COMMANDMENTS
LSU professors and students react to new law requiring Ten Commandments in classrooms.
ON CAMPUS
HISTORIC OR RELIGIOUS?
Ten Commandments Law causes split reactions at LSU
BY SARAH WALTON @sarahrosewalton
Governor Jeff Landry signed Act 676 into law on June 19. More commonly called the Ten Commandments Law, it will require the postage of the Ten Commandments in every publicly funded classroom.
Currently, the law is receiving pushback from many Louisiana residents, and the ACLU will be representing several parents in a suit for infringing on their civil rights. As a result of the suit, any new regulations or decisions made about the Ten Commandments’ presence in classrooms will be tabled until Nov. 15.
The law, however, is still contentious.
Jack Hanks, a member of LSU’s College Republicans, advocated for the law and its implementation.
“The Ten Commandments serve as a foundation for what makes a good person outside of its religious context. The Ten Commandments inspired the founding fathers when they created this great nation,” he said. “We look forward to the implementation of this bill along with the many other reforms passed to improve education in the state.”
LSU Religious Studies professor Lauren Griffin finds the bill interesting on a more conceptual level.
“What I find interesting about this Louisiana bill and similar bills coming from other states is how concepts like church and state and private and public function in society,” she said.
The Ten Commandments Law and others like it are causing more conversations around the idea of the separation of church and state, which has been an American principle since before the creation of the United States, Griffen said.
“My own interest focuses on a slightly different question: how do moments like this help actually construct ideas of what is considered ‘religious’ and what is considered ‘secular’?” she said.
Griffen thinks the issue for
many with the law is that it forces a religious text in a public setting, and many see the law as a violation of their First Amendment rights. The ACLU claimed that the law “unconstitutionally pressures students into religious observance, veneration and adoption of the state’s favored religious scripture.”
“Both Louisiana and Oklahoma’s directives are built on the argument that texts like the Bible and the Ten Commandments (based on biblical texts) are ‘historical’ rather than ‘religious.’
The strategy, at least on paper, is to present these documents alongside other historical documents in United States history,” Griffen explained.
She said the authors of these laws attempt to legitimize the use of these texts as historical documents, and if this goes through, it would allow room for other religious texts to be actively included in public settings. Griffin continued by posing this question, “But what are the social consequences of continuing to insist that these texts are merely historical, and not religious?”
Griffin introduced a churchstate case, Lynch v. Donnelly, from 1984. In this case, a town was sued for including a nativity scene in its holiday decorations. The court ruled in favor of the town. Griffin drew special attention to the dissenting opinion, as Justice Harry Blackmun saw the inclusion of the nativity in a secular space as erasing its religious importance.
“Religion, particularly Christianity, was never separate from public life. By making the Ten Commandments and the Bible ‘merely historical’ and part of ‘culture,’ it opens them up to
the type of sustained critical engagement we have with other historical documents, inviting analysis and evaluation,” Griffen said. “This is a prime example of how the category of religion does indeed cordon things off or attempts to keep certain cultural items in private spaces. But it also protects—it creates ideas of sacred things that deserve to be set apart.”
Gabriela Juarez is an LSU sophomore and the secretary of membership for LSU’s Students for a Democratic Society (LSU SDS). She believes the Ten Commandments Law’s existence and potential implementation could have severe implications for the state, calling the law an act of “political theatre.”
“This law kind of represents textbook fascism. I think with this new wave of the far-right political movement in America aiming to completely destroy our democratic institutions and undermine our civil liberties, and part of that is they are using Christianity, what they claim to be Christianity, as a cudgel, a weapon to use to attack people that they want to knock down,” Juarez said. “Whether that be the rights of women, the rights of transgender Americans or the rights of LGBTQ Americans more broadly.”
Juarez said the bill is nothing more than a vessel for hatred, which makes religion, as used by the Ten Commandments Law’s proponents, nothing more than a tool for spreading that bigotry.
Juarez also attacked the basic legality and constitutionality of the law, as she believes there is no legal precedent or basis for it. She believes the issue is cut and dry, and she plans to use the
courts’ reaction to the ACLU’s lawsuit as a litmus test for their legitimacy.
“When I look at the ACLU lawsuit, what I am thinking is that if the courts have any legitimacy to them at all if they have any sense in them at all, then they would strike this down immediately because it is blatantly illegal,” she said. “I don’t have any faith in the justice system, but I am hoping that there is some shred of legitimacy left in whatever court this goes to, whatever judge this goes to, that they will be able to make the right call and strike this bill down.”
In regards to the actual rollout and implementation of the law, Juarez believes it will leave many students feeling unwanted and unwelcome in their classrooms. She believes this is an intended function of the law.
“You are going to be seeing a lot of students who are not Christian, whether they be Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist, or if they don’t have any religion at all. They are going to go into their classroom and they are going to be reminded that they are not wanted there. That they are other, that they are not a citizen in the minds of the legislature,” she said.
Although Juarez believes the situation to be bleak, she still encourages civil action.
“I think it’s important in times like this when we see blatantly illegal bigoted laws that are being forced through our legislature by a governor who doesn’t care at all about the average citizen, it is easy to become hopeless. To think this is the end, to think this is over, that we can’t do anything about it, but we absolutely can do a lot about it,” she said.
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MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille Clouds move past the Capitol Building April 25 ,in Baton Rouge, La.
MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille Gov. Jeff Landry speaks Monday, March 25, 2024, during Coastal Day 2024 inside the Louisiana State Capitol.
NEWS PREHISTORIC TREES
BY SARAH WALTON @sarahrosewalton
‘Underwater forests’ preserved in Gulf of Mexico puch rsearch forward
Near Gulf Shores, Alabama, LSU researchers have been studying “underwater forests,” a rare phenomenon in which natural circumstances have preserved trees for tens of thousands of years underwater. These submerged troves of biodiversity have been a hot topic for geologists, anthropologists and other researchers for years.
Kristine L. DeLong, a paleoclimatologist and LSU geography and anthropology professor, has been working on these sites since 2012. She said the last decade has been productive for her research.
In archaeology, there are two kinds of remains: biological and non-biological. Biological remains can come from humans, plants and anything that will eventually decompose. Non-biological artifacts are the exact opposite.
Because of decomposition, there is a common understanding that after a certain length of time, finding biological remains is impossible, as they would have already decomposed.
And yet trees that should’ve long since withered and broken down have been found sitting at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. Why?
DeLong said the researchers found that part of the reason the trees weren’t eroded away was the stillness of swamp water and its chemical composition.
“When you walk in the mud
POLITICS
[the swamp] has that smell; that’s the sulfer. So what’s happening is that there is no oxygen, and decomposition is not happening, and the wood is preserved,” DeLong said.
DeLong first learned about the site years ago when she saw a local fishing shop’s post advertising a “swimming with dinosaurs” scuba experience. As a scuba diver herself, she was interested, and the shop had even posted a video of the trees lining the gulf floor online.
The tree remains were originally found in 2004 by a fisherman after hurricane Ivan. The storm had disrupted the mud and sediment at the bottom of the gulf and uncovered the ancient stumps that had miraculously survived thousands of years.
The trees are not just valuable as representations of the past to be studied. They also serve an ecological good, acting as a coral reef and giving animals and plants a home.
“There are shrimps and crabs, all kinds of creatures that live at the site,” DeLong said.
DeLong said she was immediately invested in the site after her first visit. After collecting wood samples and sending them to the lab for radiocarbon dating, she estimated the trees to be around 10,000 years old. The results of the radiocarbon dating process would be even more impressive than she thought.
DeLong said 10,000 years would have been a big deal, as the stumps would’ve existed around the end of the Ice Age.
“I was really excited thinking this site is going to be 10,000 years old. When the results came back, they said the site was is radiocarbon dead,” she said.
Being radiocarbon dead means the material in question is too old to date using that method. This meant the trees were over 50,000 years old, blowing even DeLong’s estimate out of the water.
“We have since done another dating method where we date the last time the sediments were exposed to sunlight, and we’re finding that the age when these
trees were alive was between 60,000 to 70,000 years ago. For reference, 50,000 to 60,000 years ago is when humans began migrating out of Africa,” DeLong said.
The discovery of trees from such a long time ago is incredibly rare, so it provides an exciting new kind of site for archaeologists and geologists to study.
“When we first started working on the site, I knew it was special,” DeLong said. “We knew the site was unique. Talking to other researchers and scientists, we haven’t been able to find any
other sites like this.”
DeLong mentioned other sites with preserved wood or biological remains, but she said this is the oldest one to ever be found in water. Over the past 12 years, DeLong and other researchers have spent a great amount of time and effort studying and publishing papers about this site.
She said the researchers are almost done with their “phase one” of learning and that other sites are currently being found that resemble the original trees from 2004.
“I now have sites all the way from Mississippi to Florida,” DeLong said.
DeLong said the sites could have lasting impacts on the fields of Geology and Archeology as a whole.
“One of the things marine archaeologists are concerned with is if there are any early humans,” she said.
The Gulf Shores sites could help point researchers in the direction of other places that may contain early human artifacts, even if those places aren’t on land.
DeLong also mentioned how attractive these sites are for young researchers who want to make important discoveries, citing some of the grad students working on the project.
“It’s not about grades. It’s about wanting to do discovery and asking questions, persevering and answering those questions, doing the unknown, and not being afraid to do that,” she said.
LA Democrats put up no challenger to House Speaker Johnson
BY PIPER HUTCHINSON LA Illuminator
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a northwest Louisiana Republican, will face not even token Democratic opposition in his November re-election campaign.
Johnson is the only member of Louisiana’s delegation who will not face an opponent from the other party. Democrats in Louisiana have faced constant criticism for the sheer number of uncontested races, allowing Republicans to win dozens of state Legislative seats unopposed.
“There are many Louisianians we know interested in getting rid of him, while we don’t have a candidate running against him this year … we have plenty of Democrats interested in running against him in the future,” Louisiana Democrat Party Executive Director Drew Prestridge said in
an interview.
One Republican, Joshua Morott, qualified to run against Johnson and listed an Arkansas address with the Secretary of State.
Political consultant MaryPatricia Wray theorized it could work in Democrats favor to not field a candidate. In the current cycle, Wray is working with state Sen. Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge, in his congressional bid.
“It’s actually a flex for Democrats who can have more influence with Johnson if he knows his continued time as speaker is, in part, thanks to them,” Wray told the Illuminator.
Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis, one of Louisiana’s highest ranking Democrats, said the focus on redistricting took away from bench-building for the 2024 congressional elections.
“We were in a constant redistricting battle … that could have changed the maps significantly,” Lewis said in an interview. “Democrats were fighting to make sure we got a second majority-minority district, which took away from the act of planning.”
“The dynamics of redistricting, the money Speaker Johnson could raise, and the late nature of qualifying didn’t bode well for us to find a candidate,” Lewis added.
House Republican Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise, a Republican from Jefferson, will face a Democratic challenger who has spent the past two years building her profile in preparation to take on the heavyweight. Mel Manuel of Madisonville is a former teacher and longtime progressive activist who has been heavily involved in the fight against book bans in St. Tammany Parish.
Also signing up to run against Scalise in the 1st District were Republicans Randall Arrington of Ponchatoula, Ross Shales of New Orleans and Margueritte Swanson of Slidell. Frankie Hyers, an unaffiliated candidate from Metairie, is also in the race.
Far-right U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette, will face Democratic challengers Priscilla Gonzalez of Lafayette and Sadi Summerlin of Westlake in the 3rd Congressional District. Republican Xan Jones of Lafayette also qualified for the race.
Most Democratic attention on the newly-configured 6th Congressional District, which Fields is expected to win easily. Fields, who previously served in Congress in the 1990s, will face fellow Baton Rouge Democrats Quentin Anderson and Peter Williams as well as Wilken Jones, a Democrat from Opelousas, and
state Sen. Elbert Guillory, a Republican from Opelousas.
If elected, Fields will replace Republican Rep. Garret Graves, who decided against running for re-election after his district was chosen as the sacrificial lamb to satisfy a federal court ruling that required the state to draw a second majority-Black district.
The incumbent in the state’s existing majority-Black district, U.S. Rep. Troy Carter of New Orleans, will face one Democratic challenger, Devin Davis of New Orleans, and three Republicans: Devin Graham of Gonzales, Christy Lynch of New Orleans and Shondrell Perrilloux of St. Rose.
Republican U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow of Start will face token opposition in the form of Democrat Michael Vallien of Baton Rouge and fellow Republican Vinny Mendoza of Ponchatoula.
COURTESY OF LSU
Tree stumps over 50,000 years old sit at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico near Gulf Shores, Alabama.
SPORTS SEC MEDIA DAY
BY JASON WILLIS @JasonWillis4
What did Brian Kelly and LSU players have to say?
LSU football is at a crossroads of sorts entering this season.
Head coach Brian Kelly’s tenure has been without a doubt a success and restored life to the program. However, it’s apparent the Tigers still have to take the next step if they want to be a true championship contender.
“We’re in year three,” Kelly said. “This is the most accountable this group has been… this will be the deepest team that we’ve had.”
Through two seasons, Kelly’s team has reached 10 wins twice and played for an SEC championship.
Last season, though, with the top offense in the nation and the Heisman winner in Jayden Daniels, it’s clear that LSU was capable of more than its No. 12 final ranking. Its defense needs to take the next step for the Tigers to make the 12-team College Football Playoff.
At the same time, LSU’s offense is flipping the page from last year, as it’s breaking in a new quarterback in redshirt junior Garrett Nussmeier and several new starting receivers.
Kelly, as well as Nussmeier, linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. and tight end Mason Taylor talked about that and more at SEC football media day on
BASEBALL
Five star cornerback commits to LSU
BY JASON WILLIS @JasonWillis4
High school cornerback DJ Pickett, a five-star recruit in the 2025 class, announced that he’d be committing to play at LSU on Wednesday.
Pickett is ranked as the No. 3 cornerback in the nation and the No. 9 player overall, according to 247Sports, making him a major pull for head coach Brian Kelly and his staff.
Other recruiting sites, such as On3, have Pickett ranked as high as the No. 1 cornerback and No. 6 overall recruit.
Monday.
There was plenty of acknowledgement that the defense needed change
There’s no question that what held LSU back last year was its defense, which was stunningly bad and often turned games into track meets.
“We had obviously a recordsetting offense last year, but we didn’t play to the standard that we needed to play at times defensively,” Kelly said.
However, the team parted ways with its entire defensive staff in the offseason, hiring new defensive coordinator
Blake Baker from Missouri, as well as four other assistant coaches on that side of the ball.
“I think we’ve made the necessary strides in the offseason to continue on that growth,” Kelly said.
“From ground zero, building it back up,” Perkins said to local media.
During the offseason, Baker has focused not only on introducing his scheme but also on building relationships with players and getting them excited and prideful about their roles.
“It’s about players truly
wanting to be part of those 11 guys running, hitting, being part of that unit,” Kelly said.
New defensive line coach Bo Davis, who departed the same position at Texas, will also be key as he takes over an LSU pass-rush that was ineffective last year.
“The sales pitch was to rebuild the pride and tradition of LSU’s defensive line,” Kelly said on getting Davis to come to LSU. “He wanted to be the architect of bringing that back.”
Harold Perkins Jr.
Pickett plays high school football at Zephyrhills High School in Tampa, Florida, where he’ll soon play his senior season.
After that, he’ll be a major boon for a pass defense that has been an issue in recent years for LSU. Last season, the Tigers ranked No. 115 in the country in passing yards allowed, and even with a coaching revamp for this upcoming season, it’s clear the team could use reinforcements in the secondary.
LSU has struggled recently to attract top recruiting talent at the cornerback position, with only three commits rated as four-stars or higher since 2021,
LSU baseball MLB Draft recap: the draftees and returners
BY JASON WILLIS @JasonWillis4
All things considered, the MLB Draft couldn’t realistically have gone much better for LSU.
While a handful of deserving athletes made the jump to the next level, the Tigers also got plenty of good news in the form of players and signees deciding to come to Baton Rouge.
On the first day of the draft (consisting of rounds one and two), LSU had three former players and three signees drafted.
Star third baseman Tommy White and the pitching duo of Luke Holman and Gage Jump were each gone in the second round, with White and Jump each going to the Oakland Athletics organization.
From the high school ranks, outfielder Konnor Griffin, pitcher Cam Caminiti and pitcher Boston Bateman were all selected and will jump straight to the pros.
Still, LSU came out of the three-
day draft sitting pretty in many ways. Here’s a look at how it shook out.
Who’s coming to campus?
Perhaps the biggest announcement of the week came hours before the draft, when high school pitcher William Schmidt, a hometown commit who attended Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, said he’d be withdrawing from the draft.
Schmidt was expected to be a first round pick, considered the second-best high school pitcher in the class, behind fellow LSU commit Caminiti, taken by the Braves.
It’s unclear if Schmidt will immediately have a role in his freshman year, but he has a shot, as the highest-ranked recruit to ever make it to the LSU campus (No. 5 in the class according to Perfect Game).
Schmidt’s announcement came weeks after fellow top-10 prospect
FOOTBALL
REAGAN COTTEN / The Reveille
LSU football head coach Brian Kelly runs onto the field on Jan. 1 before LSU’s 35-31 victory against Wisconsin in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fl.
CUNNINGHAM / The Reveille
baseball sophomore firs baseman Jared Jones (22) holds up his hand after
6-4 loss against Florida on March 23 at Alex Box Stadium.
Preseason media poll ranks LSU football fifth in conference
BY JASON WILLIS @JasonWillis4
The preseason Southeastern Conference media poll was released on Thursday, with LSU predicted to finish No. 5 in the conference’s standings for the upcoming football season.
Ahead of LSU are Georgia, Texas, Alabama and Ole Miss.
Starting this season, there won’t be divisions in the SEC; instead, the top two teams by conference record will advance to the SEC Championship game.
The SEC looks much different this year, as it’s expanded to 16 teams with the addition of Oklahoma and Texas.
The SEC also announced its preseason all-SEC teams as determined by the media poll.
Junior left tackle Will Campbell, junior linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. and junior transfer wide receiver Zavion Thomas were each named to the first team, with Thomas making it as an all-purpose player.
Senior wide receiver Kyren Lacy, junior tight end Mason Taylor, junior right tackle Emery Jones Jr. and Thomas were named to the second team. Thomas earned his second team spot as a return specialist.
Finally, senior safety Major
SEC, from page 4
will need to evolve
A key to the defensive turnaround will have to be Perkins, the star linebacker who, after a successful freshman season, seemed to struggle in a vaguely defined role in his sophomore year.
Kelly acknowledged that, in his freshman year, Perkins wasn’t fully developed and had to be utilized in specific situations that earned him a limited reputation as a pass-rush specialist.
Then, in his sophomore year, he wasn’t quite prepared physically to play as a linebacker.
This season, there’s no confusion: he’s ready to be an inside linebacker.
“He’s an every-down linebacker that can play inside andout,” Kelly said. “He can obviously rush the passer, but he can also tackle from sideline to sideline.”
Perkins said he’s bulked up to 225 pounds from last season in preparation for the new position.
“It’s football,” Perkins said to local media. “You can’t be no small guy running around here.”
The offense has to completely shift to replace the outgoing talent
This offense won’t be the same, not with offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and three first round picks (Daniels, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.) gone.
The scheme will shift to ac-
Burns and senior long snapper Slade Roy were named to the third team.
Below are the full predicted conference standings
Georgia
LSU
Missouri
Tennessee
Oklahoma
Texas A&M
Auburn
Kentucky
Florida
South Carolina
Arkansas
Mississippi State
Vanderbilt
commodate the talent that’s now on the roster, according to Nussmeier.
The running game will be reworked without the threat of Daniels taking off, but it’ll be aided by an offensive line considered one of the best in the country.
Not only does the scheme have to shift, but so does the team’s mindset. Nussmeier said the group has to focus on the future, not the past.
“Last year’s group was special, it was unreal,” Nussmeier said to local media. “But it doesn’t matter to us right now.”
Nussmeier’s leadership will be key to leading LSU through this offensive shift.
In discussing how the offense will look, Kelly highlighted the depth and speed of the receiving corps compared to last year, with players like Kyren Lacy and CJ Daniels expected to lead the charge.
He also highlighted Taylor, who’ll step into a bigger role after two years of starting but not being a focal point of the offense.
“It’s hard sometimes when you’re surrounded with three first round draft picks to kind of get the notoriety and publicity,” Kelly said of Taylor.
“If you watch the tape, you can see the plays that he doesn’t always get credit for,” Nussmeier said.
Known for making blocks and doing the dirty work, Taylor will now become a key part of the passing game and a reliable, experienced target for Nussmeier.
BASEBALL, from page 4
straight to the pros. All in all, the vast majority of LSU’s signing class went undrafted.
Aside from the high school players, LSU also got good news from shortstop Michael Braswell III, who announced he’d be returning to Baton Rouge after not being selected in the first 10 rounds of the draft.
Braswell was third on the team with a .311 batting average this past season and will bring experience and continuity to the infield.
In addition, first baseman Jared Jones, a 21-year-old sophomore who was mulling an early jump to the MLB, went undrafted.
Jones was ranked as the No. 119 draft prospect by MLB.com even before his standout MLB combine performance, so it was surprising to see him drop.
Derek Curiel announced he’d also be forgoing the draft.
At the end of day one of the draft, high school catcher Cade Arrambide announced he’d be joining the pair at LSU after not being selected.
That made three top-15 prospects who’ll be joining the Tigers: an outstanding haul, as most highranked high school prospects jump
FOOTBALL, from page 4 two of which have since transferred.
The last major cornerback recruit LSU landed was five-star Eli Ricks in 2020, who produced two standout seasons for the Tigers before transferring to Alabama.
However, another year at LSU will be good for him as he develops a more well-rounded batting approach and steps in as the offensive leader.
Other notable Tigers who weren’t drafted and will therefore return to LSU include Josh Pearson and Gavin Guidry.
Decisions that didn’t go LSU’s way
One of the most pivotal decisions of the week was that of sophomore pitcher Griffin Her-
New secondary coach Corey Ramond, who also coached at LSU from 2006 to 2021, was instrumental in securing Pickett’s commitment.
Pickett chose LSU over Miami and Oregon, who recently beat out the Tigers for five-star wide receiver Dakorien Moore.
ring. Herring was a dynamo out of the bullpen this season, and if he returned for his junior year, he was assured a spot as LSU’s No. 1 starter.
Instead, Herring was drafted in the sixth round by the New York Yankees, joining former LSU pitcher Thatcher Hurd, who was also taken by the Yankees in the third round.
In addition, junior pitcher Fidel Ulloa (taken in the seventh round), incoming transfer pitcher Luke Hayden (drafted in the eighth round) have opted not to play for LSU this upcoming year and pursue their professional dreams.
That’s in addition to four top-75 high school signees that’ll be going to the MLB.
All of those players are certainly losses, particularly Herring, who had only played two years for the Tigers.
That being said, head coach Jay Johnson and the rest of his staff are of course happy to see their players get a chance to prove their worth at the next level.
In any case, LSU is well-positioned to replace its losses at the pitcher position. Aside from Hayden, the Tigers have added seven pitchers in the transfer portal, with several expected to immediately be elite starters.
Pickett joins a recruiting class for LSU that’s currently ranked No. 4 in the nation and includes the No. 1 overall prospect in quarterback Bryce Underwood, among a total of 17 commits.
He’ll first be on the field with the team for the 2025 season.
MADALYN CUNNINGHAM / The Reveille
LSU football 5th-year senior wide receiver Kyren Lacy (2) falls on the ground with the ball during the LSU Spring Football game on April 13 in Tiger Stadium.
MORGAN COOK / The Reveille LSU baseball freshman pitcher Griffin Herring (35) winds up May 16, 2023, during LSU’s 7-4 win against McNeese Statue University at Alex Box Stadium.
ENTERTAINMENT THIS WEEK IN BR
BY CAMILLE MILLIGAN @camillemill
JULY
Want to see your event in the Reveille? Email information to editor@lsu.edu.
MONDAY AT 7
P.M. 22ND
Outdoor Yoga at Pelican to Mars Pelican to Mars
Pelican to Mars is offering a free outdoor yoga class every Monday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. This pet-friendly bar encourages you to bring your furry friends with you. There will be a food menu with vegan options available.
Art at Lunch
LSU Museum of Art
The LSU Museum of Art will host an informative lunchtime exploration called “Black Gospel Music: A Catalyst for Survival” from noon to 1 p.m. this Wednesday. During this event, Joyce Jackson, chair of the LSU School of Geography and Anthropology, will delve into the history of gospel music. This event is free to enter and drinks will be provided, but attendees should pack a lunch.
JULY
THURSDAY AT 7 P.M. 25TH
(Neighbor) Hood Fest Pre-Party
Henry Turner Jr’s Listening Room Heritage Museum
JULY
24 TH
The first (Neighbor) Hood Fest Pre-Party will take place at Henry Turner Jr’s Listening Room Heritage Museum from 7 p.m. to midnight and will feature live music, a buffet and a cash bar. Performers such as Henry Turner Jr. & Flavor, Kasey Ball and Jelly B. & De Wolfe will play at both the pre-party and main festival, which takes place on Saturday. Tickets for the pre-party are $30.
Bridgerton Night at The Tunnel The Tunnel
The Tunnel at Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center presents Bridgerton Night from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and invites guests to enjoy cocktails, picture opportunities and tasty bites fit for royalty. Formal, regencyinspired attire is optional, but encouraged. Guests have the opportunity to win Bridgerton-themed teas. Cover is $15 and valet parking will be available.
SATURDAY AT 8 P.M. 27 TH 26 TH
JULY
(Neighbor) Hood Fest EBRPL-Main Library
The first Annual (Neighbor) Hood Fest will take place at the East Baton Rouge Parish Library Main Branch at Goodwood from noon to 8 p.m. and will feature live music and short film screenings. This free festival was created to celebrate Baton Rouge’s multicultural communities and neighborhoods. There will be a pre-party Thursday with previews of the live music performers. The festival is a family-friendly event and is open to the public.
At RNC, the GOP bowed down and worshipped Donald Trump
PELLITTIERI’S PERSPECTIVE
MATTHEW PELLITTIERI
@m_pellittieri
Less than a week after he was shot at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, former President Donald Trump was officially nominated by the GOP at the 2024 Republican National Convention.
At least that’s what happened on paper.
To his supporters, the RNC was more than just another political gathering—it was a celebration of Trump’s survival and of what it foreshadows.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Colin Falcon Editor in Chief
News Editor Emily Bracher
Jason Willis Sports Editor Emma Duhe
Production Editor
The way in which they nominated Trump, showering him with praise like a king, was a spiritual experience for them. He was canonized on that stage in that Milwaukee convention center.
The assassin’s bullet was the cross upon which their idol was nailed in a sacrifice on behalf of a righteous conservative America. Trump’s fist pump and chant of “fight, fight, fight” was the resurrection of their savior. And the convention was a chance for them to gather and watch their hero ascend to the heavens.
Trump has become to his supporters more than just a politician or leader. He is a sentient symbol of his ideology—the incarnation of “America First.” He is MAGA-made-
flesh.
As he once said, he is his supporters’ “retribution.” He is their warrior king, boldly leading them into a battle for their imagined traditional America. He’s what Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., called “the founding father” of America First.
Some supporters affixed a bandage to their ear, as if they’d suffered the same injury as their lord. They parade around as if stigmatic. His followers openly claim that they genuinely believe Trump experienced a sort of religious metamorphosis upon being shot.
Famed evangelical leader Franklin Graham said there was a “transformation” at the moment Trump “rose from that platform… with his
fist raised in strength.” God “spared his life.”
Rep. Greene said God’s “hand was on President Trump.” Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson said Trump “became the leader of this nation” in a primal, almost animalistic sense the second he proved himself “the bravest man” in the country.
His supporters say that he’s a changed man—a humble servant of the American people. But that’s certainly not how they treated him. They didn’t honor his service or offer applause for his accomplishments. They glorified him and his family like a royal court above serfs.
Greene framed his attempted assassination as “evil,” coming for
the man they all “admire and love so much.” For Carlson, Trump’s survival was evidence that “god is among” them, that he dwells within their movement.
To Greene, his survival meant that the “American Spirit” is alive and well.” Trump will “make America great again” for them. They just have to submit to his power.
Of course, the America that his supporters talk about is not the America that actually exists. Nor is it one that has ever existed. It’s a figment of their historically illiterate and revisionist imaginations.
When Hulk Hogan says Trump fights for “real Americans,” he means that “Trumpites” are the only valid American citizens. They are the only ones who matter.
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“I get nervous for everything - literally everything.”
Taylor Swift Amercan singer-songwriter 1989 — present
