Read on page 9
Gymnastics takes down No. 1 Oklahoma in possible national championship preview.
Baseball goes undefeated in opening weekend.
TEACHER BY DAY,
DJ BY NIGHT
Ever wondered what your English teacher did after school? Maybe they were DJing.
SPIN, TEACH, REPEAT
This high school English teacher’s side gig is playing gigs
BY EMILY BRACHER Staff Writer
What does a teacher do once the final bell has rung? Do they go home? Do they have a home? Maybe they sleep at school? Or maybe, they spend their free time spinning vinyl at clubs you’ve never heard of.
English teacher at Baton Rouge Magnet High School and local DJ Leah Smith, 45, balances both parts of her life. She has been at the school for 17 years and teaches 11th grade English. On the weekends and after school, she can be found at personal parties and Mid-City gatherings like White Light Night.
“I have to think of myself in a new persona and get myself moving to kind of put myself in a mindset of separating the two parts of my life,” Smith said. At home and at work, she’s “Mrs. Smith.” At gigs, she’s “The Lady Deejay.”
Smith strictly uses vinyl records, straying away from the commonly used digital and online streaming services. She plays a range of ‘50’s, ‘60’s and ‘70’s rock ‘n’ roll, R&B and blues. Louisiana music is another genre she loves, with Mardi Gras season being where she gets to play second line and brass bands. The tracks usually consist of upbeat party music, and she tries to bounce around through the decades.
A vinyl record represents a progression of history, culture and identity, especially in Louisiana, for Smith. When it comes to vinyl, she listens and plays an album front to back, instead of skipping the songs she doesn’t like. She explained that putting a song in its context, with the rest of an album, works beautifully.
“All that represents something important in the cul-
ture, and it shows the history of where we’ve been and who we’ve been, to where we are now,” Smith said.
When she plays music in the classroom, Smith is always amazed when students tell her that they’ve heard the song from someone like their grandpa but never knew the name until now.
Or when someone like her son calls to say he heard an interesting song on Instagram or a video game, she’s able to help him discover the artist and older music in general.
“I think it’s interesting how a lot of younger people today are hearing older music, but they aren’t aware of what it is or where it came from,” Smith said.
“I think that the younger people today are hearing it more be -
cause of technology.”
At the beginning of each school year, Smith said that there are usually rumors from a few students that their teacher is a DJ. Many of the students she works with at the school’s radio station, WBRH, are familiar with her work. She even jokes with her students, saying that unless you marry rich, every teacher has a second job. Hers just happens to be DJing.
“I always have to remind them I am not the one partying at bars,” she said.
Smith moved to Baton Rouge when she was in third grade from New Iberia, Louisiana, attended Baton Rouge Magnet High School and graduated from LSU. Her love for DJing came from tagging along with her dad, who was an insurance agent by day and DJ by night, in the ‘80’s.
As a teacher at her alma mater, she works with the students at WBRH, the radio training program at the high school. During the week, it is completely student run. Listeners can tune into jazz music Monday through Friday and a variety of other genres on the weekend. Smith called it her home radio station, WBRH being where she got her start and still has many friends from the program who are now in broadcast or radio.
Smith also works for WHYR, the community radio station in Baton Rouge. The staff is completely volunteer and doesn’t focus just on the music. The station has other segments focused on giving underserved individuals a space where they can speak freely. Topics like politics, social issues and other
things you’re not necessarily going to hear on a commercial radio station, Smith said.
“Mrs. Smith has really inspired me through radio,” 18-year-old Baton Rouge High student Baylee Fontenot said.
Fontenot is one of the many students that works at WBRH with Smith, who also has a deep love for music of all kinds. She said that having her English teacher also be a DJ is very unique and makes it easier to connect with her.
“Having a teacher like Mrs. Smith to look up to really shows me how I can turn this love into a career and share my love with others just as she does,” Fontenot said.
Smith also passed her love and knowledge for music down to her son, Jude Smith, 25. As he grew up, she exposed him to songs from different decades, which allowed him to find his favorites and expand his taste. This is something that has let him explore what he truly likes, not only what is trending right now. A song he would often hear his mom playing was “I’m Not Like Everybody Else” by The Kinks.
“As a child she was practically my only source of music that wasn’t on the top 100 list of trending songs,” Jude Smith said.
Baton Rouge gives the community many opportunities to discover music with people like Smith, along with some of her recommended record stores such as Capital City Records, Pop Shop Records and The Exchange. For more information and to check out Smith, visit her Instagram @theladydeejay.
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CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS
The Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure its readers the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards. This space is reserved to recognize and correct any mistakes that may have been printed in The Daily Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified, please contact the editor at (225) 578-4811 or email editor@lsu.edu.
ABOUT THE REVEILLE
The Reveille is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. A single issue of The Reveille is free from multiple sites on campus and about 25 sites off campus. To obtain additional copies, please visit the Office of Student Media in B-39 Hodges Hall or email studentmedia@ lsu.edu. The Reveille is published biweekly during the fall, spring and summer semesters, except during holidays and final exams. The Reveille is funded through LSU students’ payments of the Student Media fee.
PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille
Lady DeeJay dances Feb. 15 at Circa: 1857 on Government Street in Baton Rouge, La.
PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille
Lady DeeJay’s records sit on a table Feb. 15 at Circa: 1857 on Government Street in Baton Rouge, La.
NEWS LIBRARY LOSSES?
Mayor-president’s proposal would use library funds to raise police salaries
BY SARAH WALTON Staff Writer
Mayor-president Sid Edwards released a proposal Feb. 6 that would seek to redirect funds from East Baton Rouge Parish libraries towards a new pay raise for police officers in an effort to curb crime.
Billed as “boosting police pay,” the press release suggested moving the Library funds over to the general fund, which would free the city-parish to spend the money on the raises as well as “public safety, infrastructure and economic development.”
The proposal also hopes to lower taxes by 12.7%, bringing the millage rate from 11.1 to 9.8%, the largest tax cut in 20 years according to the release.
“Without a doubt, I am committed to making this city safer while increasing the efficiency of taxpayer dollars and preserving the quality of publicly funded institutions,” Edwards said in the release. “Careful consideration has been made to ensure that we will maintain the best publicly-funded library system in the state. I am looking forward to working with the EBR Metro Council to better prioritize how the city-parish spends valuable taxpayer money.”
The Metropolitan Council will vote in March on whether to put the proposal to a community vote in October, but that didn’t stop fans of the Library from showing up at the council’s Feb. 12 meeting concerning the renewal of the Library’s millage rate to show their opposition to the proposed changes.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Abby Selser, a junior anthropology major at LSU, was at the meeting to protest the proposal.
“It was just frustrating in the moment, and now, it’s still definitely frustrating, but now that people are responding to it, I’m
more hopeful that it’s not gonna happen,” Selser said about her reaction to the proposal.
Selser doesn’t have Wi-Fi at her home, so she goes to the library’s downtown branch to do her work.
When is Panda Express re-opening?
BY JASON WILLIS Managing Editor
The LSU Panda Express, usually the Student Union-goer’s much-needed alternative to long Chick-Fil-A lines, has been closed for the entirety of the university’s spring semester.
Where the restaurant was in the Union is sectioned off for ongoing repairs, leaving an orange-chicken sized hole in many students’ diets.
The question on everyone’s mind: When will Panda Express return?
According to documents obtained by the Reveille, the Union Panda Express is closed to install new grease ducts in the ceiling after contractors found leaks in the old ducts.
The required maintenance is expected to be finished between March 10-24, according to Facility Services.
Until then, many of the most popular Panda Express items, including orange chicken, beef and broccoli and cream cheese
Student Senate approves $2,000 for social issues course
BY MORGAN VANNOSDALL Staff Writer
The LSU Student Senate passed a bill Wednesday allocating $2,000 for a virtual course designed to educate students on how to speak about critical social issues and create understanding between different opinions.
The bill, titled Student Government Bill 1 and supported by the SG Black Caucus, faced some opposition in the senate over its cost and the course’s potential attendance before it ultimately passed 48-5-3.
“As Student Senate we are supposed to work about what the student body would want and after hearing how many people would not attend, we should not hold this event,” said College of Engineering Sen. Skyler Dowling.
Dowling claimed there had been similar events in the past costing less than $90, and that after surveying multiple classes on the plan he received only 10 responses, all of which were against the proposal.
He also stated how one respondent said they would prefer
to allocate the money to skate racks and filling potholes, a comment criticized by SGB 1 co-author College of Humanities and Social Sciences Sen. Chloe Berry.
“Comparing racial identities to a $500 skateboard shows how important these conversations are. I want you all to see 10% of funding going towards 100% of the body,” Berry said, referring to the roughly 10-15% of SG’s Initiative Fund the $2,000 would represent. “Race is a social construct, not a real thing.”
Berry noted that allowing the funds to go to this initiative would open the door for more diverse conversations, noting that 40% of students on campus identify as non-Caucasian.
Also passed at the meeting was Student Government Resolution 3, which urges the LSU Faculty Senate to adopt its resolution aimed at purchasing Grammarly Premium for students with funds from the student tech fee. The resolution passed unanimously.
Passing unanimously also was SGR 4, urging SG and LSU to recognize all types of adversity that Black people have dealt
with and powered through “beyond slavery, into the present, and everything beyond during Black History Month.”
Additionally, SGR 2, urging
LSU and the Law Center to reinstate Professor Ken Levy to his previous position as the Holt B. Harrison Distinguished Professor, passed unanimously as
well.
The LSU Student Senate meets every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., in the Student Union Capital Chambers.
CAMPUS LIFE
CALEB BOURQUE / The Reveille
Carver Branch Library sits on Terrace Street in Baton Rouge, LA on Jan. 23, 2018. It is one of several East Baton Rouge Parish libraries that offer various useful services to the public.
PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille
LSU Student Government Senate members sit on Feb. 12 in the Capital Chambers in the LSU Student Union in Baton Rouge, La.
LIBRARIES, from page 3
According to her, it’s this community reliance on the library that makes protecting it so important.
“When the library does so much, you know, it’s a community center; they help support people getting jobs,” Selser said. “It’s a safe space for teens … that is a safe space we have, and we need to protect that.”
The Metro Council meeting itself was packed, with somebody overheard saying there could have been at least 100 people waiting to comment.
Library representatives spoke on its achievements serving 311,000 cardholders, 69% of the parish, and its community outreach efforts comprising 14 different branches, mobile libraries and thousands of programs and resources.
After an analysis, the Library realized it could operate with a lower millage rate, proposing their own decrease from 11.1 to 10.5%, 0.7% higher than Edwards’ proposed rate of 9.8.
For two hours the public told their stories of the Library, from people in their 90s to a six-yearold girl, all in favor of protecting the community staple.
“Give us the opportunity to decide for ourselves if we want to impose this tax again on ourselves, to sustain what is this wonderful library system that has been built
over many years and can continue to grow and continue to serve everyone in this parish,” said local business owner Sonny Cranch during his comment.
Ben Wentz, a library worker, used last month’s unprecedented snowfall as an example of why the Library is so important in supporting the community.
“What was open during the snowstorm? It wasn’t the police department, it was the Library … They save people’s lives,” he said.
Local consultant Nick Laborde further emphasized the Library’s community impact, as well as its national recognition.
“The Library is not a place, it’s not a book warehouse, it is a community institution … How many of us our whole lives have heard Louisiana 48, 49, 50?” Laborde asked. “This is something we are number one, or close to number one at, and we need to keep being number one.”
Laborde continued by saying that he had seen this before. From Lafayette, he said years ago the city discussed libraries having a surplus, resulting in deep budget cuts which their libraries are still affected by today.
The Metro Council appeared uncertain what to do about the Library’s funding, and failed to reach a resolution before the meeting ended, punting decisions on both the Library’s and Edwards’ proposals to their meeting in March.
PANDA, from page 3
rangoons, can still be found at the Paper Lantern popup, located in the Bon File space on the Student Union second floor,
LSU Dining Marketing Director Sarah Wronkoski said. Its hours are the same as the former Panda Express’: 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The maintenance will cost the university $131,168 in total,
according to a contract between LSU and contractors.
Panda Express has had brief closures several times in the last few semesters due to fire-related incidents.
MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille
Customers select their meals on April 11, 2022, at Panda Express inside the LSU Student Union on Highland Road in Baton Rouge, La.
ENTERTAINMENT
LSU’s “Red Velvet” explores 19th century racial inequality
BY LEXIE WARE Staff Writer
A young African American actor stepped onto a London stage and changed the course of theatre in 1833. LSU’s Swine Palace’s production of “Red Velvet” brings his story to life, nearly two hundred years later.
“Red Velvet,” written by Lotita Chakrabarti and directed by GD Kimble, tells the true story of 19th-century Black actor Ira Aldridge. Aldridge went to Europe to find acting opportunities that did not exist for African Americans in the United States. He was casted as the titular character in Shakespere’s “Othello,” becoming the first Black person to ever do so.
However, the casting came as a shock to audiences during a time when slavery was still commonplace around the world. Despite receiving standing ovations for his performances as Othello, Aldridge faced openly racist reviews from many critics.
“A good question that is brought up in the play is ‘what do you do when you’re faced with adversity?’” Melina DeYoe-Pedraza, who plays Halina Wozniak, Betty Lovell and Margaret Aldridge said.
“Red Velvet” skillfully addresses this subject using irony and subtext, exposing the gap between what the characters say versus how they behave. While characters debate racial equality and insist they are progressive enough to accept Aldridge as Othello, their slave, played by Emmanuela Wade, silently waits on them.
Ricardo Mendoza believes his character, Henry Forester, is a prime example of this tension. While Forester sees himself as progressive-minded and declares that slavery should be abolished, his beliefs are tested when he meets Aldridge.
“This play is about people finding out who they really are,” Mendoza said.
These dynamics are further reinforced in the play’s staging. From intense sound design to sets that glide on wheels effortlessly, the tension and discomfort of the play’s themes lingers, even with the lights off. DeYoe-Pedraza believes that Aldridge’s story is important to keep alive due to its relevance today.
“The way Ira is treated isn’t unique to that time period,” DeYoe-Pedraza said. “It’s also very much present in the way we
treat our artists of color in performance now.”
Craig Ester, who plays Aldridge himself, remains onstage for almost the entire two-hour runtime. Between scenes, the set transitions around him to mark the passage of time, with crew members even changing his costume in full view of the audience.
“The emotion that just happened in the previous scene either has to carry through to the next scene or I have to drop it,” Ester explained. “The challenge is keeping that up for the two hours that the show is.”
Playing Aldridge is more than just a role for Ester. He understands that Aldridge paved the way for countless other Black actors, but that this success came at a personal cost.
“If you break the glass ceiling, you have to be prepared to get cut,” Ester said. “Whenever you’re the first, you have to go through all the obstacles and things in order to make it easier and safer for others to go through the same thing.”
The Swine palae’s next production will be “ROLEPLAY,” a production written by Tulane students. The production is showing from March 13 to 23.
PILATES SO I TRIED...
BY ARIS WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Reformer Pilates has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, with the exercise being coined by Joseph Pilates, a German physical trainer who originally developed it with rehabilitation of injured soldiers in mind.
Curious about the practice and its benefits, I decided to sign up for my very first Reformer Pilates class at Buti Mvmnt on 7731 Perkins Road. Prior to attending the class, the only exposure I had to Reformer Pilates was videos I had seen on Tiktok and Youtube and horror stories from fellow students who went to studios with unkind instructors that made them never go back. My biggest takeaway from these things was that it was the mat pilates I had done many times before, but on steroids.
I honestly went into the endeavor feeling self-conscious about my physical capabilities. What if I wasn’t strong enough to keep up? Or fell over and made a fool of myself? Despite these inhibitions, I had already committed to writing a story on this experience and had to see it through. So to the Reformer Pilates class I went.
Dressed in athleisure, leg warmers and Pilates socks, I walked into the Buti Mvmnt studio and was led to the back where four Reformer Pilates machines were placed. The small class size was a source of relief for me. The participants and Sarah Goncalves, owner and instructor, were elated to hear that I was doing this for the first time and offered me guidance and tips throughout the class. Sarah routinely came over to check my form, remind me to suck my belly in and offer positive reinforcement when I was doing things correctly. I left Buti Mvmnt feeling physically great, and happy that the experience was nothing like I had anticipated.
When asked how to best prepare for one of their Reformer Pilates classes if you’ve never been to one, Goncalves’ answer was simple; don’t prepare.
“There’s nothing you really need to do beforehand,” Goncalves said. “Just don’t be afraid and go in headfirst. The instructor will meet you where you are. We offer modifications of each pose so that everyone can participate. This form of exercise was created with the intention of people of all ages and body types being able to partake in it.”
Health benefits of Pilates include improved flexibility, posture, and coordination. In regard to college students, Goncalves says that the biggest benefits for our demographic will be emotional and mental.
“Any form of fitness is going to significantly increase the dopamine that your brain is producing,” Goncalves said. “So this can be a great outlet for students under a lot of stress or adjusting to being far away from home.”
I can say for myself that the feeling of satisfaction after seeing this endeavor through was priceless, and a positive reinforcement to do it again. To keep up with this studio and find information on attending a class, you can follow their Instagram: @butibatonrouge.
COURTESY OF LSU THEATRE Images from Swine Palace’s production of “Red Velvet.”
LSU gymnastics all-around freshman Kaliya Lincoln completes her career high 9.925 floor performance.
Lincoln sticks the landing on a successful vault, with a sold out PMAC crowd watching.
LSU gymnastics all-around senior Aleah Finnegan competes on floor.
LSU gymnastics all-around sophomore Konnor McClain competes on beam.
Designed by Jayden Slaughter
Photos by Payton Prichard
BY LEXIE WARE Staff Writer
MONDAY
Join the Baton Rouge Recreation Commission as they celebrate works of art inspired by animals and their habitats. Tickets are $10 and can be bought online.
WEDNESDAY February 20th
9:00 P.M.
Join No. 5 Women’s Basketball hosts the Georgia Lady Bulldogs. What will Kim Mulkey wear this time? Head over to the PMAC at 8 p.m. to find out.
SATURDAY February 22nd ST. PHILIP
6:30 P.M.
Join the Krewe of Orion for their 26th annual parade in downtown Baton Rouge. The parade starts rolling at 6:30 p.m. Krewe of Onion Parade
SUNDAY February 23rd NORTH BOULEVARD
1:00 P.M.
Mid City Mardi Gras Parade
The parade rolls from 19th St. to the Baton Rouge Community College. This year’s theme is “Squirrels on Film.” The parade rolls from 1-4 p.m.
SPORTS
NEW NO. 1
Gym narrowly topples Oklahoma
BY AINSLEY FOOD Staff Writer
Whether it was a win or a loss for the Bayou Bengals, the PMAC was the place to be this Friday night as the No. 2 LSU Tigers aimed to protect its crown from the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners.
Conversely, Oklahoma gathered in the arena with hopes to protect its No. 1 spot from LSU.
“Tonight was about us taking the next step and getting everything to gel and getting better as a team,” Tigers head coach Jay Clark said.
The freshmen led the first rotation with the highest scores, as Kaliya Lincoln and all-around Kailin Chio each landed a 9.950 on vault. In the event, Haleigh Bryant closed with a stick for LSU’s third 9.950.
Oklahoma’s best on bars came from Lily Pederson scoring a 9.925.
Lincoln topped her personal best on vault with a 9.950 tonight, her highest score on the event being a 9.925 in Tigers win against Missouri.
LSU led the first rotation by 0.175 with a 49.600 against Oklahoma’s 49.425.
The battle was on, with Faith Torrez vaulting just short of perfection for a 9.975 for the Sooners in the second rotation.
“Oklahoma has been the gold standard,” Clark said. “They deserve a lot of credit for the consistency that they have performed.”
Chio stepped up to bars and earned herself a 9.900 for the Tigers’ highest score of the event. To the crowd’s displeasure, Konnor McClain anchored to mark the halfway point but received a 9.800.
While Bryant opted out of the all-around and is yet to rejoin the LSU bars lineup, the Tigers finished the second rotation with a 49.250 and the Sooners with a 49.425, a 0.175 difference between the two.
As the two leading teams in the country lined up for the second half of the meet, they found themselves tied, each with a 98.850.
The best team in the nation
BY TYLER HARDEN Staff Writer
On its home court in front of the Longhorn faithful, it was a matter of time before No. 3 Texas came alive.
With five-and-a-half minutes left in the game, the Longhorns regained control and climbed its way to a 65-58 win over LSU.
“I think that was probably the difference in the game,” Kim Mulkey said. “Just the toughness and the ability to execute when it got to be crunch time.”
Texas came into the matchup fresh off two consecutive ranked wins, including a 66-62 victory over South Carolina. Madison Booker led the Longhorns in both points and rebounds in both games.
BASEBALL
would be determined on beam and floor.
Sierra Ballard kick-started on the balance beam with a dismount that sent fans to their feet in awe.
With such a large crowd for the night, Tiger fans made their territory known with boos and cries of protest as Oklahoma’s Audrey Davis countered with a 9.900 on floor and kept the competition tight as the rotation progressed.
Chio returned for more in her third event of the night with a performance on beam worthy of a 9.925. As her hot streak continued, she was on track to claim a thirdconsecutive all-around title.
Resident beam anchor Finnegan had an uncharacteristic run for a score of 9.700. Oklahoma finished on floor with back-to-back 9.950s to give them the edge as the final rotation began.
Less than a tenth separated the two as Lincoln stepped onto the mat as LSU’s leadoff for the first time this season, scoring a 9.925.
“We wanted to see how it looked, and I think it was a great decision because she is just so even-keeled,” Clark said. “She just went out there and executed something beautiful to get us started.”
Chio took her turn to complete the all-around with a score of 9.950 on floor, and Amari Drayton posted an identical score after her routine.
Finnegan earned the event’s lowest score with a 9.800, but Bryant managed to seal the deal on the floor against Oklahoma with a 9.950, finishing the final rotation with a 49.700.
“We finally put together a fairly complete floor rotation together, so we’re looking more like ourselves,” Clark said. “It was certainly a great night for our fans and for our team.”
With 13,386 fans in attendance tonight, LSU brought home a win in this one-to-two matchup, protecting its crown and claiming the No. 1 spot in the country from the Sooners in a 198.050 - 197.675 win.
On Sunday, the Tigers held Booker to just two points and five rebounds on 0-of-11 shooting through the first half.
However, basketball is a game of two halves, and Booker made sure to make the second half hers. With 14 points and five rebounds in the second half, Booker finished the game with a team-leading 16 points and 10 rebounds shooting just 3-of-17 from the field.
“I’ll take that 3-for-17, just take those 10 free throws away,” Mulkey said.
But who was primarily responsible for containing Booker? Aneesah Morrow. She used her physicality to protect the basket and finished with 20 rebounds and 16 points on the day. She had 15 rebounds at halftime.
Baseball opening weekend rundown
LSU baseball had a dominating opening weekend against Purdue Fort Wayne, going 3-0 and outscoring Purdue Fort Wayne 32-2 in the series.
On Friday, the Tigers shut out the Mastodons 14-0, Saturday 10-1 and Sunday 8-1.
Here are the biggest takeaways from the Tigers 2025 opening weekend.
New starting rotation shines
This year’s weekend starters are a completely new batch, with former midweek starter Kade Anderson on Fridays, UC San Diego transfer Anthony Eyanson on Saturdays and Chase Shores returning from Tommy John coming in on Sundays. All three delivered above expectations, assuring last year’s uncertainty won’t return.
Anderson threw five innings allowing four hits, one walk and striking out eight, allowing zero runs. Eyanson pitched five innings, striking out six and allowing one run on four hits.
“I’m pretty confident he’s gonna throw strikes, he’s going
Along with Morrow, Sa’Myah Smith had a hand in controlling Brooks and Texas’ post players. She added another nine rebounds along with three points.
“I thought Sa’Myah Smith coming back home, she’s from Texas, I thought she battled,” Mulkey said.
Mikaylah Williams and Flau’jae Johnson each contributed to LSU’s offensive production outside its post.
Williams finished with 18 points in the team, shooting 7-of-19 from the field and 1-of7 from three, and Johnson finished with 16 points, shooting 6-of-17 from the field and 2-of-3 from three.
While Booker was controlled
SOFTBALL
Women’s basketball gifts Texas win LSU softball remains unbeaten
BY RAMI BURKS Staff Writer
The LSU softball team gelled throughout the 2025 Purple and Gold Challenge sweep, staying undefeated.
This new team wants to write a new narrative for the 2025 season. The now 10-0 Tigers beat Texas at Arlington, Northwestern twice and Virginia Tech twice across the weekend.
to mix,” head coach Jay Johnson said after Eyanson started Saturday. “He’s going to compete in key situations and that’s what I thought he did today. He pitched with good composure with runners on base.”
Shores finished the weekend, throwing five innings for seven strikeouts, allowing three hits and one run. His 6-foot-8 frame empowered a lethal fastball that regularly sat in the high-90s.
The starting rotation had a combined one walk all weekend. Incredibly promising control, certainly a trait of stability appreciated by Johnson.
Depth on both sides
Quickly establishing commanding leads allowed Johnson to give a high number of batters chances at the plate. What this further proved was the depth the team has beyond its starting lineup.
Ashton Larson only got one at-bat on Friday night and one on Saturday night. His sole at-bat on Saturday came in the seventh
Building continuity
Through the second weekend of the season, LSU has started playing together more. Everything is starting to come together more for the Tigers. LSU head coach Beth Torina has liked what she has seen so far through his first couple of lineup shuffles.
Sierra Daniel saw more time at second base than not, and Maddox McKee was the designated player when she wasn’t playing defense at second base. Even when McKee played second base, Daniel closed both games.
Freshman Jada Phillips started catching on Friday against UT Arlington, but Maci Bergeron was still in the lineup as a designated player. Berzon started in the other four games of the series.
The only position that appears to be a revolving door is left field.
McKaela Walker started both games Friday night, and the first game on Saturday in left field, and Jadyn Laneaux was the only
MORGAN COOK / The Reveille
LSU gymnastics graduate student Sierra Ballard sports Mardi Gras beads on Feb. 2, before LSU win against Arkansas at the PMAC.
STAFF REPORT
MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille
LSU baseball junior shortstop Michael Braswell III (10) dives into first base March 10 during LSU’s 2-1 loss to Xavier in Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
BY ROSS ABBOUD Staff Writer
At a university where nearly every athletic program is nationally relevant, there’s never a shortage of options. There are always electric athletes to be found.
The Reveille Athlete of the Week is LSU track and field’s distance runner Lorena Rangel Batres.
Batres headlines the LSU record books for a second time this season after a sub-4:30 mile on Saturday, while also earning the top spot in the Mexican national record books.
Batres ran at the 2025 Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational on Saturday where she clocked a 4:26.56
mile which was quick enough to beat her own record and put her in first and second on the LSU women’s all-time indoor performance list. She finished ninth in the mile Saturday in a heat of professional and collegiate runners. Batres claimed the Mexican national record as well, topping Alma Cortes who ran a 4:27.09 on the same track at Boston University in 2021.
Batres is a graduate student at LSU from San Luis Potosí, Mexico. She was the 2021 LSWA Women’s Freshman of the Year, won gold at the Mexican Championships in the 800 meter in July of 2024 and was also the top runner last year for the Tigers where she finished as the top scorer in all six meets she competed in.
TEXAS, from page 9 in the paint, Taylor Jones picked up the slack. She scored 12 points and eight rebounds for the Longhorns.
Rori Harmon also finished in double figures with 10 points for the Longhorns, shooting 4-of-10 from the field, along with five assists and four rebounds. Jordan Lee and Bryanna Preston each added seven points for Texas.
So besides Texas finding its stride on offense, where did things go wrong? Well, Johnson, Williams, Morrow and Last-Tear Poa had four fouls for the Tigers, while Smith had three.
In response, Texas shot 21of-21 from the free throw line, including 10-of-10 for Booker from the foul line.
“Both teams got to the foul line,” Mulkey said. “They made theirs.”
In addition, the Tigers gave Texas more chances to find a rhythm with 19 total turnovers. Texas converted those turnovers
RUNDOWN
, from page 9 on Saturday night. His sole atbat on Saturday came in the seventh and scored two on a single up the middle. He got the start on Sunday and took full advantage. In the fourth inning, after a Brown single and a Dickinson walk, Larson sent a ball over the bleachers for a threerun home run.
Despite a couple slow starts offensively, the bats built off of each other when it mattered. That only occurs when you have consistency throughout.
On Saturday and Sunday, the team’s batting average improved when runners were on. On Friday, it improved with runners in scoring position.
On top of the offense, the Tiger bullpen was reliable all three games. Nine relief pitchers came in throughout the weekend, not once surrender-
CHALLENGE, from page 9
game on Saturday in left field, and Jadyn Laneaux was the only other defender out there. Laneaux came in to finish all three games. Walker started in left field and held down the position by herself for the weekend’s final two games.
Contact over power
This Tigers team might not hit home runs like a typical SEC team. Despite this, however, LSU will get people on base and get them around to score.
On 51 hits, only 11 of them were for extra bases. Despite this, LSU outscored their opponents 35-7, getting the job done with their speed.
“I feel like how we are running the bases and being aggressive is stifling,” Torina said. “At times, other teams feel that pressure and create mistakes that may be out of character for them. It’s fun to see our team play like that.”
into an additional 13 points.
LSU finds itself on the losing side of an eventful Sunday afternoon in women’s college basketball. But it isn’t alone.
Before tip-off between LSU and Texas, UConn defeated South Carolina 87-58 in Columbia. The Gamecocks had defeated both the Tigers and the Longhorns, but Texas came back and defeated South Carolina a week before its matchup with LSU.
With Texas now in the driver’s seat of the SEC, LSU and South Carolina are right behind the Longhorns for a conference that anyone can still win.
“There’s just a lot of tough teams,” Mulkey said. “I think that we’re probably all a little grateful because when the SEC season is over, you may think the NCAA playoffs you can kind of breathe a little. But it’s tough in this league.”
LSU will look to refind its momentum as it returns to Baton Rouge. The Tigers will take on Georgia on Thursday in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
ing a run. They allowed three hits cumulatively. The bullpen had 24 strikeouts in 12 innings of relief.
On top of this insurance on the mound, the Tigers defense backed them up with clean fielding and jaw dropping catches.
Flexibility and adaptability are a luxury the Tigers weren’t afforded last year, opening weekend showed promise of that changing in 2025.
Lineup starts with power
As much as Johnson likes to vary the lineup, the current system is immediately starting with pop. Chris Stanfield, Derek Curiel, Jared Jones and Daniel Dickinson were always in the front half of the order, bringing the threat of an extra base hit each time.
Jones is the only returner of the group. Curiel is a freshman, Dickinson transferred from Utah Valley State and Stanfield
While the past teams did a great job at scoring runs, they tended to get bested by the best pitchers. This Tigers team will be more challenging to get out.
LSU is fast and knows how to use the ground to its advantage; even the power in the middle of the lineup could bunt for a base hit if they couldn’t figure out an opposing pitcher. Sunday versus Virginia Tech, clean-up batter Tori Edwards reached first base on an infield single.
When playing in Tiger Park with unpredictable wind patterns, hitting the ball in the air can be handy. Still, during a long season that hopefully ends in Oklahoma City, the ground will be this team’s best friend. Youth movement
The new era of Tigers softball could be LSU’s most formidable lineup in several years. There is no one person the opposing team can circle to be their most competitive batter. Everyone in the lineup can be a
came from Auburn.
The three combined for three home runs on Saturday alone, also producing two doubles and a triple in the opener. In the series they had 15 hits and 13 RBI.
“He’s a gamer and competitive, and I’m really glad he’s here,” Johnson said about Dickinson following Saturday.
This kind of heavy hitting in tandem with consistent batters like Steven Milam and Michael Braswell III gives LSU a valuable dynamic that will be of serious benefit in high-leverage situations.
“When you have speed, you have power,” Johnson said. “You have solid hitting skills, you have plate discipline, you have positional versatility, you have the ability to match up, you know, this team has a chance and I think as the season unfolds, you’ll get a chance to see some of that.”
leadoff or clean-up batter when it comes down to it.
This young team is showing their age in the best possible ways. Despite being a college softball team, these young Tigers show viewers how elite travel softball players play.
Getting the job done by large margins or in fewer innings, LSU has shown its age over the weekend.
The Tigers bested UT Arlington 6-0 and Northwestern 7-1 on Friday, with Tatum Clopton and Jayden Heavener starting each game, respectively.
Saturday, LSU defeated Northwestern again 8-0 and Virginia Tech 7-2, Sydney Berzon starting the first and Heavener the latter. Virginia Tech went down again on Sunday, 7-4, with Berzon in the circle.
The Tigers will look to keep the ball rolling at the LSU Invitational, which will begin next Friday afternoon against Penn State.
GRAPHIC BY JACOB CHASTANT
PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille
LSU women’s basketball junior guard Flau’Jae Johnson (4) attempts to score during LSU’s 83-77 win against Vanderbilt on Jan. 13, in the PMAC.
ALEXIS PERSICKE / The Reveille
LSU softball redshirt junior pitcher Tatum Clopton (18) pitches the ball Feb. 8, during LSU’s 10-0 win against Charlotte at Tiger Park.
OPINION
You can always say no — its a superpower
AVA’S POV
AVA FRANCIS
Columnist
If you have to force or fake something, the answer is no.
When it comes to saying this two-letter word, a lot of people are met with anxiety, peer pressure and stress. For me, no rolls off the tip of my tongue. I’ve never felt obligated to say yes just because.
An example of something I say no to is invites; sometimes, I don’t want to be out and about. Why would I say yes when I would much rather order takeout and watch movies in my sweatpants with a face mask on?
Sometimes, saying no is choosing your comfort and, in some cases, your safety over the satisfaction of others. I can think of a number of times I respectfully declined an invitation and was happy I did.
Even when the collective vote is yes, I never feel nervous to say no; it’s okay to be the “flamingo in a flock of pigeons.”
Saying no might come off as rude to some people, but it’s all about protecting your peace and setting boundaries with your friends and family. If someone in your life takes your “no” as an offense or insult, they hate you, kidding, not kidding.
But it’s 2025; saying yes is so 2024 unless the following occurs:
1. Someone invites you to Justin Bieber’s long-awaited Eras Tour. Bieber has yet to make this announcement, but a long-time Belieber like myself can dream.
2. It involves good, well-seasoned cuisine.
3. Someone you think is hot will be in attendance. Personally, if you’re a handsome and single Jalen Hurts type, I’m there.
4. It’s free.99.
5. The dress code is sweatpants or pajamas.
6. Socializing will be at a minimum. Don’t you just love those friends you can sit on the couch with and scroll through Instagram in silence together. I know I do.
The list goes on and on, but the point is that my time is too valuable to spend it with just anyone, anywhere.
I mean, could you imagine the last night of your life on Earth was spent at Tigerland? To each their own, I guess.
While you don’t have to be rude and go out of your way to hurt feelings, you must take your own feelings into consideration. Society loves to tell us, especially women, how horrible we are if we put our feelings first or consider them at all. We’re well aware that we can be considerate, caring and respectful while people also respect our own boundaries.
When you abandon your gut feelings and discernment, you run the risk of constant regret and bitterness. Possible side effects of abandoning your personal “no” are the following: heartburn, sleepless nights, depression, anxiety, regrettable hookups, STDs, stupid conversations, questionable reps, drunken karaoke mishaps, broken bones due to drunken escapades, overall embarrassment and self-degradation.
My longstanding history of saying, “no” has saved me from all of that and more. Standing alone, being the only one to say no can feel isolating and scary at times.
But, at the end of the day, don’t let your people-pleaser traits control your life.
It’s time for you to unlock your superpower hidden within and say “no.”
Ava Francis is a 21-year-old journalism major from New Orleans residing in Texas.
Dear
tourists, stop acting like the city of New Orleans is a playground
Recently, we’ve seen the biggest names in Hollywood and politics visit the notorious city of New Orleans. The city has once again put its name on the map after hosting the Super Bowl. The streets were flooded with tourists, and I’d never seen the city more decorated for an event outside of Mardi Gras.
With all the exciting attention New Orleans has gotten through the decades, I have to admit I’m a bit apprehensive about what’s to come.
However, I love the tourists’ enthusiasm. It’s always so fun to see how excited people get over certain attractions around the city. Of course, there are always going to be positives and negatives when the city experiences a high rise in popularity.
I just want to remind the readers and tourists out there that the city is a home to many families and businesses. For many people in the South, we grow up, go to college and often build a life here. For example, this is true for a lot of my friends and family members. Most of the time, it was by choice but also because the cost of living here is very inexpensive.
Naturally, I worry about the threats of gentrification. In reality, people who are born and raised in New Orleans can barely afford an everyday activity-filled trip.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Colin Falcon Editor in Chief
Jason Willis
Editor
There are two sides to every person. It’s unfortunate, because the people in New Orleans can’t dictate who comes in and out of their city. Yes, tourists roam all throughout the year-long; in fact, Mardi Gras is world-renowned, and now the Super Bowl has drawn in more outsiders than ever. But when it’s time to go home, it’s time to go home.
I’ve seen a couple of TikToks that exclaim their love for New Orleans and how life’s been since moving. The only thing that bothers me is they only share a fraction of what is to come. Like natural disasters, potential risks to safety and, if you’re a woman, your freedom to do a lot of things on your own, like being susceptible to harsh realities like robbery and gun violence. It’s not safe to just assume you’d adapt to the lifestyle there. You can’t expect to just live in the French Quarter and end up having a sweet southern accent when you haven’t even lived there your whole life.
Not to mention, the only coverage New Orleans ever gets surrounds Bourbon St. and the French Quarter, which I get because that’s how they lure in an audience. It can be extremely dangerous, though, to put the city through so much trial and error. Perhaps many people are looking to rent or buy but realize later that New Orleans may not be the best fit for them. The property goes back up, and the cycle continues.
There is so much rich culture within the city as well, including.
African American culture, creole and people of color in general. You have to do your part by researching and educating yourself before deciding to ultimately invade someone’s solace and benefit from the work of marginalized groups. In order to clean the streets up in time for the Super Bowl, Gov. Jeff Landry spent millions to relocate the homeless people around the Superdome. This would be sincere if. Landry had a reputable history with the people of Louisiana. But it just reminds me of when you invite someone to your house, you shove anything you don’t want them to see under the bed.
Tourists can come and visit the places Alix Earle goes to eat or any place Leonardo Dicaprio parties. However, you can’t replicate what it’s like to grow up in Louisiana. We have culture in our own homes. I don’t want to sound hypocritical because we all visit different places and people’s homes as vacation destinations. What we see is what we get. However, that’s just not true for New Orleans.
This captivating city means so much more than a few blocks. I feel really protective over it, in a way. The recent attention New Orleans got over the past week because of the Super Bowl was needed, especially after the terrorist attack in early January. It deserved to be celebrated and appreciated but not treated as a mid-life temporary vacation home.
Blair Bernard is a 21-year-old theater performance major from Lafayette, La.
Editorial Policies and Procedures Quote of the Week
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 would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free...so other people would also be free.”
Rosa Parks
American activist in the Civil Rights Movement
Ethan Stenger
BODACIOUS BLAIR
BLAIR BERNARD Columnist
AP PHOTO/MATT YORK
Jan. 31 in New Orleans prior to the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs.
GRAPHIC BY AVA FRANCIS