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FINANCIAL FEAR LSU students experience the stress of rising student loan debts.
Eye-spyder with the Reveille!
Count the spiders in this edition and email reveillenewspaper@gmail.com your answer. The first five people to send the correct answer will receive prizes! See page 2 for answer from last edition
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page 2 GRAPHIC BY SOPHIE VAGIANOS
NEWS
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LSU student leaders ask University administration to implement mandatory COVID-19 testing.
ENTERTAINMENT
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“This is one of the prettiest movies I’ve ever seen...It looks like it’s straight from the ‘60s but actually came out in 2016.”
SPORTS
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Since 1996, the LSU-Auburn game has always been a memorable one. If history repeats itself, this one should be no different.
OPINION
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“I’m calling on the University to suspend not only all Greek life activities, but all Student Organization activities.”
L SU Re ve i l le.co m @l s u r e ve i l le
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‘IT’S SOMETHING THAT HANGS IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND’ LSU students struggle with student loan debt
BY JOSH ARCHOTE @JArchote If you’re a student at LSU, you’re most likely receiving some type of financial aid. The University provides financial assistance to 93% of students, according to Prep Scholar. That number is 7% higher than the national average. Many LSU students don’t take out loans since the University aims to cover students’ tuition based on their parents’ financial information However, this wasn’t the case for LSU biology student Maria Castellanos. Castellanos came to the U.S. from Colombia when she was 15 and didn’t have access to her parents’ financial information. Because she was unable to receive the necessary amount of financial aid from LSU, Castellanos took out student loans and began working more to pay for her living expenses. Castellanos said her father helped with some of her financial burden her first two years at LSU and she also had savings she was using to help pay for tuition and living expenses. When that money was exhausted, she was forced to take out loans and start working more during the week. “Once my dad wasn’t able to help me anymore, things got a little more expensive and living here in Baton Rouge, I had to pay rent and all that stuff,” Castellanos said. “I had to start taking loans to help me with the financial load during the semester so I could focus in school.” There are currently 45 million Americans who collectively owe almost $1.6 trillion in student loan debt, which is now the second highest consumer debt category in the U.S. behind mortgage debt only. In Louisiana, 48% of college students take out student loans and the average graduate will leave school $25,512 in debt. LSU’s numbers were below the state average, with 44% of LSU students leaving the University with student loan debt and the average graduate leaving with $24,851, according to the Institute for College Access and Success. Castellanos was supposed to graduate in 2019, but her
financial situation forced her to become a part-time student during the spring of her junior year so she could work enough during the week to pay for living expenses and begin monthly payments on her student loans. “I’m only doing part time because I have to work at least 2035 hours a week. That way, I can pay for my expenses, and I can also pay some of my loans,” Castellanos said. “I had to delay my graduation for maybe two more semesters because I want to be able to finish, but at the same time, I want to be able to pay some of that stuff ahead of time instead of having to pile up interest in student loans.” Most private student loan lenders don’t require students to make student loan payments while in school. Some students qualify for subsidized direct loans, which don’t require interest until after graduation.
with stress and mental health before, and I don’t want to go back to that.” Castellanos was unable to take summer classes because she was making less money during quarantine and had to work all summer. Castellanos said she’s still trying to make up for the financial strain caused by the pandemic. “During summer, I just worked, I didn’t even take a break,” Castellenos said. “I think I had two days off for vacation. I had to save enough money to not worry too much in the fall semester.” President Trump’s executive order and the CARES Act enacted in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic provided relief to borrowers by pausing federal student loan payments, stopping the accrual of student loan interest for federal student loans and stopping the collection of federal
It’s a lot of stress balancing the payment you have to make every month and your living expenses. It is very overwhelming. MARIA CASTELLANOS
LSU biology student
Unsubsidized loans accrue interest from the day the student loan is disbursed, meaning students will graduate with a loan balance higher than what they took out. Castellenos said she is trying to pay off as much as she can before she graduates. “Sometimes (the monthly payment) doesn’t happen, and I can’t pay ahead of time, so that’s stressful because whatever you’re not able to pay in school is going to increase in the interest rate when you get out,” Castellanos said. In the spring of 2020, Castellanos planned to become a fulltime student again, but the COVID-19 pandemic made keeping up with online classes and work difficult. “A load that could have been done in a semester and a half, I had to spread out into three semesters because of COVID. I know myself and I know the online structure, especially for biology, is extremely tough,” Castellanos said. “I knew I wasn’t going to be able to keep up with that and keep up with work and I wasn’t going to be able to keep up with myself. It’s a lot to think about. I have had problems
student loans in default. However, these changes are temporary and are scheduled to come to an end on Dec. 31. Castellanos said she wants to go to graduate school, but the idea of having to take out even more loans for grad school is scary. “I’m so afraid of taking even more loans,” Castellanos said. “It’s a lot of stress balancing the payment you have to make every month and your living expenses. It is very overwhelming. It’s something that hangs in the back of your mind. You have to constantly think about that.” Despite the stress brought on by her student loan debt, Castellanos said the financial sacrifice is worth her getting an education. “The way I see it, nowadays you have to pay a price for whatever you get,” Castellanos said. “I knew that I wanted to go to college. I knew that my experience going to college would be a gamble because not only was I on my own financially but nobody in my family knew how to teach me what to do.” Castellanos said that it’s difficult for people to find success without debt unless they start off wealthy.
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Bachelor’s degree holders will earn about $32,000 more annually than those with just a high school diploma, and the earnings gap between college graduates and those with less education continues to widen, according to the Lumina Foundation and the Pew Research Center. Still, signs have emerged that the economic benefits of college may be diminishing, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. “Despite large income and wealth advantages enjoyed on average by families with a head with a bachelor’s degree or higher over families with a head without a postsecondary degree, recent cohorts of college graduates appear to be faring less well than previous generations,” the Federal Reserve Bank paper read. The researchers pointed to the rising cost of higher education as one explanation for this trend. The rising cost of attending college and consequently student loan debt — while not reducing college graduates’ incomes — would reduce their wealth, at least early in life. LSU finance professor Lewis Kilbourne said that while he wouldn’t describe the current student debt situation as a crisis, it’s a problem he could see getting worse. The default rate on student loans slightly decreased to around 10% in 2019. “It’s not a small number, but I don’t think it’s a crisis — I think it can become a crisis,” Kilbourne said. Kilbourne said most student loan repayment programs allow graduates to pay off their loans in a timely manner, and there are a lot of alternatives before a student would go into default. He also said the “overhang” of student loans on graduates could be harmful for the economy. “It is a problem and it’s no help to the economy to have these loans in default for students who would [otherwise] become consumers or customers for somebody,” Kilbourne said. “It’s in the benefit of the government and the economy to provide some forbearance on these loans.” “It’s an overhang on potential educated customers who can join the economy as a taxpayer with the possibility of a higher income and becoming better off as a result of their education.”
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CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS The Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure its readers the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards. This space is reserved to recognize and correct any mistakes that may have been printed in The Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified, please contact the editor at (225) 578-4811 or email editor@lsureveille.com.
ABOUT THE REVEILLE The Reveille 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. A single issue of The Reveille is free from multiple sites on campus and about 25 sites off campus. To obtain additional copies, please visit the Office of Student Media in B-39 Hodges Hall or email studentmedia@ lsu.edu. The Reveille is published biweekly during the fall, spring and summer semesters, except during holidays and final exams. The Reveille is funded through LSU students’ payments of the Student Media fee.
FROM LAST EDITION: ANSWER: 58 BATS
NEWS Students, COMBATING COVID-19 teachers express
page 3
SAFETY
LSU student leaders advocate for mandatory coronavirus testing
BY JOSH ARCHOTE @JArchote LSU student leaders signed a letter requesting that the University mandate monthly COVID-19 testing. The letter was signed by over 50 student organizations as well as Student Body President Stone Cox and Vice President Hannah Barrios. The mandatory testing would allow student organizations to hold larger events on campus. Although Gov. John Bel Edwards moved Louisiana into Phase 3 on Sept. 11, the guidelines outlined by LSU’s Roadmap to Fall remain unchanged. The University still limits oncampus gatherings to 50 people, and any in-person event with over 10 people requires approval. Moving into Phase 3 would allow student organizations to host events with up to 250 people. “The presidents and leaders of the organizations below agree Louisiana State University should begin monthly mandatory testing for all students, so we can safely transition into Louisiana’s Phase 3,” read the letter. Dr. Deborah Birx, response coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force, said she felt uncomfortable recommending LSU move into Phase 3 due to low testing numbers on campus. Since then, Interim President Thomas Galligan asked students to get tested monthly and said he has considered University-wide mandatory testing. Cox and Barrios said increased testing could allow the University to move into Phase 3 along with the rest of the state. “The ultimate goal is to increase our testing numbers so
we can make safer decisions about where we need to be on campus, and there’s a bunch of different ways we can get there,” Cox said. “Mandatory testing and certain styles of mandatory testing are how we could potentially do that.” He also said it would potentially allow students living on campus to have guests, which is currently prohibited. Cox and Barrios said students who have all online classes and haven’t been on campus this semester would be exempt from testing. Cox said LSU could implement mandatory testing by requiring students to test negative before attending a Phase 3 event with more than 50 people. Some universities require
students to test negative before they are able to access buildings on campus, another method Cox said was a possibility. Only 6% of colleges with inperson classes and more than 5,000 undergraduates are routinely testing all of their students, according to data analyzed by NPR. Barrios acknowledged increased testing could reveal too many cases on campus and interfere with plans to move into Phase 3. “We obviously wouldn’t want to move forward if we had a high number of cases on campus,” Barrios said. “If that needs to be rolled back because we had a high number or the spread was too big, that would be understandable. We wouldn’t want to
risk students’ health.” There are 83 active cases on campus as of Wednesday, including 67 students and 16 employees. Cox and Barrios said they are discussing the possibility of mandatory testing with University administrators and hope to develop concrete plans in the next few weeks. “It all depends on what the tests come back like and our what our wastewater testing looks like,” Cox said. “They were very open to the idea of going to Phase 3. I think we’ve pestered them enough in a good way for them to see that the students really want that. Ultimately, they’re wanting to make sure we do that in a safe way and we completely understand that.”
EMILY SCHEXNAYDER / The Reveille
One of the four LSU COVID testing centers is set up next to the LSU Foundation Building on Nicholson Drive on Aug. 22.
ProctorU concerns
BY EMMA ZIRGIBEL @EZirgibel As COVID-19 forces many classes to go virtual, ProctorU is becoming a popular solution to in-person testing. Though the platform offers flexibility, there are concerns over its invasiveness and costs. These concerns are specifically based on the testing guidelines the program provides. Students using ProctorU must be alone, indoors and in a quiet room without distractions. It can be challenging for on-campus students to isolate for long periods of time. Additionally, each test requires a fee, quickly racking up a larger total with multiple tests. For history professor Victor Stater, it was this reputation of intrusiveness that dissuaded him from using the program. “I decided based on mostly secondhand info from people who have tried it,” Stater said. “Students have to pay a fee to use it, and others have told me that it’s very intrusive . . . students are bossed around over where and how they take their tests.” Pre-cardiopulmonary sciences freshman Kylie Duffy agreed. “I don’t particularly enjoy it because they (ProctorU) have some strict rules that require one to be alone,” Duffy said. “It’s very hard when living on campus to be completely alone for a significant amount of time.”
see PROCTORU, page 4
THEATER
MTC prepares for first live performance since COVID-19 BY MARYKELLY MUNSTER @mkokayokay Despite obstacles that members of the performing arts community faced following the spread of COVID-19, the Musical Theater Club has devised a creative plan for its annual blocked reading. On Nov. 5 and 6, the Musical Theater Club will perform a reimagined tale of the Disney classic movie, “Aladdin,” written by StarKid Productions and entitled “Twisted” outside in the Greek Theater. Theater performance junior
and hospitality chair of MTC Kendall Berry eagerly took on the role of directing “Twisted.” “I think it’s been going well,” Berry said. “I was a little nervous because this is the first thing we’ve tried to do amidst (the pandemic), but I’m excited.” To cast the staged reading, MTC held virtual auditions in which members submitted videos of their auditions. In addition to the normal challenges of putting on a performance, the MTC members involved with the production are facing the issue of COVID-19 safety guidelines.
“Right now, we’re trying to figure out how we’ll work with the masks for the actual show because it is harder to hear when people have them on,” Berry said. Although the show will stream on Facebook for free, the crew and cast of “Twisted” are excited at the prospect of having a live audience outside. Theater performance junior Nathan Catalanotto has been an active member of MTC since his freshman year. He will be portraying the captain of the royal guard in the performance. “I think during quarantine,
we all missed the live aspect of theater,” Catalanotto said. “I’m glad that we can still perform.” Psychology senior Emily Grace Loe currently serves as the assistant board chair and will read the role of Jasmine in “Twisted.” Loe said that scripts in hand on stage helps her have more fun with the show and not stress out about memorizing lines. “It’s like playing pretend with friends,” Loe said. Catalanotto echoed Loe’s sentiments. “We’re all excited to perform in front of a crowd out n public
instead of behind closed doors,” Catalanotto said. “People who are walking by can come see what’s going on and stay if they want to.” Loe said she is excited about the prospect of performing outside and still staying involved with theater throughout her senior year. “We have to wear masks the entire time which stinks, but it’s just nice in general that we all get to perform,” Loe said. Catalanotto participated in the reading last year and is
see MTC, page 4
Thursday, October 29, 2020
page 4 PROCTORU, from page 3 Economics professor Douglas Weimer said there was a trade-off between flexibility and privacy. Though ProctorU may be easier to schedule, it does encroach on students’ personal space. Still, he believes this is sometimes necessary. “On the one hand, if you take a test on campus you have to be there on that day,” Weimer said. “If you’re sick or have work, it’s a problem. ProctorU provides students with a multi-day window, and they have some flexibility on where they take a test.” French studies professor Erin Segura recognized the potential invasiveness. However, she discloses this information beforehand and allows students to choose to continue with her
MTC, from page 3 excited for this year’s performance and the opportunity to connect with others in the musical theater community. “It’s honestly been fun,” Catalanotto said. “I think everyone enjoys seeing each other again. Even though we have our masks, we’re still able to interact with everyone and laugh together.” Although some members are nervous about performing live
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class. “I can certainly understand why a student would choose not to take a course using ProctorU or Zoom, as they may feel that being on camera in their own home is too invasive,” Segura said. “For this reason, LSU asks that professors include a disclaimer in their syllabi about using these programs so students can make an informed decision before committing to a class.” To minimize this intrusiveness, Segura and Weimer only plan to use the program on large exams or tests a a few times this semester. For professors who choose to use ProctorU, the fact that it does appear to catch cheating outweighs many of its negatives. As COVID-19 takes a
toll on classes, the program may help maintain social distancing while upholding academic integrity. “I was skeptical when we first started to try (ProctorU) out, but they did catch cheating, and it did work,” Weimer said. “Their system has gotten better over the years. It’s not perfect, but it’s a reasonable solution to providing a testing method that works.” Weimer also said he tends to see greater effectiveness on larger groups where cheating is more difficult to catch. “In some smaller classes I think it’s easier for me to keep an eye on students,” Weimer said. “(A student) may be glancing in the air and that’s just the way they take a test, but ProctorU may flag it.”
again, Catalanotto said he had faith in the cast. “I think the cast is talented enough and they work hard enough to put on the best show that we can put on,” Catalanotto said. “It’s going to be a great show, and I hope everyone gets a chance to come and see it.” According to the club’s website, MTC aims to educate students in the area of musical theater and harness an appreciation for the genre of music theatre within the LSU and Baton Rouge communities.
A studio theater in the College of Music and Dramatic Arts on Oct. 15, 2019.
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The upstairs entrance to Himes Hall on Feb. 10 in LSU’s Quad.
ENTERTAINMENT
page 5
REV R ANKS
MOVIE
MONSTER HOUSE
Columbia Pictures
“Monster House” has a great plot and an even better plot twist. I think after 14 years, the movie still stands. The story is also original work. Horror movies usually use the same slasher and haunted mansion tropes, but I think this Halloween movie is great at being original. The house is alive, but the house turns out to be the owner’s wife. It’s a good story and should be praised for that. Brtiney Young @byoun99 MOVIE
CORALINE Laika
“Coraline” is the only movie I have paid good money to see in theaters and left before it was over. In fairness, I didn’t have the cultural literacy to pick up on the foreshadowing and subtext that artfully builds to the “horror.” Upon revisiting it as a marginally more mature adult, I think it’s a masterpiece and a painstakingly attentive medium of storytelling unappreciated in youth. Taner Morgan @taner_morgan MOVIE
HALLOWEENTOWN
Disney Channel
To me, that’s the perfect plot to a Halloween movie. It’s a classic with a slight bit of humor. The costumes and makeup are also corny which makes the movie more nostalgic and fun to watch. For some reason, this gives me a feeling of nostalgia from my childhood. Even though I’m basically an adult, “Halloweentown” hits the spot and fulfills my Halloween movie cravings. Caroline Hebert @sister_carols TV SERIES
GHOST IN SUITE 613
The Suite Life of Zach & Cody; S. 1, Ep. 19 Disney Channel
The spookiest part of the episode does not come until the 14-minute mark when Esteban calls on the spirit of Ghost 613 during a seance. This scene cemented this episode as one of the most frightening things for a child in 2005 to watch, yet it was so funny. The episode still gave me goosebumps just like when I was seven years old. Ariel Baise @arielbiancaa Read the full reviews online at lsunow.com/entertainment
‘The Love Witch’ enchants with ‘60s aesthetic and dreamy visuals BY ENJANAE’ TAYLOR @_queenet_ Out of all of the spooky season movies I love, none of them is as spellbinding as “The Love Witch.” This is one of the prettiest movies I’ve ever seen, with a top-notch aesthetic. It looks like it’s straight from the ‘60s but it was released in 2016. A horror comedy like no other, this movie showcases a witch who yearns for love and uses sex magic to get what she wants. “Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood” actress Samantha Robinson plays the gorgeous witch Elaine Parks who starts her new life after her ex-husband mysteriously dies. His death crushes her and she leans on a coven of witches and their leaders, Gahan (played by Jared Sanford) and Barbara (played by Jennifer Ingrum), who eventually teach her magic. This movie has glitz, glamour and gore, with ‘60s hair and makeup looks that are divine. It definitely doesn’t have the strongest storyline, but the visuals are perfection. One of the prettiest sets is used in the Victorian tea room scenes, which is where the popular Tumblr pictures from the film are from. With everything breathtaking and pretty in pink, it’s definitely used for some of my favorite scenes in the movie. Elaine dreams of finding her prince charming and believes she understands men. She believes men are easy to please if women give them what they want and become their fantasy. If you’re anything like me or Elaine’s friend, Trish (played by Laura Waddell), you’d say it sounds like Elaine has “been brainwashed by the patriarchy.” This movie has an interesting
satirical way of explaining the dynamic of women and men in today’s society, but the message is there. Elaine is so desperate to find love she becomes addicted to the idea of it and makes love potions to seduce men. Elaine describes being a witch as using your will to get what you want. She does just that by convincing men to do things they wouldn’t normally do under her magical trance. She believes men can’t handle their emotions and that a women’s great love and sex is too much for them, and I’m not going to be the one to say she’s wrong. Barbara and Gahan teach her that a woman’s greatest power lies in her sexuality. They explain how female witches were burned because men were scared of how they were aroused by them. Then, women were bound by marriage and became servants and fantasy dolls to men, without ever being asked what they wanted. They say that men see women’s emotions as illnesses, so women need to teach men how to love in ways they understand. They teach their students to use perfume, wear makeup and high heels, show skin in the right places and to be a mother and a lover. They also tell them to stand their ground, but let the man feel like a man. “Use sex magic to destroy his fear of you, and he’ll finally see you as a human being,” they say. This may seem over-exaggerated, but the issues mentioned are not far off from the societal norms today. One of my favorite parts of the film is Elaine explaining why she broke up with someone, ironically explaining that “he became just like a woman crying at every little thing,” then went on to say, “but I should
have known, he’s a Pisces.” There are little funny lines like this sprinkled throughout the film that makes it that much better. The men in Elaine’s life seemed rude and belittling, which may have led to her insane need to satisfy men. She explains that men only liked her when she used her body, so she found how to use that to her advantage with witchcraft. Eventually one of Elaine’s lovers dies and the police do a terrible job at investigating. Another one of my favorite scenes is the overacted mini fight in the police station between the sergeant and his partner. It looks like a stunt straight out of the 1966 Adam West “Batman” film, and it’s hysterical. I’m a big fan of old Halloween movies with that corny, satirical, over exaggerated humor. It is believed by myself and other fans that the overacting in this film is deliberate, and I prefer to continue to go with that because it makes the viewing experience better. There are a lot of other wild scenes in this movie like the weird Midsummer celebration her coven has. Throughout the film the viewer wonders if Elaine is insane, a woman just craving love or both, but either way she’s definitely deadly. This movie gets crazier as the story goes on with the storyline being unpredictable and honestly quite bizarre. Don’t be fooled by this cute cult classic, there is nudity, profanity and gruesome deaths included. It doesn’t have a rating, but if it did it, would definitely be rated R. Between the major Lana Del Rey vibes and the absurd but funny relationships we see Elaine in throughout the film, “The Love Witch” draws you in from the very beginning.
Thursday, October 29, 2020
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MISSED EARLY VOTING? This guide shows you everything you need to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 3:
R
L
Joe Biden is the Democratic Party nominee for president of the U.S., and his running mate is Sen. Kamala Harris (D-California). He was formerly the 47th vice president of the U.S., having served two consecutive terms under former President Barack Obama. Harris has served as a U.S. senator since 2017, and before that served as the attorney general for California.
R NP
NP
JAMAR MONTGOMERY
JOHN PAUL BOURGEOIS
NP
DUSTIN MURPHY
RENO JEAN DARET, III
NP
ADRIAN PERKINS
DAVID DREW KNIGHT M.V. “VINNY” MENDOZA
Kanye West is an American rapper, producer and fashion designer and running for President of the United States under the Birthday Party with running mate Michelle Tidball. West announced his intent to run in 2016 under the trending slogan ‘KANYE 2020’. He is married to media icon Kim Kardashian West. West visited Baton Rouge last year as part of his Sunday Service tour.
“BILL” CASSIDY (INCUMBENT)
BERYL BILLIOT
“XAN” JOHN
O
KANYE WEST
Brian Caroll (American Solidarity Party), Jade Simmons (Becoming One Nation), President Boddie (C.U.P), Don Blankenship (Constitution Party), Brock Pierce (Freedom and Prosperity), Tom Hoefling (Life, Liberty, Constitution), Gloria La Riva (Socialism and Liberation), Alyson Kennedy (Socialist Workers Party), Bill Hammons (Unity Party America)
U.S. SENATOR
DERRICK “CHAMP” EDWARDS
D
JOE BIDEN
Jo Jorgensen is an American academic and libertarian political activist. Jorgensen is the Libertarian Party’s nominee for president of the U.S. in the 2020 election. She was previously the party’s nominee for vice president in the 1996 U.S. presidential election as the running mate of author Harry Browne. Her running mate is Jeremy “Spike” Cohen, an American political activist, entrepreneur, and podcaster.
OTHER CANDIDATES:
D O D I
ANTOINE PIERCE MELINDA MARY PRICE AARON C. SIGLER PETER WENSTRUP
page 7
YES: STATE THAT NOTHING IN THE CONSTITUTION PROTECTS A RIGHT TO ABORTION. NO: LEAVE THE CONSTITUTION WITH NO SPECIFIC LANGUAGE ON ABORTION. YES: ALLOW FOR A WELL’S OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION WHEN VALUING IT FOR PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT. NO: KEEP THE CURRENT METHODS OF OIL AND GAS WELL ASSESSMENT.
Donald J. Trump is the 45th and current president of the United States. Before entering politics, he was a businessman and television personality. He is representing the Republican Party and his running mate is Mike Pence, the current vice president of the U.S. Pence served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013.
JO JORGENSON
#1 #2
WHO IS RUNNING FOR UNITED STATES PRESIDENT?
DONALD TRUMP
Thursday, October 29, 2020
R D D O L D
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
#4
YES: CREATE A NEW STATE BUDGET SPENDING LIMIT WITH PROBABLE SLOWER GROWTH.
#5
YES: PROVIDE NEW OPTIONS FOR MANUFACTURERS & LOCAL GOVT’S TO SCHEDULE PAYMENTS INSTEAD OF PROPERTY TAXES FOR INDUSTRIAL EXPANSIONS.
#6
YES: ALLOW HOMEOWNERS WITH HIGHER INCOMES TO QUALIFY FOR THE PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT FREEZE.
NO: CONTINUE THE CURRENT METHOD FOR AN EXPENDITURE LIMIT.
NO: LEAVE THE CURRENT SYSTEM AS THE ONLY SET OF OPTIONS FOR PROPERTY TAXES, PAYMENTS OR EXEMPTIONS FOR MANUFACTURERS.
NO: KEEP THE CURRENT INCOME THRESHOLD FOR PROPERTY TAX FREEZES.
#7
YES: PROTECT UNCLAIMED PROPERTY MONEY IN A NEW TRUST FUND. NO: KEEP THE CURRENT PROGRAM THAT BENEFITS THE STATE GENERAL FUND.
PROPOSITION TO ALLOW SPORTS BETTING BY PARISH. YES: PROTECT UNCLAIMED PROPERTY MONEY IN A NEW TRUST FUND.
SHANNON SLOAN
NP
NO: KEEP THE CURRENT PROGRAM THAT BENEFITS THE STATE GENERAL FUND.
RICHARD “RPT” TORREGANO
L
DARTANYON “DAW” WLLIAMS
DEMOCRAT
NP
NO PARTY
REBUPLICAN
L
LIBERTARIAN
O
D OTHER
NO: CONTINUE TO RESTRICT USE OF THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND TO REVENUE SHORTFALLS.
R
GARRET GRAVES (INCUMBENT)
D R
#3
YES: ALLOW THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND TO BE TAPPED WHEN THERE IS A FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTER.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING TO VOTE?
WHERE DO I GO TO VOTE?
On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. You MUST bring one of the following documents in order to vote: • Louisiana driver’s license • LSU Tiger Card with signature • Louisiana special identification card • United States military identification card (that contains your name and picture) Other generally recognized picture identification card that has your name and signature, like an unexpired passport.
You can find your polling place using the following steps: 1. Search the following link: https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/ 2. Click ‘search by voter’ 3. Enter your first and last name, your ZIP code and your birth month and year. 4. Click ‘My Election Day Voting Location’ Once you click that link, the website will direct you to the name and address of your polling place along with directions.
Classifieds
Thursday, October 29, 2020
page 8
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SPORTS
page 9
CLASH OF THE TIGERS Looking back at LSU-Auburn’s most recent memorable contests BY NATASHA MALONE @malone_natasha The clash of the Tigers - featuring the LSU Tigers and Auburn Tigers has always sparked a whirlwind of emotions for both parties. The fire between these two powerhouse programs began in 1996, literally. Auburn squeaked by LSU, winning 19-15, but that is not what the game is remembered for. More famously known as the “Barn Fire Game,” due to a large smoke cloud that rose over one of the end zones at Jordan-Hare Stadium, created havoc for all fans as they feared the stadium was burning down. The fire was so intense that it took the whole night for firefighters to put it out. Speeding forward to the last five meetings, the matchups between these schools have featured highly contested games that never fail to live up to their hype. It seems like every time LSU clashes with Auburn, stars are made and last-minute miracles are bound to happen. Back in 2015, the matchup featured the infamous run by former LSU and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette. Fournette racked up an eye-opening 228 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries, leading LSU to a blowout, 45-21 win over No. 18 ranked Auburn. 2016 came around and the Auburn Tigers ultimately got the best of LSU - winning 18-13 - but it did not come without speculation. LSU
was able to drive down the field on the last possession of the game, getting down to the Auburn 15yard line with one second remaining. Hurrying to get the snap off in time, the offense ran to the line to get set. On the final play of the game, quarterback Danny Etling was chased out of the pocket, forcing him to heave a ball to the back corner of the end zone where he connected with wide receiver D.J. Chark. After review, it was ruled that they did not get the snap off before time expired. In a 2017 meeting in Tiger Stadium, the Auburn Tigers came into Death Valley ranked No. 10 in the nation while LSU was still trying to get over what could be considered one of the worst losses in the program’s history after it was upset at home against Troy. On a scorcher in mid-October in Baton Rouge, former LSU wide receiver Chark sparked what ended up being the biggest comeback in LSU football history, when he returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown before the half. Field goal kicker Connor Culp then hit multiple clutch field goals from 42 and 36 yards in the final three minutes of the game, erasing Auburn’s 20-point, first-half lead. The monumental upset and comeback win against Auburn turned the Tiger Stadium field into a sea of purple and gold as the LSU faithful stormed the field in celebration to cap off the historic win.
see LSU-AUBURN, page 10
FOOTBALL
Column: TJ Finley should start MICHAEL SANCHEZ @MikeSanchez525
The LSU Tigers seized a commanding 52-24 win over South Carolina behind the arm of true freshman TJ Finley. Sitting at 2-2 on the season, can the Tigers put pressure on Alabama in the SEC West? LSU is currently tied for fourth in the conference with the Arkansas Razorbacks. Alabama is No.1 and is winning games in a scary fashion. The Tide is winning every game by double digits and looks to be the powerhouse of the conference. Which quarterback gives the Tigers a chance at glory this season? TJ Finley had a near perfect opener, completing 17-of-21 passes for two touchdowns. The 6-foot-6 freshman looked right at home behind the center in purple and gold. He was calling audibles, making multiple pre-play adjustments and was laser accurate with his passes. Some could argue Finley looks more like a junior-year quarterback than Myles Brennan does. Brennan has not been a slouch in his starting performances either. If 11 touchdowns over three games is not convincing enough, how about 1,112 yards as well? Brennan has a cannon for an arm and can make big plays when they are
THE REVEILLE ARCHIVES
LSU junior cornerback Lloyd Cole (34) watches the ball during the Tigers’ game against Auburn on Oct. 26, 2019, at Tiger Stadium.
see FINLEY, page 10
MEN’S GOLF
LSU men’s golf ties for sixth in Vandy Legends Invitational BY JOE KEHRLI @joekehrli9 LSU men’s golf finished the Vanderbilt Legends Intercollegiate tournament tied for sixth with a score of 21-under 831, the eighth-lowest score relative to par in program history. The Tigers battled another stacked SEC field in their second tournament of the season in Nashville, Tennessee. The host team, Vanderbilt, showed that there is an advantage to playing on a home course, posting a first-place finish and a collective team score of 39-under. Although the course is over 570 miles away from Baton Rouge, several Tigers played the course like they knew all the reads and course outline. Junior Garrett Barber led the squad with a low score
of 10-under. His first round scorecard was marked up with red, as he carded seven birdies and only one bogey. In the second round, Barber posted six more birdies and three bogeys. In the final round, he kept rolling in the birdies, posting a score of 1-under. Barber finished the tournament with the seventhlowest individual score and tied second for most birdies at 18. “After birdieing 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, I gained confidence,” Barber said following the third round. “Walking off 18’s green was a pretty good feeling. I hit it better and putted better. It was a solid tournament.” Sophomore Connor Gaunt was also able to strut off 18’s green with confidence after his first round, following six birdies on the back nine. Gaunt, the Arkansas native, tied for eighth
with a score of 9-under. “Me [Barber] and Gaunt were able to feed off each other’s energy, and the whole team was able to feel it too,” Barber said. “Birdie runs give us motivation” Senior Trey Winstead tied for 37th with a score of 1-under. Winstead’s opening round 2-over in the rain and wind focused him to get back into contention. In the following two rounds, he posted subpar scores of 1-under and 2-under. The Tigers debuted freshman Drew Doyle this week. “Although, I know [Doyle] is not happy with the results today,” Barber told The Reveille, “He played pretty well. It is his first tournament, and it is a good starting point.” Doyle finished tied for 46th
see MEN’S GOLF, page 10
COURTESY OF LSU ATHLETICS
LSU junior Garrett Barber slaps a shot from the fairway in the Vanderbilt Legends Intercollegiate tournament on Oct. 27, in Nashville, Tenn.
page 10 MEN’S GOLF, from page 9 place with a score of 1-over. His third round 1-under was his only round below par. Coach Win-
FINLEY, from page 9 needed. He has been around the offense for years and has learned a thing or two from LSU legend Joe Burrow. The Tigers have a problem on their hands that many coaches wish they had. The team has two quarterbacks who are good enough to be starters at one of the best colleges in the country. Alabama is 5-0 and does not
Thursday, October 29, 2020 stead, prior to the season’s start in September, mentioned that the strength of the team’s depth is what will show this year, and Winstead should feel confident
about the way Doyle played. Senior Phillip Barbaree finished the tournament with a score of 3-over. His performance is highlighted with leading the
field with Gaunt for the lowest stroke average on par threes (2.75 -3). LSU as a team also led the field in par-3 stroke average as well, finishing at 4-under
(2.93). The Tigers will head to Birmingham, Alabama, on Nov. 8 for their third and final tournament of the fall season.
look like it will lose anytime soon. With that being said, sorry Tiger fans, this year’s quest for a national championship does not look like it will be successful. Finley is the future of LSU football, so why not get him acclimated to the offense sooner rather than later? Ed Orgeron can use this season as an experiment with Finley. And who knows, maybe this experiment could turn into the Tigers’ grooming another Heisman winner.
LSU-AUBURN, from page 9
threw for 321 yards and one touchdown, helping LSU edge Auburn 23-20. After coming up short year after year, the Auburn Tigers are undoubtedly still vying for that ohso-sweet revenge. Will this be the year that they come out on top?
While we don’t know what 2020 matchup will entail, one thing that we do know is if it is anything like its predecessors, we are in for a good game. Tiger fans: Hold your breath, grab a drink, sit back and relax. This could be a bumpy ride.
SAVANNA ORGERON/ The Reveille
LSU football freshman quarterback TJ Finley (11) practices Oct. 24, before LSU’s 52-24 win against South Carolina in Tiger Stadium.
Following that came the 2018 meeting on The Plains. The game featured a lot of back-and-forth between the two top-15 teams until Joe Burrow ultimately led the LSU Tigers down the field in the final minutes, leaving the game in the trusty hands of grad-transfer field goal kicker Cole Tracy. Tracy drilled a 42-yard field goal right down the middle on the final play of the game, lifting the LSU Tigers to a 22-21 victory. Tracy was then hoisted up and carried off the field by his teammates. That play cemented his name into the long list of LSU greats. When the two programs met in Death Valley last year, the two schools were respectively ranked in the top-10 of the Associated Press Poll. Under the lights on a Saturday night in Baton Rouge, the fans and players were filled with adrenaline. Coming into the game, the LSU offense looked unstoppable. Steamrolling past all its previous foes, opposing defenses struggled to find a scheme to slow down the up-tempo, spread offense. For most of the game, the defense of Auburn was able to contain LSU’s offense but fell just short. Burrow
THE REVEILLE ARCHIVES
LSU junior running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (22) runs the ball during the Tigers’ game against Auburn on Oct. 26, 2019, at Tiger Stadium.
OPINION
page 11
University should suspend all student orgs and Greek Life SPILL THE TEA WITH MARIE MARIE PLUNKETT
@MarieC_214
After facing the losses of Joyce McKnight, Martin Johnson and senior Andre Navarre earlier this semester, our community was not prepared for another tragedy — yet we faced another devastating loss on Monday, Oct. 19, when news broke about the death of another LSU student. Though details remain sparse, what we know is that the tragic and sudden loss of life is somehow connected to the hospitalization of another student, a freshmen fraternity pledge and the ongoing hazing investigation of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. After the 2017 death of freshman Max Gruver, the University promised to do better. In 2018 the Max Gruver Act was passed, and in 2019 LSU added a “Hazing Prevention” Moodle course as a require-
ment for any student who wished to participate in club activities. Clearly that hasn’t solved or changed anything about the way students conduct themselves. The LSU student who took her own life was a graduate of St. Mary’s Dominican High School, my alma mater. She was only two years younger than me. The hospitalized fraternity member was a Jesuit High School alumnus, the same high school my brother attended. Though this is far from the first Greek Life tragedy reported during my time at the University, it’s the first time I knew the victim. For the first time, I don’t just feel the usual sympathy for the family or annoyance at the situation. I feel anger. I feel grief. Earlier this semester, in September, a hazing complaint was raised against Phi Kappa Psi, yet no suspension or formal reprimand followed. That alone should be enough to enrage students, especially those of us who were here when Max Gruver died.
I’ll make the same argument against Greek Life that I’ve made about police brutality: just because not everyone in the system is corrupt or toxic, and the system can be beneficial, does not mean that the system is not inherently flawed. As a friend of mine and fellow Dominican alumna put it, “How many slices of moldy bread do you have to find before you throw out the whole loaf?” The consistent and blatant endangerment of student life is not a product of 2020 nor a reaction to the restrictions of COVID-19 policies; this toxic environment is the foundation of Greek Life on campus. Until it can be remedied — whether through legislation, school administration or a long-term cultural shift on campus — I’m calling on the University to suspend not only all Greek Life activities, but all student organization activities. Where was the suspension after the September hazing report? Why hasn’t Tom Galligan released a statement yet? If the University will
not hold the system accountable and the fraternity members will not hold themselves and their brothers accountable, it is up to the campus community as a whole to make this change. For Max Gruver. For the fraternity pledge who was hospitalized. For the female student who died seemingly as a result. And for every other victim of the Greek Life system. This situation was preventable. It was not an unforeseeable accident nor an inevitable tragedy. It was the clear and direct result of a disregard for basic rules and common sense and the University’s unwillingness — or inability — to control its fraternities. Until the University can ensure the safety of the members of every student organization — Greek Life or otherwise — it should not allow any student organization activities to proceed. Instead of holding onto the “us versus them” mentality that separates Greek Life members and
ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille
Memorial Tower clock stands tall Sept. 19 from the top of the Barnes & Noble at LSU parking garage non-members, we all need to come together and make sacrifices to fix the problems on our campus. Until we can all participate safely in campus life, none of us should. Marie Plunkett is a 21-year-old classical studies senior from New Orleans.
Black people shouldn’t have to be ‘woke’ all the time OLIVE’S GARDEN OLIVIA JAMES
@afroliviaa
Since the police shooting of Michael Brown in 2014, the term “woke” has been used to describe the act of being aware of racial and social justice issues in America today. We’re told to always “stay woke.” But should Black people constantly consume traumatizing media for the sake of being socially aware? I don’t think so. Deriving from the Black Lives Matter movement, being a part of “woke culture” means staying tuned into what’s going on in the country and around the world. It has inspired many who otherwise might not have educated themselves on the issues that Black Americans face to do so and for that I am grateful. But a fear of mine is that for many people — especially progressive white people — being “woke” is more like being a part of a social group rather than a part of a social movement. People share Instagram posts about important issues and retweet videos of police brutality and suddenly they’re self-proclaimed ac-
tivists. Allyship should go beyond hashtags, but “woke culture” has enabled many to believe they are totally versed on the issues after a short scroll through social media. My biggest problem with “woke culture” is the toll I see it taking on the Black community. As a Black woman, my very existence lives at the intersection of racism and sexism. I experience micro aggressions every single day. I understand the importance of being informed on the issues, but for Black Americans, our entire lives are the issues. We are living in the issues. For many people around the country, even Black people, police killings are things you hear about that happen in cities far away from your own. Alton Sterling was shot dead by a police officer right here in my hometown of Baton Rouge four years ago. I was only 16 at the time, but I helped three of my high school classmates plan a huge peaceful protest in downtown Baton Rouge. Sterling’s name reappeared in the media last month after the city of Baton Rouge decided against awarding his family a settlement. It was then that I saw a video of Alton Sterling being shot that I had not seen before. In this video, the officer who killed him told him re-
peatedly that he would shoot him in the head. Minutes later, the officer fulfilled that promise. There I was, watching a Black man my father once bought a bootleg movie from being murdered in cold blood in front of a store I once frequented. It was after watching that video that I swore I would never watch another Black person being killed on social media. It made me sick to my stomach. I wonder how many other Black people have had the same feeling. After George Floyd’s death in May, we saw somewhat of a resurgence in the Black Lives Matter movement. People were, and still are, protesting all across the country, just as they did in 2014 after the death of Mike Brown. But what was really interesting to me was the social media aspect. Social media has been especially instrumental when it comes to modern day activism. It served as the catalyst for the Black Lives Matter movement. But on my own timeline, I saw many of my peers scolding others for not posting enough about the issues. As a Black person in America, why should we have to witness and experience trauma every single day and then make sure we post about it all the time too?
ABBY KIBLER/ The Reveille
Protesters hold up their signs on May 31 during the protest of the death of George Floyd at the State Capitol in downtown Baton Rouge. I am all about Black Lives Matter. I use my social media as a platform for Black issues more than anything else. But as I get older, I realize why some of my Black peers might not feel comfortable doing so. Black Lives Matter has been called the largest movement in U.S. history, and it is a movement I am proud to be a part of. It has influenced policy and continues to be instrumental in the fight for our rights. None of it would have been possible without social media — but I think we could be more genuine and careful about the conversations we have and things we
Editorial Policies and Procedures EDITORIAL BOARD Bailey Chauvin Brittney Forbes Anna Jones Katherine Manuel Grace Pulliam
Editor in Chief Managing Editor News Editor Deputy News Editor Opinion Editor
The Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, The Reveille or the university. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to opinion@lsureveille.com or delivered to B-39 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must provide a contact phone number for verification purposes, which will not be printed. The Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Reveille’s editor in chief, hired every semester by the LSU Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.
post. White allies should continue to speak out on social media about social and racial injustice and shouldn’t be alarmed if they don’t see their Black peers doing so. Black people should engage in conversations about racism but also check in with their mental health and take breaks from the topic as needed. And it’s really time for us to retire the word “woke” from our vocabularies. Olivia James is a 20-year-old mass communication junior from Baton Rouge.
Quote of the Week “A mask tells us more than a face.”
Oscar Wilde Writer 1854-1900
Thursday, October 29, 2020
page 12
Amendment 5 would help corporate welfare, hurt taxpayers CLAIRE’S COMMENTATY CLAIRE SULLIVAN
@sulliclaire
With such a turbulent presidential race, it is easy to forget the importance of down-ballot candidates and measures, despite the lasting impact they have on our communities and our lives. This is especially true for Amendment 5, which appears on the 2020 Louisiana ballot as follows: “Do you support an amendment to authorize local governments to enter into cooperative endeavor ad valorem tax exemption agreements with new or expanding manufacturing establishments for payments in lieu of taxes?” This seemingly innocuous and confusingly worded amendment would allow corporations to negotiate their property taxes by making upfront payments instead, lowering the overall amount paid to local governments and potentially eliminating property tax for some corporations entirely. How this amendment even came to the Louisiana ballot is vital in realizing who it is meant to serve. Energy company Cameron LNG spent millions lobbying for
this amendment because its current tax exemption status is about to expire. Yes, this amendment is appearing on your ballot because a foreign conglomeration needs to tweak the rules to better suit its needs. If only the government were that receptive to its actual constituents. If made to pay property taxes like the rest of the community in which it resides, Cameron LNG would have a bill of about $220 million. This means money that could be going to Cameron Parish public schools and other vital public services is instead being pocketed by a foreign company operating within state lines. The passing of this amendment would mean Cameron Parish will never see that money, and many more parishes in Louisiana would see revenue drop significantly. The ramifications of this would be disastrous. School funding relies on property tax. Unfortunately, this means that the wealthier an area is, the more funding its public schools are able to get. This also means that when corporations are suddenly able to lower or eliminate their property taxes, only two options remain: either regular tax payers make up the difference or already-underfund-
ed schools and public services go without the necessary provisions. The first option should be out of the picture, especially during a historic economic crisis. Louisiana is already overly friendly with corporations, as evidenced by Cameron LNG’s current tax exemption status and its ability to successfully lobby for an amendment to be put on the Louisiana ballot. Not only that, but the state pays out so much in corporate subsidies that it gives corporations $210 million more than it collects in corporate taxes — and taxpayers foot the bill. The second option is the reason Louisiana teachers have stood in firm opposition to this amendment. In comparison with the rest of the country, Louisiana is currently ranked fourth worst for its public schooling and fifth worst for its high school graduation rate. Amendment 5 would cut funding to schools that desperately need it, ultimately moving Louisiana backward on this key issue. Teachers need higher salaries, students need access to quality materials and our schools must be able to afford necessary sanitary equipment to protect the lives of children and workers during a pandemic. Jeopardizing school funding so corporate boards can
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA
cut themselves a larger check is unconscionable. Dr. Tia Mills, the president of the Louisiana Association of Educators, framed her opposition to Amendment 5 in this way: “We have a choice. We can keep shipping our public school money to corporations in other countries or we can keep that money here and invest it in our children. The teachers of this state oppose Amendment 5 because we want to invest in our children.” In a time of extreme financial pain, our government felt the appropriate economic priority to
present voters with was the finetuning of a system set up to maximize corporate profit. When you step up to the ballot box, remember that corporate welfare perpetuates inequality in states like Louisiana and is an unfortunate manifestation of our government’s tendency to value corporations over communities. The future of our state economy is on the ballot this election. Let’s choose wisely. Claire Sullivan is an 18-year-old coastal environmental science freshman from Southbury, CT.