The Reveille 4-13-23

CONFIDENTIAL

SUPPORTERS

These LSU employees offer support to sexual violence survivors — without a reporting requirement. Read on page 2

LSUReveille.com

@lsureveille

‘WE CAN LISTEN’

Confidential Supporters offer private help for sexual violence survivors

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BY EMILY BRACHER @emily_bracher_

LSU has trained faculty and staff that act as confidential supporters for survivors of sexual assault, sexual harassment and power-based violence.

Unlike other university employees who are required to report any instances of sexual misconduct that they hear about or witness, confidential supporters don’t have a reporting requirement and keep information between themselves and the survivor.

“If a student needed to talk to someone about an experience they had of violence, they would have to disclose that to someone and then potentially set off a chain of events that they might not want to have happen yet or potentially they are not ready for at that moment,” said Ashley Mack, an associate professor of rhetoric and cultural studies.

Mack was previously a medical advocate with Sexual Trauma Awareness Response, a nonprofit that advocates and provides services to sexual assault survivors. Because of their role, they were invited to become a confidential supporter at LSU.

“A lot of times, students never seek support from faculty or staff at all because they don’t want the chain of official process to begin,” they said. “Confidential supporters, because we don’t

have that requirement that we report, means that we can listen, be present and help survivors of sexual harassment and sexual violence have control over their process so that they see themselves as primary agents.”

Mack said the process of reporting can retraumatize victims and the system can be complex and scary. Through Louisiana law and LSU policy, it’s mandatory that non-confidential staff report instances of violence.

Mack said confidential supporters are there to “not judge students, to not shame students, and to not discipline students.”

Bryan McCann, a confidential supporter and an associate professor in the department of communication studies, said there is “little” good in the short-term about reporting because an investigation can be traumatic for survivors.

“Much about what we know about rape culture is that in an investigative processes, the survivor gets scrutinized in really dehumanizing ways, and in many ways, it seems much more than the person accused,” he said.

Most instances of sexual violence occur between people close to the victim, such as friends or significant others, McCann said. This can make it harder for victims because it brings out “complicated, emotional feelings,” he said.

“I desperately want more

people to know that [confidential supporters are] there because I do think that the fear of process is likely what prevents a lot of people from seeking out whatever justice is for them,” McCann said.

Another major factor in reporting is trust, McCann said. For people who grew up in poverty and for people of color, he said trusting the system plays a big role. Not everyone assumes law enforcement is a source of safety, he said.

“They inherently distrust the system,” McCann said. “For them, justice is healing. It is getting the resources you’re entitled to, but maybe not necessarily going through a difficult process with an institution you fundamentally distrust.”

And that distrust may be especially relevant at LSU, where a bombshell 2020 report by USA TODAY revealed widespread mishandling of sexual assault cases at LSU. After the report, LSU commissioned a law firm to investigate its handling of Title IX cases, which further corroborated violations of Title IX and university policy.

The law firm issued 18 recommendations to LSU to reshape its Title IX process. According to a June 2022 action plan from the Title IX Office, most of these recommendations have been completed or established.

McCann said people who

usually assault are likely to do it again, and in his view, that is not something for the victim to shoulder.

“You stop rape by people stopping raping, not based on choices that survivors make,” he said.

Mass communication freshman Sophia Simpson said she’s glad there’s a resource for students and faculty to use if they have faced any type of violence.

“I’ve seen all of the posters advertising resources for students during Sexual Assault Awareness month,” Simpson said. “Seeing what the confidential supporters do has given me more faith that LSU is heading in the right direction to help everyone on campus.”

The Lighthouse Program is another resource on campus that offers confidential support to survivors of sexual assault, interpersonal violence, stalking and harassment.

Services provided by the program include help in coordinating evidence collection, medical care, safe housing, filing a report to the police or the university, securing academic accommodations and more.

The university will not be notified if students are receiving services from Lighthouse, according to the program’s website.

Students can visit the website of the Office for Civil Rights & Title IX for more resources and information on reporting.

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CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS

The Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure its readers the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards. This space is reserved to recognize and correct any mistakes that may have been printed in The Daily Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified, please contact the editor at (225) 578-4811 or email editor@lsu.edu.

ABOUT THE REVEILLE

The Reveille is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. A single issue of The Reveille is free from multiple sites on campus and about 25 sites off campus. To obtain additional copies, please visit the Office of Student Media in B-39 Hodges Hall or email studentmedia@ lsu.edu. The Reveille is published biweekly during the fall, spring and summer semesters, except during holidays and final exams. The Reveille is funded through LSU students’ payments of the Student Media fee.

THE REVEILLE ARCHIVES

Pamphlets for the LSU Lighthouse Program sit on a table March 8, 2022, for the Women for the Win event on the Parade Ground on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge, LA.

ON THE FLIP

BY CROSS HARRIS @thecrossharris

Ethan Schenzel smiles when he talks. Between tangents of earnest reflection and zig-zagged thoughts, he laughs, flashing a squinting grin, then stops to ponder the red paint peeling in strips from his backyard deck.

Today, the 24-year-old University of Wisconsin graduate has an iPhone, but for a little over a month this spring, he was the proud owner of a gray, TCL Flip Pro. Yes, that’s right - a flip phone.

His brief dalliance with the large-buttoned, low-tech brick began this past Mardi Gras when a con pickpocketed his old mobile. “I looked up, and it was gone,” he said.

But Schenzel saw the loss as a boon, “I was like sh-t, well, this is my opportunity.”

Just the week before, he’d told his roommate, LSU computer engineering senior Clyde Ball, that he wanted to get a flip phone.

“This has been a thought I’ve had in my head for a while,” Schenzel said. “I wasn’t actually going to get rid of my iPhoneI was just like, damn, I wish I could.”

While they offer convenience and connectivity, smartphones come with cons, Schenzel said. Like many young adults, Schenzel struggles with anxiety and finds that constant access to social media can exacerbate the problem. The sticker price is an-

POLITICS

Innovate campaign given four penalties

BY CORBIN ROSS @CorbinRoss5

The Student Government Judicial branch handed down the Innovate ticket four penalties for two violations of the Student Government election code. If a ticket receives six penalties, they are disqualified.

Innovate candidates political science and screen arts junior Anna Cate Strong and political science junior Gigi Powers will still be sworn in as student-body president and vice president.

The hearing was presided over by two law students, chief justice Josh Campesi and chief justice Julien LeBlanc. There were a total of seven judicial complaints filed with the court. One was dropped before being heard, which was Innovate v. Challenge.

Due to the large caseload, the justices each presided over half the hearings.

other issue.

“At the time, I wasn’t working, and I didn’t have a ton of money, so I couldn’t drop $700 on a phone,” Schenzel said.

As luck would have it, his Apple Care plan, which would have replaced the stolen phone, had expired the month before. But even before he found out he couldn’t get a new one, Schenzel

was gung-ho for the Flip Pro.

“I knew I was getting a flip phone,” he said with a grin. So it began.

“The first week was hard,” Schenzel said, “but after that, I didn’t have that attachment.

I wasn’t always looking at my phone, wasn’t. . .chasing that dopamine rush.”

Without a smartphone’s con-

stant whirring, vibrating and chirping, Schenzel found he had more space for his thoughts and time for himself.

“I was just living in the moment. When sh-t was going down, I wasn’t pulling out my phone and taking a video, I was just living. . .I really liked it be -

see FLIP PHONE, page 4

Innovate was represented by international trade and finance junior Cooper Ferguson, political science junior Drew Prude and law student Nicholas Ashton. Inspire was represented by biological and agricultural engineering senior Alex Basse and biological sciences senior Zachary LeBlanc.

Inspire alleged Innovate had made use of a power board and

see INNOVATE, page 4

Gov. Edwards calls for teacher pay raises amid big surplus

BY MOLLY RYAN | LSU MANSHIP SCHOOL NEWS SERVICE

BATON ROUGE–Gov. John Bel Edwards joined lawmakers at the start of the regular session Monday to outline his agenda in his final State of the State address and call on lawmakers to give pay raises of $3,000 to teachers and $1,500 to support workers.

The state has a $1.6 billion surplus due to floods of federal relief money and increased revenue from a temporary 0.45% sales tax increase. One of the big debates this session will be whether to raise the state’s spending limit, which will influence how much of that surplus money is spent and where it goes.

During his address, Edwards reflected on his eight years in office, noting he had inherited a

$2 billion deficit in 2016 and will leave behind $2 billion in emergency savings for his successor in addition to the $1.6 billion surplus this year.

Edwards also struck a personal tone to advocate again for legislation that he framed as pro-life, including paid family and medical leave, equal pay, exceptions for rape and incest with abortion and an end to the death penalty.

He said the death penalty costs the state tens of millions of dollars a year, and he contended it is “wholly inconsistent” with Louisiana’s pro-life values. Only one person has been executed in Louisiana in the last 20 years, he said, while six people on death row have been exonerated.

Edwards said a teacher pay raise will make Louisiana more

see TEACHER PAY, page 4

CROSS HARRIS / The Reveille

Ethan Scheznel shows his dead flip phone to the camera in his backyard in Baton Rouge on April 4.

FRANCIS DINH / LSU MANSHIP SCHOOL SERVICE / The Reveille

Governor John Bel Edwards gave his final State of the State address April 10 highlighting some of his victories as governor.

What a temporary flip phone convert learned while unplugged

FLIP PHONE, from page 3 cause I wasn’t worried about anything else. I wasn’t worried about going on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat,” he said.

In many ways, the life sans smartphone is one made richer by subtraction. And while uncommon, there are small enclaves of young adults returning to the ‘90s tech: a group of highschoolers in Brooklyn, New York, for instance, who’ve created what they call the “Luddite Club,” according to The New York Times.

Named for Ned Ludd—an apocryphal, 17th century, antiindustrialist—the Luddite Club seeks to tune out social media’s static in favor of pursuits like reading, art, music and in-person interaction. Like Schnezel, its hardcore members eschew smartphones altogether.

“When I got my flip phone, things instantly changed,” said highschool senior Lola Shub in an interview with The Times. “I started using my brain. It made me observe myself as a person.”

For most young adults, however, the low-tech units remains a distant memory.

“Last flip phone I had was in 2006,” said Trey Butler, a Baton Rouge Community College cyber security sophomore, recalling his very first phone, which

INNOVATE, from page 3 a popcorn machine that weren’t recorded on their finance forms. They also alleged that the price of both of these exceeded the $4,000 spending cap on campaigns.

“Failure to record this on the DR (donation report) by Innovate would violate, directly, code section 807-3,” LeBlanc said.

Innovate said the popcorn machine was borrowed for the campaign. The campaign members didn’t say they used the power board, but the court ruled that the use of the power board would have been a borrowed good, meaning they would not have gone over their spending limit.

“If we follow the continuation of their theory that the power board was used by Innovate, they said it would count as a donated good, but it would actually count as a borrowed

TEACHER PAY, from page 3 competitive with neighboring states amid a national teacher shortage.

“The people in the state who deserve that raise the most are our children,” he said.

He also encouraged lawmakers to invest in early childhood education and to continue Medicaid expansion, pointing out that, unlike neighboring states, Louisiana has not had a single rural hospital close.

Edwards called Medicaid expansion the “easiest big decision” he made as governor.

he got when he was 8.

Yet for Ethan Schenzel, the Flip Pro came as a blessing cut entirely too short.

Sure, life with a flip phone posed challenges. The texting was “wacked out,” Schenzel said. Friends mentioned they had a hard time getting in touch with him. And the GPS was existent but difficult to use. But he also found himself less anxious as the owner of a flip phone, with more time for reading and being active.

Schenzel recently started a new job and navigated to his first day of work with directions he’d scrawled on a piece of paper.

As it turns out, that drive was his flip phone’s death knell. Schenzel soon learned that he’d need access to an app for the job—an app which the Flip Pro couldn’t run. Forced to return to smartphone life, Schenzel managed to unearth an old iPhone 8. It was the end of an era.

Today, his flip phone sleeps, drained of battery and disconnected. Within its chunky exterior, the potential for a simpler way of life lies dormant; outside whirs the necessities of the life we lead, and for a brief time, Schenzel managed to exist somewhere in between. The march of progress continues, gaining ground and losing per-

good since they provided no evidence and we have affidavits saying we were not charged, we were not fined by LSU landscaping for that usage of the power box,” Ferguson said.

The court ruled that the power board and popcorn machine were both borrowed goods that should have been listed on the campaign’s donation record, penalizing Innovate with two violations. The court ruled that the campaign hadn’t gone over their spending limit since both items were donated.

Inspire filed a petition to the court to further consider whether Innovate had gone over their spending limit. The court rejected this petition, stating that the court had not made a mistake in its ruling.

In another case, Innovate alleged Inspire’s use of an Instagram raffle for a $20 gift card constituted bribery, which would violate the code. The court ruled that the statutory re -

He said only 9.4% of working adults in Louisiana are currently uninsured, which is below the national average of 10.2% and down from 22.7% in 2015.

Additionally, Edwards said he would use his executive power to raise the wage for state employees to $10 an hour in the meantime.

“I find it embarrassing and frankly immoral that we have not raised our minimum wage,” Edwards said.

Edwards has proposed raising the statewide minimum wage during each year of his term without success. Twenty-

haps something more difficult to define, something precious, in the process.

“It was sweet,” said Schenzel, but the flip phone couldn’t last. The fact that he had to go back raises some emotion for him, “I really didn’t want to have the iPhone, but I have to.”

quirement in the code that there must be an understanding that the benefit will influence the enrolled student was not met.

Another case filed by Innovate against Inspire was withdrawn by Innovate at the meeting, citing a lack of evidence.

A joint complaint was filed by Inspire and Challenge against Innovate. Innovate left chalk on the ground in the quad saying “Vote Innovate” and “Vote Strong-Powers.” Inspire and Challenge argued this constituted campaigning outside of the daily campaign window since the chalk was left out overnight. The court ruled in favor of Innovate.

In another case, Innovate alleged Inspire had not accounted for the campaign’s T-shirts in its campaign finance report. Innovate said they had their T-shirts remade since they were messed up, and that this cost was accounted for. The court ruled in Inspire’s favor.

three states and Washington D.C. raised their minimum wage in January of this year, and Edwards said Louisiana’s delay is unacceptable with recent inflation.

Senate President Page Cortez, R-Lafayette, said recently that he is in favor of raising the spending limit this session if most of the extra money goes to one-time expenses like infrastructure projects.

Adhering to the limit would mean that the Legislature could spend only $500 million of the $1.6 billion surplus.

Rep. Jack McFarland, R-Win-

Although his Flip Pro now collects dust, Schenzel said his month with the brick taught him to spend less time staring into static and more time in the moment.

Even if you’re not going to haul off and turn in your smartphone, Schenzel’s experiment

captures our modern dilemma. You can fill the odd gaps of “doing” that lie before and after—the silent interludes between what’s finished and what’s next that fill our days, rounds our months and which will ultimately become our lifetimes— with scrolling.

nfield, chairman of the Louisiana Conservative Caucus, has said he is not in favor of raising the spending cap right now, pointing to a potential loss of up to $900 million in state revenue when the temporary sales tax increase expires in 2025.

Edwards has acknowledged lawmakers’ fears about raising the spending limit but said his successor will inherit $2 billion in emergency funds. He also said there will be another fiscal session in 2025 before the temporary sales tax increase ends, giving his successor time to make adjustments.

“We are leaving the state in a much better posture than when I came into office,” Edwards said.

Still, lawmakers like McFarland think Edwards’ successor will be a Republican, and they don’tt want to see their party face a hole in state revenue that could cause political problems for them.

Edwards ended his speech with an expression of gratitude to the state of Louisiana and a final request to lawmakers.

“Let’s all strive to be good and faithful servants this session and for the remainder of this term,” he said.

CROSS HARRIS / The Reveille

Ethan Scheznel pretends to have a conversation on his flip phone, now dead, at his home in Baton Rouge on April 4.

ENTERTAINMENT

Podcast Picks: Five podcasts to help any college student

BY OLIVIA TOMLINSON @OliviaMersade

“The Psychology of your 20’s”

By Jemma Sbeg

“The Psychology of Your 20’s” is hosted by Jemma Sbeg, a psychology grad living in Sydney, Australia.

Sbeg’s podcast discusses the hard transitions of life many people may face in their 20’s. From breakups, friendships, work and the future, this podcast covers it all.

Being a psychology grad, Sbeg is not only there to give you advice, but she is also there to explain why we feel these things. By breaking down the psychological concepts of the issues, it’s easier to understand how to fix your problems straight on.

The straightforwardness has led Sbeg’s podcast to blow up on Spotify and can typically be found in the top five of Spotify’s self-help podcast section.

“Moments”

By Lexi Hildago

TikToker-turned-podcaster Lexi Hidalgo has encouraged many listeners to feel comfortable with their emotions.

Hidalgo’s free spirit has allowed her to gain popularity on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and now her podcast. She travels often and has seen a lot of the world, so these experiences have made her wise.

Her soft-spoken voice and encouraging advice mostly covers mental health, but she also discusses topics like fear, selfishness and growing up. Hidalgo focuses on the belief that you are only alive once, so you should take advantage of that. By pushing the idea that your one life should be your best life, it’s moving to hear someone tell you all of the things you can accomplish.

“Huberman Lab”

“For You From Eve” “The Mindset Mentor”

By Andrew Huberman By Olivia Eve Shabo By Rob Dial

Dr. Andrew Huberman is a neuroscientist and a professor at Stanford School of Medicine. His podcast focuses on science, education, health and fitness.

The “Huberman Lab” podcast can be found in the top 15 of all podcasts globally. His research and life experience in the world of medicine has allowed the podcast to focus mostly on dealing with high stress situations.

Dr. Huberman is most famously known for his morning routine. Many people on TikTok and YouTube will try out the morning routine as a challenge and to see if it has affected their lives by the end. The routine is meant to be done every morning to get maximum optimization of your brain focus, which could be beneficial to college students.

Olivia Eve Shabo is a podcaster who focuses on self-love and wellness, and her podcast has become the top education podcast in the United States and United Kingdom.

The weekly podcast keeps up with topics such as health, fitness, self-love, relationships, motivation and more. The hard truth and entertainment makes this podcast a must-listen. Shabo’s main goal is to make you become the best version of yourself.

For even more inspiration, she takes her Instagram platform just as serious. She manages to highlight serious issues while giving the listeners enough entertainment to stay interested. From different workout routines to different supplements, this podcast is promising to those who are looking for heath and wellness motivation.

Rob Dial’s “The Mindset Mentor” is the No. 1-ranked motivational podcast on iTunes because of its ability to change people’s lives.

Dial gained popularity through his impact in selfhelp publications. He is a published author as well as a podcaster. Besides focusing on mental health, Dial also does life, mindset and business coaching.

He also has another podcast called “The Mindset Reset,” which focuses on the psychology and neurobiology behind the ways your brain and body work.

“The Mindset Mentor” was created to guide anyone going through hardships to change their focus to more important things that will benefit them. The psychological background he provides allows listeners to make a plan that will change their life forever. He continues to turn people into the best version of themselves.

LSU students left angry after Taylor Swift ticket problems

BY ARIS WILLIAMS @jonetaw

The accessibility of concert tickets has become a trending topic as music-lovers around the globe prepare to see their favorite artists perform, facing some difficulties in the process.

One of the most recent blows came after pop superstar Taylor Swift announced the U.S. leg of her “The Eras” tour in January. Ticketmaster was the main platform for purchasing tickets.

Ticketmaster experienced a bot attack on the initial day of ticket sales, causing countless Taylor Swift fans to be kicked out of queues, overcharged or charged for multiple pending tickets they did not receive.

Amy Klobuchar, chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on consumer rights, spoke about the Taylor Swift ticket fiasco and described Ticketmaster as a “monopoly.”

Ticketmaster is currently responsible for 70% of concert

ticket sales in the U.S., according to Klobuchar.

“The high fees, site disruptions and cancellations that customers experienced shows how Ticketmaster’s dominant market position means the company does not face any pressure to continually innovate and improve,” Klobuchar said following the incident.

LSU students have had their own difficult experiences when purchasing concert tickets. Ticketmaster, Stubhub and Vivid Seats are the main problem platforms based on a survey of LSU students.

“Ticketmaster is the ultimate monopoly,” LSU senior Rex Evans said. “Can’t buy tickets anywhere except Ticketmaster, and if they are sold anywhere else, they are incredibly overpriced.”

Evans’ purchase of tickets for Tove Lo’s tour was also met with excessive fees.

“The ticket was $37.50, and the processing fees came out to be $18.25, bringing the total to

$55.75,” Evans said. “Why were the processing fees half the cost of the ticket?”

Senior Niya Butler has also observed price scalping due to platforms such as Ticketmaster practicing dynamic pricing.

“A lot of artists allow dynamic pricing, which is when Ticketmaster applies platinum prices to tickets due to ‘demand’,” Butler said. “But the demand is never an issue, because I’ve witnessed the prices start to increase a minute after a sale starts.”

Consumers experiencing these issues asked whether concert ticket-selling platforms are more concerned with garnering a profit than they are with ensuring that their platforms are offering an efficient customer experience.

This also directly affects the LSU student body. Many students don’t have the extra income to continue experiencing problems every time they want to purchase concert tickets.

“It’s discouraging having to pay $200 or more to get a nice concert experience,” LSU sophomore Jayda Morris said. “I understand demand is higher for certain artists/events nowadays, but as a college student I have more freedom to experience concerts now.”

While Ticketmaster has since released an apology for the Taylor Swift ticket incident, some

students say the fact that it even happened reveals underlying issues that ticket selling-platforms are collectively guilty of and not proactively addressing.

“Ticketmaster dubs certain seats as ‘Official Platinum Seats,’ and specific ‘high demand,’” LSU junior Paulyn Robinson said. “The problem with this is it makes so many tickets virtually inaccessible.”

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THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

The riverfront is a popular destination and has plenty to explore.

The USS Ranger sits on a stand.

The bridge stands tall in the distance. The bridge spans the river. Water flows onto the concrete. The USS Kidd sits on the water.

Water flows onto the steps. A barge floats down the river. Archways lead down the boardwalk. Trees sit atop a terraced area near the river. The steps and river collide.

Photos by Reagan Cotten

NO. 1 VS. NO. 1

How does LSU match up with Kentucky, the best team in RPI?

BY HENRY HUBER @HenryHuber_

There’s not much that goes into baseball’s rating percentage index, better known as RPI.

However, it’s a relatively effective ranking system, keying in on a team’s strength of schedule and how it operates on the road compared to at home.

Most teams ranked in the top 25 also place highly in RPI, with slight variations.

For one, North Carolina State isn’t featured in the top 25 despite ranking No. 8 in RPI. It’s a near-identical story for unranked Oregon, the No. 12 team in the rating index.

In the case of LSU, its upcoming opponent, Kentucky, is the No. 1 team in RPI and No. 12 team in the country. This comes despite its two most recent bouts being losses to Georgia, who places at the bottom of the SEC East and just inside the top 50 in RPI.

Notably, there’s justification for that.

The Wildcats endured a consistently competitive non-conference schedule, crushing the 15th

best team in RPI in Indiana after already holding series wins over No. 26 Indiana State (who they swept) and No. 28 Elon. Their remaining non-conference bat-

tles included four against teams ranked between No. 71 and 126, of which they went 7-1. They haven’t had the toughest start to conference play, fac-

ing zero opponents that place in the top-three in either division. But the teams they faced prior to Georgia (Mississippi State, Alabama and Missouri) all currently rank in the top 25 in RPI and were dealt series defeats against Kentucky.

Against teams ranked between No. 15 and 28 in RPI, it’s 15-2. Against teams ranked No. 126 and above, it’s 22-5.

Its defense plays a large role in its success, with both its bullpen and outfield ranking in the top 10 in ERA and fielding percentage respectively.

Its bullpen features steady starters like right-handers Zack Lee and veteran Darren Williams and left-handers like Tyler Bosma, along with considerable relievers in sophomore Mason Moore and junior Ryan Hagenow. Both those relievers have ERAs under 1.25, the latter of which has yet to give up a run through 12 appearances.

“Each guy does a good job at executing what they do well,”

LSU head coach Jay Johnson said on Kentucky’s bullpen. “If

BASEBALL

No. 1 LSU baseball defeats Tulane

BY COLE HERNANDEZ @Ct_hernandez

The top ranked LSU baseball team traveled to New Orleans for a Tuesday night matchup with unranked Tulane. There was a sea of purple throughout the stands at Greer Field as LSU fans arrived in droves to watch their beloved Tigers trump the Green Wave.

Although Tulane didn’t have the best record entering the contest, LSU head coach Jay Johnson warned his team and fans that this would be a competitive game. He was correct.

The Green Wave jumped on the score board early, taking the lead in the first inning. Third baseman Simon Baumgardt smacked an RBI single to left field which scored designated hitter Brady Hebert. Baumgardt carried Tulane at the plate. He accounted for nearly half of the team’s hits with two runs on four hits and four RBIs in his five at-bats. One of those hits was

see MATCH-UP, page 10 see RIVALS, page 10

Football Notebook: Spring practice updates from Brian Kelly

BY PETER RAUTERKUS & HENRY HUBER @ peter_rauterkus & @HenryHuber_

Over a month has passed in spring practice with there still being plenty to learn about this team and adjustments being made by the coaching staff. Here are some of the more noteworthy things from Monday’s practice and head coach Brian Kelly’s presser today.

Injuries in secondary and young players getting work

Safeties Greg Brooks Jr. and Major Burns were notably absent from practice. When asked about their absences, Kelly laid out each player’s injury status.

According to Kelly, Brooks is dealing with a sprained ankle and is operating at around 80%. They shut him down temporarily to get him back to 100%, and there’s a chance he’ll be back by this weekend.

On the other hand, Burns will be out for a more extensive period of time, also harboring an ankle injury but one that’s a bit more serious. He has been shut down for the remainder of spring camp and will look to be back in the fall.

Kelly sees Burns being out for the rest of spring as a doubleedged sword, with the positive being that they have more time to prepare the younger players for

fall.

“That’s just why you’re seeing young guys out there playing safety,” Kelly said. “We wanted to get healthy at those positions.”

According to Kelly, freshman defensive backs Javien Toviano and Ryan Yaites have gotten more reps at nickel and safety respectively. He added that it’s been great because these younger players are gaining experience, they normally wouldn’t this early.

“It’s great that we’re giving him this kind of work like he was out there in two-minutes today. He’s got to make a lot of checks,” Kelly said, referring to Yaites. “This is kind of a really cool spring in the sense that some of the young guys have to make a lot of checks and

it’s been a good proving ground for them.”

Offensive Progression

One of the storylines surrounding LSU this offseason was the returning offense’s potential. LSU returned most of its production but has dealt with injuries throughout spring practice.

With that lack of depth, many of LSU’s early-enrollee freshmen have seen more reps than usual at practice. Evaluating that group, Kelly has been satisfied with the freshmen in multiple areas.

“It’s been really good to integrate the freshmen wide receivers. Getting a chance to see them as part of what we’re doing has been really, really important. Both freshmen tight ends have been an

important piece to this offensive development for us as well,” Kelly said.

“[Trey] Holly at the running back position. It’s been a really good spring for him to learn protections because he’s got really good vision and really good ability to see the hole,” Kelly said. “So, when you look at the offense from afar, it’s plugging in those new players into those positions where you can say they can help us in the fall.”

Outside of the skill positions, the offensive line has been another position hit hard by injuries this spring. With that, LSU has used multiple combinations throughout the spring, with the biggest competition coming at center.

“I think from an offensive line standpoint, getting borderline into a position where it’s consistent for him at Center has been really good for us in that respect,” Kelly said when talking about the line’s relationship with quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Charles Turner took the role of LSU’s starting center for most of last year but has missed spring practice due to injury. Alongside Turner, Marlon Martinez and Garrett Dellinger have both taken reps at center.

Updates on returning players

Though it has been a mostly

quiet spring for LSU, Kelly gave some updates on the status and progression of some of the returning players.

Harold Perkins has been one of the most talked about players of the offseason and Kelly has spoken on multiple occasions of the team’s plans to play him at linebacker. On Monday, he talked about how they can best take advantage of Perkins’ versatility.

“I think you’re going to see him as active as he’s been, and maybe just in a different fashion. If you just line him up off the edge, everybody’s going to gameplan for him,” Kelly said. “I think we’ve put him in a better position, a linebacker position and then we can move him around on third down.”

Kelly also talked about the quarterbacks, highlighting where both Jayden Daniels and Garrett Nussmeier have progressed this offseason.

“Jayden’s been pushing the ball down the field, trying to really work on quick identification and one on one matchups down the field,” Kelly said. “Garrett is just, discipline in progression reads. So, each one of them has some things that Joe Sloan has laid out for them and Mike Denbrock in terms of what they want them to work on specifically.”

THE REVEILLE ARCHIVES

LSU football wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (11) passes the ball Thursday, April 7, 2022, during LSU’s spring practice in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

FRANCIS DINH / The Reveille

LSU baseball infielder Gavin Dugas points to the crowd after hitting a homerun against Western Michigan on February 18.

MATCH-UP, from page 9 you don’t take good at-bats, you give them a way to execute what they’re trying to do. We need to be on it, like we were last night.”

On the offensive side, they’re one of the best at sacrifice bunts and average just under two stolen bases per outing. Four of their players are in the double-digits in successful steals.

“They bunt as good as any team that we’ve played since I’ve been here at LSU,” Johnson said. “They do a good job with the running game, there are literally no holes barred on that end. So, we have some things to do to control that.”

He added that LSU has been effective in that aspect, something that needs to continue in order for it to come out victorious.

“We have been very good at [that] this year,” Johnson mentioned. “Both in handling the inside game with the bunt and we’re very tough to steal on with the combo of our pitchers being quick to the plate, holding the ball and catchers throwing the ball well.”

The biggest name to watch when it comes to the Kentucky offense is Hunter Gilliam, who leads the team in batting average, hits, home runs and RBIs. He was named Co-National Player of the Week in mid-March after putting

up 11 RBIs in five games.

Gilliam headlines a long list of transfers the team recruited after its previous season, one where the Wildcats finished near the bottom of the SEC East and had them projected to place the same way heading into 2023. On his radio show Monday, Johnson cited Kentucky’s experience and acquisitions from the transfer portal as one of the biggest reasons they’ve surprised everyone.

“They did a good job in the transfer portal, they’re really old, they have some returning pitchers that pitch well for them down the stretch and they played well in Hoover last season for the SEC tournament,” Johnson said when discussing Kentucky on his radio show Monday. “They’re playing hard and for each other and it’s going to be a hard test.”

It’s the fifth straight weekend where the Tigers will face a team in the top 12. In order for them to win, they’ll have to score on Kentucky’s highly rated defense and shut down Kentucky’s inside game while dealing with its depleted bullpen.

It’s proven capable time and time again. Will this weekend be much of the same, or will the Wildcats finally topple LSU from the No. 1 spot in the country?

Game one takes place on Thursday at 6 p.m. It will be available to watch live on SEC Network.

RIVALS, from page 9 a two-run home run.

It wasn’t until the third inning that LSU’s bats became hot. Third baseman Tommy White blasted a two-RBI double to center field. He gave the Tigers their first lead of the game.

Multiple Tigers had success at the plate, but White and right fielder Brayden Jobert led the team with three RBIs each. Left fielder and first baseman Tre’ Morgan had two hits with two runs scored. Center fielder Dylan Crews also had two hits and two runs on the game. Designated hitter Cade Beloso and freshman first baseman Jared Jones both noted three hits. Towards the end of the game, freshman Paxton Kling hit the ground hard after his attempt on a play in right field. He was obviously in pain as he was helped off the field. Johnson has said that it’s a high hamstring issue. He then stressed Kling’s importance to their future success.

Tulane threw nine different arms on the mound, but it was Jonah Wachter that was charged with the loss. His record for the season drops to 1-3. Wachter threw only 25 pitches but allowed three runs on six hits and didn’t throw a single strikeout.

LSU threw six different pitchers; however, none of them went over 50 total pitches. Junior righthander Bryce Collins was credited

with the win, his first of the season. Collins fired 43 pitches with two strikeouts and two walks. He didn’t allow a single hit or run.

“Bryce had a tough start to this season, which was a real surprise,” Johnson said. “We’ve made some adjustments both in mindset and physically, and that’s four or five good outings in a row for him. We really need that, now more than ever. I have total faith in him.”

LSU plated five runs between the fifth and seventh innings which ultimately decided the winner. Morgan and Crews added three insurance runs, the most by both teams in a single inning, in the ninth inning with two singles.

The game was highly competitive throughout and fans weathered the cloudy environment for a chance to witness a spectacular

division one baseball game. LSU improves to 27-5 on the season while Tulane falls to 9-24. LSU’s 19 hits in the game are the third most all season.

“We played well tonight, and we had to in order to win the game,” said Johnson. “We used pitchers that we rely on a lot, and it was a good win on the road. I think Tulane will finish the year better than they started it; they’re really well coached, and it was a tough game tonight. A good win for us.”

LSU baseball returns home to Alex Box Stadium this weekend for a three-game series against the No. 12 ranked Kentucky Wildcats. Kentucky enters the series coming off two straight losses on the road to an unranked Georgia team. Game one is set to kick off at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

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.

FRANCIS DINH / The Reveille

LSU baseball redshirt sophomore red-handed pitcher Bryce Collins (21) pitches April 23, 2022, during LSU’s win over Missouri at Alex Box Stadium.

Students with disabilities deserve a better testing facility

JEMIAH’S JUSTIFICATIONS

JEMIAH CLEMONS

@Miclemah

Those with the privilege of testing in Himes Hall may not consider it as a luxury, but compared to the facility students with disabilities use, it’s an academic utopia. The Himes Hall testing center is a clean and efficient environment that minimizes errors and maximizes student success.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for students with disabilities on campus. When testing in Johnston Hall, these students are subjected to eerie testing rooms and a convoluted scheduling process. This facility is one of the most neglected and dismal spaces on campus.

But the stark differences between Himes’ and Johnston’s testing environments is just one example of people with disabilities are not fairly accommodated in society.

Students who use Himes are expected to schedule their exams via Moodle, show up on test day, then go on about their business. Meanwhile, those who use Johnston have a much more complicated process.

Students who use disability services are required to sub -

mit an exam request form exactly five days prior to their exam date. These students must also request extra time and inform their professors that they plan to use Johnston each time. Completing this form for each exam is a tedious chore for both students and professors.

In Himes, There’s usually five to seven proctors who walk around and handle all testing concerns. If there’s a problem it can be fixed quickly. It also helps that Himes is set up as one large room to allow students to be monitored and receive the help they need.

Johnston Hall has quite the opposite. Its testing center is split into 16 rooms labeled A-P, and has a limited number of proctors. So, whenever there’s a problem, students must leave their testing room and alert the office staff.

These disparities are not at fault of the testing staff in either hall. LSU’s administration and the Louisiana Legislature are to blame. Nearly every issue in Johnston Hall can be resolved with the proper funding.

Benjamin Cornwell has been the director of Disability Services for over 20 years. He said the building, which used to be a residential building, hasn’t been properly renovated in all his tenure.

“In a perfect world, we’d have individual closed cubicles and larg-

er rooms where almost everything is somewhat of a private room. There’d be enough room for [the] reader or scribe in there as well with sound proofing and all that other stuff. Obviously, we’d be in a renovated or brand new facility,” Cornwell said.

For campus departments to receive renovations, the university must put together a list of those that need the most work. This list makes its way to Louisiana’s Board of Regents, then to state legislators.

As the list passes on, certain departments are taken off or added on for renovation. Disability Services seems to always fall short of this list. As a result, the students and staff are left to make do with what they have.

LSU’s neglectful treatment of disability services is a mirror of how disabled people are treated in society. Creating a more accessible and accepting environment for everyone is important. Progress has been made, but there’s plenty of work to be done.

“Louisiana’s moving forward, I think we’ve been behind the curve. Quite honestly, if you go through major cities in other states I think you’ll see greater access in some places than others. Baton Rouge is really trying to create an environment that’s more accessible for all,” Cornwell said.

Even if the ultimate funding decisions may be out of the university’s hands, there should be a bigger push to gain funding for the Johnston Hall testing center. That’s just one of many ways LSU can help to accommodate disabled students.

Investing in the success of disabled students should become more of a priority for the university. Beyond LSU, providing better

environments and accommodations for disabled students should be standard.

“We all need to be open and empathetic, so we can hear people and not be part of the problem,” Cornwell said.

No one’s life is picture perfect, despite social media appearances

MADDEN’S MADNESS

LAUREN MADDEN

@lllomadd

Social media is a doubleedged sword. It allows us to keep up with the lives of people we care about while simultaneously leading us to believe that our lives must be picture perfect.

As of January 2023, there are 4.76 billion social media users, which equates to 59.4% of the global population, according to an article by DataReportal. The article continues, explaining that since this time last year, there are 137 million new social media users, and the average daily use of social media is more than 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Most of us can’t go a day without checking social media. These platforms have cre -

EDITORIAL BOARD

Josh Archote Editor-in-Chief

Managing Editor Hannah Michel Hanks

ated a brag culture among us, strengthening the positive light that we want others to view us in. When something great happens, we want to post so everyone knows about it.

We’ve become aware of aspects of people’s lives that we most likely wouldn’t know about without social media. As a result, we compare our own lives to those we see through pictures, forgetting that no one’s life is picture perfect.

I’ll use my own Instagram as an example.

On June 27, 2020, I posted a picture of a butterfly on my nose. To the world, I seem to be living my best life, surrounded by friends that you can see in the background. What you don’t see are the three anxiety attacks I had that day.

On February 28, 2022, I posted some pictures from Mardi Gras with Matthew Gray Gubler. Yes, it’s cool that I ran

into a celebrity while decked out in Mardi Gras attire, but I ran into a celebrity while walking the streets with my dad. I wasn’t experiencing the typical college-student Mardi Gras that I portrayed on social media.

Stephen Laurel “tWitch” Boss from the Ellen Show posted

multiple TikToks and Instagram photos where he appeared to be happy. Days later he committed suicide.

There’s more to me than what my Instagram photos reveal, just like there’s more to you than what you post on your social media. It’s over said, but

it’s true; no one’s life is as it seems on social media.

We believe that the more likes we receive, the more liked we are, but your self-worth isn’t determined by the number of likes you get.

Post on social media because you genuinely want to post, not because you want others to see how seemingly fabulous your life is.

If it looks good on social media then it was a great time, right? If social media didn’t exist, would we still take the number of pictures that we do? Would we still go to certain events or hang around certain people without the promise of a great Instagram post?

Don’t get so lost in putting your life online that you forget to live offline.

Editorial Policies and Procedures Quote of the Week

Deputy News Editor Gabby Jimenez Claire Sullivan News Editor

John Buzbee Opinion Editor

The Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, The Reveille or the university. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to editor@lsu.edu or delivered to B-39 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must provide a contact phone number for verification purposes, which will not be printed. The Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Reveille’s editor in chief, hired every semester by the LSU Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.

“In the age of social media, everyone’s a newspaper columnist, exaggerating what they think and feel.”

Charlie Brooker English

screenwriter 1971 — present

Jemiah Clemons is a 19-year-old kinesiology freshman from Miami, Florida.

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

ERIN BARKER/ The Reveille

A testing room sits empty in Johnston Hall March 21 on Field House Dr. on LSU campus in Baton Rouge, La.

GRAPHIC BY BLAINE SWANZY