The Reveille 4-6-23

LSUReveille.com

@lsureveille

MAKING HISTORY

Innovate becomes LSU’s first all-female presidential administration

BY CORBIN ROSS @CorbinRoss5

The Innovate ticket has captured enough votes to become the first female duo to gain executive office in Student Government history.

The SG election commission unofficially announced the SG president election results Wednesday in the Student Union. If the results are verified, political science and screen arts junior Anna Cate Strong will be the student-body president and political science junior Gigi Powers will be the student-body vice president.

“Overwhelmingly grateful for the support. Overwhelmingly grateful for everybody voting, supporting us, commenting, told us in passing that they were rooting for us, we’re just both overwhelmed with gratitude and honor,” Strong said in an interview after the results were announced.

The Innovate ticket has stressed five pillars: community, inclusivity, communication, sustainability and safety. In the SG debate, the executive pair advocated for a physical space for students to find clubs, phone charging stations around campus and reducing food and cooking oil waste.

The results won’t be verified until the pending cases are resolved in the SG judicial branch, which handles alleged violations of the election code. Six penalties disqualify a campaign from the election.

Seven complaints were filed Tuesday with the judicial branch. All three tickets filed cases—and were named as a defendant in at least one other case.

The Inspire ticket, headed by political communications junior Byron Hansley and biological sciences junior Amber Salone, was given two penalties in March after the student court ruled the campaign violated the election code by using a video of people without their permission.

SG elections use a rankedchoice voting system. Votes go through multiple rounds of tabulation. In each tabulation, the ticket with the lowest votes gets eliminated, and the second-choice votes go to the other candidates. The votes keep getting re-tabulated until a ticket receives over 50% of the vote.

A total of 5,336 votes were cast for president and vice president. Challenge was eliminated in the first round of tabulations. Some of the voters didn’t rank anyone second for executive office, but those who did had their votes distributed to their next choice.

With the first and second round combined, Innovate cap -

tured the executive office with 2,856 votes, winning 57.3%. The Inspire ticket had 2,129 votes.

“Just getting the student vote is an honor in and of itself,” Powers said.

This year, in the first election where students had two days to vote instead of one, 5,600 students cast a ballot. Despite this, voter turnout decreased from last year. The 2022 spring election brought in 7,196 votes, and the 2021 spring election brought in 5,207 votes.

Political science, psychology and sociology sophomore John Sweat, a senator for the college of Humanities and Social Sciences, said he thinks the reduced voter turnout was probably caused by reduced campaign spending, now capped at $4,000.

Sweat said this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, since in previous years before the cap campaigns were spending “extravagant” amounts of money on dunk tanks and food in an effort to draw in voters.

“I don’t think it’s something to worry too much about. It wasn’t as low as we thought it would be, the projected numbers were a lot lower than 5,600—that’s pretty good considering all things,” Sweat said.

Mechanical engineering senior Colin Raby, a senator for the College of Engineering, said the turnout was still higher than average. He said the high turnout SG saw in the 2022 election was a “recent blip,” but election turnout is still moving in the right direction.

“All of the campaigns were adjusting to new spending rules, so obviously that did impact a little bit of who they were able to reach, but the hope is that the people they did reach really cared about the issues and really cared about the ticket and that maybe there was less voting because someone gave them a sandwich,” Raby said.Here are the student Senate results:

College of Agriculture

• Innovate - Ella Paddock

• Inspire - Taylor Kennedy

• Challenge - Charlie Hebert

College of Art and Design

• Inspire - Lillian Bourgeois (Full-Seat)

• Challenge - Molly Fann (FullSeat)

• Ava Maslyk (Half-Seat)

College of Business

• Challenge - Tyler Ginn

• Innovate - Emma Bruney

• Inspire - Brian Gage

College of Coast and Environment

• Innovate - Rachel Morgan (Full-Seat)

• Innovate - Dakota Sievers (Half-Seat)

College of Engineering

• Inspire - Trevor Cupit (FullSeat)

• Inspire - Emma Champagne (Full-Seat)

• Innovate - Mohamad Habib (Full-Seat)

• Innovate - Calvin Feldt (FullSeat)

Graduate School

• Grad Gold - Jacobo Aldrighetti (Full-Seat)

• Grad Gold - Alicia Cerquone (Full- Seat)

• Grad Gold - Pham Phuong Uyen Diep (Full-Seat)

• Grad Gold - Md Tanvir Ahmed Sarkar (Full-Seat)

College of Human Sciences and Education

• Innovate - Caroline Rowell (Full-Seat)

• Inspire - Rachel Sheppard (Full-Seat)

• Innovate - Lily Small (Full-Seat)

• Challenge - Abigail Gremillion (Half-Seat)

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

• Inspire - Nichole Monceaux (Full-Seat)

• Inspire - Kayla Guillory (Full-

Seat)

• Innovate - Madison Reynolds (Full-Seat)

• Innovate - Ava Ryder (FullSeat)

• Innovate - Cartie Whitelaw (Half-Seat)

College of Mass Communication

• Innovate - Emma Long (FullSeat)

• Inspire - Margaux Ward (FullSeat)

• Inspire - Yoali Angeles (HalfSeat)

College of Science

• Innovate - Dhriti Shastri (FullSeat)

• Inspire - Rami Abdalla (FullSeat)

• Challenge - Samantha Bell (Full-Seat)

University Center for Advising and Counseling

• Innovate - Maci Pace (FullSeat)

• Inspire - Jazlyn Gladney (FullSeat)

• Inspire - Jayden Bates (FullSeat)

• Innovate - Cloe Edwards (FullSeat)

University Center for Freshman Year

• Inspire - Chloe Berry (FullSeat)

• Innovate - An Tra (Full-Seat)

• Innovate - Emma Miller (FullSeat)

• Innovate - Taylor Davlin (FullSeat)

• Innovate - Avery Williams (Full-Seat)

• Innovate - Zachary Darling (Full-Seat)

• Inspire - Samya Chin (FullSeat)

• Inspire - Samaria Peters (FullSeat)

• Innovate - Gabriel Freedman (Full-Seat)

• Avery Watts (Full Seat)

• Inspire - Kennedy Bissant (Full Seat)

• Innovate - Lucrezia Tomassetti (Full-Seat)

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TARUN KAKARALA / The Reveille LSU student government members celebrate Innovate’s win April 5 at the LSU Student Union in Baton Rouge, La.

SHORTS ARE KEY

Louisiana heat begs the question: How do you find good shorts?

BY CROSS HARRIS @thecrossharris

Spring has come to Louisiana and brought with it Louisiana heat. Yes, that’s right—the phenomenon known colloquially as “swamp ass” has returned to a pair of pants near you. And as temperatures rise into the 80s, we’re faced with the impenetrable dilemmas of finding good shorts.

Some are too long; some are too short. Some are too tight and others too baggy. Others, still, fit just right but for some reason are incredibly sweaty.

It happens the same way every year. Sunnier days and moist air beg the question, what to wear? For the students of LSU, and really anyone who must brave this humid state during its nearly year-long summer, a struggle arises.

According to one student, the stakes are high.

“Shorts are key,” said mechanical engineering sophomore Cade Smith. “They can definitely raise the level of ‘fit,” he added, eyeing passerbys.

If shorts can elevate an outfit, they can wreck one just easily.

“I would say if you’re a skinnier guy, maybe ‘the five’ isn’t the play for you,” said Smith, referring to

STUDENT LIFE

the five-inch inseam short-shorts.

“If you’ve got some big old meaty quads showing, then go for it.”

Evidently, those who squat have the green light from Smith to serve thigh. Otherwise, a longer silhouette might be a safer bet for guys.

“Like these right here,” said Smith, pointing to his own shorts, a pair of medium-length, clay-col-

ored synthetics with an all-over pattern and black compression liner beneath. “These are cool shorts,” he said with a smile. Confidence is also key.

“Got these at Dick’s. They were on sale,” said Smith, leaning in. “But I think the secret to good shorts is actually swim trunks. Swim trunks have the best designs.”

Just as there’s more than one way to skin a cat, there’s more than one way to find good shorts.

Smith did, however, offer one, across-the-board warning: “No matter what, keep it above the kneecap,” he said. Unless you’re playing basketball and going for an old-school look, he said, keep that inseam above the knee.

Other students agreed.

“Y’all are definitely embracing a shorter short,” said textiles, apparel design and merchandising doctoral student Danielle Honeycutt. “And I think the short-shorts are here to stay.”

Some, however, focus more on the brand than the style.

“Honestly, the best pair you can get is Lululemon,” said premedicine freshman Charles Riley. “Those athletic shorts. Really, really nice to wear. Really, really comfortable. Durable. Fantastic.”

Of course, there’s little agreement on which brand might be the best.

“I like Adidas a lot,” said LSU alumni Matt White.

Is he brand loyal? “Absolutely,” White said.

Was he wearing Nike shorts that day? As it turns out, yes.

see HEAT, page 4

Matt Lee will remain as Ag dean, VP

BY CLAIRE SULLIVAN @sulliclaire

Matt Lee, who has served as the interim dean of the College of Agriculture and vice president for agriculture since August 2022, will remain in those offices as the official head, according to a university announcement Tuesday morning.

Lee, once a tenure-track professor at Mississippi State University, has served in a variety of administrative roles at LSU, including interim executive vice president and provost, vice provost for academic programs and support services, and senior associate vice president for research.

Agriculture is a key focus area of LSU President William F. Tate’s academic agenda.

“We stand committed to the pursuit of becoming the nation’s leading agricultural university, and Dr. Lee’s vision and leadership puts us in even better position for such a competitive gain,” Tate said in the email announcement Tuesday.

Louisiana House Speaker Clay

see AGRICULTURE, page 4

Meet Miss LSU 2023, who says winning is more than beauty

BY LIZZIE FALCETTI @lizziefalcetti

Some may think the Miss LSU title is just about being glamorous and winning a crown. To those who compete, it’s about hard work and discipline.

Ivy Robichaux, a junior mass communications major from Larose, was crowned the new Miss LSU on March 26 and is stepping into the role as an ambassador of LSU with extensive leadership experience. Within the university, Robichaux serves as risk manager of the Phi Mu sorority, participates as an LSU bat girl and plays for the women’s ultimate frisbee team. She also works at the State Capitol as a senator’s aide.

“Ivy’s enthusiasm, kindness, sense of humor and love for LSU are contagious and perfect qualities for an ambassador of LSU to possess,” said her mom, Simone Robichaux.

Robichaux’s pageant journey began as a child participating in glitz pageants. Her love of being on stage inspired her to compete for Miss LSU two years ago, and the third time was the charm. Winning the Miss LSU title was important to Robichaux because of the chance to represent the university, she said.

“Not only have I been able to give back to the university, but they have given so many opportunities to me,” Robichaux said. “I want to show other people why they should come here, why LSU is the place to be. I would love to share that with other people.”

Now that Robichaux has won the title, she said she plans to attend as many events as possible and meet new people from all walks of life.

“Having this title, it kind of allows me to broaden up on my current involvements, but take it to the next level and reach a bigger audience,” Robichaux said. “I kind of like to share my personal story of triumph over tragedy.”

Robichaux’s younger brother Roman died in an accident in January 2022.

“He was my absolute best friend,” Robichaux said. “We did everything together, and I have so much love for him. He has left me with so much, and I want to offer that to other people.”

Robichaux has said she wants to spread Roman’s core belief that people can always choose to do what’s right to make this world a better place, which encourages her to push forward and work hard.

An immense amount of prepa-

ration goes into pageant competitions. Robichaux said she worked with a personal trainer, nutritionist, interview coaches and walking coaches. While this may seem taxing, Robichaux said she’s thankful she put so much time into the pageant because it not only ended with the title, but helped her improve personally.

“I really enjoy the preparation that goes into a pageant,” Robichaux siad. “Focusing on my physical and mental health has been something that has helped me grow as a person and also helped me with preparation for these pageants.”

Marcelle Pitre, a junior at LSU majoring in landscape architecture, has been alongside Robichaux throughout her pageant journey and said she’s proud to see Robichaux take on these new responsibilities and use her position for good.

“She is so strong and doesn’t back down at any adversity. She’s young but has already been through so much and still shows confidence, excitement and ambition for life,” Pitre said. “There’s no one quite like her. She cares deeply for the people around her and being a good example.”

Miss LSU winners are encouraged to be social media influencers, and Robichaux said she be -

lieves playing to your strengths and broadening your following is important to reach everyone possible.

“Just being authentic and realistic online because in today’s day and age things are posed, things are fake, and it’s very difficult to filter what is real and what is not,” Robichaux said. “I think that being a title holder, it’s very important to show your true self; that makes

you relatable to other people. People are drawn to that. When they see something they can relate to, it makes them want to learn more about you.”

When the pageant competition was coming to an end and Robichaux stood with the other finalists, she only felt joy to be with her friends who were also contestants.

FRANCIS DINH / The Reveille

A student walks across the Quad in front of Atkinson Hall March 27 on LSU’s campus.

MORGAN COOK / The Reveille

LSU mass communication major and Miss LSU 2022 Jillian Elliott crowns mass communication major Ivy Robichaux March 26 as Miss LSU 2023 in the LSU Student Union Theater in Baton Rouge, La.

MISS LSU, from page 3

After the winner had been announced, Robichaux had the support of her family, friends and sorority sisters screaming and cheering for her in celebration.

“The moment the emcee announced ‘Contestant No.15, Ivy Robichaux,’ I instantly burst into tears,” said Mary-Catherine Hickman, a psychology sophomore and Robichaux’s friend. “In the moment she was crowned, I was just flooded with joy. This moment was a long time in the making, and there

HEAT, from page 3

No doubt, the brand switch comes as a sign that good options are scarce and, left without the ideal pair, we must turn to poorer alternatives.

“These are old ass shorts,” White laughed. “All my s--t’s in the laundry.”

The pursuit for women’s shorts is similarly fraught.

“We seem to be in a shift in terms of style,” said Casey Stannard, associate professor of textiles, apparel design and merchandising. “You have a lot of those women’s running shorts, you know very tight, going on, but we’re also starting to see this very baggy mom-jean occurring, too.”

The two trends are polar opposites, Stannard said. “I think peo -

is no one more deserving.”

While Robichaux has dedicated so much time to winning this title, she enjoys more than just being on the stage. She is an avid hunter and fisher and achieved the International Game Fish Association junior world record for tarpon fishing in 2016.

“Pageants girls have a stereotype of just being a pretty face, but pageant girls are far from just being a pretty face,” Robichaux said. “There is so much work behind the scenes and more to that person than just being on stage.”

ple are having a hard time deciding which camp to go into.”

And regardless of style, just finding the right size poses challenges.

“Sizing is a completely voluntary, made-up, arbitrary thing,” Stannard said. “It’s only supposed to get you kind of in the ballpark.”

For one, many brands will undersize their clothing—advertising, say, a women’s size 10 as an eight so that shoppers will buy more.

“They’ll be like, ‘Oh! I’m skinnier than I thought I was—I’m going to buy a couple extra pairs here because they’re a size eight.’ We refer to that as ‘vanity sizing’,” said Stannard, “We appeal to your vanity by saying you’re a skinnier size, which will make you want to buy more. That’s been occurring

AGRICULTURE, from page 3

Schexnayder, R-Gonzales, said in a statement he had “the utmost confidence” that Lee will “be an excellent vice president and dean for agriculture.”

“He is a dedicated public servant and an extraordinary leader who desires to improve and grow agriculture in Louisiana,” Schexnayder said.

Lee earned his doctorate from LSU in 1999 and is a sociologist by training, according to his university biography.

for years in the industry. Various companies do that to entice buyers.”

Then there’s the issue of sewing tolerances.

When a clothing designer contracts their garments to be manufactured, they’ll make an agreement on what margin of error, in measurements, is acceptable. Imagine, for instance, Levi designs a pair of jean shorts with a size 32-inch waist and gives their manufacturer a half inch sewing tolerance. That means some of the pants will come out as 32-inch, but others will be 31.5-inch or 32.5inch, said Stannard.

“You have variation from cutting. When you cut out a pair of jeans or shorts, you’re going to cut them with an industrial cutter, doing 30-ply at a time,” Stannard said.

“And they’re sewing thousands in a go at 60 miles an hour—that’s how fast some of these machines are.”

Combine vanity sizing, sewing tolerance, changing styles, manufacturer variation—and it’s all but impossible to get a reliable fit.

“Let’s say you buy two pairs of shorts in the exact same size from the exact same retailer—they’re probably not going to fit the same,” Stannard said.

The only thing you can really do, she added, is to physically try on tons of garments until something works out. “It’s a complete and utter moving target,” she said.

Sounds daunting, doesn’t it? Put simply, good shorts aren’t promised; they are fought for.

But don’t give up hope. Somewhere out there, in a faraway department store, thrift shop or bou-

tique, a pair of shorts waits for you. They’re just the right length and just the right fit. You may have to limp along on a pair of beaters until you find them, but one day, that perfect pair will come down from on high as though gifted by the gods of good clothes themselves.

Yet, to find a good pair of shorts is to one day wear them out, rip or misplace them, knowing full well there’ll never be another pair quite like the ones you cherished so dearly for so long. To love is to lose.

Whether or not we realize it, the victory of finding great shorts is the premonition of an even greater loss. Still, summer approaches. The search continues. We must find shorts.

Good luck. You may need it.

CHYNNA MCCLINTON/ The Reveille

LSU Interim Vice President and Executive Vice Provost Matt Lee speaks, April 20, 2022, during the annual LSU Day at the Capitol at the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge, La.

ENTERTAINMENT Best books to read and movies to watch in April

April 5: “Air”

This biopic takes you into the rise of Nike and how the making of Air Jordan put it on the map.

The movie gives a look at Nike taking a gamble on Jordan who would become one of the greatest of alltime and would be a cultural change not only for sports, but contemporary athleisure.

“The Super Mario Bros. Movie”

Video game movies and TV shows are getting taken to a whole new level this year.

“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” will take you on a new adventure with Mario, voiced by Chris Pratt, Luigi,

“Film for Her” by Orion Carloto “Film for Her” by Orion Carloto is a collection of poems and photography that Carloto believes represents her life or where she found beauty in ordinary places.

voiced by Charlie Day, and all the other Nintendo characters in this star-studded animated movie as they try to stop Bowser, voiced by Jack Black, in one of the best selling video game franchises of all time.

April 14: “Renfield”

In this new age horror/ comedy, Renfield, played by Nicholas Hoult, is the loyal assistant to Dracula, played by Nicholas Cage, bringing innocent victims for Dracula to feast on.

I find this book especially valuable to college students who are learning to navigate life. Carloto’s personal adventures of growing up and how she views the world can provide a different perspective on life and ways to deal with what the universe throws at you.

“A

Hanya Yanagihara’s “A Little Life” is a gut-wrenching book about four men’s friendship and how they manage to navigate life through addiction, suicide, relationships, success and pride.

The book takes a turn from carefree young adult life as piece by piece Jude’s traumatic past is revealed. Yanagihara takes readers on a journey through suffering and the difficult path of recovery.

At just over 800 pages, “A Little Life” is not for the weak minded. At times the reader may feel so disturbed and queasy they want to set it down. But Yanagihara creates a beautiful, full circle story of life and the struggles and joy that come with it, making this book worth your time.

“The Architecture of Happiness” by Alain de Botton

“The Architecture of Happiness” by Alain de Botton introduces a new way of thinking about architecture and human nature that you might not have ever considered.

Through lines and curvature, you are able to understand the meaning behind the art.

If you’re looking for a new perspective in your life or are wanting to understand a little more about architecture and yourself, this book is perfect for you.

Though he knows his loyalty and life is on the line, Renfield tries to step out of the darkness and out of the business. How can he end the codependency he relies on from his narcissistic boss?

“Sweetwater”

This sports biographical film follows Nat ‘Sweetwater’ Clifton, played by Everett Osbourne, who is the face of the Harlem Globetrotters, led by coach/owner Abe Saperstein.

When the New York Knicks executive Ned Irish, played by Cary Elwes, decides to have the team integrate with the support of NBA President Maurice Podoloff, they come together with other owners to create history for the game of basketball.

April 21:

“The Covenant”

Guy Richie’s newest movie follows Sgt. John Kinley, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, and his Afghan interpreter Ahmed, played by Dar Salim.

When Kinley and his team get ambushed, Ahmed pushes to great strengths to save Kinley’s life. But when Kinley finds out that Ahmed and his family are not given safe passage to America as they were promised, Kin-

ley must go back through the war zone to save Ahmed and his family before the Taliban gets to them first.

“Beau is Afraid”

Though this movie hits select IMAX theaters, Ari Aster’s (the mind behind ‘Hereditary’ and ‘Midsommar’) third film,

is set to have horror fans, and fans of completely unhinged cinema, in a chokehold. “Beau is Afraid” is exactly what it sounds like. Beau, played by Joaquin Phoenix, is afraid of the world, but the household his mother raised him

in does not help. In this “horror surrealist comedy” we see the darkest part of

the human experience on the big screen.

April 28:

“Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret”

It’s been over 50 years since Judy Blume released the generational novel “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.”

Now, the book is hitting the big screen. In this coming-of-age story, it follows 11-year-old Margaret’s life from the big apple to the suburbs of New Jersey. She must navigate her new life with new friends and a new school, all while she goes through the changes within herself.

“Normal People” by Sally Rooney

“Normal People” by Sally Rooney is a different read because of the style it’s written in. Rooney makes the interesting choice of taking away the use of quotes around dialogue. While some may find this off-putting, she uses this technique to create an intimate connection with the reader.

If you’re looking for a romantic book with lots of ups and downs, “Normal People” is perfect for you. But if reading isn’t your thing, this book has also been made into a Hulu show starring Paul Mascal as Connell and Daisy Edgar-Jones as Marianne.

“Malibu Rising” by Taylor Jenkins Reid

“Malibu Rising” by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a captivating novel about the Riva family and all of the drama they go through being the children of music sensation, Mic Riva. It tells the story of their upbringing through a series of flashbacks throughout the book.

If you’re looking for excitement and mystery, this book is perfect for you. This unforgettable night will keep the reader on their toes wondering what will happen next.

Kinley, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, and his Afghan interpreter Ahmed, played by Dar Salim.

Little Life” by Hanya Yanagihara

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

The Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel, Louisiana, is an animal sanctuary home to several rescued and hand-reared exotic animals. The preserve hopes to educate the public about the wonders of the animal kingdom.

Barn Hill manager Christi Phillips holds a baby kangaroo.

An African serval scowls from its enclosure.

A camel smiles as it receives pets.

An otter stands on a pool.

A purple gallinule eats a leaf.

An albino peacock stands in the grass.

A macaw stares.

A female striped hyena walks with curiosity.

A hedgehog sits on the hand of manager Christi Phillips.

Macaws play with each other.

Photos taken by Tarun Kakarala on March 26.

l a s s i f

JUST FOR CHAMPS

LSU women’s basketball team turns down White House invite

BY MACKAY SUIRE & PETER RAUTERKUS @macthetiger & @peter_rauterkus

A personal invitation to the White House is arguably one of the biggest rewards granted to a national championship team.

Being in the company of the president, their spouse and their staff is an opportunity that most wouldn’t dare to turn down. Angel Reese and LSU’s women’s basketball team, however, aren’t like most people.

First Lady Jill Biden was found in the stands of the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. She watched the game and cheered just like any other fan. Following LSU’s first national championship win, Biden publicly invited the champions to the White House.

In the same breath, she invited the Iowa women’s basketball team as well.

“I know we’ll have the champions come to the White House; we always do. So, we hope LSU will come,” the First Lady said at the Colorado state Capitol on Monday. “But, you know, I’m going to tell Joe I think Iowa should too, because they played

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

such a good game.”

This was the first time in history that a second-place team was invited. It didn’t take long for social media to go rampant.

The reaction was largely negative as few were in favor of

Iowa accompanying LSU at the White House. Even Iowa star player Caitlin Clark was asked about the invitation, echoing the sentiment of many on the internet.

“I don’t think runner-ups

usually go to the White House. I think LSU should enjoy that moment for them,” Clark told ESPN.

Lisa Bluder, Iowa’s head coach, seemed to share that

GYMNASTICS

LSU gym advances to NCAA semifinals

BY MORGAN ROGERS @__morganrogers

No one would deny that LSU gymnastics had a less than admirable start this year. The team lost its first three meets of the season and star gymnast Kiya Johnson to an injury.

But just three months later, the Tigers are now headed to the NCAA Championships to face some of the top gymnastics programs in the nation.

“I’m just so proud of their spirit and who they are as people,” said head coach Jay Clark. “They do it for each other.”

Using the same grit and determination they’ve exercised all year, LSU clinched a secondplace victory in a tiebreaker with Michigan. Normally, regional competition features four teams and advances the two highest-scoring teams. However, while No. 14 Denver shockingly took the top spot, both LSU and Michigan came in second with

see ADVANCE, page 10

LSU women’s basketball team holds championship parade

BY TYLER HARDEN @ttjharden8

There was a lot of celebrating in Baton Rouge Wednesday night.

The LSU women’s basketball team held a parade and a postparade celebratory ceremony in the PMAC, where fans lined the streets in purple and gold to see the national champions.

Once the parade concluded at around 7 p.m., fans made their way into the PMAC and waited for the players and Kim Mulkey to come into the arena. Fans roared when Angel Reese, Alexis Morris, Jasmine Carson and all the players each made their way onto the stage. But the crowd was loudest when Kim Mulkey was brought up on the stage.

The seniors each were called up to the stage to speak, and first brought up to speak was Emily Ward. She thanked the fans for inspiring her, encouraging her, and cheering her on throughout the season. Ward, who was just put on scholarship this season, would often be brought in toward the end of games by fans chanting her name.

Carson was the next player to speak, following her historic game of 22 points, shooting five

three-pointers, and shooting 7 of 8 from the field. The crowd erupted when she came to the podium.

“I always believe in myself, I’ve been in a slump, but I just wanted to be an inspiration to little kids to never give up,” Carson said. “I didn’t expect to have the game that I had, but I never gave up and it worked out.”

The next senior to speak was LaDazhia Williams, who was a crucial piece of the team in the postseason. Williams’ efforts were most evident not only against Iowa in the national championship with 20 points, but also against Utah, where she recorded a season-high 24 points and six rebounds.

Williams, a transfer from Missouri, envisioned great success in her future by transferring to LSU and playing for Mulkey. But a national championship exceeded her expectations.

“I just knew I wanted to play for coach Mulkey. We had nine new players,” Williams said. “I saw this team get stronger and stronger, and it’s all about seeing who can survive the longest. And we did that.”

The last senior to speak was

REAGAN COTTEN / The Reveille

Confetti falls on the LSU women’s basketball team on April 2 after LSU’s 102-85 against Iowa in the NCAA National Championship in the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

see DECLINE, page 10

ERIN BARKER / The Reveille LSU women’s basketball sophomore forward Angel Reese (10) rides down the parade route during the women’s basketball championship parade on April 5 on LSU campus in Baton Rouge, La. see PARADE, page 10

ADVANCE, from page 9 an exact score of 197.750.

To determine whether the Tigers or Wolverines would advance out of Denver, both teams’ sixth score from each rotation would be used. That meant that every performance would count.

The purple and gold didn’t have a single fall within any of their routines, which is pretty remarkable. The team came out on top by more than a point to punch their tickets to the Championship.

“The beat goes on,” said Clark after the meet. “We weren’t perfect, but this team just continues to fight and do enough to keep it going.”

Despite barely clinching the victory, the purple and gold recorded their second-highest regional score in the program’s history. Haleigh Bryant posted the highest score on bars and floor than any other gymnast at the Denver Final.

LSU kicked off the night with its signature event, vault. Elenas Arenas started the rotation off hot with a 9.90, her secondhighest score this season. Chase Brock tacked on another 9.900 while both sophomores Aleah Finnegan and KJ Johnson added 9.850s. Haleigh Bryant gave a 9.875 to bring their total to 49.375 on the event.

The lineup on bars set a new regional record score for the program at 49.525. Newcomer

Alexis Jeffrey led with a careerhigh 9.950. Ashley Cowan and Finnegan both posted 9.850s.

Tori Tatum continued to show her worth to the team as she performed a 9.90 routine. In the anchor spot, Bryant recorded a regional program score of 9.975.

The Tigers refused to lose momentum as they headed into the third rotation. Arenas and Alyona Shchennikova started the event with a 9.850 and 9.875 respectively. Jeffrey added another 9.850 while Sierra Ballard followed with a 9.80. The squad finished up strong with 9.90 and 9.950 routines from Finnegan and Bryant. On floor, Ballard set the tempo with a 9.850.

Sophomores Brock and Finnegan matched the score in the following routines. Schennikova posted a 9.90. The junior hasn’t scored below 9.90 since late January. Bryant closed out the meet for the Tigers with a 9.950.

The Tigers won’t return to the floor until the NCAA Semifinals on Thursday, April 13. The team will face No. 2 Florida, No. 7 California and No. 14 Denver for a chance to compete in the championship round. The meet will be streamed live from the Dickies Arena at 2 p.m. on ESPN2.

DECLINE, from page 9 same opinion.

“I gratefully acknowledge the First Lady’s sentiments, but a day at the White House should belong solely to the champion, LSU and coach Mulkey,” she said in a tweet. “We would welcome the First Lady and President to come to Iowa’s ‘House’ – Carver Hawkeye Arena – any time!”

Biden later walked back her statement, only inviting LSU, according to a statement from her press secretary, Vanessa Valdivia.

PARADE, from page 9

Morris. She has been through it all with Mulkey, as the two have known each other since Morris was in seventh grade. She played for Mulkey during her time at Baylor in 2017 but was dismissed from the team due to an off-court issue.

Mulkey giving her a second chance at LSU meant everything to Morris, and making the postseason run they did was something she could only dream of.

Throughout March Madness, Morris, being from Beaumont, Texas, wanted to play her last game for LSU in her home state. Not only did she do that, but she finished her LSU career as a champion.

“LSU, thank you,” Morris said.

“The First Lady loved watching the NCAA women’s basketball championship game alongside young student athletes and admires how far women have advanced in sports since the passing of Title IX,” Valdivia said in a tweet. “Her comments in Colorado were intended to applaud the historic game and all women athletes. She looks forward to celebrating the LSU Tigers on their championship win at the White House.”

Before that statement, it was reported that Mulkey explained

“I appreciate your love, your unwavering support and believing in us. We couldn’t achieve this national championship without y’all. This is it for me, so I love y’all with all my heart.”

Several other supporting figures made short speeches during the ceremony such as Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards, Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome and LSU president William Tate.

Tate’s speech, in particular, was as enthusiastic as they come, saying Alexis Morris is “the best point guard in the country.”

But the final speaker was one the entire crowd anticipated the most, Mulkey. Many may think Mulkey may have a secret recipe on winning national championships, as she now has four na-

that she would be more than happy to go to the White House if LSU was invited.

Reese, however, wasn’t so keen on accepting the invitation.

“I don’t accept that– I’m not going to lie to you, I don’t accept that apology, because she said what she said,” Reese said during her appearance on the “I Am Athlete” podcast. “You felt that they should have came because of ‘sportsmanship,’ right? [Iowa] can have that spotlight; we’ll go to the Obamas. We’ll see Michelle. We’ll see Barack.”

tional titles.

She explained, however, that she doesn’t; she sets goals for her players that they can look to set, and exceed expectations from there.

“No way would a coach put a time table on winning a national championship. It’s not fair to the coaches; it’s not fair to the players,” Mulkey said. “I’ve seen this program at its best, but its best, never won them a championship. That’s what I came here to do.”

Looking around the PMAC Wednesday, it was a representation of how far the LSU women’s basketball program has come in such a short amount of time. Players, coaches, fans, alumni and supporters all gathered in one place celebrating one common accomplishment.

OPINION

Being selfish isn’t a bad thing, it’s a part of self-preservation

LINDSAY BICKHAM @lindayymariah

To feel selfishness is one of the most natural feelings a human being can have.

But despite it being such a natural instinct, it’s often suppressed. Everyone has a natural tendency to act selfishly but they’re taught to just ignore it. Ignoring oneself can cause boundary issues, self-esteem issues and confidence issues later in adulthood.

Since childhood, we’re taught to include everyone and show kindness, regardless of the circumstances.

If this mindset is followed verbatim, it can harm us in the long run.

Imagine this: You’re going to have a small birthday party with your friends, but your teacher instructs you to provide invitations for everyone, even though you aren’t friends with

everyone.

If you don’t invite everyone, you’ll be deemed selfish and unkind.

But that isn’t necessarily so. Children should be taught from a young age that sometimes it’s okay to have boundaries and prioritize what they want.

Teaching children that being selfish is wrong, no matter the circumstances, stunts their growth emotionally and might unintentionally teach them it’s okay to do things they aren’t comfortable with.

Today’s young adults are often praised and encouraged to set their boundaries, but it can be difficult for those who weren’t taught or allowed to maintain their own boundaries growing up.

Being selfish is an important skill to have while navigating life, and it’s especially important when it comes to navigating relationships. Being selfish in a relationship is important whether the relationship is platonic, professional or even romantic.

It’s important to voice your feelings, needs and wants without fear of appearing selfish. It isn’t selfish to stand up for yourself and that is where some confusion starts: Many equate being selfish with being mean or inconsiderate. If we aren’t self-

ish about ourselves, we’re essentially letting ourselves down.

You’ll be torturing yourself every time you aren’t selfish about a situation that could potentially affect you negatively. At the end of the day, you’ll be letting yourself down when that

happens. You won’t have anyone to blame but yourself.

As harsh as that sounds, it should be said because we’ll end up angry with ourselves knowing that we could’ve been happier if we’d acted in our own “selfish” interests.

Being selfish in this way may be parallel to self-esteem issues because if your self-esteem is low, how could you possibly be selfish or stand up for yourself when you need to?

Maybe you don’t have enough confidence and self-respect required to even be a little selfish.

Being selfish in certain social situations is acceptable and shouldn’t always be reprimanded.

Sometimes selfish happiness is what’s best for us, and sometimes what’s best for us might actually be what’s best for everyone else.

You’re the only you in this world; don’t take you for granted

I spy with my little eye something… important to this world. The likelihood of its existence is very small, approximately 1 in 102,685,000, according to an article by Business Insider, and it continuously overlooks its own greatness. You.

Many of us don’t believe that we’re important, as our views are distorted by the stressors of life and sometimes mental illness.

The constant flow of violent movies and videos have desensitized the compassion we show to others. We’ve become beings of quick fixes and short attention spans who prefer to numb their pain rather than getting to the root cause of it.

The CDC says more than 50% of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime and the World Health Organization has reported a 25% global increase in depression and anxiety since the pandemic.

I wouldn’t say that those strug-

EDITORIAL BOARD

Josh Archote Editor-in-Chief

Managing Editor Hannah Michel Hanks

gling with depression are solely identified as depressed. The depression is simply hindering that person from living in their identity and knowing who they truly are. The same goes for anyone struggling with any mental illness or really any struggle at all. You are more than your hardships.

There’s an assortment of rea-

sons that make you important to the world – the simplest being your mere presence. The capitalist society we live in has equated our worth with the monetary value we have to our name. Dollar signs should not determine our importance because we’ve all been told that human life is priceless. We’ve become one of

the most connected societies in history, yet we’re so emotionally distant from others and ourselves.

You matter because we’re all unique, experiencing things others never know about or understand. These things, good or bad, mold us into the unique versions of us that exist right now.

Without you, your bed wouldn’t

have anyone to sleep in it and your toothbrush wouldn’t be used.

You’re the most important character in the narrative of your life, and we all have different life stories.

We don’t get to see ourselves as the world sees us. We don’t see our eyes light up when we encounter someone we care about or see something that excites us. We don’t see the simple smile on our face as we cross paths with friends on the way to class.

Instead, we see ourselves through the ongoing thoughts in our mind. We see our insecurities and our reflection in the mirror.

We don’t see our own greatness just as we don’t see every aspect of other people’s lives.

It may not always feel like it, but to someone or something somewhere, you matter. They see you. They hear you. They value you. And if you don’t feel this way, send me an e-mail, because I’d love to hear about you!

You’re not a burden to this world and you deserve to take up space.

Editorial Policies and Procedures Quote of the Week

Claire Sullivan News Editor John Buzbee Opinion Editor

Deputy News Editor Gabby Jimenez

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.

Charles de Gaulle French officer/president 1890 —

“One cannot govern with ‘buts.’”

1970

Lindsay Bickham is a 19-yearold mass communication freshman from New Orleans.

GRAPHIC BY MADDIE FITZMORRIS

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

GRAPHIC BY BLAINE SWANZY

Louisiana state legislature can’t separate church from state

PELLITTIERI’S POLITICS

The United States is a secular country.

This should not be a controversial statement, but there are those who assert that the U.S. is a Christian country for Christian people. They’re called Christian nationalists, and they reject the concept of the separation of church and state. In fact, they hope to use the power of the government to benefit their religion and to inhibit other faiths and atheism.

A core aspect of this Christian nationalism is a fundamental misunderstanding of U.S. history. Its narrative says the United States was founded on Judeo-Christianity, the Ten Commandments form the basis of American law and the nation’s framers were divinely inspired in their creation of the Constitution.

This telling of history is just wrong. The First Amendment expressly forbids Congress from “respecting the establishment of a religion.” In 1796, the Senate ratified the Treaty of Tripoli, which included a provision

stating, “the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion.” Nevertheless, the myth of a Christian America persists.

Christian nationalism within the general population is concerning, but it’s much worse when it also appears in the government. Here in Louisiana, we have that exact problem. Several state representatives have prefiled House bills for the upcoming legislative session which promote Christian nationalism. Some are obvious, others less so, but they all pose a terrible threat to the separation of church and state.

HB8, by Republican Reps. Dodie Horton of Haughton and Jack McFarland of Jonesboro, is an obvious example. If passed, every single classroom in every single public primary, secondary and postsecondary campus must display the words “In God We Trust.” To be clear, not just every building — every room in every building would display the motto.

The phrase is the national motto, but that fact masks a more complicated history. The motto was not officially adopted until the Eisenhower administration and was deeply wrapped

up in the culture-politics of the Cold War. It was explicitly intended to harken back to a Christian heritage as a foil to the Soviets’ atheism. This allusion to a Christian nation was wrong in the 1950s, and it is still a problem today.

HB68 by Rep. Valerie Hodges, R-Denham Springs, would authorize public school courses in the “history and literature of the Bible,” if passed.

On the surface, this seems benign. After all, understanding the role of the Bible in literature and history is useful for an educated student.

Hodges’ bill also says the proposed courses are to “not endorse, promote, favor, disfavor, or show hostility toward any particular religion or any nonreligious perspective.”

But the main issue with Christian nationalism is not the “Christian” part, rather the “nationalism” part. Hodges’s bill references the supposed impact of the Bible on “law, history, government… customs, morals, values, and culture,” but the Bible isn’t nearly as influential to these as the bill implies.

Christianity, the Bible and Christians have undoubtedly played significant roles, both good and bad, in our nation’s

history, but it’s easy to exaggerate their impact. Hodges’s bill would exacerbate the fundamental misunderstanding of American history. She even admits this as a goal when she said that learning about the Bible is a “prerequisite” to understanding the country’s “morals and public policy” — as if morals and politics needed Christianity for development.

HB466, also by Rep. Horton, and HB81 by Rep. Raymond Crews (R-Bossier City) are both less obvious in their Christian influences. Neither mention the Bible, Christianity or even God, but both are entirely inspired by certain notions of morality.

Horton’s bill is her latest attempt at “don’t say gay”-style legislation. It would ban almost any mention or discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in all public-school classes and extracurriculars, kindergarten through 12th grade. Additionally, it would allow faculty to ignore a student’s preferred pronouns for their “religious or moral convictions.”

Crews’ bill would require that schools receive parental permission to call a student by a name other than that on their birth certificate and to refer to them by pronouns not corresponding

to their sex at birth.

These conservative ideas of gender, sex and attraction are not rooted in biology, psychology or sociology. They are wholly drawn from a specific interpretation of Christianity. To implement these policies would be to functionally institutionalize specific religious morals—and harm many young Louisianians in the process.

Horton, McFarland, Hodges and Crews are trying to inject their religion into state law.

This is flatly unconstitutional and morally dubious, but the quality of these bills does not determine whether they will pass. They very well could become law. In the near future, you might see “In God We Trust” scribbled on a piece of printer paper and taped to the wall of a lecture hall here at LSU.

That may seem almost comical, but Christian nationalism is nothing to laugh about. It’s a dangerous threat to the identity of our country. It’s alive and well in our state legislature, and very soon it may be further entrenched in our schools and universities.

Matthew Pellittieri is an 18-yearold history and political science freshman from Ponchatoula.

MATTHEW PELLITTIERI @m_pellittieri