Election day draws near; Baton Rouge mayoral candidates face off.
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From the first play, LSU took control of the game against South Alabama.
OFF TO THE RACES
LSU earns dominant win over South Alabama with quick, stellar start
BY TYLER HARDEN @ttjharden8
As the bulk of SEC play gets closer and closer, confidence is essential.
On Saturday night, LSU found the confidence it needed.
With a quick start, stellar run game and a solid defense, the Tigers came away with a 42-10 win over South Alabama.
“Offensively, we did some great things tonight; running it, throwing it,” head coach Brian Kelly said. “You can characterize it anyway you want, but Nussmeier, the receivers, Durham, all of those guys were high performers tonight.”
It was the version of itself that LSU has been waiting for.
And it came quickly.
On the first play of the game, Garrett Nussmeier threw a screen pass to Caden Durham, and the true freshman running back ran 71 yards to the end zone.
The next drive, Durham kept his foot on the gas with an 86yard run to South Alabama’s 1-yard line. Nussmeier punched it himself to give LSU a two score lead.
Durham finished the game with 128 rushing yards on seven carries, 89 receiving yards on three catches, a touchdown on the ground and a touchdown in the air.
He was held out of the second half with a foot injury, but Brian Kelly said it’s not a major injury.
After Durham ran in for an eight-yard score on the Tigers’ third drive of the game, Nussmeier added a rushing touchdown of his own on the subse -
quent drive. The redshirt-junior quarterback had six yards and two touchdowns on the ground. His two carries were valuable, as he showed a part of his game he normally doesn’t tap into.
Running back Josh Williams finished with 32 yards and a touchdown on five carries.
For the first time this season, LSU’s ground game was in full swing. The Tigers finished with a season-high 237 rushing yards, averaging 8.8 yards per carry as a team.
And when the offense felt like it had it going, the defense did too.
LSU’s defense held the Jaguars to a season low of 10 points and 333 yards of total offense. South Alabama’s offense came into the matchup averaging 504.5 yards of total offense and 48.3 points per game.
The Tigers’ defense also got off the field quickly, as the Jaguars were held to 4-for-14 on third down.
Linebacker Greg Penn III led the defense with 14 total tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries.
Linebacker Whit Weeks totaled nine tackles, a tackle for loss, and a pass breakup. He also came up with a tackle on 4th-and-goal from LSU’s fouryard line.
“I enjoyed that one,” Weeks said. “We had that timeout when we got down on the goal line. We told each other, ‘we’re not letting them in the end zone again.’ And that’s what we did.”
But the Tigers still thrived on what they’re good at.
Nussmeier completed 26 of his 39 attempted passes for a career-high 409 yards and two touchdowns. However, he also threw two interceptions, bringing his season total to four.
Along with Durham’s three catches for 89 yards and a touchdown, wide receiver Kyren Lacy led the receiving corps with five catches for 107 yards. Receiver Aaron Anderson also finished with six receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown.
The Tigers totaled a seasonhigh 667 yards of total offense; 429 of those yards came in the first half.
Heading into Saturday’s matchup, the most yards of offense LSU had this season was 454 in the Tigers’ 34-17 win over UCLA.
“We’ve gotten better over the last five weeks,” Kelly said. “And that’s what we needed to do heading into this off week as we get ready for an SEC schedule.”
Now, LSU will have this win to reference; a win that gives it the confidence needed to attack the conference opponents ahead.
And they’re coming quickly.
After LSU’s bye week, it will host Ole Miss, who suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday to Kentucky, 20-17.
The Rebels, however, will have the chance to bounce back before coming to Baton Rouge, as they will first take on South Carolina on the road.
“It’s not really a recovery week. We’re going to practice,” Kelly said. “We’ll treat the second bye week as a recovery week.”
The Tigers will host Ole Miss on Saturday, Oct. 12, in Tiger
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PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille
LSU football redshirt junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) celebrates after scoring a touchdown Sept. 28 during LSU’s 42-10 win against South Alabama at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille
LSU football 5th-year-senior wide receiver Kyren Lacy (2) celebrates after a play Sept. 28 during LSU’s 42-10 win against South Alabama at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
NEWS DEBATES & FORUMS
Baton Rouge mayor-president candidates debate as Election Day approaches
BY QUINN MARCEAUX @quinnmarceaux
Political jabs turned personal, and comebacks hit hard during a fiery showdown last week between the top three Baton Rouge mayoral candidates.
Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome, former State Rep. Edward “Ted” James and Istrouma High School Dean of Students and Head Football Coach Sid Edwards discussed many of the significant issues facing Baton Rouge, including widespread crime, underserved areas like North Baton Rouge and LSU’s proposed new arena.
Sparks flew early in the debate between James and Broome, with James going as far as saying
he has “divorced” himself from his relationship with Broome.
“It’s still hard for me to be against someone who I still consider an ally, but this race is not about my relationship with Sharon Weston Broome. It’s about my relationship with each and every one of you, and I will make the decision to run every single time,” James said.
Broome responded, “While you say we are still allies … I might have to disagree with you on that because let me just share this. I believe that leadership is about character, and when you use someone to be your reference to get an SBA job, and then two years later, you run against them, I have a little problem with that.”
This interaction between Broome and James caused such uproar in the crowd that the moderator asked them to settle down.
Another fiery moment occurred when Edwards was asked about a report by The Advocate that he had not voted in the past 25 elections since March 2016.
“I had become very apolitical. I’m going to be honest; I got tired of the corruption and the bureaucracy and how government was going,” Edwards said. “But I made a new decision, and the new decision is, ‘Hey, I’m jumping in, and I’m going to vote this time.’”
The debate then shifted to two major topics: North Baton Rouge and crime.
Broome touted her vision to make Baton Rouge “the best mid-
LSU reveals renders for new main library. Here’s what people think.
BY JOHN BUZBEE @thebuzzbuz
LSU took to its social media accounts on Friday, teasing renderings of what a new main library could look like.
Users were optioned to vote for two looks the new library could have. A third option gave users a protest vote, telling the university to go “back to the drawing board.”
Option B emerged the winner on X, formerly Twitter, securing 43% of the vote. Option A was preferred by 30% and the “back to the drawing board” option held 27% of the vote. On X, 3,067 votes were tallied. The poll closed after a day of being open.
Facebook users also preferred option B, with 588 users voting for it over the 315 users who voted for option A. A total of 903 users voted on Facebook.
LinkedIn users, broadly, preferred option A, with 576 votes toward it. Option B tallied 345 votes on LinkedIn. In total there were 921 votes.
On Facebook and LinkedIn, users didn’t have the option to vote outright for the “back to the drawing board” option. They were invited to leave comments.
As of Saturday evening, the community has left nearly 800 comments spread across the three platforms. Across all three platforms, as of Saturday evening, over 4,500 votes had been cast.
Concerns that the new library would blend in with the existing infrastructure of the campus was far and away the community’s greatest concern.
History and future
LSU’s main library was built in 1959. It was called Middleton Library until 2020 when the Board
of Supervisors voted to strip the library of Troy H. Middleton’s name citing the man’s opponent views on desegregation.
For years now, many students and faculty members have looked at the LSU Library as a blemish to what is an otherwise mostly delightful campus.
The standing library has succumbed to leaks necessitating tarps hanging over the bookshelves to protect the contents from water damage. Its basement housing collections and archives have also been prone to flooding.
LSU’s 2017 Master Plan outlines the complete removal of the current LSU Library as well as Lockett Hall. It proposes the library be moved closer to Tiger Stadium, near the intersection of South Stadium Drive and Field House Drive, approximately where the current Electrical Engineering Building is currently.
sized city in America.” She cited her work bringing an Amazon Fulfillment Center and a new Ochsner clinic to North Baton Rouge. She also discussed her efforts to curb crime through her Safe Hopeful Healthy Baton Rouge initiative and investments into police.
James rebutted by pointing out what he saw as the Broome administration’s neglect of North Baton Rouge and general mismanagement within her office. He cited the turnover rate of the chief administration office, which saw five different officers over seven years, as an example of this mismanagement.
“I think if you go to the people of 70805, they can’t tell you that their community looks better
after eight or four years,” James said.
James also discussed some of his ideas for stopping crime in Baton Rouge, such as investing in early childhood development programs and Southern University to give young people a good career path. He also discussed creating more specialized police forces to fight specific crimes, increasing pay for officers and better funding for the district attorney and public defender offices.
“We know after eight years New Orleans is a lot safer than Baton Rouge. That’s a problem. No offense to my New Orleans people in here, but I don’t like being in a city that’s less safe
LEGISLATION FACULTY
LSU Student Senate passes new parking bill Politician sues LSU professor
BY AIDAN ANTHAUME @aidanth
LSU’s Student Senate passed a bill this Wednesday urging the university to issue warnings for first-time parking violations under $100, instead of fines, for all permit-holding students.
This new warning system, which passed unanimously, would be implemented by LSU Parking and Transportation and does not forgive violations such as parking in a handicap or emergency space and having a stolen license.
The bill, authored by University Center for Freshman Year Sen. Dylan Weinrich, a political science sophomore, and College of Human Science and Education Sen. An Tra, a kinesiology freshman, seeks to promote a more understanding and student-centric approach to parking enforcement.
In a senate meeting last week, Weinrich asked the senate, “Who here likes parking tickets?”, after no one responded, Weinrich expressed his motivation behind the bill, stating, “I hope to formalize the process of getting first-time tickets appealed.”
UCFY Sen. Jaylen Pruiett, a psychology pre-med freshman, voiced his backing for the bill. “I am definitely in support of this
BY GRACELYN FARRAR @gracelynfarrar
LSU Adjunct Professor James Gregory Jr. is being sued by Pennsylvania State Sen. Doug Mastriano for criticism of the senator’s dissertation.
The lawsuit was filed in May and concerns Gregory’s time as a doctoral student at the University of Oklahoma, prior to him being named director of the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum last year. Gregory discovered and reported 213 potential cases of fallacies and falsifications in Mastriano’s dissertation on the life of World War I hero Sgt. Alvin York.
Mastriano was the Republican nominee in the 2022 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, eventually losing to Democrat Josh Shapiro. He alleges that Gregory participated in election interference when he raised concerns about the veracity of Mastriano’s dissertation.
“I was living in Oklahoma, right?” Gregory said. “I don’t care about Pennsylvania politics. It was purely academic. I reported him before he even ran for governor, like a year before.”
In the lawsuit, Mastriano alleges that he has lost the opportunity for “a minimum of $10 million in tourism-related events, validated museum arti-
COURTESY OF LSU
Renderings of what could be the appearance of LSU’s new library. This is option A.
COURTESY OF LSU
Renderings of what could be the appearance of LSU’s new library. This is option B.
SENATE, from page 3
resolution,” Pruiett said. “Parking here is already stressful enough, and a ticket is going overboard.”
Commuters and residents have long feared the consequences of parking in the wrong lot or overstaying their time in restricted zones. For many students, the financial burden of parking tickets has been a source of frustration, especially when already juggling tuition, rent and other expenses.
Mechanical engineering ju-
CANDIDATES, from page 3
than New Orleans,” James said.
Edwards pointed out that he is the best candidate to help revitalize North Baton Rouge as he is from the area. He called for unity among the city government as a way to achieve this and cited his coaching experience of bringing people together as the reason he could accomplish this.
“I am the 70805 candidate… my boots are on the ground. I’m there, and I live it,” Edwards said.
Edwards also laid out his crime-curbing plan by giving an anecdote from his time at Istrouma High School, where police came and allowed students to ask questions. He said outreach programs like this are key to bridging the gap between the community and the police. Edwards also cited a need for more police officers, saying, “There’s just not enough of them right now.”
nior Kyle Thibodeaux recounted his experience with a parking violation on campus. “I was just parked at the PFT, going to my engineering class,” Thibodeaux said. “It was 100 bucks, I wasn’t able to pay it. I had to get someone to help out.”
The bill serves as a recommendation to the university administration, urging action from LSU without mandating implementation.
The next Senate meeting will be on Oct. 2.
One of the most important issues for LSU discussed during the debate was the university’s new planned arena, which has a controversial non-compete clause. This clause prevents the Raising Cane’s River Center from holding events for more than 3,500 people for the next 30 years. Broome defended the non-compete clause, saying the people will ultimately decide on its fate, while James called it “a horrible idea.” Edwards was also against the non-compete agreement, saying, “I don’t like the word noncompete. I think we should be competing.”
A candidate forum was held on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at Southern University, with candidates Broome, James and Edwards making a reappearance. Independents Ryan Carter and William Roundtree were also present.
The candidates discussed issues like economic development, business growth and infrastructure, each emphasizing the issues they view as top priority. Broome discussed revitalizing the city through business growth, highlighting the impacts of the new Amazon Fulfillment Center she worked to bring to Baton Rouge. James focused on investing in small businesses to encourage economic growth.
Edwards focused on blighted properties and road issues, Roundtree on dealing with homelessness and its effects and Roundtree on connecting the community with organizations, like churches.
The most recent polls from three weeks ago have Broome as the leading candidate at 29%, while James and Edwards are tied at 23%. A forum will be held on Oct. 2 at the Center for Planning Excellence but will only feature Broome and James.
The last day to register to vote in person is Oct. 7, and the last day to register electronically is Oct. 15. The last day to request a mail-in ballot is Nov. 1. Early voting begins Oct. 18 and runs through Oct. 28. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
‘Tealgate’ raises awareness of sexual assault on college campuses
BY MORGAN VANNOSDALL @morgank2304
Several organizations partnered Thursday in Free Speech Alley for a “Tealgate” to raise awareness of the “Red Zone” and sexual assault.
The Red Zone is the name for the months August to November in which reports of sexual assault on college campuses are at a high, with as many as 50% of cases being reported in these four months according to the Center For Women and Families.
Student Government was one of the organizations that helped run the Tealgate, the name of which combines the color of sexual assault awareness and the word “tailgate,” promoting it as a positive way of educating students and allowing for uncomfortable conversations.
Tables were pushed together allowing for students to browse, play games and have snacks while accessing to brochures and pamphlets on sexual assault awareness. One student involved was Myrissa Eisworth, a sociology doctoral student and the SG executive department director of “We’re Committed.” Eisworth helped coordinate the event.
“This is a really dangerous time for people who are new to campus and just students in general while being in the Red Zone,” Eisworth said. “Just making sure they are aware these things exist and they do have people in their corner.”
facts, book, media, television and movie deals.” Later, the lawsuit goes on to say that Mastriano was negatively impacted with “sleepless nights, physical illness and extreme emotional pain and suffering” as a result of his dissertation being called into question.
“The lawsuit really is, to me, ridiculous on the grounds that it’s not him versus me, it’s him versus his own work,” Gregory said. “He did it, he wrote it. If he’s mad, it should be at himself.”
Listed in the case are a number of defendants, including almost two dozen people who were on the dissertation committee, on the investigation team who looked at his dissertation after it was called into question or who worked at the University of New Brunswick, where Mastriano obtained his
doctorate. Also listed as a defendant is the National Research Council of Canada, who urged UNB to put together an investigation for the potential cases of academic misconduct.
Mastriano accuses the defendants of a civil racketeering scheme – a coordinated effort to obtain money through methods such as bribery, fraud or extortion, to name a few. He also claims in the lawsuit that the defendants committed violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act, which says that agreements among competitors to manipulate the market for monetary gain are criminal violations.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, or FIRE, will represent Gregory, pro bono, for this case. FIRE, a nonprofit civil liberties group, filed a motion to throw out the lawsuit against Gregory Sept. 19.
FIRE claims that Mastriano’s
Also involved was Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response, an organization dedicated to helping victims and their families cope through sexual trauma by providing advocacy, counseling and legal services free of charge.
Laysi Putman, a member of STAR, spoke out on the importance of educating students.
“Sexual violence happens every couple minutes and it can happen to anyone, not just women, not just children, not just by men,” Putman said. “There is no common denominator of perpetrator, it’s important because the more you talk about things the more it becomes not taboo, the more people are likely to speak up and get justice.”
The Tealgate allowed for students to approach with any questions they may have, and help themselves to drink cup covers and emergency contraception. In passing, students would glance at the set up or grab the occasional item of the table. Many however, would stop by and start what the event coordinators described as “pivotal conversations.”
Psychology and French senior Sophia Abbahou is an executive member of student organization Tigers Against Sexual Assault. She said she saw how important the work these organizations do is and wanted to help out and get involved on campus. Abbahou wanted to assist TASA in provid ing help for students in need.
lawsuit is an example of SLAPP – a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation. Cases of SLAPP are considered to be in conflict with rights provided by the First Amendment. The case will be handled in an Oklahoma court, a state known to have strong anti-SLAPP laws.
“It’s Mastriano suing me basically to say, shut up or shell out,” said defendant Gregory. “If I didn’t have FIRE, I wouldn’t be able to afford it. I just got out of school.”
Gregory says that a lawsuit like this could do a lot more harm later down the road, no matter the outcome.
“This could kill a career. It can stop you from moving on. It can label you as a troublemaker,” Gregory said.
He said it sets a bad precedent and has “so many more implications than someone’s ego being bruised.” He also said it can result in grad students be -
She expressed interest in why getting help is considered such an uncomfortable topic, recalling how some students would walk by the tables claiming grabbing items was “embarrassing” and “disgusting,” and wants to advocate that this isn’t the case and that its important to be able to feel safe in receiving help.
“The fight has just begun and TASA is dedicated to trying to provide a safe space for all LSU students dedicated to ending sexual violence on our campus and beyond. The Tealgate was just one small part of this,” Abbahou said.
Some of the other tables included members from The Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault, the LSU Student Health Center, LSU LGBTQ+ Center, the LSU Women’s Center and student organization Feminists in Action. If ever in a crisis students can call (855)-435-STAR, or visit one of the centers on campus to re ceive health care and men tal support.
ing “terrified to report if they find bad work.”
Since the lawsuit, Gregory has received numerous hate comments and emails from supporters of Mastriano. He showed one featuring a slur at the top of his inbox.
“It was really mean,” he shrugged. “A lot of them are, you know, people that just don’t understand that it’s an academic conversation, and they’re defending politicians.”
An attorney at FIRE, Sara Berinhout, said that something that drew FIRE to Gregory’s case was that “it is, unfortunately, not unique. There are many powerful individuals who seek to abuse our legal system to silence their critics. But academic disputes should be settled in the marketplace of ideas, not the courtroom.”
“A state senator is attempting to abuse our laws to silence and intimidate a Ph.D. student who
criticized
will help deter future litigants from filing frivolous lawsuits attempting to plead around the First Amendment.”
COURTESY OF LSU
LSU Adjunct Professor James Gregory Jr.
his scholarship,” Berinhout said. “We hope FIRE’s involvement
ENTERTAINMENT
Broadway, jazz and tap dancing coming to Manship Theatre
BY CAMILLE MILLIGAN @camillemill333
Manship Theatre will host a dazzling night of Broadway tunes, tap dancing and stunning instrumentals with a jazzy twist at their upcoming show, “Some Enchanted Evening” at 7 p.m. on Oct. 13. Tickets are on sale at the Manship Theatre’s website and range anywhere from $45 to $65.
This performance will spotlight songs from the past 100 years of Broadway Musicals from shows like “The Sound of Music” all the way to “Hamilton.” Emmy-nominated trumpeter and featured performer in the show, Benny Benack III said “Some Enchanted Evening” will be a unique experience unlike many other touring shows.
“A lot of touring shows, you have singing and instrumentals, but then we also have a dancer, which just gives us an entirely new art form to play with,” Benack said. “I think it’s almost going to be more like a variety show where you see a lot of different angles and a lot of different players.”
During the performance, Benack will play the trumpet, Stella Cole will be the starring vocalist and Jabu Graybeal will tap dance. A five-piece band will play alongside the group, bolstering the jazzy feel of the show.
“Some
Enchanted Evening” poster.
During certain songs, each performer will have solo moments, while other numbers will feature duets or the entire group. Varying
collaborations among the artists will accentuate each individual’s talent and bring out something new in every Broadway tune.
“I just have so much more fun when I feel like everyone on stage is having a musical conversation,” Benack said. “Those are the moments in the show when I get to have the most fun because I’m just appreciating all the talent of everybody else that’s on stage.”
The accompanying band features Miki Yamanaka on piano, Russell Hall on bass, Joe Peri on drums and Jarien Jamanila on saxophone. Hall praised the show for its diverse instrumentals and musicianship.
“To see musicians that are equally as adept at playing jazz as they are at any other style of music is a rarity,” Hall said. “To see an ethnically diverse band playing this music on that level, it’s not really going to happen anywhere else.”
Here in the home of jazz, “Some Enchanted Evening” is sure to be a hit. Despite taking place in a large theater, the concert will bring the intimate and interactive energy of a tiny jazz club.
“We really want it to feel like it’s a party,” Benack said. “Everybody in the audience will be clapping and singing along. This is not a show where you kind of like take your phone out and start checking your notifications. We’re going to have everyone’s attention the whole time.”
Many of the performers have worked together in the past and bring a unique familial energy to the stage. Hall feels that being able to present this show in a post-COVID world is especially important.
“This is like a giant family,” Hall said. “It’s the most natural gig for me to do because I am with all my friends, and we are in this time that’s so focused on family. I think the focus is on comradery and the group’s assertion to beauty more than it is on the showcase of musicianship and the showcase of technical skill.”
The musicians will bring spirit and liveliness, and the audience will have many moments of engagement with the performance. The crowd is always encouraged to sing along.
“We really just want everybody who comes out to the show to feel like they are part of the experience and have a really good time,” Benack said. “We want everybody to feel like they can hoot and holler and clap and scream out and really be a part of the show.”
“You will never see anything like this ever again in your life,” Hall said. “If you want to see the product of 100 years of this music and you want to see what it has evolved to, this is the show for you.”
Rouge Nutrition offers caffeine and community to Baton Rouge
BY EMILY BRACHER
@emily_bracher_
Armed with vibrantly colored and highly caffeinated loaded teas, Rouge Nutrition opened five years ago and has been under the ownership of Greg Carroll for the past three. The store offers hundreds of flavor combinations, many different shakes and is currently in the process of putting together a coffee bar. It officially dropped its fall menu on Sept. 18 with drinks like “Fall Y’all” and Autumn Breeze.
Employees Heather Milner and Maddie Erikson both wake up at 5 a.m. to get ready for their 6 a.m. shift at Rouge Nutrition. Unlike many college students, they don’t sigh at their early wake-up time. The two said that they come into work excited because of the family they’ve made since starting work in the spring, even to the point where they come in on their days off.
“It’s not common that a college student would want to get up at 5 a.m., but it’s so fun work-
ing here that it’s worth it,” Erikson said.
Both Milner and Erikson are full-time students at LSU, balancing schoolwork and the job. They said they’re hoping to go beyond just adding more menu items by modernizing the store and amping up its presence on social media in an effort to “youth Greg up.”
Instead of just talking to someone at the register, making their drink and then watching them walk out the door, Erikson said they try to make themselves stand out compared to if a customer went somewhere like Starbucks. She said they try to make a connection with everyone that walks into the store, whether it’s a regular or a first-time shopper. Milner said she’s never seen her time there as a job.
Familiar faces include officers from the Baton Rouge Police Department, healthcare professionals from the nearby hospitals and so many more people from all walks of life, they said. During Hurricane Francine, the
store stayed open for a few extra hours to make sure everyone was energized for the storm.
“We have so many regular customers that come in and we see their car, so we start making it because we already know what they are going to get,” Erikson said. “So I feel like there’s just that family aspect that is what sets us apart from every other place.”
Milner recalled a story she heard from the owner, Carroll, about a conversation he had with a customer. After making their drink and conversing, the customer looked at Carroll and told him that before he walked into the store, he planned on jumping off a bridge that day. They went on to tell Carroll that might have sounded a bit extreme, but that one conversation “saved them” because someone just asked how they were doing. It’s the little things like that, they said.
“We want to be your friends and everyone that walks into the door is so unique and different,” Milner said. “We try to give back
to the community when we can.”
Milner said loaded teas don’t have the usual side effects of a usual energy drink like a Red Bull or Celsius. Each drink has 200 milligrams of caffeine, all from natural sources like stevia and guarana extracts. Milner said these ingredients, along with the absence of carbs and sugar make it so that the one drinking it doesn’t have a crash afterwards. Instead, they help with mental clarity and focus, she said.
Beyond just the regular drinks, customers can add on to their orders by putting supplements that have a range of benefits for hair, skin and nails. Many of their additions include protein, which draws in the attention of gym goers. These endless combinations have made over 700 different possible drinks, Milner said. Erikson’s personal favorite is the “Blackjack” and Milner’s is the “Jimmy Buffet.”
“Everyone can find something that they like here,” Erikson said.
Lily Wester has lived in Baton
Rouge for all 21 years of her life and took her first sip of a “Bahama Mama” flavored loaded tea in her junior year of high school. She said that she was sick and tired of the taste of coffee, so her friend offered her a taste of the alternative. This had her hooked.
In the span of those four years, Wester said that she has seen the industry grow from about three stores in Baton Rouge to over ten, one of those being Rouge Nutrition. Now, she even makes them herself as these stores sell the ingredients to do so. Her go-to drink at Rouge is “Extreme Nerds.”
“I have shown a lot of my out-of-state friends loaded teas, especially within my sorority because we now have the stuff to make our own in the house,” Wester said.
As the store is growing and adding more drinks, stay updated by following them on Instagram @rougenutritionbr.
“We are more than just a nutrition club, we are a family,” Carroll said.
COURTESY OF MANSHIP THEATRE
LSU football beats South Alabama 42-10 Saturday, Sept. 28 in Tiger Stadium.
Photos by Gabriella Guillory and Payton Prichard
LSU cheerleaders lead a cheer with a “T-I-G-E-R-S” sign.
LSU football junior wide receiver Zavion Thomas (0) congratulates redshirt sophomore wide receiver Aaron Anderson (1) after a successful play.
LSU football junior wide receiver Zavion Thomas (0) runs with the ball after a successful pass.
LSU football sophomore tight end Ka’Morreun Pimpton (88) attempts to evade South Alabama defense.
LSU football freshman offensive lineman Coen Echols (78) prepares to snap the ball.
LSU football junior running back Malachi Lane (30) stretches during warmups.
LSU football redshirt junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) runs for a touchdown.
LSU football redshirt freshman safety Kylin Jackson (23) takes down a South Alabama player.
Spread by Kaitlyn Hoang
SPORTS THE COST OF VICTORY
How much does LSU pay programs like South Alabama to play at Tiger Stadium?
FOOTBALL
BY ETHAN STENGER @lsuwoj
On Saturday nights, opponents come out of the visiting tunnel in Tiger Stadium, greeted by thunderous boos and a sign illuminated in gold.
The sign reads: “Welcome to Death Valley.”
Tiger Stadium has been known as “Death Valley” since New Year’s Day of 1959 when Heisman-winning running back Billy Cannon led LSU to a 7-0 win over Clemson in the national championship.
Tiger Stadium was first known as “Deaf Valley,” referring to the rowdy, booming crowd. But with the win, Tiger fans felt they now had the right to start calling Tiger Stadium Death Valley as a reference to the nickname given to Clemson’s home field.
The rest is history. Death Valley has lived up to its namesake for six and a half decades. LSU fans have made sure of it.
With a capacity of 102,321, Tiger Stadium holds the fifth-most fans of any American football stadium in the nation. Tens of thousands pack into “Death Valley” on Saturdays. Tigers fans have registered an earthquake at Tiger Stadium multiple times.
Three takeaways from LSU’s 42-10 win over South Alabama
BY JASON WILLIS @JasonWillis4
Head coach Brian Kelly has been looking for it all season: a complete game.
He finally got one from this LSU football team on Saturday against South Alabama, where the Tigers started fast and finished strong.
Now, LSU is 4-1 and hitting its stride right before a pivotal matchup against Ole Miss in two weeks. It was important for the team to find some consistency before the SEC gauntlet, and it did just that.
Here are three takeaways from the dominant 42-10 win. The LSU defense looks prepared for life without Harold Perkins Jr.
When All-American linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. tore his ACL against UCLA, many assumed it would be a death sentence for an already-struggling LSU defense. Especially against a South Alabama offense that was really hitting its stride with 135 points over its last two games, you’d
expect LSU might be gashed for some big plays on Saturday.
That wasn’t the case. LSU looked more composed on defense than it has all year. It avoided the mental errors and mistakes that it’s been prone to.
“I think it was guys really just trusting each other, not trying to do what the next man is supposed to do. Just trying to do your job,” senior linebacker Greg Penn III said.
The defense switched to a 4-2-5 formation instead of the 4-3 it had used in its prior few games, using only two linebackers on the field and having senior safety Major Burns play as the “STAR.”
The change made for a defense that was simpler in a way – as electric and versatile as Perkins is, having him fill different roles made for a certain lack of continuity. On Saturday, simplicity was king.
The loss of Perkins has also been made easier by the chemistry between linebackers Penn and sophomore Whit Weeks. Their leadership is something the defense can lean on.
Penn and Weeks are both heady players who have good chemistry on the field, according to Weeks, which certainly strengthens LSU’s defense with the loss of its best playmaker.
“We both help each other out out there,” Weeks said. “We won’t even have to say some pre-snap stuff, we’ll just know.”
Calls for Caden Durham to be the lead running back weren’t overzealous
As outstanding as Caden Durham’s performance was against South Carolina two weeks ago, it was understandable to pump the brakes on thinking he’d become the No. 1 option out of the backfield.
After all, LSU has invested trust and resources into sixthyear senior Josh Williams and sophomore Kaleb Jackson.
“He was really our heartbeat,” Weeks said of Perkins. “He’d get the guys going, so I knew that coming into this game, someone else needed to fill that void.”
However, after Saturday’s performance, there’s no more point in waffling. Durham is the best running back the Tigers have.
His speed turns routine plays into home runs, something Jackson and Williams haven’t been able to do much this season.
When asked how Durham was able to turn both of his first two touches into plays of at least 70 yards, Kelly simply said, “He ran fast.”
This is the same star potential Durham displayed at Duncanville High in Texas, where he was the offensive MVP of two straight state championships.
The threat of Durham makes quarterback Garrett Nussmeier’s life much easier, as defenses can’t plan for LSU to be onedimensional and key in on the pass.
LSU has a direction heading into the bye week
LSU’s complete performance couldn’t have come at a better time before the Tigers’ biggest test to date against No. 6 Ole Miss (although the Rebels will likely fall in the rankings after Saturday’s loss to Kentucky).
“Bottom line is, we’ve gotten better over the last five weeks, and that’s what we needed to be going into this off week as we get ready for an SEC schedule,” Kelly said.
see DOMINANT, page 10
MORGAN COOK / The Reveille see CUPCAKE, page 10
Tiger Stadium shines Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, before LSU’s 52-35 win against Florida in Baton Rouge, La.
PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille LSU football wide receiver Kyren Lacy (2) runs down the field Sept. 28 during LSU’s 42-10 win against South Alabama at Tiger Stadium.
, from page 9
Through 100 years at Tiger Stadium, the purple and gold hold a 446-156-18 record (.734) at home. Death Valley offers the Bayou Bengals a significant home-field advantage.
With the history and reputation that the Tigers carry at home, no opponent wants to be forced to play where their dreams are known to die for nothing. The schools, programs and athletic departments all want compensation if they agree to come to play at one of the toughest opposing venues in the country.
That makes for a complicated scheduling process.
In the NCAA, there are procedures in place set by each conference for inner-conference games. Most programs nationwide play eight or nine, with SEC teams playing four at home and four on the road.
However, for non-conference scheduling, the schools’ athletic departments are left alone and forced to communicate with other programs on an agreed-upon date, time and payout.
Game contracts are one of the largest yet most obscure businesses in the NCAA. For neutral site games, the TV networks are forced to pay up. ESPN paid LSU and USC $5 million each to face off in the Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
But when a Power Four football program wants to host a non-conference home game, even against a much lesser opponent, the schools, not the TV networks, are the ones that are forced to pay.
Think a college football powerhouse won’t shell out the wealth to host inferior competition in front of their home fans? Think again.
Georgia, Alabama and Auburn spent $1.9 million each to host UMass, Western Kentucky and New Mexico in their home venues in 2024. But what kind of money has LSU, one of the biggest brands in all of sports, been willing to drop to entice teams to come to Tiger Stadium this season?
UCLA received a fixed sum of $582,500 to play the Tigers in September’s sweltering Louisiana heat last Saturday. For Death Valley’s 100th season home opener against Nicholls State, LSU paid Nicholls a $760,000 game guarantee.
But these numbers are dwarfed by the Tigers’ recent catfight against South Alabama.
LSU signed South Alabama a whopping $1,650,000 check for Saturday night’s contest. It’s the most the Tigers will pay to play this season, nearly $300,000 more than the payouts awarded to Nicholls State and UCLA combined. It’s tied for the tenth-highest payout a visiting team will receive during the 2024 college football season.
But with Tiger Stadium’s reputation, it’s understandable why South Alabama would take such a significant payday to march into Baton Rouge head-first.
After all, as former national championship-winning LSU head coach Les Miles said, “That was Death Valley. That was the place where opponents’ dreams come to die.”
BULL DURHAM
Running back Caden Durham has breakout game during LSU’s win
BY LIZZIE FALCETTI @lizziefalcetti
One play. Fourteen seconds.
While fans still settled into their seats as the game clock started, LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier tossed a screen pass to running back Caden Durham.
It was the first play of the game, and Durham needed to run a few more steps for the first down – a respectable start.
Instead, he blasted down the sideline for an extra 71 yards into the end zone. In one play, he gained more total yards than any other LSU running back (besides himself) has had in a game this year.
Durham’s bull-like force didn’t stop there in LSU’s 42-10 win over South Alabama.
The next offensive play, Nussmeier handed the ball off, and Durham powered through the middle for an 86-yard run. He was tripped up at the one-yard line, but set LSU up for another touchdown.
Oh, and he’s a true freshman.
In only his fourth collegiate game, Durham ended up rushing for 128 yards on seven carries and had two touchdowns.
BY REVEILLE SPORTS @ReveilleSports
Athlete of the Week is an ongoing weekly series by the Reveille started this year.
The Reveille Athlete of the Week is LSU soccer’s Ida Hermannsdottir.
The junior midfielder scored the middle of LSU’s three goals on Thursday night against Oklahoma, which ultimately stood as the game-winner and helped the Tigers take the 3-1 win.
The goal came early in the second half when Hermannsdottir worked her way through multiple defenders and sent the ball sliding past the goalkeeper.
“I don’t know how it happened, but I just got through and saw her (the goalkeeper) legs,” Hermannsdottir said. “I feel like it was a good goal, and I need to get through more often like that.”
She leads the team with seven goals so far this season.
Born and raised in Iceland, she signed with LSU after playing on the professional and national levels for her country.
She takes after her parents in that regard. Her mother was once the captain of the Icelandic nation-
DOMINANT, from page 9
It’s a lot easier to wait two weeks for your next game feeling good about the direction you’re heading than it is to have to address glaring issues.
Kelly said the weeks before SEC play were important for LSU to evaluate the full depth of
“He does an unbelievable job,” Nussmeier said. “He’s very explosive with the ball in his hands… Give him space and good things happen.”
Durham ran the ball eight yards for his second touchdown of the night with a little less than five minutes left in the first quarter.
“I think we’ve done a really good job of putting him in a position where he can be successful,” head coach Brian Kelly said about Durham.
Durham was injured in the first half when an offensive lineman landed on his foot at the end of that touchdown run. While he didn’t come back in, this was truly his breakout game.
The Tigers had 667 yards of total offense in a powerful performance. Nussmeier also had a career-high 409 passing yards, beating his 395 yards thrown in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Wisconsin.
Most seasons, this dominant outcome seems unsurprising for a Sun Belt-SEC matchup. But this isn’t a usual South Alabama team.
Under head coach Major Applewhite, a Baton Rouge native, the Jaguars have had an electric start
this season. They massacred Northwestern State in a 87-10 win and beat Appalachian State 48-14. South Alabama would put its all into keeping up with LSU.
However, the Tigers’ defense pounced on the Jaguars and held them to 333 total yards and only one touchdown. Linebacker Greg Penn III led the defense with 14 total tackles, including seven solo tackles.
“We put him in some tough situations, Greg, tonight where he had to cover a receiver on two or three occasions, coming up underneath and out of the backfield,” Kelly said.
South Alabama showed a little life in the second quarter when kicker Laith Marjan nailed a 49-yard field goal.
Nussmeier responded with a rush up the middle into the end zone. Minutes later, he threw a 23yard touchdown pass to Aaron Anderson. The Tigers were up 35-3.
While the LSU offense has occasionally started slow in the opening half, it changed the narrative against the Jaguars. In just the first half, LSU had 429 total yards. South Alabama only had 81 passing yards and 43 rushing yards.
The Jaguars came out of halftime with a sense of eagerness to start putting up touchdowns. Quarterback Gio Lopez nailed a 27-yard shot to wide receiver Anthony Eager into the endzone on the first drive.
Lopez connected with Eager again for a 1st-and-goal after a 38yard pass. On 4th-and-goal, Lopez ran the ball up the middle, but was trucked at the goal line by linebacker Whit Weeks and safety Major Burns. His helmet went flying.
To open the fourth quarter, Nussmeier threw a 35-yard dot to wide receiver Kyren Lacy, setting LSU up at the Jaguars’ four-yard line. Running back Josh Williams finished the 99-yard drive with a four-yard rushing touchdown.
Quarterback Rickie Collins came into the game with six minutes left as the Tigers ran the clock out.
LSU will now enter its bye week before the highly anticipated matchup against Ole Miss at home on Oct. 12.
“I think that our best football has still yet to be played,” Nussmeier said. “I think we made some mistakes out there that we’d like to have back, and I think it’s good for us going into the bye week.”
al team, and her father played in the Premier League for 15 years.
She says her success is due to her constant focus on being ready for games.
“From the time I wake up, I’m
its roster and identify who could be impact players in high-stakes games.
LSU has done that effectively. The Tigers have had contributions from up and down its depth chart, but its rotation will tighten considerably in the coming weeks.
To that end, LSU’s improve -
just thinking about what time I’m eating,” Hermannsdottir said. “I watch clips from the other team. I think about what I want to do in that game. I rest my legs.”
Hermannsdottir has made her-
ments on defense and in the running game have shown that the Tigers are beginning to discover what works and who they can trust.
LSU has begun to discover more of an identity, and its players, particularly on the defensive end, are settling into their roles. That’s key for the Tigers
self comfortable as No. 9 in the SEC’s top 10 goal-scorers.
“I wanted to be more goal-driven this year,” Hermannsdottir said. But at the end of the day, I just want our team to win and do well.”
as they continue to make a push for the College Football Playoff.
The team knows exactly how important its upcoming matchup is.
“I don’t really think we need to ramp it up,” Penn said. “I mean, we got Ole Miss coming. I think that says enough right there.”
CUPCAKE
GRAPHIC BY JACOB
OPINION
Should Greek life be abolished? Weighing all of the options
TANTAWI’S TABLOID
MOHAMMAD
TANTAWI @mowinator
You might assume my claims reek of hate, but this is a case worth making: the abolishment of Greek life. This discussion was set ablaze for me by the recent incident by the Delta Tau Delta chapter involving a banner mocking Palestinians. Initially, I wanted every Greek organization abolished outright.
Fortunately for Greek supporters, my outrage was accompanied by a lack of power and became a thought experiment as to why anyone would join organizations of such ignorance. As a freshman, I remember walking past the Greek life booths smirking at the idea of joining. I’ve always been sort of a maverick, so I found it embarrassing to have my personality scanned for the sake of acceptance.
LSU political communication senior and Phi Mu member, Grace Martell, raised concern with the idea of collectively punishing Greek life.
“Holding the entirety of Greek life accountable for the ignorance of a single organization is both unfair and misguided,” Martell said.
Perhaps I was misguided. I began to question if someone, namely myself, could speak on Greek life while viewing it from the outside. How does the self-proclaimed value of my farsighted insight hold weight next to the money, history and support backing Greek life? It rekindled my interest in this topic, yet my interest was met with an anxious pause.
Initially, I wanted to cover all aspects concerning the classist, racist, elitist and misogynist behaviors that pervade Greek life, but those issues are widespread, and while interconnected, deserve individual discussions.
Holding Greek life responsible for the actions of a few might be the convenient move; however, I couldn’t find another example where I would support this kind of collective punishment (i.e Palestine).
To help me understand better, FSU marketing graduate and Alpha Pi Alpha member, Ki-Mani Ward framed culpability in simpler terms.
“Does opting for public or private school as opposed to homeschooling put you in compliance w/ school shootings or bullying?”
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Ward said.
Noted. My approach was too broad. I narrowed my concerns on race and status only to question my own intentions. Why was I hell bent on punishing Greek life? Am I just targeting white Greek life? Where were my strong opinions concerning the Divine Nine (Black Greek life)?
Writing this now became a test of my conviction and ability to objectify societal motivations at large to understand the toxicity pervading Greek life.
The divide of Black and white Greek life starts at the top with its varying counsels. The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) oversees Black Greek life, while the National Pan-Hellenic Council (PHC) and The Interfraternity Council (IFC) oversee white Greek life.
It’s important to remember these organizations are not exclusively any race but have a predominant racial sway. I wanted to find out if the division between the NPHC and the IFC/PHC was solely traditional, and admittedly, there is quite a distinctive aspect to each organization.
“I think the difference is a lifelong commitment. We don’t do rush or open forms of intake...we go through a more private but formal process than our counterparts.
I think in IFC fraternities, insensitivity and ignorance is very widespread,” Ward said.
Traditional practices like these are what Martell said makes up the differences between black and white Greek life.
“The difference in Black and white Greek life is our different traditions. There is no strong divide
between the two,” she said.
Mentally the traditional answer rang hollow, so I pursued another question on the basis of intermingling. Differing council oversight signaled some level of division, but as Chris Brown put it, “I don’t see how you can hate from outside the club, you can’t even get in.”
“Using the term ‘intermingle’ implies a divided society. The only division that exists comes from those who have yet to fully educate themselves about the inclusivity and shared purpose within our organizations,” Martell argued.
I found the answer a bit political; a smart way of saying no.
“I can’t think of any official function ever thrown between a white and Black frat during my time in school,” Ward recalled.
I must accept these are two voices from different universities, organizations and experiences. Nevertheless, I do not see any aspect of reality not affected, at some level, by race.
At LSU, for example, the Greek life houses bordering the LSU Lakes and UREC all fall under the predominantly white IFC or PHC organizations. Game-day tailgating tents on the parade grounds are mostly occupied by the same IFC and PHC organizations. Perhaps, it’s bigger than race, maybe it includes status or organizational credibility; nonetheless, there is still a division deserving of discussion.
This is where you as the reader may recall your own experiences and conclude whether tradition is the only division you notice between Greek organizations. The concern of racial division still
brought me no closer to understanding why people would join a Greek organization. Despite a divide of race or culture, members still pledged into an organization built on the idea of separation.
In a change of heart, I felt I was allowing Martell and Ward to dictate my opinions. Recall my flashback of freshman year walking past the Greek life booths smirking at the thought of joining. At the time, the thought came-and-went until I entered school and noticed other freshmen loaded with friends.
“There was no way you could make that many friends in two weeks,” I thought to myself.
It took much longer than two weeks for me to find a real friend, so that moment brought a painful loneliness. I could not have written this story then, but after five years that included dropping out twice and joining the military, those insecurities have faded.
Hindsight showed me what I was seeing was the attempted circumvention of the pursuit of status, money, friendship and romantic appeal. The goals behind working hard, getting an education, interviewing for a good job, frequenting nice places and drawing in highstatus romantic appeal could be prematurely acquired by the pledge of a checkbook and the approval of a personality.
There might be leadership, employment or volunteer opportunities that come because of Greek life; however, those opportunities are not exclusive to Greek life. Let’s be honest for a second and remember, no one joins for the volunteer hours.
“I wanted to be a part of a
group that creates steps for the next generation to follow. I look at fraternities as a foundation to build camaraderie that will last beyond college,” Ward contended.
I could be overlooking the impact Greek life has on the community, but my gut tells me the allure of sociability is most of the attraction. Legacy parents see their child entering Greek life as a badge of honor neglecting the elitist, classist privileges the title provides.
“These organizations provide a space where members can cultivate leadership skills, broaden their perspectives, and form lifelong friendships,” Martell said. “I wouldn’t be here if my parents didn’t meet through Greek life.”
What I see is a social game led by the fear of finding where you fit in. Students don’t want to accept the awkward stages of finding new friends through spontaneous occurrences. Greek life is a cringey, remarkable remix of hierarchical high school culture.
“I think some people get caught in up thinking that being popular in college as part of your frat translates to the real world and that’s how some folks get hit with post grad depression,” Ward acknowledged.
This quote cemented the overarching point of this discussion. It’s not about whether Greek life is good for everyone else. Instead, Greek life, despite its supporters’ claims, is indeed not healthy for the development of its members. The debate is up in the air for you to decide. Statistically, you didn’t make it to the end of this article, but for the few who lasted, here is the message.
The few friends I consider my brothers weren’t brought to me by paid entry. The work of getting to know someone is without the scenery of a party, while sober, stumbling over awkward silences on route to developing a mutual easiness where the trust of openness is earned and valued takes patience. This is the price we pay when we allow status to lead our pursuit of association.
You must accept that the people you attract may not be the most glamorous. Yet if given a chance, they will change your life, instill wisdom and illuminate a perceptual framework hinging less on social constructs and rather on authentic interpersonal connection.
Mohammad Tantawi is a 23-yearold mass communication senior from Smyrna, TN.
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Editor
The Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, The Reveille or the university. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to editor@lsu.edu or delivered to B-39 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must provide a contact phone number for verification purposes, which will not be printed. The Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Reveille’s editor in chief, hired every semester by the LSU Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.
“The fingers must be educated; the thumb is
GRAPHIC BY JACOB CHASTANT
BY THE REVEILLE EDITORIAL BOARD
Another year, another record-breaking freshman class size.
LSU has again upped its freshman class size this year. With that upping, aggregating freshman students of higher achievement and more diverse backgrounds.
But our campus under shaded oaks is reaching its capacity. Commuters are pushed to the limit in finding places to park. Some residents are being housed off campus. Restaurants on campus host lines that snake around what seems endlessly.
The influx of bodies is bringing down the experience for everyone.
“You won’t probably hear me next year say, ‘We broke an enrollment record,’ unless it’s by like 10 or 15,” LSU President William F. Tate IV said at a Board of Supervisors meeting in September 2023. “… We’re not trying to grow it anymore.”
Yet the enrollment – and acceptance – continues to tick up. This fall saw the acceptance of over 400 more students than last year.
The Reveille reported this year’s new freshman class has reached 7,912 students. This increase continues to push infrastructure and faculty to the limit. This year, the university offered $3,000 to freshmen will-
LSU is at capacity. Enrollment needs to slow down.
LSU students fill the tables in the LSU Student Union on Sept. 3 on Highland Road in Baton Rouge, La.
ing to live at home instead of bunking on campus. The number enrolled in 2023 was 7,494, according to university data. More students should mean
more tuition funds going toward the university, which is a good thing. More students should mean an opportunity for new friends. More enrolled stu-
dents means more young adults have the opportunity to pursue a better life for themselves, at least in theory. Yet the reality we’re in seems to at least partially exist in contradiction to this. Students are “crunched” to fit in a university which has clearly reached capacity.
ERIN BARKER / The Reveille