Brian Kelly, team react to No. 1 overall recruit’s decommitment.
Special session for tax reform ends in the bulk of Gov. Landry’s package passing.
GOLD RUSH
LSU employs balanced offense to snap losing streak.
Read
GROUND CONTROL
BY LIZZIE FALCETTI @lizziefalcetti
LSU turns to running game to defeat Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia dropped back and scanned the field on the Commodores’ very first play on offense. He waited a few seconds, hoping one of his receivers would get open.
Well, way down the field, wide receiver Quincy Skinner Jr. was sprinting, separating himself from any LSU defenders. He caught Pavia’s deep ball and took it to the end zone for a 63yard play. The Tiger’s were already down 7-0, and the student section chanted “fire Kelly.”
After being let down for three weeks in a row with losses to Texas A&M, Alabama and Florida, the fans were tired of seeing their team disappoint. To dig themselves out of this hole, the Tigers were going to have to build an effective game plan on offense – one that would make the Commodores’ defense struggle.
LSU created balance on offense, relying on its running game to defeat Vanderbilt 24-17.
From feeling discouraged in the opening minutes after Pavia’s touchdown to finally breaking the losing streak, LSU showed improvement.
“Our preparation was outstanding,” head coach Brian Kelly said. “Our guys really stood up and said, ‘look, we’ve got to play better.’ As coaches, we took our responsibility and
said, ‘listen, let’s keep putting our kids in position to make plays.’”
For weeks quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was pressured to carry this offense, trying to find opportunities when there was little to work with. So LSU tried a new style. The Tigers utilized their running backs first and re -
lied on Nussmeier second.
Running back Josh Williams had a career-high two touchdowns in this game. He ran the ball for 90 yards on 14 carries and averaged 6.4 yards per carry. Williams is a sixth-year senior and a captain; he’s taken it upon himself to lead this team and set an example for the younger players.
“I was the starting back tonight, so it was a great chance for me to show what I had… It’s my last two games at LSU, and I want to finish it out strong,” Williams said.
In the first quarter, Williams tied the game with a run up the middle into the end zone, breaking tackles left and right. He was a powerful force for four quarters against Vanderbilt, finding gaps and shoving down Commodores.
His second touchdown of the night came when he ran for 21 yards and fell into the end zone while fighting off a Vanderbilt defender.
“He ran through the face of a number of defenders,” Kelly said. “It was physicality. It was desire. It was all those things in one. It was just a guy that was committed to no matter what the first guy’s not going to bring me down. He set a tone for our entire team – a toughness on offense and a resolve.”
Williams also became a solid target for Nussmeier in the pass game. He had 61 receiving yards and added an extra option for his quarterback.
With a more balanced offense, Nussmeier was relaxed in the pocket. He played a clean game after struggling for the
past three games. Nussmeier threw for 332 yards and one touchdown.
In the third quarter, LSU was barely holding onto its lead and needed a touchdown to change the momentum of the very close game.
Nussmeier found receiver Kyren Lacy in the corner of the end zone to put the Tigers up 21-10. But this red zone play for a touchdown was only possible because of LSU’s dominant 70-yard drive down the field, which was highlighted by its running game.
Running back Caden Durham was also heavily utilized, carrying the ball for 58 yards. Together, he and Williams dismantled Vanderbilt’s defense.
Commodore head coach Clark Lea knew LSU’s running game would aim to stump his team. In a press conference prior to the game, he said Vanderbilt would need to slow down the Tigers on offense. However, LSU didn’t let this happen, and the running game kept the Commodores on its toes for four quarters.
The Tigers have struggled to close out games this season, but that wasn’t the case on Saturday. With a well-rounded offense, LSU came out on top and ceased its losing streak.
“I just appreciate our players and the way they came together this week and took full accountability for what they wanted to do, and they went out and did it,” Kelly said.
While the night started with an enraged student section, it ended with a small victory in a season full of tough losses.
ADVERTISING (225) 578-6090
Layout/Ad Design BEAU MARTINEZ
Layout/Ad Design CARLY LANGFORD
Layout/Ad
CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS
The Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure its readers the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards. This space is reserved to recognize and correct any mistakes that may have been printed in The Daily Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified, please contact the editor at (225) 578-4811 or email editor@lsu.edu.
ABOUT THE REVEILLE
The Reveille is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. A single issue of The Reveille is free from multiple sites on campus and about 25 sites off campus. To obtain additional copies, please visit the Office of Student Media in B-39 Hodges Hall or email studentmedia@ lsu.edu. The Reveille is published biweekly during the fall, spring and summer semesters, except during holidays and final exams. The Reveille is funded through LSU students’ payments of the Student Media fee.
PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille
LSU football junior wide receiver Zavion Thomas (0) celebrates with teammates after a play Nov. 24 during LSU’s 24-17 win against Vanderbilt at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille
LSU football graduate student running back Josh Williams (18) celebrates with teammates Nov. 24 during LSU’s 24-17 win against Vanderbilt at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
State Legislature passes new tax package with bipartisan support
BY QUINN MARCEAUX & GRACE THOMPSON LSU Manship School News Service
his bet of
HIGHER EDUCATION
Millions funding
LSU repairs
State officials approve millions of dollars to deferred maintenance needs
BY JOHN BUZBEE @thebuzzbuz
Louisiana politicians earlier this year approved millions of dollars to address the piling and seemingly ever-present deferred maintenance issues of the state’s public universities.
With the intent of addressing the 270 projects statewide and costs mounting over $2 billion, lawmakers in August passed two acts that dole a one-time amount for this year and another longterm solution that’ll manifest over at least a decade.
LSU’s deferred maintenance costs total to around $668 million as of October, according to Paul Favaloro, the university’s interim executive director of planning.
Act 723 allocates $75 million as a one-time, short-term solution to kick off repairs this year. Of that amount, Favaloro said $23.7 million was portioned for the LSU system and $12.4 million of that went specifically to the Baton Rouge campus.
Act 751 authorizes the creation of a program and the issuance of bonds that’s estimated to raise $2 billion from 2026 to 2036 and intends to cover the remaining deferred maintenance costs. Favaloro said the LSU system is expected to receive about $1 billion of that. The Baton Rouge campus, he said, is expected to receive about $58 million every year of the program, if it’s fully funded.
In recent years, the university usually only averages about $7 million a year to address deferred maintenance, Favaloro said. Like paying the interest but not the principle of a loan, that doesn’t adequately address the needs of the larger problem.
“At that rate, you never catch up,” Favaloro said.
Favaloro is optimistic. He said
lowering individual and corporate income taxes to stimulate growth in the state.
The Legislature adopted a 3% flat tax for individuals, trimmed corporate taxes and will make up some of the lost revenue by tem-
porarily extending and increasing to 5% the state sales tax. Louisiana will now have the highest combined local and state sales tax in the nation at 10.6%.
The tax package, passed Friday with the required two-thirds votes
in both chambers, received bipartisan support by aligning Louisiana’s taxes with successful neighboring states. The bills now go to the governor for his signature. The action Friday closed a special session of the Legislature that opened on Nov. 6.
“When we came to Baton Rouge, our goal was to have a long overdue conversation on our tax package,” said Sen. William Wheat, R-Ponchatoula. “This will put Louisiana in a better competi-
LSUPD’s longest-serving canine delivers joy & justice
BY QUINN MARCEAUX @quinnmarceaux
tive space to compete with our surrounding states,” he said. In a closed-door session, Senate lawmakers merged the politically-palatable income tax cut with the steep sales tax increase to win support for the package as a whole. The idea was to flatten the personal income tax from a tiered-rate system with a top rate of 4.25%, which would have created over a billion dollars in deficits,
RESEARCH
TOP DOG Professor discovers new ADHD treatment
Most dogs leave their mark through the joy of a smile or a laugh. But this extraordinary dog has done so much more, dedicating her life to keeping LSU safe and secure while spreading happiness along the way.
The LSU Police Department proudly relies on four hardworking K-9s, with the standout being Laika, a 10-year-old female Belgian Malinois. With over a decade of service, two consecutive “Top Dog” awards from the U.S. Police Canine Association and countless bomb sweeps under her belt, Laika has become a symbol of safety, loyalty and joy for the LSUPD.
As both an explosives detection expert and a beloved companion to her handler Lt. Tim Shows, Laika exemplifies the bond between K-9s and their handlers.
“When I first saw her, her energy and drive really impressed me. Initially, we were kind of unsure of each other, as most are with a new dog. But I started throwing the ball, we started playing and bonding and we really became a team. One thing about Laika is she is always so excited to play,” Shows said.
Since joining the LSUPD at just 10 months old, Laika has been integral to campus safety. Trained in detecting odors associated with explosives, her precision and drive have been tested and proven in many situations. She’s conducted tens of thousands of pre-event sweeps at LSU’s iconic sporting events and other large gatherings, ensuring the safety of students, staff and visitors.
Yet, her work extends beyond threat detection. Laika has become a community ambassador, visiting local schools and participating in outreach programs that help to inspire the joy only a dog can bring across Baton Rouge and the LSU community.
Laika’s success stems from her rigorous training and natural aptitude. After being selected from the U.S. Canine School in Kaplan, Louisiana, she underwent inten-
sive schooling alongside Shows. The duo trained together for six weeks, bonding while mastering complex techniques to detect explosives.
Her skills were honed through ongoing exercises and real-world applications, with Laika earning accolades like the National Odor Recognition Test certification. Her ability to locate explosive materials with pinpoint accuracy has made her an invaluable asset during major events, including LSU football games and graduation.
“She’s been doing it for over 10 years now,” Shows said. “She really knows her odors. She loves training, she loves searching. She has a lot of fun with it. She’s got amazingly better over the last several years of training. We’ve been a great combination.”
One example of Laika’s expertise came during a pre-game sweep when she alerted officers to a suspicious cabinet in a private suite. Inside, they discovered a bag of fireworks – a common but prohibited item in Tiger Stadium. While the fireworks posed no immediate danger, the incident proved Laika’s sharp ability to identify odors and reinforced her reliability in highstakes scenarios.
During an Alabama game weekend, Laika and Shows cleared the entire stadium and surround-
ing areas following a bomb threat from a disgruntled Alabama student, playing a vital role in ensuring public safety. These moments solidified Laika’s reputation as an expert in her field and a dog the LSUPD can trust.
While her career is built on serious work, Laika approaches her duties with unrelenting enthusiasm and playfulness. For her, detecting an odor associated with explosives is like winning a game: her reward is her favorite toy, and she relishes the moment with puppy-like energy.
Despite being a decade into her career, Laika’s playful spirit remains unchanged. Shows carefully monitors her activity, ensuring she doesn’t overexert herself in her old age, but her determination to work and play never wavers.
“Whenever she gets a correct alert and she gets that toy, she’ll throw her head back and prance around, jumping up and down,” Shows said. “She’s like, ‘Look at me, I got my toy.’ She’ll be so proud of herself. She really is an amazing dog.”
Laika’s accomplishments in the USPCA certification tests are a testament to her skill and discipline. These rigorous evaluations involve finding explosives in challenging
BY MADISON PACELLI @madisonpacelli
An LSU professor led a team of researchers that discovered an effective new way to manage ADHD symptoms: immersive virtual reality technology.
David Shepherd, an associate computer science professor at LSU, led groundbreaking research into the use of virtual reality technology for improving attention and focus in individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. This innovative study explored how immersive VR environments could potentially serve as a tool for managing ADHD symptoms, enhancing cognitive training and improving behavioral outcomes.
What started as a side project, Shepherd and his team were originally researching how VR could help office and knowledge workers focus better on the job. However as the team’s research continued, Shepherd said noticed something. Though VR helped the employees without ADHD, one of Shepherd’s students who has ADHD realized that the type of VR they were using would help her focus tremendously in her noisy apartment.
“We realized we were working on the wrong problem,” Shepherd said. “. . .We can make a bigger impact on people who have ADHD”.
VR is a complex simulation that can either mimic or completely differ from the real world, creating “an environment where all external distractions are blocked out,” Shepherd said. ADHD students involved in this study wore VR headsets and noise-canceling headphones to block visual and auditory distractions.
While students are in this digital environment even their
BATON ROUGE, LA — Republican Gov. Jeff Landry got the Louisiana Legislature to back
ALEXIS PERSICKE / The Reveille
LSUPD Lieutenant Timothy Shows and his K9 Laika pose Nov. 18 at the LSU Police Station in Baton Rouge, La.
BACK TO THE POLLS
Amendments and candidates to know for the Louisiana Dec. 7 election
BY SHELBY VARGA @shelbyvarga
Louisiana’s Congressional General Election is Saturday, Dec. 7, with voters statewide set to vote on four constitutional amendments, and Baton Rouge residents on the next mayor-president.
Early voting for the election begins Friday, Nov. 22, and ends Nov. 30, excluding Sunday, Nov. 24, Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29. Polls will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. On election day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and anyone in line at 8 p.m. can vote.
To find the proper voting location, registered voters should have received an information card in the mail indicating their polling place based on their address. The Registrar of Voters Office or the Secretary of State’s website can also provide this information.
The registration deadline passed on Nov. 16, so voters should confirm their registration status before heading to the polls. The deadline for requesting an absentee ballot is Dec. 3 by 4:30 p.m.; requests can be made at Baton Rouge’s Registrar of Voters office or online.
Upon arriving at the polls, all voters must have a photo ID such as a driver’s license, military identification or an LA Wallet digital driver’s license. Those without an ID can obtain a Louisiana special identification card by presenting their voter registration information to the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles or casting their vote via their signature on a voter affidavit.
Here is what’s on the ballot: Amendment 1: Expansion of Judiciary Commission and Reworked Judicial Investigation Process
The Judiciary Commission of Louisiana consists of nine mem-
scenarios, such as searching vehicles and rooms under the scrutiny of multiple judges. Competing against other exceptional dogs, Laika’s consistent top performance sets her apart. Her expertise has improved with experience, making her an elite member of LSUPD’s K-9 unit.
The bond between Laika and Shows is inseparable. During their 10 years together, they’ve navigated challenges and celebrated triumphs as a team. Early in her career, Laika’s excitement sometimes led to barking during alerts – a behavior that could have been dangerous in certain scenarios. Through patience and training, Shows refined her responses while maintaining her enthusiasm. This partnership, built on trust and mutual respect, has made them an unstoppable duo.
bers who examine claims of judicial misconduct and suggest disciplinary measures for judges to the Louisiana Supreme Court. They receive hundreds of complaints every year, according to the court’s annual report.
Currently, upon receiving a commission recommendation, the Supreme Court may censure, suspend, remove or involuntarily retire a judge for misconduct as specified in the state constitution. The commission can also temporarily disqualify a judge from exercising judicial functions while pending investigatory proceedings.
This amendment would expand the Judiciary Commission from nine to 14 members, with five new appointees. The amendment does not specify the qualifications for these new members.
The Supreme Court will have new authority to direct the commission to investigate allegations of improper judicial behavior. The high court can also temporarily disqualify a judge from judicial tasks without a commission recommendation while the judge still receives a salary.
The amendment also expands the list of improper behavior judges can be disciplined for.
If the amendment were voted against, the Judiciary Commission would retain its nine members, and the Supreme Court would maintain its current limited authority over judicial issues.
Amendment 2: Waiting Period for Final Vote on Budget Bills
Every year, the state House and Senate write a budget bill designating billions in funds for different government agencies. This legislation is often the most heavily scrutinized, as the entire state depends on it.
If the budget is not approved
“During testing, if we’re searching and we find an explosive, she’ll sit and she gets so excited, ready to get her toy, she knows there is an explosive there. She used to just start barking real loud, ready to get her toy, but if this was in a real-world explosive situation, like if an explosive has a pressure plate, then that barking could set it off. So that was something we had to fix. You don’t want to correct her too hard . . . I just had to work with her to get her to stop barking. If she lets out a little bark, then we know there’s something there.”
by July 1, the state won’t have the money it needs to function. However, these bills are often passed during the final days or moments of sessions.
As of now, bills first go to the House. After approval, they move on to the Senate to be refined and changed before returning to the House. The House’s acceptance of the bill is known as concurrence. Rejection would result in three members of both parties having a conference committee for further refinements to be sent back to gain approval from the House and Senate before being passed over to the governor.
Before they can take a final vote, lawmakers must wait at least 48 hours after receiving the conference committee report. However, this waiting period can be waived by a majority vote.
This amendment proposes that lawmakers undergo a 48-hour waiting period before final voting on appropriation bills. This would apply regardless of the House’s acceptance and/or rejection of the Senate’s changes, and neither chamber could waive this.
If this amendment were voted against, the House and Senate would continue to be able to vote on appropriation bills at any point during their sessions.
Amendment 3: Extension of Regular Session to Pass Budget Bills
In even-numbered years, the state legislature can meet for up to 60 working days out of 85 calendar days and then are required to adjourn. In odd-numbered years, they can meet up to 45 working days out of 60 calendar days.
Regular sessions limit the legislation that can be passed based on even or odd-numbered years and enforce strict deadlines for filing bills. If lawmakers cannot success -
prestigious K-9 division.
fully pass the bill before the end of their session and still want to, it must restart at a special session with different procedures than in the regular session.
The proposed amendment would allow lawmakers up to a sixday extension to pass a bill appropriating money if agreed upon by two-thirds of both the House and the Senate.
The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Office estimates this extension could cost lawmakers around $155,000 a day, not including continuing to pay for staff expenses, supplies, security and more during the extension.
Voting against the amendment would result in maintaining the 85 and 60-day calendars.
Amendment 4: Revised System for Responding to Delinquent
Property Taxes
If property owners fail to pay their taxes by Dec. 31, tax collectors can put the property back on the market and attempt to sell it. Anyone who can cover the taxes and interest can purchase a percentage of the property, which will be auctioned off at a tax sale.
The delinquent taxpayer has three years to get the property back by covering the sale price with an added 5% penalty and 1% interest rate, or by proving they paid the taxes before the property’s sale. They also have six months to attempt to annul the tax sale.
The passing of this amendment would result in a shift away from the tax sale process and into a tax lien process starting Jan. 1, 2026. This would give the government a legal claim over the property and allow it to sell the lien in an auction. It would also allow the original owner to sell the property to pay off the lien.
If the owner wants to reclaim
the property, the same 5% penalty and 1% interest rate would be required, but the interest rate could be decreased.
The previous tax debt processes would no longer be in the constitution but in state law, making it easier for lawmakers to change them in the future.
A companion legislation would establish an extended process for selling the property. A three-day delay in filing the lien would allow the property owner more time to re-obtain their property. Furthermore, tax liens could only be enforced for seven years.
If the amendment is voted against, the tax sale process will remain the same after a property owner fails to pay their taxes.
Mayor-President Run-off
Baton Rouge voters will also be able to vote in the run-off election for mayor-president. The primary election was held earlier this month on Nov. 5, and no candidates received the minimum percentage of votes required to win. The run-off election will be between incumbent Mayor President Sharon Weston Broome, a Democrat who is pursuing her third and final term, and Republican Sid Edwards, Istrouma High School’s head football coach.
The candidates debated their views of Baton Rouge’s future on Tuesday, Nov. 19, sharing differing outlooks for the city.
If any problems or questions arise on election day, Baton Rouge’s principal office of the Registrar of Voters Office will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. More information on the amendments that will be on the ballot is available here. To stay updated on what’s on the ballot, polling locations, and live election updates, voters can download the GeauxVote mobile app.
environment is most efficient.
ADHD, from page 3
As Laika approaches retirement, she leaves behind a remarkable legacy as the longest-serving K-9 in LSUPD history. Her impact on LSU’s safety and her role as an ambassador for law enforcement will be remembered even after she transitions to life as a full-time pet.
“We’ve had a few quirks we’ve had to work through,” Shows said.
Beyond her professional achievements, Laika holds a special place in the hearts of those who know her. Her visits to schools and freshmen orientations at LSU are met with excitement, as she represents not only law enforcement excellence, but also the joy and comfort dogs bring to people’s lives. Her presence also boosts morale at LSUPD, inspiring younger officers to aspire to the
Shows, who considers Laika part of his family, plans to keep her at home, where she can enjoy her well-earned rest. For now, though, Laika continues to bring her energy, expertise and joy to every task, proving that even after a decade of service, LSU’s top dog is as dedicated as ever.
“It’s definitely going to be very sad when that date comes that we have to retire Laika,” Shows said.
“I am confident that she has had an amazing career and that she’s loved her time working. When she does retire, she can forever be that stay-at-home pet that we love. She’ll come home and stay with me and my family.” CANINE, from page 3
own internal distractions are completely muted, including forms of social media. The algorithm used for Shepherd’s study monitored how students “kick themselves off track” and how the VR prompted them to get back on task. This algorithm helped subside and target students’ specific ADHD symptoms immensely.
This study also found out what VR experiences are most effective for students with ADHD. After testing environments like the forest, streams in the woods and even the beach, Shepherd’s team found the environment where students would normally do their work with the normal distractions removed is what was most effective for a vast amount of students. For students with ADHD, anything too stimulating was ineffective, whereas a calmer, more familiar
“Turns out when you’re at the beach you probably don’t want to work,” Shepherd said.
Shepherd and his team faced challenges in their research. At the project’s start, their biggest challenge was that VR itself was not ready, including the expensive headsets, computers and softwares. Since then, technology has advanced so much that Shepherd and his team had to work with VR and also teach the students that were using it how to work it, too.
The team’s research suggests integration of VR into the treatment of ADHD holds great promise, but more developments and studies are necessary to fully harness its potential in clinical settings. However, the Shepherd’s research shows using VR to treat ADHD symptoms has the possibility to have a significant impact on the lives of those with ADHD.
prompting lawmakers to raise the sales tax and find other sources of revenue to offset the cuts.
The bill passed the Senate 38-1 vote, with Sen. Royce Duplessis, DNew Orleans, casting the sole dissenting vote. House approval was 80-18, with Rep. Beryl Amedee, R-Gray, as the only dissenting Republican.
Still, it was not clear that all the revenue lost by cutting taxes would be made up. “You’re creating a budget shortfall to provide a tax break for people who don’t need it, and creating another fiscal cliff,” said Jan Moller, executive director of Invest in Louisiana, a nonpartisan group in Baton Rouge that represents lower-income citi-
zens.
This proposed sales tax increase mirrors one pushed by former Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards in 2016, when Louisiana faced a significant deficit. However, Landry’s sales tax hike is intended to offset his plan to flatten income taxes, a step toward his long-term goal of eliminating income taxes entirely. To gain support, the income and sales tax measures were combined, enabling Republican legislators to stomach raising the sales tax to the highest rate in the nation.
“We are not expanding sales tax into any new services,” Sen. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia, said. However, the package will for the first time tax digital services such as streaming services and games.
The Senate approved a significant reduction in the corporate income tax and the complete elimination of the corporate franchise tax. The corporate income tax rate was lowered from 7.5%, one of the highest in the nation, to a flat 5.5%, a move legislators believe will make Louisiana more attractive to business. The bill was passed with a 38-1 vote in the Senate and a 90-9 vote in the House.
The corporate franchise tax, a levy on owning property or conducting business in the state, will be fully eliminated starting January 1, 2026. As part of this change, certain business tax credits will expire on June 30, 2025. Louisiana was previously one of only 17 states with a corporate franchise tax. The bill was passed unani-
MAINTENANCE
, from page 3
the money received by the university can be used more liberally in regards to which ways renovation is carried out.
“It’s allowing us to look at the total deferred maintenance earmark for that building. If there’s a high level of deferred maintenance earmarked for it, we’re able to go in and gut it, renovate it,” Favaloro said. “We’re not just fixing systems where the buildings just return to its original era of construction.
What this means, he added,
mously in the Senate and by an 8416 vote in the House.
“Most states around us have eliminated the franchise tax,” said Sen. Jeremy Stine, R-Lake Charles, former marketing director for his family business, Stine Home and Yard,.”As a business owner this tax is a punishing tax.”
The Senate also approved a bill to make permanent the $2,000 annual stipend teachers have received over the past two years. With Louisiana facing a shortage of some 2,500 teachers, this measure aims to retain current educators and attract new talent. The raise will be partially funded by reallocating $2 billion from the state’s Millennium Trust Fund, managed by the Louisiana Education Department, to reduce debt in the teachers’ retire -
is that teams engaging in renovation can do so with the intent of reducing the total deferred maintenance, Favaloro said. The solutions are longer-term.
How the money is being used
Favaloro said the bulk of the money received this year is headed toward repairing Julian T. White Hall, previously known as the Art and Design Building.
About a year ago, he said, occupants noticed the building’s brick started separating from the structure. A failure in the support structure that adheres the brick to the building had given up.
ment system.
However, teachers at charter schools and other institutions that have not contributed to the retirement system will not qualify for the raise. Additionally, some school districts may have leftover funds after receiving this state funding. Any surplus must be directed toward other school employees rather than expenses like textbooks. The bill was unanimously passed in both houses.
Two subsidies the Landry wanted to eliminate were partially preserved after protests at the Capitol; tax credits for movie-making and historic preservation of buildings.
“They can fill a room or two or three,” said Sen. Cameron Henry, R- Metairie, the president of the Senate.
Teams have been working, now for months, to strip it and waterproof the building. It currently stands unoccupied; faculty and students have been relocated to other parts of campus.
Julian T. White Hall should be waterproofed by the end of spring and it’ll be reoccupied thereafter. Renovations are expected to last until early summer next year.
Favaloro also said money was also going into the electrical infrastructure of the Life Sciences Building and had been set aside for general renovations to the Nuclear Science Building.
At FranU, everything we do is for you. Here, we take hands-on learning seriously. With immersive simulations, labs, and community placements, you’ll start pursuing your purpose and making an impact now —not later.
Whether you’re drawn to the School of Nursing, the School of Arts & Sciences, or the School of Health Professions, your future is waiting for you
PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille
The LSU Art and Design Building undergoes construction on Nov. 9 on Field House Drive in Baton Rouge, La.
ENTERTAINMENT
STRANGE
BY ELISE BLALOCK @eliseblalock
An odd situation is something Louisiana residents are no stranger to.
Legislation has been passed in the state of Louisiana for peculiar instances that most people may never have thought would occur; however, they have been created to ensure that it does not happen again.
LAWS
Laws and regulations are created to keep all individuals safe, but at one time or another, situations arose in which regulations were created to combat these occurrences in the future.
Many of these laws may seem like common sense, and others you may have witnessed, but had no idea it was a punishable
offense. Whether it is during a festival or parade, these peculiar regulations are in place for peculiar situations.
Injury attorney Morris Bart’s public site notes a few regulations that are made in the state of Louisiana one may be unfamiliar with due to it being outdated or not commonly reinforced.
1. It is illegal to urinate in the public water system and if caught, you may be sentenced to prison for up to 20 years.
2. Those who are mourning and in attendance at wakes are prohibited from eating more than three sandwiches at the wake .
3. Taxi drivers are not allowed to have intercourse in their front seats while working or on duty.
4. Reptiles or snakes are not allowed within 200 yards of parade routes during Mar di Gras.
5. You can not throw Mar di Gras beads from third floor buildings during Mardi Gras festivities.
6. It is illegal to tie an alligator to a fire hydrant in New Orleans.
7. City commissioners are prohibited from drinking when a public meeting is adjourned as one may be fined up to $50 for doing so.
Injury attorney Gordon Mckernan’s public site also had peculiar laws listed that Louisiana residents may not be aware of, with some more specific to certain cities and some applying to the state of Louisiana as a whole.
1. Bestial burglary such as stealing crawfish or alligators may cost one up to $3,000 or 10 years in jail.
2. The ingestion of blood or other bodily fluids during any kind of ritual can cost you up to a $25,000 fine or up to 25 years in jail.
3. Food that is fed to wild hogs must be cooked before it is allowed to be given to the animals in Jefferson Parish.
4. During Mar di Gras parades, TV reporters are prohibited from throwing anything off of floats if they are riding in the parade.
5. In the state of Louisiana, it is illegal to wear costume masks of any kind, with the specific exception of Mar di Gras in which participants and float riders are required to wear them.
6. False teeth may count as a weapon in the instance of someone biting another individual with false teeth, as one can get charged with aggravated battery.
7. In Sulphur, it is prohibited to use obscene language over the phone .
8. Cowbells are banned in the city of Carencro.
9. It is illegal to make false promises in the state of Louisiana . If one does not have the intention of keeping a promise at the time it is made, it may be a punishable offense with proof.
10. The practice of VooDoo is illegal within the city limits of New Orleans, regardless of what the Disney movie “The Princess and the Frog” suggests.
BY CAM CHEHREH @camryncherries
The LSU Special Olympics Club kicked off its first semester on campus with a field day on the Parade Grounds.
OLIVIA’S ORDER:
PRIMA
APRÈS
Have you ever wished for a freshly made, warm bowl of pasta without the hassle of dressing up and making dinner reservations? The to-go pasta shop is open Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Customers can build their own pasta from its selection of in-house noodles, sauce and toppings.
First, you choose your base: noodles. Prima Après offers different types and shapes of pasta such as spaghetti, gemelli, campanelle, orecchiette, radiatori and mafalda. Then you choose your sauce. The options include bolognese, cacio e pepe, butter and parm, marinara, vodka and buttery lemon. Next, you choose toppings such as parmigiano reggiano, breadcrumbs, red pepper flakes, pecorino romano, olives and crispy prosciutto. For an extra $3.50 customers can add meatballs for some protein.
I went with an orecchiette pasta base and vodka sauce, with parmigiano reggiano, breadcrumbs and red pepper flakes as my topping. The pasta is served in a 16-ounce classic, chinese to-go box, making it a mess-free, quick bite for those on the go. This spicy combination tasted like a dish I would receive at a classic, Italian restaurant; however, its price is steep for college students looking for pasta. The noodles are made in the back of the shop and can be purchased dry to recreate at home. Dry pasta ranges from $10 to $12, while its take-home pavlovas are for purchase for $24. Prima Après offers a unique dessert called a pavlova also for $15. This meringue-based dessert is made from whipped egg whites and sugar, made into a cloud shape that comes with whipped cream, vanilla bean ice cream and customers’ choice of toppings and syrups.
Nicholson Drive
Club hosts its first event
glio said. “I was like, this could be great, I already know a bunch of people who could be involved and LSU just got their community program where special needs students can attend classes. So I thought it would be really good to get everyone connected in the community.”
“It’s amazing, nothing matches this feeling,” Davis said. “Working with this club, and starting it from the ground up, finally having an event with students and our club members is amazing.” Here are a few of those regulations you may be unaware of:
Students and club members gathered on the lawn to play games and socialize, as well as bring attention to the organization on Nov. 17. Ava Benfiglio, club president, has been involved in the Special Olympics through her brother for years. After getting invited to a conference for the Special Olympics and learning about all of the clubs at other universities, Benfiglio knew she wanted to bring the opportunity to LSU students.
“My brother has cerebral palsy, and I’ve been involved in the Special Olympics with him since my junior year of high school,” Benfi-
From kickball to basketball, students had fun and enjoyed the beautiful weather on campus, while participating in a range of fun activities together. Complete with a good playlist and good spirits, this event was an LSU community hit.
“I love it,” LSU Special Olympics club member Avalon Burner said. “It’s really humbling to see all these kids living their best lives.”
This is LSU Special Olympic Club’s first semester as an organization on campus, and it’s already
hit the ground running. Executive board members, in matching red shirts, helped guide attendees through events of the day to make sure all participants had a positive experience. Benfiglio shared that the club plans to introduce a basketball league in the spring and will continue to host events like field day.
“It means a lot, I’m so glad to see kids getting involved on campus and all the joy in their faces,” Benfiglio said. “It’s really just touching, because when my brother was younger, we didn’t have these types of things. So now seeing all of this evolve and become connected has really meant a lot.”
Shelby Davis, vice president of the LSU Special Olympics Club, also has a personal connection to the mission of the organization.
“My little brother has down
syndrome, and he is the light of my life,” Davis said. “He is my best friend. Growing up with him showed me the importance of events like this and just getting him more involved in the community, because he is different from us.
Just trying to get them to do stuff with us and make sure they aren’t left out in anything and can be like a neurotypical kid for a day.”
Benfiglio and Davis’ brothers were both present at the event, and the sisters beamed with pride. All the hard work and planning put into this event had finally paid off.
CAM CHEHREH / The Reveille
LSU Special Olympics executive board posing at field day on the Parade Grounds, taken on Nov. 17.
FESTIVAL DU LIVRE FRANcAIS
French culture festival encourages students to read French books outside of the classroom
BY EMILY BRACHER
@emily_bracher_
My French Book Fest made its way to Baton Rouge for the first time, creating long lasting ties with local booksellers and international authors in the French language.
The event ran from Nov. 14 to Nov. 16, and it brought together authors, illustrators and educators from all over the Francophone world to promote the language. Started by the Consulate General of France in Louisiana and Villa Albertine, in partnership with the Alliance Française de la NouvelleOrléans, the festival celebrates the French language by offering interactive workshops and book signings.
Alliance Française de la Nouvelle-Orléans’ events and marketing coordinator Karla Ewing learned French through an immersion program at a Council for the Development in Louisiana (CODOFIL) school. She said this event originally started after noticing that even though there were almost 6,000 students enrolled in French immersion programs through CODOFIL, the number of books published in French was lacking. This brought along the initiative to bring French books to Louisiana.
“Children’s books are really important, because they have this magical way of connecting people, but also talking about subjects that might be difficult to express to a child such as inclusion and diver-
sity,” Ewing said. “Children’s books can kind of breach those limits in a way that is still fun and colorful.”
The first dimension of the festival is field trips to cultural centers. For the first two years, the only trip was to the Alliance Française. Now, the addition of the West Baton Rouge Museum and the Center for Louisiana Studies in Lafayette has expanded its reach. Through these programs, students are able to participate in workshops and learn from French speaking guests.
With two publishing houses that publish in French, the main goal of this dimension is supporting the economy of French literature in Louisiana. Partnering with these publishers, authors and booksellers make these items more accessible for children, who could be inspired to write literature in French one day.
The third and final dimension is bringing the French language into schools. Ewing said they send international artists to schools around Louisiana to make the festival more accessible for everyone. Not everyone has the time or means to make it to a cultural center, so the organization has money set aside for transportation costs, making it completely free for students.
“At Alliance Française we say that being monolingual is like seeing the world in black and white and when you can speak different languages,” Ewing said. “It transforms your world into a diverse, colorful experience that you can connect with other people in different ways.”
Founded in 1984, Alliance Française de la Nouvelle-Orléans is a nonprofit that has been one of the leading providers of French culture
and language education in New Orleans. It hosts language classes for all levels and certified exams and are the only testing center in the Gulf South for some French exams that are necessary for visa applications and university requirements.
Culture is a major component of Alliance Française. The organization has gallery space, a French language library with around 3,000 documents and an event space. Other than My French Book Fest, they host Francophone Month in March, where time is spent celebrating the French world. The organization brings people together through French culture, with its current location in the Garden District doubling as a community center that offers yoga classes and book clubs.
“You can come do your work, enjoy a coffee, but really enjoy a sense of community that is built through the connection of the French language,” Ewing said.
André St. Romain is an educator at the West Baton Rouge Museum, in charge of running educational and music programs. Originally from Pointe Coupee Parish, he grew up hearing Louisiana Creole from his dad’s side of the family and learned French through groups and friends. He was responsible for coordinating and organizing tours for school students and French teachers during My French Book Fest.
There are two immersion schools in Baton Rouge: Baton Rouge Foreign Language Academic Immersion Magnet (FLAIM) and Westdale Middle School. Because of these schools, St. Romain said it would make sense to have easier access to books in French. He wants students to see that French is something that exists outside of their classrooms and that they can use outside of school.
“There are people all over South Louisiana, all over America and all over the world who speak French, and so it is useful,” St. Romain said. “It’s not just something that you can forget about after you leave your school.”
AMANDA MARIE GIULITO CARAMBAT NICOLA CATES
JOHN CUNNINGHAM RACHEL DAIGLE
DANIEL
DAVID
DAVIS
DECUIR
OLIVIA ROSE DELONEY
DEPORTO AUDREY DICKMAN JOHN FRANK DIMAGGIO JR. DARREN TYRESE DIXON
ROYAL DIXON III
LYDIA DOHRE
LAUREN DOMBROWSKI
QUINLEY DIANN DRYMOND
LOGAN DUNN
CELESTE EBY
JAMES ECKHOLDT JR. MYANNA EMERY
EMMELS MSKEOMA ENSLEY
LAYESKA ESPINAL FLORES
ESQUIVEL
EVANS
FACIANE
FAVALORA
FERREE SAMANTHA M. FERRER GABRIELLA FLORES
FOARD CADE RUSSELL FONTENOT
FONTENOT
ANN FONTENOT
FORBES SCOTTIE R. FORMAN
FREDIEU
JADEN FREW
MACKENZIE NOELLE FROELICH
KAYLA FROSINOS
ISABELLA GRACE FUSCALDO
PARIS GAITHER
SAYONAH GARCIA
ANDREW GARON
TIFFANY POPPS GAUTHIER
MADELEINE GESS
NICOLE GILL
EMILY GIORDANO
DANIELLE ELISE GIPSON
DARRYL GOINS JR. EUGENE GONZALES GRACIE GOUDEAU
EMMA REESE GRAFF
JOSHUA ISAIAH GRANADO
MIA GRANADOS
JORDAN GREEN
MAYA MADYSON GREEN
NATALIE GREEN
MARGARET GREEN-GERARD
SOPHIE GUERRERO
JACK HANKS
JAYDEN HANS
JOHN HARBISON
DESTANIE HARRELL
MAILYN HARRIS
SYDNI MARIE HARRIS
HANNAH KATHLEEN HAUCK
MADELEINE HAULARD
SARA HEARN
MADISYN A. HEBERT
ASHLEY HELLER
GRACE ELIZABETH HILL
KAEGAN HILL
ETHAN ALEXANDER HOOTER
CARLY ILLANNE
TROY INMAN
REGAN LEEANN JACKSON
CAITLIN JACOBS
ETHAN JARDELL TRAVIS JASPER
CATHERINE JEWELL KATIE JOHNSTON
KAYLA JOLIVETTE
DAMARCUS COLBY JONES
HELENA MARAH JONES
RALPH JUNIUS
EMMA KANETZKY
REAGAN KARCZEWSKI
GRACE YOKO KATO
VERONICA LOYOLA KELLEY
ARIYAN SANAE KEY
CHANAIYAH KING
GABRIELLE KING
COLTON KLEIN
LAUREN KNIGHT
KIRSTIN KOERT
JACOB AARON KOMMALAN
ZACHARY KRAFT
PAUL J. KREAMER
JENNA KROUTTER
SHAWN LOUIS LABIS
RYAH LANDRY
LINDSEY LANEHART
ALEXIS HOPE LARKIN
MATTHEW LASS
JERMANI AHMYRIE LEA
SHYANNE LEBLANC
JYRAH R. LEDAY
TYLER JAMES LEGNON
JOSH THOMAS LEJEUNE
JULES WAVA LEJEUNE
CAITLYN C. LEMOINE
JORDAN LENARD ALYSSA LENTZ MAIA LEONARD MEAGAN LEWIS
MARGARET ANN LINER
HANNAH OLIVIA LOPEZ
JOLYN LOPEZ
ALEXIS LOYA
GRACE LUND
EVAN LYNCH
SARAH LYONS
REYA MACHEN
MYA MACK
JONATHAN MAESE
KALEIGH ELIZABETH MAHER
RAYNEE JOELLE MANSHACK
ANTHONY MARINO
BROOKE MASON
KAITLYN MICHELE MATERRE
ABBY MATHERNE
AVERY MATHERNE
PARKER MAYBERRY
ANDREW MAYER
KAMERON MAYES
MADIGAN THERESE MCCONNELL
MACY MCDADE
AARON MCDANIEL
MEGHAN MCGONAGLE HAYDEN MCKAY
LAUREN ELIZABETH MCKEY KE’ANNA DE’NAE MCKINNEY
ALAYSHAE GLENDORIA MCNEELY
BRIANNA MAE MEARS
PAOLA MENESES
CAROLINE MESSICK
MARINA MEWBORN
ADELYNN MILLER
CARLIE MARIE MINOTT
LAWRENCE MOORE III
MICHAEL O. MORRIS
CAMERON BRYCE MORRISON
CHLOE MORTON
ARIEL MUNHOLLAND
SHAILA MURPHY
RAFE NABIZADEH
MIGNON BREYONE NELSON
LEGARE NUMMY
MEGAN NYE
EMANUEL OCHOA
EMILY OLIVERA
CAMERON OLIVIER
DALYN MONIQUE O’NEAL
TATUM JANE OVERBAY
KOBI L. PAIGE
MADISON PAOLILLO RILYN PARE
PARR
PATE
ANNIS PECK
PERDOMO
PHAM
PHAN JACOB PICKETT MICHAEL PICKNEY AMELIA MEADOW PIRRELLO
PLAISANCE
PORTER ADAM CHRISTOPHER POUSSON SIERRA PRICE MADISON PUNCH
HANNAH GABRIELLE PURVIS
MAKENNA ELISE QUICK COLE WILLIAM QUINBY
SHANNON CLAIRE RABBITT
RAYMUNDO RAMIREZ OLVERA ROCIO RAMIREZ RODRIGUEZ KENDALL REED TREJE REID ELENA
STUCK ON STYLE
A car adorned with a colorful array of bumper stickers is spotted near Cedar Hall on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge, La, on Nov. 18.
A car parked near the UREC sports a One Direction bumper sticker, spotted on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge, La, on Nov. 18.
A transformer sticker is spotted on a car near Nicholson Gateway Apartments.
A sticker featuring a goose is spotted on a car near Broussard Hall.
A bumper sticker with a cartoon cat is spotted on a car near The Five Dining Hall.
A cute sticker is spotted on a car near Herget Hall on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge, La, on Nov. 18.
A car near The Five Dining Hall displays a witty warning sticker, spotted on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge, La, on Nov. 18.
Behold the best bumper stickers
found around LSU’s campus.
Pictures by Pilar Franklin Designed by Jayden Slaughter
A pink bumper sticker featuring cute animals is spotted on a car near Herget Hall on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge, La, on Nov. 18.
A sticker near the Natatorium is spotted on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge, La, on Nov. 18.
A Hello Kitty bumper sticker is spotted on a car near Cedar Hall on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge, La, on Nov. 18.
A batch of stickers is found on a car near the West Campus Apartments on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge, La, on Nov. 18.
SPORTS STREAK SNAPPED
LSU football answers criticism, halts tailspin in win over Vanderbilt
BY JASON WILLIS @JasonWillis4
To say it’s been a rough few weeks for LSU football would be an understatement.
LSU has gone from a team tied for first in the SEC and in control of its own destiny to a team essentially playing for nothing tangible besides pride.
Given those circumstances, it’s understandable that LSU has recently faced widespread criticism and a lack of enthusiasm from its fans, but the Tigers answered those questions and more in a 2417 win over Vanderbilt.
It was a crucially stable performance sparked by a playersonly meeting earlier in the week. The win came at a time when LSU desperately needed one to stop its slide and reward its fans.
“Going into this week, we were more fired up than ever,” said sixth-year running back Josh Williams, one of the players who spearheaded the players-only meeting. “We wanted to prove a point.”
After pregame speculation that LSU’s struggles would produce a substandard attendance in Tiger Stadium, the crowd showed up as usual to cheer the team on.
The Tigers started tentatively, with a three-and-out on offense followed by a one-play touchdown drive for Vanderbilt as the
Commodores cruised to a 7-0 lead.
At that point, a “fire Kelly” chant arose from the student section, demonstrating the simmering frustrations of the LSU fanbase.
However, the Tigers began settling in, responding with a touchdown and holding Vander-
bilt scoreless on four consecutive drives. The sizable crowd began rising in volume and having an effect on the game.
“Having the fan support out there was really nice to see,” head coach Brian Kelly said.
LSU stayed in control from that point on. The day ended with the Tigers assuming victory
formation to seal the win.
The Tigers offense stayed on schedule and finished drives.
The defense limited big plays, harassed Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia and got off the field, holding the Commodores to two of 10 on third down.
DECOMMITMENT
Kelly reacts to Underwood flip
BY JASON WILLIS @JasonWillis4
Even with LSU football’s win over Vanderbilt, it was impossible to completely silence the drama that’s followed the program over the past few days, especially relating to the decommitment of the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 class, Bryce Underwood.
Underwood, a quarterback from Belleville, Michigan, dropped his commitment to the Tigers and flipped to Michigan amidst LSU’s three-game losing streak after months of the Wolverines publicly courting him with hefty NIL packages.
LSU head coach Brian Kelly and players spoke on the situation postgame, saying it didn’t affect the mentality of the team.
“Recruiting doesn’t mean a whole heck of a lot when you’re talking about your football team in the present,” Kelly said. “Yeah, you’re disappointed... but it really didn’t affect the core of what we wanted to accomplish, and that was we wanted to finish this football game.”
When asked about Underwood, current LSU quarterback
Why did college football adopt the NFL’s two-minute timeout?
BY ETHAN STENGER @itsethanstenger
On April 19, 2024, the NCAA approved several rule changes that would be in effect during this year’s college football season.
One of these rule changes included the introduction of the two-minute warning, an NFL staple for over eight decades.
During the Vegas Kickoff Classic between No. 23 USC and No. 13 LSU, ESPN announcer Rece Davis reminded fans about the new rule change with an intriguing side note.
“There is a new two-minute timeout,” Davis said. “We’ve been asked not to call it a warning.”
So, what’s the deal? Why did the NCAA rechristen the twominute warning, and why did it take them so long?
The NCAA’s rebranding of the rule alludes to its origins in football lore.
The NFL introduced the twominute warning in 1942, more than two decades after the league’s inaugural season. In the
league’s early days, timekeeping was basically a joke. The only people in the entire stadium keeping track of time were the officials, who followed along with the game clock via a stopwatch.
“Timekeeping could be very happenstance in the ‘20s,” Washington sportswriter Dan Daly told the Guardian. “Sometimes, if the score was particularly one-sided, the umpire would just let the clock run to get the game over with. You’ll even find box scores saying quarters were only 12 or 10 minutes long. This was usually by prior agreement. Teams might have wanted to play a shorter game because they had a train to catch or had played multiple times in the same week or had a bunch of injuries. Or maybe the weather or the crowd size was just lousy. At any rate, the 60-minute game was hardly set in stone.”
Teams needed to know how much time remained in the contest to strategize and execute late-game scenarios. The league introduced the two-minute warning to help counteract its time -
keeping issue.
“Teams would be down on the goal line, thinking they had enough time to run a play, and the umpire would be firing his pistol and saying, ‘Game over,’” Daly told the Guardian. “The warning was one way to keep the teams informed that the end was near.”
With time still being kept on the field, the AFL began using stadium clocks as the official game time across the league in the early 1960s. The NFL started adopting the AFL’s convenience marvel later in the decade, right before the two leagues’ merger in 1966.
But even after the NFL solved its clock-keeping conundrum, the two-minute warning stayed. Why?
The late break in the action was a strategic timeout at the end of each half. The stoppage is a fourth timeout for a team trailing late in a game.
Little did anybody know that the rule would become much more valuable for the NFL as time passed. As the league grew its TV
presence, the timeout became a crucial point in the game for its media partners.
With how suffocating the NFL’s grip on the TV market is in 2024, it’s no surprise that advertisers would value a guaranteed
stoppage at the most exciting part of the game.
The two-minute timeout shows the NCAA’s commitment to its broadcast partners, espe -
MALEAH BOURGEOIS / The Reveille
LSU football senior defensive end Sai’vion Jones (35) celebrates his successful block against Vanderbilt on Nov. 23 in Tiger Stadium.
RULE CHANGE
MALEAH BOURGEOIS / The Reveille LSU football head coach Brian Kelly talks to his starting lineup during a timeout in LSU’s 29-26 win against Ole Miss in Tiger Stadium.
BY STAFF REPORT
@LSUReveille
At a university where nearly every athletic program is nationally relevant, there’s never a shortage of options. There are always electric playmakers to be found.
The Reveille Athlete of the Week is LSU men’s basketball’s Vyctorius Miller.
The Bayou Bengals brought in three first-year players this season for what was the No. 14 recruiting class in the nation according to 247Sports. Part of that class is Vyctorius Miller, who’s become a lethal scorer in the early going of LSU’s season.
Miller rose to the occasion on Tuesday against Charleston Southern. Headlined by his 19 points on 9-14 shooting (64.3%) and two steals, the purple and gold moved to 4-0 for the first time in two years when they beat the Buccaneers 77-68.
“I feel like when the moment was there, that’s when I rise above all, and that’s what I did tonight,” Miller said.
“Just credit to VJ, he come into work every day, early mornings,”
WIN, from page 12
In the win, LSU responded pointedly to the most prominent criticisms of the team’s identity; the Tiger offense displayed some much-needed balance.
“I just thought we were simpler,” Kelly said. “We cut out a lot.”
The team also, at long last, leaned heavily on its rushing at-
FOOTBALL
3 TAKEAWAYS
BY TRE ALLEN @treday0312
LSU guard Jordan Sears said. “He come in and do that every day, and I feel like its really starting to show.”
Miller put together another double-digit performance in a 74-63 loss to Pittsburgh in the opening round of the Greenbrier Tip-Off in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. His 14 points were tied for a team-high.
“My teammates put confidence in me out the gate, and they know what I can do,” Miller said. “It’s been easy.”
Miller also came up big in LSU’s thrilling triple overtime win over UCF in the third-place game at Greenbrier. He had 16 points, including four to help LSU pull away in the third overtime period.
The guard from Los Angeles, California, attended Arizona Compass Prep. Miller led Compass Prep to a 27-6 record in 2023 and a spot in the Chipotle National High School Championships. He averaged 11.5 points, 1.6 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, shooting 46.7% overall and 41.4% from three-point range. Miller was the No. 42 player in ESPN’s high school rankings.
tack, combining for 147 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
At the end of the day, LSU merely beat a Vanderbilt team it was favored to beat. However, achieving the expected has been hard to come by for the Tigers in recent weeks.
A drama-free game after weeks of anything but that was a welcome sight for LSU.
Following each of LSU’s three
It was a disappointing showing last week for the LSU Tigers in Gainesville as they fell to the Florida Gators 27-16. On the verge of losing four consecutive games, LSU got the job done this week by defeating the Commodores 24-17. It was a much-needed win for the Tigers as they improved to 7-4 on the season, but it also gave the team confidence to finish the season.
The defense got off the field on third down
All season, the LSU defense has struggled with getting off the field on third downs. This week it was different. The Tigers forced Vanderbilt into 10 third-down situations, and the Commodores were only able to convert on two of those.
“In order to win a ball game, you got to get off the field on third down,” sophomore linebacker Whit Weeks said. “And we haven’t been the best of this so far this season, so
two of 10... I mean, that’s pretty good. That’s something to smile about, for sure.”
What allowed their success on third down was the communication on the defensive end and trusting everyone to do their jobs.
Defensive end Bradyn Swinson mentioned the importance of everyone doing their job to succeed on the field.
Everybody just doing their job, everybody having good eyes,” Swinson said. “If you just
do your job, everything is going to fall into place.”
And that’s what happened against the Commodores. Outside of a few big plays, LSU contained the Vanderbilt offense. Quarterback Diego Pavia only threw for 186 yards and one touchdown. The Tigers also contained the most important part of the Vanderbilt offense in their option run game and held them to 122 yards for four different rushers.
The offense took care of the ball
The worst thing you can do as an offense is give the ball away, and these past weeks that’s what LSU has done too often. Not converting on fourth downs, throwing interceptions and fumbling has hurt the Tigers week in and week out, but this time, LSU cleaned it up.
Nussmeier did not throw any interceptions or fumble the ball this week, which allowed LSU to maintain consistent drives throughout the game.
The Tigers led in possession, having the ball for 34 minutes compared to Vanderbilt’s 26 minutes. LSU decided to simplify the game plan on both sides of the ball, but on offense, it made a bigger difference for everyone.
“I just thought we were simpler, Kelly said. “We ran four verticals probably more times than I can remember in a game, but we had the check-downs. We had other avenues to get the ball out, and I think that really helped our players stay locked in on the call and be committed to the call.”
LSU established a balanced gameplan
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has gotten a lot of criticism these past couple of weeks due to his play on the field. With four touchdowns and five interceptions in the three-loss stretch, it was not a good stint.
In those three games, Nussmeier threw the ball over 42 times in each game. It’s not a good recipe for any team to have its quarterback throwing the ball that much, and to fix that pass-heavy offense, there must be an
POLICY, from page 12
cially after ESPN’s recent $7.8 billion extension to televise the College Football Playoff through the 2030-2031 season.
“This is not an additional or a new timeout,” said A.J. Edds, cochairman of the NCAA Football Rules Committee and vice president of football administration for the Big Ten. “This is a fixed position in the second and fourth
consecutive losses, the team publicly acknowledged their issues but came forth with no solutions. Reversing that trend was crucial – not only for the present of the program, but also for the future.
No, LSU’s win on Saturday didn’t clinch an SEC championship appearance or a College Football Playoff berth. Still, the restoration of faith in the program may well prove to be invaluable as the Tigers search to finish the season respectably.
In the meantime, the bottom hasn’t fallen out, and LSU fans haven’t given up on the team just yet.
ability to run the ball. LSU had that against Vanderbilt.
The Tigers combined for 145 rushing yards, allowing Nussmeier to not throw as much.
Nussmeier threw the ball 37 times and completed 28 of them for 332 yards. It was one of his most efficient games of the season, and it was with the help of his running backs Josh Williams and Caden Durham.
While Durham had a solid game with 58
quarters where media partners can reliably know they’re going to have an opportunity to take a media break.”
The NCAA’s renaming of the two-minute warning comes with the reality that its purpose had evolved into something much more than reminding the sidelines how much time was left in the half.
“We’re not warning anybody of anything, so we’re going to
DECOMMIT, from page 12
Garrett Nussmeier smiled before echoing what Kelly had said.
“We’re focused on who we got in the locker room, the guys that want to be here,” Nussmeier said. “At the end of the day, we want people that want to be here, that want to come play for coach Kelly.”
“Obviously, kids have to make decisions that are best for them at the end of the day... And so, I don’t think you can fault anybody for making that decision,” Nussmeier added.
Other players acknowledged
rushing yards, it was the sixth-year senior Williams who stepped up, rushing for 91 yards on 14 carries and finding the end zone twice.
“He ran through the faces of a number of defenders,” head coach Brian Kelly said. “It was physicality, it was want-to, it was desire. It was all those things in one. It was just a guy that was committed to, no matter what, the first guy is not going to bring me down.”
adopt those words,” NCAA coordinator of officials Steve Shaw told The Athletic.
The two-minute timeout has kept the sport more competitive by enhancing comeback opportunities and acting as an advertiser magnet.
For the NCAA, the mistake wasn’t adding a two-minute timeout, but the fact that it took them 82 years after the NFL did it to do so themselves.
that it was impossible for LSU to completely avoid the noise, not just about Underwood, but also the general criticism of the direction of the LSU program.
“We noticed it, of course, just like everybody else. It was all over social media,” sixth-year running back and team captain Josh Williams said. “We’d love to have (Underwood), but he has a choice to make his own decisions, and we got to live with that.”
Underwood would’ve been a potentially program-defining recruit for LSU, but the team remains focused on the present after losing out on the talented 17-year-old.
GRAPHIC BY JACOB CHASTANT
OPINION
President-elect Donald Trump listens with Linda McMahon during an America First Policy Institute gala at his Mar-a-Lago
All children to enroll in school fight club
ANDREW’S ANGLE
ANDREW SARHAN
@sarhanandrew
Editor’s Note: The following column is satire.
President-elect Donald John Trump, former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestler, appointed Linda McMahon, wife of Vince McMahon and co-owner of the WWE, to the head of the U.S. Department of Education.
In her acceptance speech, McMahon made her plan clear:
“Ok, so you guys all know the movie ‘Fight Club,’ right?” McMahon said, biting into a soap bar, “It’s gonna be like that, but a whole class. Just imagine the money, I mean, learning opportunities for me. I mean, the kids will have during fight class, they’ll have real-life experiences with fighting before college. It’s great!”
McMahon made it clear that the content of the class will be based on the 1999 movie “Fight Club” and not the book with the same name. McMahon stated that she didn’t understand the book because the main character’s name was never said until the end.
A reporter with The Onion asked McMahon how an honorslevel fight course would work, and McMahon, in the middle of her soap bar, stated:
“What’s an honors program?” McMahon verbalized through bites of her pink soap bar.
A concerned parent vocalized her concerns over a fight class, worried that her children could potentially be hurt and even killed. Other parents also vocalized their concerns, and when they all said their peace, McMahon took the stage again, with a third of her soap bar remaining, to say:
“Parents, there is no need to worry.” McMahon said, putting her soap down, “I plan on apportioning funding from music and art classes to fund hospital bills for students. Plus, on day one of the class, they’ll learn the only rule of fight class: Don’t talk to your parents about fight class.”
Celibacy
is still an option in 2024
BODACIOUS BLAIR
BLAIR BERNARD @BernardBla36479
I recently turned 21 and had an incredible time accomplishing a major milestone like this. I wanted to do everything under the sun that I couldn’t before: go to the casino, get a cocktail and buy a lottery ticket. All the firsts that come to mind as an inexperienced legal adult.
things with. Would you be in a comprisable situation if this got out? Are you prepared to be associated with anyone you hook up with in the future?
When I used to hear the word celibate, I would automatically associate it with religion. But what I learned from research is that it can be a beautiful practice, the ultimate declaration to yourself. You can learn a lot about intimacy and self-expression.
nately, really did graduate into that physical level of a relationship.
It’s sad because, as a young girl, you always remember your first big crush or how you want your first kiss to pan out. I’m burdened with a heavy heart because I know how intense the pressure of curiosity was to explore romance and ultimately get let down.
This seemed to reassure the parents, knowing that whatever happens at school happens as long as they don’t bring it home. One of the parents, a dad, who is an avid sports better, asked how he could profit from this new class, and McMahon responded happily, saying:
“Well, you see, the kindergarteners are almost always the underdogs.” McMahon said, “So usually, they have a higher reward if you bet on them. However, they are unlikely to beat any of the other 11 grade levels also taking fight class.”
McMahon was shocked to find out there are actually 13 grades and that kindergarten is before 1st grade. McMahon promises to change this by changing “Kindergarten” to “0th grade,” stating:
“The Germans lost both World Wars; why are we using German anymore anyway?” McMahon retorted, “Plus, this is America; speak American, for God’s sake! If you want to speak any of those commie languages, you can move to Canada.”
In another statement, McMahon wanted to address the elephant in the room, the ending of the “Fight Club” movie, which showcases the main character destroying credit card companies so that people would no longer be in debt.
“Now, I am a very astute businesswoman.” McMahon commented, engulfing the rest of her soap bar, “I know what is and isn’t appropriate for children. Blowing up buildings is not appropriate for kids, so the educational content around the movie Fight Club will end before the last 15 minutes of the movie.”
McMahon’s press conference, originally scheduled to be three hours long, was cut short after an hour because of a call she received. According to reports, WWE announcer Mel Phillips called her for bail money. All that the audience heard from McMahon’s side was: “What was the one thing I told you not to do?”
I can’t tell you what exactly triggered the connection between my age and celibacy. It was more like as you turn a certain age, you take a step back and reflect on your year and the new era you’re entering. Right then, I really started to pay attention to the rhetoric surrounding hook-up culture, sex, selfexpression and intimacy that was coming from my peers.
Obviously, you don’t have to be an adult to know that hookup culture and premature sexual experience have taken over Generation Z. I just thought by the time I made it into the 21 club, we would have gotten a little bit of a clue. I stand corrected. Nobody’s got any idea about anything ever. If they do, then I call bull, because we are all collectively figuring it out as we go. I stand on either side of celibacy or hook-up culture. I am a do what you want to do with whom you want kind of supporter. It’s also never anyone’s business but yours when and who you connect sexually with.
But I think before anything, if you feel like you’re ready to take on that kind of lifestyle, just be aware of who you’re talking to and who you’re sharing
Who you are outside of sex and romantic relationships matters. If you can’t remember not giving yourself to someone else in exchange for even the bare minimum, that breaks my heart, but it is one of the sad truths amongst others today.
At this time in their lives, young adult women and men are discovering a new sense of freedom and identity. You should never be faulted for wanting to or not wanting to explore selfexpression.
Because the way you see yourself is not always how everyone else sees you. Hook-up culture has warped our minds into having this premeditated idea of what should happen even on dates. This goes for guys and girls; you do not owe anyone anything in exchange for your company.
For me, the earliest consistency in school was when friendships had some romantic involvement. You could always expect there would be a new crush at school, someone wanting to talk to you to get to your friend. At lunch, you could expect to see hugging and handholding.
It seemed really innocent at the time, but as we got older, the purity and innocence started to disappear. Some kids, unfortu-
I almost wish, along with those crude sexual education courses, our authority figures made sure to reinstall the power of abstinence within us. I tend to mourn the person I was in middle school and my friends. The hypersexuality of some of them made them victims, too. The years of uncorrupt self-image they’ll never be able to get back. So yeah, I think, as a 21-yearold, it’s cute to be celibate. Why is it negative to choose an act that is beneficial to you? Where is that backlash coming from? People in society who are projecting. Many people don’t take that step back and reevaluate their relationships. That truth can be hard to face.
No one is there to tell them, “Hey, you have a choice; you can always choose yourself.” So, I think people at this age become angry or confused and want to take back some things they experienced.
Instead of looking in the mirror and accepting the reality, they project. I want younger people to know it’s celebrated to go against the crowd. You don’t owe anyone an explanation unless you want to. The choice is yours; I just always hope that you choose wisely.
Blair Bernard is a 21-yearold theater performance major from Lafayette, La.
JACOB CHASTANT / The Reveille
AP PHOTO/ Alex Brandon
estate, Thursday,
Andrew Sarhan is an 18-year-old mass communication freshman from Baton Rouge, La.
There’s an ugly truth to the U.S.’s love for sports
TANTAWI’S TABLOID
MOHAMMAD
TANTAWI
@mowinator
“I’ll be sitting in the office, and some of these co-workers stay on fantasy 24/7.” This was the response of an Army Intelligence Analyst when I asked if people are overly obsessed with sports.
We get it, bro. Detroit Lions Quarterback Jared Goff was a good pickup.
From the fields of slavery to the fields of football, where players, primarily minorities, production outweighs their identity and feelings. So much so that longtime reporter Marcus Hayes dared to evoke the memory of Philadelphia 76ers player Joel Embiid’s dead brother and critique his play on the court.
Players are thrown for a ride of ever-lasting praise and criticism throughout their careers. Their legacies are objectified into stats and wins in order for non-athletes to create hierarchies and narratives to debate. Where does this stem from? Well, systemic racism.
Minorities are behind the 8-ball when it comes to progression, socioeconomic background and aspirational figures. Former president Barack Obama brought hope to millions of minorities, showing the possibilities for a person of color, meanwhile crushing millions of minorities with the
“Obama Effect.” No longer could people blame the blatant racism, social alienation and minimal opportunities that exist for people of color because Obama made it, and so could you.
Sports provide a model of success for young, aspiring minorities. Besides, when African Americans make up 53.5% of the NFL and 70.4% of the NBA, where else can minorities find a lucrative industry so inviting? Some kids grow up believing sports are their only way out of poverty.
When envisioning an investment banker, do the names Tamika or Jamal come to your mind? Perhaps it does. The world is large, and every possibility usually has cases to point to; however, the outlier seldom describes the reality for the majority. In fact, researcher Devah Pager published a paper showing that a white person with a felony will get more calls back for a job interview than an African American without a criminal record.
Sports provide a route of financial and social status escalation that minorities feel is achievable. Not every family provides the financial support needed for tutors, college and law school, but if you’re good enough, the coach will let your sports fee slide.
We have no real love for the sport or the players. We are obsessed with supporting a tradition that transcends sports into social gatherings and financial opportunities. We relish in the ritualized
support for teams and act like we have the experience to critique the game, sensationalizing the lives of players and critiquing their stamina, weight and performance.
But the question is, who’s doing the critiquing? White people. The 2021 Sports Media Racial and Gender Report Card found that 79.2% of sports editors, 77% of sports columnists and 77% of sports reporters were white (without ESPN, these numbers would be much worse).
The hyper-scrutiny of African
Editorial Policies and Procedures
Americans continues to pervade sports media. Players’ salaries give us the excuse to dehumanize them into bodies and numbers that encapsulate their worth.
We take part in the cutthroat business of professional sports by dedicating our lives to the modern-day gladiator show. If you don’t believe me, when’s the last time you raged on X, formerly twitter, about tennis star Andy Murry underperforming at the US Open?
But it’s okay. Sports are another reason to drink and socialize. Wasting your time and passion on people and teams that will never know your name. Just kidding. Have fun sports betting or checking your fantasy.
It’s not a bad thing to participate in, but don’t vent to me that your parlay would’ve hit if Washington Wizards player Jordan Poole had one more assist, and don’t develop rage from your wagers falling through. Be wary of the casino’s compulsion disguised as trendy apps like DraftKings and FanDuel; these are meant to look like a fun way to make money.
Sports betting has exploded in recent years, with Americans wagering $119.84 billion in 2023. The players are no longer people; instead, they are transformed into pawns of a financial game.
Outrage spills across social media as peoples’ parlays miss and fantasy pickups underperform. We develop a parasocial hatred for these people based on our
willingness to believe in them.
Sports betting has made the archaic form of rooting for a team with all your heart die, and for good reason. “Who’s your team?”
Bro, it’s not your team. You’re just a fan of a billion-dollar business that cares for you as much as Walmart cares for you. Do you track revenues between Chipotle and Cava? No, you just enjoy the food. The same idea applies here.
Frankly, the game result doesn’t matter. Enjoy the game as you witness abilities beyond your capacity, and when you want to insult a player, imagine yourself trying to play. In 2019, Shane Keisel must have thought he was on his couch as he shouted racially suggestive comments at Denver Nuggets player Russell Westbrook during a game. Fans like Keisel are more common, except most wouldn’t actually project their rage directly on the athlete.
Beyond the dehumanizing behaviors of sports fans, ask yourself, how much attention do you spend on sports? You probably have better things you could be doing, but instead, you dedicate hours watching a distraction-filled game with advertisements and average commentary.
The idea is to limit your time, not cut it out. As Aristotle expressed, the middle ground is true wisdom. Let sports be the broccoli you consume once a week.
Mohammad Tantawi is a 24-year-old mass communication senior from Smyrna, Tenn.
Quote of the Week
EDITORIAL BOARD
Colin Falcon Editor in Chief Managing Editor John Buzbee
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.
“I’ve seen this week, people are taking the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity’ and really holding space for that and feeling powwer in that”
Tracy E. Gilchrist Entertainment Reporter
AP PHOTO / David Dermer
Betting kiosks are seen inside Caesars Sportsbook inside Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Dec. 29, 2022 in Cleveland.
JOHN BUZZBEE / The Reveille
Fireworks go off above Tiger Stadium on Oct. 13, 2024, as fans clamber onto the field, in a rush. This was moments after LSU football defeated Ole Miss at homecoming.
Don’t let the challenges of college life get in the way of taking care of yourself. Schedule an in-person or Virtual Visit with a gynecologist at Louisiana Women’s Healthcare and let us help address any female health concerns you may have.
