The Scoop: Check out the top activities to do on LSU campus in February.
MIKE’S MANIACS
These three costumed superfans are boosting LSU sporting event attendance.
Photo courtesy of LSU Athletics
THE REGULARS
How three students became icons of fan engagement in LSU sports
BY AINSLEY FLOOD Staff Writer
The front lines of the LSU student section are home to Keegan Simon, Kyle Thibodeaux and Camden Worth, or Bucket Head, Cowboy and Waldo. They are better known as “Mike’s Maniacs.”
The nicknames are derived from their unique gameday attire that has become a staple among fans. Their mission? To attend every single sporting event at LSU.
“Almost everybody that does go to the student section knows that we’re going to be there,” Thibodeaux said.
What the trio didn’t expect was garnering a fanbase of their own.
Throughout their journey, they’ve grown a following within the LSU community and built close bonds with the fans, coaches and athletes. They’ve been invited to team dinners, been recognized by celebrities and signed everything from baseballs to student ID cards.
That’s not why they continue to do it, though. Their reasoning goes beyond TV cameras and popularity. For the three of them, it’s about showing support for every team and every athlete, no matter the sport.
“The whole reason we started this was to help smaller sports,” Worth said. “We saw a need and we filled the need. We want to get students out there.”
Simon, or “Bucket Head,” has been a fan favorite since going viral during the 2023 baseball season. His simple, yet effective costume originated in the previous season from a joke between his friends and a player after a game.
“We were all joking around trying to find random stuff for him to sign, and someone said to go find a bucket,” Simon said.
Simon picked up an empty popcorn bucket and asked for a signa-
ture. The player jokingly requested Simon wear the bucket as a hat to their next game and the rest is history.
“It’s what makes the student section the student section,” Simon said. “You got people dressing crazy and having a good time, so I’ve just been keeping it going ever since.”
Amid the high-stakes 2023 regionals, he was spotted by ESPN commentator and former MLB pitcher Ben McDonald on the jumbotron. Videos of the bucket-wearing fan were posted on ESPNatbat and NCAA Baseball’s social media. Bucket Head was born.
“Facebook notifications, Instagram notifications, Twitter notifications, my phone died during a game from so many people texting and calling me,” Simon said.
Simon brought his ensemble to the PMAC student section, where he met Thibodeaux and Worth.
Thibodeaux, or “Cowboy,” is
known for his decked-out look consisting of Mardi Gras beads, overalls, sunglasses and his cowboy hat he began to wear to the games. Worth’s “Where’s Waldo” inspired look came from his similarities to the character and a spontaneous costume purchase at Walmart.
The group went back and forth between baseball and basketball games in the spring but was approached by volleyball players who asked them to spread the love when their season started in the fall.
From there, an objective was set. Mike’s Maniacs was created and they were expanding their endeavours to every sport at LSU.
Today, the Maniacs have grown into a band of students, planning and preparing every week to ensure that every game, meet or event has students there to cheer on LSU.
The result has been a gamechanger.
Last fall, LSU Volleyball saw a 77% increase in home attendance, going from an average of 1136 to over 2000 people.
The trio’s broadened support has boosted their popularity in the LSU community, but their motive remains the same.
“We don’t care about fame,” Thibodeaux said. “We’re just trying to make sure that players appreciate what we do and feel welcome at home.”
The three have made connections with some of the biggest names at LSU such as Flau’jae Johnson, Trace Young and men’s basketball head coach Matt McMahon.
“Never in a million years did I think I was gonna make friends with athletes,” Simon said.
Game after game, they bring the energy, but the job is time-consuming on top of being full-time students. In recognition of all they do, the teams and marketing staff try to express their appreciation in various ways.
Coach McMahon invited Simon, Thibodeaux and Worth to a preseason team dinner at the LSU Tip-
Off Club last year and gave them a shoutout at the event.
After LSU gymnastics won the 2024 National Championship, Simon was asked to be the first fan to hold the trophy not even 12 hours after it had been won.
“I was speechless, but I managed to say yes,” Simon said. “I was thinking, ‘If I drop this, I can never show my face here again.’”
The group is branching out beyond home games and bringing the student section on the road this year. On Sunday, Feb. 2, the LSU women’s basketball team will play at Mississippi State and have made arrangements for Mike’s Maniacs to be there with them.
“We’ve had so many opportunities and made so many connections, and we’re not even close to being done,” said Thibodeaux.
Although fame and privileges were never part of the plan, their young fans are a big motivation to keep the group alive. Some of the group’s favorite moments are staying longer to sign autographs and take pictures with kids and their families.
“If I make one fan happy, I’ve done my job,” Simon said.
With spring sports in full swing, Mike’s Maniacs are looking for new members who can match their energy and help fulfill their mission.
Along with Simon, Worth is also in his senior year, leaving two pairs of big shoes to fill.
“Four years later, I would have never guessed I’d have expanded it to as many sports as I did,” said Simon. “But when this baseball season starts, I’m going to be doing my farewell tour.”
The sights of Bucket Head and Waldo will be missed at every game, but the impact they have made as LSU students will live on past their graduation date.
“You only get four years in college, and this is the most fun way of living them I can think of,” said Worth. “We are called maniacs for a reason.”
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CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS
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ABOUT THE REVEILLE
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PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille
LSU fans hold up a sign during LSU’s 83-77 win against Vanderbilt on Jan. 13 in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE’S MANIACS
COMMUNITY
NEWS LSU RESPONDS
Pre-law fraternity donates supplies
BY SHELBY VARGA Staff Writer
LSU’s chapter ofpre-law fraternity Phi Alpha Delta is holding an animal shelter donation drive through Sunday as an accessible way for students to help the Baton Rouge community.
Kennedi Moncreary, an English senior at LSU and the community service chair of PAD, said she came up with the idea to leave a donation bin in the LSU Library accepting pet toys, blankets, towels, food and cleaning products such as dish soap and multi-purpose cleaners to give to a local shelter.
The collected items will be donated to Companion Animal Alliance after the drive finishes Sunday. The well-known shelter in Baton Rouge cares for more than 9,000 animals annually and constantly seeks donations, volunteers, foster families and permanent homes for its animals.
“I love animals, most people love animals, so I feel like it was great to be able to help them,” Moncreary said.
Moncreary said as students are settling into the new semester, not many are able to sign up for weekly shifts at the shelter. So she thought it best to have a drive rather than an actual event.
By Thursday afternoon, they had received 15 donations, mainly pet food. The drive was supposed to be last week, but due to the snow, it was pushed back, and Moncreary said she felt that’s why the organization couldn’t get as many donations
University promotes academic freedom with limits
BY REVEILLE STAFF
LSU released a statement Thursday reaffirming its commitment to academic freedom and professional conduct following a district judge’s order that the university allow tenured law professor Ken Levy to return to the classroom.
Levy was removed from his classes pending a university investigation into comments he allegedly made during class that were critical of Gov. Jeff Landry
and President Donald Trump, also using expletives to do so according to a transcript obtained by WAFB.
Shortly after his sidelining, Levy sued LSU on First Amendment grounds and for violating its own tenure policy, resulting in the temporary restraining order allowing him to return.
According to the statement, LSU “values the rights of its faculty to engage in scholarly discourse and express diverse viewpoints,” but also holds that “faculty mem -
bers are expected to conduct themselves in a civil manner, with respect for the rights, views, and opinions of others.”
Additionally, the statement asserts that faculty are not to use the classroom to air personal grievances irrelevant to the course, demean or threaten students with differing viewpoints or engage in unnecessary profanity.
The university has pledged to continue their investigation into Levy in accordance with its bylaws.
LSU Asian Student Union hosts Lunar New Year cultural night
BY SARAH WALTON Staff Writer
The LSU Asian Student Union held their Lunar New Year Cultural Night Thursday, collaborating with the LSU Global Community Center to ring in the Year of the Snake with food, games and performances inspired by a multitude of Asian cultures.
ASU is a student organization that, according to its Tigerlink, is dedicated to creating a space for students “who support and promote the education, histories, cultures, and traditions of Asian Americans.”
The organization has held many events since its return, but Thursday night’s was its biggest.
Walking into the Global Community Center, there was no mistaking what was being celebrated. The hall was filled with decorations of red and gold, and above it all, hundreds of flags representing every country. The sense of joy and celebration of culture was palpable. Guests everywhere were clad in red, a color worn during Lunar New Year to ward off evil and to bring good fortune.
Marketing freshman and ASU member Madison Mai-Trang Nguyen spoke to the Reveille about the event and her experience with ASU.
“They’re just very welcoming, very friendly, and very fun to be around. Especially the board,” she said.
Mai-Trang Nguyen’s favorite game at the event was b ầu cua, a Vietnamese game played during Lunar New Year. Looking at a mat with images of fish, gourd, deer, crab, chicken and shrimp, players place bets on which animal they think will win and roll dice decorated with those same images. The player that bet on
whichever image the most dice show wins.
There are lots of things to celebrate during Lunar New Year, but according to Mai-Trang Nguyen, some things take priority.
“I think that family is a really big part of the Lunar New Year, and it just gives me another reason to celebrate,” she said. When asked what she was hoping for this year, she excitedly said “good fortune and lots of money.”
As the night went on, more and more students crowded in, packing the room with people talking, eating, playing games and painting fans. To honor the Year of the Snake, which symbolizes rebirth, transformation, luck and love, many attendees were decorating their fans with
ACADEMICS
Should LSU stay test optional?
With many prominent universities once again requiring test scores, will LSU follow suit?
BY CADE SAVOY Staff Writer
Harvard University made headlines last April for its decision to again require applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores for consideration in undergraduate admissions after previously adopting a “test-optional” approach, designed to make admissions equitable for students whose access to standardized testing had been inhibited by the pandemic.
Harvard’s return to mandating the submission of standardized test scores came at a pivotal moment in higher education: elite universities like Yale, Brown, Dartmouth, MIT and Caltech had all announced a return to mandatory test submissions. For America’s top undergraduate institutions, the test-optional wave had come to a striking halt.
While Harvard’s decision drew attention from media outlets and higher education experts, recent data from the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics reveals that colleges and universities have been slow to return to requiring undergraduate applicants to submit standardized test scores.
paintings of the reptile.
Then, at around 7 p.m., the dragon dance began.
ASU invited the Southern Lotus Lion Dance Association to perform at the celebration, beginning the dance with musicians commanding the audience’s attention with their gongs, cymbals and drums.
Two dragons appeared, one purple, the other green, complete with shiny silver coats and white trim that dazzled as they danced around the room and flapped their ears. The dancers jumped, balanced on one another and threw oranges and plush snakes out into the crowd.
Near the end of the performance, the dancers once more balanced on each other and
Since 2020, LSU has remained test-optional. According to the university’s website, the policy is a reflection of LSU’s commitment to “full-file comprehensive review” — a term many higher education experts have dubbed “holistic review.”
In addition to keeping LSU in line with the higher education zeitgeist, the admissions office’s decision to remain test-optional has been refreshing to some students on campus.
“I think LSU should stick with the test-optional approach,” said kinesiology senior Lauren Dooley.
When asked whether she thought standardized tests accurately represented applicants’ ability to succeed in college, Dooley responded emphatically in the negative. “Absolutely not. I don’t think it’s fair to reduce a student’s entire high school career to one test.”
CULTURE
PHOTO COURTESY OF ASU
PHOTO COURTESY OF SHELBY VARGA
LSU General Counsel steps down from post
BY GRACELYN FARRAR
LSU general counsel Winston DeCuir stepped down from his post last week, according to a copy of his resignation letter the Louisiana Illuminator obtained Thursday.
DeCuir wrote in his letter to LSU Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott Ballard that his resignation will be effective March 1. He took the job in 2020 and was the first Black attorney to serve
ANIMALS, from page 3
as hoped for. However, she is confident she will see more participation next time when students’ schedules aren’t interrupted by inclement weather.
If students couldn’t donate this week, Phi Alpha Delta has a whole year of community service events planned, the next being with the Baton Rouge Food Bank on Feb. 15, which will soon be available to sign up for.
Moncreary encourages anyone looking for service hours to volunteer, even if they are not in the fraternity. She shared
as general counsel.
DeCuir will transition into a one-year visiting professorship at LSU Paul M. Hebert Law School, according to a faculty member present at the meeting in which his appointment was approved.
As the general counsel, part of DeCuir’s position was to review contracts and negotiate on behalf of the university. In addition, the general counsel is meant to provide legal guidance to LSU.
that she hopes these opportunities reach non-members and get them involved with the organization and their community.
Moncreary says her job is simply to assess what is needed in the Baton Rouge community and, in response, put together events that would be beneficial for students to participate in and are easily accessible.
“I’ve always helped my community. I feel like I knew about a lot of community service out there that others didn’t,” Moncreary said. “As a community service chair, I can help other people know what’s out there.”
TESTING, from page 3
A better metric, Dooley suggested, is a student’s grade point average.
“I think GPA is a better way to measure a student’s success,” Dooley said. “It’s the culmination of years of hard work. To get a good GPA, you have to put in the work in every class, every day. Doing well on the ACT or the SAT is just one day.”
Another common critique levied by opponents of standardized tests is that they exacerbate inequality.
“Some schools are better than others at educating their students just because they have different systems in place,” said kinesiology junior Paige Brous -
ASU, from page 3
out of the mouths of the dragons came purple scrolls reading “Happy New Year,” extending best wishes for the new year. Before the dragons left, they danced and trotted throughout the room, greeting the audience. Attendees were giggling, waving and petting the dragons as they made their rounds.
The conclusion of the dance marked the night’s end, marking the culmination of the efforts of students, faculty and staff alike to bring Lunar New Year to LSU.
sard. “Schools with less funding would probably do less well on standardized tests. Where I went to high school, teachers gave us ACT prep within class. Some schools don’t have that.”
Still, Broussard maintained that students who work hard to do well on standardized tests deserve to have their hard work recognized in admissions.
“I don’t see a problem with LSU staying test-optional,” she explained. “If a student decided to put in the effort to take a standardized test because they had the opportunity to do so, there’s no reason for LSU to not evaluate it. That would be a waste of their time and money.”
Echoing Dooley and Broussard’s concerns, animal science
junior Riley Hebert contends that LSU should do away with standardized testing, foregoing the test-optional approach in favor of not evaluating standardized tests at all.
“Standardized tests aren’t fair. Some students are good test-takers and some are not,” Hebert said. “If standardized tests only work for some students, why have them at all?”
As of 2023, 618 colleges and universities identified as “testblind,” meaning that they did not allow students to submit SAT and ACT scores in their undergraduate applications.
Despite some LSU students’ criticism of standardized testing, LSU shows no signs of changing its official admissions policy.
ENTERTAINMENT
Baton Rouge Gallery Hosts 17th Annual Surreal Salon Soiree
BY ARIS WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Baton Rouge Gallery hosted its 17th annual installation of Surreal Salon Soiree.
The soiree is held in celebration of the Surreal Salon exhibition that features over five dozen artworks by pop-surrealist artists hailing from all over the world. The event presents the local artistic community with an opportunity to showcase their abilities through creating elaborate costumes for the night.
Baton Rouge Gallery CEO Jason Andreasen spoke of how rewarding it has been to see Surreal Salon grow over the years.
“This began as a one night only showing of the exhibition that has gone on to become an international showing,” Andreasan said. “We are thrilled to be entering the 17th year of hosting this.”
Over 700 works were submitted to be a part of this year’s exhibition. Editor-in-chief of Juxtapoz Magazine, Evan Pricco, served as
BOOKS
the special guest juror and decided which works would be featured.
Cash prizes are awarded to artists and exhibitions that are deemed best in show, with this year’s winner being LSU graduate student Amber Hart. Hart’s winning oil-painting, “Seating for Six,” is her depiction of a dinner table and what she would imagine the experience of hosting a dinner to look and feel like.
Sara Hannon is an artist based in Austin, Texas whose abstract acrylic painting, “We’ve Been Taught To Listen,” was selected to be featured in this year’s exhibition.
“It means a ton to be a part of this event,” Hannon said. “I love anything that allows people to embrace their creativity and operate in a world other than our daily lives.”
Upon arriving at the soiree, guests could immediately understand what Hannon meant. Attendees arrived dressed as everything from animals and flowers to fictional characters and historical
figures. The collective appreciation for artistic expression made it easy to strike up a conversation with a stranger about the amazing turnout.
Socializing was followed by live performances at the Baton Rouge Gallery and an after-party hosted at Radio Bar, located at 3079 Government St, Baton Rouge. The night was a lively, beautiful display of how art brings the world together and gives people a reason to be happy during times of uncertainty.
Baton Rouge Gallery’s knack for using unique programming to connect artists to audiences shines through in Surreal Salon, as well as the gallery’s status as one of the longest-standing artist cooperatives in the country. Artists can apply for membership each summer and are allotted opportunities to showcase their work at the gallery.
Baton Rouge Gallery Exhibitions Director, Kelsey Livingston, hopes that the gallery can continue to start conversations about the richness of the current contemporary art scene.
/
Surreal Salon Soiree Attendees get in character for the annual celebration of the featured gallery exhibit.
“There is an abundance of talent here and the party itself is a celebration of that,” Livingston said.
Baton Rouge Gallery is hosting
an opening reception for its next exhibition on Wednesday, Feb. 5th. To keep up with Baton Rouge Gallery, you can follow their Instagram: @brgallery.
What should you read before it hits the big screen in 2025?
BY OLIVIA TOMLINSON Entertainment Editor
Some of the most successful movies originate from authors that began the story: Stephen King, Frank Herbert, Nicholas Sparks, Suzanne Collins - the list can go on and on.
There are an abundance of movies set to release in 2025, but here are a few highly-anticipated book to movie adaptations to keep an eye out for:
Animal Farm
George Orwell is no stranger to film adaptations.
Orwell’s 1945 novella “Animal Farm” was flipped from page to screen in 1999; however, another adaptation is in the works for 2025. Director Andy Serkis will turn this fable story into a comedy-drama. Production is underway, but there is no set release date yet.
People We Meet On Vacation
Poppy and Alex’s summer trip will finally hit the big screen.
“People We Meet On Vacation,” the 2021 New York Times’ Best Seller written by Emily Henry, is the first of five novels written by Henry that will receive a movie adaptation. Sony Pictures and Henry worked together to cast Tom Blyth as Alex and Emily Bader as Poppy.
Although there is no release date yet, fans have seen the two stars filming in multiple locations, including New Orleans.
Books that are set to become movies in 2025.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
This year will be a busy one for all of the readers on “BookTok.”
One of the most popular books to read in 2024 was “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid, though the book was published in 2017. The release date has not been announced and there has been no mention of assigned roles however, fans already know that production is underway.
Wicked: For Good
Fans of the first “Wicked” movie will have to wait an entire year to see what happens next.
The original author of “Wicked,” Gregory Maguire, has witnessed his story turn from book to musical to movie. This second part of the November 2024 “Wicked” movie will be titled “Wicked: For Good,” and the movie will continue to have Cynthia Erivo as the Wicked Witch of the West and Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good Witch.
The “Wicked” movie Instagram teased fans in December 2024 by posting the release date as Nov. 21, 2025, and captioning the post “You will be changed.”
The Running Man
“The Running Man” by Stephen King is a dystopian thriller first published in 1982, set in an oppressive future.
The 2025 remake is the second adaptation of the novel, following the 1987 film. Glen Powell will star as the main character, Ben Richards, who volunteers to participate in a game show that offers a cash prize. What’s the catch? For 30 days Ben will be hunted by professional killers.
This film is directed by Edgar Wright and will be released on Nov. 7.
Verity
Colleen Hoover is set to make her second film adaptation in 2025.
Hoover’s 2018 psychological thriller “Verity” follows a struggling writer, Lowen Ashleigh, who will be played by Dakota Johnson. Lowen is hired by the husband of a famous writer named Verity Crawford, who will be played by Anne Hathaway, to finish a series of books for Verity.
Things go south when Lowen moves into Verity’s home and discovers an unfinished manuscript with secrets. This movie has rumors of a November release date.
The Housemaid
This psychological thriller, written by Freida McFadden, will have everyone in the theater on the edge of their seat.
A young girl named Millie, played by Sydney Sweeney, takes a job as a live-in housekeeper for the wealthy couple, Nina Winchester, played by Amanda Seyfried, and Andrew Winchester, played by Brandon Sklenar. When Millie learns that her room is the attic, she also learns that the room only locks from the outside. As questions arise, so do uncovered secrets.
Julia Rose Andreasen
Baton Rouge Gallery
GRAPHIC BY OLIVIA TOMLINSON
LSU scores their season high thus far on Friday in their 198.000-197.175 victory over Missouri at the PMAC in Baton Rouge, La.
Designed by Jayden Slaughter
Photos by Gabriella Guillory
LSU gymnastics all-around sophomore Amari Drayton jumps through her floor routine.
LSU gymnastics all-around sophomore Konnor McClain leaps in the air during her beam routine.
LSU gymnastics all-around freshman Kailin Chio poses to finish her floor routine.
LSU gymnastics all-around freshman Kaliya Lincoln adjusts her crown after a successful vault jump.
LSU gymnastics all-around senior KJ Johnson earns her crown after a successful vault jump.
Chio throws her hands up for the crowd during introductions.
LSU gymnastics all-around senior Aleah Finnegan loops around the bar during her bars routine.
BY OLIVIA TOMLINSON
Febraury
Want to see your event in the Reveille? Email information to editor@lsu.edu.
Bon File’s very own Chef Blanche is hosting a soul food pop-up at the second floor of the student union from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Red Velvet Reilly Theatre
Enjoy a play by Lolita Chakrabarti, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m, at 100 Music and Dramatic Arts Building. Set in 1833, an actor has collapsed on stage and a young Black American actor has been asked to take on the role. How will the public and critics react to the change?
MONDAY AT 5 p.m.
10th February
February
7 th
Britt Ransom Lecture
LSU School of Art
FRIDAY AT 7:30 p.m.
A public lecture will be held from 5 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. at West Howe Russell Hall 130. Ransom’s exhibit, Sticky, is on campus for art students to appreciate sculpture and digital fabrication.
Lift Every Voice Recital Hall
Celebrate African American composers at 7:30 p.m. through this showcase. “Lift Every Voice: A Celebration of African-American Art Songs”, will create a powerful musical experience for listeners while introducing them to Western classical forms.
WEDNESDAY AT 4:30p.m.
19th February
Street Food Festival Tower Drive
February THURSDAY AT 7:30 p.m.
13th
2000s Night The 5
The 5 Dining Hall is throwing it back with a menu full of childhood favorites. Enjoy games, music and more from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Campus Life and Delightful are teaming up for a Mardi Gras Mambo. Enjoy street food on Tower Drive from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
25th February TUESDAY AT 11:00 a.m.
Black Light Pilates UREC
On the last Tuesday of every month, grab your white and neon workout gear and head to the UREC. Black light pilates begins at 7:45 p.m. in the Mind / Body Studio.
Costs: $0.34 per word per day. Minimum:
SPORTS
Women’s basketball big three gets the win over Mississippi State
BY TYLER HARDEN Staff Writer
When in doubt, you lean on who and what you know best.
In a game where LSU had 16 turnovers, and Mississippi State added another 19, LSU’s Big Three came through once again, leading the Tigers to a 81-67 win.
“Welcome to the SEC,” head coach Kim Mulkey said. “This is big-time, elite basketball, and it’s physical, but we’ll bang with you.”
Mikaylah Williams and Flau’jae Johnson combined for 42 points in the win, shooting a combined 8-for-14 from the perimeter.
The Tigers shot 30-for-74 (40.5%) from the field as a team, and 9-for-20 (45%) from three. Williams led the team with 22 points, shooting 8-for-16 (50%) from the field.
There may not be a better time for the sophomore guard to have found her shot, as she went into Sunday’s matchup fresh off a 37-point performance in LSU’s 107100 win over Oklahoma. Williams knocked down seven 3-pointers alone in the win over the Sooners.
“It opens things a lot for your post play,” Mulkey said. “It makes Morrow being an undersized post player a lot easier in there, and it just keeps it from being crowded.”
While Sunday’s performance was not of the magnitude it was on Thursday, it certainly was enough. Not to mention, she had some help.
Johnson finished with 20 points, shooting 6-for-12 (50%) from the field along with five rebounds and four blocks. The junior guard scored 25 points in the win over Oklahoma, shooting 2-for-5 (40%) from three in that win.
However, the win came with a caveat; despite the shouting success, LSU was uncharacteristically poor on the boards.
In a game where LSU won by a comfortable 14 points, the Tigers were outrebounded 49-48.
Aneesah Morrow started the first half slow, but found her
Football alum Andrew Whitworth named to Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame
BY ISABELLE CALLAHAN Staff Writer
LSU alum Andrew Whitworth was named to the Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame on Wednesday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. He was inducted alongside Eddie George.
Nicknamed “Big Whit,” he stands at 6-foot-7 and 310 pounds, built to be an outstanding tackle.
Whitworth was born in Louisiana and played for LSU prior to the NFL. He is recognized for demonstrating leadership and consistency in every aspect of his life.
rhythm in the second half, finishing the game with another double-double in 18 points and 20 rebounds.
“She never gets tired,” Mulkey said. “That kid is tough as nails, you just can’t imagine.”
Morrow was often working in a mismatch; she was frequently guarded by Mississippi State’s 6-foot-5 center, Quanirah Montague. Morrow and Shayeann DayWilson each finished the game with four fouls.
But LSU saw quality minutes from Jersey Wolfenbarger, who scored 12 points along with seven rebounds and two blocks in 28 minutes. Wolfenbarger’s role increased due to Sa’Myah Smith’s absence, who could not play in Sunday’s game following her ejection on Thursday.
“I think the coaches provide me with plenty of opportunity, whether it’s coming off the bench or starting,” Wolfenbarger said. “It’s just really where the program needs, the team needs, I’m willing to do.”
In addition to being limited on the boards, the Tigers once again had double-digit turnovers. Fortunately for LSU, Mississippi State offset many of those with 19 turnovers itself, allowing LSU to score an additional 23 points off of Bulldog turnovers.
The Tigers didn’t make the win easy on themselves. Along with LSU’s turnovers, including a time where it turned the ball over four consecutive times, the Tigers also allowed Mississippi State to go on a 12-2 run over two-and-a-half minutes in the second quarter.
Eniya Russell led Mississippi State with 13 points, shooting 5-for-15 (33%) from the field, and 3-for-10 (30%) from three. Montague also totaled 10 points, and Destiney McPhaul added another 10 points.
LSU has now won its last three games after suffering its first loss to South Carolina on Jan. 24. With those three wins all being in Baton Rouge, the Tigers are set to hit the road.
While at LSU from 2002-06, he was a four-year starting left tackle for the Tigers, never missing a game. This ties him for the second-longest NCAA game-playing streak in history.
Whitworth was drafted in the second round at No. 55 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals. His lon-
gevity carried to the pro level in a 16-season NFL career. Whitworth retired at the age of 41 with the Los Angeles Rams after winning his first Super Bowl.
That same season, he earned the most prestigious award in the NFL: Walton Payton Man of the Year. The award is presented to players who demonstrate exceptional commitment to community service.
Whitworth’s life is a testament to balance. Despite the demanding schedule of an NFL player, he has dedicated his time to helping those facing housing insecurity and damages. His philanthropic efforts serve as a reminder that giving back to the community is always possible.
“Kick down every door, every room I gotta walk through,” Whitworth said. “I will chase what’s important to me and I will do it every day without hesita-
LSU men’s basketball dismantled by Texas
BY ETHAN STENGER Sports Editor
It’s been a quarter century since the 2000 LSU men’s basketball team made the Sweet 16.
On Saturday, the purple and gold alums returned for the team’s game against Texas to celebrate their accomplishment 25 years later.
But once the game tipped off, the Tigers’ consistent struggles plagued them: turnovers and rebounds.
On Wednesday against No. 1 Auburn, LSU was out-rebounded 47-34 (-13), lost the turnover battle 20-9 (-11) and ultimately lost 87-74.
It’s hard to string together many wins when you’re losing both the turnover battle and the one on the boards.
The Tigers could only manage four offensive rebounds throughout the contest, while Texas more than doubled their count with 10.
“On the offensive glass, we were non-existent,” said LSU head
coach Matt McMahon. “There were plenty of missed shots to pursue. We only got four there. Speaks to the energy we played with on the glass there.”
The Tigers have yet to turn the ball over less times than any of their SEC opponents in a game once this season.
LSU is 1-4 when losing the turnover battle and 0-4 when being out-rebounded since the start of the new year. Neither of those two numbers is a recipe for success.
In this game, the Tigers’ bench kept them around. Jordan Sears, Vyctorius Miller and Robert Miller III waited to get their numbers called and delivered.
Sears shot 4-for-6 (66.7%) for eight points, Miller shot 2-for-4 (50%) for five points and Miller III 3-for-5 (60%) for six points while gobbling up six boards to keep LSU’s offense competitive.
Kadin Shedrick got Texas running early by driving to the hoop,
tion.”
The Shrine Bowl’s 100th anniversary reflected on the fantastic players of its history and the experiences it provided. Whitworth spoke of how, as an athlete, he never knew what would come tomorrow, but being able to go out and play the game was something he had always wanted to continue.
“I’ve been retired from the game for a while now, but it’s a cool moment to sit back and think about those times,” he said.
Whitworth’s induction into the Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame is a significant milestone, setting a new standard for players entering the draft and considering continuing beyond college football. His journey, marked by hard work, dedication, and a commitment to community service aptly represent everything Shrine Bowl represents.
GYMNASTICS
Johnson’s return powers gymnastics
BY AINSLEY FLOOD Staff Writer
After weeks of anticipation, senior KJ Johnson has made her long-awaited return to LSU gymnastics’ lineup.
After falling to Arkansas and down the rankings last week, No. 3 LSU returned to Baton Rouge to face No. 9 Missouri for its annual advocacy night.
Similar to last season, LSU lost its first away meet to the Missouri Tigers, but struck back in an electric matchup here at home.
Back in her starting position, Johnson took her place in front of a roaring LSU crowd. The fan favorite has been out since the season opener due to a preseason injury. She was a part of the national title winning squad and was a heavy hitter in regular season meets.
For the only time that night, the crowd went completely silent as she took her starting position, staring straight ahead at her target: the vault.
Johnson left nothing to be desired as she catapulted into a perfect stick that sent every fan to their feet.
Her score of 9.900 set the rest of the Tigers up for success
PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille
LSU women’s basketball senior forward Aneesah Morrow (24) shoots during LSU’s 81-67 win against Mississippi State on Feb. 2.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
ALLEN CONEY / The Reveille
LSU’s Cam Carter (#5, 6’3”) defends Auburn guard (#10) as he drives toward the basket during the Tigers’ game against Auburn on Jan. 29.
BY AINSLEY FLOOD Staff Writer
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 gymnastics’ Kailin Chio.
The Tigers hosted Missouri on Friday night and gave their best winning performance of the season by a score of 198.000.
Chio has competed in every event this season and took the meet’s all-around title with a total score of 39.65.
“I was just going with the flow and my team was doing their absolute best gymnastics tonight, so I was just feeding off of their energy,” Chio said in a post-meet press conference.
No. 2 in the SEC in the event, Chio served as the anchor in LSU’s vault rotation and used her score of 9.875 to raise the
total score to 49.550, which is the best score the event has seen from any team this season.
The freshman’s night only got better from there, as she gave her cleanest bars performance so far with a 9.925. She matched Alexis Jeffrey for the team’s top score that evening in the event.
If one wasn’t enough, Chio achieved another career-high with a stuck back handspring dismount on the balance beam worthy of a score of 9.95. Now, she is ranked ninth in the conference on beam.
Her floor routine score of 9.9 kept her at the top of the scoreboard and landed herself a first collegiate all-around title.
“Tonight I just did what I could,” Chio said. “I did my best gymnastics for them and the results turned out how they did.”
Since the season opener, Chio has been awarded two SEC Freshman of the Week honors and is currently ranked 14th in the SEC all-around.
SWEET SIXTEEN, from page 9
getting inside and making his way to the charity stripe in the first half on Saturday.
Through the first 20 minutes, Shedrick shot 2-for-5 (40%), 3-4 (75%) from the free throw line, and snagged six rebounds.
Longhorns freshman guard Tre Johnson also went to work with an efficient 4-for-9 (44.4%) halfshooting from the field with four rebounds to give Texas a 31-25 halftime lead.
But in the final 20 minutes, the Longhorns blew it wide open.
Texas shot 24-35 (68.6%) in the second half to outscore the Tigers 58-33 and go on to route LSU 89-58. It’s the Longhorns’ largest margin of victory in a road league game since it beat in-state rival Texas Tech by 31 nearly a decade and a half ago.
Texas senior guard Tramon Mark had 16 of his 18 in the final frame, shooting 6-for-8 (75%) from the floor, 2-for-2 (100%) from 3, and 2-2 (100%) from the line in the second half.
Both Johnson and Shedrick replicated their nine and eight-point first-half performances in the second to finish with 18 and 16 points, respectively.
Not a single fighting Tiger scored double-digits in the second half.
Corey Chest shot 3-for-3 (100%) underneath for six points and three rebounds, while Trey’Dez Green shot 2-for-2 (100%), knocking down a fade-away jumper, but that is about all to note from LSU offensively.
Cam Carter had his worst game of the season, posting a measly six points, shooting only 2-for-7 (28.6%) and failing to hit a three.
“We just never could get [Carter] freed up,” McMahon said.
THE RETURN, from page 9
and kicked off an exciting night in the PMAC.
Senior Aleah Finnegan’s score of 9.750 was dropped last week, but redeemed herself with a score of 9.925 and a stuck landing.
Kailin Chio took her place as the anchor and rounded out the first rotation with a 9.875. LSU took the early lead with four scores of 9.900 or above on vault. The freshman hasn’t missed an event yet this season.
Lexi Zeiss was back as the leadoff on uneven bars and earned a starting score of 9.850 for LSU.
Finnegan took the lowest score of the event with a 9.800, while freshman Chio continued her all-around with a score of 9.925 on bars.
At the halfway mark, the Tigers had a total score of 98.975 to Missouri’s 98.525.
The fight wasn’t near over, though. Last week, an unfortunate sequence of scores on beam set the team behind, but not this time.
The third rotation lineup proved themselves as Konnor McClain matched the meet’s highest score of 9.950. Her score
Sears chipped in with another five in the final frame to lead the Tigers in scoring on the day with 13. He was the only LSU player who scored over 10 points on the day.
As usual, the lack of 3-point shooting separated the Tigers early.
The Longhorns blew LSU out by 31 points, primarily due to the significant difference in each team’s long-ranged outing; Texas shot 10for-21 (47.6%) from 3-point range while the Tigers could only muster a pathetic 2-for-15 (13.3%) performance from behind the arc.
It starkly contrasted what we heard when former LSU head coach John Brady and retired Tiger big man Stromile Smith, members of the 2000 Sweet 16 team honored during the weekend, spoke about their time with the program.
“The decision to come to LSU was probably one of the best decisions of my life,” Swift, the 2000 SEC Co-Player of the Year, said.
On March 18, 2000, Swift took over in the second half, scoring 23 points and grabbing nine rebounds to lead the Tigers to a 72-67 victory over the Longhorns in the second round of the NCAA Tournament and punch their ticket to the Sweet 16.
“I only like to say it’s been five years, but it goes by quickly,” Brady said.
While it might feel like just yesterday for Brady, it’s been a long time coming for LSU.
The Tigers have only made the Sweet 16 twice since Brady’s bunch did it at the turn of the century, including a run to the Final Four in 2006.
On Friday, Brady and Swift struggled to answer a question about the similarities between the 2000 Sweet 16 team and LSU’s current form.
“Was that for me or for coach [Brady]?” Smith said after a pause.
was dropped last week after the judges handed her a 9.575.
At Arkansas, Chio posted the highest solo score of the night on vault. The freshman only continued to ascend as she claimed the title again with a 9.950 on beam.
The third rotation accumulated a score of 49.550 for LSU and a total of 148.525. Missouri finished the event with a score of 147.850.
Powerhouse Sierra Ballard returned to her usual spot as the LSU leadoff on floor after her absence at Arkansas, which Olivia Dunne filled, and scored a 9.850.
Haleigh Bryant has been slowly making her way back to the all-around after a preseason injury, and tonight she made her impact with a score of 9.875 on beam and 9.950 as the anchor on floor.
“The intentionality and the energy that they brought to practice really shifted this week,” head coach Jay Clark said. “They really understood the reasons for what had happened the previous week and it showed out there tonight.”
LSU finished with a 198.000, its highest total score this season and Missouri totaled
The Tigers could’ve used a star like Smith to elevate their offense out of the depths of stagnation it found itself in on Saturday.
LSU seemed on the rise and ready to snap its four-game winning streak, but this loss was beyond draining.
“You look at the last four games, I really thought we had made a lot of progress with the win here against Arkansas, competitiveness in the fight at [Texas] A&M, at Alabama, then again against Auburn here at home,” McMahon said. “Then to take those steps backwards in the second half is disappointing. So, it’s my responsibility. [I] didn’t have them ready to go, and [I’ve] got to get to work and figure out some ways to fix it.”
The Tigers can still turn their season around, no matter who’s at fault.
The next five games are all still very winnable for LSU: Georgia, No. 23 Ole Miss, Arkansas, Oklahoma and South Carolina.
It’s very important that the Tigers stack up wins now and garner as much momentum and rhythm as they can before facing their final five foes: No. 5 Florida, No. 8 Tennessee, No. 14 Mississippi State, No. 12 Kentucky and No. 13 Texas A&M.
But first, LSU will travel to Athens, Georgia, to try and break their four-game losing streak against the Bulldogs on Wednesday night.
“Yeah, I think [we’re] gonna have to have some really competitive practices and try to determine who needs to be on the floor, what combinations are best, who can help us in the areas of ball security, defensive rebounding, offensive execution to give ourselves a better chance,” McMahon said. “That’s the only way I know how to do it. Moving forward, we’ll get back to work.”
celebrates her floor exercise March 23 during LSU’s 198.075 victory in the 2024 SEC Gymnastics Championship in the Smoothie King Center in New
197.175.
LSU takes on Alabama on Friday, Feb. 7 in its second meet away this season.
FRANCIS DINH / The Reveille LSU gymnastics junior all-around
KJ Johnson
Orleans, La.
JACOB CHASTANT / The Reveille
GABRIELLA GUILLORY / The Reveille
LSU gymnastics all-around freshman Kailin Chio finishes her floor routine during the LSU 198.000-197.175 win against Missouri on January 31.
OPINION
This
year’s Oscar nominations will leave you questioning Hollywood’s taste
GARRETT MCENTEE Columnist
The most prestigious movie awards are almost upon us, so the most annoying person you know is raving and ranting about which, if any, of their favorite movies were nominated.
As one such annoying person, I’m going to use my collegiate platform to spread, not unlike a virus, my cinephile propaganda.
Here are the movies that were nominated that I believe are a toot or a boot: “Dune: Part Two,” “Emilia Pérez,” “Gladiator II,” “Nosferatu,” “The Substance,” “Wicked” and “Wild Robot.”
Here are my thoughts on the biggest movies nominated (and “Wild Robot”).
Starting off strong, “Dune: Part Two” was nominated five times for the following categories: Visual Effects, Sound, Production Design, Cinematography and Best Picture. I fully believe all of these were fair nominations. “Dune: Part Two” was an awesome film that felt just as impressive as its predecessor. If it were me, I might’ve even thrown in Best Costuming simply for how effective the designs are in moving you into the world whilst also being so chic.
I believe “Dune” will win big come awards night. Genuinely a great watch with phenomenal acting, and if absolutely nothing else, the screen arts of the proverbial set (because so much of it is special effects) are stunning, jaw-dropping and filled with eyebulgingly cool moments.
Moving on, we have my least favorite nomination, “Emilia Pérez.” This film earned 13 nominations. I was absolutely gobsmacked, especially since I watched the film in preparation for this article. I expected a work of art, something sublime for my eyes. Instead, I was shown a vaguely offensive film from the hands of a French director about a trans Mexican drug lord, a premise I would normally be drawn.
Alas, “Emilia Pérez” fell ex-
tremely short for me. I don’t find the musicality to be impressive, nor do I find the acting to be close to superb. The songs came off as almost SNL-ish to me, and none of them felt revolutionary or groundbreaking. The acting can be best surmised by looking up Selena Gomez’s viral monologue. It was disappointing all around, especially because I was very excited about the movie having a trans lead.
so much to analyze about cloth ing from this movie. It provides a crystal clear yet profound commentary on beauty standards, the horrors of pitting women against each other, the horrors of working for men in the industry and lots of body horror. Without a doubt, the story of Elizabeth Sparkle will become a classic.
On a much sexier and only slightly bloodier note is “Gladiator II.” Look, if your partner wants action and you want hot, sweaty men grunting (or vice versa), put this on. Nominated for a single Oscar in the category of Costume Design, maybe it was good, or maybe the actors are just hot and could pull off a paper bag drenched in pig slop. This movie is just great fun; it’s got some emotion, too… I suppose.
On a much spookier note, we have what is probably my favorite film of the year: “Nosferatu.” You can’t get me to shut up about this movie; I know it’s objectively not the movie of the year (“Dune: Part Two” most certainly is), but it was my movie of the year. Nominated for Cinematography, Costume Design, Production Design and Hair and Makeup, I would like nothing more than for my vampire movie to win big, and I believe it will. Total toot from me. It has everything: gothic energy, scary vampirism and LilyRose Depp.
Another horror film nominated was “The Substance,” which was my second favorite movie of the year. Nominated for five different categories: Best Picture, Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Achievement in Directing, Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling and Writing (Original Screenplay).
I will die on the hill that Margaret Qualley was robbed for best supporting actress. Demi Moore, however, is entirely deserving, and I genuinely hope she wins it. Also, this movie is disgusting in a way that I could not turn away from.
I will argue for the lack of nomination in the costume design category because there is
Perhaps the biggest movie to drop for this award season was “Wicked.” With a whopping 10 nominations, Wicked will win at least a few things. Awarded with the following nominations (not all listed): Best Picture, Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Achievement in Costume Design, Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling and Achievement in Sound.
Look, everyone loved “Wicked.” I loved this film and the Broadway show (opinion on the books pending). I will say that if this film doesn’t win makeup and hair for the simple fact of painting Cynthia Erivo green, then all hope is lost for the Oscars. Nevertheless, Erivo and Ariana Grande did phenomenally in their acting and, most certainly, in their singing. I pray this movie gets lots of gold.
Now on to the best-animated film I have ever seen in my life, “Wild Robot.” Nominated thrice for Best Animated Feature Film, Original Score and Achievement in Sound, I think these nominations are earned. If “Wild Robot” doesn’t win Best Animated Film, I will crash out.
While watching, I cried, laughed and even called my mom to tell her I loved her. The cast was absolutely stacked, and honestly, I would argue for all the actors to be nominated for their career-specific awards (i.e., Best Actor/Actress and Supporting Actor/Actress). But the score of this movie left me speechless. My roommate and I listened to it around the apartment for days after. Just watch it.
Now, I would be remiss not to mention that “Challengers” was totally robbed, if for nothing else, Best Score. But I also wholeheartedly believe it deserved
see OSCARS, page 12
During an era of
inclusivity, Trump is targeting transgender people
KATE BESKE Columnist
On his inauguration day, President Donald Trump signed multiple executive orders, with one in particular targeting transgender people.
The executive order is titled, “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” and I find this to be a misplaced sentiment.
How could making the lives of trans people as difficult as possible help women?
The order immediately tries to nullify the existence of nonbinary and gender-fluid people in the second section saying, “It is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female. These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality.”
Some of the transgender care the executive order targets include revoking protections for transgender military members and disallowing transgender students from using the bathroom that fits their gender identity.
Most of the things under this executive order had already been laid out before the election through Project 2025.
The same Project 2025 that people defended Trump from being a part of, and others said that people’s fears of it were unbased, which are now coming to life.
These policies are reaching into the lives of transgender people who are barely given what they need and stripping away everything of comfort.
Louisiana’s “Given Name
Act” already makes a student get a parent’s permission to be called another name or use varying pronouns. This makes me fear a future where a child is not allowed to go by a name or pronouns of their choosing, making school a living hell for them.
For many people in the country, including me, this is terrifying. The LGBTQ+ community has to live in fear that their rights and freedom of expression might be taken away.
The sadness I felt when Trump was elected is all brought up again when I think about how things could have been right now if the election had gone the other way.
As a woman and LGBTQ+ community member, I am sick of thinking about what the next four years have in store. I hope to stop watching the rights of women, the LGBTQ+ community, etc, being stripped away, but this is most likely only the beginning.
The fear that so many have felt, especially every day since Jan. 20, isn’t dramatic, and now people can see that action is being taken.
Notably, when Joe Biden won, the people who voted for Trump were angry, and now that Trump has won, everyone who didn’t vote for him is scared. In my eyes, that’s a group of people who are angry that they didn’t get what they wanted and are scared their rights will be taken away.
In a world where Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg are standing behind a convicted felon who is stripping away rights and sending in ICE raids, I am exhausted.
Kate Beske is a 21-year-old journalism senior from Destrehan, 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.
“Be fearless in pursuing your dreams, even if they seem impossible.”
Margot Robbie Australian actress and producer
OSCARS, from page 11
to be nominated for Best Cinematography. In my opinion, the scene where the point of view follows the tennis ball is more than enough reason.
Another snub was “Longlegs,” which I believe deserved a nomination for Best Cinematography because I was very close to pooping my pants every time the shadow-goat thing appeared on the screen, and that was enough for me.
My last snub complaint is “Smile: 2,” in which Naomi Scott was totally robbed for Best Actress. If you have watched the movie, you know exactly what I mean; she did her big one with this. Scott did things I wasn’t
aware actors could do; she played the insane character spiraling so well.
Alas, you may notice a common theme in my snub picks: they’re all horror (yes, “Challengers” is a horror movie because cheaters are depicted, and I’ll die on that hill). Sadly, horror is almost always snubbed at the Oscars because horror is rarely taken seriously as an artistic medium by the Academy.
Thus concludes my Oscars rant; I hope you enjoyed it and that you’ll stay tuned in to hopefully watch your favorite movies and actors win awards on March 2.
Garrett McEntee is a 19-year-old English sophomore from Benton.
Sexism is a subtle art that’s still practiced today
I’m convinced that sexism has morphed into a gene, and what we’re seeing is the generational effects passed down like a secret weapon men save whenever they feel threatened. Growing up, we can all recall the differences that were made between boys and girls. I guess I never noticed how disheartening it could be until it recently affected me in the workplace.
Unfortunately, I happen to be employed under male management. Since being employed by them, I have noticed subtle contrasts in the playing fields between men and women.
Under my position, I am obligated to report any information I care about, so naturally, I pour my interests, like pop culture, into the mix.
Nevertheless, I was recently up for a promotional opportunity. Unfortunately, my glee
was short-lived because I was soon told that my work was being replaced by work from one of my male colleagues. Perhaps his work was better, or perhaps I was experiencing gender discrimination.
Regardless, sexism is a quiet reminder that men are systematically at the forefront of the workplace compared to women. For a while, I even witnessed it in the on-campus dining halls.
There would be instances in which boys closer to the male cooks were served significantly larger serving sizes than girls. These dining halls are meant to indulge and power young minds and bodies, but boys need their “strength.”
For example, in elementary school, the teacher, who I recall was always female, would only ask the “strong boys” for help carrying chairs or supplies to and from her car.
Now, maybe you’ve got a male professor who somehow only ever picks male authors for readings or articles. Or maybe he even only calls on guys in the
Trump ending birthright citizenship would be against the Constitution
AMYRI’S VANTAGE
AMYRI JONES Columnist
Since the first of January, I’ve heard and read nonstop news about Trump’s plans and proposals for our nation. While this is important, the ridiculousness of these proposals has been mindboggling, and I can’t help but add my two cents.
Recently, I learned that Donald Trump is trying to cast aside birthright citizenship. Birthright citizenship means that if a person is born in a particular country, they are automatically citizens. It’s a self-explanatory concept, and it’s constitutional.
More specifically, the 14th Amendment of the Constitution states that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”
To disregard this amendment by delegitimizing birthright citizenship is blatantly unconstitutional and should not even be given attention by Congress because of its absurdity. Unfortunately, that is not how our government functions.
Trump might be trying to combat birth tourism, which White House Archives defines as the act of traveling to another country with the intent of giving birth so that your child can gain citizenship in said country. This doesn’t seem to be an issue, at least not to
class but refuses to spark a conversation with a girl, even if she happens to raise her hand. Small impacts like these promote the practice of sexism and inherently fuel the tainted psyche of men. There are ways I plan on unlearning sexism. There will be no difference in responsibilities between my daughters and sons. My sons are also responsible for fixing their own food. Both my sons and daughters will be expected to babysit if need be. We must learn to treat our children the same and not make one feel superior to the other based on things they can’t control, i.e. gender. Nevertheless, if you’ve realized that you and your male family members are treated differently in these ways, it’s time for open conversations with your family, friends and even strangers. It’s time to learn how to respect women and stop the cycle of the sexist gene.
Blair Bernard is a 21-year-old theater performance major from Lafayette, La.
those with empathy.
Since we are aware of Trump’s associations with white supremacists, it is safe to presume that his plan to undermine the 14th Amendment is one rooted in racism despite his efforts to convince us that he seeks to restore our nation’s stability.
Whether you agree with birth tourism or not is not important. The fact of the matter is that breaching the supreme law of the land is unconstitutional. The reasoning behind Trump’s proposal is fatuous, and so is his attempt to pass this law.
I understand that the state of our border is chaotic and demands attention and regulation. Still, I strongly disagree with his approach to this matter and, truthfully, almost everything else he seeks to implement.
If Congress truly values democracy, then surely Trump’s will will be undone, as it threatens our collective legitimacy. However, again, we have been shown that what we desire in this country sometimes holds little to no value to politicians. It’s an unfortunate truth that most of us are finally awakening to.
With almost one month down and about four years left, I can only hope our nation does not collapse due to our President’s mind or lack thereof. I love my country and would hate to see it crumble further due to sheer incompetence and despotism.
Amyri Jones is a 23-year-old digital advertising and religious studies senior from Baton Rouge, La.
BODACIOUS BLAIR
BLAIR BERNARD Columnist
MATT SAYLES/INVISION/AP, FILE
Oscar statuettes appear backstage at the Oscars in Los Angeles on Feb. 26, 2017.
AP PHOTO/ERIC GAY, FILE
Demonstrators gather at the federal courthouse following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, June 24, 2022, in Austin, Texas.
AP PHOTO/EVAN VUCCI, FILE
In this Nov. 5, 2020, file photo President Donald Trump speaks at the White House in Washington.