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T hu r s d ay, Fe b r u a r y 4 , 2 021
Junior right-handed pitcher Jaden Hill (0)
BACK IN THE BOX LSU baseball looks to rely on veteran staff and fresh faces in 2021 season.
PHOTO BY ABBY KIBLER
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page 2 NEWS
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LSU international student enrollment decreased by 15%, dropping to its lowest point since 1991.
ENTERTAINMENT
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Netflix drama ‘Fate: The Winx Saga’ fails to bring the magic of the original series to life.
SPORTS
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LSU baseball Head Coach Paul Mainieri prepares to showcase and utilize his highly praised freshman class.
OPINION
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“It is unacceptable that someone in this country could work full-time and still not make enough to support themselves.”
L SU Re ve i l le.co m @l s u r e ve i l le
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COMIN’ IN HOT Fresh, young batters and veteran pitchers gear up for new season BY JARED BRODTMANN @_therealjarbear Perhaps last season for LSU baseball could be summed up in one simple exchange from the Tigers’ media day Friday. One reporter asked Head Coach Paul Mainieri if there were any silver lining takeaways from the 17-game season cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, prematurely ending any hopes of the team continuing its road to Omaha. Mainieri paused, pondered and looked back at the camera. “No,” he said and laughed. It’s been an extremely long road, now some 10 months later since all spring sports were canceled just before LSU opened SEC play against Ole Miss. It was a devastating blow to each player and coach who worked hard to get ready for the season, to see all of the results they had previously put up squandered and to never get to know what the rest of the season held in store for them. Senior and No. 8 honoree Matthew Beck knows exactly where he was when it all happened. He and former LSU pitchers Cole Henry and Eric Walker had gone to play a round of golf at Santa Maria Golf Course in Baton Rouge. Suddenly, phones buzzed, and all three received text messages alerting them that their brief hiatus had turned into something much longer. The season was over. “We took a rain check on the back nine and just went home,” Beck said. Some players never got to play in Alex Box Stadium again. Henry, Walker, Zack Mathis and Saul Garza, to name a few, all moved on from the program and started new chapters.
But, it is February, and that means the wait is almost over for those who decided to come back. LSU still returns talented players, accompanied with a special recruiting class. There is serious reason for optimism that starts with the vaunted pitching staff. LSU’s three projected weekend starters — Jaden Hill, Landon Marceaux and AJ Labas — are each seasoned, menacing pitchers that make up possibly the best rotation in Mainieri’s tenure. The 15th-year Tiger skipper has gone on record to say every pitcher of the three is a Friday night caliber starter. “I believe Jaden Hill has the capability of stepping in and picking up for Cole Henry as a big time starting pitcher,” Mainieri said. “I think we’re going to see him improve as the season goes. Obviously, Landon Marceaux and AJ Labas give us a veteran rotation, and then we’ve got so many guys coming out of the bullpen that have had experience with us and done a tremendous job. Add that to some of the young, freshman pitchers, and the pitching staff gives so much to be excited about.” Two pitchers were named to D1Baseball.com’s Oreseason AllAmerican teams: Devin Fontenot (1st team) and Hill (3rd team). The bullpen holds back a swarm of veterans like Fontenot, Beck, Ma’Khail Hilliard, Trent Vietmeier, Brandon Kaminer,and Aaron George, each hungry for innings and opportunities to make impacts. Freshman contributors include Garrett Edwards, Will Hellmers, Ty Floyd and Blake Money. Fontenot has emerged as the team’s closer. “It’s amazing that a kid that’s a Preseason All-American and has done the things that Devin has done can seem to be underrated
by most people,” Mainieri said of Fontenot. “People want to emphasize one poor outing, or one inconsistent outing, but Devin is now a fourth-year player. He can throw the ball up to 95 mph, his slider is better, his command is outing and he has such a better understanding of what he is as a pitcher and what (pitching coach) Alan Dunn and I expect out of him. Absolutely, he’s our closer. There’s no question about that.” If the pitching staff is as good as the billing and references say, the upside of this team will be determined by the offense. It will be a tall task to ask of a lineup that brings back exactly five players who have ever played a full college baseball season (Cade Beloso, Giovanni DiGiacomo, Drew Bianco, Gavin Dugas and Braden Doughty). Cade Doughty, Collier Cranford, Maurice Hampton and Alex Milazzo return, but each of them only played the short 17 games last year. That means it’s up to the freshmen to step up and assume large roles. The good news for Tiger fans is there are already a few that have large enough reputations to fit the pegs left open. Dylan Crews and Tre’ Morgan will almost certainly be everyday players, as they’ve hurdled every lofty expectation thrown at them thus far. Crews has been tabbed by Mainieri as one of those special players to come through LSU, comparing his makeup as “Alex Bregman’s passion and DJ LeMahieu’s swing.” “Dylan is one of those kids that arrives at LSU and you know there’s something different about him,” Mainieri said. “LeMahieu had that same aura, Bregman had that aura, Duplantis had that aura. Not only is Dylan an extremely
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Freshman first baseman Tre' Morgan (18) talented player, but he has a tremendous attitude. He’s as coachable as anybody we have.” Morgan’s play at first has made such an impact so far that LSU had to make adjustments and find veteran first baseman Beloso a new home in left field to keep both in the lineup. His defensive prowess has been a big reason why Mainieri wanted to keep him in the infield, citing him as one of the top-five best defensive first basemen he’s ever coached. Morgan attributes his defense, along with everything else that makes him already so special, to the work he put in with his father. Whenever Morgan needed help, his dad was there, whether it was throwing him balls to help Morgan practice his defense or motivating him against critics who said he should play something else. “Me and my dad have been working on my glove since I was about four years old,” Morgan said. “He would back up to shortstop and throw picks at me, as hard as he could. Then, when I’d take groundballs, he’d go to home plate and hit the ball as hard as he could at me, no matter how old I was.” Accompanied by additional freshmen position player talents like Will Safford, Brody Drost, Jordan Thompson and two-way player Will Hellmers, the kids will have to be successful if LSU wants to achieve its yearly expectation of reaching and winning the College World Series. Should the pitching live up to the expectations and the bats, literally and figuratively, step up to the plate and produce, Tigers fans should have plenty to be excited about come summertime. The wait is almost over for a chance to make what was taken away right.
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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
ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille
LSU baseball team runs back toward the dugout Jan. 29 during baseball white vs. gold media day at Alex Box Stadium on Gourrier Avenue in Baton Rouge, La.
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.
NEWS
page 3
‘IT’S NOT A GOOD TIME TO BE A STUDENT’
Black History Month, ‘Robinhood’ initiative BY CAROLINE SAVOIE @carolinesavo
LSU international student enrollment drops 15% MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille
The International Cultural Center at LSU stands on Feb. 2, at 3365 Dalrymple Dr. in Baton Rouge, La. BY JOSH ARCHOTE @JArchote Total international student enrollment at LSU decreased by 15% in the fall of 2020 and reached its lowest point since 1991, according to data provided by the University’s Office of Budget and Planning. The drop at LSU coincides with national trends, which show international enrollment at higher education institutions in the United States decreasing 16% last semester, according to a survey conducted by the Institute of International Education. “The drop in enrollment this year wasn’t surprising to anyone given the challenges and hurdles that the pandemic created,” Samba Dieng, executive
director of LSU’s International Programs, said. “Most U.S. consulates were closed, making it impossible for students to se-
downs while being so far away from home has been difficult for some international students, including Moses Okonkwo, an
cure visas for the fall of 2020 LSU graduate student from Niterm. Border closures and coun- geria studying geography. 2014 31,049 i n e d try restric- 1,614 “It’s rutions also e n c e the experi2015 added sig- 1,702 of being 31,527 in a nificant try and new counchallenges 1,683 in graduate 31,414 s c h o o l 2016 e r , ” t o student altogethOkonkwo said. mobility in 2017 1,635 30,863 “For those t h a t general.” are locals, y o u The 2018 30,987 and do shift to on- 1,643 can go back line classschool from home. 2019 es and the 1,548 But this 31,761 i s n ’ t isolation home for intercaused by 2020 1,361 national stu34,290 d e n t s who arrived shor tly s h u t -
before the pandemic. The difficulty of isolation is - it drives you crazy.” Okonkwo said he went home at the end of 2019 before returning to Louisiana in January 2020, the last time he was able to see his family. “I have been here ever since, confined to the boring walls of my apartment,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a good time to be away from family and friends. Generally, it’s not a good time to be a student, I would say.” LSU alumnus Amrat Gandhi, founder of LSU’s International Alumni Chapter, said he has friends back home who planned to come to LSU but deferred their enrollment last fall,
see ENROLLMENT, page 4
ADMINISTRATION
LSU community speaks on presidential qualifications BY MADELYN CUTRONE @madelyncutrone As the search for the next LSU president continues, members of the LSU community are outlining what attributes they want their next leader to embody. LSU hired Parker Executive Search Nov. 13 to handle the search. After developing a position description and creating a new website for the search, Parker Executive Search is now compiling a pool of candidates from a myriad of backgrounds.
From this pool, the company will narrow down the list of candidates to seven or eight individuals that the LSU Presidential Search Committee will conduct further interviews with and ultimately choose the next president from. Student Body Vice President Hannah Barrios, who serves on the Presidential Search Committee, said it’s important to her that the next LSU president be attentive to students on campus and routinely listen to their concerns. “I want the future president
to be present with students and active on our campus,” Barrios said. “I think to be connected to the spirit of the campus they must be in student organization meetings, having lunch with students and making a conscious effort to stay engaged. I want the next president to prioritize our academics and understand the importance of student retention. The next president should lead by example and know when to step back and listen.” Civil engineering freshman Carter Alphonso said he would like to see a younger president
– ideally someone under 50 – who shares the ideals and values of the students, rather than someone older who could be out of touch with how college students feel. “I think we need somebody for [the students] and not for profit,” Alphonso said. Pre-medical nutrition sciences sophomore Mattie Robison said she believes it’s important for the next president to address issues of diversity and the previous mishandling of sexual
see PRESIDENT, page 4
SG’s Department of Diversity is organizing a social media event called “28 Days of Excellence” that will feature posts about 28 different Black figures in the U.S. government, one for each day of February, which is Black History Month. “When I was in SG last year, I realized that they didn’t acknowledge Black History Month,” Devin Scott, co-director of SG’s Department of Diversity, said. “As student leaders, we need to highlight and celebrate our Black students on campus.” SG is planning a block party on the Parade Ground with Black organizations outside of SG, a sexual assault awareness event and a club fair set for the last weeks of February. SG Department of Academic Affairs is speaking with administration about the financial burden ProctorU presents to students. Branches are considering making a fund from the SG account to get students a discount on exams or pay them in full. There is a resolution in SG Senate to urge LSU to approve the Tiger Girls’ request to go to UDA Nationals competition in late April after LSU Athletics denied their request, according to SG Chief of Staff Patrick Cormier. SG’s Governmental Relations Department is working to partner members of SG with Louisiana state representatives and senators to urge them to allocate more money to education in the wake of a budget approval in the spring. “We want to work with the University’s governmental relations office during this very important budget season,” SG President Stone Cox said. “LSU’s interests are heard from the faculty and students, also higher education statewide. As the flagship university we can speak on behalf of the other universities since the Capitol is in our backyard.” SG Department of Disability Services worked with LSU Dining to successfully implement text-to-speech menus for three restaurants on the LSU Dining website.
Thursday, February 4, 2021
page 4 PRESIDENT, from page 3 assault cases, and that the solutions should go beyond the surface level. “I would hope for someone willing to put a people-pleasing image aside in order to take action and use their position of leadership to create true solutions for students’ concerns,” Robison said. Barrios said she is pleased with the work Parker Executive Search has completed thus far, noting that they’re paying close attention to the feedback the committee received from the LSU community in their listening sessions. “I feel confident in the criteria Parker Executive Search is using, as they are using the job description and attributes that we created as a committee,” Barrios said. “That criteria was developed in response to the survey feedback and campus listening sessions, all of which Parker took part in. They understand what we are looking for and what we need at this time.” In a Jan. 14 meeting, Parker Executive Search detailed their plan to incorporate diversity into the search process. Parker Executive Search President Laurie Wilder noted that while the pool of candidates is not currently diverse in terms of gender and underrepresented groups, by the time the full list of candidates is finalized on March 15 there will be over 100 applicants with hopefully a higher representation of diverse groups. Wilder said diversity is a factor they’re taking into great consideration. “I’m hoping that the pool is diverse and that the best person comes out of that pool,” Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Dereck Rovaris said. “If that person happens to be diverse, that’s great. If it’s someone who comes with a lot of experience in diversity work
but doesn’t represent a lot of diversity, that’s fine too. I would really like for the process to be fair and inclusive.” Rovaris said it’s important to him and the LSU community that the next president is fully committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. He said if they are not, LSU would no longer be a place he wanted to work. Barrios echoed Rovaris’ sentiment. “It is important to me that they make a commitment to making our campus more equitable in all aspects,” Barrios said. Board of Supervisors Chair Robert Dampf explained his vision for the next president in a Jan. 25 Faculty Senate meeting. He said he wants a president who the faculty will respect and will work closely with the students. “We want someone who checks the box ‘all of the above,’” Dampf said. “I’m excited about our search process. I think we’re going to come up with a dynamic leader that will really be exactly what LSU is looking for.” Dampf said that while he is not on the Presidential Search Committee, he has appointed 20 individuals for consideration. Anyone can nominate a potential candidate by visiting the LSU presidential search website. Parker Executive Search also created a survey form to learn from the LSU community what it wants in its next president. The survey can be accessed on the presidential search website under the “participate in the process” tab. “The presidential role is extremely important to me,” Barrios said. “The president is the chief executive for our campus. They are looked up to by faculty, staff, students, the LSU system and the state of Louisiana to represent their interests and to advance our campus. It is not a role to be taken lightly.”
KRISTEN YOUNG / The Reveille
Interim President Tom Galligan discusses future of coronavirus testing for students and staff Sept. 23, 2020 in a press conference alongside Dr. Deborah Birx and Gov. John Bel Edwards in the LSU Foundation Center for Philanthropy.
KRISTEN YOUNG / The Reveille
Students listen to the lecture Jan. 22, while in History 2057 in the Cox Communications Academic Center.
ENROLLMENT, from page 3 choosing to wait until the pandemic ends. Ninety percent of institutions in the survey reported international student deferrals in fall 2020. Construction management graduate student Shashank Muley, vice president of LSU’s International Student Association, said the pandemic isn’t the only reason international student enrollment has decreased. Even before the pandemic, new international enrollment in the U.S. was in decline, with numbers falling for the fourth year in a row in the fall of 2019, according to the Institute of International Education. “It started with the travel ban, frankly,” Muley said. Former President Donald Trump signed an executive order one week into his presidency that banned foreign nationals from seven predominantly Muslim countries. “I believe there were a series of events happening that have put a blockade in international students’ minds that coming to the U.S. might be risky,” Muley said. In July 2020, Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced international students pursuing degrees at U.S. colleges and universities could not remain in the country if they were enrolled in a fully online course load. “I wouldn’t want to apply to come to the United States knowing the government will ask you to go back home overnight in the middle of a raging pandemic,” Okonkwo said. “I had an exam on the day they made that pronouncement. I didn’t know what to think at the time but it
was terrible.” Okonkwo said he would do things differently if he could go back in time, possibly choosing to pursue his graduate degree in another country with a similar quality of education as the U.S., such as the U.K. or Canada. ICE reversed the regulation one week later after legal pressure from universities across the country. Interim President Thomas Galligan assured international students that the University would offer in-person classes so students would not have to leave the country if the order stood. Muley, Gandhi and Okonkwo agreed that the University did well to protect international students during those times. Dieng said the long-term trend of decreasing international enrollment is what worries him most. “That trend simply illustrates a couple of things: a) unfriendly immigration policies in the U.S. may have contributed to this drop in enrollment since 2016 and b) other countries such as Canada, Australia and the U.K. have made significant efforts in attracting international students to their home institutions, making it more difficult to recruit and retain students,” Dieng said. The decrease in enrollment has serious consequences for LSU and higher education across the country. Robb Brumfield, associate dean of research and administration of LSU’s College of Science, said many LSU students’ first time interacting with someone from a different country is on LSU’s campus. “A healthy university has an international population,” he
said. “If you’re missing that or it’s greatly diminished, you’re missing out on one of the key elements of a university education.” International students in Louisiana generated $250.2 million and supported 2,691 jobs during the 2019-2020 academic year, according to a study conducted by the Association of International Educators. International students disproportionately select into STEM and research-related fields at LSU, causing concerns for the College of Science, which relies heavily on international talent. Brumfield said about half of the students working in his research lab are international students. “When people bring a different background to a problem and different personalities, they look at it from a different way,” Brumfield said. “That’s how you get innovation and transformative ideas.” Brumfield said the department can’t control immigration policy, the pandemic or international competition. All it can do to attract more international talent to the University, according to him, is to continue providing professors the resources they need to secure research grants. “A lot of our international graduate student recruitment is directly linked - almost 100% correlated - to the productivity of research,” Brumfield said. He said the more grants the department is able to bring in from the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Health, the more opportunities it has to recruit students. “We need to have that if we want LSU to continue to prosper,” he said.
ENTERTAINMENT
REV R ANKS
page 5
MOVIE
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
Emerald Fennell
Marketed as a dark comedy, the film is not as brutal and bloody as one would expect from a female revenge thriller. The ending will either make or break the film for moviegoers. I found it to be a highly cathartic conclusion that managed to put a wicked smile on my face.
Connor McLaughlin @connor_mcla NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
SELENA: THE SERIES
Netflix
The Queen of Tejano music, AKA Selena Quintanilla, and her legacy lives on in the new Netflix series detailing her life story, but it did not do her story justice as I hoped it would. Even if it is not the best show Netflix has released recently, you are be able to enjoy some of Selena’s best songs along the way.
Emma Jackimowicz @emmajackimowicz
NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
NIGHT STALKER Netflix
There are countless true crime shows about serial killers, but this has to be the first one that I saw that mainly focused on the victims. The audience will see and hear about multiple crimes that Richard Ramirez committed from the victims themselves. If you have never heard of Ramirez or want to learn more about Ramirez’s background, skip this show.
Britney Young @byoun99 NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
THE HISTORY OF SWEAR WORDS Netflix
The show takes the allure of swear words and mixes it with history, pop culture and etymology. In the documentary series, there are six cheeky 20-minute episodes packed with the evolution, cultural impact and usage of some familiar swear words. One of the highlights of the series is that the audience hears from several different communities, such as the Black community and the LGBTQ community. Ariel Baise @arielbiancaa Read the full reviews online at lsunow.com/entertainment
I watched ‘Fate: The Winx Saga’ so you don’t have to be bored for six hours BY ARIEL BAISE @arielbiancaa
“Fate: The Winx Saga” is another example of why we don’t need reboots. Who asked for a dull “Shadowhunters” meets “Harry Potter” reboot of “Winx Club?” I tried to begin this series without any bias. The version of “Winx Club” I remember was not the Nickelodeon one, but instead the 4Kids one when I was a child. However, no matter what version you watched before the live action, you remember “Winx Club” being colorful, all about girl power and friendship first. “Fate” was boring and flat. The show’s characters personify typical tropes for young adults. None of the characters are their bubbly, fun selves from the original. Bloom (Abigail Cowen), the show’s main character, takes a rebellious, “I’m-not-like-othergirls” façade mixed with an unhealthy dosage of angst. Meanwhile, Stella (Hannah van der Westhuysen) has mommy issues and is a passive aggressive, mean girl for most of the season. Aisha (Precious Mustapha) is a rigid overachiever, who is reduced to Bloom’s sidekick. Flora, sorry, I mean Terra (Eliot Salt), has only one personality trait: annoyingly awkward. Musa (Elisha Applebaum) is standoffish but surprisingly the only tolerable character. The girls’ friendship is empty. They are only suite mates. There is not much villain-fighting and coming together. It’s the Bloom show while everyone else is a sidekick. Twitter already roasted the show months ago. I don’t have much else to add, except to ask one question: How do you have such woke characters but whitewash a whole cast and give the minority characters crumbs re-
lated to development? One of the things that made “Winx Club” great to watch as a child was seeing the diverse characters. Flora was a Latina. In Fate, Terra is her “cousin.” Then, Musa was Asian and had music powers. In Fate, she has mind powers. Aisha is another example of the token Black friend trope who doesn’t get any backstory or development. Also, the only LGBTQ character and Black male, Dane (Theo Graham), turns from a sweet, nice guy to befriending the same bigot who constantly taunts him about his sexuality. Finally, the Trix, aka the original series villains, aren’t there. Instead, we get Beatrix (Sadie Soverall), the prime example of the up-and-coming “I’m woke but that justifies my evil behavior” trope. All I’m saying is if the original Trix were there, “Fate” might have been a little better. Even with all of that, the plotline is decent. The story of Bloom attending Alfea is the closest thing to the original. The Burned Ones and the school’s mysteries were the only real, interesting elements of the show. However, the Burned Ones, aka Fire White Walkers, are so difficult to fight. Yet Bloom takes them out within two to three minutes in the last episode. The whole history of Bloom is fleshed out terribly. I had to rewatch several scenes to understand Aster Dell and her origins. Honestly, six episodes were not enough. The ending was rushed. Within the last 10 minutes, you get a boatload of confusing plot twists and many plot holes. I truly like the mix of technology and fantasy, but how is there Instagram but not a single security camera at Alfea? They have to cook up a whole potion to
see who used magic to murder Farah’s assistant. How do fairies have social media, but Alfea’s electricity still runs on some rocks outside that anyone can touch? There also is a concerning faculty-student ratio problem at Alfea. There are only three faculty members, which results in angsty teens with powers unsupervised. Want to choke someone with some vines? Want to run to the dangerous forest and nearly burn or drown your roommate? At Alfea, you can use your powers anytime freely without any supervision. We also have a boring love triangle, a cage scene that mimics “You” used on a student and dialogue that only a 40-year-old thinks teenagers would say. The only thing that is truly nice was the music. What’s wrong with this reboot is not the fact that it is different from the original “Winx Club.” It’s taking the “Winx Club’s” name and slapping it onto something far from the versions the target audience, “20-year-olds who still like to watch Winx,” saw before. I don’t want the same story over and over. Instead, just write a new story with the same characters, aesthetics and values as the original. “Fate” had the perfect opportunity to embrace the Winx Club’s origins and be unique in a time of somber dramas. Instead of giving us another gloomy teen melodrama, Netflix could have given Y2K clothing, modern technology, magic, girl power and friendship. Honestly, if this reboot was not associated with the Winx Club, it might have been decent. If you need some background noise, then “Fate: The Winx Saga” is right up your alley.
Thursday, February 4, 2021
page 6
BY ABBY KIBLER
An LSU tennis fan watches the matches on Jan. 31 during LSU’s win over Rice.
Thursday, February 4, 2021
REFUSE TO LOSE
Women’s tennis remains endefeated after two 4-0 wins over Rice and Southern in their home opener. Men’s tennis defeated Rice, 4-1, and Incarnate Word, 6-1, upgrading them to 6-0 for their undefeated season.
page 7
BY ABBY KIBLER
LSU men’s tennis freshman Tom Pisane hits the ball on Jan. 31 during LSU’s win over Rice.
BY ABBY KIBLER
LSU women’s tennis senior Taylor Bridges gets ready to hit the ball on Jan. 31 during LSU’s 4-0 win over Rice.
BY KRISTEN YOUNG
LSU women’s tennis junior Anna Loughlan hits the ball on Jan. 31 during LSU’s 4-0 win against Southern.
BY ABBY KIBLER
LSU men’s tennis redshirtsophomores Nick Watson and Boris Kozlov gets ready to hit the ball on Jan. 31 during LSU’s 4-1 win over Rice.
BY ABBY KIBLER
LSU men’s tennis redshirt-sophomore Boris Kozlov gets ready to hit the ball on Jan. 31 during LSU’s 4-1 win over Rice.
BY ABBY KIBLER
BY KRISTEN YOUNG
LSU women’s tennis senior Eden Richardson hits the ball on Jan. 31 during LSU’s 4-0 win over Rice.
LSU men’s tennis redshirt-sophomore Boris Kozlov hits the ball on Jan. 31 during LSU’s 6-1 win against Incarnate Word.
BY ABBY KIBLER BY ABBY KIBLER
LSU men’s tennis redshirt-sophomore Nick Watson gets ready to hit the ball on Jan. 31 during LSU’s 4-1 win over Rice.
LSU women’s tennis sophomore Maggie Cubitt smiles into the crowd on Jan. 31 during LSU’s 4-0 win over Rice.
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FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 4, 2021
THE Daily Commuter Puzzle ACROSS 1 Weird 4 __ crow flies; in a straight line 9 Highway sign 13 Middle East nation 15 Baby’s utensil 16 Dad 17 Path 18 __ Haute; city on the Wabash 19 Decorated a cake 20 Swimsuits 22 Autry or Siskel 23 Jones & Brokaw 24 Hairstyling gel 26 Theater 29 Currier and Ives, e.g. 34 Ascended 35 Liquor 36 Actor Kilmer 37 Fishing worm 38 White adhesive 39 Most-populous island 40 “__ Only Love”; Beatles song 41 Thrill 42 Expand 43 Unnecessary 45 Powerful 46 “Son __ gun!” 47 Carry on 48 Oz visitor 51 Slivers of wood 56 In the center of 57 In the air 58 __ up on; study about 60 Word before tower or phone 61 Gallant; chivalrous 62 Transmit 63 Trick __; dislocated patella 64 Rough woolen fabric 65 “Zip-A-__-DooDah” DOWN 1 Saudi Arabian export 2 Dull-colored
by Jacqueline E. Mathews
2/4/21
Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews
3 Copenhagen native 4 Breathing disorder 5 Gushes out 6 Ripped 7 Bar Mitzvah dance 8 Give vitality to 9 Faucet 10 Frilly trim 11 Not secretive 12 Walk in shallow water 14 Most orderly 21 “O __, All Ye Faithful” 25 Five squared minus two dozen 26 Home in the forest 27 Fuming 28 Racket 29 Pillars 30 Memorization method 31 Escape detection by 32 Poe poem subject
Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved
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33 Incline 35 Pasture cries 38 Nice to be with 39 Nervousness 41 North Pole aid 42 Refuses to 44 Scribble 45 Was out of breath
2/4/21
47 Hunter’s gun 48 __ on; add 49 Foreboding sign 50 Scrabble piece 52 Farm machine 53 Part of the ear 54 Bamboo shoot 55 Not bananas 59 Initials for Ike
SPORTS
page 9
KEEPIN’ IT FRESH If you were to describe the LSU baseball team in one word, it could be “inexperienced.” Because the 2020 season abruptly ended last March before the conference portion of the schedule, over half of the team has yet to face SEC opponents, while those that have haven’t done so in nearly two years. But, if you were to describe the LSU baseball freshmen in one word, it could be “impact.” That’s what Head Coach Paul Mainieri hopes to receive from his youngsters. “I’m not going to be afraid to throw them into the fire,” Mainieri said. “I’m not going to be afraid to use them.” Even with a pair of Preseason All-American pitchers, a handful of reliable upperclassmen and a solid group of juniors and sophomores, the freshman class — ranked second best in the nation by Baseball America — was
know there’s something different about him,” Mainieri said. “[DJ] LeMahieu had that same aura, [Alex] Bregman had that aura, [Antoine] Duplantis had that aura. I tell him he has Bregman’s passion and LeMahieu’s swing.” When asked about Morgan, Mainieri said he was surprised to see what his first baseman could do when he arrived on campus in the fall. “I had no idea he was this good when we recruited him,” he said. Just as he put Crews in a category with former LSU stars, he may have placed Morgan in an even more prestigious one. “I’ve coached now, this will be my 39th year, and I would put him in a category of maybe five first basemen that I’ve coached in my entire lifetime as far as his defensive skill around first base,” he said. Morgan’s defensive wizardry was on display Friday evening. He picked ball after ball out of the dirt, displayed his wingspan
BY HENRY HUBER @HenryHuber_
to reach for errant throws and nearly did a few full splits. “He’s got the ability to pick balls in the dirt, but he’s also got the stretch and footwork on the bag to be able to give maximum distance,” Mainieri said. “He’s just got great instincts over there.” Morgan’s defensive abilities at first base gave Mainieri enough confidence to move junior Cade Beloso from first base, the position he had played his entire collegiate career, to left field. Beloso and Morgan, coincidentally, are longtime friends. Their relationship goes back to their high school days in New Orleans, and Morgan says Beloso’s help in transitioning to the college game has been instrumental to his early success. “He has such a mature approach,” Beloso said Friday. “He doesn’t act or play like a freshman. He’s been one of our best hitters. It’s been so good to see
see FRESHMEN, page 10
see MEN’S, page 10
ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille
LSU baseball freshman infielder and outfielder Dylan Crews (3) gets ready to throw the ball Jan. 29 during baseball white vs. gold media day at Alex Box Stadium on Gourrier Avenue in Baton Rouge, La. all anyone wanted to talk about during Friday afternoon’s virtual media day. They were then on full display later Friday evening during the scrimmage portion of the team’s first practice of the spring. Five freshmen position players in total took the field for either team, and four freshmen pitchers tossed a combined eight innings. The class is headlined by outfielder Dylan Crews and first baseman Tre’ Morgan. The two 18-year-olds led the way for the home team Friday night, batting first and second in the order. It’s something Mainieri says he’ll look to do frequently this season. Crews was the 13th ranked high school player in the country in the 2020 class, and the highest ranked recruit to choose college baseball over the MLB Draft. He earned high praise from his coach, drawing comparisons to LSU standouts of the past. “Dylan is one of those kids that arrives at LSU, and you
LSU men’s tennis starts season 6-0 Before Sunday, LSU men’s tennis had not started a season 6-0 since 2005. However, this seasonal streak is now over, as the Tigers defeated Rice 4-1 and Incarnate Word 6-1 to obtain their fifth and sixth straight wins. The day started with an unexpected outcome, one that would fill many fans with worry. The Tigers lost in doubles versus Rice, including a 4-6 loss by No. 60 Ronald Hohmann and Rafael Wagner, which could knock them out of the rankings. Coach Chris Brandi wasn’t too concerned about that though and even stated that it was a good opportunity for the team to prove itself in other aspects. “I was actually really pleased when we lost doubles,” Brandi stated. “It was a great opportunity for us to show that we don’t have to win doubles to win a match. Honestly, we were confident even after losing doubles.” They would take advantage of that opportunity by performing extremely well in singles, especially their underclassmen. In the midst of the great performances by underclassmen was another strong freshman debut, as Benjamin Ambrosio won both of his singles matches on the day. Brandi was excited about Ambrosio’s performances, men-
Mainieri ready to rely on freshmen: ‘I’m not going to be afraid to use them’
BY TAYLOR LYONS @taylorjlyons
MEN’S TENNIS
WOMEN’S TENNIS
LSU women’s tennis debut ends in doubleheader sweep BY HENRY HUBER @HenryHuber_ LSU women’s tennis’ matches on Sunday seemed like they were over in the blink of an eye, as the No. 24 team pulled off 4-0 sweeps against both Rice (22) and Southern (0-3) in dominating fashion. Though this isn’t considered proving themselves yet, they certainly made a statement early on in the season. The Tigers started with Rice, who arguably gave them their hardest challenge of the day. Doubles went swiftly with the senior duo of Taylor Bridges and Paris Corley and the sophomore duo of Maggie Cubitt and
Safiya Carrington each won their matches 6-1, but singles was a little more interesting. Multiple matches went to three sets, including one featuring No. 41 Bridges. She got off to a slow start, losing her first set 1-6. But she would rally in the second set and never look back, only dropping one more game on the way to a 1-6, 6-0, 6-1 victory. Bridges’ maturity showed, and she credited her performance to her ability to remain collected. “Not to blame the wind, but my feet weren’t moving, and it was just a slow start,” Bridges explained. “But I stayed calm
and positive and just kept doing what I was doing, and it worked out.” Her singles point came behind Corley’s 6-1, 6-4 win, leaving the Tigers with just one more point to claim the first sweep. This point would fall into the hands of sophomore Nina Geissler. After taking a tough first set that went into tiebreakers, Geissler would handle business and win 7-6(7-4), 6-4, earning what she believes to be her first clinch point ever for LSU. “I think it was actually my first time ever clinching a match so that was great,” Geissler said. “It gives me a lot of confidence
moving forward to the next matches.” To say Bridges and Geissler would carry that momentum into their next matches would be an understatement. Geissler pulled off a clean 6-0, 6-0 sweep against Southern in singles and Bridges and freshman Samantha Buyckx would handle business in doubles with a 6-1 victory. Bridges also got within one point of pulling off a clean sweep in singles too, but the team clinched the match before she could finish. The other singles points went to Buyckx and Eden Richardson, who dropped a combined two games in their matches.
When asked about the team’s overall performance, Geissler gave their hard work in practice credit. “Everyone is super motivated, and we push each other hard in practice, so it’s fun to see that it also works in matches, especially the first couple,” Geissler said. “It’s very important to set a statement to opponents as well. It was great that everyone was playing so well today.” Bridges agreed, mentioning the importance of starting the season strong. “Since it was our first match,
see WOMEN’S, page 10
page 10
Thursday, February 4, 2021
SIX TIGERS IN THE SUPER BOWL CHIEFS
CLYDE EDWARDS-HELAIRE FRESHMEN, from page 9 Tre’ come in and do well.” Another position player that has caught the attention of coaches is Will Safford. Mainieri says Safford, who stands just 5-feet-8-inches tall, is “tough as nails” and a “baseball rat,” bringing up the fact that he was a safety on a state championship-winning football team in high school. “I have to catch myself from saying little Will Safford,” Mainieri said. “I say that affectionately because I can look at him eye-to-eye.” Others who Mainieri noted were outfielder Brody Drost, who he says is a “young, budding Greg Deichmann type of player” and infielder Jordan
TYRANN MATHIEU
BUCCANEERS
DEVIN WHITE
DARRELL WILLIAMS
Thompson, who he says he feels “really good about.” “The talent is there, there’s just inconsistencies right now,” Mainieri said about Thompson. Mainieri also said he’s excited about new pitchers Garrett Edwards, Will Hellmers, Ty Floyd and Blake Money. “They (Edwards and Hellmers) maybe weren’t the most highly touted guys out of high school, but they just pitch,” he said. “Ty Floyd has made a lot of improvement. Blake is really getting himself into great shape, and this kid is a personality as wide as the Mississippi River bridge. “Some of these freshman arms are really going to surprise some people. They are
all team oriented and just want to be good baseball players.” As the spring season kicked off last Friday afternoon at Alex Box Stadium, the freshmen of LSU baseball were the focus. You could sense what Mainieri had stressed, that they would be relied on in big moments and in key spots. “They don’t really look like freshmen,” sophomore infielder Cade Doughty said. “It’s pretty incredible what they’re going to do.” Junior right-hander and Preseason First Team All-American selection Jaden Hill kept it short and sweet, but may have said it as best as anyone could. “The freshmen coming in are really going to make an impact.”
MEN’S, from page 9
ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille
LSU men’s tennis redshirt-sophomore Boris Kozlov gets ready to hit the ball Jan. 31 during LSU’s 4-1 win over Rice at the LSU Tennis Complex on Gourrier Avenue in Baton Rouge, La.
tioning that he isn’t even close to what his skill level will be in the future. “For Ambrosio, it was his first match, and he was nervous,” Brandi said. “But he did a good job and found a way, then he did a good job in the second match too. He certainly is not playing as well as he hopes or will be playing in the future.” Along with Ambrosio, freshman Tom Pisane also earned multiple wins in singles. This came after a tough loss in tiebreakers versus UTSA last
LEONARD FOURNETTE
KEVIN MINTER
ABBY KIBLER/ The Reveille
LSU baseball freshman infielder and outfielder Dylan Crews (3) retrieves the ball Jan. 29 during baseball white vs. gold media day at Alex Box Stadium on Gourrier Avenue in Baton Rouge, La. weekend. “It was tough against UTSA, losing the tiebreaker in the third set, but I think I bounced back really well and improved my level today,” Pisane said. “I played really well on the important points and was mentally there, which was the most important thing today.” Overall, LSU won all four singles matches against Rice (which likely would’ve been six if it wasn’t a clinch match) and five of six singles matches against Incarnate Word. Pisane was excited about the way his team performed, believing they improve with every
match. “I think if we would’ve played all the matches out, the other guys would’ve stepped up as well,” Pisane stated. “But overall, I think we’re all improving every day and getting ready for the next matches.” The Tigers may be 6-0 on the year, but this series of easier matchups that have all been at the LSU Tennis Complex is over, and a tough new series of matchups is about to begin. LSU will face No. 24 Texas Tech on the road this Wednesday in what will be a true test of how far this LSU squad has come.
WOMEN’S, from page 9 the biggest thing was having good energy and coming out strong, and I feel like we did that,” Bridges said. “The momentum going into Tulane, we’re just going to carry that forward and I feel good about it.” The Tigers face off against Tulane on Wednesday at the LSU Tennis Complex. They will look to continue winning early in the hopes of moving up in the rankings.
ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille
LSU women’s tennis senior Paris Corley gets ready to hit the ball Jan. 31 during LSU’s 4-0 win over Rice at the LSU Tennis Complex on Gourrier Avenue in Baton Rouge, La.
ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille
LSU women’s tennis senior Taylor Bridges gets ready to hit the ball Jan. 31 during LSU’s 4-0 win over Rice at the LSU Tennis Complex on Gourrier Avenue in Baton Rouge, La.
OPINION
page 11
University must support workers, establish $15 minimum wage SULLY’S SCOOP CLAIRE SULLIVAN
@sulliclaire
Last week, the Raise the Wage Act of 2021 was introduced in the House of Representatives. The bill proposes a gradual increase of the federal minimum wage over four years from $7.25 to $15 per hour, a policy change President Joe Biden campaigned on. While this is an important step in the fight for a higher minimum wage, our own University should not wait for what may turn out to be a slow or unsuccessful legislative battle to do the right thing. Instead, the administration should act quickly to establish a minimum wage of $15 per hour for every employee on campus. Louisiana is one of only five states that has not adopted a statewide minimum wage, meaning we default to the $7.25 federal minimum wage. A full-time worker making $7.25 an hour brings home $15,080 a year, putting a single person barely above the poverty line and sinking any household with more than one person far below it.
According to the University of California, Davis Center for Poverty, the real value of the federal minimum wage has been in decline for decades and has not been raised in over a decade, despite the fact that the cost of living has since increased by 20%. Increasing the minimum wage could contribute significantly to decreasing the racial wealth gap. Research by Harvard University found that raising the minimum wage in the 1960s and ‘70s decreased income disparities between Black and white workers by more than 20%. Doing the same thing today would help address the racial wealth inequality that persists in our society. It is unacceptable that someone in this country could work fulltime and still not make enough to support themselves. A minimum wage that does not prevent workers and working families from living in poverty is an abject failure of government policy and is a moral failing on the part of our University if it does not go beyond the measly legal requirement and instead chooses to pay unlivable wages to so many employees. Online job postings show wages ranging as low as $8 and $9 per
hour for workers in dining and custodial services at the University. Essential workers on campus are the only reason the University has been able to operate during the pandemic. Not only that, but these workers are often at increased risk of COVID-19 infection, as many are unable to work remotely due to the nature of their industry. The past few months have proven how much we rely on essential workers both on and off campus. It should be our no.1 priority to ensure they get fair compensation. The pandemic has also shown the importance of ensuring student workers earn adequate wages. The economic troubles associated with COVID-19 have only worsened the persistent problems many college students face, including hunger, housing insecurity and burdensome loan debt. Raising the minimum wage on campus would no doubt lessen the severity of these issues. Some professors have already recognized this and raised wages for the students on their payroll. I spoke on the issue with Dr. Robert Mann, a professor at LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication. “I have resolved that for the next
student worker I hire, I will request permission from [Human Resources Management]...to pay them $15 per hour,” Professor Mann said. “They may not approve it, but I feel that I should make an argument for why that is a fair wage. We have many students who are working hard on and off campus to make ends meet and to put themselves through college. It seems like it’s the least we can do to pay them a decent, fair wage for their labor.” It is important for HRM to remove any obstacles that may prevent professors from adequately compensating their student workers, especially for those like Mann, who pays students from his own private funds. While some critics of a $15 minimum wage argue the measure is too costly, as Mann points out, “If [we] pay our football coaches millions without batting an eye, I feel that paying a hardworking student $15 per hour is not all that outrageous.” This is precisely right. Claims that the University simply doesn’t have the money to pay workers fairly may be put to rest with a quick look at the exorbitant salaries paid to our football coaches.
Coach Ed Orgeron, for example, has a decade-long contract that pays $6 million a year and includes luxurious benefits like social club access, private air travel and millions of dollars in additional annual compensation. Orgeron is a government employee, mind you. It is inexcusable and frankly disgusting that the University could pay one man so much and relegate its other employees to poverty. Of course, this reflects the economic inequality found in our nation at large; a lucky few make more than they could ever need, while the masses are paid far less than what they deserve. There is no doubt that the University has a long way to go in its labor practices. While it is perhaps unlikely the University will willingly adopt a $15 minimum wage before it becomes federally mandated, it is still a worthwhile fight to demand more than what we have now. Anything less would be a disservice to the essential workers who help make our campus run. Claire Sullivan is an 18-year-old coastal environmental science freshman from Southbury, CT.
University should include AAAS 2000 in core curriculum GOING SOUTH TAMIA SOUTHALL
@tamiabrem_
On Jan. 25, the Faculty Senate voted on a resolution to make African and African American Studies (AAAS 2000) a general education requirement in the undergraduate curriculum. The resolution was withdrawn after it was decided the issue would be assessed by a special committee. Senate sponsors felt the motion was a means to delay the policy change. The movement to integrate AAAS 2000 into the core curriculum was spearheaded by Professor Lori Martin and members of the Black Student Athletes Association (BSAA). Faculty senators Sonja Wiley and Cassandra Chaney drafted the controversial resolution and presented it at a Nov. 18 senatorial meeting. Making AAAS 2000 an undergraduate course requirement
would be a monumental stepping stone for the University, and one I believe is worth taking. The first step to eliminating ignorance in society is through education. This is especially important in our current social climate; teaching students while they are young is the best way to make sure we produce graduates who are more culturally aware. There was a point in time not long ago when Black people couldn’t even attend the University, so requiring students to learn about Black history would certainly mark a turning point. When my own grandmother applied for college, this school was hardly an option for her. It wasn’t until 1950 that the University’s Board of Education enrolled its first Black student, Roy S. Wilson. The University should be more concerned with equipping students with the tools to understand and appreciate different cultures and histories. According to a Dec. 13 report
by The Advocate, “An Association of American Colleges and Universities survey found nearly 60% had instituted a required course addressing the histories and/or concerns of students who aren’t white.” The current course requirements for undergrads includes very little Black history. We typically learn a white-washed version of history — the same American Revolution I have been learning about since middle school. We would not have to advocate for a Black history requirement if the current curriculum taught us about more than just the Founding Fathers. On Jan. 12, decades after it was first recommended, the University finally approved the plan to implement an AAAS department. If approved by the state Board of Regents, the University will be the first public institution in Louisiana to create a department for Black studies. Now, they must revisit and approve this resolution
CARTOON BY BRANDON SHEPHERD
as well. This course should at least be considered as a legitimate alternative to the current history requirements. If the University is not willing to add AAAS 2000 to the core curriculum, it needs to adjust the history courses that are already in place to include more diverse instruction in support of its diverse student body.
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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.
I am tired of only learning about slaves when I learn about Black history. There are so many other contributions that African Americans have made that should not be overshadowed by our history of involuntary bondage. Tamia Southall is a 20-year-old mass communication junior from New Orleans.
Quote of the Week “Know what’s weird? Day by day, nothing seems to change. But pretty soon, everything’s different ”
Bill Waterson Cartoonist 1958 — present
page 12
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Meme culture: much more complicated than you might think EVAN ON EARTH EVAN LEONHARD
@evan_leonhard
In his landmark 1976 book “The Selfish Gene,” evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins sought to offer a scientific account for progress and change in human culture. According to Dawkins, just as the gene serves as the basic unit of biological evolution, cultural evolution breaks down into its own set of units, which he famously termed memes. Regardless of the validity or importance of Dawkins’ actual scientific propositions (which I am not knowledgeable enough to discuss), one thing is certain: that single phrase has become the greatest common identifier for an entire generation’s sense of humor. Today’s “memes,” although not entirely identical with Dawkins’ original notion, are still — in my estimation — deserving of our serious intellectual attention. This may be a surprising sentiment for many, and understandably so. What could there possibly be to say about the kind of nonsense kids these days are coming up with on social media? As a member of Gen Z who barely recalls a time before the internet’s current omnipresence, meme culture has played a prominent role in my coming-ofage and left an indelible mark on my sense of humor.
Having spent so much time around memes, I have come to see them not only as a quick comedic escape but also as a rich social phenomenon with complex aesthetic implications. In Susan Sontag’s famous 1964 essay “Notes on ‘Camp,’” the paradigm work for writing about American subculture, Sontag plaes great emphasis on the irreducible qualities of its subject. For Sontag, camp style and culture are not simply “ideas” in our usual sense of the word. They are practical descriptors that relentlessly resist definitive definition and intellectualization. She asserts that camp is better understood in terms of its “sensibility” — a subtle, somewhat elusive description which I think offers the best framework for thinking about meme culture as well. One could easily explain away the increasingly dynamic nature of online trends and the template-like structure of meme creation without ever really getting to the core of how these memes are experienced. Still, Sontag explicitly warns of the difficulties involved in trying to adequately articulate sensibility. I think what makes the essence of meme culture so difficult to capture in words is the immense amount of explicitly non-verbal social and visual context that can be layered over a single image. A 2020 “Art in America” ar-
COURTESY OF KNOWYOURMEME.COM
ticle by art historians Ara Merjian and Mike Rugnetta makes a fascinating connection between certain elements of meme culture and novelist Umberto Eco’s notion of “open work,” which refers to an artistic creation that involves some level of ambiguity in where it, as an individual work, begins and ends. Similarly, memes rarely exist in a vacuum. Memes are created in conversation with one another, building on and subverting what came before them. The limits of what constitutes a meme are never as clear as they might seem. These “open works,” espe-
cially those that emerge from Gen Z circles, carry with them an underpinning attitude that, for the most part, can really only be appreciated if a substantial amount of time has been spent within that online community. This generational attitude — or “sensibility,” as Sontag might have described it — is characterized by a pervading sense of irony and love of subversion. This is often the issue when members of Gen Z attempt to explain a meme to someone from an older generation: there is no shared sensibility. Although there are certainly examples of memes that any-
one can instantly relate to, anything below the upper crust of the “meme-sphere,” so to speak, quickly devolves into outlandish phrases and symbols that will likely appear unintelligible, or even just plain stupid, to anyone who didn’t grow up within a specific stratum of internet culture. More often than not, a meme just cannot be explained with words. In certain ways, meme culture often functions like a generational inside joke — a joke you must be in on to appreciate. Evan Leonhard is a 19-year-old English and philosophy sophomore from New Orleans.
Res Life should ease up restrictions on campus pet ownership EMILY ON CAMPUS EMILY DAVISON @ichigoemily It might only be the fourth week of the semester, but I have to admit: I’m already burnt out. The constant stream of deadlines has once again proven to be a bit overwhelming, and I’m stressed, to say the least. Wake up, join Zoom calls, submit work on Moodle, sleep and repeat. Recently, while caught in this perpetual loop of assignments, papers and quizzes, I found myself thinking: I really miss my pets back at home. Let’s face it, we could all use the extra serotonin right now. Living in an on-campus apartment means leaving any pets without gills behind, so — and no offense to fish — my roommates and I have found ourselves severely lacking in the fuzzy animal department. I really couldn’t tell you how many times we’ve longingly scrolled through pet adoption websites together, but trying to get a dog or cat approved to live in our apartment has started to
feel like a far-fetched idea. Any animal classified as a “pet” is strictly prohibited, and service or assistance animals require a lengthy paperwork and approval process to be allowed on campus. I can understand having these restrictions in freshman dorms, where room is limited and residents don’t have all the bells and whistles of a true apartment, but I think Res Life should loosen some of the restrictions on having pets in more spacious on-campus apartments designed for upperclassmen. Both the campus-wide pet ban and the confusing support animal registration process with Disability Services have proven very discouraging in my and my roommates’ dreams of adopting a cat or dog of our own. Regardless, our living situation (and I’m sure the same is true for many others on campus) would benefit greatly from caring for a pet. Studies have shown that interacting with animals in general can provide a variety of health benefits for humans, including lower levels of stress, anxiety and depression — the
kind of struggles I feel the majority of college students are far too familiar with. With a vast majority of classes being held online and work being conducted remotely, this also seems like the ideal time to have a companion animal — both because students have more time at home for connecting with and caring for a pet and because I know we could all afford some emotional support during these strange times. If creating more flexible guidelines is out of the question, there are other ways to get animals more involved in the on-campus community. Hear me out: I think University Res Life could even partner with local pet adoption facilities and allow students to reap the benefits of interacting with animals while providing these animals with quality time and affection from humans. At the very least, the University should set forth a more streamlined system for approving support animals for students who qualify, whether that entails having more frequent room inspections or monitoring students’ grades to ensure they’re managing time wisely
CARTOON BY BRANDON SHEPHERD
while tending to their animals. I know having a pet or even just interacting with more animals on campus would bring me a lot of joy and give me a rewarding hobby to balance out
my rigorous and emotionallydraining academic schedule Emily Davison is a 19-year-old anthropology major from Denham Springs.