Taylor Swift’s world-famous Eras Tour stops in New Orleans for a weekend of friendship bracelets and chart-topping music.
A Y L R A K E O V E R T
Photo courtesy of TAS Rights Management
SPORTS
ENCORE!
Taylor Swift leaves the Crescent City in a new Era
BY OLIVIA TOMLINSON @oliviamersade
NEW ORLEANS — Ten eras. Forty-four songs. Three nights in New Orleans.
The second leg of the U.S. Eras Tour kicked off on Oct. 18. This time around, the tour only has three stops, compared to the 53 of the last leg. Three nights in Miami, three nights in New Orleans and three nights in Indianapolis. Swift performed at the Caesars Superdome this past weekend, Oct. 25 to 27, in New Orleans, and the entire city wasted no time to piggyback off her success and massive influence.
Swift was happy to express her gratitude to the city and its fans during her night three show.
“I have been so moved and so blown away by the way that this city has embraced us and welcomed us,” she said. “So can y’all just please say a big ‘Thank you New Orleans.’”
Swift’s first round of the Eras Tour generated $2 billion just from ticket sales, with $700 million coming from just the North American tour. Her overall revenue surpassed $4.1 billion, and the singer reportedly makes around $13.6 million per show.
Time predicts that by the end of 2024, the tour will have brought in an astronomical $2.165 billion. In comparison, the second-highest grossing tour of all time is Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, which earned $399 million from 2018 to 2023.
Swifties fought for tickets on Ticketmaster and have come from all over the country to see the pop sensation perform in New Orleans. The limited number of shows on this round of the tour guaranteed thousands of tourists in the city. With Swift’s stage set up, a sold-out Superdome can fit 65,000 fans, over the course of the three nights, that totals to 195,000 fans.
“She puts on the greatest show ever,” Gracie Abrams, who has been opening for Swift on this leg of the tour, said on stage at night three of the Eras Tour.
Local businesses completely turned New Orleans into a Taylor Swift festival. Storefronts near the French Quarter and Central Business District were covered in Eras Tour-themed displays and items.
The French Quarter staple Cafe du Monde had a line wrapped around the building and down the street throughout the weekend so fans could purchase beignets with pink and blue powdered sugar representing Swift’s presence in the city.
Taylor Swift performs at the Caesars Superdome during the Eras Tour concert in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Oct. 27, 2024.
French Truck Coffee announced special coffee cups on Thursday Oct. 26 in the same format as the tour poster and completely sold out the next day.
“Swifties, we’re completely out of our Taylor Swift NOLA Era cups,” French Truck wrote on Instagram one day after the release of the cups. “The response has been absolutely incredible.”
“I have been so moved and so blown away by the way that this city has embraced us and welcomed us.”
TAYLOR SWIFT
American musical icon
Stoney Clover, located at 3938 Magazine St., hung friendship bracelets over the entire front of its store and hosted a friendship bracelet-making party throughout the weekend.
Making friendship bracelets was a tradition created by fans at the start of the tour.
The city of beads took this ritual to the extreme. The Superdome reached out to Miamibased artist Shawn Kolodny to create a larger than life, inflatable friendship bracelet reading “Taylor Swift The Eras Tour” to cover the side of the dome.
“I love it; it’s definitely a photo op you can’t do anywhere else,” said Swiftie Trin-
A recap of NOLA’s surprise songs
BY OLIVIA TOMLINSON @oliviamersade
Each performance on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has an identical routine, except for a specific section: the acoustic set.
At each show, Swift performs an acoustic set dedicated to her songs that didn’t make the setlist. The songs are always a surprise for the crowd and are never repeated. Here is every surprise song played throughout the weekend of the Eras Tour in New Orleans: Friday, Oct. 25
“Our Song” and “Call It What You Want”
Swift took a trip down memory lane to reminisce on her country roots. She paid tribute to her and Louisiana’s shared love for country music by playing “Our Song” off her debut country album “Taylor Swift.” She combined it with “Call it What You Want” off “Reputation.”
B-16 Hodges Hall
ity Thompson from South Carolina. “Everyone passing out friendship bracelets is so fun. I met like 100 different people already.”
Fans from out of state loved the atmosphere throughout the city. Most knew that New Orleans was an energetic and chaotic scene, but this was unlike anything they had seen before.
“It’s super fun seeing how lively the city can be outside of Mardi Gras,” Bailey Thompson, another fan from South Carolina said. “The city is thriving.”
Owner of Fleurty Girl and New Orleans native Lauren LeBlanc Haydel, 43, has nine shops across the state. The shop has Mardi Gras clothing and lots of sparkles, a perfect place for New Orleans Swifties to shop. Though the store deals with people flooding in to purchase items every year during Mardi Gras, no carnival season has compared to this past weekend.
“We’ve never seen anything like this,” Haydel said. “We have done 12 Mardi Gras in the French Quarter, and none of it has been as big as this weekend for us.”
Bourbon Street, the popular destination in New Orleans for partying, was perpetually filled with Swifties singing their hearts out. Fans gathered in the street to show off their love for Swift all weekend. Although most fans on Bourbon are ticket holders, some of the Swifties are out there rather than attending the concert
“It was really the shot in the arm that we needed after a very slow year,” Haydel said. “The French Quarter needed this and the customers have been amazing. City is magical right now.”
“I’ve been touring in Louisiana since I was like 15 years old,” Swift said on stage. “You guys have been so supportive, and I’m really proud of having come from country music, so I thought we might like to begin at the beginning.”
“The Black Dog” and “Haunted”
The second half of the surprise song set on night one was played on the piano. Taylor played a mashup of “The Black Dog” off her latest album, “The Tortured Poets Department” and “Haunted” off her 2010 album “Speak Now.”
Saturday, Oct. 26
“Espresso,” “Please Please Please” and “Is It Over Now?”
Fans know that surprise is the goal of the acoustic set, yet Swift still managed to shock fans on night two in New Orleans.
After a short and sweet phone call, Carpenter took the stage, joining Swift. The two then sang “Espresso” and “Please Please Please,” another hit off the latest album by Carpenter. Carpenter’s two songs were interpolated with “Is It Over Now?” from the “1989” vault.
“Welcome to New York” and “Hits Different”
Alone on the piano, Swift performed “Welcome to New York” off “1989” and “Hits Different” from “Midnights” combined into a flawless, single song.
Sunday, Oct. 27
“Afterglow” and “Dress”
After an impressive outfit change, Swift started with only a few seconds of “Afterglow” off her album “Lover” and blended “Dress” off her “Reputation” album.
“How You Get The Girl” and “Clean”
On the night of the 10th anniversary of “1989,” Swift went to the guitar to celebrate the birthday with a combination of two deep cuts from the album. “How You Get the Girl” and “Clean” were the fan favorites on display during this portion.
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SPORTS TOTAL COLLAPSE
LSU suffers its second loss of the season to Texas A&M amidst second half struggles
BY TYLER HARDEN @ttjharden8
It took a quarterback change.
Marcel Reed taking his first snap of the game for an 8-yard score was all it took for a momentum shift, leading Texas A&M to a 38-23 win over LSU.
“We didn’t really prepare for it, honestly. We didn’t think that he [Reed] was going to come into the game,” senior linebacker Greg Penn III said. “Him coming in the game kind of threw us off guard.”
The shift in energy was visible; Aggie fans waved their white towels a little quicker, Kyle Field was a little louder and the blackout for Texas A&M shined brighter than LSU’s all-white uniforms.
After Reed scored for Texas A&M, the Aggies’ defensive front became more aggressive than it’s already known for being.
Nic Scourton led the Aggie defensive line with four tackles and half a sack. Taurean York led the team with seven tackles, including a tackle for loss and an interception.
The Aggies put pressure on Nussmeier, forcing him to throw an interception with 8:17 left in the third quarter. Nussmeier was forced to make quick decisions, and the change of tempo changed his demeanor.
“I don’t think we give him enough balance within the offense,” LSU head coach Brian
Kelly said. “It makes him vulnerable because he has to do so much.”
Nussmeier finished with 405 passing yards, two touchdowns in the air, a touchdown on the ground and 25-of-50 passing. But three costly interceptions gave the Aggies life, and they took advantage.
BJ Mayes came away with two interceptions, and York came away with one.
“Things obviously didn’t go our way,” Nussmeier said. “I have to do a better job taking care of the football.”
But from Nussmeier, however, it wasn’t all bad.
He spread the ball around through the air, hitting nine different targets throughout the night. Aaron Anderson led the team with three receptions and a touchdown for 126 yards. Kyren Lacy added 106 yards on five receptions.
Chris Hilton Jr. made his longawaited return to LSU’s offense, finishing with two receptions for 36 yards.
While Caden Durham had four catches for 56 yards, LSU’s run attack was almost non-existent.
The Tigers finished with 23 carries for 24 yards on the ground, averaging just over a yard per carry.
“I’m disappointed... That’s not what we expected,” Kelly said.
“We spent a lot of time on our run game, and we should do bet-
ter there.”
In contrast, Texas A&M totaled 242 rushing yards as a team. Le’Veon Moss finished with 83 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, and Amari Daniels added 91 yards on 12 carries.
Reed finished with 62 rushing yards and three touchdowns on nine carries, proving to be an additional run threat to the Aggies’ offense.
After Nussmeier’s second interception, Reed found the end zone again for a four-yard score.
But Reed was also a threat through the air, finishing with 70 passing yards on 2-of-2 passing.
Conner Weigman, who made the start at quarterback for Texas A&M, finished with 64 passing yards on 6-of-18 passing.
In the first half, LSU’s defense contained Texas A&M’s run threats to a minimum. Moss, in fact, was temporarily out of the game with apparent stomach troubles.
But he returned in the second half, allowing his run ability to work proficiently with Reed and Daniels.
Bradyn Swinson led the defense with seven total tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss. Greg Penn III totaled six tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss, and Whit Weeks added seven tackles.
Zy Alexander and Jay’Viar Suggs also had sacks for LSU.
But one problem in the first half came back to haunt LSU in
the second. Damian Ramos missed two field goals from 48 and 49 yards out. Another 46-yard attempt from Ramos ended up resulting in a turnover after a bad snap.
“That’s the second time that’s happened,” Kelly said of the missed snap. “We’ll make sure that never happens again, ever.”
Those hypothetical points would not have put LSU past
Turnovers
Texas A&M. But positive momentum was deemed game-changing on Saturday for Texas A&M, so it may have been for LSU as well.
Now, the Tigers are forced to leave College Station thinking of what could have been instead of what was.
“It’s big for us to come back from this,” Nussmeier said. “Everything we want is still in front of us.”
squander
LSU’s early momentum
BY JASON WILLIS @JasonWillis4
COLLEGE STATION, Texas —
At least in theory, Texas A&M was not built to play from behind.
Not only had the Aggies not trailed by double digits at any point in SEC play until LSU took a 17-7 lead on Saturday, but being behind by so much would seemingly force Texas A&M to go away from its elite rushing attack to its unreliable passing game.
But A&M didn’t have to play in catch-up mode for long.
Midway through the third quarter, pressure flushed LSU redshirt junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier out to his left and prompted him to throw up a jump ball to redshirt sophomore receiver Aaron Anderson. It was picked
by Texas A&M and set the team up with the ball deep in LSU territory.
Nussmeier’s mistake swung the momentum violently toward Texas A&M. Texas A&M scored on the next play, and it was a rapid descent from there as the Aggies rode the wave to a 38-23 win.
“I’ve never seen anything like that, flips like that,” senior linebacker Greg Penn III said. “Obviously, I’ve seen it now.”
The great field position and quick swing in energy from Nussmeier’s interception went from making Texas A&M lean on its struggling passing attack to allowing it to get back to its bread and butter.
In fact, the Aggies banked
see THIRD, page 9
GABRIELLA GUILLORY / The Reveille
LSU players leave the stadium while Texas A&M celebrates on Oct. 26 during LSU’s 23-38 loss against Texas A&M at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas.
NEWS MR. PRESIDENT
Now student body president, Joseph Liberto was once an SG outsider
BY AIDAN ANTHAUME
Joseph Liberto didn’t always see himself as the face of LSU Student Government.
But now, as student body president, the New Orleans native is reshaping how SG connects with students, bringing a fresh perspective to the role.
From Jesuit High School to LSU
Liberto’s journey began at Jesuit High School in New Orleans, where his early leadership experiences laid the foundation for his approach to student government at LSU.
“I loved Jesuit. I was Student Body President there,” he reflects. “Leadership is leadership, if you’re able to lead in high school, you can lead in college – it’s just bigger and takes more effort.”
And bigger it certainly is.
Managing a campus of over 30,000 students is a stark contrast to the 1,000-student environment the international trade and finance junior once knew.
“It’s not pep rallies anymore,” Liberto said.
But for Liberto, the transition wasn’t just about scale. It was about maintaining the personal touch he honed in high school.
“It’s the little things, like smiling in the hallways,” he explained, “making people feel welcome and talking to them.”
Liberto highlighted that this sense of community, no matter how large, is at the core of his leadership style.
“It was the same thing in high school,” he said. “At Jesuit, I just wanted to make sure everyone felt heard, and I wanted everyone to know who I was so if they ever needed something, I was there.”
His openness is a trait the Student Senate’s Speaker Pro Tempore Ethan Elmer appreciates.
“Joseph is excellent at socializing with people. He genuinely
desires to connect with people and hear their concerns, as do all members of the Student Government,” said Elmer, a computer science junior.
“He is also very humble, willing to learn and willing to put himself where he’s needed, whether on the front lines, interacting with people or helping things run smoothly behind the scenes,” Elmer said. “He always shows genuine joy in doing whatever he is tasked with.”
Liberto didn’t start out as the typical SG insider.
“Coming in, we didn’t really know the ins and outs,” Liberto said. “Now we know it like the back of our hand.”
He instead focused on his fraternity and philanthropy work. His background as philanthropy chair of Kappa Sigma’s LSU chapter and board member of Hams for Fams, a New Orleans-based nonprofit, provided him with organizational
skills and an understanding of student needs.
“I couldn’t have done any of this without them, they really had my back,” Liberto said about his fraternity brothers in Kappa Sigma. “It was just simple stuff like, ‘Do I look good in this picture?’” he joked.
“I think the thing that stuck with me from high school, and maybe this is just New Orleans, but it’s about making connections when you don’t really need to,” he said. “That goes a long way with people.”
With this approach, Liberto and his running mate, Amelia Carman, centered their campaign on making SG more accessible. Vice President Carman described Liberto as a “go-getter” who is “constantly working to better the student body.”
“We have worked very hard on building a team and getting initiatives pushed out,” Carman said.
Winning The Greek Vote
One of the key strategies behind Liberto’s electoral victory was his connection to LSU Greek life. Both Liberto and Carman leveraged their positions within their respective fraternity and sorority to mobilize the most powerful voting bloc on campus.
“Greek is 30% of campus, and it’s the most active voter bloc too,” Liberto said. “We just reached out to our friends – both me and Amelia are very active in our fraternity and sorority.”
By securing this active voter base, Liberto and Carman were able to establish early support around their campaign.
Angel Shot Initiative
One initiative Liberto wants
ELECTION DAY
Recordbreaking early voting
BY COURTNEY BELL @courtebell09
Saturday marked the end of a record-breaking first week of early voting in Louisiana, with over 25% of registered voters submitting their vote early.
The end of the first week of early voting saw 761,218 voters cast their ballot, either at polling stations or through absentee ballots, according to the Secretary of State’s website. This is around 225,000 votes less than the total amount of early votes cast during the 2020 election, in which 986,428 Louisianans voted early.
to implement at bars near LSU’s campus is the Angel Shot initiative, a safety measure designed to help students who feel unsafe in bars or social venues. Developed in collaboration with “We’re Committed,” an SG department focused on interpersonal violence advocacy, education and prevention, the initiative would enable students to discreetly signal for help by ordering an “angel shot.”
By ordering an “angel shot” in different flavors – strawberry, mango or lime – a bartender can understand the type of assistance needed, whether it’s standing behind the bar for a moment, intervention from security or notifying law enforcement.
“There’s no reason LSU students shouldn’t be safe,” Liberto said. “I think it’s time that we have more safety in the bars themselves.”
This initiative was a part of campaign’s attack on the Red Zone, the name for the months August to November in which reports of sexual assault on college campuses are at a high, with as many as 50% of cases being reported in these four months according to the Center For Women and Families.
“When we started making policy to run on, something that was important to me was Red Zone awareness, so we’ve been working on [the] Angel Shot initiative,” Carman said.
Bridging the Gap
The cornerstone of Liberto’s administration has been increasing SG’s visibility on campus, making sure students not only know about SG, but also feel comfortable engaging with it.
So far, registered Republicans have submitted the most votes, totalling to 348,410 votes. Democrat voters accounted for 273,957 votes and “other” voters for almost 139,000 votes. This differs from 2020, in which Democrat voters submitted the most early votes by over 60,000 votes.
A record-breaking amount of votes were cast on Oct. 19, the first day of early voting.
In total, 176,882 early voters cast their ballot on the first day of early voting, including both inperson and absentee votes, the Louisiana Illuminator reports. This was 1.3% more than the first day of early voting in the 2020 election.
On the first day of early voting, Republicans cast around 75,455 of the votes, and Democrats 74,311 votes. “Other” voters cast 27,166 votes.
Black voter turnout was down on the first day of early voting compared to 2020 according to the Illuminator, with Black voters casting only a quarter of the votes on the first day of early voting this year versus almost a third in 2020.
Early voting runs through Oct. 29, Mondays-Saturdays from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Polling locations can be found at voterportal.sos.la.gov. Registered voters can cast their ballot in person on Nov. 5 if they do not vote early.
@aidanth
ALEXIS PERSICKE / The Reveille
LSU student body president Joe Liberto poses outside the LSU Student Union Sept 18 in Baton Rouge, La.
ALEXIS PERSICKE / The Reveille LSU student body president Joe Liberto talks in his office Sept 18 in Baton Rouge, La.
REAGAN COTTEN / The Reveille The sign points for early voters on Nov. 8, 2023, at the Louisiana State Archives building on Essen Lane in Baton Rouge, La.
Understanding LSU’s financial ties to Israel
Amid activists’ calls for divestment, university maintains clouded relations
BY AIDAN ANTHAUME @aidanth
As LSU continues to see protests calling on the university to divest from Israel, the Reveille set out to uncover the extent of LSU’s investments and collaborations with Israeli universities and institutions.
The United States has long sup -
ported Israel through diplomatic, military and economic partnerships, and LSU’s connections with Israel reflect a small part of that broader relationship. Though LSU’s involvement is limited, it includes collaborations in cutting-edge energy research and major international oil companies.
In 2019, per request of the then associate vice president for re -
search and economic development, LSU established a Memorandum of Understanding with Haifa University, marking its first official partnership with an Israeli institution.
The agreement expired on April 5, 2019, and has not been renewed since, according to Laura Dean, LSU’s director of global partnerships.
“As of today, we have no active partnerships in Israel,” Dean said. “This was the first and only partnership established with an institution in Israel.”
However, one of LSU’s most significant collaborative efforts emerged in 2020 when the university joined the U.S.-Israel Energy Center, an initiative aimed at advancing fossil energy and natural gas technologies.
In joining the initiative, LSU’s College of Engineering partnered with several private companies and American and Israeli universities, including Tel Aviv University, as part of a consortium led by Tulane University.
Despite this, Leonard Ray, an associate professor of political science and director of LSU’s International Studies Program, says that LSU’s connections with Israeli in-
stitutions have been limited both in scope and significance.
“We don’t have a study abroad presence in Israel. . . and any Israeli funding for LSU faculty would be small and intermittent,” Ray said. “Israel has not been a priority for LSU, and LSU has not been a priority for Israel.”
But according to Ryan Spalt, a biochemistry junior and president of Students for a Democratic Society at LSU, there are less visible ways the university benefits from its ties to Israel, particularly through its longstanding partnership with Chevron.
Chevron, recognized as a key economic partner of the Israeli government, plays a significant role in the region’s energy landscape.
LSU on its website describes Chevron as “one of the most valuable and long-term partners of the Mechanical Engineering Program and the MIE Department.”
While difficult to document, LSU’s connections to Israeli institutions reveal complexities that extend beyond individual partnerships.
LSU, Tulane and Loyola University New Orleans are yet to respond to calls to divest.
LIBERTO, from page 4
“Joseph has focused heavily on increasing the visibility of Student Government to the larger student body,” Elmer said. “While this has always been discussed, Joseph is approaching it in a unique way by putting himself in front of as many students as possible and shaking as many hands as possible.”
According to Elmer, “Joseph has a unique ability to remember the names and faces of people, and he is very good at following up with students who see him at events.”
Liberto says this aspect extends beyond policies.
“A lot of it is just being out there. If you put yourself out there you’ll meet some good people.”
And how does the president manage to stay organized through it all? Liberto says, “Outlook calendar, man. Outlook calendar is your best friend.”
As the academic year continues, the true test of Liberto’s presidency may lie not in the early successes, but in how well he and his team can navigate whatever challenges are ahead. But in the meantime, Liberto is ready to help students, no matter the challenge they are facing.
“My door is always open, I try to be in here as much as I can,” Liberto said. “We’ve been hounding the SG email, so if anyone has a problem, email sg@lsu.edu.”
MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille
A pro-Palestinian protester holds a sign reading “Disclose. Divest. Free. Palestine.” May 3 outside of Patrick F. Taylor Hall on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge, La.
ENTERTAINMENT
Student’s business is raising money and eyebrows after Helene
BY EMILY BRACHER
@emily_bracher_
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on Sept. 26, wreaking havoc throughout the East Coast. The storm’s largest impacts were across the southern Appalachians, an unexpected area. One month later, the state of North Carolina, along with other surrounding areas, are still tallying the death toll and cleaning up the remains of what the region used to be.
Selah Price was born and raised in Asheville, N.C. and is now a senior at Louisiana State University. It was the Wednesday before the storm hit when her mom called to tell her the flooding already started. Her initial thought was that it floods all the time in Louisiana, how bad could it be?
After the storm made landfall, she lost all contact with her grandparents for two days. Her grandmother’s brother went missing for another 24 hours. She watched the area that raised her get washed away, as well as the roads and bridges she would take into town.
Not only is Price a student, she’s also a business owner. In efforts to rally attention and support for those affected by Helene, she dedicated a week and a half to sending all of the proceeds made from her boutique London Fossette to those who needed it most. The money went through 828 Strong, which is incorporated through her church back home. Proceeds went towards food, water, medical care, etc.
“I hope to bring more awareness to the severity of the damage and how far from over relief efforts are,” Price said. “This town is no longer going to be the same.”
Western North Carolina faced so much destruction, because unlike the coast, where hurricanes are more common, there was nowhere for the water to go. Very few were prepared for this kind of situation. It has been one month since the storm and water is still not up and running. Price said all residents are required to boil it, even now. According to WXII12, the estimated death toll as of Oct. 26 is at 96, four still remaining unidentified. The numbers change by the week.
“I would say like two or three years before we see what it used to be, or even a fraction of what it used to be,” Price said.
Price entered LSU as a biology major with the hopes of one day becoming a dentist. She was modeling full-time and fully immersed in the fashion world, so she decided to change her major to fashion merchandising in her sophomore year. In December 2022, she purchased her LLC and
officially opened her boutique in March 2023. Everything was online, and in June of that year, she opened two pop-up locations.
“I originally named my business after my hometown area code with a ‘Sex and the City’ vibe,” Price said. “It was very girly and very pink.”
In June 2024, Price rebranded her business and renamed it London Fossette, which she originally wanted to be the name of her own magazine. Inspiration drew from popular teen magazines like Seventeen and Marie Claire. After some time and reflection, she wanted her business to be more unique and personal, which led to her rebrand. She is not only the owner but the accountant, buyer and social media manager.
London Fossette caters to women ages 14 to 28. A majority of her customers are college aged women, either looking for the perfect game day outfit or something neutral to wear on an everyday occasion. The sizes range from extra small to extra large. She tries to bring in new items every season and is slowly working on straying away from just gameday collections.
“As much as we love our colors, not everyone wants to wear purple and gold everyday,” Price said. “I’m really excited to see what the future holds when it comes to selling online.”
The boutique released its “Hello from the 307” collection on Oct. 22, a western inspired series with a wide range of sweaters, jackets and jeans. Price made the trip to Jackson Hole, Wyo. to curate a gallery of pictures for her newest items. Being her own creative director gives her the freedom to come up with items like this and ever since her rebranding, she has thoroughly enjoyed putting together cute and comfortable
collections. Her biggest goal was to make this newest release as affordable as possible.
“College student to college student,” Price said. “I completely understand that it can be hard to treat yourself to a new clothing item or two.”
Price isn’t sure what will come next, but she’s hoping to bring the customers something holiday inspired just in time for the season. In the meantime, she hopes her efforts inspire and influence others to send help where help is needed by doing what they can to help the victims of Hurricane Helene. For more information on donating through 828 Strong, check out the link here and check out London Fossette here.
“I have many dreams and many of them are coming true early on,” Price said.
OLIVIA’S ORDER:
TORCHY’S TACOS
A classic Baton Rouge dish is just around the corner from Tiger Stadium, Torchy’s Tacos is an LSU favorite.
The taco shop offers a variety of unique tacos, but the green chile queso is what stands out. This award-winning dip is a spicy cheese dip topped with cotija cheese, cilantro, diablo sauce and guacamole and is served with chips. Torchy’s has perfected the unusual blend of queso and avocado in one dip. This queso is so popular that fans have started to attempt to make their own recipes to share online.
Just one taco and a side of chips and queso makes an excellent lunch for any LSU student. The chips and queso will run you about $7.75, but can definitely be shared with friends. For only about seven dollars, the queso feels never ending. Currently, there’s a deal called the trailer park combo. This combo will only cost $10.50 and includes three items: a trailer park taco, a regular fountain drink and a half order of the famous chips and queso.
Torchy’s website says the chips and queso is best paired with a trailer park taco, so be sure to take advantage of this deal before it ends.
3658
Nicholson Dr
Torchy’s Green Chile queso and chips
EMILY BRACHER / The Reveille
A picture from London Fossette’s newest collection
MIKE CARLSON / AP PHOTO
An American flag sits in floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in the Shore Acres neighborhood Sept. 27 in St. Petersburg, Fl.
ERAS TOUR AMAZEMENT
Sabrina Carpenter joins Taylor Swift on stage at second night of Eras Tour in New Orleans
BY COLIN FALCON
Taylor Swift’s second night in New Orleans for her worldfamous Eras Tour had a surprise guest when Sabrina Carpenter joined Swift on stage for renditions of “Espresso” and “Please Pleae Please” on Saturday, Oct. 26.
“I love my friend, and I’m so proud of Sabrina,” Swift said before Carpenter’s entrance. Swift performed again on Sunday night, making three consecutive shows in the Crescent City.
Carpenter’s time on stage was short and sweet, but the crowd wasn’t shy about showing its love, with cheers and screams
heard long after she had exited the scene.
The surprise song portion of the concert is usually reserved for acoustic guitar and piano performances of Swift’s songs that didn’t make the set list. With Carpenter on the guitar section, “Welcome to New York” from “1989” and “Hits Different” from “Midnights” were combined into
a medley performance for the piano portion.
Swift and Carpenter have worked together before, even collaborating earlier in the Eras Tour. Carpenter opened for Swift on several dates when the tour was making its rounds in North America.
For most fans, Carpenter’s presence was a total surprise,
and a welcome one at that. By the time she hit the stage, fans were already screaming, as Swift had staged a phone call with the performer before she took the stage.
“I almost died from surprise,” said Grace Gibbons, a senior English major at LSU. “But I didn’t because I love her, so I had to stay alive.”
UREC hosts Taylor Swift, Eras Tour themed group fitness night
BY ARIS WILLIAMS
The University Recreation Center hosted an Eras Tourthemed night of condensed group fitness classes to commemorate the arrival of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour to New Orleans on Thursday, Oct. 24. The event drew in dozens of participants and highlighted the unique program offerings of the UREC GroupX program.
The Eras-themed event consisted of 20-minute fitness sessions that were each themed around a specific Swift album; “Folklore” and “Evermore” for Yoga, “Red” for Cycling and so forth. The sessions were scheduled meticulously so that participants could try a bit of everything, creating a tour-like effect.
Participants also collected
colored beads from each class, which they used to create friendship bracelets, a nod to the tradition of Swift fans making and exchanging friendship bracelets at her concerts. GroupX instructors assisted with check-ins and ensured that the night went smoothly, with some even dressing up in their own Swift merch.
The energy of the event was bright and fast paced, with everyone from friend groups who share admiration for Swift to individuals who just wanted to explore GroupX enjoying themselves and forming new connections.
Ryan Lamb, the coordinator of fitness programs at UREC, said he hopes to create a welcoming environment that compels participants to come back.
“I want people to get taste of the different classes that GroupX
has to offer through Eras night,” said Lamb. “We have about 70 classes a week on our full GroupX schedule during the semester. Through events like this, participants can try formats that they normally wouldn’t and discover ways to move their bodies that feel good to them.”
Through GroupX, LSU students, faculty and staff can participate in a diverse range of fitness classes from Pilates to Zumba. The program was revamped this school year through the hiring of more instructors and increased class offerings, which has led to the UREC reaching a whopping 6,000 students and members since the fall semester began.
The UREC is also doing its annual Tiger Fit Challenge until Sunday, November 24, in which participants can take GroupX classes and earn prizes based on
how many they complete. This is another example of creative program offerings that boost engagement and make fitness fun.
GroupX Pilates instructor, Nelly Nguyen, said that what she loves most about her job is the community she’s fostered.
“I love Taylor Swift and teaching group fitness, so this was both of my world colliding,” said Nguyen. “The goal in life is to surround yourself with people who life you up and in group fitness, everyone has the same goal: to be better.”
COURTESY OF MIRANDA ALBAREZ
Participants of an Eras Night Dance Fitness class.
COURTESY OF TAYLOR SWIFT AND SABRINA CARPENTER VIA INSTAGRAM
even more on their run game at that point as they switched quarterbacks from sophomore Conner Weigman to the more mobile freshman Marcel Reed. In the quarter and a half after Nussmeier’s interception, Texas A&M passed the ball only two times to 21 runs, including nine by Reed.
In all, the Aggies put up 264 rushing yards, not counting sacks, with an average of 5.9 yards per carry. LSU missed tackles, failed to get push up front and were baffled by Texas A&M’s option attack with Reed.
“Right now, I would run the quarterback against us,” head coach Brian Kelly said.
Texas A&M’s touchdown to pull within 17-14 was followed by an LSU missed field goal – its third of the night, all seemingly due to operational miscues – an efficient seven-play A&M touchdown drive, another Nussmeier interception and another quick touchdown to make the Tigers pay.
Texas A&M then led 28-17, with 21 unanswered points in the span of nine minutes of game time.
LSU was able to put together another touchdown drive in the fourth quarter but offset that with an interception, Nussmeier’s third of the game. Nussmeier finished the game with 405 passing yards and a 50% completion percentage.
Kelly said that Nussmeier’s struggles were a result of the lack of help he got from the rest of the offense.
“I don’t think we give him enough balance within the offense, and it makes him vulnerable because he has to do so much,” Kelly said. “He feels like he has to.”
FOOTBALL
“I’ll beat myself up for that for a while,” Nussmeier said of his performance.
Any comeback attempt was ultimately thwarted as the defense had lost its footing. Texas A&M continued to pile up the yards on the ground and the points on the scoreboard.
Nussmeier had put together an excellent game up until his interception, taking what the defense gave him. However, in the second half, Nussmeier’s accuracy, especially outside the numbers, waned dramatically.
It was yet another game where LSU struggled to run the ball, which further exacerbated Nussmeier’s struggles. The Tigers had only 40 rushing yards for an average of 1.9 yards.
LSU got out to a hot start in the first half in part due to Nussmeier’s big play ability, with five passes of more than 20 yards in the first half.
Impact plays were also made by the defense. A first quarter fumble that turned into LSU’s first touchdown made a significant difference.
LSU’s defense also kept consistent pressure on Weigman, forcing him to scramble around in the pocket and make decisions under duress. The Tigers had two sacks in the first half.
Even so, LSU failed to expand its early lead even further, as the Tigers settled for field goals on three first half drives, two of which were missed by junior kicker Damian Ramos.
The matchup was between the SEC’s only teams left undefeated in conference play, so the implications were huge toward both the race for the SEC Championship and the College Football Playoff. With the loss, LSU’s odds for both have decreased significantly. THIRD, from page 3
What went wrong in Tigers’ Texas A&M loss
BY LIZZIE FALCETTI
@lizziefalcetti
LSU football failed to hold onto its lead and dropped Saturday’s matchup 38-23 to Texas A&M, allowing the Aggies to secure the No. 1 spot in the SEC.
While LSU came out of the gate with fire, Texas A&M closed out the second half with everything it needed to unravel the Tigers.
When Aggie coach Mike Elko benched quarterback Connor Weigman to bring in dual-threat quarterback Marcel Reed, he found an answer to overpowering the LSU defense.
The Tigers now head into the bye week facing serious evaluations to prepare for their upcoming matchup against Alabama on Nov. 9.
Here are three takeaways from the Tigers’ loss.
Too much pressure on Nussmeier
Every drive, every play, every
Meet Texas A&M’s Midnight Yell leader, the face of Aggie tradition
BY TYLER HARDEN @ttjharden8
When stadiums around the country sleep the night before a gameday, Texas A&M’s Kyle Field is wide awake.
Aggie fans pack the stands to participate in a tradition known as the “Midnight Yell,” which takes place at midnight before every home football game.
3rd-and-long quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was faced with the pressure to deliver.
The LSU run game was nonexistent with a total of 24 rushing yards, and it was up to Nussmeier to be the saving grace.
No quarterback should be burdened with that level of pressure, and Nussmeier lacked the support of a solid team around him. It was no surprise he eventually cracked, throwing three interceptions.
“I don’t think we give him enough balance within the offense,” head coach Brian Kelly said. “It makes him vulnerable because he has to do so much.”
Without being able to depend on complimentary running plays, Nussmeier became predictable for the Aggie defense. He was rushed in the pocket on passing attempts and forced into quick decisions that ultimately created costly mistakes. see TAKEAWAYS, page 10
To Texas A&M fans, it’s a custom that means so much to the university. To those on the outside, it’s bizarre and confusing.
Between the five young men in denim overalls leading chants on the field and the impressively coordinated chants that the fans know by heart, it’s often misunderstood to those not a part of it.
“People might call us a cult. I don’t like saying that, but truly when you come here, you realize like it’s family,” Jake Carter said. “Being a part of all these super cool traditions makes it so special.”
Carter, a senior at Texas A&M from San Antonio, is the head yell leader. At Texas A&M, that position is royalty.
“I’m just super blessed,” Carter said. “I’m so thankful to be able to lead this university. I’m a first generation Aggie, so to be able to be in these shoes and lead at this capacity is really cool.”
The Midnight Yell dates back
to 1931, when Texas A&M was an all-male military school.
It began when a group of Corps of Cadets decided to practice yells before a football game. The word quickly spread, and a tradition was born.
Fast forward to today, and that same pregame ritual runs deep, just like it did over 90 years ago.
“We’ll tell fables, poke some fun at the other team and do our yells. Really cool tradition at A&M,” Carter said. “Our first one for Notre Dame, we had 45,000 people, so super cool tradition at midnight.”
The evening’s jokes on Friday consisted of references to swamp-infested Baton Rouge and the allegedly less-than-rigorous nature of LSU’s coursework.
Carter is one of the many head yell leaders to come through Texas A&M. It’s a position that is elected by the entire student body, and anyone is able to run for the position.
But Carter is a first-generation Aggie, so being elected as head yell leader meant that much more.
“It meant the world,” Carter said. “I really realized like the elected position is a position of service, but a lot of people see it at like football games. We do upwards of 400 events for the university every year.”
Since being head yell leader, Carter’s become a familiar face to many on campus. It’s normal for him to be approached by students or Aggie fans to say hello or ask for pictures.
While the role comes with a degree of fame at Texas A&M, Carter appreciates the role most for its ability to impact others at the university.
“I tell people it’s not who I am, but the uniform that I wear and the university I represent, which is cool,” Carter said.
To Carter, the Midnight Yell is what separates Texas A&M from other schools.
He understands that the tradition comes with criticism from people outside of College Station. But while many see strange chants and odd gestures, Carter sees an aspect of family.
Every school has their own traditions. The walk down Victory Hill, “Callin’ Baton Rouge” in the fourth quarter of football games, and the Golden Band from Tigerland pregame march on the field are just a few at LSU.
While Tiger fans cherish those rituals, Texas A&M is fond of their own. It’s not meant to be understood by outsiders, but appreciated for the sake of it being a tradition.
It doesn’t take away from the impact of the game itself, but rather makes it that much more special.
GABRIELLA GUILLORY / The Reveille
Midnight Yell leader Jake Carter pointing at the crowd on Oct. 26, at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas.
TAKEAWAYS, from page 9
LSU loses control in the second half
When LSU was up in the third quarter 17-7 and needed to extend the lead, Nussmeier threw an interception to Aggie BJ Mayes, setting up Texas A&M at the eight-yard line.
Elko brought in quarterback Reed, and he rushed eight yards into the endzone to make it a three point game.
This was the momentum shift in the game.
Kyle Field was booming with hope the Aggies would come back, and the fans helped power that into existence.
In the second half, LSU gave up 20 points off turnovers. When it needed to make big plays it made big mistakes instead.
The Tigers had missed field goals, fumbled snaps and multiple interceptions. All these errors led to a loss of control in a game LSU could’ve run away with.
Because of the loss, the Tigers have no margin for error the rest of the season. LSU still has a chance to go to the SEC championship if they win out. Different matchup, same old problems
“We’re sitting here again talking about the same things,” Kelly said. “About not finishing when you have an opponent in
a position to put them away. But what we’re doing on the sideline is feeling like the game is over.”
This quote isn’t from Kelly’s post-game press conference after LSU blew the 17-7 lead, letting Texas A&M win by two scores.
Kelly said this in the season opener. LSU wasn’t able to finish against USC in Vegas, and Kelly was tired of his team not staying consistent until the end.
It’s Week 9 now. The Tigers still made the same mistakes.
Aiming to come back, LSU kept getting in its own way. The Tigers gave up game-changing plays in the second-half and couldn’t contain the running quarterback.
“We need to spend more time each and every week, because right now I would run the quarterback against us,” Kelly said.
As Kyle Field became more electric, LSU became less energized.
Within all these problems, there’s a silver lining for the Tigers. The team can head into its bye week with a clear plan of attack and reassess its offensive strategy and defensive inabilities.
The time is now for the Tigers to really tap into their fullest potential and take this game as a learning opportunity, so the same mistakes don’t happen in the upcoming, critical games.
GABRIELLA GUILLORY / The Reveille
Redshirt junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) scores a touchdown towards the end of the game on Oct. 26 during LSU’s 23-38 loss against Texas A&M at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas.
GABRIELLA GUILLORY / The Reveille
LSU football redshirt junior safety Sage Ryan (3) celebrates after successfully tackling a Texas A&M player while a referee throws up a flag behind him on Oct. 26during LSU’s 23-38 loss against Texas A&M at Kyle Field.
LSU needs a late-night eatery for its night owl students
ANDREW’S
ANGLE
ANDREW SARHAN
@SarhanAndrew
Picture this: It’s 2 a.m., you just finished your English paper and you’re hungry. You’ve been waiting to eat so that you can be an academic weapon, but no place on campus is open. So you have to possibly risk your life to go to Raising Cane’s or D.P. Dough.
This has happened to me before, and due to the fact that I’m a poor college student, I can’t afford the two aforementioned places. Which is why there should be places on campus open after an LSU football game or for just a random 3 a.m. food craving.
Sure, while we do have The 5 and The 459 markets, both close at 1 a.m., so you’d be out of luck if you’re hungry at any time past that.
Therefore, LSU could do a few things to help improve the latenight food problem, i.e., opening the dining halls late, making one of them open for 24 hours, or having a vendor in the union that opens late.
The easiest and most feasible solution LSU could offer is extending the operating hours of the current dining halls. The dining halls are already nearby on-campus housing, and will be a safer option
than students going off campus for a meal. It also makes it cheaper for students who already pay for a meal plan.
Another option would be making it to where on certain days, the dining halls will be open 24 hours. The dining halls could stay open all night on weekdays to provide not only a place for food but also an additional study spot.
While both of these options are good on paper, they require a workforce to make the dining halls function. This could inevitably open up job opportunities for those who need or want to work late night shifts. Plus, LSU could incentivize the late shifts by paying more past a certain hour, similar to how Raising Cane’s pays more for their late-night shift employees.
Finally, a solution that would not only satiate the hungry college student but also improve the food selection would be to finally put in
a Raising Cane’s at the Union. Not only this but also having it stay open late, possibly even matching the hours of The Mothership, the Highland Road location.
It doesn’t have to be a Raising Cane’s, in fact. It could be any restaurant or corporation. Regardless, it should be a restaurant that is open late. Furthermore, the business hours in the union could also be extended, so anyone studying late can get a Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwich or Panda Express orange chicken.
As someone who stays up late to study, I would love for there to be a place where I can go on campus to eat past 1 a.m., and also be able to use one of my meal swipes or paw points instead of my own money.
Andrew Sarhan is an 18-year-old mass communication freshman from Baton Rouge, LA.
Ditch the stress: A senior’s tips for effortless course scheduling
BESKE’S BUZZ
KATE BESKE
@KateBeske
In the middle of every semester, the chaos of scheduling commences—just picture yourself scheduling your courses. You click on “view schedule request” and see that the traffic is too high and you’ve unsuccessfully refreshed the page 10 times. It’s a very stressful experience that LSU has created for many students.
While the student advisors may be helpful in these situations, that may not always be the case because they may be busy helping other students. However, there are certain things that you can do as a student to make your scheduling go by without a hitch or as few as possible.
One of the most important things I’ve noticed is that the school will not notify you ahead of time if you have a hold. This has happened to me on many occasions, and the only way to get a hold lifted is to meet with an advisor and solve the issue.
The best way to avoid being unable to schedule because of a hold is to check if you have any before you plan your courses. This can be done on your myLSU account by clicking Registration Services and then clicking on Student
EDITORIAL BOARD
Editor
Chief
Holds.
If you don’t already, always utilize your degree audit to guide what classes you need to schedule.
A great way to do this is by making a spreadsheet of your degree audit. List every course you need to take, grouping them the same way as the degree audit, including total hours, and put “elective” as a placeholder as necessary.
You can then color code the spreadsheet using one color for classes you have credit for and a different color for classes you need to schedule for the upcoming semester. This spreadsheet will let you quickly see the classes you plan to schedule, what classes you have left to take and how many hours you have left.
It’s also important to plan several backup classes when planning to schedule, in case a class is full or you can’t join it for any other reason. This way, you don’t have to scramble to find another class to schedule at the last minute.
If a class you wanted is full and you’re on a waitlist, stay. People may drop the class within the first week of the semester. You can just schedule an extra class, and if you make it off the waitlist, you can drop the additional course.
Don’t freak out if a class you “need” is full. The only time-sensitive courses are prerequisites and capstones in your senior year. An
exception is a required class that is only offered once a year. Any other classes can be pushed back a semester if needed.
It’s wise not to schedule all your easy classes and electives immediately, disregarding prerequisites, because you’ll want some light courses towards the end of your undergrad when you are mainly in higher-level classes.
The scheduling booklet and degree audit are two of the most essential documents for scheduling. When it comes to electives, I suggest checking the courses offered for any subject you may be
interested in, especially since not everyone can take a surplus of electives.
Alternatively, if you have enough required electives, you can use them to minor in something. I chose to do this because I had so many electives to take. So I got a minor in psychology because I’m very interested in it, and I hope to utilize it in my future career.
What days and times you schedule is up to your preference, but I recommend having most classes on the same days so you have two or three lighter days to study, work or have free time.
If you get stuck waiting to schedule for more than 15 minutes and are incredibly busy, wait an hour or two for the traffic to decrease significantly. Waiting may be better if you have a highly time-sensitive or critical class.
All in all, there are many things you can do as a student to ensure that your scheduling goes smoothly. You can also utilize academic counselors at LSU or the LSU Center for Freshman Year’s scheduling checklist.
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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.
Quote of the Week
“We don’t need to share the same opinions as others, but we need to be respectful.” Taylor Swift
Colin Falcon
in
Managing Editor John Buzbee Sports Editor Jason Willis Oliver Butcher News Editor Taylor Hamilton Opinion Editor
Kate Beske is a 21-year-old journalism major from Destrehan, LA.
REAGAN COTTEN / The Reveille
The bush surrounds the sign on Sept. 11, 2022, in front of The 5 Dining Hall in Baton Rouge, La.
GRAPHIC BY BLAINE SWANZY
