WHAT’S ON THE BALLOT?
Peeling back the curtain on the candidates, amendments and issues you’ll encounter in the booth on Election Day.
BY COURTNEY BELL & OLIVER BUTCHER @courtneybell09 & @oliverbutcher73
Americans will head to the polls this Tuesday to vote in the 2024 election, deciding on a multitude of local and statewide contests as well as the race for president of the United States. Here is what the LSU community needs to know about the election.
How to Vote
To vote on Election Day, a person must first be registered to vote in the state and municipality in which they reside. Deadlines to register vary by state with some offering same-day registration on Election Day, but Louisiana’s voter registration window for the Nov. 5 election has already closed.
Upon registering to vote in Louisiana, a voter information card will be mailed out identifying the voter’s assigned polling place on Election Day. This location can also be found on the Secretary of State’s website, and it will be open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. come Nov. 5. Anybody in line by 8 p.m. has the right to cast their ballot.
Louisiana residents who missed the voter registration deadline for the Nov. 5 election can still register for the state’s Dec. 7 congressional general election.
Federal Candidates
This election will be headlined by the presidential candidates, primarily the Democratic Nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican Nominee former President Donald Trump. The race is highly competitive, and recent polling has found the two in a dead-lock for the 270 electoral votes required to become president.
Other federal office-seekers will vary by state, with some voters having an option to cast a vote for a candidate for the United States Senate and all having the chance to elect a candidate to the United States House of Representatives.
There’s no senate race in Louisiana this year, but the Baton Rouge area will help decide two house races for Louisiana’s 5th and 6th congressional districts, represented by Republicans Julia Letlow and Garret Graves respectively.
Only Letlow is running for reelection in her district, which includes LSU, and she is expected to win handily over opponents Republican Vinnie Mendoza and Democrat Michael Vallien Jr.
From the community of Start, just outside of Monroe, Letlow’s district didn’t previously contain anywhere in the Baton Rouge area until the most recent redistricting. However, she has since fully embraced the new communities she hopes to represent, even holding her election night party in Tiger Stadium, the first of its kind in the
CAST AWAY
The LSU community’s guide to the 2024 election
ELLIS / The Reveille
A voting sign sits on Nov. 3, 2020 at University Laboratory School polling location on 45 Dalrymple Dr.
venue’s history.
The race for the 6th District is one of the more closely watched races in Louisiana, for this election will be its first after being redrawn to be the state’s new second majority Black congressional district. Former Democratic Rep. Cleo Fields is the favorite to win and is in competition with Former Republican State Sen. Elbert Guillory and Democrats Quintin Anthony Anderson, Wilkin Jones and Peter Williams.
The district’s new voter base leans heavily Democratic, and is the only Louisiana seat that is expected to flip parties this cycle.
Statewide Ballot Measure
There is only one statewide ballot measure for the Nov. 5 election in Louisiana, appropriately titled Amendment 1. The Amendment aims to direct federal renewable energy revenues towards protecting the state’s vulnerable coast.
If passed, Amendment 1 would dedicate a certain portion of the future revenue Louisiana will receive from Outer Continental Shelf renewable energy production to the state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund.
The Outer Continental Shelf refers to the offshore waters that are controlled by the United States federal government but do not fall under the jurisdiction of individual U.S. states. The Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund refers to the constitutionally protected fund that provides for projects to protect Louisiana’s quickly receding coast.
If Amendment 1 is rejected, the shelf’s funding will go to the state’s “general fund” — a funding source that the state legislature is free to allocate to any department in its annual spending bill.
The amendment will either be passed or rejected in its entirety.
Baton Rouge Mayor-President Election
Baton Rouge residents are set to elect a new mayor-president, who heads both East Baton Rouge Parish and the City of Baton Rouge. The most recent mayorpresident poll showed Ted James leading with 29%, one point above incumbent Sharon Weston Broome. Sid Edwards polled third with 22%, and the other candidates were projected to garner a total of 5% of the parish’s votes.
Democrat Sharon Weston Broome is looking to win a third and final term, in which she hopes to continue construction projects she has begun in the previous eight years, including the transformation of the Raising Cane’s River Center into a hotel and conference center. She also hopes to begin a new riverfront development project to highlight the Mississippi River.
Broome started out on the Metropolitan Council, moving on to serve in both the State Senate and House of Representatives. Having now served two full terms as mayor-president of East Baton Rouge Parish, she said “no other candidate has that experience” in a statement to the Reveille.
Former State Rep. Ted James is running for mayor-president with a vision for the city-parish that includes investing in small businesses to stimulate economic growth. Previously, James served as the regional administrator for the Small Business Association. In this position, he saw how other cities were managed and was devastated to come home and see Baton Rouge “stagnant.” He hopes to change that through economic development and a commitment to improving education and public safety.
In regards to St. George, the newly-defined city from Baton
B-16 Hodges Hall Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, La. 70803
Rouge, James wants to work cooperatively with the new city, saying as someone who has experience working with people he doesn’t always agree with, he is the best for leading the transition.
James earned the Baton Rouge Democratic Party’s endorsement over Broome.
Republican Sid Edwards is well-known in Baton Rouge not for politics, but rather for his position as the Istrouma High School dean of students and head football coach. As mayor-president he hopes to curb crime by increasing the funding for police and improving the parish’s infrastructure, a combination he says will lead to economic development in Baton Rouge.
He faced criticism for not voting in the past 25 elections, saying he was “tired of the corruption” at a mayoral candidate debate and forum.
Republican Steve Myers is running for mayor-president with a low-budget campaign, appealing to undecided voters. He takes the “everyman” approach, emphasizing issues like crime and infrastructure. He also advocates for more transparency in the city and parish governance.
Myers, a lawyer in Baton Rouge, has run in multiple area race elections as both a Democrat and a Republican. If elected, he only desires one term in office and is in support of separating mayor-president into two positions – a parish president and a mayor for the city of Baton Rouge.
Nathaniel Hearn, Ryan “Bad Bidness” Carter and Champagne Roundtree are also running for the mayor-president’s office. They currently poll to secure under 2% of the vote. Hearn aims to improve the parish budget, especial-
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CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS
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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.
TAYLOR
TIGER STADIUM
Tiger Stadium to host election watch party
Tiger Stadium is set to host what is believed to be its first ever election night watch party this Tuesday, as Republican Julia Letlow hopes to celebrate her re-election to the United States House of Representatives.
The party will mark another chapter in a storied political history for the iconic LSU stadium, which turned 100 years old this fall. In the past it has been a regular stomping ground for Louisiana politicians, even being the site of Gov. Earl Long’s inauguration in 1948.
Letlow is seeking reelection to Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District, a previously Northeastern district which was only recently redrawn to include LSU and parts of Baton Rouge, a fact that she has welcomed.
“There’s different concerns down in South Louisiana than there are in North Louisiana…
COAST & COSTS
Voters to decide fate of federal coastal funding
BY CADE SAVOY @c_savoy2504
On Nov. 5, Louisiana residents will vote on Amendment 1, which aims to direct federal renewable energy revenues towards protecting the state’s vulnerable coast.
The text as it appears on the
ballot will read: “Do you support an amendment to require that federal revenues received by the state generated from Outer Continental Shelf alternative or renewable energy production be deposited into the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund?”
As the term is used in the text of the amendment, the
Outer Continental Shelf refers to the offshore waters that are controlled by the United States federal government but do not fall under the jurisdiction of individual U.S. states.
The Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund refers to the
‘In His Own Words’
Broome campaign targets fellow Democrat, opponent
BY COURTNEY BELL @courtebell09
Two days after the latest poll in the East Baton Rouge mayorpresident election was released showing Ted James ahead by one point, Sharon Weston Broome’s campaign released a sixty-second radio ad that included secretly-recorded clips of James.
In the ad, which records James speaking at an event next to text reading “In His Own Words,” James is heard saying “Quite honestly, a white man, a white man, if he knows he got to deal with someone Black, he would rather deal with another man than a woman. It’s f---ed up, it’s screwed up and honestly, I get to take advantage of it.”
The ad also accuses James of changing his position on St. George, including recording of him saying “I’m a woke MAGA guy.”
Broome defended her ad in
Students conflicted over voting for the ‘lesser of two evils’
BY CROSS HARRIS @thecrossharris
For many LSU students, next week’s election will be their first time voting for president of the United States.
But amid a closely polled and politically polarizing race, some of the university’s first-time voters are opting out altogether.
Sociology junior Meadow Walker was too young to vote in 2020. This year, she decided not to register at all.
Originally from dark-blue Illinois, now transplanted in deepred Louisiana, Walker said she felt her vote didn’t matter. Neither state is a swing state, she reasoned, so what’s the point? Either way, her ballot would disappear as a drop in a sea of a single color.
Then there’s the Electoral College which, unlike the popular vote, actually decides who will become the country’s leader.
“We aren’t as much of a democracy as we claim to be,” Walker said.
Despite her home state’s color, Walker said she had looked favorably on former president and candidate Trump during his presidency. But since then, the indictments, his felonies and increasingly outlandish behavior had
put her off the former president.
When Kamala Harris called Trump a fascist in a recent interview, Walker said the word drove home some of her feelings about the former president. At the same time, Walker said she didn’t know enough about Harris to support her at the polls.
Many LSU students lamented the election’s candidates.
This year would be business management freshman Vivian Giordano’s first time voting, but she said she missed the deadline to register. Even so, having to choose between Trump and Harris left a bad taste in her mouth.
“I don’t want to vote for either of those people,” she said. “I would rather vote when there’s a better election.”
Students who planned to support Harris phrased their decision in terms of the opposition.
“I can tell you who I’m not voting for,” said engineering freshman Cervantes Brown. “Trump.”
Psychology sophomore Adrien Lagard felt the same way. He didn’t much like Harris, but saw her as the lesser of two evils.
Lagard said he’d watched videos of Trump rallies to decide for himself what he thought about the former president.
“He looked completely off the rails to me.”
Lagard took issue with Trump’s erratic behavior, browbeating and lies, he said.
“His whole thing is fear mongering, and he uses that fear to get people on his side.”
The sophomore said he wished there was another candidate, but voting third party was tantamount to throwing away his ballot.
“The number one thing I’m concerned about, I guess, is having a sane person as president,” Lagard said.
Harris still felt like a relatively unknown quantity to him, and Lagard said he didn’t particularly like her or her policies. But at the very least, she was not Trump, and that was enough.
Students who had voted or planned on voting for the former president backed him with an easy and stalwart confidence.
“Everyone has their opinion,” said electrical engineering freshman Jonathan Bickford. “I think he’s the better candidate.”
Bickford said he believed Trump’s presidency would be better for the economy, a sentiment echoed even by some Harris voters, like Lagard.
When pre-nursing freshman Olivia Carpenter voted early, she voted for Trump. Carpenter, who hails from New Orleans, said she
A sign reads “Vote Here” on Nov. 8, 2022, outside of the LSU Laboratory School on East Campus Drive in Baton Rouge, La. see ADS, page 4 see AMENDMENT, page 4
was influenced by the belief that Trump’s presidency would be better for the economy. But more than that, Carpenter said her family played a strong influence.
“I’ve always been told to vote Republican,” she said. “I mean we live in Louisiana, you know?”
Business freshman Calsey Williams, also from New Orleans, had a similar experience. Williams said she’d planned on voting, but didn’t know how to register. But her grandmother, a lifelong Democrat, insisted Williams sign up.
“She basically told me it was really important, and that people
died for that.”
Williams said she wasn’t a particularly political person and much of what she knew about the presidential race came from social media or from listening to her family.
At the same time, Williams said she voted for Harris because she cared strongly about women’s rights.
“She would be the first woman president, so I feel like that would be a special moment for us.”
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5 with polls opening at 6 a.m. and closing at 8 p.m.
PHOTO VIA WIKIMEDIA
Soldiers of the Louisiana National Guard’s 527th Engineer Battalion, 225th Engineer Brigade, work to reinforce oil protection barriers and land bridges along Elmer’s Island, La., near Grand Isle and Port Fourchon, La., July 9, 2010.
MATTHEW PERSCHALL / Louisiana Illuminator
AMENDMENT, from page 3
constitutionally-protected fund that provides for projects to protect Louisiana’s quickly receding coast.
If passed, Amendment 1 would not on its own give Louisiana access to additional sources of funding. Rather, the amendment would dedicate a certain portion of the future revenue Louisiana will receive from OCS renewable energy production to the CPRF.
There is currently no revenue flowing into Louisiana from OCS energy production. But, as KTAL reported earlier this month, “the
ADS, from page 3
an interview with WAFB, saying candidates need to remain “consistent” throughout their campaign.
James’ campaign responded to the ad with a statement sent to WAFB, reading “The Sharon Weston Broome campaign has once again sunk to a new low by secretly recording, heavily editing and misrepresenting a conversation Ted had with Broome’s campaign manager, M.E. Cormi-
WATCH PARTY, from page 3
But I’m kind of excited to learn from potential constituents about what I can be working on for them and Congress,” Letlow said earlier this year.
Attendance at the party is free of charge, and will take place in the venue’s South Stadium Club at 7 p.m. on Election Day. Tick-
LEGISLATURE
renewable offshore business is growing. This amendment would safeguard any future funds for protecting the coast only.”
If Amendment 1 is rejected, OCS funding will go to the state’s “general fund” — a funding source that the state legislature is free to allocate to any department in its annual spending bill.
LSU Professor Greg Upton, whose research focuses on the intersection of energy and environmental economics, observed that proponents believe that passing Amendment 1 is necessary to preserve Louisiana’s coast.
er at her request. Ted was quoting something he was told by a third party in one segment, and ridiculing the Mayor’s attacks on him as a MAGA guy in another.”
James’ campaign also demanded that Broome’s team release an uncut version of the audio, threatening to sue Broome if it is not shared.
At a press conference Wednesday night, Broome addressed James’ statement, saying her campaign has no plans to take the ad down.
ets can be found on her campaign website
“I’m excited to host the firstever election night party in Tiger Stadium,” Letlow said to the USA Today Network. “I can’t imagine a more incredible venue to not only celebrate the end of our campaign but also kickoff the next two years of critical work that we have ahead for Louisiana.”
“They think we need this coastline in order to support the long-term resilience of our coast,” he said. “The CPRA needs funding, and this amendment would help make sure that Louisiana’s future revenue streams from the OCS are dedicated to it.”
The state of Louisiana’s coastal restoration projects is dire. The state legislature allocated a meager $10 million to coastal restoration projects in their 2024 session — a drastic decrease in funding compared to the over $400 million the legislature has allocated in years past — and funding from the 2010 BP oil
VOTER GUIDE, from page 2
cially as it relates to law enforcement and increase transparency within the parish government. Carter campaigns for better programs for the parish’s poorest residents and improving Baton Rouge’s public transportation system. Roundtree wants to keep young professionals in the city by increasing culture and the city’s nightlife scene while further cooperating with St. George’s government. Home Rule Charter Amendment Proposition Baton Rouge residents have several propositions to vote on locally, with one set to significantly reshape the city-parish government. The Home Rule Charter Amendment focuses on changing the Plan of Government, which was enacted in 1949. If enacted, the amendment would lead to hundreds of changes in the organization of the parish’s government, including the creation of a new city-parish manager posi-
spill is set to run out by 2032.
As Upton puts it, “Some of the CPRA’s projects are so long-term in nature that without long-term funding, they just can’t functionally operate.” And given that studies have estimated that Louisiana currently loses approximately a football field’s worth of land every 100 minutes, these concerns have gained significant traction.
On the other hand, opponents of the amendment argue that Amendment 1 places unnecessary restrictions on the state legislature.
“Opponents say that we shouldn’t allocate any money to
tion and the removal of restrictions on council members’ salaries.
Section 4.08 of the amendment provides for the creation of a cityparish manager office. The position will replace the chief administrative officer position, currently occupied by Dante Bidwell.
The amendment stipulates that the CPM must be nominated by the mayor-president and approved by the Metro Council. Under current rules, the CAO is appointed by the mayor-president. This election, there are some Metro Council seats for re-election.
The CPM will also be required to have obtained at least a bachelor’s degree in a managementrelated field. Dante Bidwell has earned no such degree, though he did serve as Broome’s Chief of Staff for nearly two years.
Two mayoral candidates — Broome and James — have criticized the proposed change, arguing that the mayor-president should have the power to name the CPM
the CPRF. They think the legislature should decide where our revenue streams go,” Upton said. “They’re concerned that by dedicating funding to the coast, in the event of a crisis, the only places you can cut are from areas that are not protected — where it be because of a tax policy change, a recession or a slowdown of economic activity.”
Voters will have only two choices come election day: “yes” and “no.” The amendment will either be passed or rejected in its entirety.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5 with polls opening at 6 a.m. and closing at 8 p.m.
to his post.
The amendment, if passed, will also allow members of the Metro Council to create their own salary after a majority vote. Currently, members are paid a fixed salary of $1,000 per month.
This figure is significantly lower than the average pay for city council members in other American cities. ZipRecruiter estimates that the median monthly salary for a city council member in America is $2,283 per month — more than double what Metro Council members are currently paid.
If passed, the ordinance would take effect no sooner than January 2029.
The amendment will either be passed or rejected entirely. More information on the amendment can be found on the city’s website. Louisiana voters can find a sample ballot that will include all measures they can vote on at the Secretary of State’s website by inputting their parish, ward and precinct.
Gov. Landry calls lawmakers into special session for tax reform
BY WESLEY MULLER
Louisiana Illuminator
As anticipated, Gov. Jeff Landry has officially called for a special session, directing the Louisiana Legislature to convene next month on fiscal matters related to an impending budget shortfall.
At the heart of the governor’s agenda is a sweeping restructuring of the state’s tax structure, with a shift toward a flat income tax for individuals and businesses, and an expansion of the state sales tax to more items and services.
The special session will begin at 3 p.m. Nov. 6 and end no later than 6 p.m. Nov. 25, according to the proclamation Landry issued Sunday evening.
Landry’s call covers a variety of fiscal topics, including revenue, taxes, spending, budgets and teacher pay raises, among others.
The governor had announced his intention to call for a special session after revealing the state could face a budget shortfall next year, estimated at between $400 million to $700 million depending on the scenarios in play. If left unaddressed, that
could mean major cuts to health care for the poor, elderly and disabled as well as significant budget reductions for state colleges and universities.
In addition to the fiscal overhaul, the governor’s call opens the door for lawmakers to introduce proposals involving “crimes that are not subject to special juvenile procedures.”
Another item permits legislation based on how the Louisiana Supreme Court handles disciplinary proceedings, unethical practices and vacant judgeships. It also includes speciality courts within the state’s judicial branch.
The state’s fortified roof program, created to provide grants for homeowner upgrades, is also included in the call.
Sunday’s proclamation marks the third extraordinary or “special” session Landry has called for this year. He ordered the first one in mid-January, one of his earliest acts as governor, to direct lawmakers to draw a second majority-Black congressional district. He then convened a second one a few weeks later to repeal some of the criminal justice reforms his predecessor, Gov. John Bel Edwards, had enacted.
WESLEY MULLER / Louisiana Illuminator
Louisiana Senate chambers during the close of the 2023 legislative session on June 8, 2023.
CAMPUS CRITTERS
Check out a few of the many awesome animals the Reveille has randomly encountered throughout LSU’s campus!
A Juvenile Cairina moschata, also known as a muscovy duck, sitting in the shade by the LSU Lakes on Sept. 16 along Stadium Drive in Baton Rouge, La.
A retired racehorse named Parker making a funny face on Sept. 14 at a farm on Polo Road in Folsom, La.
A curious Branta Canadensis, most commonly known as the Canadian goose, approaching the camera on Sept. 19 on a sidewalk along Stadium Drive in Baton Rouge, La.
A horse named Baby in her stable at a farm on Sept. 14 on Polo Road in Folsom, La.
An Anas platyrhynchos domesticus duck, also known as the American Pekin, standing by the LSU lake on Sept. 19 along Stadium Drive in Baton Rouge, La.
photographed by Gabriella Guillory
designed by Jayden Slaughter
SPORTS
DRESS REHEARSAL
What
we learned from LSU women’s basketball’s final exhibition
win
BY TRE ALLEN
@treday0314
LSU women’s basketball finished off their preseason exhibition games last night by defeating LSU-Alexandria, 117-37.
It was another blowout victory for the Tigers, and it was another look at what people are expected to see this season.
While the game wasn’t close from the start, there are still some takeaways from last night’s game.
Flau’jae Johnson is still the leading scorer
Johnson was expected to take a big step forward this season with the departure of Angel Reese and Hailey Van Lith, and she’s done just that.
Johnson finished the game with 29 points, five rebounds and three assists following her 30-point performance in her last game against Xavier-New Orleans.
Guard depth will not be a problem
The Tigers will most likely use seven out of their eight guards this season, as they have one of the deepest guard rooms in the country.
Although Mjracle Sheppard, Last-Tear Poa, Shayeann Day-Wilson and Mikaylah Williams didn’t suit up on Wednesday, there was no glaring issue for them.
Kailyn Gilbert, Flau’jae Johnson and Jada Richard got off to a hot start in the first half, scoring 15, 15 and 10. The guards finished with a combined total of 69 points on the night.
Once all of the Tigers’ pieces come back, they will have multiple options at the guard position.
She’s shown that she can score anywhere on the court, from attacking to the basket, shooting off the dribble, and knocking down threes.
The offense will run through her this season, and she will be the primary focal point of LSU’s success this season.
Kailyn Gilbert’s impact
The Arizona transfer played exceptionally well during LSU’s exhibition game, filling the stat sheet with 26 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals.
She showed the LSU faithful what she is bringing to this year’s team. With the Wildcats, she averaged 15 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals while also shooting 40% from three.
She is no stranger to putting the ball in the hoop, but there’s another element of her game that Mulkey would like
to see her improve at, and that is defense.
“I’ll be real with you: you’re not going to get to play on that offensive end if you don’t guard on the defensive end,” Mulkey said.
Mulkey also talked about how the expectations they have on defense are higher than other programs. However, she appreciated Gilbert’s willingness to learn and spoke about her growth on defense.
“We work on it every day,” Mulkey said. “Her on-ball defense is better right now than her off-ball defense.”
The 6-foot-2 redshirt sophomore returned to the court after suffering a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus a season ago.
In her debut, Smith put up 12 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
Kim Mulkey spoke about the rust she’s had since it’s been over a year the last time she played, but she’s confident that it will go away as the season continues.
The frontcourt was a glaring issue for the Tigers last year, and now with Smith back on the court, she brings back length and energy on both ends of the court.
LSU’s defense has improved, but some work still needs to be done
Although LSU-Alexandria isn’t the most talented team, it was clear that the Tigers’ defense caused a problem.
The Tigers were active in the passing lanes, forcing 25 turnovers. They also had 12 steals and five blocks. They forced the Generals to play late into the shot clock and settle for multiple bad shots.
With multiple players out, head coach Kim Mulkey only had eight players on Wednesday but expressed the unself-
ishness of her team. However, there was still room for improvement.
“I thought (Aneesah) Morrow and Jersey (Wolfenberger) were very unselfish to play the perimeter for us tonight, Mulkey said. “Our defense, particularly-man to-man, we got to get better on the perimeter and stop the team’s penetration. I think we have enough depth and athleticism to clean up what we’re just kind of struggling to right now.”
The LSU student’s guide to College GameDay this weekend
BY JASON WILLIS
@JasonWillis4
College football’s premier pregame show, College GameDay, is coming to Baton Rouge on Saturday for No. 14 LSU’s matchup with No. 11 Alabama.
That means that LSU is the center of attention in the college football world this week, and for good reason. The LSU-Alabama rivalry is one of the richest, most emotional and, yes, hateful in all of sports.
Like every year, this rendition will play a big role in the College Football Playoff and SEC Championship race. But the festivities will start long before the teams run onto the field – College GameDay will be a highlyanticipated event you don’t want to miss.
Here’s the LSU student’s guide to College GameDay, live from the Quad: What is College GameDay?
Each week, College GameDay travels to the campus of the week’s most highly-anticipated matchup. It sets up its table of panelists, including Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee and Lee Corso.
Starting this year, the show also features new panelist Nick Saban, who was formerly the head coach at both Alabama and LSU and won national titles with each program.
The show airs on ESPN from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. local time. During the three-hour program, the experts discuss the various college football matchups of the day.
At the end of the show, the panel and a celebrity guest make their picks on each game of the day, ending with LSU-Alabama and Corso donning the mascot head of his winner pick.
The show also features audience participation, including chants, a kicking competition and the occasional spotlight on stand-
out outfits and signs in the crowd. What time should I get there?
Standing room in the large viewing pit around the set of College GameDay is first come, first serve. With such a high demand, you may have to start your day rather early to get a decent view of the show.
The pit opens to fans at 5:30 a.m., but the line will be very lengthy by that time. When you should show up truly depends on what you’re hoping to get out of the experience.
If you want a front row seat to College GameDay, you may need to show up between midnight and 2 a.m. Some diehard fans even camp out the night before.
If you’re looking for a more casual viewing experience but would still like to be able to see, showing up around 4 to 7 a.m. may be more appropriate.
If you show up around the
see ESPN, page 9
Sa’Myah Smith shines in season debut
PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille
LSU women’s basketball junior guard Kailyn Gilbert (16) attempts to block an LSU-Alexandria player during LSU’s 117-37 exhibition win against LSUAlexandria on Oct. 30 in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille
Mike the Tiger crowd surfs during the College Gameday broadcast from LSU’s campus on Oct. 12, 2019.
ESPN, from page 8 time the show starts, it’ll be difficult to see or hear any of the festivities. The crowd will likely engulf the Quad.
What am I allowed to bring into the pit?
One of the most beloved parts of College GameDay is bringing signs into the pit with you. If your sign is funny enough, it might be shown on College GameDay or, better yet, reach internet virality.
However, there are some
rules, according to ESPN’s website. Signs can’t be vulgar, political or religious or promote a website. They also can’t be oversized or placed on sticks.
Aside from sign regulations, fans can’t bring bags, food, drinks, writing utensils or dry erase boards. In addition, throwing objects isn’t allowed. What other times has College GameDay come to LSU?
The last time College GameDay came to Baton Rouge was in 2019 when then-No. 5 LSU faced
No. 7 Florida in the midst of a season that ended in a national championship for the Tigers.
In total, including this Saturday’s upcoming show, College GameDay has come to Baton Rouge 14 times, with six of those being for an LSU-Alabama matchup.
In addition, LSU has been involved in an opposing College GameDay matchup twice before in the Brian Kelly era – earlier this season at South Carolina and in 2023 at Alabama.
Last-Tear Poa sues U.S. govt. over visa denial limiting NIL earnings
NIL BY TYLER HARDEN
@ttjharden8
LSU women’s basketball senior guard Last-Tear Poa has filed a lawsuit against U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The lawsuit was filed in the Middle District of Louisiana. According to On3, Poa’s P-1A visa was denied, which makes it more difficult for her to secure NIL deals because she is an Australian citizen. The P-1A visa applies to people residing in the U.S. temporarily for competing in athletics.
Poa did not appear in LSU’s first exhibition game against Xavier University of Louisiana
MEN’S BASKETBALL
on Thursday, nor was she on the bench for the matchup.
“Poa is taking care of business off the floor,” Mulkey said after the exhibition on Thursday.
According to On3, her absence in Thursday’s game was not related to the lawsuit.
In fact, Mulkey did not know about the lawsuit until after LSU’s exhibition win over LSU-Alexandria.
“What lawsuit? That’s news to me,” Mulkey said. “I don’t deal with NIL in our program.”
The senior guard transferred to LSU from Northwest Florida State College in 2023 as one of the top junior college transfers in
the country.
Last season, she was a crucial piece to LSU’s depth off the bench, averaging 4.9 points per game and 3.0 assists per game. She was especially good in her defense on the perimeter.
In the age of NIL, international athletes have been presented with an obstacle, as many of them are required to have the necessary visas in order to be compensated.
Poa is an athlete that would certainly profit off of NIL deals, as she has over 200,000 followers across social media platforms. She’s been forced to turn those deals down thus far.
How the NIT’s new format will affect LSU men’s basketball
BY ETHAN STENGER @itsethanstenger
This season’s men’s college basketball postseason is different from anything the sport has ever seen before.
Last April, Fox Sports and the Anschutz Entertainment Group announced a brand-new postseason tournament: College Basketball Crown. The 16-team tournament will award bids to the top two non-NCAA Tournament teams in the Big Ten, Big 12 and Big East.
“Postseason college basketball is one of the most exciting times of year and Fox Sports is proud to be at the forefront of efforts to evolve and elevate the sport,” Fox Sports Executive Vice President Jordan Bazant said in a press release. “Alongside AEG and the Big Ten, Big 12 and Big East, we are thrilled to provide more opportunities for student-athletes to compete in high quality postseason college hoops and for viewers to enjoy the chase for the College Basketball Crown.”
Las Vegas’ MGM Garden Arena and T-Mobile Arena will host the tournament from March 31 to April 6, 2025, with games airing on Fox and FS1.
“We are thrilled to join Fox Sports, the Big Ten, Big 12 and Big East who share our vision and
LSU men’s basketball junior forward Jalen Reed (9) looks for an open pass during LSU’s 110-48 exhibition win against Loyola on Oct. 29 in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
our enthusiasm to create one-ofa-kind experiences and events that benefit both fans and the entire global sports landscape,”
AEG Chief Revenue Officer Todd Goldstein also said in the press release. “The time is right, Las Vegas is the ideal destination and the College Basketball Crown is the perfect additive event to further elevate the most exciting postseason in sports.” The time is right. College bas-
ketball’s postseason will only continue to get bigger and bigger, and the fans aren’t complaining. The more competitive postseason basketball, the better.
The National Invitation Tournament is changing its format to account for the College Basketball Crown.
The 32-team NIT will now have four automatic bids for the
Payton Prichard / The Reveille
BY REVEILLE SPORTS
@ReveilleSports
Athlete of the Week is an ongoing weekly series.
At a university where nearly every athletic program is nationally relevant, there’s never a shortage of options. There are always electric playmakers to be found.
The Reveille Athlete of the Week is LSU soccer’s Jurnee Robinson.
After losing to Georgia last weekend, LSU volleyball needed a win, and sophomore outside hitter Jurnee Robinson was the key to carrying her team to a 3-1 win against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Greatness isn’t new to Robinson. During her starting season with the Tigers she was named the AVCA South Freshman of the Year, which made her the third player in program history to earn this title.
While earning that title she also earned a spot on the 20232024 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll, balancing her life between academics and athletics.
She finished her freshman season with 391 kills and is well on her way to topping it with 343 kills so far this year.
Ranked No. 4 in the NCAA in kills per set, Robinson entered the match against Alabama with her regular sense of confidence.
“I’m always confident before every single game,” Robinson said. She tells herself to step onto the court and try to kill
NIT, from page 9
top two non-NCAA Tournament teams in the ACC and SEC. The tournament’s remaining 12 automatics bids will be the highestranked non-NCAA Tournament teams from the nation’s top 12 conferences, decided by the NIT selection committee, which uses a variety of numbers and statistics. These 16 schools will be guaranteed to host a first-round game, while the 16 at-large programs will be forced to travel.
But what does this mean for the SEC and LSU specifically?
In 2023, LSU was the last SEC
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
team looking to sneak into March Madness. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they were effectively eliminated from NCAA Tournament contention following a 70-60 loss to Mississippi State in the opening round of the SEC Tournament.
The Bayou Bengals returned home to Baton Rouge for the opening round of the NIT looking for redemption but failed to catch fire in their 84-77 loss to North Texas. The purple and gold’s postseason hopes had ended as soon as they had started.
This year’s LSU men’s basketball squad could surprise with their speed, shooting, and athleti-
cism, but if the madness of March isn’t in the cards yet, avoiding a one-and-done in the SEC Tournament and NIT should be at the forefront of Matt McMahon’s mind. The Bayou Bengals qualified for last year’s NIT without the automatic SEC bid, so the extra safety net gives the purple and gold more room for error if they were to somehow worsen from last year.
However, all the signs point to development for purple and gold, and with the NIT’s new format, LSU has a great shot of making a deep postseason run, NCAA Tournament or not.
Why newfound guard depth is crucial for LSU women’s basketball
BY TYLER HARDEN @ttjharden8
This offseason, Kim Mulkey hit the transfer portal with two intentions: add depth and add experience.
So Mulkey added three guards out of the transfer portal; Kailyn Gilbert from Arizona, Shayeann Day-Wilson from Miami and Mjracle Sheppard from Mississippi State. In addition, Mulkey secured true freshman Jada Richard from Lafayette Christian Academy.
it every single time, even when that means recovering from a loss.
And killed it she did, although it took a while for her to get in the right mindset with only seven kills in the first set.
“She started the match a little bit slow,” head coach Tonya Johnson said. “But then she figured out a way to get out her hole, and she was exceptional midway through the match to the end.”
After Alabama won the first set of Sunday’s match, LSU needed to turn things around, and Robinson leaned on the support of both her coaches and her teammates to do so.
“‘Don’t try to force anything,’” Robinson said her coaches told her. “Sometimes when we’re losing, we try to push, and push and push, and sometimes we just don’t need to.”
She concluded the match with 21 kills and 26 points for the Tigers.
Robinson set her career high against Maryland earlier this season, with a total of 28 kills in one match. Robinson met that record once more against FIU.
Robinson has grown greatly throughout the season. The Mauldin High School (S.C.) alumna has been encouraging herself to grow with the same key word mentioned earlier: confidence.
“Having the same confidence even when I have a bad game,” Robinson said. “That, and reminding myself of who I am, that’s what helps me.”
“Those guys are going to have the ball in their hand,” Mulkey said. “We’ve got five or six that aren’t afraid to wear that, and that’s what you want.”
She also landed a commitment from Arkansas guard/ forward, Jersey Wolfenbarger. Wolfenbarger, who stands at 6-foot-5, has the ability to play on the perimeter, although her height will likely be most needed in the paint.
With Angel Reese taking her career to the WNBA, Flau’jae Johnson stepped into the prime leadership role that Reese held in her two seasons in Baton Rouge.
Mulkey had to build around Johnson, as former starting point guard Hailey Van Lith hit the portal herself and transferred to TCU.
Mikaylah Williams is a returning guard, but with just one year of college experience under her belt, more experience was needed.
Not to mention, Williams did not play in LSU’s two exhibition games due to an ankle injury, and Last-Tear Poa has been held out due to off-the-court issues. Poa will not play on Monday in the team’s regular season opener.
But even in the absence of key returners, the depth at the guard position has been on full display through the Tigers’ first two exhibition games.
Johnson has shined in both games. In the first exhibition game against Xavier University of Louisiana, Johnson scored a team-high 30 points along with 10 rebounds and three steals. In the second game against LSUAlexandria, she scored 29 points
MALEAH BOURGEOIS / The Reveille LSU women’s basketball sophomore guard Mjracle Sheppard (1) prepares to shoot the ball during LSU’s 114-53 win against Xavier on Oct. 24 in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
along with three assists and five rebounds.
But just as Mulkey intended, the guards around Johnson complemented her. On any given day, it can be any of the newcomers’ day to shine, which is especially crucial when injuries arise like they have to start the season.
In the first exhibition game, Sheppard scored 12 points along with six steals. The addition of Sheppard was meant to bring impressive perimeter defense, as Sheppard also had six steals in Mississippi State’s 77-73 upset win over LSU last season.
“What you saw tonight is what we see every day from Mjracle,” Mulkey said after the win over Xavier. “That was not an exception.”
In the second game, as she scored, it was Gilbert’s turn, scoring 26 points along with five assists and seven rebounds.
“She can score the ball,” Mulkey said. “It may not be a jump shot, it may look flat-footed, but she can score the ball.”
Her performance was even more timely with Sheppard and Day-Wilson not playing, Sheppard due to a stress reaction, which will keep her out a couple of weeks, and Day-Wilson due to
a minor hip injury.
Gilbert is most effective shooting from the outside, especially off the dribble.
Day-Wilson showed her ability to facilitate as a true point guard against Xavier, scoring seven points along with four assists.
Richard showed consistency in both matchups. She scored 14 points in her first collegiate matchup, and 14 once again in her second, along with two rebounds and two assists. Richard’s immediate confidence at the collegiate level could serve the Tigers well when more competitive matchups arrive.
Technically the regular season has not started yet, and the guards are already playing fluidly together and finding their roles on both sides of the ball.
Johnson is the “do it all” guard for LSU this season. With other guards able to help her in all aspects of the game, though, along with Johnson making those guards better, LSU might have its chemistry earlier than expected.
“If you play hard in Kim Mulkey’s system, you will be rewarded,” Johnson said. “We got players that are competitors.”
GRAPHIC BY JACOB CHASTANT
OPINION
A vote for Trump is a vote for fascism
PERSPECTIVE
PELLITTIERI
@m_pellittieri
Editor’s Note: The author of this column is an officer for Geaux Vote LSU, a nonpartisan student organization. The views expressed are his own and are not intended to be taken as Geaux Vote’s position.
“There’s literally a floating island of garbage in the ocean right now… I think it’s called Puerto Rico.”
That’s the now infamous joke comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made at former President Donald Trump’s massive Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
In some corners of the media, the joke and the rally as a whole were characterized as the “October surprise” that could cost Trump the election and hand the White House to Vice President Kamala Harris.
But that implies that there was anything “surprising” about the rhetoric put on display by Trump and some of his prominent associates and acolytes. There was nothing surprising.
Hinchcliffe’s racist joke was predicated on the supposed inferiority of Puerto Ricans compared to their fellow Americans on the mainland. It got a lot of the attention online, and is the most prominent example of what it truly means when people in the center and on the left refer to Trumpism as “fascism.”
Sure, you could sit and argue for hours about the fuzzy academic definition of fascism and how Trump compares to the likes of historical fascist dictators like Hitler, Mussolini and Franco. You could talk about the excessive glorification of masculinity, militarism, ethnonationalism, the personality cult or the dehumanizing rhetoric. All of that was certainly on display at the MSG rally.
Or you could wax poetic about the eternal conflict between the righteous liberal democratic American spirit and the wicked, illiberal spectral boogeymen of bigotry and authoritarianism.
But semantic quibbles and grand narratives won’t convince undecided voters or claw back the former president’s less-devoted supporters. Those methods certainly won’t break the minds of his committed flock of followers.
EDITORIAL BOARD Colin
However, the focus needs to be placed on what 21st-century American fascism would actually look like in reality.
Think less “the re-election of Donald Trump would signal the end of American democracy as we know it” and more “a second Trump presidency would tangibly hurt disadvantaged groups and individuals.”
That’s what you should think when you hear politicians, pundits and activists call Trump and his ilk “fascists.”
Some of his voters may interject with: “Well, I’m not a fascist. I just think some of his policies would be better for the country.”
Well, the truth is that you don’t have to be a committed ideological fascist to support a fascist political movement or be responsible for putting that movement into power.
In fact, Trump himself isn’t really a fascist.
He’s just a husk—a vessel that different factions of the reactionary right inhabit to thrust their ideology into the public forum and onto the rule books. He’s a narcissist who views politics as a path towards self-gratification. He’s also a demagogic figurehead that can be used to easily dupe millions of voters into casting their ballots for fascism disguised as economic populism and faux patriotism.
Many of his less-enthusiastic supporters are also motivated by self-interest or some other ideology they think he represents. But the actual America that an unfettered Trump administration would usher in would indeed be fascistic.
Plenty of Trump’s supporters do dislike or feel uncomfortable with the presence and recognition of ra-
cial, sexual, and other minorities. But most wouldn’t say they support creating their ideal society through the hammer of state power.
The truly devoted elite of Trump’s fascist movement is the not-so-diverse collection of wealthy donors, think tanks, public intellectuals, media personalities and elected officials who would, if given the chance, put in effect extreme social conservatism.
The election is November 5, and there are only two possible outcomes: either Harris wins, and fascism is kept at bay (for now), or Trump wins, and the country’s march towards fascism crosses the point of no return.
A vote for Harris is a vote against fascism. It’s a vote to protect all disadvantaged people from the harsh thumb of a hyper-conservative state willing to crush their lives, livelihoods and identities into a paste of blood and gore.
A vote for Trump is a vote for fascism. It’s a vote to offer up all disadvantaged people as a sacrifice to the prejudiced eyes of America’s far-right.
If you vote for Trump because you think he’ll lower the cost of living, decrease American involvement in foreign affairs or just shake up the status quo, then you’re still supporting fascism. You may not like to admit it, but it’s true.
Hopefully, you can sleep soundly when his state-sanctioned goons castrate your gay brother, lynch your black coworker or pressure your transgender niece into committing suicide.
Matthew Pellittieri is a 20-year-old history and political science junior from Ponchatoula, LA.
Trump takes advantage of Christian voters
ANDREW SAHRAN
ANDREW SARHAN @sarhanandrew
On my drive back home from fall break, I noticed a giant advertisement taken by the GOP with the words, “God Bless President Trump.” As a deist and a person who went to a Catholic high school, I got upset by this ad.
It’s highly unethical and disrespectful for a political candidate to use God as a rhetorical device to gain voters.
If do consider Trump’s past, where he admits to raping women and being able to get away with it because of his stardom, we can see that this doesn’t sound like something that would be approved by God. However, the phrasing of the ad makes it seem like God “approves” of his actions.
The most egregious example of the usage of religion and politics to fit into an agenda is the “God Bless the USA Bible.” This so-called bible is a King James bible that also includes the Pledge of Allegiance, song lyrics to “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood and other various patriotic inclusions.
To me, the worst part of the Trump bible is the text on the cover, which reads:
“Donald J. Trump 45th President of the United States of America The Day that God intervened July 13, 2024.”
This cover is a lot for me to unpack. First of all, the text is placed above the words “Holy Bible.” This, plus the inscription stated above, reads to me that Trump cares more about himself than God. Not to mention the usage of God ‘intervening’ with Trump’s assassination attempt.
In the Book of Matthew in the New Testament of the Bible, Jesus saw people selling various items in front of a temple, and Jesus, be -
ing the son of God, took offense to this and destroyed their tables, He said: “My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have turned it into a den of thieves.” (Matthew 21:12-17).
What we see in the modern era is merchants selling their own branded bibles for $60, including Trump’s version featuring his signature. Of course, Trump is using the psychological feeling of missing out with his advertisement of this bible, with them being “limited in supply.”
I remember my 9th-grade religion class at Catholic High School in Baton Rouge. The class taught me that if something were going to happen, it would’ve happened. God wouldn’t have intervened with anything because he gave us free will. If God could intervene in saving Trump from being assassinated, this starts up another line of questioning.
Why doesn’t God save children suffering from cancer? Why didn’t God intervene during the Columbine or Parkland school shootings? Why did God only intervene to protect former President Trump?
This makes me feel like Trump is being disingenuous in his belief in God. His bible has been approved by him, even with his signature. First and foremost, Trump is a successful businessman who knows how to sell a product, but the word of God should not be a product. The word of God should be revered and not used as a way to get funds from believers.
The reason why I have such a problem with this is that I am a believer in God. I believe that there is a deity who created all of the existing things in the world. I believe in one holy apostolic church, but I do not believe that there should be mixing between church and state.
The church should not influence the state, and the state should not influence the church. They are two separate entities that should co-exist for the betterment of humanity, and mixing them will only cause discord between all involved parties. Trump, in his egotistical campaign, uses God in an irreverent and, quite frankly, disrespectful manner and makes me think twice about his campaign strategies.
Andrew Sarhan is an 18-year-old mass communication freshman from Baton Rouge, LA.
Editorial Policies and Procedures Quote of the Week
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.
“Politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.” Charles de Gaulle Former President of France 1890 — 1970
ALEX BRANDON / Courtesy of AP Photo Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign event at Nassau Coliseum Sept.18 in Uniondale, N.Y.
ENTERTAINMENT
BREAKING NEWS NEW WAFFLE HOUSE
Baton Rouge is expecting its newest Waffle House this month near LSU’s campus. The ninth restaurant will be located at 885 Frogmore Drive, around the West Lee and Burbank intersection. The late night breakfast chain has more than 2,000 locations across the country and around 19 in the Baton Rouge area. The 24 hour restaurant is known for its hash browns, omelets and waffles, making it a perfect late night eatery near LSU’s campus and Tigerland, the popular college bar destination. No official opening date has been set yet.
Halfway through her reign: accomplishments and future plans
BY CAMILLE MILLIGAN
@camillemill333
Nikhia Sims has accomplished much since she was crowned Miss LSU in March 2024, but her eyes are set on the future and how she can make the most of her remaining time with the title.
Sims has six months left to do everything she had planned to accomplish with her title. When she thinks back to that exact moment on stage, Sims remembers being shocked, then ecstatic. All her preparation had finally paid off.
“I was completely satisfied with just placing, but being in the top two and hearing my name called was just so incredibly surreal,” Sims said. “I was over the moon.”
Sims quickly went to work, dedicating herself to her platform on mental health awareness by partnering with Project Wellness, a new club at LSU that promotes mental health. She also took part in an initiative called Pinning on Positivity, in which participants pin words of encouragement to other students who might need a little extra kindness.
“I knew right off the bat of winning that I needed to do something to try to make a difference in other people’s lives,” Sims said. “Even if it’s something small like pinning a compliment to someone, I knew it could make a big difference on campus.”
Sims will participate in a mental health charity ball in Baton Rouge next semester and further expand the scope of her platform in the LSU community. She also uses her social media platform to advocate for mental health. She feels strongly about spreading awareness on the subject, especially to college students who undergo lots of stress.
“In college we go through a lot. Just being able to spread some kindness and positivity on campus is a big deal for me because you never know what people are going through,” Sims said.
In addition to her work with Project Wellness, Sims has participated in many other events in conjunction with LSU. She was honored at LSU Day at the Capitol, and she rode in the homecoming parade. Sims also met Shaquille O’Neal after his homecoming DJ
REPORT BY OLIVIA TOMLINSON @oliviamersade
set, which has become one of her favorite moments as Miss LSU so far.
“It was so much fun,” Sims said. “That’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. I’ve gotten to do so many things, experience so many things, that I did not think I would get to do.”
While currently operating as Miss LSU, Sims is simultaneously preparing for her next pageant undertaking. Miss Louisiana 2025 takes place in the spring, and Sims has already begun training for various aspects of the competition.
She is working with a team to improve stage presence, public speaking and interview skills. She has also begun shopping for pageant attire and training for the swimwear portion of the competition. In her time as Miss LSU, she has felt lucky to have such a supportive team helping her work towards her goals.
“I was not expecting everyone to be so encouraging and uplifting and so helpful,” Sims said. “As Miss LSU, being surrounded by a bunch
Switch up your
coffee order
BY CAMILLE MILLIGIAN @camillemill333
Magpie Cafe
Adam’s Apple
As the weather, gets colder and the season changes, these Baton Rouge cafes are celebrating fall with specialty coffee menus. Celebrate the season by treating yourself to one of their many creative drinks.
This fruity latte blends apple butter, salted caramel sauce, espresso and a milk of your choice into a scrumptious seasonal drink that can be made hot or iced.
Black Flame Candle
A concoction composed of brown sugar cinnamon syrup, espresso and a milk of choice, will make you wish this drink’s autumn smell could be made into a candle.
Lazarus Potion
In this beverage, Magpie takes the best of both fall worlds by mixing its pumpkin spice syrup with its house-made chai and milk of your choice. Watch out, this potion is addictive.
Brew Ha Ha
Ghost Stories
The stories might be fake, but this latte is real. Merging flavors of shortbread and s’mores, topped with toasted marshmallows, this drink will haunt you long after you finish it.
Tiger Tea
This shaken beverage blends Thai tea, oat milk and espresso with a decadent chocolate drizzle for a combination as satisfying as a Tiger win. Show your stripes everywhere you go and pick up this special latte.
No Tricks Just Treats
With its rich espresso and chocolate peanut butter flavor, this latte is like trick or treating for adults. Treat yourself this Halloween to a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup-inspired coffee.
Lighthouse Coffee
Salted Caramel Pumpkin
Lighthouse Coffee offers a unique twist on a pumpkin spice latte with this smooth blend of salted caramel and pumpkin flavor with espresso and a milk of your choice.
Maple Hazelnut Matcha
It might look like the inside of a witch’s cauldron, but this drink will drive you nuts this season. The earthy mixture of hazelnut, matcha powder and maple flavor is a the perfect trendy fall concoction.
Rêve Coffee Lab
of incredible people who are so willing to help me is so amazing.”
Sims said the pageant has had a major impact on her time at LSU and a big part of that has been the friendships she formed through the competition itself.
“It’s such a great experience for the girls who are competing,” Sims said. “I’ve met so many friends through the pageant. It’s just a great experience overall to bring a bunch of girls together and uplift each other.”
Sims, a kinesiology major, said that balancing her role as Miss LSU with other academic and social obligations can get stressful at times. Despite this, she encourages the experience wholeheartedly. To the future winner of Miss LSU, she recommends trying to live every moment to its fullest.
“These last six months have gone by so fast,” Sims said. “It’s going to go by so fast, so just try to do everything you can, but also take a second to take it all in. Just being able to take advantage of these experiences is so incredible.”
Fall Chiller
This bubbly combination of soda water, cold brew and homemade orange brown sugar syrup is poured over blueberry puree and garnished with basil and lime. Its fruity notes perfectly reflect the bits of summer still lingering in the October air.
Chocolate Orange Marble Cold Brew
Expand your palette with this flavor-packed house-made cold brew mixed with chocolate sauce and topped with orange flavored coconut cold foam and shaved chocolate.
CIty Roots
Witch’s Brew
If you’re feeling bold, order the Witch’s Brew for a smooth vanilla cold brew topped with purple lavender sweet cream potion and festive Halloween sprinkles.
Pumpkin Brulee
Be sure to try City Root’s take on a hot pumpkin spice latte and enjoy the extra layer of bruleed sugar on top of this iconic autumn latte.
French Truck
Pumpkin Praline Chai
In this ode to Louisiana, French Truck combines sweet pecan and pumpkin flavor for a lightly caffeinated, yet perfectly balanced tea.
COURTESY OF MISS LSU
Nikhia Sims on stage after being crowned Miss LSU 2024, holding flowers and holding up the LSU “L.”