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HE’S THAT
KID
Jayden Daniels makes final case for Heisman Trophy.
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An LSU fan holds up a handmade sign after LSU’s 42-30 win against Texas A&M on Nov. 25 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
Jayden Daniels takes over against Texas A&M BY PETER RAUTERKUS @peter_rauterkus LSU faced a fourth-and-4 early in the second half. In a vacuum, that doesn’t seem significant, but down by 10 with a defense that couldn’t get off the field, LSU couldn’t afford to give the ball away. The ball was snapped, the pocket collapsed, and Jayden Daniels worked his magic. The senior Heisman Trophy hopeful avoided the rush and ran 49 yards inside the Texas A&M 5-yard line. Three plays later, LSU was in the endzone, and, more importantly, back in the game. That sparked a 21-6 run to end the game for LSU where the offense found its rhythm and Daniels once again made his case for the Heisman. He threw for 163 yards in the fourth quarter alone and finished the game with 355 total yards and four touchdowns. The day started slow, but it finished as the type of day fans come to expect from Daniels and the LSU offense. 42 points, three
receivers caught a touchdown, and Malik Nabers became the all-time program leader in receptions. It closed a chapter on a season that will be remembered in the record books, and maybe by the most prestigious individual award in the sport. When Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy in 2019, many thought there would never be another season like his in LSU history. Through 12 regular season games, Burrow had 4,614 total yards and 47 touchdowns. Through 12 regular season games in 2023, Daniels has 4,946 total yards and 50 touchdowns. There’s no doubt that Daniels’ numbers are Heisman-worthy. But with Bo Nix stride for stride with him in the race, he needed a win in his final game, and more eye-popping numbers wouldn’t hurt either. For three quarters, both of those things were in doubt, but as he often does, Daniels took over. “Big-time players make bigtime plays in games like this,”
head coach Brian Kelly said. The saying is cliché, but it has held true for Daniels all season. Despite three losses and a bad defense, he continued to make plays and put the team in positions to win, and Saturday was no different. When asked if his latest performance made his case for the Heisman, Daniels was confident. “Most definitely I do,” he said. The numbers didn’t pop off the page against Texas A&M the way they sometimes do, but that wasn’t what the game called for. LSU only ran 52 plays in the game, but in the 35 plays Daniels accounted for, he averaged just over 10 yards per play. The performance was also against arguably the best defense LSU had played all season. Texas A&M came into the game eighth in the country in total defense, which led the Southeastern Conference. Only one other team had scored more than 40 points on the Aggies coming into the game, and that was back in Week 2. “I arguably would say that this was a top-10 defense in the coun-
MADALYN CUNNINGHAM / The Reveille
LSU football senior quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) navigates the field while running the ball during LSU’s 42-30 win against Texas A&M on Nov. 25 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
try. I think their defensive line was outstanding, and he had four touchdown passes,” Kelly said. Daniels was the poster child of a senior class that has seen everything there is to see in college football. Josh Williams and John Emery started their careers with a national championship before seeing their first coach fired, only to go back to the SEC Championship with their new coach. Noah Cain transferred to LSU from Penn State, looking to make an impact at his hometown school. He never became the feature running back, but he stayed the course, and Kelly often voiced his appreciation for Cain. Daniels’ story wasn’t always a fairy tale either. He came to college as a highly-sought after prospect, but after three years at Arizona State, he needed a change. Two years removed from a video of his former teammates cleaning out his Arizona State locker going viral, he became a beloved figure in his new home, and could be two weeks away from having his name etched in stone. “Being able to come here last year and really believe in myself and trust the unknown, I didn’t know what I was gonna get myself into,” Daniels said. “Now just going through it in my last game here, I haven’t really sat down and really embraced what I went through, but I was just trying to enjoy every little moment.” Daniels didn’t completely rule out the possibility of him playing for a bowl game, but Saturday was the official end to his career inside Tiger Stadium. A cynic could tell you he was let down, could argue that his time at LSU might be looked at as disappointing given the absence of a championship to go with his astonishing season. The record books will hold onto his name forever, and maybe, just maybe, the Heisman Trophy will do the same.
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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
page 3
Sustainability club journeys to the heart of campus recycling BY CROSS HARRIS @thecrossharris Many LSU students are familiar with the blue recycling bins around campus, but few could tell you where the stuff in those bins go when thrown in dumpsters, then tossed in trucks and hauled away. For most, the act of recycling begins with a hazy understanding of what goes in the bin and ends with a vague hope that it will, in fact, be taken someplace and recycled somehow. For Aidan O’Neal and Peter Kelly, that wasn’t enough. O’Neal and Kelly are officers and outreach coordinators for the LSU sustainability club Geaux Green. Both juniors, O’Neal studies environmental engineering and Kelly is double-majoring in geography and philosophy. This semester, the two decided to follow the blue bins, going behind the scenes to see where they went. That search led them to the outer bounds of Baton Rouge. Here, an obscure facility sits on the side of a long and dusty road. Walls of great, concrete blocks surround the site. Trucks rumble in and out at an opening toward the front. Few people know what goes on here, or even what it’s called, but this is the heart of recycling in Baton Rouge, though no recycling actually happens here. This is the Republic Services Materials Recovery Facility. Those in the industry call it “The MRF,” pronouncing the acronym so it rhymes with smurf. There are many facilities like it
CROSS HARRIS / The Reveille
A bull dozer hovers near unsorted recyclables on the floor of the Republic Services Materials Recovery Facility in Baton Rouge, La., on Nov. 8. across the country, but this is the only one in Louisiana. “We looked it up online,” Kelly said. “We were kind of like, ‘Alright, there’s this MRF, Materials Recovery Facility. What’s going on there?” But the two Geaux Green officers struggled to find more information. At first, they couldn’t even get a number to call—one that was connected, anyway.
“We were trying to figure out who to contact online, and we found like seven different numbers for this place, and none of them were set up,” Kelly said, laughing. O’Neal even called 311, asking if they had any idea how to get in touch. No luck. The MRF was a ghost. Every time they came close to grasping the facility, it turned to air in their
hands. “We were kind of at a dead end,” O’Neal said. “It was at the point where we were about to just drive there and knock on the door and be like, ‘Hey, we’d love to chat.’” Then, an acquaintance gave them a number that finally worked. O’Neal made first contact with the elusive MRF to see how he, Kelly and Geaux Green
could learn more. LSU’s sustainability club is service and education-oriented. At monthly meetings, members discuss how to implement sustainability into their daily lives, hear guest speakers and talk about community events. The club also comes up with a handful of sustainability-oriented projects each semester, but some get put on the backburner, O’Neal said. “So this year, we decided we’re going to pick one thing and get an answer completed, you know, create a deliverable. . .,” O’Neal said. Demystifying recycling became that deliverable. After a long and harrowing search, O’Neal and Kelly brought a small group of Geaux Greeners to tour the MRF in mid November. The MRF is operated by environmental services company Republic Services. Republic holds the residential waste contract for East Baton Rouge, meaning they pick up, transport and dispose of almost all the waste produced in the parish. “Basically, if you have something to get rid of, we’ve got a way to do it,” said Manager of Municipal Sales Steven Smith, who guided Geaux Green through the MRF. “And recycling is a large part of it.” No actual recycling, however, takes place at the MRF. Instead, the MRF is a machine for sorting. When trucks carrying recyclables enter the MRF, the first
see SUSTAIN, page 3
An LSU Law professor explains the John Brooks lawsuit BY SARAH WALTON @sarahrosewalton In January, LSU student Madison Brooks died after being struck by a vehicle and allegedly raped. In September, her father, John Brooks, filed a lawsuit against the parties he believes were involved in her death. The 16-page lawsuit reveals 24 defendants, including Reggie’s Bar, where Madison Brooks drank the night she died; the bar’s owners, managers and employees; the men in her case charged with rape and principal to rape; the driver of the vehicle that hit her, a Lyft operator; the company Lyft itself; and the insurance companies attached to the parties involved. LSU Law School Professor William Corbett spoke to the Reveille, explaining the lawsuit from a legal scholar’s perspective. “I think what he’s bringing is a wrongful death and a survival action [lawsuit],” Corbett said.
Wrongful death lawsuits are typically filed on behalf of loved ones, seeking damages for human loss and pain suffered. A survival action lawsuit, on the other hand, brings the suit that the deceased party would have been able to pursue had they survived. “The same person can bring both of those [lawsuits],” Corbett said, as John Brooks is. Corbett broke down how the case applies to each defendant. For some defendants, like Reggie’s Bar and the Lyft driver, the lawsuit boils down to alleged negligence. And in order to be successful in court, John Brooks and his team must prove negligence on the part of the bar and the driver. Proving negligence can be difficult because of something called “reasonable care,” which establishes a link of causation between the event and damages—in this case Madison Brook’s death and her family’s
see LAWSUIT, page 4
REAGAN COTTEN / The Reveille
Following its permanent closure, the former site of Tigerland Bar Reggie’s lies empty on Sept. 23 in Baton Rouge, La.
Monday, November 27, 2023
page 4 SUSTAIN, from page 3 thing they do is drive onto a massive scale. The scale operator takes their gross weight, then the trucks dump their contents onto the MRF “floor,” a covered area about 50 yards long and 25 yards across where the sorting process begins. On their way out, trucks stop at the scale again to get the net weight of the materials they’ve dropped before leaving. Most of the trucks that arrive at the MRF are part of Republic’s residential fleet: about 170 vehicles, each with the capacity to carry 800 homes-worth of recyclable materials, according to Smith. Other trucks come from commercial outfits, some as far away as Mississippi. From the MRF floor, a loader grabs chunks of material, placing them on a conveyor belt. “Then it starts moving,” Smith said. In the facility’s heart, the sorting is done. Magnets suck aluminum cans from the belts, dropping them in “bunkers,” areas where distinct recyclable materials are separated out. Pneumatic computers identify different plastics and push them with a precise burst of air from the conveyor into other bunkers. There are people inside the machine as well; they sort materials by hand. 18 work on the line, including the loader operators. When a bunker fills up, the materials are taken to a baling machine, which presses the sorted recyclables into massive cubes and wraps them with wire. The MRF bales cardboard, aluminum cans, paper and three types of plastics: number ones,
LAWSUIT, from page 3 bereavement—and the actions of the defendants—in this case, Reggie’s Bar and the driver. “You have to prove that they owed a duty of reasonable care,” Corbett said. “Most people own a duty of reasonable care; they have to prove a breach, and that is if they failed to exercise reasonable care. You have to prove that the breach caused the damage. You have to prove the damage was in the scope of the risk, that is when they failed to exercise reasonable care...was this something we would have anticipated happening?...and then that the damages occurred because of it.” But when it comes to the men in her case charged with rape and principal to rape, John Brooks is suing for damages; the legal concept of negligence doesn’t apply to them because John Brooks’ suit claims their responsibility based on an alleged, criminal act, rather than an unintentional consequence of actions, which would be negligence. “As far as the young men that she rode with, that’s different because I understand it, he’s alleging a sexual assault, so that
twos and fives. Once made, the bales are stored until the MRF sells them to regional companies: paper mills and plastics manufacturers. That’s where the materials are actually recycled into new products. On Geaux Green’s tour, O’Neal and Kelly exchanged excited glances, walking among the stacks of towering bales. Already, the MRF was presenting them with new mysteries. Inside the MRF, it’s incredibly loud. Machines buzz and shriek. It also smells overwhelmingly of trash because half of all the material that comes here for sorting is actually garbage. Walking the facility, Smith shook his head at the nonrecyclables forming in mountains around the MRF. The cardboard, empty cans, old papers and plastic containers separated into heaps around the premises were a precious commodity. To Smith, the rest was aggravating: “Garbage!” he yelled over the din. “Nothing but garbage!” Each day, the MRF processes 42 tons of material, 21 of which goes straight to the landfill. According to Smith, there’s far too much garbage in the recycling. Sometimes entire truckloads of material have to be turned away at the gate. MRF operators inspect rigs from third-parties that dump at the facility. If there are too many nonrecyclables in a load, they can’t accept any of the material. “We would love to have the labor and the technology to pull all the good stuff out, but we just don’t have it,” Smith said. “If it’s too contaminated, we just have to throw it away.” Good recyclables can also get too contaminated by trash to is what we would call suing for damages,” Corbett said. “[The assault] is a battery in criminal law, and it is a battery in tort law.” Corbett also spoke to the large number of insurance companies named in the lawsuit. Their presence stems from a quirk of state law. “I’m not surprised about the number of insurance companies that were named,” Corbett said. “In Louisiana, we have a direct action statute, which means you can sue the insurance company of the person who was negligent.” Corbett also pointed to the small details of the law that will likely come into play when the case is heard, including a stipulation of the Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 9, Section 2800.1, which gives immunity to those who serve alcohol commercially or recreationally. According to the statute, if a person who receives alcohol from a supplier causes injury, that supplier cannot be found liable. But the law only applies if the person receiving alcohol is of legal drinking age. “The problem the bar has is that [Madison Brooks] was not the legal age to drink, so the bar
CROSS HARRIS / The Reveille
A line worker sorts recyclables from trash within the Republic Services Materials Recovery Facility in Baton Rouge, La., on Nov. 8. be useful. Pizza boxes are a nogo, as are plastic containers that still have food in them. Plastic bags are a point of contention, too, because they can’t be recycled and many have unusable trash inside. “It’s education,” Smith said. “Some people just don’t know any better,” then he looked around and frowned. “Some people are too lazy.” Andres Harris knows this all too well. From 2006 to 2013, he ran LSU’s solid waste and recycling program. Now he runs the MRF as its operations manager. In his office, he has built a shrine to bad recycling. Overflowing from the shelves onto the floor is Harris’ collection of garbage. There
are swords, guns, mannequins, autographed baseball bats, topdollar sneakers and haute couture with the tags still on them. There are lamps that still work, speakers, powertools, books, toys—all found within the recycling dropped off at the MRF. “We use this as a teaching tool,” Harris said. His office and the oddities within are the last stop on the tour. “People think we can recycle anything,” he said with a smile. “We can’t.” “Wish-cycling”, O’Neal calls it. Knowing little about what happens behind the scenes, we sometimes try to recycle things wishing, rather than knowing, they can actually be used. Could that change if we
knew more? For Kelly and O’Neal, their trip to the MRF was just the beginning. First, they followed the blue bins on campus to find the MRF. Now, they plan to follow the MRF’s bales to parts unknown, recycling plants yet to be discovered and ripe for exploration. It’s an adventure for them, and a pursuit for knowledge and something they’d like to bring back to LSU once they’ve come to the end of the line. “Going forward, we want to look into the larger system of recycling,” Kelly said. “Like, once the MRF has these large bales of recycled materials, where does that go? And what happens at those plants?”
has no immunity,” Corbett said. Overall, however, Corbett said John Brooks had a “fairly strong case.” In the lawsuit, John Brooks and his legal team tell an account, based on their gathered information, of the night of Jan. 14 and the morning of Jan. 15, when Madison Brooks died. The following is a timeline of those hours laid out by the lawsuit: Jan. 14th, 2023: Madison Brooks went to Reggie’s Bar around 10 p.m. Though she was underage, she received a wristband stating she was over 21, and that night she received 24 alcoholic beverages and fell four times, the suit alleges. Her blood-alcohol content levels later indicated that she had impaired functions, and John Brooks’ legal team believes that she was visibly intoxicated and shouldn’t have been served. After 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 15, Madison Brooks was seen leaving with four men who brought her into a car, later pulling over, when two of the men sexually assaulted her, the suit alleges. Afterward, Madison was let out of the car. At 2:50 a.m., she was hit by a Lyft driver on Burbank Drive near Pelican Lakes Park-
way. Two men, Everette Lee and Casen Carver, have been charged with principal to thirddegree rape. Kaivon Deondre Washington was charged with first-degree rape, and Desmond Carter was charged with firstdegree and third-degree rape. To lay the groundwork for arguing Reggie’s negligence, the lawsuit sets up a timeline of each time she received a drink and how many times she fell. John Brooks asserts that Reggie’s not only broke the law but acted negligently, and to add to his case, he has also outlined Reggie’s history. The bar has been a wellknown site of controversy. In 2011, two gay men were attacked outside of Reggie’s. In 2014, a man was arrested for attempted murder outside of Reggie’s, and in 2015, two intoxicated men threatened customers and employees with loaded guns. In 2016, Dillon Gordon, an LSU tight end, was stabbed after a fight at Reggie’s spilled into the street. A police sting at the bar in 2017 led to dozens of citations for underage drinking, minors on-premises, and other offens-
es, as well as a 45-day suspension and $8,000 fine from the Alcohol and Tobacco Control Office. After Madison Brooks’ death, Reggie’s had its liquor license revoked, and was fined $15,000 by the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. The Tigerland bar has shut down permanently under that management. Looking at John Brooks’ case, Corbett spoke of the lawsuit’s possible outcomes. “In negligence cases, it’s hard to predict. The plaintiff has to prove five things, all five of those elements.” The five elements needed to prove negligence are duty, breach, cause, scope and damages. Most civil suits, including wrongful death suits, never go to trial and parties end up settling out of court. There have been no updates on the status of the case since the lawsuit was served in September. The Reveille contacted John Brooks’ legal team for comment on multiple occasions for this article but did not receive a response. The Reveille also contacted Reggie’s co-owner Darin Adams, but he did not respond.
ENTERTAINMENT
page 5
THIS WEEK IN BR
WEDNESDAY AT Noon
27
November
TH
Want to see your event in The Reveille? Email information to editor@lsu.edu.
2023 Really Really New Music Marathon LSU Recital Hall This continued variety of student-composed and produced pieces will be hosted from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. This event is free to the public and a collaboration between the Experimental Music & Digital Media and Composition disciplines within the LSU School of Music.
Book of Mormon Raising Cane’s River Center
29
November
TH
A performance of the nine-time Tony Award winning musical “Book of Mormon” will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster. Note that the River Center has a clear bag policy in place.
“Journey of Hope”: The Louisiana Orphan Train Story
28
November
TH
TUESDAY AT 7:30 p.m.
MONDAY AT 3 p.m.
BY ARIS WILLIAMS @jonetaw
The Louisiana Orphan Train Museum presents a “Journey of Hope,” a lecture on the story of children who were sent to Louisiana to escape poverty, disease and child labor between 1854 to 1929. The lecture begins at noon and is free to the public. Capitol Park Museum is located at 660 North Fourth Street.
LSU alumnae, sisters open boutique in Mall of Louisiana BY EMILY BRACHER @emily_bracher_
Marem opened up its new store on Nov. 1 in the Mall of Louisiana, just in time for the holiday season. Marem is a boutique off of Burbank Drive that carries clothes for women to serve their community. Founders Emily and Marlo Rodrigue started the original store in July 2020. In the middle of the pandemic, the two marketing majors decided to “just do it” and launch an online store. The “it” refers to a dream the sisters shared: “opening a clothing store when we are 40 with other jobs and kids,” Emily said. This dream became reality long before the sisters turned 40. The first storefront opened in September 2022. Emily Rodrigue said they initially had no intentions of expanding past their online store, but after their pop-up shops’ success, they
started searching for the perfect place. “The journey was extremely difficult, and many times we were not taken seriously,” Marlo Rodrigue said. After three weeks of renovations, they opened during football season. Marlo said that if it weren’t for the help of family and friends, they wouldn’t be where they are today. “There is so much paperwork and legal things that go into owning a business that can be extremely intimidating,” Marlo Rodrigue said. “We are so lucky to have an incredible support system of people that helped us along the way. Emily Rodrigue said winters tend to be more challenging because their main customer demographic leaves for school breaks. She said this is where the idea of “Merry Little Marem” came from. The new store in the Mall of Louisiana is designed to cater to a busy area during
the holiday season. The sisters thought of the idea just one month before the store’s Nov. 1 opening. They found the perfect space with the right size, fixtures, table and even a pink wall. Emily Rodrigue said the space being practically ready was a sign that it was meant to be. “Once we got the keys, we only had about a week to flip and prepare the store for opening,” Emily Rodrigue said. Marlo Rodrigue said by shopping at Marem, customers are helping two local LSU graduates, supporting the college students they hire and reinvesting into the community. “Just know how much it means to us every single time we see a sale made, a photo of our customers wearing our clothes, or someone walking out of our store feeling happy and confident,” Marlo Rodrigue said. The two said they always
have new ideas up their sleeves, many in the works now. Currently, they are just focused on getting college girls cute and affordable clothing for any occasion.
“It had many ups and downs, a lot of busy days and even more slower days,” Marlo Rodrigue said, “But overall, it was the best decision we made.”
PHOTO PROVIDED BY EMILY AND MARLO RODRIGUE
Monday, November 27, 2023
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Monday, November 27, 2023
page 7
FLEUR-DE-LIS FALL LA 2023 Cubers participated in a Rubik’s Cube competitionon Nov. 24-25 in the Main Library at Goodwood in Baton Rouge, La. Michael Conard (left) performs an example solve as Seth Talbot (right) demonstrates how to judge Saturday, Nov. 25.
Peyton Tumy competes in six-by-six Friday, Nov. 24. Fox Forrester films his solve on his phone Friday, Nov. 24.
Alexander Laiche’s hands move in a blur as he solves his cube Saturday, Nov. 25.
Competitors bring their cubes to the front Saturday, Nov. 25, before their roud begins.
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Competitors compete in six-by-six Friday, Nov. 24.
by ew th at
M l al
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rs Pe Competitors’ cubes sit on a table Friday, Nov. 24.
Dylan Miller completes the last move of his solve Saturday, Nov. 25.
RJ Gohn finishes his solve Saturday, Nov. 25.
Various puzzles including a clock sit on a table Friday, Nov. 24.
Competitors solve their cubes in the first round of three-by-three Saturday, Nov. 25.
Nathan Benson concentrates on his four-by-four solve Saturday, Nov. 25.
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THE Daily Commuter Puzzle by Jacqueline E. Mathews ACROSS 1 “__ Along, Little Dogies” 4 Be stingy 9 Gets full 13 Land force 14 Unfasten 15 Certain 16 Knocks 17 Wallet snatcher 19 Storm center 20 Support the parish 21 Bouquet holders 22 Lunchtimes 24 Calendar pg. 25 Morphine or codeine 27 Populous Swiss city 30 “Same for me!” 31 Andrews & Carvey 33 Knot-tying words 35 Female animals 36 Stogie 37 Chew like a beaver 38 Source of light 39 One of Santa’s reindeer 40 BPOE meeting hall 41 Fast to excess 43 Bundles of joy 44 “Peggy __ Got Married”; ’86 film 45 __-depressive; bipolar 46 Make laugh 49 Marilyn Monroe, for one 51 Peg for Tiger 54 Alikeness 56 Prima donna 57 Mont Blanc’s range 58 Pago Pago’s location 59 Put one __ on; hoodwink 60 Cozy home 61 Decorate 62 Fellows
Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews
4 Lying on one’s back 5 Stink up? 6 Cirrhosis symptom 7 Boxer Tyson 8 Energy 9 Flee 10 Diving seabirds 11 Alder or ash 12 Solidifies 13 “That’s What Friends __ For”; Warwick hit 18 Hotpoint appliances 20 Famous film dog 23 Cheerios ingredients 24 Burn 25 Chances 26 Devout 27 Annoying insect 28 Full of spite 29 “Haste makes waste,” e.g. DOWN 31 Bit of change 1 Overcast sky color 32 Grow old 2 Not at all sorry 34 Has bills 36 Small bay 3 Cobb & Burrell
11/27/23
Saturday’s Puzzle Solved
©2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.
37 Asian desert 39 Merciless 40 Terra firma 42 Be a Good Samaritan 43 Sprawling tree 45 Engine 46 As straight __ arrow
11/27/23
47 Pedometer measure 48 “Out!” callers 49 Actor Pitt 50 Long car 52 Level; balanced 53 Hearing organ 55 As hungry __ bear 56 Actor DeLuise
SPORTS
page 9
LSU football defeats Texas A&M 42-30 in regular season finale BY MACKAY SUIRE @macthetiger BATON ROUGE — In its last game of the regular season against Texas A&M, LSU honored 12 seniors, acknowledging the impact that each player has had on the program. Quarterback Jayden Daniels was met with a roar of cheers as he ran onto the field. He was the last senior to be recognized, but arguably the most loved. In just two short years at LSU, Daniels has played a crucial role in the Tigers’ success. He’s been etching his name into records held previously by the greats, and has solidified himself as one of the best college football quarterbacks across the nation. LSU’s 42-30 win against Texas A&M was yet another showcase of this Tiger offense’s resilience, all glued together by an elite quarterback that has made a name for himself wearing purple and gold. “It has meant a lot to me,” Daniels said, reflecting on his time at LSU. “Being able to come here last year and really believe in myself and trust in
the unknown. I did not know what I was going to get myself into, and now I just went through it in my last game here. I have not really sat down and embraced what I went through, but I was just trying to enjoy every little moment.” LSU walked away with its sixth conference win of the season, but this didn’t come with ease. The No. 1 nationally-ranked offense that the Tigers have contained all season had to work in overdrive, quickly attempting to repair what their counterparts struggled to do throughout the entire game. LSU’s defense has been the weakest component of the program, ranking consistently near the bottom of the Southeastern Conference throughout the entire season. Up against an Aggie offense that is average at best, the many faults contained within the Tiger defense was unbearably apparent. The defense did start tightening up, however, right in time for the offense to catch fire. “Especially on the defensive side of the ball — we’re not perfect,” head coach Brian
MORGAN COOK / The Reveille
LSU football junior wide receiver Malik Nabers (8) holds his hands up in a heart Nov. 25 during LSU’s game against Texas A&M at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. Kelly said. “We have to grind, but I’m proud of their resolve. I think that showed, especially in the second half.”
Texas A&M left Baton Rouge with 390 total yards. The Tigers finished the day with 389 total yards.
The Aggies truly capitalized on each of their 10 drives, es-
see OFFENSE, page 10
LSU football overcomes slow start to conclude regular season BY JASON WILLIS @JasonWillis4 As the Tigers’ No. 1 ranking in total yards would indicate, there haven’t been many offensive lulls for LSU this year. On a handful of occasions, an early drive has ended in a punt after a pass or two seemed off the mark. Heisman-contending quarterback Jayden Daniels, for all his success, has needed a warm-up period on some occasions. Texas A&M did everything it
could to make sure he couldn’t get in a rhythm, and it led to just 52 first-half passing yards for Daniels and a 17-14 halftime lead for the Aggies, 12-point underdogs. In danger of a Senior Day loss, LSU needed to finish strong — not just in the sense of the game at hand, but also in the larger context of its season. Head coach Brian Kelly had said for weeks that the goal was to run the table and reach 10 wins. A strong finish evaded the Tigers last year. As the No. 6 team
MORGAN COOK / The Reveille
A fan raises his hands in disbelief after a call Nov. 25 during LSU’s 42-30 win against Texas A&M at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
in the country, LSU was upset by unranked Texas A&M during rivalry week, and followed that up with a poor performance in the Southeastern Conference Championship against eventual national champion Georgia. This revenge match with Texas A&M was an opportunity to right those wrongs, but LSU’s
first half hadn’t done that. The Aggies came into the game boasting the No. 8 defense in the country. The talented pass-rush made Daniels uncomfortable and the secondary stuck with LSU’s talented receivers better than most defenses have. More importantly, Texas
A&M kept LSU’s offense off the field. The Tigers had just four drives in the first half, with two ending in punts. The Aggies almost doubled LSU’s time of possession with 19 minutes 32 seconds to LSU’s 10 minutes 28 seconds.
see FINISH, page 10
MORGAN COOK / The Reveille
LSU football redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Maason Smith (0) hugs freshman defensive end Da’Shawn Womack (16) Nov. 25 during LSU’s 42-30 win against Texas A&M at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
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OFFENSE, from page 9 pecially in the first half of the game. They ran the clock, moving down the field with just enough yards to keep the drive going. Texas A&M ran a total of 76 plays. LSU totaled 52 plays. “I think they were 2-9 in the second half in third-down conversions,” Kelly said. “We couldn’t stop them; we couldn’t get off of the field in the first half.” The offensive performance wasn’t as stat heavy as LSU fans are used to, especially in the first half of the game. LSU defense worked slowly to get its offense back on the field. The ball spent the majority of the game in the hands of Texas A&M quarterback Jaylen Henderson. Henderson finished the game with 294 passing yards, throwing to seven different Aggie receivers. What mattered for this Tiger offense, however, is that in the big moments, they made the crucial plays happen. This was especially evident in the fourth quarter. “In the second half, they really made some plays,” Kelly said about LSU’s defense. “We got the pick, which was huge, converted that offensively, and then our playmakers made plays. Big-time players make big-time plays in games like this.” Texas A&M held a lead for the majority of the game. The Tigers went into halftime down by three and didn’t reclaim the lead until four minutes into the fourth quarter. The momentum shift in LSU’s eighth drive of the game ignited a spark in the offense that many opponents’ defenses have failed to stop. “We came out slow in the first quarter when we got the ball,” wide receiver Malik Nabers said. “...we never lost at home. We knew they were going to come in here and try to beat us at home, so we had to come out in the second half and prove that we’re still the best offense in college football.” Daniels ended the day with
FINISH, from page 9 The Texas A&M offense was kept afloat by short pass after short pass. On the Aggies’ two first half touchdown drives, they averaged 4.8 yards per play. For context, that would rank as the 15th-lowest mark among FBS teams this season. Still, the LSU defense couldn’t get off the field. Texas A&M converted seven of its 11 third downs and, on two of those failed conversions, got the first down on the ensuing fourth down anyway. Texas A&M’s skill in maintaining possession made it difficult for LSU to establish rhythm. The Tigers had 122 yards in the first half and only 52 through the air. Daniels’ Heisman campaign
Monday, November 27, 2023 235 passing yards and 120 rushing yards. The receiving room was once again capitalized by the unstoppable duo of Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. The two led the stat sheet with each player having over 50 yards and at least one touchdown. Running backs Logan Diggs and Josh Williams and wide receiver Kyren Lacey each contributed a touchdown as well. Nabers is undoubtedly one of the best receivers to move through LSU’s program. This was incredibly apparent when, on his fourth catch of the game, he broke alum Wendell Davis’ record for most receptions in LSU history with 184. “It means everything,” Nabers said about breaking the record. “I really never paid attention to the receptions; I was really working on the receiving yard. But, it’s one record down, one more to chase. I’m still going to break it.” Just minutes later, Nabers capped off his performance with yet another touchdown, further widening the Tigers’ lead. He was nearly unstoppable. He ultimately finished the game with 122 receiving yards and two touchdowns. His longest reception was 45 yards. After such a shaky start, the Tigers were able to solidify a win in their last game of the regular season. The Tigers’ offense worked explosively in that fourth quarter, highlighting the ability of a Heisman-worthy quarterback and a pair of Biletnikoff Award semifinalists. They played for the three letters across their chests, for the seniors who would touch the field of Death Valley just one last time. The Tigers played for each other, and the emotional rawness of the team built upon throughout the season seeped into their win against Texas A&M. “I knew what I needed to come in here and do in my last game in Tiger Stadium,” Nabers said. “It’s been a dream come true for sure.” and Nabers’ Biletnikoff campaign were at risk, with both counting on impressive final performances that they’d failed to deliver heading into the half. “When we got back in the locker room, our coaches got us way amped up, and we was prepared,” Nabers said. “It’s our last game in Tiger Stadium. Why we so quiet? We should be playing with a chip on our shoulder.” Needing a comeback, LSU answered the call on both sides of the ball. After Texas A&M opened the half with a touchdown, Jayden Daniels brought LSU to answer after he converted a crucial fourth down with a 49-yard run. The Tigers made good on that play with a Josh Williams rushing touchdown a few plays later.
MADALYN CUNNINGHAM / The Reveille
LSU football junior wide receiver Malik Nabers (8) runs the ball while Texas A&M players attempt to tackle him during LSU’s 42-30 win against Texas A&M on Nov. 25 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
MORGAN COOK / The Reveille
LSU football senior quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) runs with the ball Nov. 25 during LSU’s game against Texas A&M at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. “It was a must have for us,” Daniels said of the fourth down play. “Obviously, that changed the momentum. When a play had to be made, I stepped up to the plate.” On the Aggies’ next drive, LSU tightened up in the red zone and forced Texas A&M to kick a field goal, which it missed. After an LSU three-and-out, the embattled defense made another huge play with linebacker Greg Penn III coming up with an interception over the middle. “I basically just baited the quarterback,” Penn said. “Stayed deep, and he threw me one, so I made the play.” All season, the recipe for wins hasn’t been defensive dominance, but rather a handful of stops when needed. Even that’s been hard to come by on
occasion, but Penn and LSU’s defense made it happen against Texas A&M. “On the defensive side of the ball, we’re not perfect,” Kelly said. “We have to grind. But I’m proud of their resolve.” From there, LSU blew the game open, scoring touchdowns on three consecutive drives, each capped by incredible jump-ball touchdown grabs by each of LSU’s three leading receivers: Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr. and Kyren Lacy. Nabers finished with six receptions for 122 yards and two touchdowns, setting the LSU career record for receptions and coming within 22 yards of the program record for career receiving yards. He’ll have a chance to break the latter record in LSU’s up-
coming bowl game, which Nabers said he’ll play in after Saturday’s match. Making his final statement for the Heisman, Daniels put up 355 total yards and four touchdowns against an elite defense. Despite a slow start, he put together another strong performance to add to his case. LSU avoided a disappointment against a dangerous A&M team led by interim coach Elijah Robinson. On both sides of the ball, the Tigers finished strong. In doing so, the possibility of finishing with double-digit wins remains intact. For all the struggles it’s seen over the year, LSU’s win on Saturday put an end to an impressive regular season in which the Tigers overcame their fair share of adversity.
OPINION
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An LSU essential: The opinion section tries Highland Coffees BY OPINION STAFF As students at LSU and connoisseurs of its culture, nothing is more important than being familiar with the school’s defining landmarks. Highland Coffees, situated at 3350 Highland Road, has more than earned its spot in the pantheon of places to be. The coffee shop has been providing students of all ages and concentrations with a spot to kick back and chat or crack down and work since 1989. Its location makes it walkable from most places on campus, and its laid-back atmosphere makes it all too easy to spend an hour or two in. These factors have made visiting the coffee shop an almost ubiquitous experience among LSU students. Take 10 students from the Quad, and you’ll be lucky if half of them haven’t been at least once. After our first foray into food reviewing at Louie’s Cafe earlier this semester, the Reveille opinion section deemed it high time to check another campus essential off the list. What follows is a chronicle of our experience at Highland Coffees.
Colin Falcon @nestingnests Among my opinion section peers, I was probably the least familiar with the hotspot that is Highland Coffees. Until getting corrected by one of its fans last month, I wasn’t even aware of the “s” at the end of its name. After reflecting on the visit, I’ve come to regret my inexperience, as I’ve been missing out on one of the best study spots that an LSU student could hope for. To start out, I was immediately struck by the lack of a front door, or at least one accessible from the sidewalk. Getting in requires a short trek through the alley turned outdoor seating area next to the building, which gives the shop a lovely feeling of being tucked away from the world. Inside, the atmosphere is just as nice. High ceilings and plenty of seating go a long way. I ordered my coffee, an iced vanilla latte with oat milk, and then my cabal and I grabbed a spot outdoors, so we could bask in the cool, cloudy Friday morning weather. Sitting, sipping the
coffee and chatting was exquisite, and if not for the busy schedule looming over me, I would’ve gladly stayed longer than the hour we did. Overall, I think the shop succeeds through the strength of its vibe. The combination of the quaint metal table and overhead greenery probably contributed to how thoroughly I enjoyed what was probably a very average latte. I’ll probably be visiting Highland again whenever I’ve got work to do. 10 out of 10 for ambiance. Six out of 10 for the coffee.
Nathaniel Dela Pena @NateDerDoner
From the beginning, I’ve loved Highland Coffees’ chill vibes and study atmosphere. I’ve been an occasional enjoyer of the place, and I’ve tried most of their coffees and pastries. I was excited to go with the opinion section, so I’d have a reason to give an official review of the well-known cafe located just outside of campus. Since there were wonderful cloudy vibes that Friday, we picked a table outside. I found it a perfect place to have a conversation with the opinion section. I’ll give Highland a nine out of 10 for its atmosphere. Drink-wise, my biggest mistake was ordering a “frozen blended coffee drink” and leaving the flavor up to the barista. I know them personally, so I’m really sorry if you’re reading this right now, but I value impartiality in my reviews. They made me a strawberry mocha frozen blended coffee. The drink was hard to stomach, but since I paid around $7 for it, I drank all of it. I’d give it a three out of 10; the strawberry flavor was in the shadow of the potent mocha flavor. Given Starbucks’ unfair treatment of its workers and affinity for union-busting techniques, I’m proud to divert my hard earned money to Highland Coffees. The strawberry mocha was one bad experience in a sea of many great experiences. And service from the baristas is always great, so be sure to always leave them a tip! Overall, I’d give Highland Coffees a solid seven out of 10.
KARLI SMITH / The Reveille
A sign welcomes customers on Oct. 1, 2022 at Highland Coffees on Highland Road in Baton Rouge, La.
Garrett McEntee @9are_bear Highland Coffees is a place near and dear to me (I go there about once a week), so when I was told we’d be reviewing it, I was prancing around giddy with joy. That being said, I don’t go to Highland for the coffee or the tea. I go to Highland so I can be an annoying, wannabe-aesthetic English major. The building is cutesy. It’s got a clown car effect; it looks tiny on the outside but is huge on the inside. The eclectic small business look suits the cafe. The staff makes me want to rip my hair out. They’re all so cool. I want to see their Pinterest boards. Every employee is made in the image of an indie manic pixie loser dream boat. And if that doesn’t make you want to buy a coffee, what will? It made me want to buy a coffee, so on the staff coffee date, I got a white chocolate mocha (hot) and a shot of espresso. The mocha was actually the best coffee I’ve had to date from the establishment, which is genuinely shocking to me because I’ve never enjoyed a drink from Highland. Eight out of 10. The espresso shot wasn’t lovely, but I don’t think they’re supposed to be. All in all, it went down smooth, if not slightly reminiscent of a plastic-wrapped
honey bun, post-nuke in a microwave. Five out of 10. My final thoughts are this—I love Highland Coffees. I love going and people watching and trying and failing to be mysterious and ethereal. I haven’t always loved the drinks they serve, but maybe, just maybe, if you’ve got some exceptional company it’ll taste better (I know mine did). Highland Coffees I award you an eight out of 10, have a great day.
Matthew Pellittieri @m_pellittieri I’ve been to Highland Coffees several times over the last year, so I just went with my usual: a medium roast iced latte made with 2% milk. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask for a flavor and was forced to drink just espresso and milk. I also drank the bulk of the espresso shot we passed around the table. It smelled like a dumpster, but apparently, that’s just what espresso smells like. Still, the coffee, as well as the banana bread I ate, was very enjoyable. This outing did nothing to dissuade me from my appreciation of this quaint little coffee shop that I will definitely keep coming back to. 8.5 out of 10
Editorial Policies and Procedures EDITORIAL BOARD Claire Sullivan Lauren Madden Cross Harris Oliver Butcher
Editor in Chief Managing Editor News Editor Deputy News Editor
Peter Rauterkus Sports Editor Colin Falcon 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.
Lindsay Bickham @lindsayymariah
When I first walked into Highland Coffees, I noticed the friendly and welcoming atmosphere projected by the baristas. I also noticed how studious the environment was. It’s the perfect space to study or catch up on work. I was greeted by a friendly and helpful barista when I ordered my drink. This was my first time at Highland, so I wasn’t sure what to order. The barista recommended I get tea. I had my reservations, because I’m new to drinking tea, but I loved it. All and all, Highland Coffees is the perfect spot for students on campus who want a new place to study.
Jemiah Clemons @Miclemah I ordered a small matcha green tea latte with soy milk and vanilla syrup, and it deserved a 6.5 out of 10. I usually don’t agree with the sentiment of “matcha tastes like grass,” but this time, I have to agree. The drink was grainy and textured while lacking the flavor of the soy milk and vanilla syrup. This drink was kind of disappointing considering it was recommended by the barista.
Quote of the Week “Even bad coffee is better than no coffee at all.” David Lynch
American filmmaker 1946 — present
Monday, November 27, 2023
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There are more ways to make a million dollars than you think HAMMER TIME LINDSAY BICKHAM
@lindsayymariah
Forbes Magazine recently named the top-50 creators of 2023. The article highlighted some TikTokers, vloggers and influencers who’ve become famous based on content creation. Most of the creators are now incredibly wealthy and are changing the narrative that you must be a doctor or athlete to become a millionaire. The era of there only being one way to attain wealth is over, and it’s time for society to understand that. Influencers hold more power than we think, and that’s what has made them millionaires. Think about the last time you were influenced. You probably didn’t even realize it was happening, and that’s the beauty of influencing. It’s so authentic that you don’t realize how much time and effort goes into the process. By simply watching a TikTok, you’re being influenced. If influencers incorporate products in their videos, within a couple months time, they could receive compensation. And depending on how popular TikTok influencers are and how much they
GRAPHIC BY MADDIE FITZMORRIS
can sway their audience, they’re entitled to receive more from the company that hired them. As a result, most influencers try to incorporate sponsored products with each post so they can profit from every video. The ongoing argument that you must go to college and be-
come a doctor or lawyer to be successful has been beneficial for some generations and damaging to others. Within the last 20 years, though, this perspective has shifted. The more conventional route has been to become an entrepreneur and start a business,
but more and more people are figuring out that the path to becoming a millionaire isn’t linear. This has inspired a new generation of entrepreneurs to pursue the business field with an unconventional route such as social media. The entrepreneurs of today look a lot different from
decades ago. This new reality creates new opportunities for those who don’t feel a connection to a certain career path. The pressure to succeed has been taken off with this new possibility. In the past, content creation and content creators weren’t taken seriously, but now, companies see how valuable they are. The progression of creators getting paid what they deserve hasn’t been easy, so seeing creators becoming wealthy feels very full circle. The original influencers came from YouTube, and back then, they were definitely not taken seriously. Through perseverance, the first wave of YouTubers were able to pave the way for content creation to be taken seriously as a job and lead us to the present time. In other words, YouTubers walked so that TikTokers could run. In 20 to 30 years, who knows what the next generation of millionaires will do for their careers? The range of possibilities is endless, and I can’t wait to see what type of career paths create the next generation of millionaires. Lindsay Bickham is a 19-yearold mass communication sophomore from New Orleans.
The holiday season is a time to expand your circle of compassion NATE’S TAKES NATHANIEL DELA PEÑA @NateDerDoner “The opposite of love is not hate; it’s indifference.” I’ve always loved this quote by Elie Wiesel, a prominent Jewish writer and Holocaust survivor, and it’s something for us to keep in mind during the holiday season. As many of us go back home, we should be reminded of what we’re thankful for. Hopefully, this includes a loving family, loyal friends and the other basic necessities of human life. Unfortunately, many people today will never experience that. While we should show kindness to others throughout the year, we should strive to be mindful of our actions now. In an environment full of giving, it’s unfortunate that we show compassion and love to those closest to us when there are others who will never receive those things in the first place It’s human instinct to live in our bubble and shield ourselves from the troubles of the world. We should break these chains and discipline ourselves to become people who love unconditionally. We can never be perfect in loving others, but we should always try to reach for it. And no one expects you to
follow the extreme of giving the shirt off of your back and becoming a pushover. It can be as simple as striking up a conversation with a stranger who you notice isn’t having a wonderful day. It can be checking up on a friend who you haven’t talked to in a while. Or, if you’re bold enough, it could be forgiving those who have wronged you and making it a thing of the past. Grand gestures are never needed to show love. Expanding your circle of compassion, even just a little, not only makes you a better person, but also allows you to lead the way in making a positive impact on the world. Volunteering is one way we can make a difference in our communities, and it only takes a few hours of your time. For campus-wide volunteer opportunities, you can donate or volunteer at the LSU Food Pantry. Food insecurity shouldn’t be an issue among college students, so it’s important we all pitch in whenever and however we can. Contact foodpantry@lsu.edu for more information on how to help this crucial organization in fighting food insecurity on campus. For volunteer opportunities in your hometown, Feeding America has a list of food pantries you can volunteer at or donate to. If you’re a fan of donating money where it can
make the most impact on the most amount of people, check out GiveWell’s website and affiliated charities. Even if you don’t plan on volunteering or donating this winter break, showing compassion to someone who’s in need is enough of a first step. When
one realizes we’re all trying to find a reason to exist on this floating rock together, all of humanity has a common bond that transcends our unique political, social and cultural differences. So when you’re hugging your loved ones as close as you can this holiday season, make some
space for a stranger. You’ll never know if they could become a friend if you always treat them as a stranger. Nathaniel Dela Peña is a 21-year-old political science and history senior from Alexandria.
GRAPHIC BY JACOB CHASTANT