The Reveille 3-30-23

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Preview: LSU women’s basketball gets set to face off with Virginia Tech

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BY TYLER HARDEN @ttjharden8

The road ends here with a 5442 win over Miami in the Elite Eight, the LSU women’s basketball team punched its ticket to the Final Four in Dallas.

LSU will face the No. 1 seeded Virginia Tech Hokies on Friday at 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcasted live on ESPN, ESPNU and ESPN+. The Final Four will take place at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, home of the Dallas Mavericks.

The winner of the LSU-Virginia Tech matchup will face the winner of the other Final Four matchup between the No. 1 seeded South Carolina Gamecocks and the No. 2 seeded Iowa Hawkeyes. That matchup will tip off shortly after the conclusion of LSU’s game.

LSU has been tested all season. But the team has played some of their best basketball in the weeks it matters most to get to Dallas. However, its Elite Eight matchup was not the team’s best performance. LSU shot about 30% from the field and only 8% from three.

However, Miami also didn’t shoot the ball well; it shot 31% from the field and didn’t make a three-point shot. The matchup was most definitely not an offensive field day, but the defenses

shined. LSU’s defense just shined brighter, and that’s how the Tigers now find themselves in the Final Four.

A down performance got LSU past Miami, who also underperformed. This won’t fly against Virginia Tech.

Similar to South Carolina, Virginia Tech has a lot of depth. But the Hokies are led by center Elizabeth Kitley, who leads the team in scoring and rebounding with 18.2 points per game and 10.7 rebounds per game.

Including Kitley, the Hokies have four players averaging double-figure points per game. Georgia Amoore is right behind Kelly with 16.3 points per game. Taylor Soule averages 11.1 points per game and Kayana Traylor adds 10.8 points per game.

In the Hokies’ Elite Eight matchup against Ohio State, Kitley led the team in both scoring and rebounding with a doubledouble performance. She scored 25 points and 12 rebounds.

Virginia Tech shot 48% from the field and made eight threepointers, shooting 30% from the perimeter. To put this in perspective, LSU has made just four three-point shots in their last two games.

However, Virginia Tech being good at shooting three-pointers is also its weakness; the Hokies live and die by the three-point

shot. From the eight three-pointers they made against Ohio State, they attempted 26.

To really see this, a look at a game the Hokies lost reveals their three-point dependency. The last time they lost came at the end of January to Duke, who was ranked No. 16 at the time and a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

In this matchup, Duke only allowed them to attempt 16 three-pointers, of which they made seven. This being said, limiting their shot opportunities is the main way to limit the Hokies’ offense.

Virginia Tech’s offense is more consistent than LSU’s, but LSU evens the score with their defense. Against Ohio State, Virginia Tech grabbed 32 rebounds, only five of which were offensive rebounds.

LSU grabbed 49 rebounds against Miami, 16 of which were offensive rebounds. The Tigers have proven that they have the defense to stop Virginia Tech from catching fire early.

Angel Reese leads that effort for LSU, averaging 15.7 rebounds per game, good enough for second in the country. Her matchup with Kitley will be one of the major keys to the game.

Though Kitley averages less rebounds than Reese, she has a height advantage at 6-foot-6

inches. LSU has had its struggles on the glass against bigger teams, most notably, South Carolina.

It will take more than just Reese, though, on the glass. LSU has seen steady contributions throughout the tournament and season from LaDazhia Williams who is second on the team in rebounding, averaging six per game. She was instrumental in LSU’s win over Utah, finishing the game with 24 points and six rebounds.

If there would be any game the Tigers need to bring their best overall game, it would be Friday. The team has not been under lights this bright and had this much on the line all season.

Having the opportunity to play in the Final Four and potentially make it to the national championship in Kim Mulkey’s second year in the program was something nobody at LSU could have anticipated. Mulkey has said that the team has “overachieved” this year.

Because they’ve made it further than expected, in a way, they have nothing to lose. They’ve exceeded expectations, and a “nothing to lose” mentality could go a long way on stages like the Final Four.

But the team has made it this far, why not win the whole thing? The task at hand in doing that: beat Virginia Tech.

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CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS

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TARUN KAKARALA / The Reveille

LSU women’s basketball head coach Kim Mulkey shouts to the LSU women’s basketball team during their 66-42 win against Michigan in the second round of March Madness March 19 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on N. Stadium Drive in Baton Rouge, La.

POLICY PROMISES

Student Government candidates face off in debate

BY CORBIN ROSS &LIZZIE FALCETTI @CorbinRoss5 & @lizziefalcetti

The Student Government Election Commission hosted a debate between the presidential and vice-presidential candidates on Monday in the Holliday Forum.

Around 55 people attended the debate, many wearing ticket shirts in support of their candidates. The debate was moderated by public relations senior Sebastian Canales, the vice-chair of the election commission.

Three tickets participated in the debate:

Inspire: Political communications junior Byron Hansley is running for president, and biological sciences junior Amber Salone is running for vice president.

Innovate: Political science and screen arts junior Anna Cate Strong is running for president, and political science junior Gigi Powers is running for vice president.

Challenge: Biological sciences junior Munjed Isa is running for president, and kinesiology sophomore Mayce Brown is running for vice president.

Graduate students’ issues

Isa said his administration would monitor the state legislature for policy changes for gradu-

ate students. Isa said graduate students receive low pay, are overworked, and have a lack of balance in their lives. He said he would work in conjunction with the Legislature and university to assist graduate students.

Powers said their administration, which puts heavy emphasis on sustainability, would produce sustainability certificates for graduate and undergraduate students.

“Graduate students are an integral part of LSU’s campus, we all know them as instructors, we rely on them for half of LSU’s operations and oftentimes they go unnoticed and, quite frankly, they need to be thanked for,” Powers said.

Strong said they would institute graduate forums and work for graduate student healthcare. She said they want to give graduate students a seat at the table.

Hansley said that graduate students are the backbone of the university. He said he would implement a department within the executive branch specifically for graduate students. He said this would allow them to be represented within the executive branch.

Candidates’ top policies

Strong spoke about Innovate’s

LSU

vice-presidential

27 in the Holliday Forum during the Student Government debate in the Journalism Building on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge, La.

community policy called Geaux Sixty, where students could become more involved. It’s a 60-tradition challenge for students to immerse themselves in the university. By completing 30 of LSU’s most known traditions, students can earn an extra cord at graduation, Strong said.

Powers also proposed a physical space for students to gather for clubs, meetings and organizations, so students can find their place on campus.

Inspire proposed an involvement questionnaire to connect

Nashville victim from Baton Rouge

BY CLAIRE SULLIVAN @sulliclaire

One of the victims of the mass shooting at a private school in Nashville, Tennessee, was a Baton Rouge native who attended the University Laboratory School and LSU, according to her social media pages.

Katherine Koonce, 60, was the head of The Covenant School, where six people, including three children, were killed by a shooter on Monday.

students. Hansley explained students would be matched with organizations that best fit their passions and desires based on their survey answers. Salone said her favorite was their Traits of Trust policy. Meetings would be held once a month to hear from students and address their concerns directly, Salone explained.

Challenge proposed a better transportation system and enhancing the TransLoc app. Isa said they want to have more bus -

She attended LSU from 1981 to 1982 before transferring to Vanderbilt Univeristy and earning a bachelor’s degree in education, according to her LinkedIn.

Koonce earned her doctorate in education in 2015 at Trevecca Nazarene University, a private university in Nashville, before becoming the head of The Covenant School in 2016, her LinkedIn says.

The shooter also killed 9-yearolds Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney and two other staff members, Cynthia Peak, 61, and Mike Hill, 61, accord-

see DEBATE, page 4 see SHOOTING page 5

Social media connects students, but many can’t unplug

BY CROSS HARRIS @thecrossharris

Take a look around LSU’s campus on any given day at any given time, and you’ll see students walking to class, sitting on benches, sprawled out on the grass in the shade. Look closer, and you’ll notice that nearly every one of them is on their phone.

To live in the year 2023 is to be more or less constantly, electronically connected. A little over 10 years ago, only 35% of Americans owned a smartphone, according to the Pew Research Center. Today, that figure’s approaching 90%, and for college-age adults, it’s 96%.

Not only do we have smartphones, but we use them. A lot.

The average American spent over two hours on social media each and every day in 2022, according to market and consumer data supplier Statista.

Some students at LSU put that figure to shame.

“I would say, ballpark, probably four to five hours a day,” said psychology junior Bry Morse. “Mainly TikTok and Snapchat.”

For Morse, social media is a source of conveniently dosed en-

joyment.

“It makes me a little happier,” she said. “If I need a pick-me-up, I can tend to find videos that make me laugh. It makes me feel good to send videos to my friends that I think they’ll like.”

But from time to time, Morse also considers deleting her social media.

“I have before, and it was really hard. I found that I was a lot more bored than I thought I would be, and I was like ‘oh my gosh, I

have a dependance, no!’ But now I have time-locks on my apps,” Morse said. “On TikTok specifically, after 90 minutes, it’ll ask me for a password to continue, but I force myself to shut it down.”

Many LSU students struggle

with managing their time on social media.

“It’s very addicting,” said dental hygiene freshman Taylor Stryzewski. “I have a hard time using my free time in other ways.”

In fact, Strzyzewski struggled to pin down exactly how many hours she spent on social media each week because the number was so high.

“I’m trying to do the math in my head,” she said. “Maybe about 200?”

There are only 168 hours in a week.

Stryzewski said although she spends about half of all her time on social media, she’d never considered taking a break from the apps. “I do learn a lot from the things I see,” she added.

When asked how much time she spent on social media, biology freshman Katie Shannon responded simply, “Way too much.”

But apps like Messages and Snapchat are how she stays in touch with friends and family.

“It connects me to more of my peers, and I get to see what’s going on on campus. Also, I’m so far away from home, I’m from Chi-

FRANCIS DINH / The Reveille

Student Government presidential and

candidates sit, March

CROSS HARRIS / The Reveille

Dental hygiene freshman Taylor Stryzewski dual wields her tablet and phone in the LSU Quad on March 23.

LSU disability panel outlines campus accessibility changes

BY LIZZIE FALCETTI @lizziefalcetti

LSU’s Disability Advocacy Council hosted a faculty panel on Thursday in the Student Union Magnolia room to bridge the knowledge gap between students, faculty and staff regarding campus accessibility.

Panelists spoke about their jobs on campus to ensure accessibility for all students with disabilities and answered questions about changes and additions that will be made to improve accessibility across campus.

Panelist Jennie Stewart, the Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator for LSU, explained accessibility as “[being] able to participate in a timely, meaningful way with equal access … The experience might be a little different, but the experience needs to happen, and that’s what access is.”

Recent infrastructure changes to enhance accessibility include leveling the surface of sidewalks, adding audible signals on Highland Road and incorporating ramps in most buildings, according to panelists. Braille signs are a planned addition within the next two months, according to panelist Danielle Mayeaux, a campus civil engineer.

LSU will undergo more changes after a self-study by an outside agency, and findings in the report will form the basis of a transition plan. After proj -

DEBATE, from page 3

es that are active on the route and update the app to show driver breaks.

Brown said the Challenge ticket’s leadership program is her favorite. Brown said students from all different backgrounds can participate in workshops and programs to learn about other students while aiming to fix bigger issues on campus.

Making LSU safer Challenge was asked about their support for the Blue Light system, a policy which has received criticism in SG and is a policy the Title IX Office hasn’t pursued. Brown said the blue light system has been successful at other universities. She said it would be used in conjunction with the LSU Shield app. Brown said that not all students have phones, or they may lose them, so this would add another means of contacting police.

Isa said they would work closely with LSUPD and BRPD. He said there are issues of police responding to petty issues instead of serious crimes.

“We had an intramural soccer game recently where five cop cars showed within five seconds of a call, rather when there was a shooting, they’re very slow, so we definitely need to increase what we do with LSUPD and BRPD,” Isa said.

Powers said that they would

ects are prioritized, assessed for costs and funded, plans will be implemented, Stewart said.

“Accessibility is a matter of diversity, and our community is richer when we can include more people, more viewpoints, more limitations, challenges and gifts that people bring,” Stewart said. “So, I think the transition plan allows us to grow our community, to be more informed

implement phone charging stations around campus. She said this would improve safety by making sure students will be able to charge their phone to contact people. Strong said they would want orientation for incoming freshmen to include more information about safety resources.

Hansley said they would expand LSU’s safe ride program. He said they would seek to provide resources to survivors of violence, through mental health resources and academic accommodations. Salone said they would emphasize communication with students to see what they would like implemented.

Oil funding, rumors and SG experience

The candidates also faced questions specific to their campaigns.

Innovate was asked how they will overcome differences of opinion and potential struggles based on rumors that Powers wanted to run for president rather than vice president and would form her own ticket to do so.

Both Powers and Strong dismissed this rumor.

“We’re sitting up here now,” Powers said. “Anna Cate and I have a great working relationship. I don’t think we need to discuss what a rumor is because rumors are rumors.”

Inspire was asked if their lack of experience in the SG senate would hinder their abilities as

and to be more visible.”

Panelist Dennis Mitchell, a campus landscape architect, described the changes that will happen to Field House Drive in the future.

“That whole corridor, Field House Drive, is going to get blown up,” Mitchell said. “We are starting over. Everything — sidewalks, crosswalks, landscape. Everything is going to

change.”

These updates are currently scheduled to be completed by summer 2024, and all enhancements such as lighting, bike-lanes, crosswalks and streetscapes will be ADA compliant, according to Mitchell.

Similarly, Mitchell explained the area that was once Kirby Smith Hall will be turned into a “beautiful green space, and ev-

ery bit of it is compliant.”

When asked about the biggest misconception surrounding disability access, Stewart said it’s not only up to people with disabilities to request access changes, but also the university’s responsibility as well.

“We don’t want people to have to ask for accommodations,” Stewart said. “We want to design universally with forethought about how to include people.”

A new transportation project will launch this summer. A pair transit system will provide rides in smaller vehicles with close access for students registered for accommodations or with disability services.

Brooke Wrzyszczynski, a junior at LSU and the Disability Advocacy Council president, said she believes these changes will have a strong impact on campus.

“I hope people take away from this a hopeful and inspiring kind of perspective because there’s a lot of stuff in the works, and there’s so much that’s been done and so much to be done,” Wrzyszczynski said. “There’s so much to do in the future, and I think it’s a really inspiring thing to see.”

To request more information or ask further accessibility questions, students and faculty can go to the Disability Advocacy Council’s Instagram account, @disability.LSU.

president and vice president.

Hansley said that as the director of finance for the executive branch, he has been able to work closely with the Senate chair of budget and appropriations, giving him insight into how the Senate functions. He said he also frequently attends Senate meetings, letting him observe how they operate.

“I think that through sitting and having those conversations, just understanding, we’ll be able to collaborate,” Hansley said.

The Reveille reported in February that Isa said his campaign received funding from various oil companies. (Isa declined to provide specifics.) Challenge was asked in the debate how this funding strategy reflects the type of leaders they are.

Isa dismissed the criticism over the oil funding as “nonsense.” He said that he doesn’t have the funds by himself for the campaign, which caps at $4,000.

“I would also like to clarify that my family is entirely in Pales -

tine, and my father and immediate family are the only people in America, that’s all I have and the working connections that we do have,” he said. “If that’s the only money I can get then that’s what we’re gonna have to work with.”

Brown said that where they get their money from shouldn’t be a reflection of what they’re trying to push for the campus. She said they need money to run a campaign, saying that if that’s where they can get the money then that’s where they need to get it.

COURTEST OF BROOKE WRZYSZCZYNSKI

LSU’s Disability Advocacy Council hosted a faculty panel on March 23 in the Student Union Magnolia room.

FRANCIS DINH / The Reveille Challenge and Inspire presidential and vice-presidential candidates speak to a student March 27 in the Holliday Forum during the Student Government debate in the Journalism Building on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge, La.

SHOOTING, from page 3

UNPLUG, from page 3 ing to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.

The shooting suspect was identified as former student Audrey Hale, 28, and killed by police, according to law enforcement.

Those who knew Koonce described her as a passionate educator to The New York Times.

“She would be quiet, but yet very magnetic at the same time,” Melissa Trevathan, who knew Koonce for years, told The Times.

Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome acknowledged the loss of the Baton Rouge native on Twitter Monday night.

“We are praying for today’s victims at the The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, including Baton Rouge native and head of school Dr. Katherine Koonce,” she said.

cago, so I get to see updates from back home, and also what my friends are doing at their schools,” Shannon said.

Even so, spending large amounts of time online can have deleterious effects.

“I think it shortens attention spans and people just have less patience,” said Shannon, who had just written a paper on the topic for her English class.

As a habit, long hours on social media can “aggravate mental health issues,” according to a systematic review of several research papers conducted by psychologists from the California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences and Psychology.

They hypothesize social media negatively impacts mental health because it displaces other, more beneficial forms of social interaction. This phenomenon is known as the “Displaced Behavior Theory.”

The study also gives credence to the premise that idealized depictions on social media negatively affect self-esteem and even our esteem for others.

always seeing them in my feed,” Moore said. “I don’t need to know the in-depths of their everyday life and what they’re posting on their stories.”

When he transitioned from high school to college, Moore decided to get rid of his Instagram, Snapchat and “pretty much everything,” he said.

COURTESY OF THE COVENANT SCHOOL WEBSITE

Katherine Koonce appears in an image from The Covenant School website.

After deleting his social media several months ago, math statistics and political science freshman Steven Moore began to notice a change.

“100% I view my friends in a much better light because I’m not

“I was spending too much time on it—that’s the reason I tell people, but I broke up with my ex and it just made me remember them,” Moore said. “All my posts were about them.”

Social media can preserve both fond memories and times we’d rather forget.

Still, Moore finds himself tempted to redownload the apps “all the time,” he said. “What’s the term? FOMO? You always feel like you’re missing a conversation with your friends.”

In a world where social media has become deeply entwined with almost all our social interactions, it’s difficult to quit without feeling you’ve lost something—especially when everyone around you is still tuned in.

Some find their life improved without social media.

Biochemistry sophomore Michael Melancon opted to unplug for Lent, and a month in, he’s already noticed a positive change.

“This has definitely been my best semester academically,” Melancon said. “So many times, I’d get done with classes and be like, ‘Alright, now I’m going to get on YouTube or Twitter or something.’ But now it’s not there, so I have the time to study, and also, I find it easier to focus without wanting to go onto social media. . .Definitely it’s been better not having it.”

Social media can be addictive, distracting and, at times, all consuming. A frequent time-suck, the apps often displace hours better spent with friends or on school work. Yet, because they connect us with peers and family, because they provide neat packages of entertainment, inspiration and knowledge, we continue to sign up, sign on and scroll down.

For the students of LSU, social media presents a trade-off. Plug in and you’ll see your friends more frequently, be less bored and more entertained—but the time spent can turn quickly to time wasted. On the other hand, tuning out frees up hours for other (perhaps much better) things—yet comes at the cost of connectivity.

Love it or hate it, social media is here to stay. As with so many innovations, the platforms have become both a modern problem and a modern solution.

Will we learn to control our time on them or be controlled by them? The answer is up to you.

At FranU we are dedicated to helping you find your vocation through your intellectual, social and spiritual development. Learn about our three schools, 20+ programs, service-learning and more at franu.edu/experience

CROSS HARRIS / The Reveille

Math statistics and political science freshman Steven Moore scrolls through his phone in the LSU Quad on March 23.

ENTERTAINMENT

A complete guide to Taylor Swift’s eras on ‘The Eras Tour’

BY OLIVIA TOMLINSON @OliviaMersade

The opening night of Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” in Glendale, Arizona, was last weekend with a three hour and 10-minute long setlist that covers 44 songs from every album she has ever released.

The country-turned-pop star has a specific aesthetic associated with each album that represents an “era” of her life. Swift fans, aka Swifties, are known for overanalyzing every detail in her life.

In true Taylor Swift stan spirit, here’s each era’s aesthetic from her tour broken down.

Red

Swift recreated the iconic “22” music video look from this era by changing her white tee from “Not a lot going on at the moment” to “A lot going on at the moment.” This change demonstrates how far she has come since releasing the original version in 2012.

Another hypothetical easter egg that fans are considering is the letter highlighted in red on her tees spell out “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).” The deep red color used in this era is a representation of heartbreak that comes from it. Other ways to recognize this era is through scarves, high waisted shorts, vintage dresses and lots of stripes.

After performing classics from this album like “We Are Never Getting Back Together” and “I Knew You Were Trouble,” the T-shirt was taken off, revealing a red and black ombre bodysuit underneath. A red sequin trench coat was eventually thrown over the bodysuit and matching red guitar was taken out for the ten minute performance of “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version).”

evermore

TikTok Swifties are quick to assume that the “evermore” era is Swift’s least favorite album, but she proved them wrong when she mentioned this on the opening night of the tour.

As she sat down at her green moss covered piano, she wore a deep mustard colored floor length dress with a lace-up corset top custom made by Etro. While at the piano she discussed her writing process during quarantine for this album, the sister album to her previous one, “folklore.”

The sister albums are unlike anything Swifties have heard from her, so the aesthetic was something new. Unlike her past performances in bright pastel colors or long fringe, “evermore”

After her “Lover Fest” tour was canceled due to COVID-19, Swift decided to open the show with “Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince” from her album “Lover.” Fun colors, sequins and fringe all represent “Lover” which explains the custom pastel Versace bodysuit she wore that matches the vibe perfectly.

The bright looks in the era still managed to represent her maturity and new optimistic views towards loving herself and others. The handmade bodysuit by Donatella Versace and silver studded Christian Louboutin knee high heels were paired perfectly together, but fans did not realize the full potential of the outfit until a matching sequin

blazer was thrown on top.

The blazer was worn for “The Man” – a song that represents everything Swift stands for. The oversized and masculine structure of the blazer contrasts with the shiny silver sequins. The blazer worn for the rest of the performance was a statement Swift made that shows the imbalance between men and women not only in the music industry, but in every perspective of life.

She had on her signature red lip, which stood out between the monochrome silver outfit. That was until she sat down, propped her feet up and flashed the crowd with the matching red on the bot toms of her Louboutins.

The “1989” era was a time of paparazzi, parties and polaroids for Swift. Switching back to her sequin and fringe, she comes out in another custom Cavalli.

The two-piece set covered in different shapes of dark pink fringe move effortlessly during dance pop songs like “Shake It Off” and “Bad Blood.” On night two she wore

an identical set, but in a lime green color and had matching shoes.

The “1989” era was when Swift officially became known as a true pop star. She was known for her short hair, funky colors and lots of skirts. Polka dots also played a huge role in this aesthetic, but Swift uses a more mature version of this look for “The Eras Tour.”

Swift’s “reputation” era was a time of owning up to the negative reputation she’s earned from the press. She showed she was not afraid of the media through dark colors, edgy patterns and snake print.

Before this album she was seen as a typical American sweetheart, but after public humiliation from Kanye West taking her award on stage and Scooter Braun stealing the rights to her music, she wanted to prove she could stand up for herself and was not afraid.

The edgy persona officially began after leaving the public eye for months. In her song “Look What You Made Me Do,” she claims the old Taylor cannot

answer the phone “cause she’s dead.”

On opening night, she brought back the snake theme from her 2018 “Reputation Tour” by wearing a black and red high leg asymmetrical jumpsuit covered in a snake that wrapped around her leg. The snake represents all the fake people who have betrayed her in her music career.

Also made by Robert Cavalli, the jumpsuit embodied her drastic change from being a “good girl” to making one of the biggest comebacks in the music industry. This dark energy delivered on stage brought many fans back to her same fierce energy seen in the 2018 stadium tour.

Fearless

Swift came out for the next era in a golden fringe, flapperlike dress while performing the title track “Fearless.” Custom made by Roberto Cavalli, the champagne colored dress is a staple in the “Fearless” era.

Teenage romanticism is a consistent theme throughout this era, and that youthful freedom is shown in the way Swift moves her body during some of her classics like “You Belong With Me” and “Love Story.”

On the second night of the tour, she swapped out the short

can be described as a cottage core aesthetic.

From “’tis the damn season” to “champagne problems,” Swift had the crowd screaming the lyrics as she put the same emotion into it on stage.

Cozy sweaters, plaid, braid-

fringe for a longer version of the dress, also handcrafted by Cavalli.

As she jumps around on stage and shakes the fringe, she reminisces on the time from her past, proving that she is fearless. She even recreates some of the same moves from her “Fearless Tour.” The inspiration behind the golden dresses on “The Eras Tour” comes from her original dress worn on her debut tour, also paired with her classic red lip and winged eye liner.

ed hair and long dresses are all ways to represent “evermore.”

To match the simple vibe of her indie era, there was no need for Swift to make a large, flashy production out of this set. She knew the words would speak for themselves.

Once the first show ended, the “Speak Now” portion of the night left Swifties confused.

Lover 1989 Speak Now reputation

“Enchanted” was the only song played from the album, so fans began to speculate why one song was chosen. Conspiracies about hidden easter eggs formed on social media.

Fans believe that “Speak Now” was only performed for a short amount of time because Swift will soon release her re-recording of this album. Back in 2010, Swift wrote and pro -

duced the entire album on her own, so this era is associated with her independence and femininity as an artist.

Although Swifties were disappointed with the single song, she made up for it with the gold and white sequin Nicole + Felicia Couture ball gown. The dress was different from what most fans would have expected, since this era is associated with the color purple, but no one was complaining after seeing how alluring the dress was.

folklore

As soon as “invisible string” started to play, Swifties could see a long, flowy muted lavender shade of fabric draped across Swift. The ruffled dress was a custom Alberta Ferretti.

The “folklore” era is much like the “evermore” era with its fairy-like outfits, and this dress represented it perfectly. This summer to fall aesthetic is seen through the ging-

ham prints, light cardigans and most importantly: the wispy bangs.

The dress follows Swiftt as she runs from each side of the stage during the performance of “august.” The flow of the material explains the emotion Swift felt during this era. On night two, however, she swapped out the purple for a cream version of the dress, also custom made by Ferretti.

Midnights

The most recent era for Taylor Swift was her “Midnights” era, which was released shortly before her tour. Swift’s whimsical pop side returned with this album.

Diamonds, navy blues, dark purples and stars are just a few of the ways to recognize this era. The original sequins and glitter aesthetics were also brought back with this album, which made Swifties happy.

She started this era off

with “Lavender Haze” in a sequined lavender mini dress with a fluffy feathered coat on top, custom made by Oscar De La Renta. The coat was left behind when she went to perform “Anti-Hero.”

The final look of the night was a black sequined bodysuit with a fringe bottom, and fans thought that was it – until a rainbow fringe jacket was draped over her while performing her final song of the night, “Karma.”

Rev Rank: Is ‘Daisy Jones and The Six’ better than the book?

BY MOLLY TERRELL @keenryanti

As a massive fan of the book, I was hopeful going into the show “Daisy Jones and The Six.”

I trusted Amazon Prime to deliver an accurate book adaptation after it pleasantly surprised with the production of “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” which was also a book adaptation by Amazon Prime.

The budget for “Daisy Jones and The Six” was immaculate, and the songs from the book coming to life were a dream come true. Listening to the whole “Aurora” album after falling in love with it on the page is a surreal experience.

I noticed slight differences from the book while watching the show, even though it’s been a few years since I read it. These creative liberties were not necessarily bad, but I did question the purpose behind some of the decisions.

The main difference from the book was that the show turned Daisy and Billy’s purely emotional connection into a more physical one. Readers were always led to believe that every member of the band was an unreliable narrator, so it wasn’t the

biggest shock to see that Daisy and Billy had acted on their unspoken feelings.

I was not a huge Camila Dunne fan in the book, because I was admittedly more focused on the serotonin I got from Daisy and Billy’s dynamic. However, I was able to connect with her in the show the way I was never able to in the book. She seemed more realistic

than the doting wife I remembered. Camila was played by Camila Morrone, who delivered some of the most impressive acting performances out of anyone in the show.

Sam Claflin as Billy Dunne,and Riley Keough as Daisy Jones were also showstoppers. You can tell how much they cared about their characters and wanted to do

them justice. I was worried about how the show would handle Billy’s rehab storyline, but when it showed Billy breaking down in Teddy’s car, I could feel Billy’s guilt. Claflin’s performance truly captured the weight of Billy’s remorse in that moment.

I also enjoyed Karen and Graham’s storyline, but I was annoyed by how the show de -

cided to unite the two. In the book, Karen tells Graham that he has a shot with her, and he sprints to her hotel room, but in the show, another girl is collateral damage.

I didn’t see the purpose beyond a plot device for Karen’s jealousy, as it added unnecessary cheating and made Karen and Graham’s relationship feel shallow.

The final episode, which explains the band’s breakup, was one of my favorite episodes of television ever. The show decided to open with the band’s last performance, and then go back in time to chronologically tell the audience why it fell apart. It was incredibly well done.

There were hurt feelings and egos everywhere; the only member who survived unscathed was the effortlessly cool drummer, Warren Rojas. He had to deal with the fallout of the band breaking up because his bandmates couldn’t be professional, but at least he got to marry a movie star.

All in all, this was one of the best book adaptations I’ve ever seen. The writing, the acting and the set design all fell perfectly into place.

If only it had found a way to include the line “And baby, when you think of me, I hope it ruins rock ‘n roll.”

Theater Review: LSU play ‘Wolf Play’ tackles LGBTQ+ issues

BY ALISON AGENA @alison_hana

“Wolf Play” is a theatrical production about a young boy who is forced to undergo many changes in his life. By the age of 6, the child has been through three families. Each time he becomes comfortable, he has to move to a new family.

The play focuses on the difficulties LGBTQ+ couples experience in adopting children and the almost inhumane ways that their children come into their lives.

The play also expresses how difficult it is for adopted children to connect with their new families. After being relocated on two occasions, the child is initially cold and distant from his adoptive mothers.

This play is meant to show the different challenges people can experience. Whether it’s their family relations or how other people treat them, everyone in this play has to deal with a problem of some sort.

While it’s up to the audience as to who in the story they sympathize with, it’s clear that the narrative is more focused on the relationships experienced by the two adoptive mothers with those around them.

For a serious topic, the script is excellently written and allows

for there to be moments within the play when the audience can be relieved of the overwhelming emotions.

This play was written by Hansol Jung, a playwright from South Korea.

LSU theater doctorate student, Heyjin Kwon, felt a connection not only with this play when selecting it but also with the playwright. As a Korean, Heyjin is constantly looking for artists and playwrights from Asia.

“I want the audience to see more people of color in the arts and also a diverse voice from people with a different background,” Kwon said.

This play is exceptional, and it truly allows for the talent on LSU’s campus to shine.

With a cast of only five people, less than two months of rehearsal and a show that runs a little over an hour and a half, the theater department at LSU has put its best foot forward and put together a great show.

Not only onstage but offstage as well. The props and lighting team have put in a lot of effort to make this show the best it can be.

The prop master, Sarah Statham, designed the puppet used in the play from scratch. In my experience of reviewing plays at LSU, this is the first time I have seen anything like this.

The puppet is at first a bit eerie, but by the end of the play, you can find yourself empathizing with the little wooden figurine.

A lot of time was taken by everyone who was a part of this production, and the work is evident in the quality of the production.

It’s truly a one-of-a-kind experience and worth every minute. I don’t think I have ever seen any play at LSU quite like this one. I highly recommend taking the time to see it.

Shows are Tuesday, March 28 through Sunday, April 2. Show times Tuesday through

Saturday are at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 2 p.m. in LSU’s Studio Theater located in room 129 of the Music and Dramatic Arts Building.

Tickets are $12 for general admission, faculty/staff, and senior citizens. Students get a reduced price of $6. Tickets can be purchased online at lsucmda.universitytickets.com or at the box office located in the front of the Music and Dramatic Arts building.

GRAPHIC BY MADDIE FITZMORRIS

MISS LSU 2023

The Delta Zeta Sorority hosted its annual pagent on March 26 in the LSU Student Union Theater in support of speech and hearing where 19 contestants competed for the coveted title of Miss LSU.

LSU information systems major Shay Walker introduces herself.

Miss Louisiana Teen USA 2023 Avery Crawford and Miss Louisiana USA 2023 Sylvia Masters make a special appearance.

LSU animal science major Molly Hopkins smiles during the evening gown competition portion.

Miss LSU 2023 semi-finalists stand on stage.

LSU mass communication majors Jillian Coco and Ivy Robichaux hug as Robichaux wins.

LSU mass communication major and Miss LSU 2022 Jillian Elliott crowns mass communication major Ivy Robichaux as LSU mass communication major Ivy Robichaux listens to emcee Dixon Wallace McMakin as he asks the interview question.

LSU mass communication major Ivy Robichaux smiles as Miss LSU 2023.

Photos by Morgan Cook

POTENTIAL FOES

Previewing the two teams the Tigers could play with a win Friday

BY TYLER HARDEN @ttjharden8

Looking ahead is just about the worst thing a team can do in March Madness.

But in this stage of the tournament, knowing who you’d potentially play in the national championship before it’s determined could win you a title.

In LSU’s case, if it were to win on Friday against Virginia Tech in the Final Four, it would play the winner of No. 1 seed South Carolina and No. 2 seed Iowa in the national championship.

One of these teams the Tigers have seen before and faced the result every other team that’s met with them has faced. South Carolina, to most, is the one team in women’s college basketball that sets itself apart from the rest of the competition. But given the firepower Iowa has, they might be the one team who can beat them.

Since LSU played against South Carolina in early February, the Gamecocks have remained undefeated. They’ve won an SEC Championship convincingly and went through the first three rounds of the NCAA Tournament

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

allowing no more than 40 points in each of the three games. The Gamecocks have flexed their depth all season, led by se -

nior forward and the projected No. 1 overall WNBA Draft pick, Aliyah Boston. But to put their depth in perspective, a player of

this caliber isn’t even their leading scorer.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

How LSU prevailed over Miami

BY TRE ALLEN @treday314

The LSU women’s basketball team is heading to Dallas for the Final Four after beating the No. 9 seed Miami Hurricanes in the Elite Eight 54-42.

The Tigers are back in the Final Four for the first time since 2008. With another doubledouble from Angel Reese and 22 points from Alexis Morris the Tigers were able to fend off the red-hot Cinderella team that made a deep run in this year’s tournament.

The Tigers took control during the third quarter but it was a struggle for both teams to score. LSU shot roughly 30% from the field and 8% from three, and Miami shot around 31% from the field and didn’t make a threepointer the whole game.

It could’ve gone either way with how both teams were shooting but there’s something that stood out that gave LSU the edge,

LSU women’s hoops: Mulkey’s rematch with Kenny Brooks

BY HENRY HUBER @HenryHuber_

Believe it or not, Kim Mulkey and Virginia Tech head coach Kenny Brooks have matched up in the NCAA tournament before.

Despite that matchup occurring just two tournaments ago in 2021, a lot has changed since the last time they faced each other.

At that time, Mulkey was looking to obtain her first set of backto-back championships at Baylor after winning the previous one in 2019. Though Baylor came into the tournament as a No. 2 seed, it was still one of the favorites to win it all, sporting two total losses and a 17-game win streak in which it largely dominated.

On the other hand, Brooks had just achieved his biggest feat with the Hokies so far.

Prior to his arrival in 2016, the Virginia Tech women’s basketball program was long past its hay day and had not made the NCAA Tournament since 2006. After winning 28 games and making the Sweet 16 in 1999, it narrowly missed out on the following tournament and steadily regressed from there.

The hire of Brooks made perfect sense considering his previous tenure with James Madison,

a school which resides just a twohour drive away from Virginia Tech’s campus. He had built the program into a Colonial powerhouse and consistent tournament attendee, appearing in five tournaments between 2010 and 2016.

Despite being a mid-major program, nobody wanted to face Brooks according to Kim Mulkey.

“Kenny [Brooks] was at James Madison and nobody ever wanted to play him because he was that good of a coach and just really did wonderful things there,” Mulkey told reporters on Tuesday.

The lone time the two coaches faced off while Brooks was with the Dukes, they trailed Baylor by just five points at the half, strong evidence of Brooks’ capabilities despite the Bears eventually pulling away. While one Virginia school thrived, another was amidst one of its worst stretches in program history.

Through the late 2000s and early 2010s, Virginia Tech was a consistent bottom feeder in the ACC and failed to eclipse six conference wins in a season from 2007 to its second season under Brooks, a full decade of misery.

From there, the Hokies consistently improved, experiencing

TARUN KAKARALA / The Reveille

The March Madness sign sits on the court March 19 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on N. Stadium Drive in Baton Rouge, La.

TARUN KAKARALA / The Reveille LSU women’s basketball head coach Kim Mulkey shouts to the LSU women’s basketball team during their 6642 win against Michigan in the second round of March Madness March 19 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on N. Stadium Drive in Baton Rouge, La. see REMATCH, page 13

Final Four staff predictions: LSU vs. Virginia Tech

It’s been a dream season for LSU. Just two years into the Kim Mulkey era, the Tigers are back to their winning ways of the mid 2000s, making their first Final Four since 2008. Despite the run, Virginia Tech is the best team LSU has faced since its loss to South Carolina in February. The Hokies are a No. 1 seed for a reason and are one of the most balanced teams LSU has faced in a while.

The styles in the game are almost complete opposites. Virginia Tech likes to live and die by the three-pointer while LSU likes to play insideout. For example, Virginia Tech guard Georgia Amoore has made 20 three-pointers this tournament compared to just 11 for the entire LSU team.

However, if LSU can play to its strengths, it has an advantage in rebounding. If the Tigers can control the glass and slow the game down, they can make Virginia Tech play in a way it’s not used to. I trust LSU’s experience in playing to its strengths and putting together that gameplan.

Prediction:

LSU is coming off an Elite Eight matchup where its offense did not perform near its potential. The team shot 30% from the field and only 8% from three, but the Tiger defense allowed them to pull off the win. The defense coming through once again will be a must, but the offense will have to show up as well. Virginia Tech is a team that likes to shoot the three-ball.

The Hokies haven’t lost since late January, and in that loss to Duke, they were limited on perimeter shots. LSU’s defense has showed up this postseason and can contain Virginia Tech’s shooting. The question is: Will defense be more important, or will offense be more important? Virginia Tech’s offense has been more consistent this postseason, but LSU has been bailed out by its defense on numerous occasions.

This being said, it will be a tight matchup, but LSU relying on its post might not be enough. The guards will have to come to play. Virginia Tech being able to look to both with confidence will be what gives them the slight edge in the end. This game will be one of those that the winner will be whoever can get the last shot off.

Prediction:

My biggest concern for the Tigers is the shooting and the offense. We know Angel Reese is going to play well and Alexis Morris is going to be by her side, but it’s the supporting cast that concerns me. The same goes for the Hokies With Elizabeth Kitley.

Both teams shoot roughly the same from three which means it’s going to be dominated by the bigs. I think the importance of the experience and coaching will be a big part of this as well. Which coach will make adjustments, which substitutions, how they respond to this are the important aspects of this game that will not go unnoticed. I think coach Kim Mulkey’s experience and with her being in this situation multiple times will give her and her team the edge.

Prediction:

LSU Virginia Tech

66-64 78-76 70-67 75-70

Despite Angel Reese struggling from the field on Sunday, LSU effectively handled business against No. 9 seeded Miami and has had an incredibly impressive tournament run overall. With that being said, I’m slightly more impressed with Virginia Tech.

The Hokies have remained comfortable through much of their tournament run, even with its competition consistently increasing in difficulty. It was rarely in any danger against a scorching hot Tennessee team. Then, it defeated a No. 3 seed Ohio State team fresh off a victory over No. 2 seeded Connecticut by double digits. It not only played in a deeper conference than LSU this season, it also won the ACC Tournament title and is currently rocking a 15-game winning streak, including nine wins over teams ranked in the top-25 in NET.

Most importantly, its starting five consists of four seniors and one junior, giving it an edge in experience. I see the game being close at its conclusion, with the Hokies ultimately getting to their first NCAA Championship game.

Prediction:

PETER RAUTERKUS @peter_rauterkus

TRE ALLEN @treday314

TYLER HARDEN @ttjharden8

HENRY HUBER @HenryHuber_

REMATCH, from page 11 near-immediate NIT success that included a championship appearance in 2018.

And 15 years after their previous appearance, Brooks finally got them back into the NCAA Tournament, a historic feat that had fans ecstatic about the program’s immediate future. They came into this tournament mostly as underdogs, with a shortened schedule and rough start to conference play having them listed

as a seven seed.

They squeaked past No. 10-seeded Marquette before Baylor effectively blew them out in the second round. Despite the outcome, Mulkey told Brooks that he should be smiling under his mask after the contest, believing his program’s future was bright.

“You saw talent. You saw raw talent, and you just knew they were going to get better,” Mulkey said referring to Elizabeth Kitley, Georgia Amoore and others.

“When those young ladies were freshmen and sophomores, you saw the talent, so you knew if he could keep them together, which he did, that they were just going to be phenomenal.”

That’s exactly what would happen.

Through the next two seasons, Virginia Tech would exponentially improve, earning a No. 5 seed in the next tournament before exploding onto the 202223 scene as a championship contender. In just his seventh season

POSSIBILITY, from page 11

That would be senior guard, Zia Cooke; she averages a team high of 15.1 points per game. Those two players are only the tip of the iceberg. Boston, standing at 6-foot-5, isn’t the tallest post player the Gamecocks have to offer.

Kamilla Cardoso, standing at 6-foot-7, has stood alongside Boston all season disrupting opposing post players. Against LSU, Cardoso recorded a doubledouble with 18 points and 13 rebounds. The two also controlled Angel Reese, allowing her to grab a season low of only four rebounds.

Including Boston, Cooke and Cardoso, South Carolina has 10 players that average double-digit minutes played per game. The ability to bring in fresh bodies and have similar production this late in the postseason is why most would say South Carolina is the favorite to win the national championship.

In contrast to South Carolina’s depth, only having three players that play more than 20 minutes per game, Iowa runs a different system. Its system is centered

with the Hokies, he earned them their first ACC Tournament title in program history, on top of attaining a one-seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

Its quick rise to championship contention paralleled Mulkey’s quick rebuild of LSU, who she left Baylor for following its eventual elimination in the 2021 Elite Eight. Each team drew Final Four expectations and effectively delivered, escaping tough regions to put themselves in position to etch themselves in their pro -

around junior guard, Caitlin Clark.

Clark has caught the nation by storm. With the statistics she puts up every game, she can make a case to be the player to lead their team to take down South Carolina.

Her numbers speak for itself. She averages 27.3 points per game, which is third in the country, 8.6 assists per game, which is first in the country, and 3.5 three-pointers made per game, also first in the country.

Most recently in Iowa’s Elite Eight matchup against Louisville, Clark recorded a triple-double with 41 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, marking the first 40-point triple-double in NCAA Tournament history.

Clark’s accomplishments shadow the fact that Iowa has eight players that average over 10 minutes of playing time per game, including Clark. Given its depth as well, Iowa is a team that could potentially hang with South Carolina’s stamina.

Monika Czinano has been Clark’s sidekick this season, averaging 17.2 points per game along with 6.6 rebounds. McKenna Warnock adds an average of

gram’s histories. Neither program has ever advanced past the Final Four, with Virginia Tech’s previous peak being that Sweet 16 run it had back in 1999. The third matchup between these two coaches is the first to occur on equal footing and possesses the highest stakes by far.

Though each has already made a historic run this tournament, just one victory would trump the importance of a win here: a national title.

11.1 points per game along with six rebounds. Both Czinano and Warnock being post players, they will see Boston and Cardoso all game.

The post play is where South Carolina shows their advantage. With Boston standing at 6-foot5 and Cardoso at 6-foot-7, their height gives them the upper hand; Czinano stands at 6-foot-3, and Warnock stands at 6-foot-1. Considering this, Clark’s production will be depended on more than ever Friday.

If LSU wins on Friday, it doesn’t get much easier for the team. In fact, it will likely get harder. The Tigers have seen the teams that are three-point shooting teams, good defensive teams, or teams with good post play. But it’s hard to compete with teams who can do all three and have depth. In this case, the two teams that fall under that category are South Carolina and Iowa.

LSU has exceeded expectations by making it to the Final Four, and beating Virginia Tech Friday would continue to shock fans. But knocking off either South Carolina or Iowa to win a national championship would be remembered for a long time.

PREVAIL, from page 11 defense. Just watching the game alone you could see how intense and eager LSU was on defense to shut down Miami’s offense. Although Jasmyne Roberts scored 22 points and shot 50% from the field, her supporting cast was negated.

Haley Cavinder who is leading Miami in scoring only shot for 1-6 from the field and only scored two points. Destiny Harden who is number two on the team in scoring went for 0-9 from the field and for 0-7 from three.

Now it could be that they had off days and just couldn’t find their groove, but it would be unprecedented to not give any credit to LSU. LSU ranks 11th in the country in field goal percentage defense according to NCAA.com, holding its opponents to a staggering 35.4%.

Forcing 18 turnovers and racking up 12 steals and four blocks, the Tigers found a way to win and pull away. Some people may overlook this in a game but this is a championship-type aspect

during the tournament season. Teams will have off nights shooting especially with a tight window between games. However, it’s how you respond and impact the game in other ways to find a way to win.

Angel Reese didn’t have the offensive performance everyone was used to, but by showing up on the other side of the ball and having three steals and two blocks she made her presence known. Kateri Poole who only shot for 1-5 during the game, was able to stay on her defender forcing turnovers, and had three steals on top of that.

As LSU faces No.1 seed Virginia Tech in the Final Four, it will need to get off to a better start than it did against Miami. It’s unlikely Reese and Alexis Morris will have another bad game.

However, if they can keep up their intensity on defense and slow down Elizabeth Kitley and Georgia Amoore for Virginia Tech as they did with Haley Cavinder and Destiny Harden, the Tigers will be in a great situation going forward.

TARUN KAKARALA / The Reveille LSU women’s basketball sophomore forward Angel Reese (10) grabs the ball in the toss up during their 66-42 win against Michigan in the second round of March Madness March 19 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on N. Stadium Drive in Baton Rouge, La.

ERIN BARKER / The Reveille

The Pete Maravich Assembly Center stands on March 28 on LSU campus in Baton Rouge, La.

If Trump was arrested he’d become a reality TV crime boss

SERIOUSLY KIDDING

FRANK KIDD @FK446852315

Editor’s note: The following column is satire.

Donald Trump’s claim that he would be arrested last Tuesday never came to fruition, but it did create speculation on what it would look like if the former president was incarcerated. He should’ve been arrested, if only to see what it would’ve looked like through the lens of a reality TV show.

Prison gangs are primarily determined by race; the most popular factions are white, Black and Hispanic, represented most generically by the Aryan Brotherhood, the Black Guerilla Family and the Mexican Mafia.

In a funnier world, Trump would have the biggest third-act twist ever, joining the Black Guerilla Family, converting to Islam and spending the rest of his life preaching radical Black politics. Upon his release, he would campaign against capitalism and white supremacy before being assassinated by the CIA.

In this world, however, he’d clearly be the number one draft pick of the Aryan Brotherhood. He would break the record for the

quickest ascension to the top of the gang – walking into the prison signing autographs for other prisoners like a quarterback entering his home stadium on game day. They would probably react like teenage girls in the 1960s when they saw “The Beatles” for the first time in person.

For maximum entertainment value, TV executives should take action and create a reality show that centers around Trump picking his second in command by giving everyone tasks and grading their performances. He could also reprise his catchphrase from his other show “The Apprentice” except this time telling a contestant, “you’re fired” would mean a stay in solitary confinement.

He’d probably challenge members of the gang to negotiate a deal with the prison to build a wall between the Aryan Brotherhood territory and that of the Hispanic prison gang and make them pay for it.

Trump could host and judge a talent show as a competition for one episode. What he really needs is a bureaucracy of white-collar crime to continue operations behind bars. This will win, much to the chagrin of prisoners who’d chose to show off their abilities to make toilet wine, fashion knives out of toothbrushes or tattoo swastikas.

The show’s most exciting plot

would probably involve a conspiracy to sneak in the truckload of bronzer Trump needs for daily use so as to prevent himself from looking like a vampiric mole rat. The second most important storyline would feature prisoners trying to sneak as many wigs as possible into jail using birthday cakes.

The show would also provide an opportunity to see Trump roast the Aryan Brotherhood.

“They’re saying you guys aren’t what you used to be. They’re testing you more and more, everyone is talking about it. Everyday people tell me, guys come up to me on the yard they say your gang is weak. The ethnic gangs say join us we won’t care about anything you did or said as the president as long as you get us cigarettes. I’m not saying I’m going to leave, but I’ve been trying on sombreros and dashikis for weeks now,” he’d say.

He wouldn’t pull any punches while berating them.

“Quite frankly you guys are soft. Many people are saying that you guys are more like the Aryan sisterhood, they’re calling you the Aryan sisterhood of the traveling pants, they’re saying that,” crime boss Trump would say.

We’d get to see him tear into members individually.

“Crazy Carson, they call you, but you got beat up and stabbed. That’s

not so good,” he’d say. “When it was time to go crazy you were very sane, very sane. You even started crying, they’re calling you crybaby Carson. They said they’d never seen anyone cry that much. I’ve talked to people that have seen a lot of crying, even they said they’ve never seen that many tears. I said really, you’ve never seen that many? They said yes, we’ve never seen it, Mr. Trump, this guy is a baby.”

Best of all, Trump can still run for president while incarcerated, leaving open the possibility that

he’ll have to do debates and conduct rallies over zoom in hopes of winning so that he can pardon himself.

That should be reason enough to arrest him today, and if it’s not, the FBI should just make one up.

America needs good television. America deserves good television. Make American television great again.

Frank Kidd is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Springfield, Virginia.

From awful parking to weed’s odor, LSU has so much to love

ISABELLA’S INSIGHTS

ISABELLA ALBERTINI

@BasedIsabella

Editor’s note: The following column is satire

Several things are part of our shared experience as LSU students, and it truly wouldn’t be the same without them.

From the unimaginable quantity of campus parking spots to the smell of weed near Himes Hall, there are so many unique things to love about LSU.

First of all, the number of available parking spots on campus. There’s nothing like having to arrive on campus half an hour early just solely to find a parking spot and then make a half mile pilgrimage to class. College life wouldn’t be the same if there were as many parking spots as questionable shirtless guys run-

EDITORIAL BOARD

Josh Archote Editor-in-Chief

Managing Editor Hannah Michel Hanks

Claire Sullivan News Editor

ning by the lakes.

If you’ve ever walked past the alley by Himes Hall that leads to the LSU library, you’ve probably inhaled the distinct aroma of weed. At first, you doubt if you smell what you think you smell on a Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. walking to class. But after a few days, that smell becomes a hallmark of your morning.

Another staple of our everyday experience at LSU is getting ac-

costed at Free Speech Alley. “JOIN OUR CLUB!” That is just what I like to hear every time I try to get to the Union. “TAKE THIS FLIER,” and you better take it. “HEY, SIGN THIS PETITION.” Still, this is mild compared to those friendly evangelicals who occupy FSA every other week. Courage to those trying to brave through FSA during Greek week or Student Government’s campaign week.

And then there’s the line at

Editorial

Deputy News Editor Gabby Jimenez

John Buzbee Opinion Editor

the Union’s Chick-Fil-A. Something I look forward to every day is spending 20 minutes of my 40-minute break between classes standing in line for the original chicken sandwich. No use asking for chicken strips because they’re not on the menu.

Maybe the lines wouldn’t be as long if it weren’t for the nosy high schoolers roaming campus. You may have been startled by a parent asking for directions to the bookstore. “Are you a student here? Do you live on campus? What hall do you live in?”

And then there’s Herget Hall. That needs no explanation.

Now although Mike the Tiger is our official mascot, our unofficial mascot are campus squirrels. They should pay tuition at this rate. There is nothing these squirrels can’t get their hands on, especially food. Stolen homework? It was definitely the squirrels. Property damages? Likely the squir-

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.

rels. Best frat parties? The squirrels as well. They’re taking over campus at an alarming rate.

When it’s pouring rain outside, and you must get to the other side of campus for class, you will happily wait for the Tiger Trails ondemand bus to pick you up. You aren’t even sure if they’re coming, and it’s been 44 minutes, but you will get to class dry and on time. Always.

There are so many other things to love about LSU. Scheduling exams at Johnston Hall, connecting to the wifi, Eduroam, getting LSU parking tickets and kayaking when campus floods are only a few of the things we love about our shared LSU experience. One day we will reflect on our college years and say, “Truly, I’ll miss picnicking in the quad.”

GRAPHIC BY MADDIE FITZMORRIS

Isabella Albertini is a 23-year-old mass communication sophomore from Lima, Peru.

GRAPHIC BY MADDIE FITZMORRIS

Tate’s ‘scholarship first’ agenda ignores LSU’s humanities

BENJAMIN HAINES @bphaines

A little over a year ago, LSU President William F. Tate IV announced a landmark campaign to reassert LSU as a prestigious state university through a “Scholarship First Agenda.” It promises to “capture” Louisiana’s heritage by helping people understand the state’s “history, culture, literature and the like” and to also “protect the people of the state by way of research.”

At its face, Tate’s agenda has thus far been a success. It has acquired $27 million from Shell, $245 million from Our Lady of the Lake Hospital and Louisiana Children’s Medical Center and recently reached an agreement with Louisiana’s largest ports to “develop cybersecurity talent and technology for critical infrastructure,” according to a recent press release.

But if one digs a little deeper, more troubling aspects of the agenda emerge, all of which harm a common victim: the humanities. The accomplishments of LSU’s history, literature, language, philosophy, political theory, arts and religious studies departments have been all but completely ignored and there’s an apparent refusal to seek funding for them.

These departments’ lack of recognition has been subtle. Virtually all efforts to advertise the Scholarship First Agenda, mainly

social media posts celebrating the accomplishments of students and faculty, are focused on science and coastal research. In fact, in an entire week of nonstop Tweets acknowledging the hard work of members of the LSU community, only one of LSU’s posts had something remotely to do with a humanities subject.

It’s not like there aren’t plenty of opportunities to tout LSU’s success in the humanities. In the last year or so, there’s been a slew of them: alumna Ana Reyes’ novel “The House in the Pines” made it all the way to No. 2 on The New York Times best-seller list, History Boyd Professor Suzanne Marchand won an ultra-prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship last year and two years earlier, Associate Professor Benjamin Kahan received the same award.

Failing to seek funding for the humanities has shown to be more explicit; it’s completely missing on the agenda’s website. The areas Tate wants LSU to focus on, like cancer research, cybersecurity, Louisiana’s coast, agriculture and energy resources, are all STEM subjects. Nowhere does Tate articulate a vision for cultivating or funding LSU’s role in advancing wider knowledge of poetry, fiction, philosophy, or religious studies.

What’s particularly frustrating about this is that the humanities require much less money to fund groundbreaking research than any STEM or social science field. History, for example, doesn’t require labs and rarely requires re -

sources to conduct surveys. All the funding most historians need is travel funds to get to faraway archives, or some money to subscribe to databases of newspapers and other primary sources which are far less expensive than paying for lab rats, research assistants, or complex, multi-million-dollar pieces of machinery. Which isn’t to bemoan the fact that other, non-humanities disciplines at LSU are receiving money for research. It’s a fact to be glad about, actually; at least somebody’s getting a slice of the

pie. But it should be pointed out that a little bit of money in the humanities goes a long way, and that only the slightest bit of attention applied to English history or philosophy might result in finding the funding they so desperately need.

In all, the agenda has only one bit with anything to do with the humanities: Tate’s promise to “capture” Louisiana’s culture through people understanding its “history…literature and the like.”

But even here, Tate misunderstands what the humanities are

about. True, they are partially about the preservation of culture and historical memory, but they are most importantly about broadening one’s horizons through the exposure of a plethora of experiences, voices and minds in the forms of novels, poetry, art and works of philosophy and history.

If we take Tate’s prescription for reasserting LSU’s prestige, we would be forced to cordon ourselves to literature and histories of Louisiana and Louisiana alone – a rich tradition, but nowhere near the treasure trove of ideas that exists beyond our state’s borders, beyond our country, beyond our civilization’s canon.

Tate’s way is not a viable option for LSU. To be a flourishing university, faculty, all faculty, must be given the means to study those things that they believe in, whether or not it brings in money or makes headlines. To educate well, a university must allow and even require students, all students, to study a variety of subjects, not just those that are immediately useful to Louisiana, LSU, or its president.

Universities are not the sum of their grant money. They are a corporation of knowledge, all knowledge – from science, technology, engineering and math, to history, languages, the fine arts and philosophy. An inconvenient fact for the agenda, perhaps, but a true one, nonetheless.

It’s all right if the best years of your life aren’t during college

MADDEN’S MADNESS

The best years of our lives –that’s what we’re told college is supposed to be.

The movies romanticize this misconception. Stories from our elders solidify it. Our four, or more, years spent on a college campus are supposed to be the peak of our existence.

This imagining of college is like a glorified version of summer camp.

It’s the first time in our lives that we have the freedom to choose things for ourselves. There are no bells alerting the beginning and end of classes. There are no morning announcements or a school secretary taking attendance, requiring a certain protocol to be followed when arriving late or leaving early. For the most part, we are free from our parents’ rules and curfews, living not with our family who varies in ages, but with our peers who exist in the same stage of life that we are.

As we continue our college journeys, many of us realize that the movies were wrong and the stories we were told aren’t ap -

pearing in our own lives. The honeymoon period we feel during our freshman year ends and we’re hit with a harsher reality of college life.

Our course loads get heavier,

and the list of assignments never ends. Time moves faster and there never seems to be enough of it. We’re broke, sleep deprived and doing our best to follow the path laid before us.

We’re supposed to make good grades, make life-long friends, meet the love of our lives, maintain a full social calendar, network, find an internship and have a plan for our future; all while ex-

ercising, eating right, sleeping the proper amount and taking care of ourselves. How are these the best years?

In retrospect, our four, or more, years in college are the years that we have the least amount of responsibility. They’re the years we begin to discover ourselves, either through the friends we surround ourselves with or the time we spend in solitude.

For some, this time may be defined as their best years, as their peak, but it’s okay if you didn’t peak in college. There’s still so much life ahead of you.

The world is a playground, explore it. There are so many people who will be important to you, and you haven’t even met them yet. Your future family hasn’t been created and you haven’t met all the people you will love.

If your college experience hasn’t measured up to your expectations, that’s OK. At the end of the day, we’re all here to receive an education and get a diploma. Go to your classes. Be nicer to yourself. And know that there is more to come after your years as a college student.

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

LAUREN MADDEN / The Reveille

Performers sing on stage at Fred’s Bar in Tigerland on September 18.

EDDY PEREZ/ courtsy of LSU photography

Day three of the Scholarship First bus tour included a Resiliency Tour in Lake Charles to view storm-affected areas with elected officials, local leaders, and LSU experts.

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