The Reveille 5-5-22 by Reveille

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T hu r s d ay, M ay 5, 2 022

ROE V. WADE LSU students, Baton Rouge residents protest potential Roe v. Wade overturning

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An Acadian Hall student’s outburst went viral on Tik Tok, leading students to question ResLife.

ENTERTAINMENT

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Studying’s for suckers. Check out these events happening this weekend in the capital city.

SPORTS

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Head Softball Coach Beth Torina believes in the importance of a strong mentality in both herself and her players.

OPINION

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“This police department with a history of brutality expects a skeptical city to trust it at its word.”

L SU Re ve i l le.co m @l s u r e ve i l le

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‘STATE OF EMERGENCY’ LSU students joined protests on Tuesday against leaked draft opinion

BY PIPER HUTCHINSON & XANDER GENNARELLI @PiperHutchBR & @XanderGenn About 100 abortion-rights advocates held a rally Tuesday on the steps of the Louisiana State Capitol to protest the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which may be likely after a draft opinion was leaked by Politico Monday. Two members of LSU Feminists in Action, Gabriella Turner and Kayla Meyers, attended the rally. “It kind of feels like a slap in the face,” Turner, a social work senior, said of the leaked opinion. “How could this be happening? We have really great people [in Louisiana], and it just seems really, it’s very upsetting to see that we just continue to fail them over and over again. We deserve better.” Abortion would become illegal in Louisiana almost immediately if Roe v. Wade is overturned. State lawmakers in 2006 signed a law that would prohibit abortions in Louisiana except for ones to save the mother’s life if Roe v. Wade was ever overturned. It was authored by Democratic Sen. Ben Nevers and signed into law by former Gov. Kathleen Blanco, also a Democrat. Louisiana is one of 13 states with so-called “trigger laws,” while nine other states have preexisting abortion bans still on the books or a post-Roe near-total ban that has yet to be struck down by the courts, according to the Guttmacher Institute, an abortion-rights organization. Meyer, who said she avoided applying to law schools in Texas due to the state’s restrictive abortion laws, said Louisiana residents may be driven to leave the state. “If you had to go to Illinois to receive health care, why would

you stay?” Meyer said. Turner agreed with her, but argued it shouldn’t be that way. “The South is not a lost cause. Laws like this make it seem like we are and we’re not,” Turner said. Politico published a leaked draft opinion, a nearly 100-page document written by conservative Justice Samuel Alito. The draft opinion lays out Alito’s arguments for overturning Roe v. Wade. “We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled,” Alito wrote. The opinion is not final until it is officially released, which is expected within the next couple of months. If Roe v. Wade is overturned as anticipated, Louisiana residents seeking an abortion for a non-life-threatening pregnancy would have to travel as far north as Illinois, as far east as Florida or as far west as New Mexico. “This is not a drill,” Rep. Jason Hughes, D-New Orleans said. “This is a state of emergency.” Rep. Mandie Landry, D-New Orleans, said that she has represented abortion clinics as well as minors seeking abortions as an attorney. “Overturning Roe will result in more women suffering physical and often fatal harm when they try to end an unwanted pregnancy on their own,” Landry said. “But the bad effects won’t end there: next they’re coming for birth control, for gay rights, for anything that happens in the privacy of your own home.” Jeramisha Warner, the community organizer for Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, urged Louisiana residents to stay encouraged. Abortion is still legal, but in the meantime residents should prioritize using contraceptives to avoid unwanted pregnancies, Warner

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A student wears pro-choice pins on her clinic-escort vest outside the state capital May 3. said. Several bills seeking to restrict abortion access have been proposed during the state’s current legislative session. If the ruling goes ahead, most of those bills will become superfluous. The author of one of these bills, Rep. Larry Bagley, R-Stonewall, told The Advocate that he was considering whether to proceed with the bill. Rep. Danny McCormick, R-Oil City, the author of two bills seeking a total ban on abortion, gave a statement to The Reveille prior to the leak. “The intent of my legislation is to end abortion in Louisiana once and for all,” McCormick said. “When facing such a bold subject as the murder of innocent babies,

XANDER GENNARELLI / The Reveille

Melissa Flournoy, co-founder of advocacy group 10,000 Women Louisiana, spoke at the rally, May 3rd.

the only step left to take is a bold one in their defense.” One of McCormick’s bills, which would criminalize abortions, was advanced by the House Criminal Justice Administration Wednesday. McCormick said that history had set the precedent for his decision to defy Roe v. Wade. He cited the revolt of the founding fathers against British rule, Martin Luther King Jr. defying Plessy v. Ferguson and Louisiana legalizing medical marijuana. “If we can defy the federal government over marijuana, we can do it to save the lives of innocent babies,” McCormick said. Between 4% and 13% of maternal deaths worldwide are a result of unsafe abortions, many of which are performed because of lack of access to quality, safe abortion care, according to the World Health Organization. Advocates argue that if Roe v. Wade is overturned, Louisiana residents will be at especially high risk of severe consequences. Residents of the state, one of the poorest in the nation, would have the longest drive to seek abortion care, to the tune of an average of 666 miles one way. Advocates argue that this is unrealistic for most abortionseekers. “When we talk about protecting our families, maybe the legislature and people in D.C. should care more about ending poverty than controlling women’s bodies,” Davante Lewis, director of public affairs at the Louisiana Budget project, a progressive organization, said. “Louisiana is a poor state, but we can be a very rich state if we center our women and we center our children, but that does not include controlling their bodies.”

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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 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.

NEWS TIKTOK TIKTOK TANTRUM TANTRUM

Students say ResLife was slow to respond to viral dorm outburst

BY JOHN BUZBEE & MADDIE SCOTT @thebuzzbuz & @madscottyy A freshman who lived in LSU’s Acadian Hall repeatedly caused disturbances and threatened to fight other residents, prompting reports to ResLife managers and complaints that they were slow to act. In one disturbance on April 8, the freshman banged on her neighbors’ doors and threatened to fight other Acadian Hall students, witnesses said. An Acadian Hall resident recorded the outburst in a video that was later posted on TikTok, where it has garnered over 350,000 views and 70,000 likes. “This week at LSU” and “Just Acadian Hall things” overlay the TikTok with the caption, “We love paying thousands of dollars so we can feel unsafe living on campus.” The student can be heard in the hallway yelling, “I’m gonna

f--- you up. Don’t f****** play with me b****,” before kicking another student’s door and then threatening to fight the student filming the video. The student who took the video declined an interview with The Reveille. The student who had the outburst also declined to speak to reporters and threatened to press charges against The Reveille. “We are not at liberty to discuss a student’s health, educational or conduct records,” Catherine David, associate director of communication at Residential Life, said. “We want all students to feel and be safe in their communities and address concerns as we receive them.” Acadian Hall is just off Highland Road near The 459 dining hall. The student’s roommate, graphic design freshman Cassidy O’Brien, was moved to another room in Acadian Hall after her

roommate’s viral outburst, which she says was just one of many. “She’s always been hot-headed and hostile,” O’Brien said. “It just catches me off guard because I’m a very mellow person, and then hearing about how she gets super uppity about someone looking at her wrong or someone giving her an eye.” O’Brien met her roommate shortly before the 2021 fall semester began. O’Brien found her through LSU’s roommate selection portal. Soon after the two moved into Acadian Hall, O’Brien noticed her roommate’s aggression toward other residents, saying she noticed worrying behavior as early as welcome week. O’Brien was out of town during her roommate’s viral outburst, but she was moved to a different room on the second floor of Acadian soon after. O’Brien said she had to move out first so that ResLife could

deal with addressing her roommate. Some residents believe that the student was moved to another dorm. While O’Brien believes ResLife was helpful, she said they could have handled the situation better. O’Brien requested to not have a roommate after the mental health strain the student caused, which resulted in a $500 charge from ResLife. “I’m angry about the extra $500,” O’Brien said. “I’m angry that they weren’t effective in moving her. I wish they forcibly moved her. That way she’s not inside the hallway because other girls do not feel safe with her around, and they could at least provide that extra safety.” O’Brien said the situation has left her feeling unsafe on campus. “I was shaking when I was moving my stuff from our dorm

see TIKTOK, page 4

page 3 ENVIRONMENT

LSU professors discuss climate BY XANDER GENNARELLI @XanderGenn In the wake of an alarming report on climate change, scientists around the world protested the lack of action by governments and corporations to thwart greenhouse gas emissions. In April, over 1,000 scientists across 25 countries staged protests after the release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 2022 report, according to Smithsonian Magazine. The report, released Feb. 28, says that if warming isn’t limited, the world “will miss a brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a livable and sustainable future for all.” Climate extremes like wild-

see CLIMATE, page 4

AWARDS

LSU students and almuni win $200,000 in startup competition BY CHANDLER MCINTOSH @GeauxChandler18 A group of LSU students and alumni competed in the Rice University Business Plan Competition, one of the largest student startup competitions in the world, and received more than $200,000 in funding for their business, Mallard Bay. Mallard Bay, a website designed to book hunting and fishing trips, competed at the competition for three days against other collegiate entrepreneurs and won $141,500 in cash investments, $75,000 in in-kind services and $500 for best consumer elevator pitch. “The competition was surreal, and I can truly say it was one of the most impactful weekends of my life,” said Joel Moreau an LSU graduate and co=founder of Mallard Bay. “It was amazing to be able to compete alongside so many innovative ideas and companies from across the world.” The funding amount was the fourth highest out of all competing companies. Moreau said the competition presented several new opportunities for them to pitch in front of networks across the southeast. Moreau said that most of the funding will go toward the development of the platform and the launch of their mobile app this summer. Moreau said that Mallard Bay pitched to several flights of investors and received feedback from

COURTESY OF MALLARD BAY

Tech startup company Mallard Bay (left to right) Sales Manager Sergio Sanjuan, Software Developer Matthew Ieyoub, Associate Director of Business Development Peyton Huval, Chief Growth Officer Joel Moreau, Founder and President Logan Meaux, Director of Business Development Wyatt Mallett and (bottom) Chief Technology Officer Tam Nguyen stand with cash prizes. judges. They spent time going over their presentation and making new connections at the networking sessions. Moreau said the competition helped strengthen the business’ confidence. “I would absolutely recommend the Rice Business Plan Competition to any LSU students with an innovative idea or company,” Moreau said. “The mentorship, introductions, and feedback provided were truly invaluable and have given us a lot of confidence and clarity in our busi-

ness.” Mallard Bay is a booking website that allows sporting individuals to find charters and outfitters across the United States to fish, hunt and go on adventures. The website finds areas within each state and sends prices to booking customers for each outdoor hunting location. Moreau said the business was inspired by LSU graduate Logan Meaux, who had a difficult experience booking a hunting trip. “Mallard Bay was born out of Logan Meaux’s own experience

booking a waterfowl hunting trip to celebrate his father’s birthday,” Moreau said. “That turned out to be a rotten trip and huge waste of money due to a lack of communication and connection with the outfitter.” Meaux said he found that spending money on flights and hotel rooms could result in an overall disappointing experience and realized there was a problem in the process of booking guided trips and wanted to fix it. “I knew after that experience that I wanted to create a company

that related to my hobby, that I knew and loved,” Meaux said. Meaux partnered up with other LSU students, including Moreau and sports commerce senior Wyatt Mallett, to create the company. They then put together a team of business and computer science students and alumni to help with development. Moreau said that Mallard Bay also creates back-office tools that make it easier for hunting services to manage their customers’ dates and accept payments in an organized place. He and other partners within Mallard Bay are looking to streamline the process of finding and vetting a guide service. Mallard Bay launched its website in November and now has offices at LSU Innovation Park. Meaux’s father, Chris, is the founder of the online food delivery platform Waitr. Logan Meaux and Mallett grew up together and were Waitr delivery drivers as teenagers. They both have used their previous experience and friendship to develop Mallard Bay. Mallett is now the director of business at Mallard Bay and enjoys the connections he’s made from the experience. “I would have to say my favorite part about being a part of Mallard Bay is the relationships I have made as well as the memories,” Mallet said. “The hunting and fishing industry is very relationship-oriented and we’ve made a lot of connections and friends.”

Thursday, May 5, 2022

page 4 TIKTOK, from page 3 to my new room,” O’Brien said. “I was shaking because I was afraid she was gonna come back and then start fighting or screaming at me.” Shortly after the TikTok went viral but before the student was moved, kinesiology freshman Hannah Dowell said she was verbally threatened by the student. Dowell also wishes the student had received more disciplinary consequences. Dowell was doing homework in her dorm when she heard the student being loud in the hallway. When she went into the hallway to ask the student to be courteous of other residents, the student began yelling at her. “She just starts yelling at me, saying she can do whatever she wants and do as she pleases,” Dowell said. “I go to [the RA’s] door. She follows me and is just yelling at me, ‘don’t get [the RA] involved with this, this is between me and you.’” The student said “I’ll beat your ass” to Dowell, balled her hands into fists and taunted her to come fight, according to Dowell. This was the first interaction

the two ever had. Afterward, Dowell talked to LSUPD and told them what happened. They asked her if she wanted to press charges, and Dowell said no. The police officers told her that they had no power in removing the student, but that ResLife did. Since the threat, Dowell has been careful to lock her door. She said residents didn’t receive any emails from ResLife about the situation. Political science and political communications freshman Emma Long lived a few doors down from the student and said she caused trouble the entire semester. Long sent an email and called ResLife multiple times before visiting ResLife Coordinator Jacob Haun’s office after the episode, and she is upset with how the entire situation was handled. Other hall residents sent complaints. According to Long, many residents’ parents were also involved. She said that ResLife didn’t provide any useful information to the complaining residents. “I should’ve gotten a response that Monday,” Long said. “I don’t think I would’ve gotten anything

if I didn’t go to them in person.” Long said Haun acknowledged her complaints and assured her that ResLife was handling the situation.

COURTESY OF ASSOCIATED PRESS

economic sectors and displacement. “Louisiana is the most vulnerable state in the United States to climate change —I think that’s pretty unequivocal,” said Barry Keim, the Louisiana state climatologist and a geography and anthropology professor at LSU. Louisiana is particularly vulnerable to sea level rise because much of the state’s land is at or near sea level and that land is sinking at more rapid rates than almost any other place in the world, Keim said. This gives Louisiana a relatively high sea level rise in comparison to other areas. New Orleans, the economic and cultural hub of Louisiana, may be the city most vulnerable to climate change, Keim said. “Half the city is situated below sea level and sinking,” Keim said. Cheryl Harrison, an assistant professor in the Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences who studies the impacts of cli-

range of sciences and are being actively researched today. Brown serves as the climate research director for the Southern Climate Impacts Planning Program; Keim serves as a principal investigator for the organization. SCIPP is a NOAA-funded climate hazards research program, which focuses on climate risks and impacts across the southern and central United States. SCIPP is overseeing a wide range of research, such as how a wet-ball globe temperature, novel global temperature metric, could help predict future hospitalizations and heat stress; a study looking at how the northern Gulf Coast has the highest rate of relative sea level rise; and a study monitoring how warming winter climates are affecting flora and fauna across the southern United States. Brown and Keim are also working with the Sewage and Water Board of New Orleans to study how flooding in the city has increased in recent years. The project is funded by a grant from NOAA, and in preliminary research has found that some parts of the city are more severely affected by heavy rainfall. The two researchers are developing a survey for New Orleans residents to see what inhabitants know about the city’s flooding and how they think it relates to climate change. They hope to administer the survey within the next month, Brown said. But Brown and Keim are far from the only researchers at LSU studying the climate. The LSU College of the Coast and Environment published the Coastal Directory in 2021, a repository that lists over 200 LSU researchers and professors involved in coastal and environmental research, their contact information, and areas of research interest. The directory divides coastal

researchers into the subcategories of climate and weather, ecology, economics and planning, engineering, health, modeling, processes and measurement and people. When it comes to avoiding the worst-case scenarios of climate change, professors spoke about what needs to be done beyond research. “Everything we do requires energy,” Brown said. Transitioning infrastructure away from fossil fuels to renewable alternatives needs to occur to avoid upper-bound worst-case scenarios, Brown said. When asked what LSU students can do to help the climate, Brown suggested starting small by recycling, consuming less, exploring options such as growing your own food and avoiding reliance on oilbased plastics. Brown also urged students to stay informed on the complicated topic of climate and to be aware of the influences that would prefer to keep the status quo. Keim agreed with Brown and asked students to do whatever they could to make a difference. “A lot of little things add up to big things,” Keim said. Harrison said being informed was one of the most important things students could do. “Find out how the projected impacts of climate change will affect your families and your communities in your area,” Harrison said. “And use that information to get involved in any way that you see fit to take action.” Harrison teaches the class Managing For a Changing Climate, currently OCS 4001, which is offered for science and non-science majors and studies the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and society. Brown teaches climatology, currently GEOG 4014, and Keim teaches Climatology of Extreme Events, GEOG 7917.

MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille

Windows line the building’s façade on April 21 at Acadian Hall on Highland Road in Baton Rouge, La.

CLIMATE, from page 3 fires, flooding, hurricanes, deadly heat and droughts will become much more common as the planet warms. Scientists who participated in the protests, collectively calling themselves the Scientist Rebellion, outlined their goals in an open letter. The letter opens by stating the group’s goal to “expose the reality and severity of the climate and ecological emergency by engaging in non-violent civil disobedience.” LSU professors involved in climate research spoke about the IPCC’s report and global protests. Vincent Brown, a professor and researcher in the Department of Geography and Anthropology, said that the scientific community was alarmed by the rate of change in climate and the lack of action by governments and corporations. “Things are changing pretty rapidly, and it is concerning,” Brown said, “and I’m glad there were protests because the more light that’s shed on this issue, hopefully, the more governments and corporations will feel the need to change and make changes.” Brown was not aware of any LSU professors who participated in the 2022 scientist protests, but he drew comparisons between this year’s protests and the 2017 March for Science. In April 2017, hundreds of Baton Rouge community members gathered at the Capitol in efforts to connect the academic community with the public. A major focus of the IPCC’s 2022 report was risks and vulnerabilities. The report showed that North America would have increased adverse impacts caused by climate change in nearly every category reported on. Notable adverse effects predicted for Louisiana include inland flooding, flood and storm damage in coastal areas, damage to key

Long believes ResLife could do a better job at making residents feel safe. While she understands there are legal precautions and privacy in these

matters, she’s disappointed by the effort it took to get ResLife to communicate with them. “I don’t really think that she should have gotten all of those graces for what she did,” Long said. “Why does she get to terrorize a whole hall and still get to live here? If she was in an apartment complex, this wouldn’t have been tolerated.” Long is frustrated, believing ResLife “rewards the agitators” in these situations. For the money she pays to live on campus, Long believes safety is a minimum that students should be assured, and their needs should take priority over the person causing disturbances. Long didn’t feel comfortable in her own dorm because of the events that took place on Sunday, April 10, and found refuge elsewhere. O’Brien said that the student was supposed to be relocated by April 14, but that didn’t happen. She heard from other residents that the student was last in the dorm on April 19. O’Brien now believes her former roommate has been removed from Acadian Hall.

mate change and extreme climate events, spoke about the implications of New Orleans’ vulnerability to climate change. “Imagine that New Orleans is gone—it’s underwater,” Harrison said. “The human impact, the economic impact, the cultural impact not just to Louisiana, but to the country—to the world. It would be a huge loss, and there’s nothing we could do to recover that.” The New Orleans-Metairie metropolitan area has a population of 1.27 million and is the largest city in the state, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. “We can’t rebuild ice sheets if they’re melted,” Harrison said. “And if those ice sheets on land melt, the sea level will rise permanently.” Though the IPCC report did not only discuss impacts and risks; it also considered different options for mitigation of damage and methods to adapt to the new climate. These ideas involve a broad

ENTERTAINMENT

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THIS WEEKEND IN BR

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

FRIDAY AT 6

BY REVEILLE ENTERTAINMENT STAFF @Reveilleent

MAY

TH Hot Art Cool Night Mid City COURTESY OF 225BATONROUGE

It may not be a cool night, but there should be plenty of hot art spanning Government Street from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. during the famed Mid City Makers event.

“No body wants to be here” YesWeCannibal

SUNDAY AT 2

Broadmoor Senior High School students are putting their classroom conditions on display in a photo gallery at Yes We Cannibal at 1600 Government St from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

SATURDAY AT 2

MAY

COURTESY OF YES WE CANNIBAL

MAY

TH Sunday in the Park Shaw Center for the Arts Sundays in the Park are back at 2 p.m. in Downtown Baton Rouge thanks to the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. Enjoy live music from Rockin Doopsie on what is forecasted to be a beautiful day in the capital city.

COURTESY OF HARGREAVES

Thursday, May 5, 2022

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Thursday, May 5, 2022

page 7 SAVANNA ORGERON / The Reveille

LSU baseball celebrates after sophomore infielder Jacob Berry (14) hitting a home run May 3, during the Tigers’ 10-6 win against Nicholls at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

The Tigers win 10-6 against Nicholls State Tuesday night at Alex Box Stadium.

LSU baseball freshman outfielder Josh Pearson (39) prepares for the next pitch May 3, during the Tigers’ 10-6 win against Nicholls at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

ZE PRI THE

N SO EYE

SAVANNA ORGERON / The Reveille

LSU baseball sophomore infielder Cade Doughty (4) bumps helmets with sophomore infielder Jacob Berry (14) after just hitting a home run May 3, during the Tigers’ 10-6 win against Nicholls at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

SAVANNA ORGERON / The Reveille

LSU baseball freshman outfielder Josh Pearson (39) walks back to the dugout May 3, during the Tigers’ 10-6 win against Nicholls at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

SAVANNA ORGERON / The Reveille

LSU baseball sophomore outfielder Dylan Crews (3) rounds first base May 3 during the Tigers’ 10-6 win against Nicholls at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

LSU baseball sophomore infielder Jacob Berry (14) jogs around the bases after hitting a homerun May 3, during the Tigers’ 10-6 win against Nicholls at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

SPORTS

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‘STAY TRUE TO YOURSELF’ LSU softball head coach Beth Torina is building a championship culture BY MACKAY SUIRE @macthetiger To build a winning, efficient program, it is necessary for the program’s leader have principle and value. That leader for LSU softball is Beth Torina, and she has been leading the team for 11 seasons now. Torina recently joined the podcast “The Farm” with Brian Cain, a mental performance coach, and discussed just what it takes to build a rock-solid softball program. After a rocky start to this year’s season, Torina said she believes that building a confident and mentally tough team is what ultimately led to some of their biggest successes at the second half of their season. Being successful is a mindset, and over the years Torina has built what she likes to refer to as a championship culture in Baton Rouge. Instilling this culture and mindset into the moldable minds of athletes has afforded them every opportunity to be successful. LSU softball has adapted an acronym that represents the identi-

ty of this championship culture. That acronym, fittingly enough, is “TIGERS,” which stands for trust, integrity, grit, energy, relentlessness and self-

lessness. The acronym came from a mental conditioning coach that helped LSU softball create this standard. “I think the coolest thing

SAVANNA ORGERON / The Reveille

LSU softball head coach Beth Torina talks to redshirt sophomore infielder Taylor Pleasants (17), redshirt junior infielder Georgia Clark (25) and fifthyear senior pitcher/utility Shelbi Sunseri (27) March 12, during LSU’s 13-6 win against Alabama at Tiger Park in Baton Rouge, La.

about it is that all of our players could tell you that instantly, which is something that we were missing before,” Torina said. “They understand the standards; they can define the standards. I think that that is step one to having a good understanding of it, knowing it, being able to define it. You can’t live it every day if you don’t have a clear picture of what it is, so I think that has been huge for us.” Having a clear mentality is not only important as a player, though. Torina and her coaching staff have to practice mental toughness just as they preach it to their players, now more than ever. LSU’s head coach believes that in order to demonstrate what mental toughness is, one has to be present in each moment. “I really try to just be present,” she explained. “I tell myself in my heart before every game that I can be full of emotion but act emotionless. I tell myself that I can act emotion-free. I can

see SOFTBALL, page 9

BASEBALL

Baseball holds off Nicholls State BY COLE HERNANDEZ @Ct_hernandez Freshman right fielder Josh Pearson blasted two home runs and collected five RBI Tuesday night to lead LSU to a 10-6 win over Nicholls State. Pearson went 3-6 on the night. Third baseman Jacob Berry was 3-4 at the plate with a solo home run, his 15th of the season, and two RBIs. “When I was looking at the recruiting class when I first took this job, Pearson was someone who really stood out to me,” LSU Head Coach Jay Johnson said. “I thought he could become a great player here, it was just a matter of when, and he was very patient at the beginning of the season and always ready for his opportunity. He has really turned into something special for us, and he’s going to be a

see BASEBALL, page 9

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

Beach volleyball bounces back with close victory over Cal Bears BY HENRY HUBER @HenryHuber_ The beach volleyball team was eliminated from the CCSA tournament last week by the Florida State Seminoles; the team’s performance likely left fans with a feeling of unease entering the NCAA tournament. Each of LSU’s losses last week came from the eventual CCSA champions Florida State, and they were not particularly close. LSU lost its matches by a combined score of 9-1, with the lone point coming from a forfeit and the team winning a combined two sets. LSU has not been swept all season, but it nearly suffered a sweep not once but twice last week. LSU did not look like a team that could contend for the national title, with there being at least four teams that are on the same competitive level as Florida State. The Tigers had good moments in Huntsville, Alabama last week, sweeping Tulane and No. 19 South Carolina to navigate their way into the semifinals. Flash forward to Wednesday, and their first opponent in Gulf Shores, Alabama for the NCAA tournament, the Cal Bears, sat closer to Florida State’s level, at least in terms of rankings. The Cal Bears finished three

of the last four seasons ranked No. 11 and No. 12. They carried that consistently into this season, earning the No. 11 spot in the NCAA tournament after obtaining the most wins in their program’s

tie the match early on. However, the Tigers would win four of the second sets, sending two matches to a third set with a 2-1 lead. All they needed was for one of the two matches to go their way.

the match’s conclusion. Cal’s Ashley Delgado and Ainsley Rodell would respond with two impressive points, getting the Tigers out of position to secure the victory 21-17, 15-21 and 15-13, giving their

MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille

LSU beach volleyball redshirt sophomore Sierra Caffo (35) taps the ball with one hand on Sunday, March 27, 2022, during LSU’s 1-4 loss against TCU at the Beach Volleyball Stadium on Cypress Drive in Baton Rouge, La. history. The Bears spiked the Tigers with all they could handle, going three of five in their first sets and earning a victory on Court 1 to

The match unfolding on Court 2 could have decided it all, as LSU’s Kelli Greene-Agnew and Kylie Deberg managed to even the score at 13 as they reached

team added minutes of survival. However, when focus shifted to Court 5, it seemed those minutes would be spare. After two close sets, including one that

went to extra points, the third one turned out surprisingly lopsided. LSU’s Ashlyn Pope and Sierra Caffo brought intensity, narrowly missing out on a double-digit victory in the set and advancing their squad to the second round with a 22-24, 21-17 and 15-6 victories. While it won’t provide fans with confident expectations heading into their tougher tournament matches later this week, it will be a step up from their recent performances against Florida State. They defeated a team with three wins over teams in the tournament, one that may currently be in their best season in program history. It certainly isn’t going to get any easier though, and with the tournament recently expanding to 16 teams presents a longer remaining path to the title. It’ll be interesting to see if the Tigers can step up their game like they did last post season, where they took down Florida State and made it all the way to the semifinals. LSU will face off against No. 3 UCLA Friday, who narrowly avoided an upset in their first round matchup against Stetson. The Bruins have been the Tigers’ biggest postseason obstacles over the years, making this one of the most important matches of the tournament for LSU.

page 9

Thursday, May 5, 2022 SOFTBALL, from page 8 be passionate and have a lot of emotions but my actions have to be free of emotion and they have to be more intelligent.” Being present in each moment allows Torina to be everything that her players need her to be. She can be headstrong, confident, proud and determined. The thing about being present, though, is that she never really has to show her cards. Torina can be observant by being present; she sees their strengths and weaknesses before they do. Fans at Tiger Park can watch the stern coach on the third-base line, when her players are up to bat, taking solid deep breaths before each pitch. Torina consistently demonstrates what it means to have control over one’s emotions. Being full of emotion but acting emotionless is not necessarily a trait that the coaching staff attempts to instill in their roster. Torina values everything that the game of softball can draw from an athlete, and she truly enjoys seeing individuality among players. “[Players] are allowed to be a lot more emotional than me,” Torina said. “I think that a big part of the fun of being on a team is having a whole bunch of different personalities working toward one goal. So I encourage individuality within the team concept, and you have to stay consistent with that. You just have to be who you are.” Individuality is honored through the TIGERS acronym as well. Torina explains that she tries to instill these core char-

GRAPHIC BY CAILIN TRAN

CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille

LSU softball junior infielder Georgia Clark (25) claps hands with head coach Beth Torina after she hits a homerun Feb. 12, during LSU’s 8-1 win against South Alabama at Tiger Park on Skip Bertman Drive in Baton Rouge, La. acteristics into her athletes, and how they individually reflect these traits ultimately comes naturally over time. “One cool thing we do with

them is every day we nominate a player of the day after practice. They have to nominate them according to a TIGERS trait,” Torina explained. “They can’t just

say, ‘Cindy pitched really good today and I like her headband.’ They have to be able to say, ‘I trusted that Cindy was going to make pitches today because she has worked hard,’ or ‘I know that Connie struck out in the first inning but it was really gritty for her to come back and get the game winning hit. She has been relentless.’” Torina strives to teach individuality to her athletes because it is one thing that she wishes she could have taught to her

Backups Giovanni DiGiacomo, Jack Merrifield, Drew Bianco, Luke Leto and Collier Cranford received some valuable playing time late in the game and contributed to the win. “You’re just trying to get some guys opportunities,” said Johnson. “They are hard to come by this time of the year.”

BASEBALL, from page 8 staple in our lineup for a long time.” The Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on RBI singles by Pearson and Berry. The duo also highlighted the Tigers’ five-run third inning as Pearson blasted a three-run home run and Berry added a solo shot. LSU led 7-0 after the third inning rally, which also featured a run-scoring single by left fielder Josh Stevenson. Nicholls State starter Josh Mancuso was charged with the loss as he surrendered two runs on five hits in two innings with one walk and two strikeouts. LSU received an effective start from right-hander Bryce Collins, who pitched the first 2.2 innings and limited Nicholls to zero runs on no hits with one walk and two strikeouts in his first start of the season. Left-hander Jacob Hasty, the second of eight LSU pitchers, was credited with the win, marking his first career collegiate victory. Hasty worked almost one-and-a-half scoreless innings with no hits, no walks and three strikeouts. Right-handed sophomore Ty Floyd, who relieved Hasty on the mound, also threw well. He blanked the Colonels over 2.1 innings with one hit, no walks

21-year-old self when her coaching career first began. Ultimately for her, it comes down to staying true to yourself and not trying to be bigger than the game of softball. “I would tell young me to stay true to yourself. Figure out what you do well. Staying consistent no matter who you are up against or who you are facing. I think I’m hit in the face with this every single year all over again. Just stay true to what you do well.

SAVANNAH ORGERON / The Reveille

LSU baseball celebrates after sophomore infielder Jacob Berry (14) hitting a home run May, 3 during the Tigers’ 10-6 win against Nicholls at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. and four strikeouts. LSU’s combined no-hitter was broken with two outs in the top of the sixth inning. LSU’s last individual no-hitter was Jared Poche in a seven-inning

game against Army in 2017. The last full nine-inning no-hitter was Fred Southerland in 1962. Pearson’s solo home run in the fifth inning increased the advantage to 8-0 before LSU

added a run each in the sixth and seventh innings on an RBI single by catcher Tyler McManus and a wild pitch that scored pinch-runner Jack Merrifield from third base.

Nicholls scored its first run of the contest on right fielder Xane Washington’s solo home run in the eighth inning against Trey Shaffer. The Colonels scored five runs, three earned, against LSU pitchers Michael Fowler, Will Hellmers and Trent Vietmeier in the ninth inning to rally for a failed comeback and account for the final score of 10-6. “Really proud of the team tonight,” said Johnson. “The pregame message was that we really wanted them to take ownership of their preparation and be ready to play. Their focus remained on what we needed to do tonight to be successful, and I’m very proud of them for that. There are no bad wins in Division one baseball.” No. 16 LSU improved to 3014 on the year, while Nicholls dropped to 24-17. The Tigers return to action at 6 p.m. Friday when they begin an SEC series against the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Classifieds

page 10

Thursday, May 5, 2022

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THE Daily Commuter Puzzle ACROSS 1 Clothing protector 4 Steps 9 __ as if; pretends like 13 “Skip __ Lou” 14 Brick of clay & straw 15 Cleansing bar 16 Opera singer Gluck 17 Hard to carry; unwieldy 19 Groom’s words 20 Distance units 21 Got rid of a squeak 22 Uncomfortable breeze 24 Hirt & Unser 25 TV’s “The Big Bang __” 27 Santa’s transport 30 Not as good 31 Goes belly-up 33 Scientist’s workplace 35 Take __; subtract 36 Delicious 37 Smart 38 Command to Fido 39 Bellyache 40 Spend foolishly 41 More mysterious 43 One who dies for his beliefs 44 12/24 or 12/31 45 Huge crowd 46 __ song; TV show tune 49 Bosom 51 “__ Countdown”; ESPN series 54 Half the globe 56 Forest destroyer 57 Hemingway’s “A Farewell to __” 58 Robust 59 Pesky bug 60 Gifts for kids 61 Frock 62 Altitude: abbr. DOWN 1 Courageous 2 Excessive 3 “Not __ long shot” 4 Soothe 5 Big person 6 Invitation word

by Jacqueline E. Mathews

Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews

7 Recedes 8 Behold 9 St. Francis of __ 10 Weather forecast 11 No longer wild 12 Ignored MPH signs 13 __ chi; retiree’s exercise, perhaps 18 Movie parts 20 Hay muncher 23 Like pinkish cheeks 24 TV’s “__ McBeal” 25 Poet’s contraction 26 Mr. Mandel 27 Web surfer’s stop 28 Shining 29 Quick 31 Impartial 32 Biting reptile 34 Brewed beverage 36 Nursery purchase 37 Beaver’s dad 39 Is generous 40 Where to apply Compound W

5/2/22

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5/2/22

49 Burn the surface of 50 “I’ve had it up to __!” 52 Men’s group, for short 53 Rent 55 Prof.’s degree, often 56 I’s forerunners

OPINION

page 11

BRPD should release the Deaughn Willis shooting footage NEVER A DULL MOMENT NOAH MCKINNEY

@itsthatnoah

On the afternoon of Jan. 8, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office and the Baton Rouge Police Department approached the Willis family apartment with a warrant for their son Keaughn. He was not home at the time, and his brother, 25-year-old Baton Rouge resident Deaughn Willis, opened the door instead. Shortly after, an officer shot and killed him. In the weeks that followed, the family inside the apartment and the officers involved told contradicting accounts of what happened. The officers initially reported that they announced themselves as the police when they arrived at the apartment. They claimed that Deaughn brandished a gun at them and said that their deputy justifiably opened fire in response. The family within the home, including Deaughn’s mother Trinelle Willis, recounts the afternoon differently. “I woke up and I heard these aggressive knocks at the door,” Trinelle said in an interview with The Reveille. “We kept asking, ‘Who is it?’ but no one said, ‘We

are the sheriff’s department.’ We thought it was an intruder.” Trinelle said that the police officers’ claims that Deaughn was brandishing a weapon when he opened the door are false. “All I saw my son do was peep out the door,” Trinelle said. “He never brandished anything. That’s when the gunshots were

“When I was told by 9-1-1 for my family to step out with our hands up, I was so confused like, what was going on?” Trinelle said. “I kept calling for them to help him, but I never saw EMS. I never saw anybody come to try to rescue or see what was going on with him. He was bleeding out, but he was still breathing.”

MADDIE SCOTT / The Reveille

People gather in front of the EBR sheriff’s office in protest to the killing of Deaughn Willis at a candlelight vigil. fired.” Immediately after the shooting, Trinelle said she called 9-1-1. The recording of the call has not been released to the public.

Since the incident, a video was released from a neighbor’s doorbell camera that shows the police knocking on the door and firing. It also shows the officers

seeming to crack a joke, as one deputy says, “They know it’s the f---ing police now.” The angle of the camera did not show Deaughn. Another brief video clip, one leaked from an officer’s body camera on the scene, also fails to provide a view of Deaughn when he opened the door. The EBR Sheriff’s Office deputies were not wearing body cameras, but the city police on the scene were. Despite the demands of both the Willis family and the public, the rest of the bodycam footage from BRPD has not been released. Trinelle Willis has since traveled to LSU’s campus, rallying support for her son and demanding that BRPD release all bodycam footage from the scene to the public. A large group of students and Baton Rouge residents joined her for a candlelight vigil in honor of her son on Sunday, March 15. Amid all of these conflicting reports and blurry videos, the behavior of the police and sheriff’s office is puzzling. BRPD has already seen several officers under investigation for police brutality and other charges in recent years, including the killing of Alton Sterling in 2016. Even if the department was not entretched in a history of vio-

lence, this case raises many questions on its own. Why would officers claim to have announced themselves after making a joke about their failure to do so? Why would they refuse to give Deaughn medical attention, as he bleeds out on the floor, and instead choose to handcuff the family and lock them into a police car? Even if they were averse to caring for Deaughn themselves, couldn’t they have allowed his own mother to attend to her son instead of cuffing her while he lay dying? More pointedly, why would they ignore public backlash and refuse to release all of the videos from the incident? If the officers’ lives were really in danger and the use of force was justifiable, then they have the footage to exonerate them at the tip of their fingers. Instead, this police department with a history of brutality expects a skeptical city to trust them at its word. Releasing all the bodycam footage and the 9-1-1 call is a simple step toward transparency and accountability. If BRPD truly has nothing to hide, then it should be open with what it has and assuage our community of any doubts. Noah McKinney is an English and history junior from Houston, TX.

LSU library is the ‘superior campus study spot’ for finals CHARLIE’S ANGLES CHARLIE STEPHENS

@charliestephns

As the semester closer to finals week, students across campus will be on the hunt for study spaces to spend their waning days of the semester. My personal favorite is the LSU Library, and here’s why. It has a unique charm unlike most buildings on campus. The building is not the fanciest or the most interesting structure on campus, but it is one of the most recognizable and social places within the bounds of the university. A university library symbolizes the search for knowledge at the core of all institutions of higher learning. It is the physical repository of scholarship—a tangible representation of the aca-

demic output of the university. This symbolism is on constant display in the library, especially as the end of the semester nears and deadlines loom. Thousands of hours have been passed by library-goers over the years, the walls bearing witness to a fantastic amount of academic work. The library also offers its own CC’s Coffeehouse location, which allows under-caffeinated students a nearby refueling station. A 2019 Reveille report noted that increased caffeine consumption might actually add years to your life. The library is also at the core of campus, which gives you the chance to take a much-needed stroll to gather your thoughts and plan your day for success. It could even help you meet your activity goals. These are just a couple of reasons why I think the main

ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille

The LSU Library sits in the Quad on Friday, November 15, 2019. library is the superior campus study spot. The top reason in my mind, though, is the library’s social atmosphere. What I mean by that is that, unlike at a cramped coffee shop,

you can study with your friends and classmates without worrying about whether there will be a table big enough to accommodate everyone. The library is a campus be-

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The Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, The Reveille or the university. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to editor@lsu.edu or delivered to B-39 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must provide a contact phone number for verification purposes, which will not be printed. The Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Reveille’s editor in chief, hired every semester by the LSU Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.

hemoth with ample seating for group and individual settings. You will always have somewhere to sit and spread out notes, snacks and school supplies. Studying at the library also means that you can checkup on your friends who are studying in other sections and maybe even bring them a coffee after a while to keep them grinding. Despite the library’s many problems, these social and community aspects still make it the top study space on campus. Even if the basement floods. the seats are from the ‘70s and the roof leaks. Even then, the atmosphere of the LSU Library is undefeated. It is all simply part of the charm of the main library of the flagship university of Louisiana. Charlie Stephens is a 21-year-old political communication junior from Baton Rouge.

Quote of the Week “When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.”

Ernest Hemingway American writer 1899 — 1961

Thursday, May 5, 2022

page 12

Letter to the Editor: cartoon insults women in STEM BY SYBIL PUN I am writing this because of one of the printed articles that The Reveille ran May 5:: “Other Majors are just as difficult as STEM majors.” This is an opinion-based article, and I understand and agree that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but as a HaitianAmerican woman majoring in mechanical engineering, this article, and more importantly its illustration, is highly offensive and discriminatory. The illustration used seems as if it wasn’t reviewed before printing. This is an image of a loudmouth female student shouting that she is in STEM with two men shouting over her with the words “shut-up” and “boo.” As a Black female in STEM, I not only have to work twice as hard because I’m in a field dominated by white males, but I also

must deal with the lack of gender and race representation within my classrooms. So yes, when asked, I proudly boast that I am in STEM because of all the hard work I do just to receive the same treatment as my male counterparts. I understand that this article was not speaking to this, but the illustration used most certainly depicts what it’s like, but instead of condemning this action, the article goes on to say why this talking down is needed. There is no excuse for anyone, most certainly not a male, to shout over a woman when she is saying she is in STEM. The worst part about all this is that the article never uses the words “shut up,” but instead tries to shed light on the different challenges all majors have, which I can agree with. The majors are different for a reason, so yes, the challenges are different. However, just because this is an opinion-based article doesn’t give an excuse to

discriminate. Also, somewhere in the article “data” was collected and suggested that on average STEM majors only study one hour more than other majors, which is very much false. For every credit hour I take, I must spend a minimum of four to six hours outside, so a three-hour course becomes about 15 hours a week. I am currently taking 17 hours, so in total I am doing about 50-60 hours of coursework, studying and homework a week. Also, to the point of, “ask a STEM major to write a history paper, and we’ll curl up in a corner and cry,” I have to take nine-credit hours of humanities that have heavy report writing. I also have in my STEM major classes formal technical reports that are a minimum of 30 pages of technical writing and explanation. I am not saying I am better because of it, nor am I saying other majors don’t have their difficulties.

I am saying that I work very hard to be where I am, and seeing that picture is the exact reason why I have to continue to do more. While I can agree there are many people who put down oth-

ers, don’t stoop to their level and please gather facts. All this to say is that, please do better. Sybil Pun is a mechanical engineering junior at LSU.

EMILY TRAN / The Reveille

Next provost should work to better the university’s future CHARLIE’S ANGLES CHARLIE STEPHENS

@charliestephns

The university recently finished interviewing candidates for the permanent role of provost and executive vice president. The flagship was left without a long-term leader in this role since LSU President William Tate IV removed former Provost Stacia Haynie nearly 10 months ago. Since Haynie’s demotion, Matt Lee has served as the interim provost. Now, Lee and three outside

candidates named in an email to the student body on April 18 are vying for the permanent position. Who ends up as provost matters immensely for students and the future of our university. The position is the university’s second-in-command and chief academic officer. The responsibilities encompass a wide range of campus affairs, including every scholarly interaction we have at the flagship. In a show of what the provost can do, Lee recently met with a student group concerned about the lack of historical context surrounding Troy Middleton’s statue

in Memorial Tower. As a result of this meeting, Lee committed to hiring a curator and executing a transparent process for change. “We will invite an expert on curating sensitive historical artifacts to provide a forum for our community on best practices so we can learn together and provide an environment that is welcoming and educational to all members of our community,” Lee said in a statement to the Reveille following the meeting. The provost also oversees the hiring process for subunits across campus, which is especially important at a time where several

colleges are searching for permanent deans. That is what the provost’s office can do at its best—change the university for the better, bit by bit. In addition to acting as the provost, the chosen candidate will also play a vital role as the executive vice president of the university. Much of the university’s senior leadership reports to the executive vice president, making it one of the most impactful positions on campus. The person in this role has a seat at the table for the everyday decisions that visibly

impact the lives of students I hope that whoever is chosen as the university’s new executive vice president and provost is willing to actively engage students and make this university the amazing place we all know it can be. With the interviews concluded, all we can do now is wait and hope that the university makes a choice that is in the best interests of the student body and the university at-large. Charlie Stephens is a 21-year-old political communication junior from Baton Rouge.

Real estate companies need regulation to protect homebuyers SERIOUSLY KIDDING FRANK KIDD

@FK446852315 Buying a home is one of the best ways to invest and accumulate wealth, but that prospect is becoming less likely by the day for ordinary people. Large investment management companies like Blackstone Real Estate have been accumulating residential properties and renting them out. Their massive coffers, along with the lower interest rates they are afforded, make the idea of competing with them implausible for regular homebuyers. Renting from these companies may also be more difficult based on where you live. For instance, if someone lives in an area where a law was just passed limiting a landlord’s ability to raise the rent during renovations, renters will have to look elsewhere, as these units will be empty to send a message to lawmakers. Optimists would point to the fact that nearly three-quarters of single-unit rental properties are

owned by individuals, according to Pew Research, but the aforementioned conditions would indicate that a decrease in that number is likely. This reshaping of the housing market would lock even more people out of the homeowning class. Would-be homeowners will instead be subject to ever-increasing rent paid on the first of every month until they die, with no meaningful assets to leave their children. This future may seem inevitable, but there are measures to be taken against it. State governments should levy fines against companies like Blackstone that intentionally leave their units vacant to prove a point against governments wishing to limit their predatory practices. Corporate landlords should not be able to artificially create more scarcity in the market by proverbially taking their ball and going home. Another thing that can be done to keep rent prices low is rent control. State and local governments should enact rent control laws in as many places as possible to limit the number of places

investment giants can drive up rent prices. The federal government should limit the number of residential properties that a company

can own. This would help ensure that regular people have some houses on the market that they don’t have to compete with investment companies for, or at the

EMILY TRAN / The Reveille

very least there will be various companies competing, leading to lower rent prices. Additionally, the federal government should spend more money on affordable housing programs that help more Americans own property. Making the dream of homeownership a reality should be a priority of current and future administrations. Real estate tycoons’ apparent goal is to make sure that nobody with less than six yachts can buy a house in America ever again. Their house hoarding practices exacerbate the disparity between the haves and the have-nots in our society, and they should face resistance in their efforts to do so. Federal, state and local governments should do everything in their power to protect the American homebuyer. Americans should be confident that their benevolent government will protect them from the scourge of corporate greed, as they have always done in the past. Frank Kidd is a 21-year-old mass communication junior from Springfield.