12 of his 13 touchdowns were from 15 yards out or more.

But 52 of his 127 completions have gone to Tre Harris, who

“I get a glimpse of old me and I think, ‘I really made it.’”

These opportunities to contribute to the essence of LSU game day can be an empowering experience.

“Going down the hill the first time, I was crying, and I didn’t even know it,” Schooler said. “I was like, ‘Why is this energy flowing through me right now?’ … If I could do this forever I would.”

The collective creation of this environment speaks to what LSU is and the community is capable of.

“You hear the roar of the stadium, all of these people are here at the exact same moment in time, cheering for the same team,” Schooler said. “I think that’s really, really special.”

You can point to the H-style goal posts or the numerals every five yards to distinguish Tiger Stadium, but an arena that holds the hearts of fans across the globe and seizes a full day of their week has more character than that.

“This is the definition of home,” senior political science major Caitlin Glancey said. “It is quite literally where culture comes alive.”

leads the team in receptions by a large margin. Harris leads the country in receiving yards with 885 receiving yards, 173 more than the second-ranked receiver. Nonetheless, Ole Miss still

uses a variety of receivers to keep its pass-heavy offense in motion. Along with Harris, four other receivers have over 100 re -

12

FOOTBALL

What does last weekend’s CFB mayhem mean for LSU?

BY TRE ALLEN @treday0314

As the clock hits zero, what was once a stadium filled to the brim with the home fans cheering on their team empties as they make their way down to the field to celebrate.

They storm the field, joining their classmates on cloud nine, as they upset one of the top schools in the country.

This was the reality for several schools last Saturday, which was a day full of mayhem.

Five top 11 teams lost this past weekend, giving shades of the chaotic season we once saw in 2007 known as the “Year of the Upset.”

As the season nears its halfway point, another one may be coming.

It first started in College Station, where the No. 25 Texas A&M Aggies took down the No. 9 Missouri Tigers. Although the Aggies were favored in this matchup at

, page 12

OLE MISS, page

PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille

Mike the Tiger celebrates after a play Sept. 28 during LSU’s 42-10 win against South Alabama at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LSU UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES Tiger Stadium, 1970.

OLE MISS, from page 11

ceiving yards and over 10 catches on the season.

Defense is quick to rush the backfield

Ole Miss’ front seven presents a challenge to LSU’s offensive line, which has allowed just two sacks on the season thus far.

The Rebels lead the country in sacks with 24, three more than Boise State, Virginia Tech and Texas State, who are tied for the second-most sacks in the nation.

MAYHEM, from page 11

home, there was still a possibility that Missouri would prove it had earned its top-10 ranking. However, that was quickly shut down as Texas A&M came out of the gates swinging.

Missouri couldn’t do anything on the offensive side of the ball, and that was thanks to the Aggies defensive front combining for six sacks, giving Missouri quarterback Brady Cook no time to operate.

A&M also limited the Tigers’ explosive playmakers, Luther Burden III and Theo Wease Jr.

Texas A&M quarterback Connor Weigman had a productive game, completing 81% of his passes for 272 yards, but it was running back Le’Veon Moss who scorched the Tigers, rushing for 138 yards and three touchdowns.

His other running mate, Amari Daniels, also punched in two touchdowns for the Aggies.

Although the Tigers ranked higher than the Aggies, this didn’t feel like an upset.

The next and most shocking upset of them all was the No. 1 ranked Crimson Tide falling to unranked Vanderbilt.

This is what makes college football so unique.

A week ago, the world witnessed a potential “game of the year” as Alabama battled Georgia at home and ended up winning 4134 in a crazy ending.

This week, as 22-point favorites against a program that has never beaten a top-five team ever,

Senior edge rusher, Jared Ivey, leads the team with five sacks.

Princely Umanmielen has 3.5 sacks off the opposite edge, but he was held out with an injury in the Rebels’ win over South Carolina. It’s unclear if he will be ready come Ole Miss’ matchup with LSU.

In Ole Miss’ interior defensive line, Walter Nolen, a transfer from Texas A&M, has 2.5 sacks on the season along with a fumble recovery.

J.J. Pegues also has a fumble recovery this season and 0.5

Alabama fell victim to underestimating its opponent.

The Tide came out sleepwalking.

The Commodores scored on the first possession of the game and proceeded to get a pick-six on Alabama’s first drive. It was quickly 13-0, with the Crimson Tide down early.

Things kept getting worse as it was soon 23-7 in favor of Vanderbilt. However, like every Alabama team in recent years, the Tide fought and clawed their way back into the game.

The play of the game came on a strip sack by Vanderbilt edge rusher Miles Capers. Vanderbilt capitalized on the opportunity and scored a touchdown, making it 4028.

A late Alabama score trimmed the lead to five, but it wasn’t enough as the Commodores ran out the clock and capped off a historic night for their program.

Coming into that game, Vanderbilt was 0-60 against top-five teams, including losing 23 straight to the Crimson Tide.

Quarterback Diego Pavia led the way with 308 total yards and two touchdowns.

It was a night to remember for the people of Nashville as their team took down the No. 1 team in the country.

Another SEC upset came in Fayetteville, Arkansas, as No. 4 Tennessee went down to the unranked Arkansas Razorbacks 19-14.

The Volunteers came into this game with one of the best offenses

sacks. In his last two seasons at Ole Miss, Pegues totaled 6.5 sacks.

But the Rebels also use Pegues in the red zone on offense. Against South Carolina, he finished with two rushing touchdowns, both in short yardage. Pegues has three rushing touchdowns on the season on just seven rushing yards.

The Rebels also have a strong linebacker core. Suntarine Perkins has 4.5 sacks on the season along with an interception, and Chris Paul Jr. has added 2.5 sacks.

in the country, averaging well over 500 yards of total offense and over 45 points per game, but that team didn’t show up on Saturday.

The Razorbacks held them to 332 total yards and only 158 passing yards. However, Tennessee still had control for most of the game.

Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson had 138 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. The Volunteers were also up 14-3 halfway through the third quarter. Despite having the momentum, Tennessee punted the ball four consecutive times, and the missed opportunities to extend the lead caught up to them.

The Razorbacks took advantage and scored 16 unanswered points in their victory. Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green’s connection with Andrew Armstrong was strong all night as they connected nine times for 132 yards.

Green’s performances this season have not been the best, and this game was by far his best game of the season.

Completing 70% of his passes for 266 yards, he was truly the Xfactor for Arkansas’ upset against the Volunteers.

Finally, to wrap up a crazy Saturday, the No. 11 USC Trojans came to Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the Gophers pulled off the upset.

It felt like a true Big 10 game as both teams struggled to pass the ball and both running backs exceeded 130 yards.

The Minnesota defense wreaked havoc as it forced three

Dart is able to scramble On 44 carries this season, Dart has 156 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Against South Carolina, Dart ran for a season high 44 yards on eight carries. South Carolina has arguably one of the most prolific pass rushes in the country and held him scoreless through the air. However, Dart being able to use his legs to extend drives was key for the Rebels in their 27-3 win over the Gamecocks.

Against Kentucky, though Dart ran the ball a season-high 13 times, totaling just 22 yards.

He was also sacked a seasonhigh four times. Much of his downfall in the 20-17 loss was his inability to make quick decisions and get rid of the ball or take off with it.

While Ole Miss’ offensive line did struggle to contain Kentucky’s interior defensive line, much of Dart’s sacks were selfinflicted.

This being said, LSU’s defensive front will need to invade the pocket frequently and stay engaged on Dart in order to control the Rebels from stretching the field.

turnovers, including two interceptions on quarterback Miller Moss. Minnesota scored a go-ahead touchdown with 56 seconds left. USC had a chance to tie, but the Trojans’ pass was intercepted by Koi Perich in the end zone to seal the game.

All these outcomes have a butterfly effect.

Although LSU didn’t move up in the AP polls, it helped them in

the SEC race. The Tigers are one of three teams (Texas and Texas A&M) in the SEC who are undefeated in conference play.

LSU is now in the driver’s seat and controls their destiny for the College Football Playoff and SEC Championship.

The toughest stretch of their schedule is coming up, and they have to take care of business first against Ole Miss this Saturday.

Remembering the famous ‘Earthquake Game’ 36 years later

BY ETHAN STENGER

On October 8, 1988, undefeated No. 4 Auburn paraded into Baton Rouge to take on LSU. But this wouldn’t just be another game.

Little did the 79,431 attendees who packed into Tiger Stadium that night know that the game they were about to witness would go down in LSU lore forever: a legendary Saturday night in Baton Rouge.

Earlier in the season, the Bayou Bengals had climbed to No. 9 in the nation following victories over inter-conference rivals No. 11 Texas and Tennessee to start the 1988 campaign.

In the following two weeks, the script flipped. The Tigers failed two strict road tests to unranked Ohio State and No. 17 Florida, falling entirely out of the AP Top 25 as swiftly as they got there. Following the volatile three-week road trip, LSU returned to Baton Rouge to play Auburn.

Returning to Tiger Stadium, following back-to-back road losses to play the No. 4 team in the country, was crucial to the purple and gold’s momentum. After all, there’s no place like home.

LSU knew the importance of its matchup with its fellow SEC Tigers. “You had to be living in a

cave to not know the enormity of that game,” former LSU linebacker Eric Hill said.

The team was at a crossroads. A third straight loss could send an already spiraling squad to a point of no return. But with a win, the Bayou Bengals could turn their season around.

Hill recalls the edge in practice the week leading up to Saturday night’s kickoff. You could cut the atmosphere with a knife.

“It was tense that week,” Hill said. “I just remember [it being] very chippy at practice. Guys were nerved up because we knew there was a big game in our backyard, and we couldn’t allow these guys to come in and take what was ours.”

Every LSU coach and player maintained that mentality throughout the week: defend your backyard. Defense was the name of the game.

Auburn entered the contest with the best defense in the nation, only allowing 44 points through the first month of the season.

The purple and gold’s defense held Auburn’s offense to a measly pair of field goals in a blue-collar contest. Both teams were fighting tooth and nail to compete in a defensive slugfest.

LSU Tigers quarterback Tommy Hudson and running back Eddie Fuller later said it was the most physical game of their college careers.

“Some body blows were being delivered. You were giving and taking. That game was not for the weak,” Hill said. “The young guys that dream about walking through that tunnel and being in Tiger Stadium — understand that those boys [didn’t] want any of that. They want no part of that.”

The problem wasn’t LSU’s defense but its offense. It took the Bayou Bengals until their final offensive drive of the night to penetrate Auburn’s 40-yard line.

“It was one of those classic Southeastern Conference games: low scoring,” Hudson

GABRIELLA GUILLORY / The Reveille LSU football sophomore running back Kaleb Jackson (28) practices during warm ups on Sept. 28 before the play against South Alabama at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

EARTHQUAKE, from page 13

told PBS Louisiana. “It was 6-0 at the time, and time was running out.”

The Tigers were dying for a score, but even after the offense’s repeated struggles all night, there was a sense of belief on the LSU sideline.

“That whole drive, they moved that ball just systematically down the field,” Hill said. “It just looked different opposed to what it looked like the front end of the game.”

Hudson and LSU gunned for the end zone after getting down to the opposing nine-yard line. Fuller dropped what should’ve been a touchdown, and he followed it up with a failed toedrag attempt in the back of the end zone.

The purple and gold were on their last gasp of life following three consecutive incompletions. This was the play of the game. One snap: winner takes all.

“There was nobody sitting

on the bench,” Hill said. “It was all hands on deck.”

Even after his struggles nearly seconds before, Hudson trusted his back and again looked for Fuller. The third time was the charm. Hudson hit Fuller in the back of the end zone, this time for a touchdown.

The Bayou Bengals took their first lead of the night with mere seconds left on the clock. Tiger fans erupted in ecstasy.

“For him to come back to me, that was gratitude for me,” Fuller told PBS Louisiana. “I think it was a little bit of redemption.”

LSU held on 7-6 to knock off No. 4 Auburn by a hair. When Fuller scored the eventual gamewinning touchdown, the Valley shook. Hill, who was named the defensive player of the game by ESPN, says it’s the loudest building he’s ever been in.

“Everybody’s jumping up and hugging each other. We’re talking, but you can’t hear nothing. You can’t hear anything. It was so damn loud,” Hill said. “That touchdown was almost like an

explosion. It was nuts, and in all my years, [I’ve] never seen anything like that. [I’ve] never experienced anything like that.”

Tiger fans were so loud that they showed up on the Richter scale. A seismograph located at the Howe-Russell Geoscience Complex registered the crowd’s reaction to Fuller’s game-winning touchdown as an earthquake.

An LSU legend was born; the rest is history.

Hill didn’t immediately realize the legacy that night would carry. However, over time, it became apparent that Oct. 8, 1988, was no ordinary Saturday night in Death Valley.

“It never really went away. Reporters were still asking you about that game three weeks later,” Hill said. “History has a way of putting puzzle pieces in place. Over time, there have been some great moments in Tiger Stadium, but everybody wants to measure up to that. That’s when you realize how monumental that moment was.”

5 down, 5 to go: A look at LSU soccer’s first half of SEC play

BY AINSLEY FLOOD @ainsleyflood

Only the top 10 of 16 teams make it to the SEC tournament. Now, halfway through the conference calendar, LSU soccer still has a hat in the ring, but barely.

After five matches, LSU is in the No. 10 and final qualifying position in the standings. The team had its fair share of triumphs and struggles with a 2-30 record heading into the next stage of conference play.

In the first three weeks, a lot happened. Here is an LSU midSEC play check-in, including the notable moments from the first five games and a preview of the next five.

What went right

The Tigers won two crucial back-to-back home games last week, which was needed after the loss to Arkansas in their SEC opener.

Against Ole Miss, LSU took over the pitch, dominating possession and tripling the Rebels in shots. This season, the Tigers have has struggled to convert shots to goals, and it showed in this match.

Right before halftime, forward Andrea Iljkic sent her free kick into the goal, which became the sole point of the night. Her ability to make that moment count and ultimately win the match was a big victory for the team early in the conference.

Four days later, Oklahoma got a taste of what it is like to play LSU when its at the top of its game.

Ava Galligan, Ida Hermannsdottir and Ava Amsden each made a goal in the 90 minutes. Galligan and Hermannsdottir made runs past all defenders and into the 18-yard box while Amsden, a freshman, got her

first career goal from a penalty kick.

In a 3-1 victory over the Sooners, the match was a perfect example of taking full advantage of possession in the offense and not giving up scoring opportunities.

Defenders such as Jazmin Ferguson made it all possible, allowing only one goal with an almost unbreakable formation throughout the week.

These two matches proved LSU is not a team who belongs at the bottom, and had the potential to give its upcoming ranked opponents a real challenge.

What went wrong

Unfortunately, the next week took a painful turn for the Tigers with matchups against two teams in the United Soccer Coaches’ top 10.

LSU almost played Arkansas, the top team in teh SEC, to a draw in its first conference match on Sept. 19, but gave up one too many chances leading to a 1-0 loss. The tight match combined with the two home wins set spirits high for a tough week.

Like the Arkansas match, LSU held Mississippi State scoreless in the first half. With immense pressure on defense, goalkeeper Audur Scheving did everything to keep it even.

In the second half, the defense could not keep up and Mississippi State’s Ally Perry scored twice within the 51st minute.

LSU’s offense was ineffective and was completely stumped by Mississippi State’s back line. The Tigers could not keep possession, which showed in shots with 22 to Mississippi State’s and one to LSU.

After this defeat, it only got harder for LSU. Auburn took almost all control of the Friday

night match, which ended in a 4-0 shutout.

From a statistical perspective, this was LSU’s toughest loss yet. Similar to the Mississippi State game, the Tiger’s could find only four shots to Auburn’s 23.

A depleted defense let Auburn make plays into the 18 and left players close to the net unguarded. LSU’s performance in this game will be a turning point for it, good or bad.

What’s next

Having played the top three ranked opponents already, the team should be well prepped for what’s to come.

This Thursday, Oct. 10, LSU will go head-to-head with their neighbor in the standings, No. 9 Kentucky. Both teams are tied with six conference points each.

The odds are close. Kentucky has taken more shots but LSU

has more goals. The Wildcat’s defense is strong and has only allowed seven goals, one-third of the amount LSU has. Last season, Kentucky was responsible for knocking the Tigers out of the SEC tournament after overtime on penalty kicks.

LSU’s offense will have to step up as these closer matchups carry more weight in the final stages of SEC play.

On the following Sunday, Oct. 13, the Tigers will face off against University of Texas in Baton Rouge.

The Longhorns are No. 8 in the SEC standings with a 2-2-1 record.

With similar game results to LSU, player differences and coaching will play a big role in the match.

Texas has two leading shooters in the SEC in Lexi

and Amalia Villareal. Missimo is tied with LSU’s Hermannsdottir with seven goals a piece, and she will be one to watch come game time.

A well rounded group, the longhorns have taken the most shots in the conference and eight shutouts this season.

The Tigers will have no room for error in what is destined to be another close matchup. Possession and offensive breakthroughs will be an important factor in finding the game-winning goal, as well as maintaining a solid midfield and back four.

With half of the calendar remaining, LSU still has plenty of time to fix itself into a safer position among the SEC top 10. Matches will grow in significance, as losses become heavier and wins become sweeter.

The Reveille Archives

An SEC official signals good LSU tailback Eddie Fuller’s 11-yard catch from quarterback Tom Hodson that clinched the Tigers 7-6 victory over No. 4 Auburn on October 8, 1988.

Missimo

MALEAH BOURGEOIS / The Reveille

LSU soccer junior defender Jocelyn Olivierre (2) passes the ball on Oct. 4 during LSU soccer’s 4-0 loss to Auburn at the LSU Soccer Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

OPINION

Porn addiction is rotting your brain, and it’s embarassing

TANTAWI’S TABLOID

MOHAMMAD TANTAWI @mowinator

To get all the Andrew Tate fanboys out of the room, quitting porn doesn’t mean you will attract more girls, hit the gym more or have confidence radiating out of your nipples. This is not just a male issue, but relax men, you definitely are leading the pack making up 79% of PornHub visits in the United States.

There came a point in my life when I began to feel embarrassed at the idea of watching people have sex.

I would choose a video with a girl I saw as attractive only to watch another man have sex with her while I watched. Frankly, I felt like a cuck. If that’s your thing, have a ball, but learning to enjoy it because of a hesitancy to pursue sexual relations with real women was not something I could continue doing. The fantasies I was indulging in were unrealistic, but it was that hyperbolic nature that made it so seductive.

From the hot takes related to the NoFap, manosphere content to the proud viewers who enjoy the show, let us begin with a guy (me) holding a sign marked, “Let’s Talk Porn.”

My thought experiment began on the quad asking people three yes or no questions.

1.Do you watch Porn?

2.Do you find it embarrassing that other people watch it?

3.Would you date someone knowing they watch it?

This was a good starting point for me. Using this small sample size, I was able to compare the responses to bigger data collections. Standing in such a crowded area, I received a lot of refusals to answer the questions and found women, primarily, were much less likely to stop. The poster may have been off putting along with the time of day and my approach, but the survey did its job as a sensitivity litmus test.

While receiving people’s answers, I started to doubt the truthfulness of the responses. I could hear the beginnings of a no turn into a yes, and it felt like being at a Donald Trump rally trying to find hidden Kamala Harris supporters. I was standing in the quad with people zooming by in every direction in earshot of my voice, so respon-

dents were naturally aware of being overheard. The answers to the first question regarding whether they consumed porn with males reporting 28% and females reporting 0% respectively, were complete lies. The funny part was more males reported finding it embarrassing for others to watch it than those who reported using porn. The numbers didn’t add up.

It’s a touchy subject, and despite sexual satisfaction being a universal need, taking care of your urges on your own is kept under dim light. Obscene, pornographic material has a long history of stirring controversy and raising questions as to how it should be governed. People have fought for the ability to create and distribute Xrated content through court rulings such as Miller v. California, (1973) and United States v. Playboy Entertainment Group (2000), which have legitimized First Amendment protected routes to do so.

From nude brothels to Hustler Magazine, the porn industry has long been established, and currently boasts 100 billion dollars of global revenue per year. You may doubt the moral legitimacy of the industry, but our economy incentivizes the creation of such products and services. The demand for X-rated content created a market booming in innovation, bringing us from dirty letters to webcam models. LifePlan reports $3,075 are spent on pornography every second; porn is as coveted as toilet paper.

In 2020, we saw a rise in porn consumption that scientists attributed to many things, one being loneliness. During the pandemic, men isolated from sexual contact were left to fend for themselves. With less than a 1% match rate on Tinder, men had to find alternative modes of satisfaction. Only Fans users skyrocketed from 7.5 to 85 million reported users with some creators earning as much as 100,000 per month.

Currently, OnlyFans has 238.85 million users with 87% of the audience being male. Pornhub’s 2023 analytics provides increasing specificity as to the ages of these males with the average Pornhub visitor being 37-years-old. Deducting from the census bureau’s 2021 report finding the average age of marriage being 30, combined with PornHub’s 71% of usership being males, we can reasonably assume many of these users are married men and use porn to supplement their sexual fantasies.

Is it wrong? Well, it depends on

who you ask.

Psychology Today published an article citing a study concerning porn addiction and self perception. The study found viewing yourself as a porn addict predicted lifestyle downfalls while indulging in porn did not. Dr. David J. Ley blames the media’s portrayal and attention as creating a label that preys upon users to perceive themselves poorly.

The Addiction Center finds more credence in bringing awareness to porn consumption raising the issue of excessive dopamine release and defensive measures the brain takes against it.

To put on my fake topic expert YouTube hat, both shaming and over consumption are separate issues with immense complexity. Studies suggest that the responsibility is on us to remain up-to-date on the latest studies and let the experts guide us. If you feel like you have a problem, then seek a solution. If you do not see a problem, I suggest buying your lotion in bulk to save money.

Porn usage and pornagraphic preferences resemble looking inward versus looking outward. As valuable as it may be to examine why you watch porn, broad fetishes can illuminate societal stigmas and prejudices lurking in the shadows.

The sexual objectification and humiliation of black women has a long history in the United States and still exists today. The mutilation and sexual assault of black bodies are ingrained in the history of this country. Political wars over critical race theory and multiculturalism rage on, while a silent majority maintain their prejudices and attraction toward black women.

For example, Ghetto Gaggers, one pornographic website with over 300,000 monthly visitors encourages viewers to “join to see white boys conquering angry black women.” This displays a perverted, deviant attraction to the domination and abuse of Black women (I shall leave you the liberty to dig for more information on that).

This is nothing new. White people have long romanticized the abuse of black women as can be seen in the 2005 film, “Sally Hemings An American Love Story.” I can’t count how many times I have heard “I just don’t find black women attractive” or the phrase, “jungle fever.” These statements, and many more, are the voiced expressions of repressed prejudices, but fortunately for us, porn has got us covered.

When it comes to race, porn and dating statistics point to a racial hy-

pocrisy. A study examining heterosexual interactions found that Black women receive the least interactions from men regardless of race. Despite these findings, PornHub reported Ebony as the most viewed category in the United States. When comparing the gender gap between white and Black people regarding interracial marriage, Pew Research found white people, regardless of gender, marry outside their race at similar rates while Black women are 50% less likely than Black men to marry outside their race. Black women receive the least interactions of all women and are less likely to go outside their race than Black men. While PornHub Statis-

racial bias.

The point is, transcend past practices and give Black people a chance in your romantic endeavors.

Connecting all those dots hurts my brain, so allow me to put my fake topic expert hat back on.

Sex as a medium of connection and pleasure can get lost if done for the wrong reasons. Overly fixating on the pleasures of “getting off” can leave you looking like the dog humping the stuffing out of a pillow. Learn to control your desires and, better yet, your mind. The discipline of refraining from selfindulgence is a universal ideal, but in this case, the secrecy included in watching porn can be hidden from

tics show Black women in one way, online dating interaction points in the other direction.

If you dare to accredit Ebony’s top ranking to the 13.7% of Black Americans, I would direct you to a study showing Black men and women consume porn at higher rates than their white counterparts. It would make sense when considering the tendency of people to seek out people within their race; however this rebuttal may fall apart when looking at studies using the implicit association test.

A 2002 study showed the lack of a pro-Black implicit bias from African American to what scientists attributed to social stereotypes. In other words, Black Americans have the internalized self hatred learned from social constructs created by their environment regarding their identities. The implicit association test is not full proof, nor has it fared without criticism. It was simply a tool used to gain insight on

others, making denying it even harder.

There are many principles you may want to consider. Accept the fact that you are enamored with a fictional character. It’s cute to believe in Santa as a child. It’s cute to marvel at your first depiction of sex as a middle schooler. With sex education in an abysmal state, seeing a version of sex, despite its hyperbolic display, may be an enlightening step along your journey.

No matter how fruitful, it’s time to learn from the child who realizes no fat man is easing his ballooned rear end down the chimney. You are not Johnny Sins and your girl is not Riley Reid. Like anything, sex is something you get better at the more you do it. Your first few times, you may look like a squirrel having a seizure, and that’s okay.

Mohammad Tantawi is a 23-yearold mass communication senior from Smyrna, TN.

Editorial Policies and Procedures Quote of the Week

EDITORIAL BOARD

Colin Falcon Editor in Chief

Managing Editor John Buzbee

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 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.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

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New age feminism is separatist and counterproductive

AMYRI’S

VANTAGE

AMYRI JONES

@acamelliasssss

No, I’m not a pick-me. Yes, I’m a feminist, but I prefer the word womanist. I’ve come to the realization that new-age feminism isn’t for me. It appears that this branch of feminism has lost the substance that so many of the feminists of the past had. Feminism initially focused on the acquisition and protection of women’s civil rights, but now it seems as if feminism’s original purpose has been diluted.

To be a feminist as a woman was held in such high regard in the past, but now the word doesn’t hold the same value. I don’t think newage, die-hard feminists genuinely care about women’s rights. I think they only seek to reverse the power dynamics of a system, patriarchy, which benefits no one. It’s counterproductive and sad to see.

The patriarchy affects both men and women. As a feminist, you believe in challenging this system that also centers around women. Being a feminist isn’t about your hatred for men, though I understand your feelings, especially if you’ve been victimized by men. Being a feminist is specifically about political action,

social mobility and improving or preserving women’s security.

Feminism and misandry shouldn’t be conflated yet, newage feminism does just that. From videos of feminine coaches teaching women how to manipulate men to the phrase “I support women’s rights and wrongs,” and the radical feminists who shun anyone who has different opinions from them, modern feminists have been led astray from feminism.

Another issue I have with this new form of feminism is the feminist theorists. Theories are important because they’re a way to analyze the world around you, including its systems, practices, patterns and so on. However, the feminist theorists view theory as the end all be all. They’re fundamentalists in this way. The problem is that there is no room for nuances in the application of these theories. The radical feminists view theory as some sort of rigid, regulatory book.

As I always say, humans are way too complex, so you’re bound to dehumanize someone if you aren’t careful with your theoretical thinking. For example, I’ve seen a radical feminist completely degrade a woman for being a sex worker. What the feminist didn’t know is that the woman was a victim of abuse and was led into the field of sex work

due to a lack of resources and exploitation. Sentiments like hers can be found all throughout radical feminist literature. It’s alienating and does more harm than good.

The good news is that there is a way to challenge this form of feminism and to drive it out of our spaces. I can’t speak for other races of women, but as a black woman, I believe it’s possible to combat the spread of new-age feminism with an antidote that was created for us and by us: womanism.

Alice Walker defines a womanist as “a feminist of color, a woman who loves other women (sexually and/or nonsexually), values women’s culture, emotional flexibility and strength, is committed to the wholeness and survival of all people, male and female, and values the soul and wellbeing of the Black community.”

As you can see here, womanism goes beyond the fight for civil rights. Womanism preaches the beauty of community, cultural pride, womanhood, equity and love. This branch of feminism captures the fullness of black womanhood and while it’s only meant for black women, I do think that other races of women can and should take notes.

Despite my rejection of newage feminism, I do somewhat empathize with them. After all, a lot

of their anger and hatred is misdirected. Perhaps it’s not men or other women that they’re actually upset with, but rather the system of patriarchy that men benefit from. In order to solve social issues, you have to understand the problem and those who benefit from the problem. Then, you have to try to work together to resolve the matter, though the beneficiaries should be responsible for the heavier loads of

this work.

I think we all should be feminists, but not the new age ones. Womanism is what real feminism is supposed to look like and until more people consider this, we will continue to see the misuse of the term feminist.

Amyri Jones is a 22-year-old digital advertising and religious studies senior from Baton Rouge.

RODGER MALLISON/ The Reveille People carry signs during a Women’s March in Fort Worth, Texas, Jan. 20, 2018. On the anniversary of President Donald Trump’s inauguration, people participating in rallies and marches in the U.S. and around the world Saturday denounced his views on immigration, abortion, LGBT rights, women’s rights and more. (Rodger Mallison/Star-Telegram via AP)

The Plea of the Palestinian People; The Story of the Nakba

ANDREW’S ANGLE

ANDREW SARHAN

@SarhanAndrew

About a year ago, Hamas militants attacked the Re’im music festival, causing the death of 364 people, acccording to The Times of Isreal. In addition, Hamas took 40 hostages. Since this tragic day, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have killed 42,612 Palestinians, as stated by Al Jazeera.

There is no doubt that Oct. 7 was a tragedy. As there was no reason as to why Hamas targeted a music festival. There is also, however, no reason as to why the IDF has killed such a large number of Palestinians in revenge. Nor is there a justification as to the 9,440 Palestinian hostages that Israel took, either, according to B’Tselem.

Both the IDF and Hamas commit atrocities every day. The IDF blames Hamas for the destruction and Hamas blames the IDF. It is a blame game of people’s lives, and this constant shifting of the message is preventing the progression toward a ceasefire and peace.

This conflict has recently worsened for civilians in the area with Iran’s barrage on Israel and the IDF’s invasion of Lebanon. The more people getting involved, more destruction occurs, more pain civilians have to suffer through and the more that my ancestral land is destroyed.

A common argument used against the establishment of a Pal-

estinian state is that there was a ceasefire on Oct. 6, which is not true. In fact, three days before the massacre on Oct. 7, three Palestinians in the West Bank were killed by the IDF.

The true story behind this bloody conflict actually starts 76 years ago, with the Nakba. The Nakba is essentially the Israeli version of the Trail of Tears, forcing Palestinians out of their homes so that settlers could live on their lands.

The British government touted this land as being a land without people, which was not true.

I asked 100 LSU students if they knew anything about the Nakba.

To my surprise, five students knew about the Nakba, with only two being able to explain to me what happened on that day. Unfortunately, it isn’t surprising that this isn’t taught in American schools. These are the same schools that still teach that Christopher Columbus was merely an explorer and not a genocidal conqueror.

With that in mind, this article exists to educate others on the events of the Nakba. Many survivors of the Nakba had their whole culture erased, hence why some describe the Nakba as an ethnic cleansing. However, the Nakba was more than that, it was a genocide.

Unfortunately, since the Nakba was in 1948, most of the survivors have died. I pondered how to approach this subject for some time, until I called my father, who informed me that my grandmother was alive during the Nakba. He told me some of the basic facts of her

experience, but I decided to interview her about her experiences, and what her parents had to go through.

My sito (grandmother), Nadia Essa, 78, was born in Jerusalem, Palestine. She was just two years old during the Nakba and her whole family was forcibly removed from their home in Jerusalem.

“Initially, my family welcomed the Israelis with Arab hospitality,” she said. “They broke bread together, drank tea together, and we were at peace.” Then, in 1948, an Israeli gang came to her family’s house. “My mother told me that a gun was put on my father’s head, threatening to shoot if we did not leave.” she said. She then later explained that they evacuated to Jericho, Palestine.

Six years later in 1954, the Israelis settled into the area, including the city of Jericho. She was 8 years old at the time, and was again, forced out of her home. The difference this time was that she remembered what happened. They were given only one hour to move all of their belongings out of their home. One hour, to uproot their entire lives and everything they had built.

After this exodus from Jericho, she and her family fled to the country of Jordan, where she was given refugee status. Eventually, she became a citizen of Jordan, and according to her, the Palestinians who were forced to leave their homes in Palestine and fled to Jordan were given Jordanian citizenship. And with that, their culture and the title of their home was erased. That day, an entire family of Palestinians be -

came Jordanians, and their former selves were erased.

In Middle Eastern politics, Palestine is being used as a pawn. I despite Arab culture emphasizing brotherly love and the Arab nations claiming to support greater Arab unity, these principles rarely apply to Palestine. This is particularly visible in Egypt. As it has consistently refused to open its borders to Palestinian refugees, even refusing them refuge in the Egyptian city of Rafah, which is directly adjacent to the Palestinian city of the same name.

My grandmother’s case, wherein she obtained citizenship from Jordan, is rare. Jordan no longer offers citizenship to fleeing Palestinians. Jordan ceased to offer citizenship to Gazan refugees in 1967, citing a litany of logistics and political reasons. One of the primary reasons cited is the economic impact of allowing in new Palestinian refugees, as Jordan is a relatively poor country by international standards. However, the economic argument falls apart in the case of Saudi Arabia, which is ranked 18th globally in terms of GDP, according to World Economics. Saudi Arabia has the ability to accept these refugees, and yet, they don’t.

A clear example of the hypocrisy of the Arab world’s proclaimed support for Palestine is visible in the Manama Declaration. Passed at the 2024 Arab League Summit, it calls on a UN peacekeeping mission to be deployed to occupied Palestinian lands, an immediate ceasefire and a lasting resolution to the conflict. These reasonable ideals are

fantastic on paper, and yet when Palestinians inevitably require aid in fleeing genocide and oppression, their “brothers” are nowhere to be found.

Writing this article was a significant labor, one of the greatest labors I have undertaken for a piece of writing. I struggled to interview my grandmother, separated by language. I grappled with my own perspective, my passionate support for my family and their homeland, which conflicts with my pragmatism and desire to see a realistic and achievable peace. Yet despite each setback, I felt a deep desire to keep pushing, to ensure that this story could be heard.

For decades, the Palestinian people have been an endangered nation, perpetually at risk of being wiped off the map. Yet, they persist. They persist for their homes, land and the opportunity to prosper and live their lives in peace.

So what is the point of this article? This article is my plea for peace in the region. To end Israeli apartheid, for reparations to the Palestinians who were displaced to be made, for Israeli and Palestinian people to come together and develop a working society together, instead of separated.

“We are the children of all the survivors, justice will shine on,” Armenian-American activist and musician Serj Tankian sang in his song, Justice Will Shine On.

Andrew Sarhan is an 18-year-old mass communication freshman from Baton Rouge, LA.