The Reveille 1-18-24

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LSU removes diversity language and content from several websites in favor of “engagement.”

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Editor in Chief CLAIRE SULLIVAN Managing Editor LAUREN MADDEN Digital Editor OLIVIA TOMLINSON News Editor OLIVER BUTCHER Deputy News Editor CROSS HARRIS Sports Editor PETER RAUTERKUS Deputy Sports Editor MACKAY SUIRE Entertainment Editor MATILDA SIPP Opinion Editor COLIN FALCON Multimedia Editor MATTHEW PERSCHALL Production Editor EMMA DUHÉ Chief Designer PAOLA SANTIAGO RODRIGUEZ

FINXSHOTS

FINXSHOTS

The LSU Tiger Girls perform their Division IA hip hop routine to “Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson at the Universal Dance Associated Championship in Orlando, Florida.

The LSU Tiger Girls perform their Division IA jazz routine to “Are You That Somebody” by Aaliyah at the Universal Dance Associated Championship in Orlando, Florida.

Tiger Girls win Hip Hop National Championship, earn third place in jazz

BY LIZZIE FALCETTI @lizziefalcetti The LSU Tiger Girls brought home a national championship after winning Division IA Hip Hop at the UCA and UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday.

The team also won third place in the DIA Jazz division.

Coined by social media as the “Dance Super Bowl,” the UDA Nationals Competition happens every January at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

This three-day competition is intense and scores among teams are miniscule. Routines go viral, and new unseen skills are brought to the stage every year, setting new standards.

Led by coaches Kandace Hale and Londyn Daniel, the Tiger Girls performed two striking routines.

Hip Hop After earning first place in 2022 with their idolized “Like a Boy” hip hop dance, the Tiger Girls were on a mission to bring the championship back to the boot in 2024.

As soon as the first note

played of “Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson, the crowd was taken back in time by an allaround classic routine.

Using intricate locking moves and fast footwork, the routine looked simultaneously robotic and groovy. The team’s ability to accentuate cohesion and clean moves from beginning to end sold the dance.

Carsen Rowe, Nathan Cherry, Geovanna Garavelo-Bortoleto and former LSU Tiger Girl Sammy McFadden choreographed this routine. The dance’s composition highlighted Michael Jackson moves and made this version of LSU’s iconic hip hop style stand out.

The routine’s musicality and staging, along with each dancer’s ability to emulate the Classic Michael Jackson persona made the routine a tough one to beat.

The Tiger Girls bring something new to the stage every year. They take creative risks and don’t stick to the trends already seen in the college dance world.

In the semi-finals, the Tiger Girls were in first place with a 95.15 event score. University of Nevada, Las Vegas was sec-

ond with a 93.79. To secure the championship title, the Tiger Girls came out even stronger in the finals and earned a 97.22.

With their continuous success in the hip hop division, the Tiger Girls have built a legacy.

Last year’s routine to “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce showcased a more feminine style of hip hop, with the team dancing in heels and tight jumpsuits.

This year’s choreography and style was a complete turn from their 2023 routine. Dancing in fedoras, ties and Nike Dunk Low shoes, the Tiger Girls presented a more funk-dance style, showing off the team’s versatility.

Jazz The Tiger Girls earned third place in DIA Jazz with their hard-hitting routine to “Are You That Somebody” by Aaliyah. It’s the team’s first time finishing in the top three in this division in 10 years.

Choosing a song with fast, distinct beats made the musicality of the dance stand out. Choreographed by Kristin Daniel, every move appeared rhythmic with the beat and lyrics of the music.

Compared to other routines in this division, LSU’s routine had a hip hop undertone with fast footwork and groovy hip and arm movements.

The team members were in unison in their technique, turn sections, group choreography and floorwork.

This year, the jazz division took place over three days and had prelims, semi finals and finals. LSU finished with a 96.77 event score and was approximately two points behind first and second place.

In the jazz category, Ohio State took first place and Minnesota earned second. These teams always dominate, and for the eighth year in a row they finished in the top two.

Minnesota and Ohio State had powerful performances with difficult technique and turn sections. While each of the top routines varied in style, each one played to the team’s strengths.

The UDA college nationals weekend only happens once a year, and it never lacks tough competition with ground-breaking routines that set the bar even higher.

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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.

NEWS

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Ride or die: Garden District bus route on notice once again

BY CROSS HARRIS @thecrossharris LSU’s Garden District bus route has for the last six months faced an on-again, off-again existential crisis.

On one hand, Parking and Transportation Services, the department that runs Tiger Trails, has repeatedly attempted to shut down the line. A dedicated group of riders, on the other hand, have repeatedly fought to preserve it.

Carlos Reina-Flores, a 30-yearold studying pre-cardiopulmonary science at LSU, learned in early November that Parking and Transportation planned to terminate the line at the end of the fall semester.

This wasn’t the first time.

In fact, Parking and Transportation had already successfully shut down the Garden District route once before, just weeks prior to the start of the fall semester in August.

News of that first cancellation came quietly in mid-July, catching students by surprise and leaving many who depended on the line in the lurch.

According to then Director of Parking and Transportation Brian Favela, his department’s choice to suspend the route came as a costsaving measure. The Garden District line was “underutilized,” he said.

For Reina-Flores, the route’s termination was a disaster.

In 2013, Reina-Flores was hit by a car while riding his bicycle.

The accident broke his jaw, his ankle, damaged his respiratory tract, his heart and left him with a traumatic brain injury.

“What can I say?” he told the Reveille in December. “I am a person with disabilities.”

MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille

An LSU bus drives down the street on Aug. 18 on South Stadium Drive in Baton Rouge, La. Today, Reina-Flores’ limited mobility means getting from one place to another independently is a challenge. He can’t legally drive a car or safely ride a bicycle.

In May, Reina-Flores moved from Honduras to live with his grandmother in Baton Rouge in order to attend LSU. “Before anything, before joining anything, I was looking for to go, my grandmother told me, ‘Come to LSU. There’s a direct bus from my house, from the Garden District to LSU.’” The Garden District bus route, Reina-Flores told the Reveille, had been his main reason for coming to the university. His grandmother is too elderly to drive, but her home is just minutes from a stop on the line.

“It made everything more possible for me,” he said.

Just a few weeks after starting at the university, Reina-Flores

said, he learned that the Garden District bus route would be terminated. And on Aug. 11, commencement day for the summer session, it was.

“If I knew this before, one of two things would’ve happened,” Reina-Flores told the Reveille in August. “I wouldn’t have come to LSU, or I would’ve looked for a different place and restructured my life.”

When he reached out to Parking and Transportation in August, Reina-Flores said, they suggested he look into the Baton Rouge CATS bus system to get to school.

But the CATS stop closest to his grandmothers’ was a 25-minute walk, which Reina-Flores couldn’t safely make.

Riders left scrambling by the route’s August termination said that Parking and Transportation hadn’t given the community sufficient warning. Only a series of

small fliers on the bus and a notification from the TransLoc app had augured the line’s end, and even those arrived with little advance.

“It was less than a month’s notice,” said Spenser Biernacki, a 29-year-old biology doctoral student who lives in the Garden District. “And they did it in the middle of the summer, so if people are coming back to school from being gone for the summer, they’re going to have no idea that they’re not going to have this resource to get to campus anymore.”

Shortly after the Reveille first reported on the Garden District bus route’s August termination, Parking and Transportation announced they would extend the line’s life. In an email, they acknowledged inconspicuous and short notice had given students little time to make other plans.

“Parking and Transportation Services understands that our

communications about the cancellation of the Garden District Route may have not made it to you,” the email read. “Additionally, we understand there is a need for more time to plan for this disruption in each of your lives.”

The bus was only gone for 10 days when it resumed service for the fall semester on Aug. 21.

“And then, this semester, I thought everything had cooled down and they were going to continue,” Reina-Flores said.

But in early November, he learned that Parking and Transportation planned to shut down the Garden District bus route once again, this time at the end of the fall semester on Dec. 8.

Reina-Flores reacted.

“When I got the news I just wanted to be transparent. I wanted everybody to hear, everybody to join, and I was collecting the emails of the people that I see take the bus daily. . .I wanted everybody who takes the bus daily to send their story.”

Garden District riders responded to the email chain Reina-Flores began, explaining how they had built lives around the bus.

Ben Bell, a student success coach with LSU Online and Continuing Education wrote that his family could afford only one car, which his wife used to get to work.

“A major reason we chose to live near the Garden District route is to provide needed transportation to my work at LSU,” his email read.

Jessica Stroope, a research associate with the LSU School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, wrote that she takes the bus when

see BUS ROUTES, page 4

AGRICULTURE

Urban gardening group sows knowledge at library

BY SARAH WALTON @sarahrosewalton Standing before the Baton Rouge Botanic Garden Foundation’s members, with pants tucked into his rain-boots, a “Baton Roots” shirt and a button-down, was Mitchell Provensal.

Provensal, the senior program director of Baton Roots Community Farm, was invited by the Baton Rouge Botanic Garden Foundation to discuss Baton Roots, its projects and its mission at the Baton Rouge Main Library at Goodwood on Saturday.

Baton Roots describes itself on its website as a “Community Farm and Garden network in Baton Rouge” that teaches communities “best practices in sustainable agriculture on an urban farm.”

They have a community garden at Howell Park growing produce and are sponsored by organizations including the LSU AgCenter, Geaux Get Healthy and Baton

Rouge Recreation.

At the talk, Provensal informed on the programs, events and opportunities Baton Roots offers the surrounding communities, like Hustle and Grow which teaches high school students about stewardship, sustainable urban farming and how food security is essential to the health of a community.

Some of Baton Roots’ most prominent events include Sow Good Saturday, where staff members lead a farming or gardening workshop, a yoga class and a “farm-fresh cooking demo + taste test” directed by a chef and the American Heart Association. Attendees only need to bring water, comfortable shoes and clothes., and everyone can take some produce home.

Provensal stated Baton Roots’ current goals: Save more seeds, reduce food waste in Baton Rouge, increase compost production and strengthen food security. He also

spoke of new techniques and technologies he and Baton Roots have used, including Korean natural farming, JADAM farming and bokashi composting.

A form of composting via fermentation, bokashi composting involves food scraps being sealed in a bin in which some bokashi bran is added, causing an anaerobic reaction that breaks down the food scraps into a compost richer in nutrients than one accomplished through traditional composting.

The process works through lactofermentation, and Provensal compared it to how kimchi, yogurt or cheese ferments. It’s easy, and the compost tea can help plants grow and it also scares away some bugs because the acidity of the fermentation repels them.

Throughout the presentation audience members chimed in to ask questions, like if bokashi composting is odorless, or to

SARAH WALTON / The Reveille

see BATON ROOTS, page 4

Gardens on Jan. 13 at the Baton Rouge Library in Baton Rouge, La.

Thursday, January 18, 2024

page 4 BUS ROUTES, from page 3 weather makes riding her bike unsafe.

“If LSU is serious about reducing traffic and implementing their parking plan,” she wrote, “eliminating the Garden District route, which supports many students, staff, and faculty who bike *most* of the time, as well as students, faculty, and staff who rely on the route *all* of the time, is a poor decision.”

The route could be improved, she added, but changes should happen with input from the current riders and the LSU community.

In the three months since the route was first terminated then reopened, very little had changed for those who depended on the bus to get to school and work.

Riders still advocated fiercely for its preservation. On the other hand, much had changed within

BATON ROOTS, from page 3 share their own gardening knowledge with the crowd.

Baton Roots is also in the process of creating a JohnsonSu compost bioreactor, a device designed to help soil regain lost nutrients and repair ecosystems damaged by weather and human activity.

Another one of Provensal’s

the department of Parking and Transportation.

In October the department’s director, Brian Favela, resigned from his position. He is now the Director of Parking and Transportation Services at the University of South Carolina.

Since then, the former Parking and Transportation Operations Manager, Kaylee Aulds, has stepped into the role of interimdirector, she told the Reveille in December.

Aulds also told the Reveille that, over the previous semester, the whole department had been shifted within the university’s organization. Where Parking and Transportation Services had formerly fallen under the umbrella of Facility Services, it would now be run under the direction of Campus Safety, Emergency Preparedness & Emergency Response.

A special committee is currently looking for a candidate to act

as permanent director while Aulds remains in the temporary role.

Today, the future of the Garden District bus route is uncertain at best.

Shortly after Reina-Flores mobilized to preserve the line in November, Aulds emailed him.

The line’s life would be extended once again. A few days later, Parking and Transportation sent out a mass email.

“This decision was made after careful consideration of the feedback and suggestions provided by students and staff,” the email read. “We understand how important it is to have reliable modes of transportation on campus, and we are committed to ensuring that the Garden District Route continues to serve as a convenient and accessible option for members of the LSU community.”

When the Reveille spoke with Interim-Director Aulds in December, she emphasized that the fate

of the garden district bus route was still up in the air.

“They could or could not decide to continue it. But I think for those students who have already purchased apartments, or signed a year lease or whatever the case may be, that at least gives them the year.”

According to Aulds, Parking and Transportation’s rationale for cutting the line had remained the same. The Garden District bus route is still considered to be a “low-rider system.”

Despite the department’s second reversal, Aulds said that Parking and Transportation hadn’t received that much resistance from the community.

“I think it was a small group of people who pushed back on it,” she told the Reveille. “But that’s not to say that those aren’t also valued opinions either.”

Parking and Transportation and the university administration

will evaluate their plans for the line over the course of the spring semester.

Spring 2024 will also be ReinaFlores’ last stint at LSU in Baton Rouge. Next school year, he plans to continue his education at LSU Health New Orleans, where he’s been accepted into the cardiopulmonary science program.

Of course, he was glad that his and the community’s advocacy had prolonged the Garden District bus route, but as he considered the future, his thoughts turned to those who would still need the route after he’s gone.

“I’ll need it at least one more semester, but there are people on campus, I assure you, that work and live here that depend on the bus route, not only for one semester,” Reina-Flores said. “They need it for their life. So this is something positive we’re all doing together. We’re fighting to preserve this bus line.”

projects is saving seeds. He noticed how many were going to waste, and for Baton Roots, he created a seed cleaner to save seeds and distribute them to others. He also told the audience how he made a wood contraption to separate seeds from their husks.

Near the end of the presentation, Provensal spoke about how Baton Roots was recently chosen for the Agroforestry Apprentice-

ship Program with the USDA and the US Forest Service. Some of the plans for the apprenticeship are to increase tree equity and focus on plant production in Baton Rouge.

At the end, Provensal gave some Hibiscus seeds away to the attendees, some of whom later went out to the garden at the library to get a tour from the leadership of the Baton Rouge Botanic Garden Foundation.

“I think it’s awesome that someone is so invested in food insecurity in the city and that he is teaching people to plant and harvest for themselves,” said Botanic Garden Foundation board member Anita Smith. “So I think it was a fantastic talk today.”

Provensal said in an interview after the presentation that “it’s always good to talk to similar-minded gardening people…trying to

promote our program, agriculture and growing more food.”

The Baton Rouge Botanic Garden Foundation holds plant, farming and gardening center meetings once a month where more people like Provensal talk, volunteer and do the upkeep of the gardens at the library. Baton Roots continually works in Baton Rouge and regularly welcomes visitors and volunteers at Howell Park.

WE’RE GRAPHIC HIRING A DESIGNER Must be highly motivated and be accepted into the Graphic Design or Digital Art program at LSU to be considered.

APPLY HERE!

ENTERTAINMENT

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THIS WEEKEND IN BR

SUNDAY AT 8 P.M.

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Want to see your event in The Reveille?

Email information to editor@lsu.edu.

JANUARY

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LSU Gymnastics v. Kentucky Pete Maravich Assembly Center LSU gymnastics will be competing in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center against the Kentucky Wildcats. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the meet begins at 8 p.m. Entry is free for students with their All-in-1 Pass.

Krewe of Oshun Parade and Festival Scotlandville, Baton Rouge The Krewe of Oshun is kicking off the Mardi Gras season here in Baton Rouge. Hosted in the Scotlandville neighborhood, the Krewe of Oshun are sure to blow you away with their stunning floats and live music. The parade begins at noon at 3200 Harding Blvd.

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SATURDAY AT NOON

FRIDAY AT 7 P.M.

BY ARIS WILLIAMS @arisofmars

Brickyard Baddies Drag Show Brickyard South Bar + Patio Brickyard South Bar + Patio will be hosting a series of performances from local drag performers. The show will begin at 8 p.m. and Brickyard will also be offering drink specials, cool prizes, art vendors and fun audience games. Entry is free and you must be 21 years old or older.

Upcoming concerts to save you from the spring semester slump

BY EMILY BRACHER @emily_bracher_

NEW ORLEANS ixion D 1501 Dave D S: TICKET

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BATON ROUGE FEBRUARY

JANUARY

With a new semester about to begin, it’s time for a refresh.

Maybe your New Year’s resolution is to see more live music.

Maybe you’re looking to spend your time somewhere that isn’t Himes Hall or Tigerland. Maybe you just want to mix things up.

Whatever your reason may be, here are some upcoming concerts to help you out.

Thursday, January 18, 2024

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Thursday, January 18, 2024

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LSU SCRUBS ‘DIVERSITY’ Here’s what we know about LSU removing DEI content online

BY OLIVER BUTCHER, CROSS HARRIS & CLAIRE SULLIVAN @oliverbutcher73, @thecrossharris & @sulliclaire Across its colleges and campuses, LSU has scrubbed the word “diversity” from much of its online vocabulary in recent weeks.

At least six websites removed the word and related content, coinciding with LSU swapping “inclusion” for “engagement” in the name of what is now the Division of Engagement, Civil Rights and Title IX. President William F. Tate IV announced this “central and unifying theme” of “engagement” to campus in an email in early January.

That division name change was announced; other alterations happened quietly. The university denied, through a spokesman, speculation that anyone was asked to change language on their websites.

A college dean also said she wasn’t asked to remove diversity content. But archives of the edited websites, reviewed by the Reveille using the Internet Archive, show the changes across sites ocured within the same few-week period.

Among other rewritings and deletions, the university removed its diversity statement, which made a call to “recognize and reflect on the inglorious aspects of our history.”

“We believe diversity, equity, and inclusion enrich the educational experience of our students, faculty, and staff, and are necessary to prepare all people to thrive personally and professionally in a global society,” the statement read.

When asked about the diversity statement, Todd Woodward, LSU’s vice president of marketing and communications, pointed to a new statement on the engagement division’s website that says LSU “strive[s] to provide equal opportunities for students, faculty, and staff.” It does not use the words diversity, equity and inclusion, known as DEI. Other schools within the university changed the language of their websites and committees to add “engagement” and remove “diversity.” The Manship School of Mass Communication removed a series on racism from its website and YouTube; the dean said it would return, but wasn’t clear when. And the College of the Coast and Environment replaced its diversity action plan with a “Roadmap to Inclusion and Engagement” that was identical apart from its name.

It marks a move away from the DEI language that has become a target of conservative

politicians in and outside Louisiana.

A Wednesday ruling from the Florida Board of Education, for instance, banned public universities and colleges from using state or federal funds for DEI-related programs and policies. Similar legislation in Texas has forced public colleges to shutter their DEI offices.

The conservative battle against DEI has sparked in Baton Rouge, as well. During Louisiana’s 2023 legislative session, a lawmaker proposed a bill that would require schools to collect data on their DEI programs.

And in April, a state Republican Party committee called for the legislature to end DEI offices at the state’s public and private universities and colleges.

The change on LSU’s websites sparked pushback from some on campus, many of whom were caught off guard by the pivot away from the university’s previous commitments to DEI. Students expressed concern that LSU was moving away from the values that had drawn them to the school in the first place, disappointment at the change and concern for how the new language would affect future students.

“That’s gonna make people think, incoming freshman, oh, are there going to be diverse people here?” said Reagan Lewis, an animal sciences freshman.

“Am I going to be welcome? Are people going to like me here?

Because some people don’t feel like they fit in if they’re surrounded by just—okay, let’s say I’m a Black girl, and I’m the only Black girl in here, surrounded by white people—will I feel welcome? Will I feel okay in my environment? And that’s probably going to make some people not go here because I have experienced that.”

Mass communication senior Emily Mumola felt LSU was “removing the bare minimum.”

“It seems like they’re missing the point by taking away the basic language of diversity and instead replacing [it] with a vague statement,” she said.

Rebranding The altering of LSU web pages was wide in its scope but varied in its extent.

Woodward said the administration did not instruct colleges to remove any language online, but many of the pages were changed within the same fewweek period, according to archives of the websites reviewed by the Reveille.

For instance, between Dec. 15 and early January, the College of the Coast and Environment replaced a “Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion” page with one titled “Inclusion and En-

gagement.” It also removed the words diversity and equity from the text of the website, replacing that language with inclusion and engagement.

The college rebranded its DEI committee as an “inclusion and engagement committee” and replaced its diversity action plan, dated February 2022, with a “Roadmap to Inclusion and Engagement,” dated January 2024. The two documents are the same, except for two differences: their names and dates.

“Although enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has been a strategic priority of the LSU College of the Coast & Environment (CC&E) for many years, this plan charts the course with specific actions to make CC&E a more welcoming, inclusive, equitable, and diverse college,” both of the documents read.

Dean Clint Wilson did not respond to a request for comment from the Reveille about the changes.

Meanwhile, the LSU Law Center replaced its “Commitment to Diversity” with a “Commitment to Belonging, Student Success, and Wellness.” The new statement, while reworded, conveys a message similar to the original. This change happened sometime after Oct. 19, according to the most recent page saved in the Internet Archive.

Asked about the changes, Dean Alena Allen acknowledged the political debate around the language.

“There has been quite a bit of discussion about how politicized and unclear the words diversity, equity and inclusion are. Likewise, depending on your perspective, we have seen a lot of misinterpretation and misinformation,” Allen said.

“The goal was to update our website and to provide a clearer and more substantive articulation of our values and goals instead of relying on language that is overused and less clear.”

The newly minted Division of Engagement, Civil Rights and Title IX has had the “mission, vision, and diversity statement” section of its webpage completely removed from its original placing in the “about us” dropdown menu. Gone, too, from the page is any reference to the Diversity Leadership Committee, which was described as holding “the University accountable for promoting inclusion, integrity, respect, service, and social justice,” according to an archive of the page.

The Manship School has retained a “commitment to diversity” statement on its website.

Dean Kimberly Bissell said that statement would remain and

that the school’s courses would not be affected. Still, the college received attention for removing a 20-episode series called “Racism: Dismantling the System” from its website and YouTube channel.

Bissell has attributed the series’ removal to a website redesign and the fact that she didn’t feel the videos were presented well online. Though she said she consulted the university administration about the website redesign, she emphasized that “any decision about content was my decision.”

The changes didn’t stay in Baton Rouge. LSU Alexandria switched the name of its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance and Access. These changes happened sometime between Dec. 15 and Jan. 5, according to saved pages under the Internet Archive.

Still, LSU-A is unique from most changes that have ocured.

While it did reword and remove multiple sentences containing DEI language, it still kept certain mentions of DEI on its office’s page, while LSU’s main campus did not.

Woodward, the LSU spokesman, said the schools weren’t directed to change the DEI language on their sites.

“We have more than 14,000 pages we host on LSU.edu. I am not aware of any reason this language would be changing comprehensively. I have not seen anything in writing asking anyone to do this,” Woodward said. “Completely separate from the [engagement] plan, it would seem logical to me, with what we know has happened in the state of Florida and Texas, many have been wondering what will happen with our state, and there very possibly could have been some discussions about what language is on websites. I know for sure no one has asked anyone to change language.”

Pivot to ‘engagement’ As LSU turns away from DEI language, it turns toward a new focus word: engagement.

In his email to campus, Tate offered two explanations of the word, calling engagement a “two way process that enables change on both sides” and a “serious commitment” to Louisiana and its people. Such engagement will be encouraged through new awards for LSU students, faculty and staff, ranging from $500 to $3,000.

The newly-renamed division has a frequently-asked questions page on its website. One of them reads: “Is LSU still committed to diversity and inclusion?”

It doesn’t answer that with a yes or no, nor does it use either of those words. Instead, it

affirms the university’s aim to “provide equal opportunities for all students, faculty, and staff, ensuring that everyone has the chance to thrive and succeed.”

Dean Bissell told the Reveille she doesn’t feel that the university moving away from DEI language impacts its ability to discuss those topics.

“I think sometimes what happens is that we get hung up on language, and we get hung up on words, and I don’t think that it means that the conversations aren’t happening,” Bissell said.

Others disagreed. In Bissell’s own college, mass communication professor Robert Mann has repeatedly lambasted the university on X, where he expresses frequent criticisms of the university administration to his more than 28,000 followers.

“Just a total abdication of moral leadership by President Bill Tate and other leaders at LSU,” he posted in response to news of diversity language being scrubbed. “Disgraceful action that should, at the very least, trigger a Faculty Senate vote of no confidence in Tate.”

Mann sits on the Faculty Senate. He announced that he would step down from the university in the spring after Jeff Landry, a conservative Republican who had once called for the school to punish him, won the race for governor in October.

Political science professor Belinda Davis said she thought the change was a direct result of the new governor and a supermajority of Republicans in both chambers of the state legislature.

“The Republican Party in Louisiana and Gov. Landry have expressed hostility towards diversity, equity and inclusion programming, and I think that LSU is responding to the political reality that it now exists in,” Davis said.

Davis’ research revolves around American politics at the state level and, among other areas of focus: representation.

She told the Reveille that she has been involved with state agencies that made similar language changes—with deleterious effects.

“It emboldened the folks who are concerned about DEI efforts and makes it harder for you to foster an inclusive learning environment for folks that are diverse.”

Davis said she thought the LSU administration had made the changes in an effort to protect the university.

“Unfortunately,” she said, “I don’t think that it’s going to do that.”

Jacob Mathews contributed to this report.

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THE Daily Commuter Puzzle by Stella Zawistowski ACROSS 1 Fraudulent scheme 5 Roku alternative 9 Christmas sleigh driver 14 Metal thread 15 First-year law student 16 Easy to understand 17 Notion 18 Actress Swenson 19 Morning wakerupper 20 Shoe with a coin in it 23 Plaything 24 Notable time 25 Overseas trade org.

26 __ out 28 French lady’s title 34 Church table 37 Hammer’s target 38 Hijab, e.g.

39 __-back 40 Stairs over a fence 41 German “one” 42 At any time 43 Abbr. before a short version 44 Speak in public 45 Savory bits on rye bread 48 Droop 49 Short-lived craze 50 Ingest 53 Crow’s noise 56 Era of Donatello and Raphael 60 Dull pains 62 Skin woe 63 Amaze 64 “Bye!” 65 Fruit rind 66 Hardens 67 “Spencer” actress’s nickname 68 Screws up 69 Sequoia, for one

Created by Stella Zawistowski

DOWN 1 Tinder gesture 2 Apple beverage 3 Combat venue 4 Not nice 5 Worked hard 6 Without ill intent 7 Star in Lyra 8 “Frozen” snowman 9 Frightens 10 __ or nothing 11 All tidied up 12 Poi root 13 Fighting force 21 2024, for one 22 Napoleon’s fate 27 Cuts off 28 Fabric named for an Indian city 29 Hotel cleaners 30 Crude processor 31 “Star Wars” general 32 Dryer trap stuff 33 If not 34 Phillies infielder Bohm 35 Volcano output

1/18/24

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

36 Level 40 Performance platform 44 Likelihood 46 Poland’s capital 47 Artist’s stands 50 Go in 51 Less than 90 degrees

1/18/24

52 On edge 53 Whiskey-aging vessel 54 Pitching stars 55 __ one’s appetite 57 Back of the neck 58 Big laptop brand 59 Helper: Abbr.

61 Look at

SPORTS MONEY MOVES

TRACK AND FIELD

BY LIZZIE FALCETTI @lizziefalcetti

BY CABE BOND @PrezBond

WNBA legend Candace Parker earned $100,000 for the 2023 season.

She took nearly a 50% pay cut to join the Las Vegas Aces after making $192,500 with the Chicago Sky. The Aces could then maintain its roster of high-performing players. Parker’s team-first attitude underpinned the Aces’ championship in October.

By comparison, when the Denver Nuggets won the 2023 NBA championship, the lowest-paid player on the 18-man roster made $580,373 after the salary cap, according to Spotrac, which tracks pro-athlete contracts and player financials.

But thanks to name, image and likeness deals, known as NIL, the game is changing for female student athletes, regardless of the gender pay gaps that exist in professional institutions.

Athletes who traditionally have had to sacrifice pay for the success of their organizations now gain opportunities to increase their monetary success, starting at the college level.

LSU gymnast Olivia “Livvy” Dunne is the top female NIL earner with a $3.3 million NIL valuation, according to On3, a digital media company that tracks NIL developments. If Dunne chose to

At the LSU Purple Tiger, a track meet welcoming over ten programs, purple and gold reigned supreme.

Ten first place finishes were earned among the enrolled athletes. LSU controlled the meet from start to finish.

Fans are rightfully excited.

With the program starting off strong, the teams appear to have plenty of potential for a successful season.

For LSU fans that haven’t paid much attention to track and field, here are some notable names to watch: Morgan Smalls The former jumper for a national championship program has a stunning resume; a threetime USTFCCCA All-American, two-time Second Time All-SEC selection are a few of her many accolades.

She started her collegiate career at USC as a stellar athlete.

Her production has been equally impressive production since transferring to LSU, which made her a silver medalist at the SEC Championship.

In the recent meet, Smalls was two feet shy of setting a new LSU women’s record for the long jump. She placed first in her event with a long jump

How LSU female athletes are dominating in the NIL space

see NIL, page 10

MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille

LSU women’s basketball sophomore forward Angel Reese (10) takes the court on Jan. 15 prior to LSU’s 84-54 win over Auburn in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La.

page 9

LSU track stars to watch

see BLAZERS, page 10

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

LSU women’s basketball looks to bounce back against Alabama

BY TYLER HARDEN @ttjharden8 Kim Mulkey’s Tigers are coming off a loss to Auburn on Sunday. But they return to the state of Alabama to take on the Crimson Tide on Thursday night, hoping to get back in the winner’s column.

LSU faces off with Alabama on Thursday night at 8 p.m. from Coleman Coliseum on the campus of the University of Alabama. The game will be broadcasted live on the SEC Network.

Alabama comes into Thursday fresh off a 77-59 loss to Arkansas on Sunday, meaning both teams are looking to bounce back.

The Crimson Tide runs a more balanced playstyle, ranking fourth in the SEC for field goal percentage (45.2%), fourth in point differential (plus 20.6), and third in points allowed on the defense (54.4).

Senior guard, Sarah Ashlee Barker, leads Alabama with 16.4

points per game. She’s a veteran player, something that LSU lacks, or at least a veteran of the program.

Guard, Aaliyah Nye and Jessica Timmons, also average double figure points per game; Nye averages 13 points per game, and Timmons averages 11.6 points per game.

Although Alabama runs a balanced approach, it is more guard-oriented. Essence Cody, a 6-foot-4 forward, is the Crimson Tide’s leading post player with 9.1 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per game.

This being said, Angel Reese, Aneesah Morrow, and other post players will be key. Reese is coming off back-to-back doubledouble performances. Despite the team coming off a loss, Reese should be able to bring the team back to their ways. Aneesah Morrow is also coming off a doubledouble performance as well.

Perimeter defense will be key

as well, as Alabama is more guard heavy. Flau’jae Johnson will be important here, as she is one of LSU’s most consistent defensive players. In her last five games, she’s grabbed five rebounds or more.

But Mikaylah Williams on both offense or defense can be the swing factor for LSU. On Sunday, much of LSU’s struggles came from Auburn eliminating Mikaylah Williams’ 3-point shot, along with Hailey Van Lith. Williams scored just seven points in LSU’s loss to Auburn.

Williams finding shots early will be a major factor to LSU having an easy or hard time in its game against Alabama.

Overall, along with these factors and adjustments, lack of depth may still be a struggle for LSU, as that isn’t an overnight fix. It’s hard to make a correction during the season when it comes to who can step up, but that just means these adjustments are that

MORGAN COOK / The Reveille

LSU women’s basketball junior guard Aneesah Morrow (24) looks up at a free throw Nov. 30 during LSU’s 82-64 win against Virginia Tech at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La. much more important.

There’s work to be done for LSU, but that’s been the common mantra all season with this team.

There’s been a high bar set since day one, and while the team has

shown flashes of meeting that standard, they’ve yet to put a full game together.

They look to do that and get back on track on Thursday in Tuscaloosa.

page 10

NIL, from page 9 go pro, the bulk of her income would still be from endorsements and not the sport itself.

“There are many more professional leagues for men’s sports after college, rather than women’s sports,” Dunne said. “It’s really important for female student athletes to capitalize on your NIL while you’re in college.

Dunne used her NIL success to start The Livvy Fund, which helps LSU female athletes gain deals by providing exclusive industry tips and brand connections. The fund sets up athletes with endorsements in their college years, so they can start earning regardless of whether they go to the pros.

In addition to Dunne, LSU has multiple top female NIL earners.

Women’s basketball stars Angel Reese and Flau’jae Johnson have NIL valuations of over $1 million each, according to On3. However, the maximum salary for a WNBA player is $234,936.

Once female athletes leave LSU, they are unable to earn as much in the pros compared to NIL deals. The Livvy Fund and NILSU, a program that provides NIL resources to LSU athletes, aim to change these inequalities.

Livvy Dunne’s sister Julz Dunne, who works with the fund, said, “Olivia is an outlier in the field, and she just skyrocketed.

But, she wants to provide opportunities for all women and hopefully help even the playing field …

We are trying to make a balance between men’s and women’s athletics.”

NIL collectives around the nation, which are funded by fans and boosters, largely support male

Thursday, January 18, 2024 athletics.

The NIL marketing platform Opendorse found that even when not including football, over 60% of funding still goes to male athletes.

Julz Dunne said it’s necessary to have a female-only fund because “when it comes to going through NIL with a collective at a university, most of the money goes to men’s athletics; so especially with the Livvy Fund, here we are trying to create as many business opportunities as we can for women.”

On July 1, 2021, student athletes nationwide gained the right to profit from their NIL, following new state laws and an NCAA policy change after a decades-long battle. With this change, LSU fully embraced NIL and created the NILSU organization under the athletics department.

Two years later, the NIL office is finding women athletes excel in this space because of their comfort on digital platforms.

“I think the female student athletes are doing so much better because they are more structured on social media,” said Taylor Jacobs, associate athletic director of NIL and strategic initiatives at LSU. “They create content. They are more comfortable creating content, and they have content plans.

They just get more involved in the content piece, which is what a lot of brands look for.”

Assistant director of NIL Mary Claire Logue said the financial success of top female earners like Reese and Johnson stem from their achievements on social media.

“The amount of views that the women’s basketball national championship got broke all sorts of records, and that’s because of

FRANCIS DINH / The Reveille

LSU gymnastics senior all-around Olivia Dunne prepares for her balance beam routine Dec. 16 during the annual Gymnastics 101 Exhibition in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on LSU’s campus. the social media branding that Flau’jae and Angel have done,” Logue said. “They did a phenomenal job with branding themselves.”

Reese and Johnson have a combined 4.3 million followers on Instagram and continue to grow their social media presence.

While it’s been easier for LSU women’s basketball players and LSU gymnasts to grow their brands, the NIL office helps athletes in all sports. According to the office, the sport’s popularity doesn’t necessarily correlate to an athlete’s NIL success. For athletes in less prominent sports, winning in the NIL game is about time and

commitment.

“It’s about how much you want to put into it,” Jacobs said. “If an athlete does this and becomes a micro influencer, it’s a business.”

For example, while not the most popular sport in Louisiana, women’s beach volleyball has boomed in NIL deals, Logue said.

“Some of our sports like beach volleyball have gone all in for NIL, and I think that’s what it takes,” she said. “It shows their eagerness to get involved, and it’s been really receptive by brands.”

Fans follow athletes’ flashy social media posts and videos, which don’t portray the effort be-

BLAZERS, from page 9 of 6.13 meters. That score is 0.35 meters longer than second place; while the difference might not sound like much, the gap between first and second was equal to the difference between second and eighth.

Her personal best ranks sixth all-time in the LSU record books (6.58m). Not near her best, yet still able to win resoundingly.

While she didn’t compete in it during the meet, her best event is undoubtedly the highjump, where she placed fourth during USC’s national championship. Her talent is unquestionable, and she is definitely an athlete to have on the radar as the season continues.

Alia Armstrong X exploded as Armstrong left her competition in the dust.

For most track athletes, this would be a once-in-a-lifetime highlight. For Armstrong, it was just a typical play. Her resume is one of the best in college sports. An NCAA National Champion, five-time First Team All-SEC, five-time SEC Champion—her list of accolades is endless. At the LSU Purple Tiger, she proved why she’s such a renowned athlete.

In 8.05 seconds, she exploded from start to finish, leaping over hurdle after hurdle. She’s a

MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille

LSU track and field junior sprinters Leah Phillips (left), Alia Armstrong (center) and Shani’a Bellamy (right) compete in the 100-meter hurdles on March 25 during the Battle on the Bayou track meet at the Bernie Moore Track Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. force in the 60 meters, whether it’s hurdles or not. And, while she scorched her competition, her best is yet to be seen.

Armstrong boasts a personal best of 7.81, which is one of five times she has etched her name into LSU’s record books, with two of the five breaking LSU’s best. In any track season, you can count on Armstrong to

dominate; she’s a must watch for any LSU fan.

Myles Thomas Thomas transferred from Arkansas State. Though he’s only a sophomore, he’s already a twotime Sun Belt Champion. When he arrived in Baton Rouge, the expectations around him were extremely high, and so far he has delivered.

The sprinter placed first in the men’s 60 meters, with a time of 6.61, only 0.10 second shy of LSU’s record time. In his first ever meet as a Tiger, he’s already close to setting school records. Thomas has the athleticism to make him potentially one of the most exciting track and field athletes in the nation.

His main event is the 100

hind brand deals.

“Not everyone sees the amount of work that goes into it, the amount of smiles, the amount of tears, the amount of hours,” Julz Dunne said.

When female athletes put in the hard work to build their brands, Livvy Dunne said she hopes they realize nothing is out of reach.

“You can be a savvy businesswoman and be able to balance,” Livvy Dunne said. “I mean you can have it all. You can be a student.

You can be an athlete. There’s no limit to success, and I feel like that’s something that’s definitely been skewed in athletics.” meters, where he boasts a personal best 10.16. That speed is not currently fast enough to put him in NCAA record books.

However, with the pace he’s on currently, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him break through the nine second mark.

Thomas is a young athlete who has hardly scratched the surface of his potential. Based on his current production, he’s going to be someone Tiger fans will want to keep an eye on.

Ji’eem Bullock Bullock leaped over his competition, and by no means is that an exaggeration. He posted a 7.42-meter long jump in his event, earning him first place.

The second place finisher posted a 7.05-meter long jump; Bullock had a wider gap between himself and the runner-up, than the runner-up and 10th place.

That’s domination. While he’s yet to win any major accolades, Bullock certainly appears to make this season the year he does.

He posted a personal best of 7.67 meters last year. As strong as he’s started the season off, it’s clear he wants that best to be short lived. Bullock might be a dark horse candidate, but his season opener has to be respected. This could be a breakout year, and one LSU fans won’t want to miss.

OPINION

page 11

Colleen Hoover’s books are derivative, unsexy and unreadable GARRETT’S GAVEL GARRETT MCENTEE

@9are_bear Colleen Hoover is one of the most beloved authors of our time.

Her books adorn the shelves of innumerable bookshops. Hoover’s “It Ends with Us” has sold 20 million copies. So, obviously, she’s become a bit of a literary titan.

Part of Hoover’s critical success comes from BookTok, which is a community on TikTok that shares book recommendations, edits and, in general, anything relating to literature.

Hoover blew up on BookTok, and countless readers fangirled about her steamy romances, relatable characters and willingness to show abuse in her romance novels.

So, I did what every other impressionable, bookworm teen did.

I read her books.

I hated them.

A few general grievances to start. Hoover sells fanfiction-level literature. There’s nothing wrong with easy reading; however, if I’m paying, with my own money, for something on par or worse than what I’d get on Wattpad or Archive of Our Own, there might be a problem.

Another issue I have with Hoover’s books is rather trivial, but why are the covers so bad?

They’re uninspired words on a piece of paper and an absolute waste of a graphic design opportunity. Hoover makes enough money to hire a cover artist or at least fork up the $5.99 for Picsart Pro. This is not to mention how over 20 of Hoover’s books feature toxic men or abusive relationships, which is not directly an issue. Authors should be allowed to depict relationships that suit the tone of their novels. However, Hoover’s novels are marketed to young adults, and her books usually lack appropriate content warnings for the delicate subject matter discussed.

To add to the growing list of Hoover’s issues, her fanbase can rival the ferocity of K-pop fangirls or dare I say, Swifties. Her ferocious and capricious fans, aptly dubbed CoHorts–which is kind of cute and silly, I guess–have been known to harass BookTok content creators who share the same opinions I do.

While that behavior may be becoming more and more commonplace nowadays, that doesn’t mean

GRAPHIC BY MADDIE FITZMORRIS

it should be. And Hoover hasn’t once called off her attack dogs.

In the spirit of fairness, I re-read two of Hoover’s essential novels (yes, at one point I did try to like her) to give you a fresh analysis of them from a Hoover scholar, and because I like reviewing things.

“It Ends with Us” I started my reading with Hoover’s most popular piece, “It Ends with Us.” In this novel, we follow Lily Bloom (a little on the nose). The story is best summarized as the following: Lily Bloom comes from an abusive household. As she grows, she must face the challenge of navigating her life while avoiding the repetition of violent patterns from her childhood. The novel delves into the intricate interconnection of love and abuse by alternating between Lily’s current circumstances and her diary entries from her teenage years.

She falls in love with Ryle Kincaid, but he’s revealed to not be a good man. There’s also a love triangle, a baby and some questionable friends. That’s the most spoiler-free I can get.

To start with my smaller issues, I just flat-out don’t like Hoover’s voice in this book. It feels very tween, and the subject matter is anything but.

That doesn’t mean I don’t think sensitive topics should be available for younger audiences; however, it does mean I think a more delicate touch is required.

Additionally, the smut is…

not good. At least not to me. It reads like a female Scientologist who just left the church and then read “Twilight” and “Fifty Shades of Grey” decided to take the edgy aesthetics out of both, slap on a healthy smattering of Wattpad writing style and voila: “It Ends with Us” smut. All in all, it’s funnier than it is sexy.

I also don’t think the journal entry time skips are as smooth as they could be. It’s especially saddening because this trope is one of my favorite mediums for telling a story a-la “The Color Purple.” Her fumbling of the journal entries also ties into my general pacing issue with this book. It’s like something is always happening, borderline CW show levels of fast pace, a never-ending rollercoaster.

My biggest issue with this book, and most books Hoover writes, is not that people won’t be able to separate the fiction from reality (i.e., they don’t actually want a man like Ryle to abuse them or for them to fix).

The issue I have is that books like this and the public perception around them glorify or accept abuse as just a part of love.

And you may argue that people’s perception isn’t Hover’s fault. And, to an extent, you’re right. But Hoover isn’t dumb.

These books only sell because young romance fans share them and say, “Oh em gee! This book is so good

and emotional and romantic and like… sexy!” And Hoover wouldn’t dare hurt her best form of marketing, so she lets people romanticize her toxic portrayals for a bigger buck.

It’s a four out of 10 book.

“It Starts with Us” Next up to bat is the “It Ends with Us” sequel. “It Starts with Us” is a continuation of Lily Bloom’s journey. I think this is my favorite novel from Hoover, but I still don’t like it. To summarize the story without vast spoilers, it’s still the story of Lily Bloom, a now single mother attempting to rekindle her teenage love with Atlas Corrigan, a key player in the last book.

This book is a bit happier and a bit calmer; however, as I said, I still don’t like it. Here are my relatively minor gripes.

First, I’m still not a fan of the writing style. It just feels too simplistic for the seemingly profound themes Hoover is trying to convey.

The word choice is bland, which is also the best descriptor of this book. It’s just lackluster.

In “It Ends with Us,” the plot is intense (too intense at times). In this book, it all feels uninteresting. Though, that might be because I didn’t love the first book, so I never really got invested in the characters.

Another issue, Lily and Atlas get married and, for some reason, Atlas mentions divorce in his vows. It’s wild. I laughed

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Opinion Editor

The Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University.

The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, The Reveille or the university. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to editor@lsu.edu or delivered to B-39 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must provide a contact phone number for verification purposes, which will not be printed. The Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Reveille’s editor in chief, hired every semester by the LSU Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.

out loud and then put myself in Lily’s shoes and then promptly felt nauseous. And people excuse it as him just being a realist. No. None of that realist, hyper-masculine bullcrap in my romance book. Divorce talk isn’t befitting a wedding, no exceptions.

Atlas also writes Lily letters that should’ve been so cute and sweet but just began to feel tedious, adding to some other miscellaneous pacing issues.

Pacing is hard.

One thing I especially hated about this book is that Ryle is still involved in Lily’s life. I know that may just be due to personal taste, but if “It Ends with Us” did spark one emotion in me, it was rage toward Ryle.

I don’t think he deserved to get let off the hook because of some anger management classes. He should’ve gotten the death penalty—gavel bang—my judgment is passed.

That being said, the Ryle and Atlas comparisons are exhausting. Readers know Atlas is a good person, and Ryle isn’t. But just in case you didn’t, be ready for 37 chapters of comparison.

It got old and stale, and I wish instead of their actions being directly compared, readers were just shown his actions and encouraged to make the connection on their own. In general, Hoover’s writing suffers from the “tell, tell, tell” style when she should be “show, show, show.”

This book was, in my opinion, not planned. Hoover wrote this sequel because people wanted to know how Lily’s story ended. I appreciate the commitment to her fans and her bank account, but this book is a 50page manuscript drawn out to over 300 pages.

It’s an improvement, a five out of 10.

In general, Hoover has the aura of a high school English teacher and the writing style of a teenager who just learned about sex and loves “Gossip Girl.” She tackles big, real issues with all the gall of a child speaking about politics at the dinner table. She writes books that have helped glorify and normalize real, toxic issues.

Hopefully, I’ll never be opening another one of her novels.

Garrett McEntee is an 18-year-old English freshman from Benton.

Quote of the Week “I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.”

David Bowie American musician 1947 — 2016

Thursday, January 18, 2024

page 12

LSU professor: University priorities are with the new governor

BY A.R.P. RAU This is a letter to the editor.

You can submit your own using the QR code below.

Friday, Jan. 5, two days before Gov. Landry’s inauguration, LSU removed DEI-related statements from its website. Faculty, including department chairs and college deans, became aware only through a Louisiana Illuminator story of that date.

Such unilateral actions have become the style of our upper administration, with no engagement, leave alone a serious one, with the faculty or its bodies, even as that word “engagement” is bandied around. There is a lack of commitment to, if not contempt for, its own faculty and expertise and a lack of respect for academia’s basic values.

The upper administration seems to be driven by outside political voices, even pre-emptively to appease an incoming governor. He already inappropriately intruded on the university when attorney general. And our administration is driven by its legal counsel who are often clueless about academic values.

Political intrusions on academia should be openly, unequivocally condemned even as violations of federal higher edu-

cation law: “The government is barred from exercising ‘any direction, supervision, or control’ of the curriculum, instruction, administration, or personnel of an institution” (Inside Higher Education, Jan 11, 2024).

And, as we have seen also in the recent example of three university presidents before a congressional panel, hyper-coaching by lawyers does not serve our institutions well. Rather, it brings opprobrium that stains us all, even academia itself.

So who speaks for LSU? Faculty members making public statements state, even while giving affiliation for identification purposes, that they are not speaking for the institution. But our chief officers speak or post on our website in the name of LSU. That itself behooves closer consultation with the expertise in its own faculty, both on internal policies and procedures and on broader matters, whether legal and medical on Covid mitigation policies or social and political such as historical awareness of past inequitable treatment of varied members of our community.

Above all, given the history of outside partisan forces trying to bend our universities to their agenda, as in the 1950s’ shameful caving in to self-declared con-

gressional guardians of “Unamerican” activities, universities have a responsibility to stand firm.

A broader truism is that appeasement of bullies, even if they be presidents, governors and attorneys general, only encourages them further while harming all, even entire nations.

What really matters on this issue of DEI and its demonization by current partisan politics are the values of fair and equitable treatment of all and recognition of historical injustices that have left a legacy of “underrepresented groups” whose inclusion we now have affirmatively to encourage.

That is in the best interest of the future of our institutions as well as the nation and underlies our basic philosophy. That sincere commitment by a whole institution embracing thousands of faculty, staff and students cannot be changed by some blithe wordsmithing.

If a deeply held belief that has sunk under our skin, cosmetic replacement of “diversity” by “engagement” in response to some political ill-wind cannot change anything of substance. Is it even worthy of “higher education” and “university”?

MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille

A.R.P. Rau is an LSU physics professor.

Memorial Tower rises above the trees on Sept. 1, on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge, La.

Letter from the Editor: How you can share your news with us

BY CLAIRE SULLIVAN @sulliclaire The Reveille never rests, but the start of a new semester means the full-force return of our staff.

It’s our mission to get to the bottom of the issues that most matter to our university. We break news, investigate wrongdoings and strive to hold power to account — not in spite of being student journalists, but because of it.

Our coverage of LSU is unique because we ourselves are members of this community.

We care deeply about this campus and the people we share it with, and we are invested in covering it with the integrity and thoroughness they deserve.

I hope you will consider sharing your stories, news tips, questions, feedback and thoughts with us this semester.

You can do so in several ways: • Contact me at editor@lsu. edu

Letter to the editor

• Use our anonymous tip line (where you can choose whether you provide a way for us to follow up with you) • Email our reporters directly • Reach out to us individually on social media or to our main account @lsureveille • Call our office at (225) 3344811 • Stop by the newsroom at B-16 Hodges Hall or send us mail We are student journalists,

but we hold ourselves to the same ethical standards as professionals. That includes the care with which we protect our sources.

If you don’t wish for the information you’ve shared to be published, or for your identity to be shared alongside that information, it won’t be. We are committed to your privacy, and it’s our obligation to preserve the trust of those who share information with us.

Separately, if you have an

Anonymous tip line

opinion piece you’d like us to consider for publication, you can submit one through our letter to the editor form on our website.

These letters allow us to share perspectives from a wide array of faculty, staff, alumni and students in their own words.

We couldn’t do our jobs without those who trust us with their stories. That trust is earned, and we are committed to building and strengthening that confidence through our reporting.