The Reveille 4-27-23

‘DON’T BE THE

BULLY’

Two bills limiting discussion of LGBTQ topics in schools advance to Louisiana House despite opposition.

WHEN MORE THAN YOUR BRAIN HURTS.

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ANTI-LGBTQ LAWS

Dozens of LGBTQ residents, other opponents testify against controversial bills

BY CLAIRE SULLIVAN & GABBY JIMENEZ

LSU Manship School News Service

A bill that would ban classroom discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation outside of school curriculum passed the House Committee on Education 7-5 on Wednesday.

The proposal, House Bill 466 by Rep. Dodie Horton, R-Haughton, also would require transgender students to get a permission slip from their parents for teachers to use the pronouns matching their gender identity.

And it enshrines in law that school employees do not have to use those pronouns “if doing so is contrary to the employee’s religious or moral convictions.”

A similar proposal authored by Rep. Raymond J. Crews, RBossier City, requiring signed permission from parents for trans students to use a different name and pronouns at school also passed 7-5. Both bills will go next to the House floor.

Horton said she authored the bill to protect parental rights, but the proposals sparked outrage and concern among LGBTQ residents and teachers present. Dozens of attendees voiced concerns that the proposals would further harm an already vulnerable group of young people.

Some referenced a 2022 survey by the Trevor Project, an LGBTQ advocacy group, which found 45% of United States LGBTQ youth had seriously considered suicide in the last year. The survey had 34,000 respondents ages 13 to 24.

This bill “will result in the death of queer children,” Mel Manuel, a 15-year public school teacher who is trans, said in a sentiment echoed by many others who opposed the bill.

Manuel runs a Gay-Straight Alliance at their school with over 50 members and said Horton’s bill would effectively eliminate these clubs, since they need a teacher sponsor.

Manuel “Manny” Ocasio, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Tulane University who focuses on the LGBTQ community, said research shows using a trans child’s chosen name can significantly decrease thoughts of suicide.

He talked about three young LGBTQ people he knew. One dropped out of high school. Another was kicked out of their home. And another died at 19.

He said he worries the bills will pressure youth to come out to their parents and face homelessness or abuse in response.

Some felt the bills would make LGBTQ people feel like they have to hide in Louisiana.

Maxwell Cohen, a 27-yearold drag artist from New Orleans, said “this bill would erase

someone like me.”

“Being a kid is hard enough,” Cohen said. “Don’t be the bully here.”

Rep. Mandie Landry, D-New Orleans, read a statement on behalf of Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis, who was attending a meeting in Crowley.

“I remember the dark days, when I would leave this Capitol and think about taking my own life because of the stigma,” Lewis, who is gay, wrote in the statement.

Multiple representatives on the committee said they have received hundreds of emails from both sides about House Bill 466. The committee room was so packed that some attendees had to stand along the walls.

Many of those who testified said the bills would discourage educators from teaching in Louisiana at a time when schools are already struggling to fill positions.

“If laws such as these are passed, I can confidently say I will leave Louisiana and finish my degree elsewhere,” said Josie Beekman, an LSU student studying music education.

One woman who identified herself as a former schoolteacher pointed out that, with the committee starting in the morning, most teachers could not attend and voice their opinions.

Horton and other supporters of the proposal noted similar bills being passed in other states. Florida passed a bill last year banning classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity.

“This is not Kentucky, this is not Missouri, this is Louisiana … Those places are not a reflection of who we are,” said Pearl Ricks, who also testified against the bill.

Horton said her bill is advocating for parental rights around sensitive topics. She said children go to school for an education and “not to be indoctrinated or confused by anyone else’s ideology.”

Chris Alexander, from the Louisiana Citizen Advocacy Group, a conservative advocacy organization, testified that “we have to fight an agenda that is permeating our public schools.”

“What does one say when the enemy is coming after our children?” a woman who identified herself as ex-LGBTQ said.

Meanwhile, LGBTQ residents said the bills degrade their humanity.

“Our lives are really normal. We get married. We brush our teeth…we’re really just like you,” said Tucker Barker, who is gay.

Barker said the first adult he talked to about his sexuality was a teacher. Under this bill, he worries a conversation like that

could not happen. She “made me feel so normal,” he said.

Horton sat among the legisla-

tors on the committee for most of the time her bill was being heard. But she rarely looked up at those testifying against it.

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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.

CLAIRE SULLIVAN / LSU Manship School News Service Rep. Dodie Horton introduced the controversial bill banning discussion of gender identity.

CLAIRE SULLIVAN / LSU Manship School News Service Maxwell Cohen, a trans drag artist from New Orleans, testified against the bill.

TAKE BACK THE NIGHT

LSU community raises awareness of sexual violence issues

BY LIZZIE FALCETTI @lizziefalcetti

For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the LSU and Baton Rouge community came together on Monday for Take Back the Night, an event aimed at raising awareness about safety issues and shattering the silence around sexual violence.

Take Back the Night is the oldest worldwide movement to stand against sexual violence, according to the Take Back the Night Foundation, and events are held around the world. This year’s event at LSU was hosted by Feminists in Action and featured over 15 campus and state organizations.

LSU students have participated in Take Back the Night for more than 35 years, with The Women’s Center hosting in previous years.

Attendees could participate in a resource fair, a speak out for survivors of sexual violence to share their experiences, a candlelight vigil and a march for empowerment around campus.

Layla Harmon, secretary of FIA, broke down the goals of Take Back the Night into three main areas.

“First is to provide a supportive space for survivors,” Harmon

see TAKING ACTION, page 4

POLITICS

Students arrested in shooting connection

BY CLAIRE SULLIVAN @sulliclaire

Two LSU students were arrested in connection to a Sunday night shooting near Nicholson Gateway Apartments, according to an email from the Office of Communications and University Relations.

One student who was shot and treated for non-life-threatening injuries was charged with obstruction of justice, possession of a firearm while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, according to the email.

Another student was charged with the illegal discharge of a weapon and obstruction of justice, the email said.

Both were booked into the parish prison, according to the email.

LSU students were first notified of the incident at 8:21 p.m. Sunday, when the campus emergency alert system warned students to avoid the area near Nicholson Drive and West Chimes Street.

The area was reopened around 11 p.m. Sunday.

Neither student lives on campus, and both will face LSU’s student accountability process, the email said.

Gubernatiorial candidate Shawn Wilson talks bipartisanship

BY OLIVER BUTCHER @OliverButcher73

Democratic candidate for governor Shawn Wilson visited LSU on Monday for a town-hall style event sponsored by the LSU College Democrats.

Wilson, who recently left his post as state transportation secretary, kicked off his candidacy in March and earned the endorsement of Gov. John Bel Edwards shortly after.

So far, Wilson is the only Democrat in the race. And, with Edwards being the only Democrat who has won statewide office since 2007, he may have his work cut out for him.

The evening crowd filled more than half the seats lining the French House’s salon, with many students curious to hear what Wilson had to say.

“I don’t know much about him, but from my understanding he’s better than the rest,” said Emily Clarke, an international studies senior, before the event started.

Wilson began his roughly 30-minute opening speech talking about his childhood years in New Orleans’ Algiers neighborhood; his

initial interest in nursing as a college student at University of Louisiana at Lafayette, then called University of Southwestern Louisiana, or USL; and his eventual discovery of a passion for public service.

“I went to USL as a nursing student, thinking I wanted to deal with nursing because the truth is, it was a 10:1 female to male ratio, and they had a 100% passage rate on the state test, and so I thought I could make money, I could find a wife, I could be happy,” Wilson said. “I did find a wife, I don’t make a lot of money, but I am damn happy doing public service.”

Wilson climbed the ladder in the transportation department, he said, first serving as chief of staff for Gov. Kathleen Blanco’s transportation secretary and for eight more years under two of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s appointments.

Then, when Edwards took office, he appointed Wilson as transportation secretary.

“As someone who worked in Republican and Democratic administrations, we have done exceptionally well working across the line,”

see CANDIDATE, page 4

CRIME

LAYNE DAVIS / The Reveille

Shirts hang for survivors of sexual assault at FIA’s Take Back the Night event April 24 on Tower Dr. in Baton Rouge, La.

MATHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille Gubernatorial candidate and former State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson answers questions on April 24 inside the French House on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge, La.

TAKING ACTION, from page 3

said. “Second is to raise awareness about sexual violence in our communities and on college campuses, because this is not just an LSU problem, it happens everywhere … Third is to be more proactive rather than reactive when addressing sexual assault.

“Our slogan for the event is ‘Shatter the silence, prevent sexual violence,’” Harmon said. “Because even if you’re not a survivor of sexual assault or you don’t know [survivors of sexual assault], it’s still important to come out because more than likely somebody that you know of has experienced sexual violence.”

Throughout the evening, state, community and campus leaders made calls to action against violence and sexual assault.

“It is important not just for women, but for everyone to know where you’re going, how you’re getting there and always have an exit strategy,” said Paul Rice, the father of Allison Rice, a 21-yearold LSU student who was killed on Government Street in September 2022. “The predators are out there. It doesn’t matter how comfortable you are with where you are going, the reality is it is not safe to travel alone in this community anymore. We’ve seen it with Allie. We recently saw it with Madison Brooks.”

In the tabling area, organizations offered information on how to approach sexual violence, with resources including pamphlets, helplines and other materials offered to help attendees learn what they should do if they encounter traumatic situations.

CANDIDATE, from page 3 Wilson said.

Wilson positioned himself in the center lane of the race, decrying extremists on both sides of the political spectrum and encouraging bipartisan governing.

“We need a governor, and we need legislators who will be able to have an adult conversation in finding compromise, because you’re never going to get everything you want. And in my 25 years of service, we have achieved compromise, we have reached that on all manner of issues,” Wilson said in a closing pitch.

After the speech, Wilson opened the floor and fielded questions from the audience for about an hour on a variety of topics, expressing his views on the environment, criminal justice, the economy and more.

One such response touched on a topic especially relevant to LSU— a recent proposal in the Louisiana legislature that could ban teachings of diversity, equity and inclusion in all Louisiana schools that receive public money.

“As a person of color, as someone that was in a lower socioeconomic bracket, I cannot exclude that from my thinking in any way. When you try to legislate that out, that to me is overreach,” Wilson said in response to a question about the bill.

Wilson stuck around for infor-

“You never know when it’s going to happen to you, so you always want to stay prepared. If anything does happen, it’s good to stay ready and stay in the know of what’s going on,” said Halle Roach, a mechanical engineering sophomore. “This is a very big issue on college campuses, so it’s very important for people, especially women, to know these resources are available for them. Even men can come out here and see that there are resources for them too.”

The Student Health Center’s Lighthouse Program, which provides free, confidential support to sexual assault survivors, educated students on the resources they offer.

“Being knowledgeable in the resources and being able to refer a friend or peer to the resources here is the next step to making sure that we’re creating a safe space for everyone,” said Victoria Polk, a coordinator of The Lighthouse Program.

Renee Antoine, executive director of The Governor’s Office on Women’s Policy, described domestic and sexual violence as “...One of the most pervasive violations of human rights of the world, one of the least prosecuted crimes and one of the greatest threats to lasting peace and development.”

Antoine said the OWP will continue to fight against sexual violence so survivors have access to safety, resources and legal protections.

Leslie Chambers, assistant chief administrative officer for East Baton Rouge Parish MayorPresident Sharon Weston Broome,

spoke about the importance of survivors sharing their stories.

“I want to encourage everyone here to remember that their voices matter,” Chambers said. “Your voices have always mattered, whether or not an incident has occurred, or whether or not you know someone that has gone through a traumatic experience.”

During the survivor speak out, representatives shared stories about personal encounters with sexual violence or about their loved ones’ experiences.

Prince Makhail, a business marketing graduate student, shared his mother’s sexual assault story and how it impacted him throughout his life.

“The vulnerability it took for my mom to look at me in my face as a little boy and tell me something that truly affected her upbringing, her childhood, hurt me,” Makhail said. “We must speak up. Vulnerability is power. Vulnerability is strength. We must stand together … We cannot keep this to ourselves.”

Speakers also read anonymous stories submitted by survivors.

“I share my story to prove to you that there is light at the end of the tunnel,” an anonymous survivor wrote. “You can survive it. Even if the people who are harming us the most are the people, we love the most, we never deserve it. When your heart is so full and open it’s so easy to mistake abuse for love. But no one who loves us would truly use our love to abuse us. Love is respect and our consent is valuable.”

mal conversations with students and staff until well after the event ended.

Students who attended the event were positive in their appraisals of Wilson, particularly when it came to how he communi-

cated his policies.

“I think what he said was very insightful, and I think his policies will help Louisiana in the future,” said Garret Gray, a computer science major.

Another student agreed.

“I feel like most of the solutions he provided to the questions people were asking were really well formatted,” said Yuvia Cornejo, a political science major. “He took in the question, restated it for us, provided his background on why he is

qualified to solve those problems, and then gave the plans to solve them, which I think is the best way to answer all these questions because they’re so heavy.”

Louisiana holds its gubernatorial election on Oct. 14.

LAYNE DAVIS/ The Reveille

Signs from FIA’s March for Empowerment are collected to be posted in the LSU Library April 24 during Take Back the Night on Tower Dr. in Baton Rouge, La.

MATHEW PERSCHALL/ The Reveille

Gubernatorial candidate and former State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson speaks with a student after the town hall on April 24, inside the French House on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge, La.

ENTERTAINMENT

How accurate is Rate My Professor? LSU professors weigh in

BY ALISON AGENA @alison_hana

QUALITY RMP2023

1.0

DIFFICULTY

4.0

Is Rate My Professors a reliable source? Having firstperson accounts from students who’ve taken classes with a specific professor appears to be a great idea. However, there’s no factchecking of the comments.

How are students supposed to know if the rating is accurate? After talking with a few students and professors from LSU, here’s

QUALITY REV1887

For Credit: Yes Would Take Again: No

what they thought about this source.

John Bishop, an LSU School of Music guitar instructor and music theory professor, has a rating of 3.4 out of 5 with five reviews.

When asked what he thought of ratemyprofessors.com, he said, “Fundamentally, it is a money-making deal.”

Bishop’s comment is backed by some truth. The

AWESOME

website is flooded with sponsored content. Without even scrolling to the bottom of the page, there’s an ad floating around on the webpage.

However, the ads aren’t what’s drawing people in. It’s the negative reviews. When looking for a class, students don’t look for positive reviews - they look for what to be wary of in a class.

For Credit: Yes Would Take Again: Yes

Grade: A Textbook: No

“Obviously, one person’s opinion can’t tell you everything about a professor,” LSU senior Julia Oubre said. “Somebody could just have had a bad experience. But I’d definitely go kind of deep.”

One person doesn’t speak on behalf of the entire student body, Oubre said. However, when it’s not just one person saying negative things about a professor,

Grade: Not sure yet

Textbook: No

it’s worth considering when choosing what classes to take.

“In college, discipline is gone, and it is performance. Either you do it or you don’t,” Bishop said. “And in that environment, especially with freshmen, they feel a loss of control, and they feel that their life is out of control.”

Coming out of high school, many freshmen use

Attendance: Mandatory

5.0 4.0

DIFFICULTY

their newfound freedom to skip class, according to Bishop. If it’s not required, and sometimes even if it is, students may feel as though they don’t need to attend the class to understand the information.

In high school, by a student’s senior year, most of the information is repetitive or feels easy. This mindset can bleed into college, according to Bishop. Students must relearn how to study

and absorb new information, or they will fail the class.

As a result, many students’ grades reflect their lack of effort. They want to be able to take the blame off of themselves. So, they go to ratemyprofessors.com.

Len Apcar, Professionalin-Residence for the Manship School of Communication, has a rating of 2.5 out of 5 based on 39 reviews.

“I don’t really like [ratemyprofessors.com] because

it’s anonymous, and there’s stuff in there that’s just not true,” Apcar said. A false comment that he received read, “Once he realized almost everyone was going to fail, he dropped the lowest test grade & gave lots of extra credit.”

“It was always in the syllabus,” Apcar said in response to this comment.

“I always say I’ll delete the lowest grade.”

This anonymous com -

menter received an “A” overall after the grade drop and bonus points but was still agitated about the difficulty of the course. The commenter also didn’t include what they did to earn an “A” for the course.

Negative comments with scores of 1 out of 5 can destroy a teacher’s score and lead to fewer people signing up for the course.

Overall, from the faculty’s point of view, this

website causes nothing but problems, and it propagates information that comes from online bullies. From the student’s perspective, ratemyprofessors.com is a useful resource when picking classes.

“If a professor doesn’t have many reviews or most of them are pretty neutral,” LSU freshman Amanda Meaux said, “I’m not going to be inclined [to take that class].”

‘Barbie’ vs. ‘Oppenheimer,’ which one should you see first?

BY REVEILLE STAFF

“Barbie” or “Oppenheimer” is a debate that has been raging online since the movies were announced to have the same release date.

Both films have star-studded casts, big-name directors, oneword titles and July 21 release dates. You can, of course, see both, but which one will you be seeing first?

Spoiler alert: our staff has a clear favorite.

Aris Williams - “Barbie”

I’ve decided to see the Barbie movie first, solely because of how intentional the film’s direction and casting is. It’s always fun to understand specific references while watching a film, and it generally seems like it will be an entertaining watch.

I look forward to seeing the dolls I’ve come to know throughout the years (and Issa Rae) on the big screen.

Molly Terrell - “Barbie”

I’m definitely seeing the Barbie movie first because not only do I have a massive collection in my attic from when I was little, but also because I love Greta Gerwig as a director.

While I would be interested in seeing “Oppenheimer,” I don’t feel as though the hype has reached me as much as

“Barbie,” even though both have a stacked cast list. I was excitedly following as the cast was released, and I can’t wait to see Margot Robbie in this role.

I’m also pleased that her celebrity doppelganger, Emma Mackey, is starring alongside her as physicist Barbie – even though she would have been a perfect Skipper, but I digress.

I’m sure “Oppenheimer” will be a fun time though, even if it takes me a little longer to watch it.

Ava Francis - “Barbie”

Where’s the red carpet or better yet, the pink carpet? I’ve perfected my Barbie aesthetic, and I’m so ready for Greta Gerwig’s highly anticipated film “Barbie.”

I grew up with a stellar Barbie collection including the convertibles, the dream house, the works!

Of course, I’m beyond excited to watch queen Margot Robbie slay as THE Barbie.

Margot has shown her range by starring in movies such as “I Tonya,” “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood,” “Babylon” and the Scorsese hit “The Wolf Of Wall Street,” which put Robbie on the map.

I have a feeling her portrayal of the beloved Mattel figure will

go down in history as iconic and electrifying alongside her other roles.

Robbie is one of the most animated actors in Hollywood. After seeing her bring Harley Quinn to life, there’s no doubt she’ll leave audiences joyous and begging for more.

There are a few more familiar faces making their silver screen debuts, such as pop princess Dua Lipa, who’s playing mermaid Barbie. Screen veterans Issa Rae, Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon and the talented Ryan Gosling, who will make a charming and oh so witty Ken, are also rounding out the Barbie cast.

I will be dressed in my best head to toe pink Barbie attire ready to experience these immaculate vibes.

Madison Heydari - “Barbie”

I am 100% seeing Barbie first. It’s fun and exciting, and I think the cast is interesting. The creativity and attention to detail in the film do not go unnoticed, and while I’m excited to see Margot Robbie as Barbie, I might be more excited to see Ryan Gosling as Ken. I know people complained about the casting for Ken, but no one can pull off the character quite as well as Gosling. I see Greta Gerwig’s vision.

Jayden Nguyen - “Barbie”

I’ve been excited about the “Barbie” movie since it was announced, mostly because the cast list is so extensive. There’s just no way that Dua Lipa will get more than two seconds of screentime.

Despite all the controversy around the choice to cast Ryan Gosling in this movie, I’m really looking forward to his portrayal of Ken. The marketing for this movie has also been amazing, and I think it’ll be interesting to

see if the movie lives up to the hype.

Alison Agena - “Barbie”

I have been a die-hard Barbie fan since I was little. There is not a single “Barbie” movie that I haven’t seen.

On top of that I think that the casting for this movie is spot on. I am super excited to see how they portray the most iconic dolls.

Will Nickel - “Oppenheimer”

I don’t know, it just seemed mean not to pick it once.

REV ROUNDTABLE

JAYDEN NGUYEN / The Reveille

LEADERSHIP LSU 2023

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE COHORT!

A tradition more than 30 years strong. We congratulate these leaders for excelling throughout the rigorous application and selection process as well as their participation in Leadership LSU’s adaptive leadership seminars throughout the semester.

Frida Cervantes Lafayette, Louisiana

Ryan Castellon New Orleans, Louisiana

Kennedy Cook Dallas, Texas

Alexandra Clay Dallas, Texas

Matthew Delatte Thibodaux, Louisiana

Bridget Cotten Durham, North Carolina

Sammy Asbahi Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Ashlyn Anderson Spring, Texas

Hannah Blackwell Memphis, Tennessee

Leigh Auzenne Flower Mound, Texas

Autumn Bush Henry County, Georgia

Shanyla Brailey Maurice, Louisiana

Mea Morrell New Orleans, Louisiana

Ty Mahoney Shreveport, Louisiana

Christopher Okduwa Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Iriel Nunnery Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Lizzie Shaw Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Isabella Rovere Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Jordie St. Pierre Woodstock, Georgia Morgan Split Mobile, Alabama

Emma Trigg Fort Worth, Texas

Miya Tate Bogalusa, Louisiana

Gabby Troxclair Denham Springs, Louisiana

Kayla Tysinger Atlanta, Georgia

TIGER TWELVE

Class of 2023

Each spring, LSU recognizes twelve outstanding seniors. These individuals, in keeping with the university’s Commitment to Community, contribute positively to the life of the campus, surrounding community, and society and demonstrate commitment to intellectual achievement, inclusive excellence, leadership on campus, and service. Congratulations to the Tiger Twelve Class of 2023!

lsu.edu/tigertwelve

Joshua Crawford Metairie, Louisiana Landscape Architecture

Tiffany Phuong Dang Baton Rouge, Louisiana Biological Sciences

Harper Frederick Thompson Doerr Baton Rouge, Louisiana Philosophy, Political Science, and Sociology

Avery Claire Hebert Erath, Louisiana Agribusiness

Catherine Ladner Birmingham, Alabama Civil Engineering

Andrew Larpenter Killian, Louisiana Mechanical Engineering

Sara Martin Watson, Louisiana Political Science and Sociology

Jackson Martingayle Virginia Beach, Virginia Natural Resource Ecology and Management

Zachary Andrew Mayfield Slidell, Louisiana Agricultural and Extension Education

Daniel Michael O’Leary Metairie, Louisiana Biological Sciences

Aine O’Nuanain Bossier City, Louisiana Coastal Environmental Science

Tammy San Baton Rouge, Louisiana Microbiology

l a s s i f

No. 1 LSU baseball loses second midweek game in a row to Nicholls

BY COLE HERNANDEZ @Ct_hernandez

MIDWEEK UPSET Ahmad Breaux’s journey to LSU

It was a perfect Tuesday night in Baton Rouge for an in-state baseball game between No. 1 LSU and unranked Nicholls.

Nicholls’ defensive performance was arguably the best an opposing team had all season at Alex Box Stadium. The Colonels used seven different pitchers in the first six innings but made multiple acrobatic catches throughout the contest.

The Tigers’ starting lineup was an unusual one to say the least. LSU’s starting left fielder Tre’ Morgan was replaced and sophomore Josh Pearson started in place of him. Junior Hayden Travinski started over junior Alex Milazzo at catcher and freshman Ethan Frey played right field while Brayden Jobert played third base replacing sophomore Tommy White.

The Colonels put two singles together in the top of the second inning then put the first run of the game on the board on a sacrifice fly.

LSU only recorded two hits through the first five innings but kept the deficit to three runs through the first half of the ballgame. LSU’s starting pitcher, sophomore right hander Thatcher Hurd, played a large part in giving the Tigers a chance to make a comeback. Hurd threw 69 pitches, the most of any LSU pitcher, in four innings with one run allowed on three hits, two walks and five strikeouts.

OPINION

Nicholls put together three singles in the fifth inning against sophomore left hander Riley Cooper. Senior right fielder Xane Washington smacked a two RBI single through the left side and the scoreboard read 3-0 entering the sixth inning. Cooper lasted one inning with 31 pitches and allowed two runs on three hits with one walk.

LSU doubled its hit count in the sixth inning alone and scored four runs. First, senior designated hitter Cade Beloso smacked a solo

home run to right field, his eighth of the season. Then, junior shortstop Jordan Thompson smacked a double down the left field line.

The score was 4-3 entering the final two innings. Nicholls then tied it in the top of the eighth inning on an RBI fielder’s choice bunt from senior third baseman Austin Cain.

Junior right hander Bryce Collins was on the mound entering the ninth inning and failed to keep the game even. He was charged with the loss and his re -

cord on the season drops to 2-2.

Sophomore catcher Jaden Collura smacked a single, his second hit of the game, through the right side and then junior shortstop Parker Coddou was walked. The next batter, Washington, was walked intentionally but the runners advanced on a wild pitch from Collins.

The final nail in the coffin for the Tigers was freshman Brayden Kuriger’s RBI single and Coddou scored on LSU’s lone error of the game to give Nicholls a two-run lead. Jones gave the Tiger faithful hope with a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth, his 12th of the year. However, Beloso popped out into a double play to end the game.

Junior right hander Nico Saltaformaggio was credited with the win and his record improves to 3-1 on the season. He threw 28 pitches in three innings and didn’t allow a single hit or run with one strikeout. Senior Cade Evans was credited with his fifth save of the year.

“You have to tip your hat to Nicholls for their defense,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “They took away several extra-base hits during the game. Their outfield was phenomenal, and obviously that was a great play at second base at the end. They deserved to win the game tonight.”

LSU baseball returns to action this weekend with a three-game series against unranked Alabama at Alex Box Stadium.

Game one will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday.

BY TYLER HARDEN @ttjharden8

On Jan. 26, Ahmad Breaux committed to Duke University. But it took one visit to LSU about a month later for him to flip to the Tigers. On March 4, LSU gave him a scholarship offer, and he committed a day later.

Breaux is a 6-foot-3, 250-pound defensive lineman from Ruston High School in Ruston, Louisiana. According to 247sports, Breaux is ranked as the No. 56 edge rusher in the country, the No. 22 recruit in Louisiana, and the No. 819 overall recruit in the country. This past season, his high school team at Ruston High School finished runner-up in the Division I Non-Select state playoffs.

Breaux’s relationship with LSU improved as quickly as it started. The Tigers’ coaching staff contacted him for the first time just three days after he committed to Duke.

“I was previously committed to Duke, and LSU contacted me on my birthday just a few days later after I committed to Duke on February 1,” Breaux said. “J.R. Belton, he was really the lead guy in this, Jon Randall Belton, and he really built a relationship with me that made me consider LSU.”

see BREAUX, page 10

Column: the best fit for these LSU players in the NFL Draft

wasn’t the greatest either but I believe that there is still potential and talent within Boutte.

With only two weeks left before the 2023 NFL Draft, it’s always interesting to speculate where certain players will end up going. LSU is one of the most talented college football programs each year, they will have a handful of players being selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. Here are some spots where some of the top players for LSU could end up.

Kayshon Boutte

Boutte is one of the biggest question marks in the entire draft, with being projected as a first or second-round talent at the beginning of the year but after a lessthan-impressive season, nobody knows where he is going to go. It also didn’t help that his combine

I project Boutte becoming a third to fourth-round draft pick and with the right offense, he can become a contributor to a team. A spot I can see him being a good fit for would be the Atlanta Falcons at pick 75.

The Falcons are still very young and although they have Drake London from the previous draft, adding another weapon for projected starter Desmond Ridder would be great. There is also not a lot of pressure for him to become the first option with London and Kyle Pitts already there. Adding him to the slot to the creative offenses behind Arthur Smith will be lethal.

Another team I can see drafting him is the Baltimore Ravens at pick 86. For the longest, the Ravens needed to get weapons for Lamar Jackson.

They did sign Odell Beckham Jr. to one-year contract, but that isn’t going to be enough to keep Jackson. Adding someone like Boutte to a very slim receiving core would allow Boutte to have a prominent role and give Jackson another weapon. Boutte is someone I believe can still have a good career despite having a poor combine similar to another LSU wide receiver, Jarvis Landry.

BJ Ojulari

Ojulari was not only one of LSU’s best pass rushers all season long but one of the best pass rushers in the country. Ojulari has been projected in the first and second rounds for this upcoming draft and rightfully so. I think one of the best fits for him would be the Kansas City Chiefs at pick 32. After defensive end Frank Clark and Kansas City parted ways there is now a spot open

DRAFT, page 10

ERIN BARKER / The Reveille LSU baseball freshman first baseman Jared Jones (22) stands at bat on April 25 during LSU’s 6-5 loss to Nicholls at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

REVEILLE ARCHIVES LSU football junior defensive end BJ Ojulari (18) prepares for the game on Oct.

TRE ALLEN @treday314

BREAUX, from page 9

The relationship Breaux built with Belton, LSU’s Director of Recruiting, and the coaching staff as a whole made him want to visit LSU. The staff at Duke didn’t want him to go, but Breaux went in with an open mind. He came away from his visit with nothing but good things to say and good feelings to show.

“They made me feel at home,” Breaux said. “When we finally got to the photo shoot, the last part of the visit, I talked to Coach Kelly, and he talked to my parents. Coach Kelly really liked my versatility as a person, and that’s what really brought him to

DRAFT, from page 9 for a new and young pass rusher and that would be an ideal spot for Ojulari. With George Karlaftis on one end and BJ Ojulari on the other, it would be a strong young edge core for years to come.

It also allows him not to be the only pass rusher on the team. He’d be able to use Karlaftis as someone who would take the pressure off not focusing just on one side.

Another team who is in desperate need of a pass rusher is the Los Angeles Rams. On paper,

offer me.”

The offer from LSU changed everything for Breaux. He knew it was one he most definitely had to consider, especially coming off of a fantastic visit.

“When he offered me, when he shook my hand and offered me a full scholarship, I just started jumping up in the air,” Breaux said. “Like head to the ceiling.”

Being from Louisiana, Breaux has had family members attend LSU, and he has seen the LSU culture just from residing in the state. Being from Louisiana also meant that the LSU offer meant a little bit more to him. It was a dream to earn the opportunity to play for the Tigers since he was young.

the only notable pass rusher they have is Aaron Donald who is also getting up there in age but still holds a dominant presence per usual.

However, the supporting cast is not there. Similar to what happened with Frank Clark and the Chiefs, Leonard Floyd and the Rams have also decided to part ways leaving a spot open for another edge and someone who would fit perfectly would be Ojulari.

I can see the Rams refilling that spot at pick 36 and upgrading their defensive line allows them to shift their focus to another rusher

“It felt like I was repeating history, especially in my family,” Breaux said. “Being from Lafayette, I’m around LSU fans all the time and the culture. Just being able to attend the university and have the offer is a dream come true.”

Since Breaux announced that he flipped his commitment from Duke to LSU, the relationship with the coaching staff has remained strong, and in some cases has improved. He doesn’t feel like the coaches are giving him pitches for him to come play for them, instead, he feels they want him to be there for the person he is.

“It’s not even from like a recruiting standpoint anymore,

like teams would do with Floyd.

Mekhi Garner

Garner played extremely well in his first and only season at LSU after transferring from Louisiana-Lafayette. Garner proved that he could be a starting cornerback at LSU. Being 6-foot-2 and 217-pounds, he was able to take some of the team’s best receivers away this season. There wasn’t a lot of buzz for Garner at the beginning of the season but after playing with LSU he has built up some draft stock and has an opportunity to be a gem in this year’s draft.

The first team that can use

it’s like a family,” Breaux said. “I can talk to them like father to son, brother to brother, it’s a really good environment to be around.”

Breaux has also been able to form bonds with his fellow LSU commits in the class of 2024. One of those fellow commits is Wallace Foster, who committed to LSU from Warren Easton High School in New Orleans in midNovember. Foster was also able to have a hand in helping Breaux realize that LSU is the right place for him.

“The first one I talked to is Wallace Foster, I saw him on the first visit I went on March 4, when I got offered,” Breaux said. “Me and him were just clowning

cornerback depth would be the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals have two young corners, Marco Wilson and Rashad Fenton, who were solid options but besides them, they aren’t deep in their defensive back core.

The NFL is full of multiple defensive back sets and injuries meaning you have to carry around 5-7 on a roster. The Cardinals need depth and I think Garner would be a perfect fit for them.

I can also see him going to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth round with the 127th pick. The Jaguars struggled to defend the pass despite having Tyson Camp -

the whole time.”

While Breaux found the right place for him in LSU, he still has a full season left before he can start preparing to play at LSU. Now that he’s committed to the program, watching the Tigers will feel a little different for him. But the expectations from Breaux remain the same in that he expects only great things from the Tigers.

“I think the team is going to be great because since Coach Kelly has gotten there, their chemistry with him has been up even more than it was in his first year where he won nine games for the Tigers,” Breaux said. “I think they’re going to be in top contention this year.”

bell and Darious Williams who played well for them.

Tre Herndon was Jacksonville’s nickel and third corner but I think if you add Garner to the team the Jaguars can be better defensively.

Garner still has some work to get done and will need to be developed, but adding that length would help bolster any defense. Garner is also versatile as he can play safety if need be for a team.

In dime or quarter packages where there are five or six defensive backs on the field at once I think Garner will be able to shine for a team.

OPINION

You’re more than capable of overcoming your greatest fears

MADDEN’S MADNESS

LAUREN MADDEN @lllomadd

When aspects in our lives are changing, self-doubt works alongside our fear to obstruct us from reaching our fullest potential. Sometimes we feel stuck and don’t know what to do. Sometimes we know what to do but are terrified of what will happen if we take the first step.

Several “what if” scenarios cultivate in our minds as a result of our fears. What if I fail? What if I never measure up to my own standards? What if I put aside my fears and try conquering them, even if it means I do it scared. .

Who are we to let our fears determine the outcome of a situation before it happens?

One of my fears was writing this column, so I asked 100 people what their fears were to help me overcome mine. The responses ranged from sea creatures, snakes and spiders to the future being worse than the present. Here are a few that most of us can relate to:

“I’m scared of large birds. I really don’t like geese. Why do they have teeth,” said a mass communication senior.

“I’m scared that I don’t really have imposter syndrome. I just actually suck, and no one is telling me,” said a mass communication junior.

“I’m scared of change and the unknown that comes with it,” said a high school freshman.

“I’m scared of getting pregnant right now or never getting pregnant later,” said a communication studies senior.

“I’m scared of not being enough, failure, disappointing people and myself, and people thinking that I am a bad person. My biggest fear is never being loved,” said a sociology senior.

“I’m scared of an eternal afterlife. Eternity is a very scary thing even if it is with God,” said a kinesiology junior.

“I’m scared I won’t be capable of the goals that I have for myself,” said a biology senior.

“I’m scared that I will get old and regret my life, wishing I had done more because I’m not satisfied with the life I lived,” said a kinesiology sophomore.

“I’m scared of not ‘living’ while living,” said a mother of two.

“I’m scared of the dark because you never know what’s ahead or going on, so I guess I am scared of losing control,” said a psychology junior.

“I’m scared of not being a good mom,” said a mother of three.

“I’m scared that my AirPods aren’t connected to my phone, and I am actually blaring music while in class. The embarrassment,” said a mass communication junior.

Fear is just as valid as every other emotion, but we can’t allow our fears to hold us back from winning at life.

To be successful, we have got to accomplish things, but in the process of doing that, we might face failure.

In addition to believing we should never experience failure, we often believe that we should never experience fear. We believe that those who are successful are always fearless, but truthfully, they may have a fear of failure. We all need to fail, and we all need to embrace fear.

Fear isn’t a word we like to hear, but it’s around all of us, all the time.

When we had fears as children, our parents would confirm there were no monsters underneath our beds and our night lights would protect us from the darkness that surrounded our heads. As we’ve gotten older, our sense of fear has morphed into something different. It has matured with us and at times can seem more powerful than we are.

“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game,” George Herman Ruth Junior, better known as Babe Ruth, once said.

This well-known, high-achieving American baseball player believed that a player became a hurdle to the team the moment they began to feel fear. He challenged his teammates, and unknowingly several others, to tackle their fears and do things scared.

In less than a month, many of our lives will drastically change. Some of us will change our status from LSU student to LSU alumni. Others will pack their stuff up for the summer and prepare to return in the fall.

This transition can be scary. Even if it’s not, something else may be because everyone is fearful of something. If you claim to not have any fears, I don’t believe it.

I challenge all of us, including myself, to stop letting fear control us. We may not be able to fully conquer our fears, but we are more than capable of continuing to do things despite them.

The saying goes, if you can’t beat them, join them, so if you don’t believe that you are more powerful than your fears, have the courage to try doing them scared.

Bud Light ad controversy leaves conservatives hungover

SERIOUSLY KIDDING

FRANK KIDD @FK446852315

Editor’s note: The following column is satire.

Bud Light’s decision to sponsor Instagram posts by transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney created a firestorm of media controversy. Conservative commentators and social media users have been speaking out against and even boycotting Anheuser-Busch, the beer brand’s parent company.

The backlash is now to the point where Anheuser-Busch facilities are receiving threats. The wave of criticism and dip in the parent company’s stock price has many questioning if the decision was worth it.

Bud Light was attempting a

EDITORIAL BOARD

Josh Archote Editor-in-Chief

Managing Editor Hannah Michel Hanks

Claire Sullivan News Editor

change in branding to attract a different kind of drinker and turn from the company’s “fratty” image that it’s cultivated over the years.

That image of Bud Light is firmly planted in the American mind; if there’s a story about a fraternity pledge who was forced to drink 20 beers in an hour, it could be safely assumed the beer of choice would be Bud Light.

Before deciding on sponsoring Mulvaney it’s possible that the company was considering going a different direction and changing the end cards of their ads to read,

“Bud Light: The Official Beer of Hazing.”

Bud Light has angered conservative drinkers which to some suggests that they should have never run the controversial ad, but that thought ignores the potential value in creating a con-

servative alternative to the cans bearing Mulveny’s face featured in the ad. Conservatives would enjoy the representation that would come from a Bud Light can with an AR-15 on the front of it.

The original ad was pro-LGBTQ, so the conservative rebrand should be the opposite, a print featuring two men getting married with a red circle around it and a line drawn through. They could go more direct with it and write on the cans, “Not Gay Beer” or “Beer For Straight Guys.”

Bud Light would win conservative fans back with an anti-immigration campaign featuring a border patrol agent who uses the product as a source of power and drinks it instead of water. The ad would show coyotes coming over the border but turning back around after seeing an empty can of Bud Light signaling that the BL

Borderman is near. They could even sell action figures for kids that idolize the character.

Conservatives are known for standing outside abortion clinics and berating women as they go in. Bud Light could sponsor a conservative protestor and put them in an ad where they toss a can at a woman walking into a Planned Parenthood Clinic. Then she picks it up and drinks it and changes her mind walking back to her car, driving home intoxicated and maintaining a pregnancy defined by excessive drinking.

Anheuser-Busch could put out an ad that depicts former president Barack Obama as Osama Bin Laden calling the shots on 9/11 like a head coach with a headset and a play sheet before the words “Never Forget” come across the screen. Another idea for an Obama ad sure to get

some conservative dollars would feature Obama on his first day as president moving into the White House and turning it into a mosque.

Republicans would swoon at an ad featuring a Black Lives Matter protest where the police lose control until one officer drinks a Bud Light and gets the idea to use their armored tanks to quell the commotion. They could even offer special Bud Light paint jobs for tanks or any other militarygrade weaponry that they use to act as an occupying force in underprivileged communities.

Branding doesn’t have to be an either-or proposition. Moving forward, Bud Light should have options that cater to everyone.

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

Editorial Policies and Procedures Quote of the Week

Deputy News Editor Gabby Jimenez

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.

“Give me a woman who loves beer and I will conquer the world.”

Kaiser Wilhelm II German Emperor 1859 — 1941

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