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BY CLAIRE SULLIVAN & CROSS HARRIS @sulliclaire & @thecrossharrisLouisiana has faced unusually high temperatures this summer, leaving at least 32 people dead since June 1 and thousands more in emergency departments.
Those numbers have already shattered the annual average for heat-related deaths and illnesses established by a decade of data in a 2023 analysis by the Louisiana Department of Health.
In an average year, the analysis found, 10 people in Louisiana die and 2,700 visit emergency rooms due to heat-related causes.
This year has far exceeded those norms. Since April, 5,526 people have landed in emergency departments from the sweltering temperatures.
The impact of the oppressive heat has rippled through campus.
Kat Dean works as a resource sharing specialist for the LSU Library. She doesn’t own a car, so she rides the bus and walks — ”but when it’s 106 degrees, you’re not walking anywhere,” she said.
“I think it’s terrible,” she said of the heat deaths. “I’m appalled.”
When film and television freshman Ian Murchison learned of the death toll, his eyes grew wide. He paused, ran his hands through his hair.
“I’m speechless—” he said, “I guess…that’s all I can say.”
And as students grapple with today’s heat, tomorrow’s temperatures rise in their thoughts.
“I don’t want this trend to continue,” said math graduate student Mathew McCoi. At the same time, he couldn’t help imagining a very different Louisiana from the one we know: “30-40 years
down the line, I wouldn’t be surprised if this place was as hot as Death Valley.”
Dr. Alicia Van Doren, a physician working on tracking heat injuries and deaths, told the Louisiana Illuminator she attributes the high numbers to record-temperatures driven by climate change.
“It truly is a public health problem,” Van Doren told the Illuminator.
Computer science sophomore Caleigh Bonano has seen a change.
“It doesn’t get as cold as much as it used to down here,” she reflected. “It’s always just hot and humid, and it’s not right. It’s different.”
Bonano said she thought Louisiana’s heat would grow into a much bigger issue in the coming years.
And though the numbers are high, “all of this is an undercount,” Van Doren said. Heat exposure isn’t always documented in medical charts or death records.
The health department has an online tracker for heat-related death and illnesses. It includes demographic information and is updated every Tuesday.
The Capital Region has had 415 emergency visits because of heat, or about 8% of the state’s total visits, according to the tracker.
Across the state, men make up 76% of heat-caused emergency visits. Black residents make up 38% of visits, a few percentage-points higher than their share of the state’s population.
Age is also a factor. People ages 30-49 make up the largest share of visits at 37%, and those ages 18-29 make up 20% of visits.
The tracker also breaks down deaths by month. July accounted for half of the documented heat
deaths.
The Bayou State has seen a record number of heat warnings this summer, triggering a state of emergency and wildfires that have ignited tens of thousands of acres of land.
The state health department urges residents to take precautions in the heat, including these safety tips:
• Drink plenty of water; avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can cause dehydration.
• Wear sunscreen with at least SPF 15; apply 30 minutes before going outside.
• Wear loose, light-colored clothing.
• Take breaks from being out-
doors.
• Never leave pets or children in cars.
Heat-related illness can range in severity and symptoms, according to the health department.
Heat exhaustion may come with muscle spasms, clammy skin, dizziness or headaches. If you or someone else is experiencing these symptoms, sip water and move to a cooler place.
Heat stroke, which can be deadly, may include symptoms of a fast pulse, hot skin, high body temperature, confusion, nausea and more. You should call 911 if you or someone else experiences these symptoms.
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A map shows the number of
illnesses by the parish where the patient
visits where patients are from out of state are excluded. This data should not be used to determine how many ED visits happened in a parish, LDH said, as not all parishes have EDs.
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Wildfires have ravaged tens of thousands of acres of Louisiana in a matter of weeks amid extreme heat and drought.
The LSU Tigers’ first night back in Death Valley will be during a state of emergency for the dangerous conditions. That means game day will look a little different for tailgating fans.
To comply with the state-wide burn ban, LSU Athletics has asked fans to make alternative catering plans that don’t include open flames. Some may be accustomed to grilling around campus, but just one spark can ignite a disastrous flame, state officials have warned.
In a Wednesday news release, Athletics pointed fans to dining options in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center and turn-key tailgating options provided by the Revelry, a bar just off of LSU’s campus.
Statewide, wildfires have scorched 50,000 to 60,000 acres of land so far — or between roughly 78 and 94 square miles, according to the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office.
LSU will operate two new bus lines with service to and from Tigerland, the popular bar district near the university, starting Sept. 14.
The new Night Express lines, titled the “East” and “West” routes, will run from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. from Thursday to Saturday, with some exceptions such as home game days and university holidays and closures.
The bus lines open amid long-time student safety concerns and months after the death of LSU sophomore Madison Brooks.
Police say Brooks, 19, was raped by two men after leaving Reggie’s Bar in January. The group of four left her by the side of the road, police say, where she was struck by a vehicle. She later died in the hospital from her injuries.
In the weeks following
see TAILGATE, page 4 see SAFETY, page 4
STUDENT LIFE
After an artificial intelligence detecting function was released on a popular plagiarism detection software, LSU saw a nearly 500% increase in reports to its student accountability office for plagiarism. Professors and administrators are grappling with the best way to approach the rapidly evolving technology.
In the spring 2022 semester, the LSU Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability found 28 students reported for misrepresenting their work responsible. In spring 2023, 136 students were found culpable, an increase of 486%, Jonathan Sanders, the office’s director told Faculty Senate members at a meeting Monday.
Most of the increase happened after Turnitin, a plagiarism detection software many professors use, unveiled its AI-detecting function in April, Sanders said.
The Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability also reported an increase in the number of students cleared of wrongdoing, from 11 in spring 2022 to 48 in spring 2023.
Artificial intelligence is al-
ready being used at LSU and by students across the nation, but there’s little agreement on how to handle academic integrity concerns.
While some professors have taken their courses totally offline, having students complete essays by hand during class time to avoid all doubt they are using artificial intelligence, others are choosing to turn a blind eye or even incorporate the software into their courses.
For students in less permissive courses, even staples such as Grammarly, a grammarchecking tool used commonly and openly for years, can lead to discipline.
Even LSU’s office charged with disciplining students for academic integrity missteps acknowledges there’s no foolproof method to determine if something was created with artificial intelligence.
AI-detection software is far from certain, so the Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability has to rely on other evidence, including interviews with students, to reach a preponderance of proof that academic fraud occurred, meaning that a panel votes whether it is more likely than not that a violation
took place.
Some faculty have raised concerns that not having a unified approach to student use of artificial intelligence could lead to more problems. students who are allowed to use the technology in one course, for instance, might believe they are allowed to use it in another course where the professor does not have a specific policy.
While the university advises faculty to include a policy on artificial intelligence in their syllabi, it does not require them to do so.
While LSU does not yet have policies on the topic, LSU Provost Roy Haggerty acknowledged the need to develop some. He announced Monday the administration would convene a working group with the Faculty Senate to craft policy for the university.
But while students are cautioned to be wary of relying on artificial intelligence, the administration is embracing its use and encourages faculty to explore ways to use it themselves.
Haggerty is teaching a course on artificial intelligence this semester and even used it to write the first version of his syllabus, he told faculty senators Monday. Haggerty emphasized the need
to train AI practitioners for the university and the business community.
Not only that, Haggerty is exploring ways to incorporate AI into the day-to-day operations of the university. In his own research into the technology, Haggerty said he has used ChatGPT to generate ideas for improving freshman retention, to compile and analyze data, and to gener-
ate Python computer programming code.
Haggerty said he would like to have a closed-source large language model (LLM) specific to the university. Unlike opensource LLMs, a closed-source LLM is not made publicly available. In this case, only university community members would
TAILGATE, from page 3
State and local officials have begged the public to heed the statewide burn ban — to not cook outside, not throw cigarette butts out of cars, not drive over dry grass nor do anything else that could spark a fresh flame.
The hundreds of wildfires come after weeks of unusually hot temperatures and dangerously dry conditions, a combination that has left behind parched land and brittle trees ripe for ignition.
“There’s nobody alive who remembers seeing conditions this dangerous with respect to the drought we have,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said at a press conference held at the Vernon Parish Emergency Operations Center in August. “The temperatures have never been this hot for this long. We’ve not had this lack of rainfall.”
LSU fans should also act with caution in the high temperatures. Heat-related deaths and hospitalizations are up in the state this summer amid record-breaking weather.
AI, from page 3 have access and be able to find information on policy, courses and events at LSU.
Some faculty are already incorporating the technology in their own research. Scott Baldridge, a math professor, asked
LSU fans walk from tailgate to tailgate Sept. 11, 2021, outside of the Greek Theatre before the LSU vs. McNeese game on Dalrymple Drive, Baton Rouge, LA.
Haggerty if LSU was looking into getting a university-wide license for the latest model of ChatGPT so its faculty would not have to pay for it out of pocket, which Haggerty indicated would likely be coming in the near future.
But as faculty and administration embrace artificial intel-
ligence, others are concerned about a double standard.
“We are using it and we’re using it to catch them,” LSU College of Business professor Roy Heidelberg said. “So are we making an issue out of something right now that perhaps we have no right to make an issue out of?”
SAFETY, from page 3
Brooks’ death, students created a rideshare GroupMe for women on campus. Now, LSU is offering an institutional option for traveling to and from the bars.
Night Express East route will include the following stops:
• West Campus Apartments
• Fraternities along Dalrymple
Drive
• Laville Hall
• Tigerland
Night Express West route will include the following stops:
• Canal Hall
• Fraternities along Dalrymple Drive
• Sororities along W. Lakeshore Drive
• Tigerland
It’s a Friday evening at Fred’s, and the spotlight shines on the stage as Few Blue kicks off their performance with Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie.”
Few Blue formed in 2022 while they were students at LSU. While the group started as a whole in college, it all leads back to guitarist Brad Boozer and drummer Rob Schexnayder starting a band in their hometown, New Orleans.
The two went to high school together at Holy Cross, and the original band went separate ways when they started college. That’s when rhythm guitarist/keys Jake “Jit” Lamy, bassist Christian Liang and lead singer Camryn Wisniewski joined the mix.
“This fall is pretty pedal to the metal,” Schexnayder said. “The plan right now is to play these
strings of shows until December. We’re doing the live shows, and then we’re in the studio to record a record.”
Their first outing in public was at Uncle Earl’s. Lamy knew the manager, Drake Rothele, from home and said that he not only got them their first show but “nudged them in the right direction” by getting them other gigs at venues like The Revelry.
“The little connections are what matters,” Schexnayder said. “It might take you 10 or 15 shows just to get at Fred’s or to get to these big venues, but if you stop before you can even get to that, you’ve stopped the train.”
With an overall classic rock vibe, Few Blue is looking to bring back the sounds of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Wisniewski said that one of the first songs they performed together, “The Chain,” she was “too shy” to sing at the time.
“Brad would take over, and that’s how we really got to know each other as musicians,” she said.
An important aspect of the music industry is understanding your audience. The Baton Rouge scene is a competitive college one compared to other places like Austin, Texas, Lamy said. He explained
how other scenes have bands that play more originals, while here, there’s a lot more paying attention to what other people want to see rather than what they want to play, Wisniewski said.
“If you love playing music, then you’re going to find a way,” Schexnayder said.
Starting a band as a college student may be intimidating, but the group agreed that if you just put yourself out there and “roll with the punches,” you’ll end up where you’re meant to be.
“You’re not always going to mesh with the first person you find, so it’s going to take a lot of hard work. So I think we got lucky with this group that we get along so well,” Boozer said.
Wisniewski said that since they are all close friends, they are able to excel. Little nicknames and funny stories from the first time they made “big boy” money show that, at the end of the day, they are more than just a band.
“I like it because they came up with it,” Wisniewski said on her nickname, “Cam Jam.” The band feeds off the energy of the crowd, making the audience members feel like they’re on stage with them.
Thursday at 4:30 p.m. SEPTEMBER 7 th
Want to see your event in The Reveille? Email information to editor@lsu.edu.
The first home game is just around the corner, and the LSU Health Center and Residential Life want to prepare you for this tailgating season. This event will be held at the Azalea Hall courtyard. From 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.
Patrick F. Taylor
Saturday at 6:30 p.m. SEPTEMBER 9th
Developer Student Club is hosting a coding event. This event is for all students, but especially those who want to learn more about the computer sciences. The event will be from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Patrick F. Taylor, room 1221, 3304 S. Quad Drive. Register for the event at tiger.link.edu.
LSU is playing Grambling State this Saturday in Death Valley. This will be the first home game of the season. The game will start at 6:30 p.m. You can still purchase single-game tickets at lsusports.net.
A Two Piano Extravaganza Music Building
Pianist Clélia Iruzun is playing with Michael Gurt at the LSU Music Building in the Recital Hall. This performance will begin at 2 p.m. The admission to the event is free.
SEPTEMBER Friday at 5 p.m.
8th
SEPTEMBER 10th Sunday at 2 p.m.
LSU football kicked off its season in Orlando against Florida State in what was arguably one of the most anticipated opening games of college football this season.
Garnet flooded the streets as Florida State fans poured into Camping World Stadium to watch the Seminoles take on the Tigers. Similar to last season, LSU versus FSU was the first game of both opponent’s schedules, and for LSU, it ended in a soul-crushing loss.
That game was a little bit different, though. The Caesars’s Superdome hosted the Allstate Louisiana Kickoff, and though just two hours up the road from Baton Rouge, Florida State fans traveled well. LSU head coach Brian Kelly’s job had begun months prior. The 2022 game didn’t end like this one either; a blocked PAT ended the game 24-23.
This year, the Seminoles were able to capitalize on every hole in LSU’s offense and defense, quickly extinguishing any success the Tigers did find. Florida State took the game 45-24. Opening games have proven to be a point of con-
tention for LSU. The Tigers haven’t won their opener since the 2019 national championship season start against Georgia Southern.
While first game jitters on both sides of the ball seemed to play a
hand in countless first half mistakes, Florida State eventually pieced together the talent it knew it had. LSU, however, did not.
Florida State outplayed LSU in every aspect of the game. The
Seminoles’ defensive line applied consistent pressure on the Tigers.
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels fell back into the pocket and cracks
see PRESSURE, page 10
FOOTBALL
LSU lost 45-24 to Florida State Sunday, failing to avenge its heartbreaking loss to the Seminoles last season.
It was a disappointing night for the Tigers as they had high expectations coming into this season, and beating Florida State would’ve been a key win on their resume. However, that was not the case as things went left quickly.
The Tigers led at half 17-14 and looked productive on offense and started to get pressure with the front seven, but it seemed as if they could’ve been up a lot more. As for the second half, they couldn’t stop the Seminoles and were missing many assignments on the defensive side of the ball.
Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis was able to pick apart the secondary as he went 23-31
see MISCUES, page 10
BY PETER RAUTERKUS @peter_rauterkus
LSU football’s high expectations took a hit in Week 1 when the Tigers fell to Florida State 4524.
It’s the fourth year in a row LSU lost its opening game, but Saturday’s loss was the largest defeat in that span.
Here are three takeaways from LSU’s loss.
LSU’s lack of pass rush kept the defense on the field
Much like last year’s matchup with Florida State, LSU struggled to get stops on third down. Florida State finished the game 9-14 on third down, while LSU finished 3-10.
Much of Florida State’s third down success came down to LSU’s inability to get pressure on Jordan Travis. LSU didn’t have a single sack in the game, but Florida State had four.
Coming into the game, Harold Perkins was circled as a potential difference maker in the pass rush, but he hardly got a chance to pressure the quarterback. Perkins played most of the game off the ball at middle linebacker and didn’t register a quarterback hurry.
He finished the game with five tackles but struggled to impact
the game. Perkins didn’t show the game-wrecking ability that won LSU multiple games in 2022. Kelly chalked it up to Perkins learning a new position at inside linebacker, but critics question if that’s the best position for him.
When LSU did get pressure, it couldn’t finish plays. LSU’s defensive lineman couldn’t get Travis on the ground, resulting in big plays on the run.
The good news is Travis could be the best quarterback LSU faces all year. However, an opening loss changes the outlook of the season for a team with College Football Playoff hopes. The offensive line struggled at times
The struggles at the line of scrimmage existed on both sides of the ball. LSU struggled to run the ball throughout the game. Early on, the Tigers were stopped on four straight plays inside the two-yard line, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
Outside of Jayden Daniels scrambling, LSU had no consistent run game. Josh Williams led LSU’s running backs with 44 yards on four carries, but 35 of those yards came from one play near the end of the first half.
A lot of the struggles in run blocking came on the right side of the offensive line. Miles Fra-
zier and Emery Jones started at right guard and right tackle respectively and had trouble in run blocking and pass blocking at times.
Freshman Zalance Heard got snaps at right tackle during fall camp; he could be a player LSU utilizes in that role if it continues to struggle on that side.
While Florida State’s defensive line is one of the best in the country, elite defensive line play will be common during LSU’s Southeastern Conference schedule.
LSU’s biggest failures early in the game came on fourth down plays. In the first half, the Tigers turned the ball over on downs twice in the redzone, limiting what could’ve been a commanding halftime lead. On both plays, LSU lost yards and made poor reads.
LSU also had numerous drops in important situations. The best example of that was Brian Thomas Jr. dropping a deep pass from Daniels near the endzone at the
end of the third quarter. On the next play, Daniels threw an interception, starting Florida State’s onslaught.
LSU failed to execute on third and fourth downs on both sides of the ball, something Kelly blamed on poor coaching. Many of the flaws in execution drew similarities to LSU’s season opener in 2022.
Though the game ended 4524, a few plays going different for LSU in the first half could’ve created a completely different game.
PRESSURE, from page 9
in the offensive line compelled unnecessary scrambles, oftentimes leading to Daniels throwing the ball away. Florida State ended the night with four sacks.
“We got ourselves in critical second-and-long, third-and-long situations where they know that they are able to pin their ears back and rush the passer,” Daniels said. “So you know, staying out of those situations, helping the offensive line out; me getting the ball or me making the right protection call. You know, stepping up, taking a hit, but
MISCUES, from page 9 with 342 yards and four touchdowns. Keon Coleman had a day with nine receptions, 122 yards and three touchdowns. The same goes for Johnny Wilson as well, as he had seven catches for 104 yards.
As much as the Seminoles deserve credit for their performance, the number of miscues for the Tigers hurt them drastically.
First, it was the missed opportunities in the redzone.
Tre Bradford had a big play on the first play of the game with a 55-yard reception to get LSU in Florida State territory which eventually brought the offense to the goal line. The Tigers had
also delivering a ball. That’s things that could change the defense.”
A defining factor for Florida State was the stacked receiving room that LSU never matched. The Tigers totaled 347 receiving yards, but incomplete passes and an inconsistent run game never allowed them to capitalize on those yards. Of Daniels’ 37 attempts, only 22 were completed.
Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman was the driving force for the Seminoles’ offense. He accounted for 122 of their 359 receiving yards, as well as three of their six touchdowns.
six plays inside the five-yard line including going for it on fourth down and didn’t score.
Not being able to convert these short-yardage plays and ending up with no points played a huge role.
Leaving empty-handed during a game where every point counts will hurt them in the long run, and it did here. I understand the aggressiveness as they want to set the tone, but getting stopped once, you have to reconsider whether going for it is the right move and to take your points.
Special teams struggles continued from last season as Aaron Anderson muffed a punt early in the first half. It ended up not being as serious since the Tigers
Though from Louisiana, the Opelousas native wanted to leave the state. Coleman appeared in 22 games with 12 starts at Michigan State and was rated as the No. 4 wide receiver upon entering the transfer portal in the 2023 offseason, according to 247Sports.
“I took it as a game, I get to go out and just do what the Lord has blessed me to do, just play football and be able to have fun with it and take every game as its own and just go out there and try to get the W,” Coleman said. “But it added a little salt to the wound. That’s my home state. A lot of my family are fans of
were able to get an interception the play after, but it took away possession for LSU and a chance to get some much-needed points.
The offense didn’t help itself either, as there was no ability to get a push from the offensive line and run the ball. The running backs only combined for 12 carries for 49 yards. They also allowed four sacks.
On top of that, the amount of dropped passes on crucial plays from the receivers was concerning. Kyren Lacy and Brian Thomas Jr. had a couple of key drops where a catch could’ve changed the outcome of the game.
The offense went stagnant in the second half, scoring only seven points late in the fourth quarter. Four out of the five
them, but I ain’t much of a fan of them. I’m a Seminole now.”
Even after Coleman’s success, and place in the portal, LSU didn’t extend an offer. The coaching staff did anticipate the challenge he would present to the Tiger defense, though.
“There wasn’t any limited film on him,” Kelly said. “We knew who he was, and we knew he was a very difficult matchup for us. Excellent ball skills. A matchup problem for us and he presented that kind of problem tonight.”
Looking ahead, LSU will have the week to go back to the drawing
drives for the Tigers resulted in two punts, an interception and a turnover on downs. The inability to keep up with Florida State in the second half was detrimental.
Nonetheless, what hurt the Tigers the most was their defense. A lot of people had concerns about their secondary, and rightfully so due to the inexperience and amount of transfers brought in.
Some nice plays were made such as tackles from Greg Brooks Jr. and an interception from Syracuse transfer Duce Chestnut, but after that, it was a poor performance overall.
There were a lot of missed assignments from the defensive backs and blown coverages as
board and start repairing the faults that led to its first loss. Its next game will be against Grambling State in Death Valley, and though anything can happen in the game of football, an easier opponent should allow the Tigers to regroup.
“When you have those kinds of losses, they are disappointing, and in some instances, they are devastating losses, but it’s how you respond to them,” Kelly said. “So the choices they will have to make will be the ones that start tomorrow. How they handle themselves 24/7 is really what I’ll be interested in seeing.”
Florida State’s receivers were often wide-open down the field. There were also a lot of missed tackles from the defense. Some plays could have been held to three to five-yard gains nut instead went to eight to 15yard gains.
Too many big plays and big gains from the Seminoles ended up gashing the Tigers defensively.
LSU will play Grambling on Sept. 9 in Death Valley and will have time to use this game to correct its mistakes and make adjustments for the rest of the season. The season is not over the Tigers, but they will have to figure things out if they want to compete for a championship. There’s no more room for error.
federal government spends far too much on fudge rounds. Congress recently passed a bill approving an increase to the fudge round fund. The budget of the program will go from $1.3 trillion to $1.9 trillion.
people in Appalachia when they hear that their tax money is feeding people instead of funding Raytheon to develop a child-seeking missile.
Editor’s note: The following column is satire.
Oliver Anthony’s hit song “Rich Men North of Richmond” has earned a spot atop the Billboard Top 100 and a wave of praise for being a working class anthem.
That title has been challenged by claims that the lyrics echo anti-working class rhetoric. The lyrics most in question read, “Lord, we got folks in the street, ain’t got nothin’ to eat, and the obese milkin’ welfare. Well, God, if you’re 5-foot-3 and you’re 300 pounds, taxes ought not to pay for your bags of fudge rounds.”
The idea that these lyrics are anti-poor is ridiculous. Nothing says, “I want a class-conscious movement against the powerful,” like repeating Reagan-era welfare queen propaganda.
Opponents of the song’s message also fail to realize that cutting social programs is necessary. The
President Joe Biden supported this increase, saying, “This was absolutely necessary. People have a right to their fudge rounds.” When asked what cuts will be made to compensate, Biden responded, “We’re going to increase taxes on white people because of wokeness, and because George Soros told me to do it.”
In light of these events, questioning Anthony’s populist bonafides is foolish. He simply wants the federal government to stop spending money on welfare and send it to places that really matter to poor people, like the defense budget.
The United States spent more than the next 10 countries combined on its military in 2022. If that number dropped to nine, the impact on poor Americans would be far worse than not having access to the insulin that they can’t afford. Imagine the disappointment of the
The aforementioned similarities between the lyrics and Reagan-era welfare queen propaganda have caused some to erroneously speculate that the lyrics are a racist dog whistle. Nobody listening to this song harbors any bigotry in their heart, and they would never align with or vote for politicians that negatively impact marginalized communities.
Just look at the crowd at Anthony’s first performance; I’m surprised they still had the energy to show up after the BLM protest they all attended earlier. What could possibly be racist about a crowd that looks like that singing a song about people milking welfare?
The criticisms of Anthony are coming from elites who don’t want to see the working class band together. That’s why the right-wing media apparatus has pushed this song so hard — they’re always on the side of the little guy.
Wealthy people have night-
mares about Anthony’s vision of the world coming to fruition. A world where they get their taxes cut because welfare no longer exists. They spend sleepless nights thinking what they would do with all of that cursed extra money.
Class-conscious Americans should recognize this song as their new anthem. The wealthy are prob -
ably considering banning the song as a last-ditch effort before the peasants storm the gates demanding to give back their benefits. The “Rich Men” can try, but they won’t stop Anthony’s brand of populism. Frank Kidd is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Springfield, Virginia.
“adulting.” But what other generations don’t realize is that we are a generation ready for change and action, and we will one day be free from these stigmas and problems.
monetary motivations and lack of concern for the public have left us dissatisfied and disappointed.
If you care more about social causes than politics, believe a group of activists can accomplish more than some old politicians, and are tired and defiant of the systems at play in society, you are probably a member of Generation Z.
Gen Z is infamously said to be addicted to social media, depressed and unsuccessful at
What we lived through growing up and what we live through today as young adults has made our perspective on government and politics different from that of past generations.
The lack of transparency in politics when it comes to enacting the policies that matter most to us does not blind our view of reality. Politicians’ hypocrisy,
According to a survey by Project Unloaded, gun violence has troubled the experiences of nearly a third of Gen Z kids. Even if we’re not living through it, we at least worry and take precautions. The amount of safety and protection provided by the government and politicians is equivalent to a sign reading, “This is a gun-free zone.”
In other words, nothing has been done, and the level of protection remains the same.
There are many views on what could solve this problem in schools, but one thing is sure –Gen Z cares a lot about this topic. Having grown up with gun anxiety, some of Gen Z is against gun ownership, while others feel they need guns for protection. Whichever way it may be, Gen Z will be the generation to bring this issue to the forefront and do something about it.
Another significant difference between Gen Z and past generations is how we view the economy. Gen Z has experienced exceptionally high poverty rates,
EDITORIAL BOARD
Claire Sullivan Editor in Chief Managing Editor Lauren Madden
Cross Harris News
Editor
Deputy News Editor Oliver Butcher
Colin Falcon Opinion Editor
with almost one in four members of the generation growing up in poverty, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
And now as most of Gen Z has reached adulthood, things like high rent and gas prices have made the cost of living hit an all time high. On top of that, Gen Z adults experience food insecurity at twice the rate of the average American, said a survey by The Conversation.
Being able to afford a house sounds outlandish to Gen Z adults, as 49% reported they don’t think they’ll ever be able to afford one, according to a study by Insuranks.
In other words, Gen Z has not enjoyed the economic prosperity that past generations have experienced during some period of their lives.
What sets us apart the most from other generations is that Gen Z grew up with technology, making it part of our everyday lives. This integration has affected how we see education, relationships, entertainment and, of course, politics.
A politician not active on social media stands a slim chance
of being noticed by Gen Z. We have seen how technology can bring about change, so we use social media to raise awareness and promote social causes.
These are some of the situations and issues that Gen Z faces more than any other generation. But where our predecessors might be less inclined to do something about it, Gen Z will act.
Our past and present circumstances do not determine our future. All the doomsday and destruction forecasted for our future does not have to be our destiny.
Now that we are capable of action and aware of the real problems our generation faces, we will be able to bring change.
While other generations may have told us they had it worse than we do, one thing is certain — we are the future. Our choices and actions will have as much, if not more, of an impact than those of past generations. We are the heirs of tomorrow; it’s up to us to bring about change.
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“If there’s a heaven for me, I’m sure it has a beach attached.”
Jimmy Buffett American singer-songwriter 1946 — 2023
