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HANDLING A HURRICANE Freshmen from out of state recount their first experiences with a hurricane during Ida’s rampage.
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page 2 NEWS
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Lack of official policies surrounding Moodle has students frustrated and unprepared for classes.
SPORTS
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John Emery Jr.’s hired attorney sees a path for the running back to return to the field.
ENTERTAINMENT
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Fashion choices draw varied opinions at the 2021 Met Gala, which returns after last year’s cancelation due to COVID-19.
OPINION
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“The fossil fuel industry is a crooked sector that has chosen Louisiana as a sacrifice zone for its economic profit.”
L SU Re ve i l le.co m @l s u r e ve i l le
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LOUISIANA WELCOME
Out-of-state freshmen recall their first hurricane experience during Ida BY MADDIE SCOTT & CADEN LIM @madscottyy & @cadenlim5 After week one of classes, outof-state freshmen found themselves experiencing a less-thanwarm welcome to Louisiana: the arrival of Hurricane Ida. For those who lived outside the Gulf or Atlantic coasts, the storm — ranked as one of the most powerful to ever hit the U.S. — was their first hurricane they’d ever experienced. With nowhere to evacuate, the students felt stranded, hours from home. Ida, a Category 4 hurricane, was the first to make landfall in the 2021 season with sustained winds of up to 150 mph. Though LSU was mostly spared from weeks-long power outages and severe building damage, the preparations took many freshmen by surprise. ‘No clue what was going on’ Mechanical engineering freshman Keleigh Knowles had never experienced a hurricane in her home state of Michigan. She stayed with another Michigan native and a student from Illinois, so no one in her party had braced for hurricane winds before. “It was the three midwestern kids who had no clue what was going on,” Knowles said. The three students huddled in a small Taylor Hall dorm room that afternoon on Aug. 29, supplied with food and cases of water by the The Five dining hall. They decided to stick out the hurricane together, so they weren’t alone. Her friend shared that it was better to be on the west side of a hurricane, so Knowles said she was hopeful the Pentagon Community wouldn’t be hit too hard. The wind blew weaker than expected, and she saw students
MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Daily Reveille
Three workers sit on Aug. 30, near the fallen pieces of roofing at the LSU School of Music on Infirmary Road. run to play basketball on the Pentagon Activity Center’s court after losing power. ‘My first hurricane… is one category less than Katrina’ Biology freshman Tristan Norwood’s home state is California. After hearing that Ida was upgraded from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane, Norwood remembered thinking, “My first hurricane that I’m about to go through is one category less than Katrina.” What stuck out most for Norwood, though, didn’t happen during the tour Ida took through campus — it was the eerie, quiet and familiar chill before the storm began. “There was nothing wrong with [the weather]. If anything, it
MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Daily Reveille
LSU workers scoop leaves on Aug. 30, into a backhoe loader on Dalrymple Drive.
was beautiful, but it was too beautiful,” Norwood said. “The temperature and the air felt like what it was like in California before I left. Out of the entire two weeks I had been here, I had never felt this cool of air. That’s what threw me off.” ‘I said, ‘no, we’re watching it’’ Staying in South Hall, Norwood felt fortunate to have not lost power. Other students shared a different experience. Mechanical engineering freshman and San Antonio, Texas native Nicolas Frey stayed in Camellia Hall, where residents lost power for two days. “It was rough not having AC,” Frey said. “Definitely had to change the sheets.” During the second day without electricity, LSU gave him and the rest of the dorm’s residents access to other dormitories to charge their devices in lobbies and study rooms. Frey’s only hurricane education came from television shows and movies — he was shocked to see the empty parking lots considering the hassle of finding an empty spot only days earlier. “I didn’t really know it was going to be as bad as it was until it was too late, and going home would’ve taken 20 hours,” Frey said, mentioning that his parents constantly called him to ensure he was okay. “My roommate wanted the blinds down. I said ‘no, we’re watching it.’” He passed the hours by checking anonymous chat app YikYak and watching Netflix. Looking out of his window at one point, he saw people outside playing football and spikeball in the rain. ‘It was hard managing time’ General business freshman Jacob DiPane, from Colorado, said he had to evacuate to Oxford, Mississippi. His family was “terrified”
and wanted him to go further north to Tennessee. He ended up staying in Mississippi and hoping for the best. DiPane said the hurricane made his transition to college more difficult as he’s had to learn new software programs required by his courses while dealing with extended power outages and sparse internet service. “It’s been a little confusing,” DiPane said. “We went to the first week of classes and started to get into a rhythm and then we got a whole week off.” General business freshman Avery Krautsack, an Illinois native, shared the same sentiment, saying the workload after the hurricane was also a challenge when transitioning to college. He said after a whole week being off school, he had two weeks worth of work when school resumed. “It was hard managing time with everything else going on in life,” Krautsack said. ‘It threw things on a loop’ Freshmen interested in pursuing Greek Life, like finance freshmen Emma Woodruff, had to juggle the added course load caused by the university’s weeklong closure along with an extra week of Greek recruitment, which had been delayed by Ida. “[Adjusting to college] was kind of difficult,” finance freshman Emma Woodruff said. “I thought I was getting the hang of things then the hurricane hit and it threw things on a loop.” Woodruff said she thought the recruitment process would be over by now and that she would be able to start getting involved with her sorority at this point in the school year, but the hurricane delayed sororities’ Bid Day until Sept. 12. “My rush experience was good until the hurricane,” Woodruff said. “It prolonged things more than I thought.” Woodruff, who’s originally from Texas, said she was better able to handle her academic transition because she went to a big high school, which prepared her for the type of environment she’s experiencing now at LSU. Though the hurricane seemed to spare much of LSU and the surrounding Baton Rouge area from damages after veering toward Livingston Parish in the hours before landfall, areas such as Grand Isle, Houma and Denham Springs bore the brunt of Ida’s catastrophic winds and rainfall, with power being out for weeks and homes being decimated during heat indexes of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Beyond Louisiana, Hurricane Ida caused flash flooding in Northeastern states like New York and New Jersey, killing at least 44 people as of Sept. 2, according to Reuters, with flooding ranging from a few inches to multiple feet throughout the region.
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NEWS MOODLE MESS
page 3 ADMINISTRATION
‘Nothing short of miraculous’ BY MADISON SCOTT @madscottyy
team at the Faculty Technology Center is working on removing courses from last semester. Zoologist professor Dominique Homberger said she believes it’s important for students to see their courses early so they can adequately prepare for the class, but added it can be difficult for professors to put their information up in advance. “I can access Moodle for a new course about six weeks before [the semester starts.] If I want to do it in May, I have great difficulties,” Homberger said. “Two weeks before [class], I open [Moodle] up, and then I tell my students it is open.” Communication disorders junior Darby Gilmore had to wait until the day before classes started to access even one of her courses, and the
LSU President William Tate IV spoke with President Joe Biden on LSU’s COVID-19 mitigation strategies Wednesday. Tate joined a body of representatives from across the country to brief Biden on their institutions’ COVID-19 policies. LSU’s entry procedures required students to submit proof of vaccination, proof of a negative COVID test or proof that they had COVID within 90 days of arriving on campus. Tate said in the press conference that 400 students had yet to submit proof of vaccination, a negative COVID-19 test or a positive test from the last 90 days as part of entry protocols. LSU spokesman Ernie Ballard later updated that number to be 78 students, a significant improvement from when 1,000 students were at risk of being kicked out of the university for failing to complete entry protocols before the Sept. 10 deadline. Tate said he is confident that LSU will eventually “cross the finish line” with the rest of the student body. “When students have to make a choice between attending LSU and turning in whether or not they have been vaccinated or whether or not they have a negative COVID test, they are actually willing to turn in the paperwork,” Tate said. Following the press conference, Tate sent an email to the LSU community, updating them on current COVID vaccination numbers. He said more than 81% of students and 72% of faculty had provided proof of vaccination and the rates increase daily. He also noted that
see MOODLE, page 4
see WHITE HOUSE, page 4
Students endlessly refresh Moodle until the first day: “I had to wait until my class started”
BY AIDEN PRIMEAUX @acprimeaux Most LSU students know the familiar struggle of relentlessly checking Moodle in the weeks leading up to the start of the semester, waiting for courses to appear so that they can read through syllabi and order textbooks. The learning management system is used to disperse class materials and administer quizzes and exams throughout the semester, but for many, their courses don’t show up until the first day of class, making it difficult to adequately prepare. Some professors neglect to use the learning management system at all, never uploading grades, materials, or a syllabi. Additionally, classes from the previous semester will often show up on a student’s
Moodle page during their current semester, clouding the information they need to see. Students have to wait until professors manually remove the class from their schedule for it to be cleared on their Moodle page. Geology junior Sarah Bancroft said she is still waiting for two of her classes to appear on Moodle, almost a month into the semester. Her Moodle page is still clogged with courses from previous years, including one from her freshman year. “One of my teachers refuses to use Moodle, he just emails us,” Bancroft said. “It’d be nice to have Moodle, but he doesn’t like it, so we don’t get it.” Bancroft said she has not had as much of a problem with professors putting in grades, but some
will take until midterms to enter them. Additionally, she’s had issues with purchasing textbooks in time to have them for a class that was posted on the first day of school, and said the bookstore provided the most convenient option, albeit for a higher price than her other options. “I was given a week,” Bancroft said. “So it was really just buy from the bookstore or you’re screwed.” According to university spokesperson Ernie Ballard, students are automatically enrolled in Moodle courses 14 days before the first day of class, but the instructor can manually alter this to range from 0 to 60 days before the semester begins. Additionally, faculty are not required to use Moodle for their courses, and some opt out altogether. Ballard also said that the tech
WEATHER
Nicholas lingers in Louisiana, dumps rain as far as Florida BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Tropical Depression Nicholas hovered over Louisiana on Wednesday, raining on a region struggling to recover from Hurricane Ida and deluging coastal Mississippi, Alabama and northwest Florida. Flash flood warnings were in effect Wednesday evening in parts of south Alabama and northwest Florida. And the National Weather Service said heavy rains were likely to last until Nicholas dissipates over Louisiana some time Friday. In Louisiana, the rainfall complicated an already difficult recovery
at homes ripped open by Ida on Aug. 29. Thousands remain without power in Texas and Louisiana. “I’m not sure at this point what it looks like,” said Edith Anthony, whose home in LaPlace, a New Orleans suburb between Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River, suffered roof damage while getting about 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 meters) of floodwater two weeks ago. They still don’t have electricity, and couldn’t arrange for a tarp to cover the roof before Nicholas blew in. She and her husband were staying in a Mobile, Alabama, hotel, preparing to return this weekend
to take a look at what’s left of their home. Nicholas was centered Wednesday afternoon about 75 miles (125 kilometers) south of Alexandria, Louisiana, creeping eastward at 2 mph (4 kph). It was forecast to dump as much as 6 inches (15 centimeters) of rain from southeast Louisiana into the Florida Panhandle through Friday, with 10 inches (25 centimeters) possible in isolated areas. “Life-threatening flash flooding impacts, especially in urban areas, remain a possibility in these areas,” forecasters said. The weather
see STORM, page 4
Chris Granger / The Daily Reveille
Men cover a roof with tarps, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, a week after Hurricane Ida swept through the area. (Chris Granger/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP)
Thursday, September 16, 2021
page 4 MOODLE, from page 3 rest didn’t upload until the first day of school. Gilmore said she usually finds it easiest to buy or rent textbooks from the LSU bookstore so she doesn’t have to wait on shipping. This year, however, one of her classes required her to buy a textbook that was out of print and not at the library, a difficult and expensive task to assign students, especially
STORM, from page 3 service reported that as much as 5 inches (13 centimeters) had fallen in Alabama’s Baldwin County and in northwest Florida as of Wednesday afternoon. News outlets reported flooded roads in Baldwin County and around Pensacola, Florida. Nicholas dumped as much as 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain on parts of Texas — and the weather service was checking reports of nearly 14 inches (35 centimeters) of rain in Galveston — after making landfall as a Category 1 hurricane, the 14th named storm of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. Houston reported more than 6 inches (15 centimeters). Parts of Louisiana received more than 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain from the storm. In Louisiana, the flash flood danger was expected to end Thursday, but the rain is forecast to linger for days.
since they weren’t aware of the requirement until the class began. She added that some classes require students to purchase separate software for completing coursework along with the textbook. While students become accustomed to managing this financial burden over time, that is difficult to do when they do not know their real expenses until the first day. Natural resource ecology and management senior Drew McMahon
said that his current classes usually have coursework uploaded online beforehand with enough time to acquire materials, but before he changed majors from engineering, that wasn’t the case. “There are stark differences in what professors put on their Moodle [pages],” McMahon said. “Some will make sure all materials are on there, others will just have their syllabus and tell everyone nothing else will be on there. I think that just
requiring professors to have Moodle up isn’t going to be enough.” McMahon added that some of his classes required him to get a textbook almost immediately at the risk of falling behind from the outset of the course, regardless of when the course opened on Moodle. He believes that because Moodle is almost ubiquitous at the university, professors ought to at least have a syllabus uploaded online for students to reference later.
“We’re going to be in a wet weather pattern well into next week,” said meteorologist Christopher Brannan at the National Weather Service. He said Nicholas, now a tropical depression, would likely stall over southwest Louisiana while it dissipates into a a remnant low pressure system. More than 112,000 electricity customers were still without power Wednesday morning in Texas, including 75,000 in the Houston area. At its peak, more than half a million homes and businesses were without power in Texas. In Louisiana on Wednesday, 72,000 were still without power more than two weeks after Ida. Power had largely been restored in New Orleans, where the entire city had been blacked out by the storm. But problems remained, including piles of debris and smelly garbage that officials were struggling to collect. Ida exacerbated an existing
labor shortage that had slowed collection even before the storm. City officials announced Wednesday that they had opened a site where residents could take bagged household garbage and dispose of it free of charge. Jerry Nappi, a spokesperson for Entergy Louisiana, said the utility company, which serves much of the state, did not expect Nicholas to lengthen restoration times. Joe Ticheli, manager and CEO of South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association, said the rain from Nicholas hadn’t affected their operations. The cooperative serves about 21,000 customers across five parishes including parts of the hard-hit Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes. As of late Tuesday, he said power has been restored to about 80% of its customers with the remaining 20% mostly in the hardest-hit parts of southern Terrebonne par-
ish. However, he noted, that the destruction in those areas is so “catastrophic” that even when power is restored houses and businesses won’t be able to receive it. The worst of the weather largely spared the city of Lake Charles in southwest Louisiana — hit last year by hurricanes Laura and Delta — where city crews scoured the drainage system to keep it free from debris during Nicholas. Mayor Nic Hunter said he’s been worried about how his people are coping. “With what people have gone through over the last 16 months here in Lake Charles, they are very, understandably, despondent, emotional. Any time we have even a hint of a weather event approaching, people get scared,” he said. Associated Press reporters Jay Reeves, in Pointe-aux-Chenes, Louisiana, and Juan A. Lozano in Surfside Beach, Texas, contributed to this report.
WHITE HOUSE, from page 3 LSU’s positivity rate holds steady at around 4%, significantly lower than the rest of the city. “Overall, we couldn’t be more pleased with the results of our COVID protocols. I thank you for your ongoing patience and support as we continue our work toward ensuring a safe and healthy LSU for all,” Tate wrote in an email. In reference to the loose restrictions at the LSU vs. McNeese football game, Tate said he told the body of representatives at the White House that there are always less secure spaces in a dense area such as Tiger Stadium, but that they are discussing the best way to manage games in the future. “In any mandated scenario, there will always be situations where individuals are able to avoid the mandate,” Tate said. “I do believe there are few things we can do to tighten it up one of which is probably a stronger preregistration process.” Tate said Biden wanted to better understand how to increase vaccination rates in the United States. “The reality is, what we have done is nothing short of miraculous,” says Tate. “I think what he’s trying to understand, and I think rightly so, is how can we move the country forward with that kind of change.”
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SPORTS
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LAWYERED UP Junior running back John Emery Jr. hires attorney to fight NCAA ruling on elegibility.
ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille
LSU football sophomore running back John Emery Jr. (4) gets brought to the ground by Mississippi State players Sep. 26, 2020 during LSU’s 44-24 loss against Mississippi State. BY DYLAN SANDERS @DillySanders During the “Tell The Truth Monday” press conference following Saturday’s win against McNeese State, Ed Orgeron said that former 5-star and projected starting running back John Emery Jr. has been ruled academically ineligible for the entire 2021 season. However, Orgeron hinted that this may not be permanent. “Things could change,” he said. “If they do change, we’ll play him. Could they change? Yeah, but that’s out of my control.” Despite how bleak things seem on the outside, Emery has hired an attorney who seems to be confident that the LSU run-
ning back will be reinstated. Don Jackson, Emery’s attorney, said to The Advocate their plan is to get a waiver for the academic issues due to extenuating circumstances. Jackson was referred to Emery by the father of Kristian Fulton, who Jackson represented a few years ago. Within the last year and a half, Emery has lost his grandmother to cancer, had multiple family members contract COVID-19 and of course had to transition to virtual school due to the pandemic. Before the situation in question, Emery was reportedly an honors student. Jackson also told The Advocate that the NCAA was aware of this when they denied LSU’s initial request for an academic waiver.
“My belief is that the administrative system (as it relates to the NCAA) generally works,” Jackson said. “Although, two appeals have been rejected, I am optimistic that a favorable resolution will be reached in Mr. Emery’s case and that he will return to the field this season.” Jackson said that organizations like the NCAA are supposed to prioritize the health and safety of student-athletes, to promote the educational missions of member institutions and to assure the competitive integrity of the sport. “This case touches upon two of those principles and, in some respects, all three,” Jackson said. “These are issues that are very important to me.” We have seen the NCAA add
plenty of policies to account for the problems that have arisen in the last 18 months, like an extra year of eligibility, so it would seem to not be extremely out of question to assume that they could do the same for academic differences. The NCAA, however, has not always been known as the most fair organization, so it is hard to read how they will approach the situation. On the NCAA’s website, under compliance, there are situations in which waivers have been awarded in the past. They have circumstances for personal hardships, defined as “death of an immediate family or team member, diagnosis of terminal illness or hospitalization of immediate family or team member, victims of inappropriate sexual
behavior, inpatient hospitalization, or catastrophic events.” As far as we know, Emery’s situation seems to check at least three of these boxes. It is unclear through their own criteria, why LSU’s appeal was denied, especially if Emery was an honor roll student beforehand. Emery accounted for 451 yards and three touchdowns from scrimmage last year. He was set to have a larger role in offensive production this year. Should his ineligibility stand, this would come as a huge blow to an offense whose biggest critique after two games has been the running game. Through two games, including one against an FCS defense, the LSU running backs are averaging fewer than three yards per carry.
COLUMN
Dale Brown Court a fitting tribute for a legendary coach PETER RAUTERKUS @peter_rauterkus
It’s hard to think about the LSU men’s basketball program’s storied history without thinking of the legendary former coach Dale Brown, and on Friday, Sept. 10, Brown finally got the recognition many believed he deserved. The LSU Board of Supervisors approved plans to name LSU’s basketball court after Dale Brown. This decision came after a 12-3 vote and years of debate over whether Brown was deserving of this honor. Despite years of controversy over the proposed plans, many people showed their support for him, and ultimately,
the name change was approved. One of the most local supporters of the name change was Board of Supervisors member and former LSU basketball player Collis Temple. Temple was the first Black player of the program, and said that Brown played a huge part in supporting Black collegiate athletes during his coaching career. “He changed the trajectory of the state of Louisiana and the mindset of all stereotypical negatives,” Temple said. Brown had always been a coach who did what was best for his players, resulting in many of his former players vouching for him to have the court renamed in his honor. Alongside Temple, Durand “Rudy” Macklin, Ricky Blanton and Jordy Hultberg were all former players of Brown who
publicly advocated for the name change before the vote and ultimately made a huge impact in getting the name change approved. There was some pushback, however, as there were some who believed that legendary former LSU women’s basketball coach Sue Gunter, who has a statue inside the Pete Maravich Assembly center, deserved to share the recognition with Brown. Gunter coached the team from 19822004 and led them to 14 NCAA Tournament appearances and a Final Four appearance in 2004. Multiple board members pushed for the court to be named “Gunter-Brown Court,” but that idea fell through after a 12-3 vote against the name. Over the years there had also been plenty of hesitation for the
naming due to Brown’s history with the NCAA. Brown had often been critical of the NCAA, and in 1998 LSU basketball was placed on probation over a claim that an LSU assistant coach offered then-player Lester Earl $5,000 while he was attending LSU. The claim came from Earl himself and was never proven, leading many to believe that the NCAA came down hard on Brown due to his history with the NCAA. In 2007 Earl publicly admitted that he lied about the claim and apologized to Brown which helped clean his reputation. It was a step in the long process of the ruling to rename the basketball court that was approved last week. For many reasons, it feels fitting that now is the time that the great Dale Brown finally got his
recognition in the form of having the court named after him. In a year where student athletes are finally able to profit off their name, image and likeness, and off the back of a year filled with nationwide protests of racial injustice, it is fitting that a man like Dale Brown got the recognition that many believed he should’ve received a long time ago. There will always be debates over whether the process was handled the right way, or whether other ways to honor Brown could’ve been considered. One thing that is for certain now, however, is that every time an LSU basketball player steps on the court at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, there is forever a reminder of who paved the way for them to be in that position.
Thursday, September 16, 2021
page 6
MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille
LSU sophomores (in order from left to right) Ben Huval, a finance major; Charles Cherry, a finance major; Seth Crowton, a general business major and Sam Ethridge, a pre-med student sit on Aug. 26, one next to the other in the Business Education Auditorium.
Thursday, September 16, 2021
CROWDED CAMPUS
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MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille
A large line of students forms on Aug. 27 outside the Melt Lab, a recent addition to the Student Union.
CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille
A car sits Tuesday, Sept. 14 in a packed lot at the Student Recreation Student Lot on LSU’s campus. MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille
LSU students wait in a lengthy line on Aug. 27 at the Chick-fil-A in the Student Union.
CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille
A ‘no parking’ sign lays on the ground Sept. 14 at the Student Recreation Employee West Lot on LSU’s campus.
MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille
LSU students fill most of the available seating on Aug. 27 inside the Student Union.
MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille
LSU students enjoy lunch on Aug. 27 in a crowded seating area within the Student Union.
CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille
Rows of cars pack a parking lot Sept. 14 across the street from the University Recreation Center on LSU’s campus.
MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille
A multitude of desks fill the space on Aug. 27 in Room 121 of Allen Hall in LSU’s Quad.
With the largest freshman class in the university’s history, crowded classrooms and parking lots have become a problem.
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Thursday, September 16, 2021
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FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 16, 2021
THE Daily Commuter Puzzle ACROSS 1 J. Edgar Hoover’s agcy. 4 More qualified 9 Dull-colored 13 Crematory shelf supply 15 Show to be true 16 Remain optimistic 17 __ Ness monster 18 Became ashen 19 Ugandan tyrant 20 Cover up, as wrongdoing 22 Tattered clothing 23 Bona fide 24 Dutch __ disease; tree malady 26 Wild dog 29 Relentless; persistent 34 Do-nothing 35 Mertz & Flintstone 36 “People __ Funny” of old TV 37 One not to be trusted 38 Salaries 39 Mob scene 40 “__ Miserables” 41 Not dressed 42 Hose down 43 Isn’t __ to; shouldn’t 45 Horse’s gait 46 “Ick!” 47 Execute, old-style 48 Give one’s __; promise 51 Pleasant lingering effect 56 Eager 57 Bouquet tosser 58 British peer 60 Collapsed 61 Hope or Jessica 62 Asian language 63 Laurel or juniper 64 Join, as a club 65 Pkg. delivery svc. DOWN 1 Suffix for fear or joy 2 Forehead 3 __ along; advance slowly 4 Request for a new trial
by Jacqueline E. Mathews
Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews
5 Melee 6 Actress Glaudini 7 12/24 & 12/31 8 Raggedy Ann & Little Orphan Annie 9 Jenna Elfman role 10 Actress Downey 11 “…and on that farm there was __…” 12 Stein & Stiller 14 One who avoids his duty 21 Wear’s partner, in phrase 25 Scale divisions: abbr. 26 Sobule and Scott 27 “Bye, Pierre!” 28 Bracelet fastener 29 Encouraged 30 “All You __ Is Love”; 1967 song 31 Sully 32 Uneven 33 Talk out of 35 Phony 38 Not needing dry cleaning
9/16/21
Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved
©2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.
39 Curl 41 Yuletide party drink 42 __ out; pealed 44 Rainfall remnant 45 Line of work 47 Trimmed shrub 48 Float on the breeze
9/16/21
49 “__ There”; George M. Cohan song 50 Irk 52 Tarkenton or Drescher 53 Slight coloring 54 Waikiki’s location 55 Shawl or cape 59 Fleur-de-__
ENTERTAINMENT AMERICAN ICONS
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Postponed due to COVID in 2020, The Met Gala has finally returned
BY MADELON DAVIS @Madelondavis The Met Gala is the enchanting and elegant night of all nights in American fashion. “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” like all Met Gala themes, gave those in attendance so many options to dress on theme. “I feel like the theme at this year’s Met Gala was one that could be left up to interpretation, which made me have high hopes,” said LSU alumna Anne Marie Abraham. Numerous attendees used the theme to pay tribute to the people of America’s past. Kendall Jenner’s Givenchy dress was a modern-day version of Audrey Hepburn’s “My Fair Lady” dress. Emily Blunt also chose to modernize Hedy Lamarr’s look in “Ziegfeld Girl.” Blunt’s dress was created by Miu Miu with the final touches of a headpiece tying everything together. Yara Shahidi’s look, made by Dior, paid homage to one of Josephine Baker’s iconic looks and was styled by Jason Bolden. While all of these ladies and many more paid homage to those before them and looked stunning while doing so, many people were unimpressed by the fashion choices of most attendees at the Met Gala this year. “America is so many things, so there were endless pos-
sibilities to what the designers could’ve done, but I don’t think most people really got as creative as they should have,” Abraham said. ASAP Rocky was on the receiving end of criticism for his quilt and underwhelming suit. Showing up with Rihanna added pressure, as she is known to be a legend at this event. She and model Chanel Iman were widely considered to be among the best dressed. Lil Nas X, Megan Fox, Normani and Billie Eilish were the standouts among those who also attended the VMA’s the night before. Lil Nas X’s extravagant three-part outfit was a spectacle that made him one of the most mentioned attendees on Twitter. Simone Biles seemed to respond to the theme in a similar dazzling fashion. Something different about
this year is that a lot more social media influencers were invited to the event, which added to the list of controversies for this year’s gala. There were differ-
ent opinions on whether or not they should have been invited to this prestigious event. One of the influencers in attendance was Dixie D’Amelio, who wore a Valentino dress while also channeling Audrey Hepburn like Jenner. People raved over influencer Emma Chamberlin’s Louis Vuitton dress, saying she looked stunning in the bejeweled fit. While some of these internet influencers were getting positive reviews, others like Addison Rae were not. She was the No. 1 influencer people said should not have been invited to the Met Gala. “Addison Rae should not have been even invited in the first place. She’s a wannabe celebrity,” said mass communication junior Sarah Stowe. People felt as though she hadn’t paid her dues enough to be allowed at such an es-
teemed event. Nevertheless, she was at this year’s Met Gala wearing a dress styled by Law Roach. Many people saw similarities in Rae’s dress to Kourtney Kardashian’s Christmas dress from 2019. “If you’re going to be going to an event like this, you should at least be original and not steal a dress from your friend’s closet,” Stowe said. While it is still just speculation that Rae borrowed Kardashian’s dress, the two do look very similar. Politicians also received scattered reviews after mixing politics and fashion. Bringing politics to a high-class event seemed hypocritical to many. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “Eat the rich” dress was the topic of many conversations. Regardless of viewer’s opinions, this year’s event was longawaited after last year’s Gala had been canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The absence of plenty A-list celebs didn’t stop those in attendance from putting on a show for the people at home watching. Keke Palmer, who served as a co-host with Ilana Glazer for Vogue’s livestream, brought good energy and entertainment to the Gala’s return. There were some mishaps, but the good always outshines the bad at the Met Gala.
MUSIC
Up & coming: Jazz fusion artist Masego brings his alluring musical talent to the plate
BY EMMA JACKIMOWICZ @emmajackimowicz Blending a variety of genres is one creative way to stand out in the music industry, and multitalented Virginia native Masego has been doing just that. While he has been making and releasing studio albums and EPs since 2015, the spotlight is finally starting to shine on this neosoul, R&B extraordinaire as he collaborates with popular musicians and increases his growing fanbase. Professionally known as Masego, 28-year-old Micah Davis is a Jamaican American musician and singer who has not only amassed a variety of musical abilities over the years, but has also constantly pushed the boundaries by creating his own genre, which he likes to call “TrapHouseJazz.” With inspirations such as Andre 3000, John P. Kee and Cab Callow, Masego has managed to build a following from his futuristic-sounding and soulful songs. At a young age, Davis learned
to play the piano and saxophone while moving around with his military family. They finally settled in Newport News, Virginia, where Davis spent a majority of his life. There, he taught himself how to play the drums and was continuously exposed to hardhitting drum and trap music. As he began to experiment further, Davis eventually adopted the stage name Masego, which is a Swahili translation of his church name, “little blessing.” His first project, released in 2015 in collaboration with dance/electronic DJ Medasin and titled “The Pink Polo EP,” was his first and undeniably most experimental project. This extended play mixes the sultry sound of jazz with enchanting beats from Medasin to accompany Masego’s saxophone and vocal talent. The singer’s next EP, “Loose Thoughts,” released about a year later in 2016 and features highlight tracks such as “Send Yo Rita!” and “Disconnected.” The instrumentally talented musician’s next standout project,
released in 2018, was titled “Lady Lady.” Not only did this album’s saxophone-filled setlist fare well with critics, but it also strengthened Masego’s fanbase with each song’s passionately eccentric melody. The most popular track from this album, “Tadow,”
features fellow multi-instrumentalist, FKJ. The song’s buildup is unlike any other and is bound to send shivers down your spine. It has also gained recognition from becoming a sound on the videosharing app TikTok. Masego’s next big break came
COURTESY OF HYPEBEAST
in September 2020 when he released “Mystery Lady,” featuring rap and R&B artist Don Toliver before the release of Masego’s third EP titled “Studying Abroad.” The track was released as a single alongside other tracks from the EP such as “Silver Tongue Devil” and “Passport.” The song stands out amongst the rest of his works for its seductive, smooth beat and infectious vocal intro. The two singers croon about the woman of their dreams: a woman out of their reach despite how many fans swoon over them. This multi-hyphenate has created something special through his work that deeply resonates with fans of diverse and unorthodox music, such as myself. I was introduced to Masego in high school when I heard his feature on Goldlink’s 2015 song “Late Night” and was immediately hooked on his sound and raspy voice. As his career has continued, I am pleasantly surprised by each project he releases and hope to hear more from him in the future.
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Thursday, September 16, 2021
Read the novel behind this year’s blockbuster film, ‘Dune’ BY CONNOR MCLAUGHLIN @connor_mcla “Arrakis. Dune. Desert Planet.” The time for Denis Villeneuve’s cinematic adaptation of ‘Dune’ is nearly upon us! The film just premiered at the 78th Venice International Film Festival to some rave reviews calling it “epic” and a “made-fortheater-experience” which is all very exciting stuff, but I’m not here to write about the upcoming movie. I am here to implore you to read Frank Herbert’s legendary science fiction novel, “Dune” (1965). Do you love “Star Wars?” “Game of Thrones?” Sciencefiction? High fantasy? Religion? Politics? Technology? Ecology? Worms? WORMS? Well, then Dune is just the book for you. Initially published by Herbert as a three-part series in Analog Science Fiction magazine from December 1963 to February 1964, the novel was released to the masses in 1965, fundamentally changing the landscape of science fiction writing akin to what Tolkien did with “The Lord of the Rings” for the fantasy genre. It’s a gamechanging novel that entices and rivets from start to finish, which
makes total sense as it is the world’s bestselling sci-fi novel of all time. The plot of “Dune” is wildly complex. Set in the distant future where space travel is possible and noble houses rule over planets through fiefs, the multilayered story revolves around Paul Atreides, heir apparent of House Atreides, after his father, Duke Leto, accepts ownership of the harsh desert planet Arrakis. This planet is the solitary source of the highly coveted mélange, or “the spice,” that makes space travel possible and extends human life, mental capabilities and physical strength. Mining of the spice is difficult on Arrakis due to its inhabitants of sandworms, vicious creatures of mountainous size that roam the dunes and are attracted to the spice mining. Needless to say, the Atreides being the ruler fiefs of Arrakis is a challenge in and of itself that is further complicated by betrayal, conspiracy and their sadistic rival, House Harkonnen. What I’ve summarized thus far is only the tip of the iceberg as there are other people, organizations and fell forces with their own agendas working against the Atreides. Did I lose you? Does your head hurt yet?
I surely hope not, because while “Dune” throws alien concepts as well as words and
while also being truly stimulating in its ruminations on politics, religion and technology.
COURTESY OF CONCEPT ART WORLD
phrases that will keep you flipping to and from the appendix, the rewards of this challenging, intricate novel are so rich and satisfying, deeming it worth the read. I genuinely can’t remember the last time I read a story that kept me this engaged and invested in multiple characters
Herbert draws from a vast array of religions like Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Hinduism to tell a story of intergalactic proportions which the likes of humans have never witnessed before. Another impressive facet of “Dune” is how it draws from ancient languages like Latin, He-
brew and Old English. It is immensely fascinating with its allegorical elements, interpersonal dialogue, abundant symbolism, allusions to today’s society and, above all, its enjoyable story. The most ironic part of the book is how it asks you to wrap your mind around all this heavy jargon, but has characters named Paul, Jessica and Duncan. In short, this book is unlike anything I have ever read and a must-read pioneer of its genre that is worth the time, headspinning terminology and sandworms alike. Dune has been the subject of troubled film and television adaptations since as early as the 1970s with Chilean-French director Alejandro Jodorowsky making an unsuccessful attempt at adapting the novel into a nearly fourteen-hour-long movie, with Paul being portrayed by the director’s son and Pink Floyd scoring the film. David Lynch also made a go at it with his cult-classic adaptation in 1984 which opened to poor reviews, but hopefully, Denis Villeneuve can pull it off. Then again, this article isn’t about the movie. It’s about reading the book, so just read “Dune.” You won’t regret it.
OPINION
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Guest column: redistribute endowment from fossil fuels BY LSU CLIMATE PELICANS @JillJenny1 & @lakerfuffle Desmond Tutu once said, “people of conscience need to break their ties with corporations financing the injustice of climate change.” To the Office of the President, LSU Board of Trustees and LSU Foundation: We, the LSU Climate Pelicans, are calling for the university’s financial investments to better reflect the values of the LSU community. We are not acting alone but as part of an international movement calling for the divestment of university endowment funds from the fossil fuel industry to be reinvested in more ethical endeavors. Over 1,300 institutions have already boldly revoked the fossil fuel industry’s social license and anticipate sustainable economic progress. According to a study published this year in the journal “Nature,” 60% of oil and
natural gas and 90% of coal reserves need to remain unextracted to avoid the most detrimental impacts of climate change. Yet, the fossil fuel industry has demonstrated no intention of keeping these reserves in the ground and is actively seeking new environments to exploit. With these facts in mind, we call for LSU’s immediate divestment action. The fossil fuel industry is a crooked sector that has chosen Louisiana as a sacrifice zone for its economic profit. Hurricanes, floods, wetland loss and oil spills have plagued this state since before any of our lifetimes; in the wake of Hurricane Ida, it is indisputable that an alarming increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters is inextricably linked to climate change. This industry also propagates racial injustice and inequity, which this university has deservedly taken a stance against
in the past year. Cancer Alley, that infamous stretch of fossil fuel industrial complexes connecting Baton Rouge and New Orleans, has been a center of racial and environmental injustice since the 1960s and continues to endanger Black communities today. In divesting the university’s endowment from environmental racism, our school can advocate against the marginalization of communities of color and demonstrate our solidarity with their welfare. We cannot continue our complicity. It is unethical to invest money in extractive practices that perpetuate climate changeinduced catastrophes, especially when our state feels the environmental and social impacts most heavily. Our lives are at risk because of the fossil fuel industry’s recklessness, so why should the university continue to finance them? To that end, our request
is simple: First, divest the endowment funds within an actionable timeline from companies that engage in anti-climate lobbying or extract, refine, develop, own or sell fossil fuel resources. Second, reinvest endowment funds in carbon-free energy investments and those congruent with the university’s values and its faculty, staff, students and alumni. The LSU Climate Pelicans propose a collaborative conversation to guide LSU’s endowment toward more ethical investments. There are so many other investment opportunities that do not put the entire globe at risk, and we would be pleased to discuss these with you. LSU has an opportunity to accelerate climate justice as a flagship university in the fossil-fueled Gulf South during a time of deepening climate crisis and encroaching ecological and social tipping points. LSU
would not be alone, as Tulane University and even the city of New Orleans itself have already made steps toward fossil fuel divestment. The state of Louisiana has also already made commitments toward near-future emissions reductions—Gov. John Bel Edwards has pledged significant emissions reductions by 2030 and complete carbon neutrality by 2050. We call on LSU to meet the moment and engage in this conversation. We only have five years left to prevent the 1.5 degrees Celsius warmings linked to irreversible consequences of global climate change. All over the globe, young people agonize that time is not on our side, but we hope that you will be as we plan for a livable future. The LSU Climate Pelicans are an interdisciplinary group committed to advancing climate justice in Louisiana.
Saturday makeup days are unpopular, need to be revisited FROM THE CRO’S NEST ELIZABETH CROCHET @elizabethcro_
On Sept. 1, only three days after Hurricane Ida made landfall in Port Fouchon, most of Baton Rouge was still worrying about when power would be restored to their houses and apartments. People were frantic to fill their cars with increasingly scarce gas and reckoning with the next steps in the hurricane recovery process. Yet others were helping their families and grappling with critical damage sustained to their childhood homes. While all of this was happening, the university was busy emailing its faculty and students about the scheduled make-up days for the week canceled due to Hurricane Ida. The timing could not have been any worse. Members of the LSU community had—and still do have—a lot on their plates. For those of us evacuated from our homes or living without power, the school was the last thing on our minds. Nothing better encapsulates the insensitivity of our university’s top decision-makers than
THE REVEILLE ARCHIVES
Students take notes Jan. 20 while social distancing in MC 2010 class in West Hall. shoving make-up days down students’ throats so early in the recovery process. Look, I completely understand that the days we missed need to be made up. Lost class time can seriously affect lesson plans, and the university is right to offer days for faculty and students to catch up on missed
work. Beyond the insensitive timing of the make-up days announcement, the entire process in which we make up missed class days needs to be re-evaluated. Since I have been at the university, I have had classes canceled for hurricanes, winter storms, a college football Na-
tional Championship game and, of course, a pandemic. The latter three are somewhat unpredictable events, but we can guarantee that a tropical storm or hurricane will head our way each fall in southern Louisiana. We should have a plan in place for hurricane cancellations before the fall semester begins.
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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 opinion@lsureveille.com or delivered to B-39 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must provide a contact phone number for verification purposes, which will not be printed. The Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Reveille’s editor in chief, hired every semester by the LSU Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.
However, I don’t think it’s fair to criticize an issue without offering solutions, so here are a few. We could start school a week earlier or add a week to the end of the semester. We could trim days off fall or winter break or have hurricane days built into the schedule. If we do not have a storm, then students enjoy an extra day to relax or study before finals. The current system of converting five random Saturdays into Friday-part-two is not fair. Many students work on the weekends or have certain obligations they cannot skip. Few professors seem to enjoy or respect the Saturday makeup days either. Since being a student, I have not had a single make-up day utilized by a professor. In the last few days, several of my professors have already announced they will not be holding a class on the Saturdays announced for this semester. The majority of our campus community is not in favor of these Saturday make-up days. So let’s come up with a better solution. Elizabeth Crochet is a 20-yearold political communication junior from New Orleans.
Quote of the Week “This is my Tamagotchi; it’s been my contribution to this year’s Met Gala.”
Katy Perry singer 1984 — present
Thursday, September 16, 2021
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Dingy library inconsistent with ‘scholarship first’ motto CHARLIE’S ANGLES CHARLIE STEPHENS
@charliestephns When asked about the future of the university’s main research library, Dean of Libraries Stanley Wilder said, “There is no hope for this building.” As President Tate settles into his new role of digging the university out of financial and ethical ditches deeper than Kirby-Smith Hall is tall, he must prioritize the construction of a world-class library facility that meets the needs of the 21st century student. Students have been promised a renovated library for years, yet all we have received are empty promises and $43,000 worth of new furniture
on the first floor. In the COVID era, even our 24-hour access has been revoked to allow time for adequate sanitation. These conditions persist four years after Gov. John Bel Edwards and leading state legislators toured the building in 2017 to take note of the dismal conditions. Upon seeing the water damage, outdated facilities and dirty floors, the governor stated, “we’ve got to do better.” Have we done any better? When I talked to Wilder, he certainly didn’t feel like we prioritized the library or its collections. Wilder admitted that while the facility is deplorable, it is the library’s scholarship mission and collection funding that is truly suffering. “It’s a lot worse. The library is seriously under-resourced when it comes
to collections,” he said. He went on to note that we are behind our peer institutions in the Southeastern Conference, and we only continue to fall further behind. In Tate’s first report to the university’s Board of Supervisors, he emphasized his goal of supporting the world-class faculty teaching at the state’s flagship university. Yet, as Dean Wilder observed, the collections that LSU Library struggles to afford are the same “library collections... that faculty use to do their jobs.” Even the collections that the library does manage to purchase are in danger of being damaged by the building’s decrepit condition. Microfilms previously stored in the basement have been moved to the first floor due to
persistent flooding. The fourth floor stacks have been covered in plastic wrapping to protect against a perpetually leaking roof, yet some books haven’t escaped irreversible damage. The faculty is increasingly expected to do more with less because, as Wilder stated, “We are terribly inadequate in our ability to support the faculty.” This is the inevitable consequence of years of budget cuts that have severely strained the university’s principal research function. Despite the library’s dire circumstances, Wilder remains hopeful for the future. He notes that many in campus leadership have expressed support for a new library building, including the Faculty Senate, Student Government and even Edwards. Even with so much sup-
port, the $1.5 million initially reserved for planning a new library was removed from the state budget at the last minute. That’s right—the very same state legislators who condemned LSU Library’s deplorable conditions in 2017 were ultimately unwilling to commit the funds to new facilities. Why would we expect them to commit the full $140 million needed for a new library? Hollow promises will not build a new library. Our university’s students and faculty need action—real action—that prioritizes our role as a “scholarship first” university and ensures an intellectual future for Louisiana. Charlie Stephens is a 20-yearold political communication junior from Baton Rouge.
Campus is unsafe, students deserve improved safety measures EMILY ON CAMPUS EMILY DAVISON @ichigoemily After a tumultuous couple of weeks following Hurricane Ida’s impact, we’re finally back to school for the second time this semester. Back to school season should be a time of fresh starts—the new school supplies, the slow creep towards cool weather, and the joy of not being burnt out just yet. However, this semester has had a significantly grimmer start than anyone could have expected, and I’m not just referencing the horrible toll Hurricane Ida took on Louisiana residents and their homes. I’m unfortunately talking about the instances of crime we’ve witnessed on campus since the semester began on Monday, Aug. 23. Most prominently (in terms of press coverage), there was an attempted murder in the Spruce Hall parking lot on Saturday, Aug. 28. Arrests have finally been made in response to this crime, but something about this situation still doesn’t sit right with me. Disturbingly, these reports weren’t nearly as distressing to my friends or me as one would expect them to be. Why weren’t we surprised by something so threatening happening so near us? I was quickly reminded of the violent carjacking attempt in the parking lot of East Campus Apartments reported last semester. I was an ECA resident at the time, and my roommates and I were shocked reading the reports the morning after the attack. I soon realized that we weren’t surprised about the incident outside Spruce Hall
because it’s nothing new, and crime on campus is nowhere near a rare occurrence. As I write this on Sept. 11, the monthly LSU Police Crime Log is 29 pages long and filled with hit-and-run accidents, thefts and otherwise suspicious
cidents is not met with nearly enough outrage. However, the default shouldn’t be fearing campus because of a potential attack, especially considering we have a dedicated campus police force. It’s long past time the uni-
ent. Firstly, I think the university should strive to increase lighting around campus—and fast. This is a years-old issue and has been a common complaint since I’ve attended LSU. The only honest response from the uni-
SAVANNA ORGERON / The Reveille
An LSU police car parks behind the Campus Public Safety building on Aug. 25, 2021 on South Stadium Drive. or legitimate criminal activity that most of us students have heard nothing about. And these are just the crimes that have had campus police intervention. There’s no way of knowing how long the list would be if every crime on campus were reported to the police and correctly accounted for. The abundance of such in-
versity implements more safety measures and regulations for the wellbeing of every individual on campus. I’m certainly no expert on policing or crime prevention, but I’m here to make a case for improving campus-based safety based on what I’ve personally seen and heard from countless other students, past and pres-
versity is to avoid walking alone at night, but this isn’t always an option for students, especially on short winter days. I can’t come up with a real reason why the university hasn’t increased lighting in incredibly dark areas of campus, such as the Enchanted Forest or the Quad. However, I think the cost would be worth the increased
student safety and reduced negative publicity due to financial constraints. From anecdotes about people getting attacked to the shocking number of female students who have reported being stalked, I don’t think anyone can deny increased lighting would make many of us feel less scared about being on campus at night. In addition to improving campus lighting, it wouldn’t hurt to have LSU police officers patrolling these same areas to hopefully deter crime. I’m not suggesting turning the campus into a militaristic police zone. Still, I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen an LSUPD officer on campus that wasn’t just waiting in their car to give out tickets. Their limited presence is extraordinarily discouraging and does nothing to make campus feel safer. I will admit the university has some accessible safety measures in place right now, such as the LSU Shield app that allows students, faculty and staff to navigate campus more safely. However, it remains painfully obvious that there is still much work to be done to decrease crime on campus. Given the chaotic and anxiety-inducing state of the world, the peace of mind brought by additional safety measures is duly deserved—and would be much appreciated—by everyone who frequents campus. I don’t believe the problem stems from gross negligence or lack of concern from the university, but there are many steps yet to be taken that can make campus a safer place for all of us. I hope these measures are taken soon before someone else has to suffer through yet another traumatic event. Emily Davison is a 20-year-old anthropology and English major from Denham Springs.