The Reveille 2-6-23

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HISTORICALLY BAD?

How this year’s men’s basketball team compares to the worst

BY PETER RAUTERKUS @peter_rauterkus

LSU men’s basketball isn’t very good right now.

The Tigers have lost 10 games straight, and the program feels night and day from what it was this time last year. To many though, that doesn’t come as much surprise.

LSU was forced to enter rebuild mode this season after former head coach Will Wade was fired last March after LSU received multiple Level I violations from the NCAA.

The fallout was massive.

Just weeks later, LSU was left without a single scholarship player and new head coach Matt McMahon had to rebuild the program from scratch. A few months later, LSU had a full roster again, one that consisted of six transfers, three freshmen and three returners who McMahon was able to rerecruit after initially entering the transfer portal.

Going into the season, expectations were tempered, but there was hope given some of the talent on the roster. Those expectations began to inflate as LSU finished non conference play with an 11-1 record, the only loss coming against now No. 7 Kansas State.

Though the Tigers were winning, there were warning signs early in the season. LSU’s non conference schedule ranks 326 out of 363 teams in the KenPom strength of schedule rankings, and LSU’s average point differential in non conference games is just +7.7.

The hype reached another high after an upset win over then No. 9 Arkansas, but LSU has yet to win a game since that Dec. 28 contest.

Over the last 10 games, almost nothing has gone right for LSU. Even though there have been small improvements in the last few games, only two of the losses during the streak have been by single digits.

While LSU sports a +7.7 average scoring margin in non conference play, in SEC play, that number sits at -14.3. Rock bottom came in a 40-point loss against Alabama,

where LSU was dominated from the opening tip, giving up 106 points in the loss.

Any 10-game losing streak is a nightmare situation for the team, but as LSU holds a 12-11 overall record, it’s worth comparing the first year under McMahon to other coaches in program history.

McMahon’s record in year one is nowhere near as bad as the 3-23 record LSU finished with in the 1966-1967 season. That ranks as the worst finish in school history and was the first year under Press Maravich.

The most comparable situation and season to LSU’s situation this year, is the 1997-1998 season. This was the first year under head coach John Brady who replaced Dale Brown after 25 years at LSU. Like this current season, LSU was in hot water with the NCAA, eventually being placed on probation in 1998, following an investigation revealing former LSU player Lester Earl was paid $5,000 by an LSU booster.

In that 1997-1998 season, LSU won just nine games, a mark it has already eclipsed this season. Brady’s team finished just 2-14 in conference play, a mark McMahon and LSU still have eight games to reach or eclipse this season.

To look at this comparison in a positive light, Brady led LSU to a 28-6 record and a Sweet Sixteen

appearance in the NCAA Tournament just two seasons later. Brady went on to coach at LSU for 11 seasons, finishing as the third-winningest coach in LSU history after reaching four NCAA tournaments and one Final Four in 2006.

Circling back to LSU’s current 10-game funk, a more recent season serves as a good comparison. The 2016-2017 season was LSU’s worst since year one under Brady, as LSU finished 10-21 overall, resulting in the firing of then head coach Johnny Jones.

In that season, LSU once again won just two SEC games, and had its longest losing streak in school history, losing 15 straight between Jan. 4 and March 1. There are a few different ways to compare the two teams, but for the sake of this article, let’s compare the two teams’ KenPom numbers.

The KenPom rankings are an analytics-based ranking system started by college basketball analyst Ken Pomeroy in the early 2000s. It ranks teams based on its adjusted efficiency margin which takes the difference between a team’s adjusted offensive efficiency and adjusted defensive efficiency. Those stats come from a teams points scored and points allowed per every 100 possessions.

This season, LSU currently ranks 127th out of 363 Division

I teams in KenPom with an adjusted efficiency margin of +3.6. This puts LSU 45 spots higher than its final KenPom ranking of the 2016-2017 season, where it ranked 172nd with an advanced efficiency margin of -0.25.

One thing to keep in mind when comparing the two, though, is the difference in strength of schedule. According to KenPom, LSU’s strength of schedule ranks 50th in the country compared to 34th in 2017. KenPom calculates strength of schedule by averaging the adjusted efficiency margin of a team’s opponents.

The bigger discrepancy comes when comparing the two teams’ non conference schedule. This year’s team ranks 326th out of 363 Division I teams in non conference strength of schedule with its non conference opponents holding an average adjusted efficiency margin of -5.97. While LSU had four non conference losses in the 2016-2017 season, it ranked 69th in non conference strength of schedule as its non conference opponents held an advanced efficiency margin of +2.91.

Neither of these two seasons were as bad as the 2010-2011 season in terms of KenPom numbers. That was LSU’s lowest rank since the KenPom rankings began in 2002, as LSU finished the season ranked 232 with an adjusted efficiency margin of -5.68. What makes the 2010-2011 team look even worse is that its overall strength of schedule ranked 130th, 80 spots lower than this year’s team.

Looking at these metrics and past losing seasons should give some perspective on this current skid for LSU. While after 1998 John Brady was able to turn it around, that wasn’t the case for Jones in 2017 and Trent Johnson in 2011.

For McMahon, LSU made it clear that it was committed to a long term rebuild, giving McMahon a seven-year contract. Growing pains aren’t uncommon for first-year coaches, and with eight games left in this year’s regular season, the momentum of the program is still up in the air.

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CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS

Isabella Brune’s last name was misspelled in a Feb. 2 edition of The Reveille in an article titled “Students express frustration with course scheduling system.”

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.

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CAMPUS AIR QUALITY

Louisiana air quality among worst in the nation, LSU fares better

BY OLIVER BUTCHER @OliverButcher73

Louisiana has the highest air pollution of any state in the nation, according to 2019 data from the Environmental Protection Agency. And it’s taking a toll on residents.

High levels of air pollution cause an estimated 85 new cancer cases a year in Louisiana, according to a 2022 study by the Tulane Law Environmental Clinic. Louisiana’s petrochemical belt along the Mississippi River, dubbed “Cancer Alley,” has long been a source of health complaints from the predominantly Black residents who reside along the industrial plants.

That belt stretches from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. Where does that leave LSU in terms of air quality?

According to HouseFresh, a team of air quality experts LSU’s air quality is typically fine, with a median air quality index yearround of 38, well within what the federal government considers “good,” which is the best possible category to be in. This means that on a normal day on campus, the air quality is no cause for concern.

Abnormal days, however, happen—the most common of which you’ve probably already experi-

STUDENT LIFE

enced.

They’re called “temperature inversions,” and they’re the reason some days you’ll step outside, and the air will be hazy and give off the faint smell of sulfur, according to Paul Miller, an associate professor at the College of Coast and Environment specializing in meteorology. Simply put, it’s when the air temperature above the ground is warmer than the temperature at the ground, the inverse of what it should be.

“Because the air at the surface is very cold, it’s very stable, so that air isn’t able to rise because as it attempts to rise into the atmosphere, it runs into air that is warmer than itself and it gets forced back to its original position,” Miller said. “That means that there’s very little mixing occurring, that any pollution that is emitted into those conditions will just sit and accumulate and then stay where they are.”

In LSU’s case, those trapped emissions are from vehicles and chemical refineries along the Mississippi River, thus the sulfuric scent, Miller said. He estimates temperature inversions happen in LSU’s region roughly a couple dozen times a year.

But there’s another source of air contaminants originating from one of the most recognizable

parts of campus: the University Lakes.

LSU’s lakes are home to the 10th most toxic algal bloom in the world, according to a study conducted by BlueGreen Water Technologies.

When these blooms begin to rot away, the bacteria released can have serious impacts on the lungs, throats and eyes of anyone who smells the “rotting green slime,” according to an official from the company interviewed by WDSU. The blooms are suspected

to be caused by fertilizer runoff from nearby lawns.

The university has partnered with the state and city for a lake restoration project. This effort, currently in phase one, includes dredging five of the six lakes around the university and improving paths for bikers and pedestrians.

The project has garnered $50 million in committed funding from various sources, according see POLLUTION, page 4

LIFE

South Hall maintenance issues cause concern

BY MORGAN CHARLES & PAYTON MANUEL @Morgan_Charless & @payton_manuel04

LSU’s campus is known for its sprawling oak trees and beautiful scenery. But for residents of South Hall, living on campus may be losing its charm.

South Hall, which houses the mass communication residential college, has been plagued with maintenance problems since the start of the spring semester, with some issues spanning back to the fall, residents say.

Residents say the elevator doesn’t always work, especially around move in, and that the hall’s entry systems have been broken since around Jan. 20.

The doors, usually locked and only accessible by keycard, have been propped open with random objects such as disposable water bottles and cardboard drawer organizers. This has left room for several problems such as people being locked out of their rooms when the objects are moved and strangers gaining access to the halls.

see MAINTENANCE, page 4

Honors college introduces in-house mental health services

BY EMILY BRACHER @emily_brahcer_

Mental health and therapy used to be a taboo subject, but now it has become more openly discussed, and the Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College wants to keep it that way with their new honors college therapist.

LSU alumna Julie Lorio started as the Honors College’s embedded mental health therapist on Jan. 9. The “Honors College Mental Health Initiative” was started by the Dean of the Honors College, Jonathan Earle, after he noticed heightened levels of students dealing with anxiety, perfectionism and depression stemming from when the pandemic began.

“I thought this was a really great use of resources to focus on these challenges,” Earle said.

Lorio provides individual therapy that can be accessed and requested through the Student Health Center. She is also hosting a series of six emotional wisdom seminars that are psychoeducational-based, Lorio said. The seminars will discuss the basics

of mental health, coping skills and other related topics.

“It’s a good entry level way to start engaging with a therapist,” Earle said regarding the seminars.

Private donors like Roger Ogden and a partnership with the Student Health Center made having a therapist in the French House possible, Earle said. He said he got impatient waiting for more amenities, so he initiated the prioritization of accessible therapy.

Not only as the dean but also as a professor, Earle has noticed that students don’t just struggle with anxiety and depression separately but that many face both at the same time. He said that a part of him being an academic administrator is that he can do more than give a lecture or a grade. He can make change, he said.

“We have been very successful at LSU and elsewhere in higher education at destigmatizing mental health problems and therapy,” Earle said. “When I was in college, it was like a huge issue. Like no one told anybody if you were seeing a therapist or if you were

taking antidepressants, and now, it is just much more open.”

All services are completely covered by the Student Health Center fee in students’ fee bill. Currently, appointments at the French House are primarily focusing on honors students. Lorio encourages non-honors students to reach out to the Student Health

Center for their appointments there if they are in need of help.

“Therapy in general is a great opportunity for you to just gain more insights on yourself and to figure out why we do the things we do and whether or not they are helpful or unhelpful,” Lorio said.

Mass communication fresh-

man Julian Zona said it can sometimes be hard to juggle the life and responsibilities of being an honors student while also maintaining a good social and work life.

“Having someone who can be there to understand our struggles

MADALYN CUNNINGHAM / The Reveille Cars line both sides of the street on Feb. 3 on W. Chimes St and Highland Rd. in Baton Rouge, La.

POLLUTION, from page 3 to the project website. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be accepting public comments on the plan until Feb. 8.

The project could mean safer travel and air for those who enjoy the century-old, man-made lakes.

But toxic algae blooms aren’t the only thing causing air quality problems at LSU. An environmental event from across the sea can affect air quality here in Baton Rouge.

Such an event happened just this summer, as a wind carried dust from the Saharan Desert

MAINTENANCE, from page 3

Biology freshman Trinity Bullock is troubled by the lack of progress on fixing the doors.

“Four men came to knock on my door when my roommate was home and asked to use our bathroom, even though there’s a public bathroom on the first floor, and we live on the fourth,” Bullock said. “The lack of initiative is unsettling at the least because the safety of the students should be the top priority of the maintenance staff.”

Several residents have had to text their respective hall group chats hoping there’s someone in their room who can open the door for them. If not, they’re left

across the Atlantic Ocean and into the southeast, Miller said. The effects the storm had were impossible to miss, as a brown haze hung over the area and the air in the region took a concerning dip in quality.

“There were air quality advisories issued for this day. Again, that’s not pollution, but the presence of dust in the atmosphere can cause people with respiratory conditions like asthma to have an asthma attack,” Miller said, who has recently been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation to study these Saharan dust storms.

stranded.

“I’ve come and opened the door for people who texted in the GroupMe saying they were locked out lots of times, sometimes even at 1 or 2 a.m.,” mass communication freshman Ella Christopher said. “I’ve been locked out a few times myself, and it’s been super inconvenient having to deal with this.”

Early childhood education

freshman Sophia Koepplinger said the most frustrating problem is the inconsistency with the elevator working. She also said her bathroom is filled with mold and the toilet recently stopped functioning properly.

“I went downstairs or to my friends’ dorm, and it was very

Such storms aren’t necessarily uncommon, but the extent of dust that reached the southeast was rare, Miller said.

Simpler reasons, like inefficient air conditioning, can impact air quality, too.

“In enclosed spaces such as classrooms, the air quality can decrease due to inadequate air movement,” said Kalliat Valsaraj, a professor of chemical engineering at the university.

Special cases aside, the university’s campus still manages an acceptable air quality in a state that suffers from heavy air pollution.

inconvenient,” Koepplinger said. “When we go down to get work orders in, I think that people should gauge the severity of them, because obviously our own toilet wasn’t working, and it took them a day and a half to get to it.”

The South Hall issues add to a long list of complaints about LSU’s residential and academic infrastructure, which the Reveille documented in an infrastructure series last spring.

Herget Hall, for example, was arun with geckos, the Reveille reported in January 2021. Residents also reported problems with the elevator frequently not working, sometimes for days-long stretches, and temperature control issues.

MENTAL HEALTH, from page 3

and help us through these struggles is going to be important for all of us,” Zona said.

Zona said that many students feel ashamed for needing help and that the accessibility of these new services can hopefully change that.

Biology freshman Roland Mollere lives in the Laville honors dorms and believes that a therapist located in the French House will encourage students to schedule appointments because of the shortened distance. Laville Honors House are on a separate

Students in the dorms in the Pentagon Community, built in 1923, told the Reveille about mold, peeling paint, bug problems and poor Wi-Fi. One student said her air conditioning window unit emitted a terrible smell that lingered on her even after she left her dorm. Another student thought the “black fuzzy stuff” on her A.C. was causing her congestion and sickness or making them worse.

Security complaints, too, aren’t unique to South Hall. A Cypress Hall resident told the Reveille that a man got into the dorm and chased him down the hallway. A student living in Acadian Hall told the Reveille her ex-boyfriend managed to bypass several

side of campus than the Student Health Center.

Mollere said that specifically amongst kids in the honors college, mental health has become a more of a topic that is discussed and that students are willing to have open conversations about it.

“From my experience in taking one of my honors classes last semester, a lot was proactively talking about mental health and lot of current going-ons in the world about adolescent health,” Mollere said, “It was made to feel like we were adults – we have just the same emotions and needs as other people.”

supposed security layers to enter her hall and attempt to meet with her against her will.

Catherine David, associate director of Res Life, said they are aware of the issues with the doors at South Hall and “have technicians on site working on the programming daily.”

She said most of the problems with the elevators happened during move-in and are caused by the doors being continuously held open. The door in South Hall is a year old, so the problem is rarely mechanical, she said.

Any problems can be reported to the Res Life Help Desk, housing@lsu.edu or through a work order in the housing portal, David said.

ENTERTAINMENT

List of top five best parades to catch this Mardi Gras season

BY ALISON AGENA @alison_hana

It can be stressful trying to figure out where to go and what to bring to prepare for Mardi Gras for those new to Louisiana or not familiar with the parade routes in New Orleans.

New Orleans is known for its huge parades. The costumes are extravagant, the throws are fun and the energy is all positive.

Starting Feb. 3, parades are held every weekend leading up to Fat Tuesday. The week before Fat Tuesday, there are parades every single day. It can be overwhelming trying to pick which parades to go to with so many options.

Here is a list of the top five parades in New Orleans to check out this weekend if you are unsure where to go:

1) Bacchus

The energy from this parade is unique and makes for a good time.

Each year someone is named “Bacchus” to represent the Greek god Dionysus. This year, Bacchus LIV is actor and comedian Adam DeVine.

Bacchus will be on Feb. 19 in uptown New Orleans at 5:15 p.m.

2) Muses

When it comes to throws, Muses is one of the best. The Muses’ hand-decorated high heels

are highly coveted by most Mardi Gras goers.

Muses was the first all-female krewe to parade at night in uptown New Orleans.

This parade rolls after Knights of Chaos on Feb. 16. Since it does not have a specific start time, people often show up for the parades before it and spend the whole day enjoying the festivities.

3) O rpheus

Another fun experience for those in the city, the Krewe of Orpheus is the night before Fat

Tuesday, Feb 20.

With students already out of school for the break and most people getting off of work before it starts, Orpheus is set up to welcome a huge crowd.

The parade consists of 38 floats and is known for having beautiful decorations.

As many frequent visitors of parades in New Orleans know, the joy that comes from the parades is not just the booze and free Mardi Gras beads. Appreciating the time and effort that went

into putting together the truly spectacular floats is half of the fun.

Muses is the perfect opportunity for those new to Mardi Gras to see what can be created by the many artists in the city.

4) Rex

This parade is an understandable top pick since Rex is on the day of Fat Tuesday and is “The King of Carnival.”

This parade begins at 11 a.m. in uptown New Orleans on Tuesday, Feb. 21. It is earlier than the

previously mentioned parades, but it gives people time to spend the whole day celebrating Fat Tuesday.

This day of festivities can be overwhelming. If someone wants to experience Mardi Gras but doesnt want to be out for the whole day, the Krewe of Rex is the parade to see.

5) C leopatra

Early on in the season, the Krewe of Cleopatra rolls. This parade is one of the best parades to kick off the festivities.

It was created in 1972 by two twin sisters. In the parade’s early days, there were 250 women. That number has since grown nearly six times. With over 1,800 women, this parade has become one of the best super krewes.

This year, the Krewe of Cleopatra begins after the Krewe of Oshun on Feb. 10.

All of these parades have a unique background. The culmination of artists, musicians and performers has aided in making Mardi Gras a celebration worthwhile.

Mardi Gras is for anyone and everyone. And, if none of these parades are your cup of tea, there is a ton more to check out that may be right up your alley.

For more information about parade routes and times, go to mardigrasneworleans.com.

Rev Rank: ‘That ‘90s Show’ is not as good as the original

BY MOLLY TERRELL @keenryanti

While not nearly as enjoyable as its predecessor, “That ‘90s Show” is able to stand on its own without relying too much on cameos from already beloved characters.

The show struggled a bit because it’s limited to 10 episodes, as is commonplace for Netflix sitcoms. The characters are able to capture our attention and make us laugh, but with a limited amount of time, they aren’t given the chance to have storylines that flesh them out and make them as lovable as the cast of “That ‘70s Show.”

“That ‘90s Show” centers around Leia Forman, Eric and Donna’s daughter, who manages to convince her parents to let her stay with her grandparents, Kitty and Red, at Point Place for the summer.

Despite getting her basketball skills from Donna, Leia has managed to still be as socially awkward and dorky as her father and has never had a group of friends before as a result. This quickly changes when she forms a friendship with Gwen Runck, the nextdoor neighbor who lives in the same room that Donna used to.

Through Gwen, Leia then becomes friends with Gwen’s older brother, Nate, and they introduce

her to their friends: Nikki, Ozzie and Jay Kelso.

While unfortunate that Jackie ended up with Kelso instead of Hyde, their son is a charming mix of both of them, with his dad’s player ways and his mom’s brains. Jay quickly becomes smitten with Leia, which annoys Red.

It makes sense that Jackie and Kelso ended up together due to the controversy around Danny Masterson, as well as Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis being married in real life, but it’s still disappointing to see the character reduction of Jackie Burkhart just because they might not have seen it as worth it to recast Steven Hyde.

On the topic of recasting, Wilmer Valderrama does not need to be employed as Fez. The writers should follow the precedent they set with Masterson and not let a predatory actor reprise his role again if the show gets a second season. Fez is still just as likable in his cameos in the sequel show, but surely they could find someone other than Valderrama to play him.

The new characters were fun to watch, and some of the dynamics were reminiscent of the old show. Gwen and Nate’s mother, Sherri, is a likable addition as she has an almost daughterly dynamic with Kitty and Red. Red is kind to her, and he definitely has

a soft spot for the reckless single mother.

Characters Nate and Nikki are a couple throughout the first season of “That ‘90s Show,” with their dynamic resembling Jackie and Kelso’s without all the toxicity. Unfortunately, I think the relationship is doomed to fail, as Nate is constantly insecure about where he stands with Nikki and has budding feelings for Leia. He’s the more faceted version of Michael Kelso that we didn’t know we needed, and it’s refreshing to see someone so earnest as a potential main love interest.

As far as Nate’s girlfriend, Nikki, goes, I don’t think the writers will have a hard time finding another love interest for her. In a scene with Gwen, they discuss how they’ve never hung out alone before and had way more fun than they thought they would. They are also bound to secrecy to never tell the group about something that happened between them. Reading between the lines, I don’t think the show will have any problems setting them up as a potential pairing in the future.

Ozzie, easily the standout of the new cast, is openly gay to his

friends throughout the show, although Kitty is the first adult he comes out to. His scene with Kitty is heartwarming to watch and makes the show-watching experience even better.

Despite being lackluster compared to the original, “That ‘90s Show” has the potential to be a really solid remake. There are just a few questions I have regarding a possible second season. Will Leia find a way to attend school in Point Place, or will the show just have a time skip to the next summer? Where is Kelso’s daughter?

MADDIE FITZMORRIS / The Reveille

MADDIE FITZMORRIS / The Reveille

LSU gymnastics defeats Georgia 197.700-196.925 on Friday, Feb. 3 with the help of Aleah Finnegan’s first perfect 10.

P E R F E C T

LSU gymnastics all-around sophomore Alexis Jeffrey hangs onto the uneven bars.

LSU gymnastics all-around junior Haleigh Bryant competes on the beam.

LSU gymnastics all-around sophomore Aleah Finnegan receives her crown.

LSU gymnastics all-around junior Elena Arenas jumps through the air.

An LSU gymnastics fan dresses in a Mike the Tiger costume.

LSU gymnastics vault/balance beam/floor exercise junior Olivia Dunne points to the crowd.

LSU gymnastics all-around sophomore Aleah Finnegan strikes a pose on floor.

LSU gymnastics all-around senior Alyona Shchennikova mounts the beam.

The LSU gymnastics team celebrates with Aleah Finnegan after she scores her first career perfect 10 on floor.

Photos by Francis Dinh and Erin Barker

l a s s i f ieds

Help Wanted

TIGERS FALL

Derek Fountain’s 26 points not enough to will LSU past Alabama

BY PETER RAUTERKUS @peter_rauterkus

Just three weeks ago, LSU had its first matchup of the season with Alabama, leaving Coleman Coliseum at its lowest point of the season, losing 106-66.

That was the fourth consecutive loss of a still ongoing losing streak where seemingly nothing has gone right for the Tigers. Three weeks later, LSU welcomed Alabama to Baton Rouge, and while the losing streak continued, there were positives that could be taken from LSU’s performance.

The loss against Alabama extended LSU’s losing streak to 10, but like the last few losses, the effort was once again there. After giving up 106 in the first matchup, the Tigers held the Crimson Tide to just 79 points. LSU also outrebounded Alabama 40-35, compared to being outrebounded 5238 in Tuscaloosa.

Another clear difference came in LSU’s aggressiveness. LSU made a point to get to the basket and draw fouls, shooting 31 free throws and making 24 of them. Derek Fountain led the way in that effort, scoring 26 points, 12 of those coming from the free throw line.

“I just come into the game, I tell myself ‘go play hard’ and whatever happens, happens,” Fountain said after the game.

Outside of just the scoring,

SOFTBALL

Fountain was active on both ends of the court, grabbing seven rebounds and tallying four blocks. Twenty-six points was enough for a career high for Fountain in a performance that almost willed LSU to a win.

“I thought Derek Fountain was terrific,” said head coach Matt McMahon. “He embodies everything I want to build this program on relentless effort, energy, he’s

all about the team. He’s really stepped forward into a leadership role.”

Alongside Fountain, Cam Hayes had one of his better games this season as well. He finished with 15 points and eight rebounds, knocking down three three-pointers. Despite his scoring, though, LSU had another inefficient day from the field, shooting just 31% and 26% from three-point range.

LSU men’s tennis improves to 3-1

BY CONNOR BARNEY @theconnorbarney

LSU men’s tennis has started its season off strong as they come off two victories this past weekend. The Tigers defeated Rice University 4-2 and Prairie View A&M University 7-0 to improve to a 3-1 record to start the season.

It was a back-and-forth battle Saturday between the Tigers and the Owls, with the match coming down to the end of singles play. LSU started off strong as Nick Watson and Stefan Latinovic won the first match of the day: a 6-4 in doubles.

That ended up being the story of the game as Alabama had another hot shooting night up until the last few minutes. The Crimson Tide shot 45% from the field and knocked down 13 three-pointers on 29 attempts.

Despite the loss, LSU still seems to be showing signs of progress in these last few games. The

Rice bounced back quickly, taking the next doubles match 3-6. LSU regained their lead before heading to singles play as Chen Dong and Welsh Hotard won their match 6-3, giving the Tigers the lead overall 1-0. In singles, Rice took an early lead as Hotard fell to Barnett in straight sets, and George Stoupe was defeated by Kapasi 6-2, 6-3, giving the Owls a 2-1 overall advantage.

The Tigers were far from defeated, and LSU began a victorious run to close the match.

LSU softball anticipates bounce back year with veteran core

BY JASON WILLIS

@JasonWillis4

At the end of last season, LSU made history, but not in the way the team would’ve liked.

For the first time in program history, the Tigers were swept out of the NCAA Division I softball tournament, losing both of its games in the double elimination opening round at the hands of San Diego State and Cal State Fullerton. Those losses came despite LSU being the No. 2 seed in the Tempe Regional and being favored in both games.

In addition, LSU’s streak of 123 weeks being ranked in the top 25 dating back to 2014 came to an end after it was omitted from the final polls of the year.

This year, the Tigers are working to make sure a humiliating experience like that doesn’t happen again.

“It’s in every moment, it’s in everything we do,” said head coach Beth Torina, returning for her 12th season at the helm for the Tigers. “I don’t think a

day goes by that we’re out here and we don’t know that we can do more and want to do more. Do we want those moments? Of course not, but maybe it’s a necessary evil to get you back where you want to go.”

The goal for LSU this year is to re-establish itself as a top program in college softball. Although the Tigers have made the NCAA Tournament in 16 straight seasons, they haven’t made the Women’s College World Series as one of the final eight teams since 2017.

That mission will be made easier by the fact that LSU returns many key contributors from last year’s team that went 34-23. The Tigers welcome back five players who were All-SEC and NFCA AllRegion honorees in centerfielder

Ciara Briggs, first baseman Georgia Clark, shortstop Taylor Pleasants, third baseman Danieca Coffey and ace pitcher Ali Kilponen.

In addition, LSU added two veteran transfers over the offseason who figure to make immediate contributions: catcher

Hannah Carson from Michigan and second baseman Karli Petty from Oklahoma State. Carson was a member of the All-Big 10 second team this past season and fills a position at which LSU saw several departures, while Petty made the NFCA All-Region team in 2021.

“We trust each other completely,” Pleasants said regarding the seasoned LSU infield. “I

think it does make it way easier with the experience because you don’t have to worry more about the plays or where you need to be or where other people need to be.”

Despite returning a good bit of veteran production, LSU will also expect several freshmen and sophomores to contribute. At catcher, freshman Maci Bergeron will get plenty of playing time,

and freshman pitchers Alea Johnson and Sydney Berzon will factor heavily into the rotation.

In addition, sophomore outfielder McKenzie Redoutey was described by Torina as the team’s most improved player, and she and sophomore pitcher Raelin Chaffin will be relied on to produce for the team.

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LSU softball redshirt sophomore infielder Taylor Pleasants (17) walks to her position Feb. 11, 2022, during the Tigers’ 3-0 win against South Alabama at Tiger Park in Baton Rouge, La.

REAGAN COTTEN / The Reveille

LSU men’s basketball junior forward Derek Fountain (20) looks at the basket Jan. 18 during LSU’s 49-67 loss against Auburn in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La.

STREAK, from page 9

Latinovic started the Tiger win streak with a close win against Grear, winning 7-5, 6-3.

Tied at 2-2 overall, Ronald Hohmann continued the success in a hard-fought battle, taking the first set in a tiebreaker, 7-6, and the second set 6-4.

To complete the comeback, Julien Penzlin won his first set in a tiebreaker 7-6, dropping the second set 6-3 to his opponent Salmon, but finished strong in the third set and took the win 6-3, securing the 4-2 victory for LSU.

Coming off of their big win against Rice, LSU completed the day with another win as they easily defeated Prairie View 7-0 overall. The Panthers proved to be no match for the Tigers, with LSU not losing a single set in the entire meet.

LSU looks to continue their three-game win streak as they take on Tulane for their first home match of the season on Saturday, Feb. 11.

LOSS, from page 9

Tigers are averaging 71.3 points per game in their last three losses compared to just 56.3 points per game in the first seven losses of the streak. Free throw shooting has been a major part of that as the Tigers have averaged 22.3 free throw attempts per game over the last three games.

Outside of the numbers, there seems to be an increased level of effort. After the game, Hayes and Fountain described that effort level as the team being “tired of losing.”

“We’re just tired of losing,” Fountain said. “We just came out to play hard, play harder, or whatever. But that’s just been our mindset, we’ve just been trying to stop the bleeding, stop the losing.”

RETOOLING, from page 9

That balance of youth and experience is what makes this team special, Torina says, thanks to the willingness of the team’s older players to help the newcomers.

“[Freshman infielder] McKaela Walker just joined the team a couple weeks ago, and I feel like I’ve barely coached her because Taylor’s been coaching her. I don’t even have to wonder what Taylor’s saying because Taylor’s using our words. Taylor’s out there telling the things we would’ve told her.”

LSU will face a challenging schedule this year as it normally does in a tough SEC, with an April 11 matchup against backto-back defending champion Oklahoma looming particularly large. For Torina and company, that’s exactly how they like it.

“We want to be challenged. We’ve never set out to play a perfect season, we’ve set out to be battle-tested at the end of every year so we can perform against whatever we see at the end of the season,” Torina said.

LSU now drops to 12-11 overall on the season and 1-9 in SEC play. The road in the SEC never gets much easier, and that will be true for LSU as it travels to Starkville to play Mississippi State in its next game. The Bulldogs aren’t quite a top five team like Alabama, but they are a team looking to prove itself to the selection committee with the NCAA Tournament inching closer.

For LSU, the Tigers are hoping to translate these improvements into a win and finally earn its first win in the year 2023. Many say there is no such thing as a moral victory and that was made clear by McMahon and his players postgame. However, a 30-point improvement against a team of Alabama’s caliber feels like a step in the right direction.

The Tigers begin the season ranked No. 20 in the ESPN/ USA Softball poll, while they are

ranked No. 25 in the USA Today/ NFCA poll, voted on by coaches. In the SEC preseason poll voted

on by the conference’s coaches, LSU was predicted to finish fifth in the conference, behind Flor-

ida, Tennessee, Arkansas and Alabama.

As far as its expectations for itself, LSU is cautiously optimistic that this year will be the bounce back the program needs.

“This is a really special group. We have worked a long time, waited a long time to put this particular group together,” Torina said. “We have put the time into these girls, we have put the time into giving them at-bats, giving them opportunities, we’ve stuck with them. We’ve taken some lumps giving them this experience, but we have it now. We’re there. We’ve arrived at the spot where we wanted to be.”

Pleasants expressed similar confidence, saying, “we’re going to have great games, our fans are going to be very involved, it’s going to be a good atmosphere to be in. I’m just excited to get it started.”

LSU’s season begins soon, as it will host the LSU Invitational from Feb. 10-12, facing New Mexico and a ranked Oregon State team twice each before closing the tournament against Nicholls State.

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LSU men’s tennis junior Nick Watson jumps up as he serves the ball Feb. 13, 2022 during LSU’s 6-1 win over Purdue at the LSU Tennis Complex on Gourrier Avenue in Baton Rouge, La.

THE REVEILLE ARCHIVES

LSU softball outfield sophomore Ali Newland (44) safely makes it to first base May 1, 2022, during the Tigers’ 2-1 loss against Florida at Tiger Park in Baton Rouge, La.

MORGAN COOK/ The Reveille LSU men’s basketball junior forward Derek Fountain (20) loses the ball Feb. 4 during LSU’s 79-69 loss to Alabama at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La.

Discussions and willingness to learn are important lost arts

BESKE’S BUZZ

KATE BESKE

@KateBeske

Exploring others’ perspectives to come to informed opinions has become a lost art.

The need for better discussions is something that has not just troubled the everyday person but has also troubled academics as well, who have been busy on projects to address this issue.

One of these projects, known as the Better Arguments Project aims to “help bridge divides.” The project is a collaboration between the Aspen Institute Citizenship and American Identity Program and the Allstate Corporation.

The Better Arguments Project identifies three dimensions of arguing better and five principles of a better argument. These dimensions and principles go hand in hand with a

document focused on why it’s important to have discussions by James Fearon, a political scientist.

“A better argument requires that all participants seek to understand the history that informs today’s debates and ground their claims using historical context,” according to the Better Argument Project’s website.

While it’s not necessary to know everything, it’s important to have a general knowledge of history to make educated decisions and have meaningful conversations.

Another dimension of a better argument is emotional intelligence, meaning we should “seek to understand why the other party is taking a certain stance, rather than immediately negating the party’s opinion,” according to the Better Argument Project.

This aspect of a better argument is something lacking in most discussions and debates

seen today because many people don’t like to listen to a different opinion from their own.

This issue, while it has been around for years, has gotten worse over recent years, especially with the proliferation of echo chambers.

These echo chambers are prevalent throughout politics today and are created by people who only want to hear their opinions confirmed or only listen to people that they agree with.

Organizations like the Better Arguments Project are trying to combat these echo chambers to ensure better and healthier conversations.

Even before projects like these began, documents were written about the importance of having discussions. Notably, Deliberation as Discussion has six main points as of why it is important to discuss, written by James Fearon.

Most notable are his points about the participants gaining

knowledge and understanding others’ ideas and perspectives.

One point about understanding others is called lessening or overcoming the impact of bounded rationality.

“Learning to see from another person’s or group’s vantage point means learning things that you never even conceived of, which implies that the intended effect of discussion is to lessen bounded rationality, a failure of the imagination,” according to Fearon.

This is an important reason to have discussions. By discussing subjects with people that have a different opinion from you, you are able to see things from a new perspective and understand why people think a certain way.

This point can also be furthered by Fearon’s point about improving the moral or intellectual qualities of the participants.

Again, this point is about someone gaining fresh knowl-

edge or a fresh perspective which can be beneficial to people who want to further their minds and get more out of conversations.

Between the Better Arguments Project and Deliberation as Discussion by Fearon, there are many points brought up as to the benefits of discussing with others, especially those who have opinions that differ from your own.

The Better Arguments Project shows that this idea of having better and more in-depth discussions about an idea is an issue that many have discussed and want to make better.

Especially in the climate of politics today, it is important to remember the power of discussions and the importance of hearing others’ thoughts and opinions in order to have a better-informed opinion yourself.

Kate Beske is a 19-year-old journalism sophomore from Destrehan, LA.

Education is about expanding yourself and your horizons

bad thing to hope to bring about positive effects through one’s education.

Why should you go to college?

It depends on whom you ask. If it’s your Uncle Bob, complete with his red MAGA hat, at the family reunion, he’ll probably tell you that college is useless, nothing but a steaming pile of garbage served on a silver platter of white people’s hurt feelings.

Perhaps this time a pragmatic parent, will say that you should go to school to make more money, but only if you take a STEM degree or commit yourself to the rigors of medical or law school.

Still others, maybe the hippy Gender Studies professor who Uncle Bob hates, tells you: “You’re here to change the world” as if the formulas revealed by Critical Theory unlock the secrets to the universe and world peace. (They don’t.)

Maybe it’s some mix of all three. None of these reasons or lack thereof to go to college are totally wrong: there are good reasons not to go to college; there are good reasons to prioritize a financially rewarding degree, and it’s not a

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Josh Archote Editor-in-Chief

Managing Editor Hannah Michel Hanks

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Editor

But not all of them are completely right. If we avoid all situations that challenge us, we never grow or mature. If we just chase money, we lose the beauty and wonder of education for the sake of itself; and it’s a bit unrealistic to think that we can all change the world. There’s only a finite number of Bill Gates lying around, after all.

Why go to college? The obvious answer is education. But what does education mean?

These days education largely means rote memorization and performance-based examination structures designed to make students cram in facts and data without knowing why only to have their brain dump what they just learned to prepare for the next test.

But that’s not what education always was. From a practical perspective in classical antiquity, at least in Aristotle’s version, it meant more or less the instilling of virtue, courage, temperance, patience and friendliness, among others. It meant being a good citizen. In early modern philosophy, for Enlightenment philosophers such as John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, education meant learning those

things that made a young, middle or upper-class man into a gentleman fit for polite society.

More fundamentally and perhaps more romantically, these classical and early modern systems were aimed at guiding students to a more spiritual transformation aimed at peeling back the layers of immediate experience to reveal the transcendent values of the good, the beautiful and the true, the three things that the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates identified as the “transcendentals,” or those things that bring us closer to the divine.

What is required, though, to see these heavenly ideals is an arduous journey, one that questions one’s preconceived notions and biases to see that the world isn’t what it seems: it is vastly more complex, full of nuance and color, replete with paradoxes and head-scratching complexities. In essence, it’s a challenge.

It’s certainly possible to discover the transcendentals in the hard sciences, or in medicine or law. STEM can, for instance, reveal the microscopic intricacies of the world unseeable to the naked eye. The raw humanity intrinsic in practicing medicine, in which one sees the emotions and tribulations

of ill patients desperate for medicinal therapeutics, extends the world beyond oneself and shows that the human experience isn’t always easy or pretty. Knowledge of the law, too, demonstrates the complexities of human tradition and the inherent reasonableness we as a species carry to have the wisdom to create customs and mores to protect us from ourselves and pursue justice.

Education can inspire us to change the world as well, but it can also temper our desires to focus more precisely on those things that we can change – those things that we can tangibly touch throughout our day-to-day lives. We may be inspired by the great men of the past, like Gandhi or Napoleon, whose life forces brought some of the

most powerful countries and empires in history to their knees – but we can also learn from quieter, less dramatic men like Aristotle that the first point of contact we have as humans is through the family, the original locus of political life, which in turn brings us to value the heritage handed to us at birth. So, why go to college? To be challenged, no doubt. To prepare us for our careers, to be sure. To allow us to help our communities, absolutely. But also to bring us closer to the most essential parts of human life, the joy and wonder of life: the good, the beautiful and the true.

Editorial Policies and Procedures Quote of the Week

Editor Gabby Jimenez

Brandon Poulter

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“The quickest way of ending a war is to lose it.”

Benjamin Haines is a 24-year-old graduate student from Shreveport.

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Why we all need to fail: you’ve go to take shots to make them

MADDEN’S MADNESS LAUREN MADDEN @lllomadd

We all want to win this game we call life, right?

We win the game by achieving success. To be successful, we must be the best. To be the best, we must accomplish things. When we accomplish these things, we must never experience failure, right?

Failure.

I used to be afraid of this seven-letter word. I would often use the word to define who I was.

It wasn’t until I acknowledged the beauty and opportunity within failure that my fear of it disappeared.

Failure is inevitable. It can be disappointing, discouraging and embarrassing. We want to be successful and flaunt idealized versions of our lives, while simultaneously hiding our unsuccessful moments from the world. We want our failures to remain invisible.

What we frequently overlook is that we learn more from our failures than we do from our wins.

Walt Disney is known for his success. He created “the Happiest

Place on Earth” and timeless characters that captivated audiences of all ages. What we don’t associate with his legacy is that he dropped out of high school at 16 or that his theme park was turned down over 300 times by bankers and financers.

Instead of sulking in his failures, Disney persevered, and because of that his legacy continues to grow today.

Before fans of Beyoncé Knowles-Carter started calling her “Queen Bey,” a nickname given to her because she is the queen of entertainment, she failed several times.

Her rise to fame came from her girl group “Destiny’s Child,” which split up in 2006 due to legal turmoil and conflict between group members. Beyoncé continued to pursue a career in the music industry after the split and is currently the highest-earning Black musician in history.

Failure makes us uncomfortable, but we don’t grow in comfort.

Failure is simply redirection. It’s not your final destination. It presents you with two choices: give up or keep going. You decide which path to pursue.

Our failures allow us to see how much we have grown as people. They provided us with more

insight into life than any victory ever has.

For me, selecting a college was, at the time, the most stressful decision of my life. I wanted to select a school that would provide me with the best experiences during the best years of my life.

I realized two years into my college education that I had made the wrong decision and I transferred to LSU.

Not only did I choose the wrong college, but I also chose

the wrong major, twice.

These failures propelled my life down a path that I never would have planned for myself. In making the wrong college decision, I discovered things I wouldn’t have discovered at LSU. The different majors I chose taught me valuable information that wouldn’t have been taught to me elsewhere.

Failing isn’t a threat. It’s an asset for success. Successful people understand how to fail. They give themselves the freedom to fail.

Have the courage to do something that may end in failure. It’s better than not attempting it at all.

Many successful people have failed before you, and several will continue to fail after you. I hope that I continue to fail, and that you do too, because that means we are one step closer to success.

Lauren Madden is a 21-year-old mass communication major from Mandeville.

MADDIE FITZMORRIS / The Reveille