NO TRICK, ALL TREAT
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at your local pumpkin patch?
Read on page 2
GOURDIAN ANGELS
Local Methodist church provides jobs and pumpkins to the community
The Jefferson United Methodist Church transforms its lawn and community with a pumpkin patch that has become a festive fall tradition every October and an important fundraiser for many Baton Rouge residents.
Over 2,000 pumpkins make up the patch, and JUMC puts 100% of the sales proceeds into organizations that support the Baton Rouge community. Some of the organizations they donate to include Brave Heart, Serenity Treatment Center, The Shepherds Market and The Capital Area CASA Association.
The patch has a way of giving back to its customers as well. Adults, teenagers and young children spend time socializing, taking pictures and playing in the patch. Leslie Hyacinth, pastor at JUMC says the pumpkin patch helps bring people together with fall spirit.
“It is a wonderful way to not only raise funds to help folks in our community, but it’s also a way for people to come on our campus,” Hyacinth said. “It just makes one feel good to walk in a patch full of orange. There is something about that that’s really cool and nostalgic.”
Volunteers from the community manage the logistics of the patch from its set up to its sales. A team of decorators adorn the field with hay bales and scarecrows, while a clean up crew removes any rotten or bruised pumpkins from the field.
Jerry Monier, the missions coordinator at JUMC, said that not only do the volunteers help the pumpkin patch prosper, but their teamwork exemplifies the triumph of the fall tradition.
“It’s all the partnerships and collaboration that goes into putting the patch together. I think the success truly is not only the services that we provide, but the success is also the community coming together to support the patch.” Monier said.
The volunteers range from longtime members of the church to local high school students. For some groups, serving at the patch has become its own fall tradition. Each year groups of Parkview Baptist students help at the patch to fulfill their service hour requirements for school.
“It is quite an undertaking,” Hyacinth said. “We have a wonderful group of teenagers who have been coming for years, and they are just really instrumental in helping us do what we do.”
Another consistent group of volunteers comes from the Serenity Treatment Center. These men and women help unload the semi-truck full of pumpkins and arrange them on pallets in the patch. Serenity is a rehabilita-
tion facility dedicated to helping individuals with substance and alcohol addiction. It is also one of the organizations that JUMC uses the patch to raise money and awareness for.
Hyacinth says that meeting these volunteers face to face makes their donation mean much more.
“We’re not just writing checks,” Hyacinth said. “We have personal relationships with the organizations, and I really appreciate that.”
Volunteers are motivated by different reasons to help at the pumpkin patch. Susan Kramer donates her time to JUMC during October, because she loves to watch the children and their families celebrating the fall season.
“They enjoy it so much; they run around and take pictures and they take forever to pick out their pumpkins,” Kramer said. “I’m a retired educator, so I enjoy being around the kids.”
The pumpkin patch attracts many families and their children of all ages. On Sunday, Oct. 20, JUMC hosted a Trunk or Treat celebration in the patch. Participants decorated their cars and passed out candy to kids in halloween costumes. The children rode on hayrides and got their faces painted, while mothers took pictures.
Monier says that seeing young kids have fun and spend time with their families is one of the most meaningful aspects of the pumpkin patch, because they resurface his own memories of past autumns.
“Seeing three or four families with young kids, and I’m talking 2, 3 years old, some younger than that, running through the patch and looking at the pumpkins and seeing the volunteers smile watching this happen, I go back to the memories of my daughters when they were that age running through the patch.”
Young adults also spend time in the patch. The bright orange bulbs and festive hay bales make the perfect background for festive Instagram pictures, and pumpkin shopping is a cozy activity to do with friends.
Haya Sultan, a freshman sociology major at LSU, shopped in the patch for pumpkins to paint at her sister’s birthday party. Sultan said she feels that the pumpkins are a beautiful way to mark the fall season.
“I like having seasonal things to look forward to,” Sultan said. “I just think it’s fun and aesthetic. Especially in Louisiana, since it doesn’t get cold much, it’s nice to have something to feel like fall.”
JUMC offers a variety of pumpkins including the classic orange squash, perfect for a jack-o-lantern. They also have unique gourds, mini pumpkins and white pumpkins. The iconic fall vegetables are all grown by Navajo farmers on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Farmington, New Mexico.
The fundraiser doesn’t just impact Baton Rouge communities. The pumpkins provide jobs for 700 Native Americans during the fall harvesting season, helping reduce unemployment in the
B-16 Hodges Hall
region. Hyacinth said the patch’s wide scope of positive influence is one of main reasons customers come to JUMC for their pumpkins each year.
“I would say people in our community are going to buy pumpkins anyway, but they know that these pumpkins make a difference not only for people in our area, but also for the farmers that grow them in New Mexico,” Hyacinth said. “That’s something I know we appreciate and others appreciate too. So although you could go to Target or you could go to Walmart and buy pumpkins, and they might be a little bit cheaper, people come here because they want to give back, and this is a way to do that.”
She said the JUMC pumpkin patch has important social, aesthetic and monetary impacts on the Baton Rouge community and those beyond. Each person that interacts with the patch becomes part of its success story.
“I think success is really in people coming out and having a safe space to bring their families and feeling the love of our volunteers,” she said. “Success is our volunteers doing something outside of their comfort zone, success is raising the funds and success is that they were grown in the first place and provided jobs throughout the year. It’s always successful no matter how much we sell.”
The JUMC pumpkin patch is located at 10328 Jefferson Hwy, and is open Monday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Baton Rouge, La. 70803 LSUReveille.com
Louisiana State University
ADVERTISING
(225) 578-6090
Layout/Ad Design BEAU MARTINEZ
Layout/Ad Design CARLY LANGFORD
Layout/Ad Design AUDREY MORRIS NEWSROOM (225) 578-4811
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 Daily Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified, please contact the editor at (225) 578-4811 or email editor@lsu.edu.
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.
CAMILLE MILLIGAN / The Reveille
Signs representing different organizations the church contributes to with the fundraiser’s proceeds sit throughout the patch on Oct. 23.
NEWS
STILL HOT?
LSU students, alumnus launch AI farming app
BY QUINN MARCEAUX
@quinnmarceaux
Baton Rouge residents hoping for cooler temperatures will need to wait a bit longer, as meteorologists expect no cold fronts to creep in before Halloween.
According to WBRZ Chief Meteorologist Josh Eachus, the current warm weather pattern will likely persist into early November.
“We are not going to see a cold front before Halloween. I can say that definitively,” Eachus said.
Typically, October brings a noticeable shift towards fall conditions, with average highs around 70 degrees Fahrenheit and lows around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. However, this October has been notably warmer, with this month being the fifth warmest on record, mainly due to the high temperatures seen at the end of this month.
“Average highs should be in the 70s by the end of the month, but we’ve had a long run of days in the upper 80s,” Eachus said.
Nighttime temperatures, which have hovered near average recently, are also expected to rise. Temperatures at night are expected to reach into the high 60s, about 10 degrees above average, through most of the week.
This prolonged period of warmth is tied to a larger weather pattern across the U.S., with cooler-than-normal temperatures in the West and warmer-than-average conditions in the East. While these shifting weather patterns aren’t uncommon, the unusually high temperatures Baton Rouge is experiencing stand out.
“Some years, it completely flip-flops with the East seeing cooler temperatures and the West seeing warmer temperatures for this time of year. But this year, we are just stuck un-
der one of those warmer patterns,” Eachus said.
Adding to these weather challenges is an ongoing dry streak that extends beyond Louisiana, with large parts of the United States facing drought conditions for weeks. Louisiana is on track to experience one of its longest dry spells on record. There is a slight chance of rain this week, including a few light showers around Halloween, but Eachus expects them to be minimal and unlikely to disrupt trick-or-treating.
Oceanography and Coastal Science Professor Paul Miller explained that persistent highpressure atmospheric systems are to blame for the dry conditions.
“We’ve been seeing a lot of high pressure in the atmosphere over the last few weeks,” Miller said. “This descending air prevents clouds and rain from forming, leading to this ‘Groundhog Day’ type of weather where the weather stays the same for weeks.”
He also noted that the lack of cold fronts this fall is unusual, as they typically start arriving around mid-September. While a few cold fronts have come through, they haven’t lasted, which is uncommon for this time of year. Cold fronts often bring rain, so their absence may also be contributing to the extended dry spell Baton Rouge is experiencing.
While cooler weather may finally arrive in November, it remains uncertain exactly when.
“After Halloween, I have started to see some indications that things could get a little cooler,” Miller said. “The model shows a real cool-down around Election Day, November 5th, but I would never place money on a two-week model.”
Eachus also noted the unpredictability of fall weather patterns.
“Historically, we dip below
60 degrees by September 23, hit the 40s by October 11, and get our first freeze in the third week of November,” he said. “But some years, the first freeze doesn’t happen until January.”
Baton Rouge residents will likely need to wait until midto-late November to feel a significant shift toward cooler temperatures.
“If you’re looking for fall or winter-type weather, you’re going to have to move to the western side of the United States,” Eachus joked.
In the meantime, residents can expect more of the same warm and dry conditions through Halloween and the start of November.
BY ASHLYNN BAILLIO @ashlynnbaillio
A startup led by an LSU alumnus and two current students is making strides in transforming how farmers and agricultural professionals access essential information.
FarmSmart, an AI-powered app currently in beta testing, promises to streamline complex research from dense agricultural documents into quick, user-friendly responses available at the touch of a button.
The idea for FarmSmart came about after then-LSU student Colin Raby had a conversation with Professor David Stevenson at the LSU AgCenter. Stevenson, who often fields questions from young farmers, noticed a common trend: Many of these farmers weren’t consulting the AgCenter’s annual guide – a comprehensive, 500-page document detailing best practices in crop management and pest control.
Stevenson would encourage the farmers to check the guide, but many found the manual challenging to navigate. Although the guide is a valuable resource, its dense, black-and-white text made it less accessible to those seeking quick answers. Raby realized there was an opportunity to make this information easier to access.
“If you had a huge user manual, what would you prefer: to read through the entire thing or just get your answer?” Raby asked.
In 2023, Raby and FarmSmart co-founder Grant Muslow took a course at LSU on large language model technology, which uses AI to understand and respond to user inquiries. For a class project, they decided to build an app specifically for LSU AgCenter documents, which soon grew into the ambitious, AI-enabled FarmSmart.
The app now aims to help not just Louisiana farmers but also agricultural professionals nationwide. In the beta testing phase, it is programmed to identify and solve crop issues across 15 states and is planned to expand to 50 states in the future, according to Raby.
FarmSmart works by analyzing thousands of agricultural documents, including research from the EPA and the Department of Agriculture, as well as LSU-specific re -
sources. Its Louisiana model is currently the most accurate, but the team plans to expand accuracy to additional states once they finalize the Louisiana version.
FarmSmart’s AI is also transparent about its limitations, according to Raby. If it encounters a question it can’t answer, the app simply says it doesn’t know, rather than offering potentially inaccurate information. Additionally, the app provides citations for its responses to show users where information is sourced.
“Our goal is to match or exceed the quality of the best agricultural consultants,” Raby said.
While hiring agricultural consultants can cost farmers hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on their farm’s size, FarmSmart aims to provide comparable information at a fraction of that cost, although the exact pricing has yet to be determined.
The FarmSmart team consists of Raby, Muslow and Julius Pallotta, a biological engineering major at LSU who handles the frontend code. Raby serves as CEO and CFO, overseeing both the technical aspects and the business side, while Muslow, a graduate student in electrical engineering with a concentration in machine learning, is the chief technology officer. Pallotta, currently on a semester break, serves as the chief operations officer.
Raby also currently serves as a Congressional Artificial Intelligence Specialist.
The team has already onboarded 15 beta testers, including local farmers, agronomists and landscape architects. Their feedback is helping the team identify strengths and potential improvements, particularly in making the user interface more intuitive. FarmSmart’s goal is to reach 50 beta testers and continue refining the app’s performance.
Farmers interested in agriculture who want to try the agricultural assistant for free are encouraged to become beta testers and provide valuable feedback on its functionality. To apply, visit the FarmSmart website at www.FarmSmart.ai and click on the “Become a Beta Tester” button.
MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille
The John M. Parker Agricultural Center sits on July 7 on Ag Center Lane near Highland Road in Baton Rouge, La.
Baton Rouge’s fall weather delayed until November
BELLA BIONDINI / The Reveille
A tree stands outside The Pentagon on Oct. 31.
ENTERTAINMENT
ARIS WILLIAMS
@ARISOFMARS AS HALLOWEEN APPROACHES, THERE COULDN’T BE A BETTER TIME TO RE VIST SOME FAMILIAR SPOOKY FILMS. HERE’S A RUNDOWN OF WHAT WE’RE WATCHING THIS HALLOWEEN:
TWITCHES (2005) THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
This Disney comedy-drama follows the adventures of Camryn and Alex, twin witches who were separated at birth. The two discover each other and their powers through a series of fated events. An evil force that threatens the world forces them to embrace their identity and become heroes. “Twitches” is available on Disney Plus and Hulu.
This Henry Selick classic follows the conquests of Jack Skellington, the leader of Halloween Town, who comes across a Christmasthemed town. He decides to deter from his spooky gig to give a different holiday a try. His attempts end up causing a slew of issues that his true love helps fix. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is on Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video or at select theatres here in Baton Rouge.
The “Halloweentown” series follows the adventures of a typical family who discovers that they actually come from a long line of witches upon following grandma home to Halloweentown, a thriving community of supernatural beings. When evil begins to loom, Marnie and her siblings learn to embrace their heritage and powers. The “Halloweentown” films are on Disney Plus or Hulu.
“Hocus Pocus” depicts the adventures of teenager Max, who recently moved to Salem, Massachusetts and accidentally releases a coven of witches after exploring an abandoned house. These witches, the Sanderson Sisters, proceed to wreak havoc on the town, leaving Max faced with the problem of getting them under control. “Hocus Pocus” is available on Disney Plus or Amazon Prime Video.
“Monster House” is an animated horror comedy about two teenagers who discover that a house in their neighborhood is possessed by a ghost. When the house begins to terrorize locals, the friend group seeks the consultation of a local supernatural expert to put an end to it. “Monster House” can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.
This stop-motion film chronicles the adventures of Coraline, a little girl who discovers an alternate world behind a secret door in her new home. The alternate world is whimsical fun; that is, until her family in the parallel universe tells her that she can’t leave. “Coraline” is available for free on Tubi; there will be showings at select theatres here in Baton Rouge on Halloween and Nov 1.
Greek Life’s Trick or Treat Down the Row brings Halloween fun to BR
BY CAM CHEHREH @camryncherries
Greek row kicked off its annual Halloween festivities in full this past weekend for the LSU community. The festivities were in full effect this past weekend.
LSU Greek Life hosted its annual Trick or Treat Down the Row on Oct. 27, always held the Sunday before Halloween. The event took place at W. Lakeshore Drive, also known as Sorority Row. From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., families gathered on Greek Row to partake in candy collecting from chapter members and spooky games.
The event began at Lod Cook Alumni Center and stretched down the entire street. Attendees were able to visit sororities, fraternities and even select LSU athletic teams for candy and information about each organization. Members of the Panhellenic Executive Board, notably dressed as characters from “Despicable Me”, handed out maps of the row and directed families visiting to the correct location for the event.
“It’s just so fun seeing all the kids and the adults in the Baton Rouge community come together to meet up with LSU Greek Life,” Taylor Davlin, PHC director of philanthropy said. “It just really shows the big impact the LSU Greek community can have, not just on LSU’s campus, but on the greater community.”
The afternoon heat didn’t frighten the crowds. Families who attended the event were excited
to show off their costumes and meet LSU students. Candy wasn’t the only thing being handed out down the row. Some chapters handed out books, small toys and flyers to raise awareness about their philanthropy.
Lod Cook Alumni Center was transformed into a Boozar, complete with spooky games, a visit from Mike the Tiger and booths from different athletic teams. Golf, tennis, track and cross country were among the teams represented at the event.
Kids were able to test their balance with LSU Gymnastics on a small balance beam at their station and were eager to show off their skills. Aleah Finnegan, LSU gymnast and 2024 Olympian, was excited to see the community’s support at the event.
“This event is always so special to us; we’re here every year,”
Finnegan said. “It’s just a way for us to give back to the community. They support us every single year, and it’s a good time to get to hang out with them and see all the fun costumes.”
A few booths down from LSU Gymnastics stood the Tiger Girls. Families were excited to get candy and talk to the cheer team they see on the field almost every weekend. Even though LSU Athletics have fun on the field and the court, they enjoyed taking a break to interact with the community.
“Personally, I have little siblings who come here every year,” Hebert said. “It’s just fun to be able to be people they look up to. They always get excited about seeing cheerleaders. We get to run into kids at basketball games and all that, but right now we get to actually interact with them for as long as they want.”
When does Halloweekend fall this year? LSU students weigh in
BY OLIVIA TOMLINSON @oliviamersade
Halloween is a candy-filled, one night adventure for most who celebrate; however, Halloween for a college student has become a fashion show of many nights, filled with lots of pressure.
College students often celebrate multiple nights in a row throughout the weekend of Halloween every year. This consensus of celebrating a “Halloweekend”, rather than just celebrating on the night of, means multiple costumes and parties must be planned. If Halloween falls on Thursday, Oct. 31 this year, which weekend will students celebrate?
The college Halloweekend debate remains an unanswered question this year. Halloween falling on a Thursday night creates awkward timing for students to decide which weekend to go out. Students across the nation took to social media to
decide whether everyone was planning on celebrating the weekend of Oct. 25 to 27 or the weekend of Oct. 31 to Nov. 3. Most felt that celebrating the weekend before is too early, while some believe it does not make sense to continue celebrating through the first weekend in November.
Mass communication major Elizabeth Ray began her Halloween celebrations last Saturday, Oct. 26. She had heard many people were not celebrating once the holiday had passed, so she took advantage of the events going on the weekend prior.
“It kind of felt too early, because Halloween hadn’t happened yet,” Ray said. “I was just thinking about how I don’t want to be partying in November.”
Halloweekend has become the unspoken rule of when to celebrate Halloween in college. Hitting up the bars on the weekend makes it easier on students, rather than
going out on a school night. Since Halloween has a higher chance of falling on a weekday, this phenomenon was created to give students something to look forward to at the end of the week and to take the pressure off having to get dressed up after a long day of classes. Though, there are still students who celebrate on weeknights.
“I don’t really know anyone going out this weekend,” Ray said. “I also don’t really want to go out on a school night.”
LSU students typically find themselves celebrating Halloween at Tigerland. The college bars located in Tigerland began posting their Halloweekend lineup on Monday, Oct. 28, implying that Halloweekend will begin its celebration on Halloween evening. Popular bars like Fred’s in Tigerland have posted its three-day lineup of Halloween events, creating excitement around
GREEK LIFE
STUDENT LIFE
CAM CHEHREH / The Reveille
Trick or Treat Down the Row attendees taking photos in front of the Lod Cook Alumni Center on W. Lakeshore Drive, on Oct. 27.
CULTURE
Museum of Art and Bank of America highlight Impressionism
BY ARIS WILLIAMS @arisofmars
The LSU Museum of Art unveiled its new exhibition to the public. “In a New Light: American Impressionism 1870-1940, Works from the Bank of America” is a collaborative effort by the museum and Bank of America.
The partnership has amassed a sizeable collection of art pieces that is lent to galleries through the “Art in our Communities” program. Since 2008, Bank of America has shared exhibitions with over 175 museums around the world, with the ultimate goal of promoting an understanding of art and the cultures which inspire artists to create.
“In the early 1900s, bankers invested in art,” explained chief museum curator Michelle Schulte. “Bank of America took all of these
CELEBRATE, from page 4
the night. Artists like Juicy J and DJ Press Play will be headlining on different nights.
Halloween weekend has become a three-day long runway for students to show off their costumes. The event has become so highly anticipated that students
pieces in and at some point, decided that they wanted to get them out of storage and developed a program to lend them to galleries free of cost.”
The goal of the exhibit is community building. Schulte says the museum is thankful to Bank of America for bringing this to Baton Rouge. The exhibit of over 75 pieces tells a story of the transition of American art out of realism and into impressionism, which is more synonymous with depictions of fleeting moments in everyday life.
American Impressionism began as as experimental combination of Tonalism and European Impressionism by the Hudson River School, a group of New York landscape painters. This allowed the artists to create art that was more on par with how increasingly industrialized and diverse
start planning weeks, some even months ahead.
Students at LSU who do not find themselves at the bars during Halloweekend, can also join the spooky fun at most frats on campus. Frats like Pi Kappa Alpha and Sigma Chi typically throw Halloween-themed frat parties at their house throughout Halloweek-
America was becoming in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
As spectators view the pieces of “In a New Light”, the urban spaces begin to take form on the East Coast, then continue moving westward near more rural areas that Americans were still unfamiliar with. Detailed depictions of light, countless quick brushstrokes and vibrant color palettes come together to create snapshots of this time period.
The lives of all kinds of Americans, from maritime workers in New England to indigenous communities in California, are represented in the pieces. Standout landscape pieces give viewers a glimpse of where and how they lived.
Schulte hopes that those who visit this exhibit will leave with a broader perspective of what American art truly is.
end. These parties consist of black lights, fog machines and a variety of costumes.
The Reveille took to its own Instagram to ask which weekend followers were planning on celebrating. Thirty percent of voters said Oct. 24 to 27, 70% voted for Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 and some even said both.
Popular Instagram account LSU
“I hope that people look at the evolution of the American painting, and also the idea of how religion influences color, composition and scheme,” Schulte said. “Where you were in America really mattered back then.”
The LSU Museum of Art will be unveiling another exhibit on
Thursday, Oct. 31 titled “Rembrandt, Goya, and Dürer: The Marvel of Old Masters” and will be hosting a free winter reception for both of these exhibits on Thursday, Dec. 5.
To keep up with the LSU Museum of Art, you can follow its Instagram: @lsumoa.
chicks, with almost 50 thousand followers, is known for creating humorous posts revolving around what is happening on campus. Although the account is not affiliated with the university, it is never behind on campus trends. Once the Halloweekend debate started going around, LSU chicks took to its Instagram story to settle the debate.
The story was a poll, asking students which weekend everyone is celebrating. A few days later, on Oct. 18, the account posted a “Halloweekend Announcement” declaring that the consensus would be the weekend of Oct. 31 to Nov. 2. The post has 400 shares, meaning students are following the announcement of LSU chicks
ARIS WILLIAMS / The Reveille Pieces from the LSU Museum of Art In a New Light exhibit hang on the gallery wall.
SPORTS REF, YOU SUCK!
It’s the most thankless job in sports. How does one become a referee?
BY ETHAN STENGER @itsethanstenger
After officiating a Biddy Basketball game, referee Earl Lennie and his colleague are approached by a spectator.
The man begins to berate the two on their officiating of his eightyear old’s basketball game. Expletives are involved. As bystanders start to look on, Lennie is asked what all the commotion is about.
“This gentleman just informed me that he doesn’t want to be here anymore, and he needs a police escort out of here,” Lennie said.
Chasing perfection is a neverending marathon in any craft. However, in officiating, perfection is not only elusive, but it’s the only job in which you will hear constant outside noise. Outbursts like the one Lennie endured aren’t uncommon.
“We’re the only people on the field expected to be perfect, and nobody’s perfect,” NCAA baseball umpire Alex Zeigler said. “So it’s knowing you’re not going to be perfect, and going out there and still trying. It’s kind of like this endless game of just insanity almost.”
Being a referee is one of, if not the toughest, trades in sports. It’s an occupation that receives little to no appreciation.
“I never had the expectation of people coming up to me and saying ‘Thank you,’” Lennie, now a Southland Conference basketball official said.
So with all the flack that comes with holding the whistle, what’s kept these officials in the game for so long, and what sent them down this path in the first place?
If you ever talk to an NCAA
Orleans, La.
referee, it’s pretty clear how they landed on their profession. Their resilience, perspective on life and view of the world are incredibly fascinating. It’s almost like they were destined to officiate.
“It’s almost in most people,” NCAA volleyball official David Dufrene said. “When you talk to people that officiate, they just want be a part of the game no matter what they’re doing.”
But their passion first came on the playground. At the core of it, officials love the game and want to contribute to it in some way.
“Anytime I walk on any place, if I’m not on the court in some way or on the field, I just feel like, ‘What do I do? Where do I belong?’” Dufrene said. “I couldn’t even relax
to sit in the stands without being a part of the game in some sort of way. So I’ve always been that way.”
While becoming an official is far from a linear path, the common thread between each is their beginning. They’re at their local recreational park one day, and someone comes up to them and says, “You got a whistle?”
At age 13 Lennie was enamored by one official that would ref his Biddy Basketball games. Lennie described it as almost effortless; he made it look easy.
“He had the coolest hand signals I’ve ever seen in my life,” Lennie said.
That official was Dufrene. Lennie wanted to be just like him, and for good reason. Dufrene has
refined NCAA volleyball across the SEC, AAC, Sun Belt, Conference USA, WAC and Southland conference for nearly two decades.
Lennie got his first officiating gig for a preseason basketball tournament in Harahan, Louisiana. He was only a year or two older than the kids playing in the game.
After getting the good news the day before the tournament, Lennie immediately called his mother to come get him. They had to make an urgent trip to the Converse outlet in Elmwood to pick up black pants and shoes. And that’s where it started.
Officiating tends to call the right people into action. For Lennie, all it took was observing Dufrene’s smooth operation to feel inspired.
However an NCAA referee may first find their way onto the floor, their path towards officiating begins at your local recreational park, refereeing little league baseball or Biddy Basketball. Even NCAA officials need to start somewhere.
Those who stick with it eventually move up to the high school level. In Louisiana, aspiring high school sports referees register with a local officiating association, participate in local associate training and complete a rules clinic, going over any new rule changes or issues that the officials had the previous season. To remain certified, the referees in training must pass a rules test and attend an officiating camp biennially.
Once you’re certified, congratulations: You’re officially a certified high school referee.
FOOTBALL
Brian Kelly reflects on loss to Texas A&M
BY JASON WILLIS @JasonWillis4
After an especially somber post-game preference immediately following LSU’s loss to Texas A&M last Saturday, head coach Brian Kelly was more positive about his team’s performance this week.
Kelly said the team played “exceedingly well” for the first 52 or so plays of the game, when the Tigers held a 17-7 lead, but fell apart in the final stretch.
“So what we did well is we prepared well We came out emotionally, physically, did the right things,” Kelly said. “But we didn’t finish.”
Kelly compared it to how LSU came out with poor starts in earlier wins against South Carolina and Ole Miss – losing the initial fight but winning the battle. On Saturday, LSU was on the flip side of that trend.
During this bye week ahead of next week’s high-stakes matchup with Alabama, Kelly said the team has talked about how it can finish better. The Tigers have also worked on some problem areas that arose in College Station.
Here’s everything else Kelly discussed at Tuesday’s weekly press conference.
What went wrong in the running game
Taking out sack yardage, the LSU offense rushed for only 40
see REF JOB, page 9 see LOSS, page 9
CFB’s new changes have made for the best season in years
BY MARTIN SULLIVAN @marty_sulli
Dramatic changes to college football have been sudden, substantial and often criticized. But today, college football is in some ways the best it’s ever been.
Within the last decade the NCAA has opened the transfer portal, instituted NIL, expanded the playoffs and dramatically reconfigured conferences. This season, historic upsets have occurred, firsttime matchups have taken place and a 12-team playoff upholds excitement for a sizeable number of teams entering November.
A devastating loss to Texas A&M stretched LSU’s playoff hopes. Most years, it would’ve killed them. Most years, they would have dissipated after a Week 1 loss to USC. Fighting uphill is never fun,
but it beats elimination.
Texas A&M sits at the top of the SEC, with a perfect conference record. Behind them are four one-loss teams, including LSU, and then a two-loss Alabama.
The SEC is the best place to find eliminated teams playing out of spite for their conference rival, but it’s much more fun when futures are on the line. Tennessee’s win over Alabama may not have held the same weight in other years. A previous loss to Vanderbilt likely would’ve already kept Alabama from a top-four seed. Now, Tennessee got to push the Tide out of the top 12 and threaten their playoff dreams and expectations.
Vanderbilt upsetting Alabama was quite symbolic of this new parity. While the loss of Nick Saban of course was a factor, a team that hasn’t broken .500 in a decade
likely cannot take this kind of jump just because of a new opposing coach.
Fears of a tiny sample of schools monopolizing talent and eliminating the thrill of competition defined discussion everywhere with the institution of college football’s recent changes. Yet, this season has produced unthinkable upsets.
The Commodores prevailing over the Tide for the first time in 40 years was made possible by NIL and the transfer portal. The Vanderbilt starting quarterback, Diego Pavia, transferred from New Mexico State and currently has an NIL deal. He is one of many on the team who do.
Among the AP Top 25, over 10 teams have starting quarterbacks who transferred in, from Cam Ward at Miami to Luke Altmyer at Illinois. Previously uncompetitive
schools can now leverage NIL and the prospect of starting games to compete with premier programs.
Much of the fear that came from the portal was the idea of players not accepting time to learn from the bench. That may have increased, but it has far from overtaken the sport. LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, USC quarterback Miller Moss and Texas quarterback Arch Manning are all representative of development still being valued.
Development is a two-way street; many programs will be ineffective or simply under-resourced when it comes to development. Talented players should not be left to the fate of their situation. Now, their ability can make itself known on the highest stage.
It also allows for quicker turnover, both for contenders and re -
builders. Had Brian Kelly counted on recruiting freshman to improve his defense, things would not look like they do now. It also allows for changes of leadership to more quickly address holes in the roster.
Upsets like that of Vanderbilt and goliath showdowns like Ohio State and Oregon don’t happen in yesteryear’s game. Parity has long been heralded as among the defining strengths the NFL has over college football. In this era, newfound parity paired with the loyalty and devotion of college football fans at the very least shrinks that gap.
The changes seen to college football so far have made for the best season in recent years and all while affording student-athletes more freedom over their careers. Preconceived anxieties should be quieted and fans should be excited for this new age of competition.
FRANCIS DINH / The Reveille Referee Michael Vandervelde reviewers a replay Sunday, Sept. 4 during LSU’s Allstate Kickoff game defeat to Florida State 23-24 in the Caesars Superdome, New
REF JOB, from page 8
High school officials are inclined to take every game they can get. After all, you can only become a better referee with the proper reps. However, aspiring collegiate officials must attend camps to make the jump to the NCAA.
NCAA referees aren’t directly hired by the NCAA; they’re independent contractors hired by the collegiate conferences themselves. At these camps, officials must showcase their skills to their potential future employers, the conference officiating coordinators. Some camps cost referees hundreds or thousands of dollars to travel across the country to get their golden opportunity.
In 2011, Zeigler was a University of New Orleans student in his early 20s. He began officiating baseball after graduating high school and wanted to take the next step: becoming an NCAA umpire.
NCAA baseball works differently from other officiating paths. Umpires work their way up the minor leagues before getting promoted to major league umpire or beginning their careers as independent contractors for collegiate conferences.
Zeigler found a month-long camp in Daytona Beach that could
LOSS, from page 8
yards with a 1.9 average against Texas A&M. It was disappointing for the Tigers, as the struggling running game had one of its best performances of the season the week prior against Arkansas.
Having looked at the tape of the Texas A&M game, Kelly said the struggle was due to a combination of factors.
“We lost some individual matchups [blocking],” Kelly said.
He also said that the team made a handful of poor post-snap reads, choosing to run into a loaded box. In addition, the team’s running backs weren’t able to make plays in space to force missed tackles.
“We just collectively didn’t execute at a high level in the running game,” Kelly said.
How Garrett Nussmeier has responded to his poor performance
Quarterback Garrett Nuss -
secure him a position as a minor league umpire. The program would cost Zeigler thousands of dollars, and there was no guarantee that he would be one of the 22 chosen from the 175 aspiring minor league umpires attending the camp.
But Zeigler took the swing and never looked back. He was a nineyear minor league umpire before becoming an umpire for the SEC, Sun Belt and Southland conferences in 2021.
“I don’t know what I would’ve done if I didn’t get in,” Zeigler said.
The key to becoming an NCAA referee is the desire to improve; you must want to perfect your craft. That means officiating every game possible to get the maximum number of reps, taking advantage of the NCAA’s resources like in-person camps and online classes, tests and quizzes to test their knowledge of the rulebook and even practicing their hand signals in the mirror.
“Go in the mirror and do it until it looks good,” Lennie said. “Because if you don’t think it looks good, nobody else thinks it looks good.”
But these referees don’t view it as a job. They first got involved with the art of officiating for their love of the game. The officials are responsible for giving these sensa-
meier had the worst performance of his career against Texas A&M, with three critical interceptions in the second half.
Responding to criticism of Nussmeier, Kelly pointed to the fact that he’s still in his first year as a starter. He drew a comparison to last year’s Heisman winner and current Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, who also had poor performances in his first season with LSU.
“He’s up for the challenge of getting better,” Kelly said. “We’re working with him to get him to the level that he needs to be, and he’s excited about doing it. So I’m not really worried about loss of confidence with him.”
Going forward, with Nussmeier’s level of play having slipped in recent games, avoiding mistakes from the quarterback position will be paramount for LSU. Why the LSU offense hasn’t run many screens
tional sports that we all invest in, watch and love what they deserve for the fans, players and coaches.
“It’s never been a job,” Zeigler said. “I get the best seat in the house, and I get paid to do it. So there’s no complaints from me there.”
Getting paid to watch games? For the passionate sports fan, it doesn’t get much better than that.
There is a desperate need for more officials across all sports, especially at the lower levels. It’s hard to play sports without somebody willing to go out there, blow the whistle and make the tough calls to keep the game fair.
For those interested in trying their hand at officiating, the best place to start is at your local recreational park. Go up and introduce yourself to a referee that you take pleasure in watching. Let them take you under their wing and teach you what it takes to become an official. Register to become a certified referee under a local high school association and start refereeing games. With the proper practice, training and reps, you too could become an NCAA official, and why wouldn’t you?
After all, as both Dufrene and Lennie would tell you, “It’s the greatest part time job in America.”
There’s been plenty criticism that the LSU offense hasn’t been diverse enough this season, with many noting the almost complete lack of the screen game.
On Tuesday, Kelly said the reason for that is LSU’s personnel.
“I have such pride in throwing screens,” Kelly said. “We’re not built for it right now.”
He went on to explain that screen passes require offensive linemen with the athleticism to get out in space, especially now that chop blocks are now penalized. LSU seemingly doesn’t have that this year.
“Those big guys are like elephants on roller skates,” Kelly said.
He also said screen passes are best run against defenses that send pressure, and defenses have often been dropping more defenders back into coverage against LSU to respect its downfield passing attack.
GABRIELLA GUILLORY / The Reveille
Brian Kelly answers interview questions asked by a reporter before half time on Saturday, Oct. 26, during LSU’s 23-38 loss against Texas A&M at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas.
HALLOWEEN SOCIAL
LSU Habitat for Humanity hosts a Halloween social on the Parade Grounds on Oct. 29.
Photos by Cate Emma Warren
Spread by Riley White
LSU Habit for Humanity club members pick out snacks at their Halloween movie night.
Junior psychology major Anna Lu, junior environmental engineering major Lanna Lu, and junior electrical engineering major Blair Naquin sit together.
Junior biological science majors Alana De La Ossa and Kylie Segura pose together on a picnic blanket.
Sitting on the LSU Parade Grounds junior biological science majors Hailey Nquyen and Sarah Saxon, and senior biological science major Grace Fontenot paint together.
Painted pumpkin sits on the LSU Parade Ground.
LSU’s Habitat for Humanity Club has Halloween decor and snacks set up
OPINION
It’s okay to not be good all of the time
AMYRI’S VANTAGE
AMYRI JONES
@acamelliasssss
I’ve been in the holiday spirit lately because of Halloween (my favorite holiday), so I’ve been watching tons of horror movies. In “Halloween 8: Resurrection,” a professor taught his class about Carl Jung’s concept of the shadow.
He states that “Inside all of us there lurks a dark, malevolent figure, this is [called] the shadow.” I thought more about this, and I realized just how true it was. As mammals, we are animalistic and it’s a part of our primal nature. We all have inherently dark traits about ourselves that we try to ignore or deny because of societal standards. But I think the secret to self-acceptance and growth is acknowledging all the parts of who you are: the good and the bad.
I tend to draw connections between multiple concepts, so Carl Jung’s idea of the shadow aligns perfectly with the Chinese philosophy of yin and yang. Essentially, the yin and yang symbols are visualizations of Jung’s theory. This philosophy is the idea that two opposing forces make a whole. Everything in this world has yin and yang energies, including people. Yin is associated with darkness, the moon and stillness, while Yang is associated with light, the sun and movement. There are several other associations but these correlate the most.
To summarize Jung’s main points, the shadow harbors all the qualities, desires, instincts and traits we don’t want anyone else to see. We repress these things and push them into our subconscious so they don’t rise to our conscious selves. I see this play out in real life a lot, especially when I observe self-righteous people and those
who claim to be a positive person.
To me, no person on this planet is all good. We all have another side to us; denying this is an act of disservice. If you think that you don’t have any darkness within you, imagine having to defend yourself or someone you deeply love from an attacker. I can guarantee that you will unlock a side of you that you claim didn’t exist or never knew existed. This goes for a lot of different scenarios. You never really know what lurks within you until something triggers you.
The inner workings of people are as profound as the ocean; after all, our bodies contain up to 60% water. Some people will spend a lifetime trying to navigate and explore those waters. Others never explore, which is why they are more prone to drowning, figuratively speaking. The solution isn’t to conquer the depths of who you are but to befriend them. If you acknowledge your shadow and attempt to understand it, you can control your urges and instincts better. This is Carl Jung’s main point: shadows must be integrated into one’s light so that you can improve as a person.
The goal isn’t to get rid of our shadows. We need our shadows as it’s a half of our whole. The goal is to make sure that our shadows and light are balanced. The existence of the shadow tells us that all of us aren’t 100% good, and that is okay.
We are not meant to be 100% good. Anyone’s belief in this would deny the full scope of humanity. We are primal beings, meaning we have primal instincts like anger, pleasure, fear, survival, grief, etc. None of these are inherently evil or negative; they’re natural. Just accept yourself for all that you are. It’s the human thing to do.
Amyri Jones is a 22-year-old digital advertising and religious studies senior from Baton Rouge, LA.
GRAPHIC BY ALLEN CONEY
EDITORIAL BOARD
Colin Falcon Editor in Chief
John Buzbee
Managing Editor
Meet your conservative friends’ favorite artist, Morgan Wallen
TANTAWI’S TABLOID
MOHAMMAD
TANTAWI @mowinator
Talent can be a powerful, blinding curtain concealing the effects of one’s art. Morgan Wallen, an acclaimed country music singer, is fooling us with upbeat, catchy tunes with an “e” rhyme scheme that makes for fantastic songs. We must admit to ourselves the shallow nature of his music and imagine knowing someone who personifies his lyrics.
We should’ve been worried after Wallen’s fame rose after his n-word incident. Wallen’s controversies involving his violation of COVID-19 protocols and usage of the “n-word” have long been documented, but they highlight broader issues plaguing America.
Race is unavoidable when speaking about Wallen. His fanbase showed their true colors when his album sales skyrocketed 1220% after his “n-word” incident. This was despite a 79% drop in radio plays over the same period. From afar, it bares a striking resemblance to the attempts to cancel Eminem for his homophobic and misogynistic lyrics.
However, Wallen’s diehard fans backed him up and gave him a pass.
After 24 years of life, I’ve lost count of how many white people have said varieties of the “n-word around” me. Wallen used the word in the same manner many white people say it, in the comfort of other white people. How could his audience find fault in his actions when they’ve probably used it themselves?
From race to conspiracy theory, dots connect Wallen to multiple aspects of toxic social media conversations. The overextended confidence of the half-educated was put on full display during the pandemic. As people defied CDC guidelines, Wallen followed suit in 2020, ignoring guidelines while he partied at the University of Alabama. His actions accredited the conspiracy theories, defying scientists in the name of bureaucratic rebellion. Wallen is not to blame for these groups, but just as Jordan Peterson carries a questionable fanbase, Wallen’s fanbase is also worth questioning.
Another aspect of his persona relies heavily on small towns and country romanticization. Wallen’s song, “7 Summers Ago,” depicts a man romanticizing his stationary position in his hometown. At the same time, his ex seeks new opportunities. It’s cringe-worthy because getting outside your environment should be a goal we all carry. The world is far too big to ground yourself in a particular area.
Over 50% of people never live outside their state, and another 37% never leave their hometown according to the Pew Research Center. I left home as soon as possible, and I promise staying in your hometown pales in comparison to experiencing a new environment. Remember, life in rural areas isn’t the romantic country lifestyle that the media sells us. Rural residents have higher suicide rates than urban dwellers, and farmers are 3.5 times more likely to commit suicide than the general population. You are not missing anything living in the city. In fact, you’re winning.
Lastly, ask yourself, “If I created a person matching Wallen’s lyrics, what would they look like?”
In his song “One Thing At A Time,” Wallen expresses a tradeoff for himself in case the girl he’s after is not interested in him. He sings, “If you ain’t gonna kiss me. Then I’ll take some whiskey, some Grizzly, nicotine, amphetamines too.”
I can only go two ways with that: call you a degenerate or give you pity. The cringe factor comes from using the word amphetamines; it’s just not hip. Also, why does Wallen need to go to the lengths of coping with drugs just because he might lose a girl? It’s a bit much.
For those interested in the XY chromosome, don’t be fooled by
the romanticization of drunk conflict. In his song “Last Night,” the situation describes how reality can lead to hostile situations. According to Dolan Zimmerman, between 1994 and 2010, 80% of domestic violence victims were women. There is nothing romantic about intoxicated arguments, and drunk outbursts are not the way to get through to your partner. A proper relationship doesn’t rely on periodic drunk outbursts to reveal pentup emotions. Imagine the song as a toxic country spinoff of 50 Shades of Grey. Wallen aids these toxic qualities with the occasional Jesus lyrics to cement his Christian credibility and gives his listeners a guilt release.
Additionally, there are shallow aspects to his music. Wallen’s implementation of hip-hop sounds in his production stems from a viral initiative resembling artists like Drake. He’ll do anything to fit into the mainstream, a modern example is the Florida Georgia Line. It’s cool that Wallen can collaborate with MoneyBagg Yo and produce decent music, but the song’s forgettable nature makes his music temporal in its impact.
The fandom behind certain artists safeguards their appeal despite corporate or industry sentiment. Wallen’s exceptional vocal and emotional lyrics draw audiences to revel in their own romantic, depressive and nostalgic memories. His music has earned him a free pass, and it’s hard to keep yourself in check with that amount of freedom. If you created such captivating music, you might find yourself in the same boat.
Mohammad Tantawi is a 24-yearold mass communication senior from Smyrna, TN.
Editorial Policies and Procedures Quote of the Week
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.
“There are three things I’ve learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.”
Linus Van Pelt
Peanut
Sports Editor Jason Willis
Oliver Butcher News Editor
Taylor Hamilton Opinion Editor
EVAN AGOSTINI / AP File
Morgan Wallen appears at the 56th annual CMA Awards, Nov. 9, 2022, Tenn.
