The Reveille 2-15-24

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CATCHING UP LSU catcher’s path back to the field

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ROAD TO RETURN

B-16 Hodges Hall Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, La. 70803

Inside Brady Neal’s comeback from injury

BY CONNOR BARNEY @theconnorbarney The birth of Brady Neal’s LSU career was promising. He began his freshman year starting behind the plate for the Tigers, but a back injury sidelined him for the remainder of the 2023 National Championship-winning season.

Neal reclassified to a 2023 freshman after graduating high school a year early. Upon joining the Tiger team, his talent was evident.

Earning the starting catcher spot for LSU, Neal had a .209 batting average and .411 on-base percentage, including a game tying solo home run against Tennessee to help lead the Tigers to a comeback win.

As one of the most reliable catchers on defense in college baseball, Neal’s impact was showcased by his consistency for the purple and gold. Coupled with his hitting ability, Neal emerged as a key piece of the puzzle for LSU. “He was a huge part of our team,” LSU head coach Jay Johnson said. “We were never not the No. 1 team in college baseball with him as the everyday catcher. [Neal’s injury] was a blow at the time.”

Neal’s character and work ethic proved to be important while he worked to return from injury. At the same time his teammates continued their season. Many athletes never return to their former glory following a severe season ending injury, but Neal was determined to return to his best.

“It goes way back for me. I have two older brothers, so I’ve always had somebody that’s hard on me,” Neal said. “When I hit a little adversity, I’m just confident in myself, and I’m gonna work

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Editor in Chief CLAIRE SULLIVAN Managing Editor LAUREN MADDEN Digital Editor OLIVIA TOMLINSON News Editor OLIVER BUTCHER Deputy News Editor CROSS HARRIS Sports Editor PETER RAUTERKUS Deputy Sports Editor MACKAY SUIRE Entertainment Editor MATILDA SIPP Opinion Editor COLIN FALCON Multimedia Editor MATTHEW PERSCHALL REAGAN COTTEN / The Reveille

LSU baseball freshman catcher Brady Neal (16) catches the ball on March 24 during LSU’s 3-9 loss against Arkansas in Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. really hard to come back and be healthy.”

When Neal suffered his injury, Johnson told him to stay close to star teammate Cade Beloso and learn how Beloso makes his impact on the team strictly with his slugging. From following Beloso closely, Neal realized how important mental strength is in baseball.

“Mental reps is an important point. How are those guys acting when there’s 30,000 fans on them, how do they bounce back from failure or success. Watching guys like Cade Beloso, just

FRANCIS DINH / The Reveille

LSU baseball freshman catcher Brady Neal (16) runs to the next base Feb. 18, 2023, during LSU’s 5-3 victory over Western Michigan at Alex Box Stadium on LSU’s campus.

how he carries himself everyday on his high and his low,” Neal said.

While putting the time in to return from his injury, Neal took notes from Beloso and tried to positively impact his team on the road to Omaha, Nebraska doing whatever necessary to show his support.

“I tried to show up every day and try and help the team be better, whether it’s feeding the machine to hit before the games or picking up balls in the cage, it’s the little things to help the team win,” Neal said.

The little things paid off for the Tigers as they won the national championship, and Neal was there every step of the way.

His actions behind the scenes helping his teammates improve everyday were evident in the team’s success during the postseason.

But the majority of Neal’s impact came from his leadership in the dugout. Even as an 18-yearold, Neal became a role model for his older teammates through his encouragement on the side.

“Brady’s an awesome locker room guy. He’s the first one there for you when you do good in the game, and if you’re having a tough day, he’s right there with you. The injury didn’t change him as a person,” second baseman Josh Pearson said.

While watching his teammates take the field, Neal was able to continue his support with the team in Omaha.

“The coaches didn’t even have to bring me to Omaha, but

they chose to put me on the travel roster and bring me there,” Neal said. “I had all the confidence in the world that our guys were gonna battle and do whatever it took [to win].”

And win they did. As celebrations began following the end of their season, Neal’s eyes were already focused on his return to the field.

“I missed a lot of baseball, so it’s getting back in there and listening to the coaches, getting feedback and getting to know the new pitching staff,” Neal said about his time in the off season.

Neal has been continuing to improve as he edges closer to his return from injury, spending his entire summer and fall working to return to his prior form from last season.

With both Alex Milazzo and Hayden Travinski returning for the Tigers, Neal could be fighting to earn back his starting spot behind the plate, but Johnson is confident he will be a key asset for LSU in 2024.

“I’m proud of him. I’m proud of his growth and development,” Johnson said. “He’s going to be a huge part of this team this year and next year.”

For Neal, the season opener can’t come soon enough. The Tigers play their first game back Friday.

“I’m getting healthy now and I can’t wait to play this season coming up. I can’t wait to get back on the field, it’s been a while since I played at The Box, so I’m just ready to get back out there,” Neal said.

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CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS The Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure its readers the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards. This space is reserved to recognize and correct any mistakes that may have been printed in The Daily Reveille.

If you would like something corrected or clarified, please contact the editor at (225) 578-4811 or email editor@lsu.edu.

ABOUT THE REVEILLE The Reveille is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication.

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NEWS Local ‘SEEN, HEARD, SAFE’ bakers’ new take on

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BATON ROUGE LIFE

New program aims to support student survivors of interpersonal violence

BY COURTNEY BELL @courtbell09

The LSU Office of Civil Rights & Title IX, Student Government and the Psychological Services Center are partnering to offer students who have experienced interpersonal violence a free and confidential support group, meeting weekly in Johnston Hall.

The Student Survivors of Interpersonal Violence Support Group will provide LSU undergraduate and graduate students a place to connect with other students with similar experiences. Two mental health professionals will be present to guide each meeting, providing students with a space to speak.

“The goal is to give student survivors a location on campus to openly talk about what they’ve experienced and to be able to share that with people who have experienced similar situations,” said Myrissa Eisworth, a senior pursuing dual degrees in anthropology and sociology who helped create the

king cake

BY GRACELYN FARRAR @gracelynfarrar

“As a survivor myself, it felt important to have that kind of space on campus, because it is

What dessert is purple, gold and green all over? Local bakeries know the answer well.

But for many years Baton Rouge resident and owner of Tredici Bakery Monica Shaughnessy didn’t see the kind of big king cake sales a Louisiana confectioner might expect over Mardi Gras.

“In the past few years,” Shaughnessy said, “I haven’t necessarily had as much coming through for Mardi Gras, just because I haven’t been doing the typical king cake.”

Instead, Shaughnessy overturned the idea of the traditional king cake with a more classic take: the galette des rois.

“I didn’t want to make just your regular old king cake,” Shaughnessy said.

see SURVIVORS, page 4

see KING CAKE, page 4

MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille

Johnston Hall sits Feb. 8 on Field House Drive on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge, La. initiative.

Eisworth is also the director of We’re Committed, an SG organization dedicated to ending sexual violence and creating a

safer campus environment. She reached out to members of the PSC and Title IX office when she saw the need for a support group at LSU.

ENVRIONMENT

LSU faculty and students patent eco-friendly tech for oil spills

BY SARAH WALTON @sarahrosewalton LSU’s chemical engineering faculty received a patent for a new oil spill management technology on Jan. 31.

Chemical engineering professor Bhuvnesh Bharti, his graduate student Jin Gyun Lee and many of Bharti’s other students had been working for years to reach this moment.

According to the LSU press release, the patent is for technology that “utilizes lignin nanoparticles to provide an eco-friendly method for oil spill cleanup.”

They used alcohol and an organic polymer from plants and wood to create a solution that would make the oil spill cleanup process much easier.

A press release from the university talks about the technology’s predecessors and how their designs had “poor biodegradability” and “raised concerns about their release into the environment and their corresponding impact on human health.”

In an interview, Bharti spoke about his journey with creating the new oil spill technology, a project he started more than six years ago.

“The whole idea was, if we MADALYN CUNNINGHAM / The Reveille

see OIL, page 4

Patrick F. Taylor Hall sits on Feb. 8 on South Quad Drive in Baton Rouge, La.

Thursday, February 15, 2024

page 4 SURVIVORS, from page 3 not really offered,” Eisworth said.

Interpersonal violence describes any violence between people in a relationship, including sexual harassment, assault, stalking and domestic violence.

Any student who has experienced interpersonal violence can apply to be a member of the new group.

“We wanted to make it a space where anyone who is interested in the group can sign up for it,” said Hope Dawan, PSC’s administrative coordinator.

To join the group, interested students can fill out an online form provided by the PSC. After the PSC reviews the form, they call to confirm and ask some questions about students’ goals.

The support group will be funded by the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators as part of a two-year partnership between the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators and a number of universities, including LSU. The first year of the partnership includes an in-depth analysis of the university’s methods

KING CAKE, from page 3 Tredici is one of few bakeries in Baton Rouge that sells the simpler galettes, but while many Louisianans know and love the sweet, almond paste-filled pastries, they also miss the more recognizable and colorful king cake.

This year, Shaughnessy introduced a king cake with her own unique spin: the pull-apart king cake.

Similar to monkey bread, this take on the classic Louisiana dessert comes with a cream cheese or buttercream filling in several different flavors including strawberry, bananas foster and cinnamon maple.

“They seem to be very popular so far,” Shaughnessy said while laughing, talking about a customer who had recently texted her while on a flight. “He had the king cake in its own seat and he buckled it in. Said he didn’t want anything to happen to it.”

Maggie Calandro, who used to work at her sister Shaughnessy’s bakery, said, “I love how Monica has gone back to some of the original Mardi Gras traditions such as the galette des rois, but also has put a twist on the mod-

OIL, from page 3 can do something better than the current existing technology that exists for oil spill clean up.

[There was] a specific focus on if it can provide more benign or eco-friendly alternatives to the current dispersants used for oil spill clean up.”

Bharti spoke on the studies that were done after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and how that affected Louisiana’s ecosystems and caused long-lasting

to address and prevent sexual violence. The second year focuses on creating and implementing programs and interventions across campus, like LSU’s new support group.

“There are people on this campus, in our office and across campus, who truly care about the quality of the relationships [students] are having,” said Asha Murphy, LSU’s deputy Title IX coordinator.

Meetings will begin with a short check-in period, where students can catch up and talk about their weeks. The rest of the time will be used as space for anyone to discuss their experiences and how they’re processing them. The first meetings will largely be guided by Dawan and Hannah Chapman, a clinical psychology graduate student at LSU. The group will meet from 5–6 p.m. every Tuesday in 33 Johnston Hall basement. Meetings will start Feb. 20.

“I might be an idealist, but what I really, really hope is that the students will feel seen, heard and safe, and that they can release any shame or guilt that they feel from having experienced what they experienced,” Murphy said.

ERIN BARKER / The Reveille

Johnston Hall sits on Field House Drive March 21, 2023, on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge, La.

ern king cake.”

Those in the Mardi Gras spirit can also find alongside the pullapart king cakes and galettes a collection of purple, green and gold macarons and decorated cakes. Even some creativelydesigned cookies find their way into the mix, in shapes like carnival masks, beads, crowns and jester hats, all in the season’s colors.

“Every cake astounds me,” said Rachel Calandro, who works next door to her sister’s bakery.

“I’ll walk up and ask what she’s making today, and you know, she’s got this masterpiece on the table.”

The Mardi Gras season is a big one for bakeries in Louisiana.

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is the last day of Carnival season and is also the day before the start of Lent. Many people who celebrate use Fat Tuesday as their last indulgence before Easter, leading to local bakeries receiving an influx of king cake orders.

At Tredici, the new pull-apart king cakes were the star of the show this season. Shaughnessy said 40 king cakes were ordered and picked up for parades and parties in Baton Rouge and, in

the case of the customer buckling in his cargo on an airplane, beyond.

“Parties bring people together to enjoy just about anything these days,” Calandro said. “I

think being even just a small part of those events is a special thing in itself.”

harm that is still experienced today. Oil wasn’t the only thing to harm the ecosystems and life; Bharti said the dispersant, the materials used to clean up the oil spill, would sometimes mix with the oil and cause greater damage. These studies encouraged Bharti and his students to find a new and better way to clean up.

Completing the project and receiving a patent is a big deal, but Bharti knows there is still a ways to go before his technol-

ogy gets put to use.

“Getting the patent is just the first step, and as any entrepreneur will tell you, it’s not trivial to take a patent and idea to the market,” Bharti said. “Unfortunately, the current scenario is that until we have a problem, we won’t respond to things, we won’t prepare for things. Until there is another oil spill, everything will be quiet.”

He said LSU is helping get eyes on the patent as time goes on.

“We hope we never have to use this technology… but in case we need it we need to be prepared,” he said.

Later, Bharti talked about how some of his students would tell him about living in the areas of Louisiana that were greatly affected by the Deepwater Horizon spill and had seen their ecosystems try and come back from the damage.

“This was one of the major motivations, for me personally, to work on this problem be-

cause I have the knowledge and toolset to address this problem,” he said.

Bharti also talked about how this project is of, “significance, not only to the broader scientific community, but as a citizen of the State of Louisiana. It’s important for us.”

Bharti and his team will continue working on sustainable and eco-friendly solutions to problems that the world is or will be facing, including more oil spill cleaning technologies.

KATE ROY / The Reveille

Tredici Bakery has king cake-themed desserts on Capital Heights Avenue.

ENTERTAINMENT

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Local artist showcase: ‘No Matter What Kind of Black You Are’

BY ARIS WILLIAMS @arisofmars Hammond native and photographer Courtland Galore unveiled his photo exhibit “No Matter What Kind of Black You Are” at the River Center Branch Library on Friday.

The exhibit captures the nuances of the Black experience, from the joy and curiosity of Black children to the pride and wisdom of Black elders. Behind each photo is a story, a unique journey that led each person in front of Galore’s camera.

Galore began his photography career through experimentation. As he matured and gravitated toward different mediums, he found himself establishing a professional career with ad campaigns with the likes of Levi’s, Coach and Brahmin under his belt.

“No Matter What Kind of Black You Are” has his same eclectic touch but with a deeper, more personal message.

“I want this exhibit to reiterate that I love Black people, and that Black is gold,” Galore said.

“My favorite part of the process was making memories with the people in the photoshoots. A lot of the people in these photos are my closest friends, people that I know personally and spend time with.”

These same friends came out in droves to support Galore, dressed in all black as he requested, speaking fondly of their time with him. The exhibit allowed his subjects to see how eloquently he captured them up close.

Simiya Bush, an LSU art sophomore, is a multi-talented creative who was featured in the exhibit and showcased some of her art at the opening.

“I really enjoyed being part of something so intimate,” Bush said. “The creative scene in Baton Rouge has been very welcoming and is continuing to grow.”

Bush said the inspiration behind her own creative pursuits is her daily life.

“I just take what goes on and incorporate that into my art,” she said.

The exhibit turnout revealed

that a growing community of like-minded creatives have managed to find each other.

As the space filled with people and they took in the scenery, one could feel a sense of community in the atmosphere.

To see the Black experience chronicled so intentionally, and how it brought people together, was nothing short of remarkable.

People of all ages and nationalities were able to partake in this opportunity to celebrate Galore and to celebrate Blackness. Through projects like this, joy and passion are showcased the same way that pain and the injustices are.

LSU psychology alumna Uzoamaka Njoku was also featured in the exhibit and wants viewers to see the bigger picture behind Galore’s work.

“The behind-the-scenes aspects are what really stood out to me,” Njoku said. “I hope that the people viewing this exhibit see how much effort went into this and know that we are really young. This is just the beginning.”

ARIS WILLIAMS / The Reveille

Patrons take in the pieces at the “No Matter What Kind of Black You Are” premiere.

ARIS WILLIAMS / The Reveille

An untitled portrait of two small children on display at the “No Matter What Kind of Black You Are” premiere. Feb. 9.

Black Student Union and Let’s Link support Black businesses

BY TOREY BOVIE @toreyb12 LSU’s Black Student Union and Let’s Link held a “Black Wall Street” pop-up shop Feb. 8 in front of the Student Union.

There were 30 Black business owners networking as they displayed their art, products and services. Jalyn Underwood, a psychology senior and president of Let’s Link, said these events are important because it boosts support for Black businesses.

Underwood said this is one of the main purposes of Let’s Link. The organization works to connect Black brands and entrepreneurs.

“Going to a Predominately white institution as a Black student, sometimes we don’t have the same opportunities that other students may have,” she said.

“If other people aren’t gonna give them to us, we could give it to ourselves.”

Geralcoe Toney and Tiyana Corbin, co-owners of Costar Club, said they heard about the pop-up shop on Instagram. The duo began their business in 2020 as a way to express their creativity through streetwear fashion.

Toney said he felt like the pop-up shop would be a great opportunity for the Black community in Baton Rouge to expand wealth and grow together.

Several business owners said that being a Black entrepreneur comes with a specific set of challenges.

Jordyn Robinson, an engi-

neering junior and Black Student Union president, said this has been a problem for too long.

“To know about Black Wall Street and the amount of wealth that was lost in the Tulsa Massacre, it’s important for us to keep fighting for reparations,” Robinson said.

The Tulsa Race Massacre, also known as the Black Wall Street Massacre, was a two-day long riot that took place in 1921.

White supremacists destroyed Black businesses and homes in the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Many Black people lived together in the Greenwood District, and the area was a place where Black businesses thrived.

It brought financial prosperity and cultivated an efficient society.

Robinson said her goal as Black Student Union president is to put a smile on any Black face at LSU. She said she hopes events like this can uplift and connect community members.

As groups of people danced to “Bunny Hop” by Da Entourage, Alyncia Riney and KyTiere Lazard geared up to head into the Student Union from the popup shop.

Riney, a psychology senior, said she heard about the popup shop through Instagram and thought it was important to participate. Lazard, a psychology sophomore, said it was also important because it highlighted small businesses in particular.

Lazard said she doesn’t often see Black businesses highlight-

FRANCIS DINH / The Reveille

Visitors stop by Ken’s Sweet Kreat table Feb. 8 during the BSU and Let’s Link Pop Up Shop in Free Speech Alley. ed around Baton Rouge in the way this pop-up did.

“Oftentimes, it’s not really centered for us. So seeing stuff like this, I feel more centered,” she said.

Nycya Gordon, owner of WIGS4BARBZ, said she got into the business of selling hair because she was tired of being scammed by other companies. She said she sells quality products and being at the Black Wall Street pop-up shop was an opportunity to showcase her brand.

Jaylnn Stroman, a freshman

at LSU and owner of Jeweled-byJalynn, said making jewelry was always a big hobby of hers.

“This has been an opportunity to amplify our creativeness, our passions, our hobbies and I just think it’s beautiful,” Stroman said.

Underwood said Let’s Link hopes to collaborate on more events and projects with the Black Student Union. There aren’t any other collaborations planned for the semester, but Let’s Link does plan to have its annual pop-up shop around the same time next year. Robinson

said the Black Student Union will also be presenting more pop-up shops.

“Next year we’re going to try to make it even bigger. We’re going to promote it well and make sure we get even more than 30 businesses out here,” Robinson said.

This was the last event the Black Student Union had scheduled for its Black History Week celebration. However, both of these organizations will continue to bridge gaps in the Black community and have more events to come.

Thursday, February 15, 2024

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Thursday, February 15, 2024

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A Southern Lotus Lion Dance Association lion performs a routine Feb. 11 during the Lunar New Year Festival at St. Anthony Catholic Church on Choctaw Drive in Baton Rouge La.

A marching band walks by Feb. 10 during Iris on Napoleon Avenue in New Orleans, La.

The god of prosperity poses for a photo with the crowd Feb. 11 during the Lunar New Year Festival at St. Anthony Catholic Church on Choctaw Drive in Baton Rouge La. A young boy waves his arms hoping to catch something from the float Feb. 10 during Iris on Napoleon Avenue in New Orleans, La.

A woman and man dance in the street Feb. 10 before Endymion on Orleans Avenue in New Orleans, La.

A New Year Mambo

A Southern Lotus Lion Dance Association lion receives lucky money Feb. 11 during the Lunar New Year Festival at St. Anthony Catholic Church on Choctaw Drive in Baton Rouge La.

Photos by Mathew Perschall & Francis Dinh

A group of women show off their Iris Apfel costumes Feb. 10 during Iris on Napoleon Avenue in New Orleans, La.

Vietnamese actor and singer Dan Nguyen performs Feb. 11 during the Lunar New Year Festival at St. Anthony Catholic Church on Choctaw Drive in Baton Rouge La.

Over the break two important celebrations took place: Mardi Gras and Lunar New Year

A float passes by Feb. 10 during Iris on Napoleon Ave. in New Orleans, La. A man and young girl wave at an oncoming float Feb. 10 during Iris on Napoleon Ave. nuein New Orleans, La.

A St. Anthony parishioner reacts a scene from Vietnam’s feudal past Feb. 11 during the Lunar New Year Festival at St. Anthony Catholic Church on Choctaw Drive in Baton Rouge La.

St. Anthony parishioners sell food Feb. 11 during the Lunar New Year Festival at St. Anthony Catholic Church on Choctaw Drive in Baton Rouge La.

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THE Daily Commuter Puzzle by Stella Zawistowski ACROSS 1 Up to now 6 Data visualization type 11 “__ it just me or...”

14 To-do list item 15 Jean of fashion 16 Industrious insect 17 Time-related error in a work of fiction 19 Through 20 Family nickname 21 Lip gloss brand in a round container 22 Noted Greek astronomer 24 Mary __ Cosmetics 25 Groups of lions 26 Borscht root 28 Group of fish 31 “Grizzly” animal 32 Actor Reeves 33 Little bit of lotion 36 Big name in early education 40 Seven-day periods: Abbr.

41 Analyze grammatically 42 Had debts 43 Put into piles, perhaps 44 “Madame X” star Turner 45 Defiance of orthodoxy 48 Chardonnay tasting note 49 Easy to shatter 51 Bearded antelope 52 Capture, slangily 55 Bottle part 56 Edith Piaf’s signature song 59 Draw on 60 January, in Juárez 61 Necklace component 62 John Fetterman’s title: Abbr.

63 Type of flash memory 64 Steed DOWN 1 Phishing, for example 2 “Eek!” 3 Makeup of some mattresses

Created by Stella Zawistowski

4 Fly ball’s path 5 Microwave, say 6 Federal mail ctrs.

7 Organized 8 “Take __ from me!”

9 Put off until later 10 Funny 11 Moved in the wind 12 Studio Ghibli genre 13 Remains 18 Rob __ (Scotch cocktail) 23 Wee, informally 24 “The Americans” star Russell 26 Bird’s proboscis 27 Prominent features of an elephant 28 Hybrid garment 29 Ritually perfume 30 Couldn’t stand 31 German auto brand 33 Direction of this answer 34 Field of study 35 Participate in an auction

2/16/24

Thursday’s Puzzle Solved

©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

37 Followers of Jesus 38 Baltimore’s state 39 Immerse in water 43 Ready 44 NASA event 45 Howard and Spelman, e.g.

46 Delete 47 Grow ready to eat

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48 “__ of these days...”

50 At some point 51 Math subject with shapes: Abbr.

52 Wild pig 53 Tag sale warning 54 Trait carrier 57 Roth ___ 58 Density symbol

SPORTS TIME TO GEAUX

Predicting LSU baseball’s most important games in the 2024 season

BY CONNOR BARNEY @theconnorbarney Unanimously ranked as a top five team in the country, all eyes are on LSU baseball as the Tigers begin their 2024 season this week.

Led by head coach Jay Johnson, the Tigers have all the tools they need to become the best team in college baseball in backto-back years.

All-American third baseman Tommy White and star pitcher Thatcher Hurd lead the returning talent for the Tigers, as well as senior catching duo Hayden Travinski and Alex Milazzo.

Pitcher Gage Jump and shortstop Michael Braswell III headline the transfer class of reinforcements for Johnson, alongside star incoming freshmen Cam Johnson and Jake Brown.

As they look to defend their 2023 National Championship, others look for revenge. The Tigers will need to run the gauntlet this year to make it back to the College World Series, and these teams may be the most likely to stop them.

Texas The Longhorns are the first

ranked opponent on LSU’s schedule, and although they only play once, the Tigers play them early in the season, which could prove to be trouble. Texas, on the other hand, brings back the majority of their experienced talent from the MLB draft for another year in Austin.

The Longhorns did lose two of their best offensive performers in Dylan Campbell and Eric Kennedy, but their two best pitchers are returning to Texas.

As LSU’s first formidable opponent since last year’s College World Series, Texas may be in for more than it bargained for as the purple and gold will likely try to ramp up their season with a statement top 10 win in Houston.

Prediction: LSU 9-6 Texas Florida As one of the most prominent programs in recent years, the Gators are on the hunt this season.

Famously losing to LSU by 14 runs in the final game of the College World Series, Florida will be more than motivated to make a statement against the Tigers.

Jac Caglianone, arguably the best player in college baseball, is returning to Gainesville for 2024, leading another star-studded cast

page 9 BASEBALL

The history of LSU baseball’s No. 8

BY CONNOR BARNEY @theconnorbarney

place in Baton Rouge as well, and with over 13,000 fans in Alex Box, the atmosphere could be the difference in what will be a title for revenge.

Prediction: LSU wins series 2-1 Arkansas The next weekend after play-

Senior catcher Hayden Travinski is the new recipient of LSU’s famous No. 8 jersey for the 2023 season. Carrying rich history, the purple and gold No. 8 jersey symbolizes respect, trust and leadership for the Tigers.

Every year, the jersey is given to an upperclassman on the team who exhibits strong leadership qualities and represents the mindset of the program. This year, that player is Travinski.

Returning for his last season of eligibility for the Tigers, Travinski is more than honored to be given the opportunity to lead the team in their conquest for back-to-back championships.

“It means a whole lot to me, just knowing the tradition behind it,” Travinski said. “In relation to the program it’s very special. I’m honored to wear it, I’m very honored coach [Jay Johnson] even considered me for it.”

see PREDICTION, page 10

see NO. 8, page 10

ERIN BARKER / The Reveille

The LSU baseball team stands together on April 25 after LSU’s 6-5 loss to Nicholls at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. assembled by head coach Kevin O’Sullivan. The Tigers will have two things in their favor when they take on the Gators, though.

Florida lost a significant amount of talent in the MLB Draft, including their top two pitchers, who will be hard to replace on defense. The Southeastern Conference series will take

MEN’S BASKETBALL

LSU men’s basketball drops 82-80 bout to Florida at buzzer

BY JASON WILLIS @JasonWillis4 The story of LSU’s season has been close, but not quite.

Between five different games where the Tigers have closed a 20-point deficit to single digits, none have been quite as heartbreaking as Tuesday’s loss to Florida.

The Tigers faced a deficit of 20 in the second half, but they tied the game at 78-78 before ultimately falling 82-80.

On LSU’s final possession, Jordan Wright received a wide open pass from floater range but rushed the shot, resulting in a short-armed miss that he attempted to grab and put in. That shot, too, was no good, and LSU once again was maddeningly close—but not close enough.

LSU also had a chance to take the lead down one with 25 seconds left, but Jalen Cook lost his handle, and it was taken the distance to extend the lead to three.

Despite a Wright layup and a fortuitous Florida miss from the free throw line, the Tigers couldn’t seal the deal, leading to their sixth loss in their last seven games. LSU is now 4-7 in Southeastern Conference play.

As close as many of those games have been, LSU’s postseason odds continue to diminish as the team

has struggled to get over the hump against quality teams. The Tigers have undoubtedly improved from last season, but there’s still a long way to go to compete with the top of an ever-improving SEC. Inch by inch, LSU is getting closer—closer than ever against Florida—but it hasn’t resulted in wins just yet.

Defensive turnaround fuels comeback In the first half, LSU struggled to make anything difficult for Florida. The Gators boast a guard rotation with four players averaging 11 points or more, and the execution was flawless for them early.

The guards scored it themselves or got the bigs involved with passes for easy opportunities at the rim.

Anything and everything worked.

The spacing and ball movement was on point for Florida, and LSU didn’t disrupt that with any sort of physicality.

Compounding that issue was LSU’s difficulty to make things easier for its defense by making shots.

When LSU missed shots or turned the ball over, Florida ran to exploit a backpedaling defense. Overall, the Gators flat out ran harder and beat LSU down the court. That created frequent advantages for Florida.

In the second half, that changed.

The Tigers employed a 1-3-1 zone

MADALYN CUNNINGHAM/ The Reveille

LSU men’s basketball senior forward Mwani Wilkinson (5) shakes hands with graduate student guard Jordan Wright (6) on Feb. 3 during LSU’s 9474 win against Arkansas in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La. defense to force Florida to settle for tough shots, which was the main reason for the comeback. As LSU strung together stops, it gave the offense momentum to close the gap.

In the first half, Florida made its field goals at a 66.7% clip, which fell to 34.2% in the second half.

LSU was also remarkably disciplined on defense, something that hasn’t often been true. Florida only went to the free throw line nine times in the second half, including twice because of the intentional foul at the end.

Will Baker leads the way, but

LSU goes with other options late Center Will Baker tied for the team lead with 16 points, but, for the second straight game, he almost entirely disappeared in the second half, with only three points and two shot attempts.

Baker played five minutes in the second frame, despite having just one personal foul. Instead, the Tigers went with other options.

LSU opted to go with bigs Hunter Dean and Derek Fountain for most of the second half. Their defense has typically been reliably superior to Baker’s, and it’s hard to

argue with the result. Both players have the size and mobility to be impactful as help defenders, as well as on the perimeter.

Offensively in the second half, LSU rode Wright and Cook, who had 16 and 12 points, respectively, despite quiet first frames. The perimeter approach on offense seemed necessary after a first half where LSU struggled to score inside against Florida’s length.

Even though Baker has scored in double digits in five straight games now, he still needs to make strides to become an impactful player for 40 minutes, especially on the defensive end.

What’s next?

LSU will next travel to South Carolina on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

The Gamecocks are currently ranked No. 11 in the AP Poll and have had a meteoric rise after being the third-worst team in the SEC last year.

South Carolina now boasts a 21-3 record having gone 9-2 in the SEC with wins over Kentucky and Tennessee. The team has the top defense in the SEC in terms of points allowed, No. 15 in the nation.

The game will be another difficult one for the Tigers, but the Gamecocks’ offense does lag behind its defense, which could open an opportunity for LSU.

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PREDICTION, from page 9 ing Florida, the Tigers will have to travel to Fayetteville to take on the No. 2 ranked Razorbacks.

Projected to finish above LSU in the SEC West, Arkansas will be LSU’s most difficult matchup of the regular season.

The Razorbacks are one of a handful of teams to have arguably a better pitching staff than LSU, bringing back their top four pitchers from last year. The loss in talent on offense is heavily reinforced by their talent on defense, and with big hitters Cade Beloso and Dylan Crews no lon-

NO. 8, from page 9 The importance of the No. 8 shirt comes from a long line of LSU leaders in the past decade. The tradition started with outfielder Mikie Mahtook in 2009.

Mahtook wore the No. 8 shirt from 2009 until he was picked in the first round of the MLB Draft in 2011. Decorated as one of the greatest baseball players in LSU’s history, Mahtook led the Tigers to the 2009 National Championship and cemented himself as the founding father of the No. 8 jersey.

First baseman and outfielder Mason Katz was handed the reins of the No. 8 jersey following Mahtook’s departure, wearing the shirt for two years from 2012 to 2013.

Thursday, February 15, 2024 ger in Baton Rouge, their bullpen could prove to be difficult for the Tigers.

With the matchup set in Arkansas, the purple and gold will have their true test in this series.

Prediction: Arkansas wins series 2-1 Texas A&M After a disappointing 2023 season, the Aggies revamped their lineup with a set of new faces.

Outfielder Braden Montgomery transferred from Stanford among other new arrivals in College Station, and freshman All-American Jace LaViolette returns as a promising asset for the Aggies.

Ranked No. 8 by DI Baseball, Texas A&M holds the potential to be a dangerous team in the SEC West with all of its new pieces coming together. Its upside is exciting, but with the departure of pitching coach Nate Yeskie to the Tigers, the matchup seems in favor of LSU regardless of the hype surrounding the Aggies.

Prediction: LSU wins series 3-0 Auburn As a non ranked team coming into the season, the Auburn Tigers could be a dark horse in the SEC. With the majority of the cast returning for the 2024 season,

experience is Auburn’s strength as they’ll try and push their way into the rankings. Pitcher Joseph Gonzalez, who was extraordinary in 2022, is returning from injury, which will add to their value.

LSU’s matchup with their Tiger rivals is far from written off.

Coming toward the back end of the season, LSU struggled with injuries in the bullpen last year, leading to a series upset against Auburn. Although this year the series takes place in Baton Rouge, the LSU versus Auburn matchup could be on upset watch.

Prediction: Auburn wins se-

ries 2-1 Overall, a successful season is in store for the purple and gold. Although the SEC has eight teams ranked in the top 25, and five teams ranked in the top 10, LSU should enter the postseason as one of the best teams in college baseball.

Bolstered by the transfer portal, the Tigers have one of the deepest pitching staffs in the country and are on the hunt for another championship. The season starts Friday, February 16th in Alex Box against VMI. LSU season record prediction: 44-12

The New Orleans native became an All-American in his final season in 2013, as well as one of LSU’s best hitters with a .341 career batting average.

In 2014, the jersey was passed down to fan favorite shortstop Alex Bregman, who wore the shirt for two years. Drafted second overall in 2015, Bregman was arguably the greatest college baseball player of all time.

As a three-year starter, Bregman accumulated one of the most impressive trophy cabinets in college history, winning 2013 National Freshman of the Year, 2013 National Shortstop of the Year, two-time First Team All-American and being named a 2015 Golden Spikes Finalist.

In 2016, outfielder Jake Fraley followed Bregman as the next recipient of the No. 8 jersey, wearing it for his final year in Baton Rouge.

Winner of the 2016 Skip Bertman award, which goes to the player who embodies the spirit of the team, Fraley made his mark at LSU before being drafted in the second round in 2016.

Following Farley, Louisiana native Cole Freeman was given the No. 8 jersey in 2017. The second baseman was a NJCAA All-American before transferring to LSU and making his mark as a leader for two years with the purple and gold.

Outfielder Antoine Duplantis wore the No. 8 jersey for two years following Freeman. The Lafayette native became LSU’s all time hits

leader during his four years with the Tigers, including winning the 2019 Skip Bertman Award.

In 2020, outfielder Daniel Cabrera received the jersey for what became the shortened COVID-19 season. Cabrera was named a 2018 Freshman All-American and was drafted in the second round in 2020 following his impressive career with the Tigers.

Pitcher Matthew Beck was given the No. 8 jersey following Cabrera, becoming the first and only pitcher to be given the honor since the tradition started. Beck earned a handful of community service awards while in Baton Rouge, providing am off-field example on what it means to wear the No. 8 jersey.

Suffering a season ending injury in his final year in 2021, Beck handed off the jersey to second baseman Gavin Dugas for the 2022 season.

Dugas quickly became a fan favorite for the purple and gold, serving the Tigers for five years.

Wearing the No. 8 jersey for two seasons, Dugas capped his collegiate career by leading LSU to the 2023 National Championship.

An intricate member of the 2023 champions, Travinski has a big jersey to fill with the departure of Dugas. For the 2024 season, Travinski will lead the Tigers with the help of his co-captain and fellow catcher Alex Milazzo, but the pressure is on for LSU as they chase another national championship.

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OPINION

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Retributive justice is outdated, accomplishes nothing for society PELLITTIERI’S PERSPECTIVE MATTHEW PELLITTIERI @m_pellittieri Content warning: The following opinion contains graphic descriptions of several methods of execution.

“Governor, if Kitty Dukakis were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty for the killer?”

That famous question was the very first asked of 1988 Democratic presidential nominee and then Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis at a debate with thenVice President and Republican nominee George H. W. Bush.

Dukakis responded bluntly with “No, I don’t.” He wouldn’t favor giving the death penalty to his wife’s hypothetical rapist and killer. He went on to talk about the lack of evidence supporting capital punishment’s effectiveness as a deterrent and his record of reducing crime.

But the audience wasn’t having any of it. The conservative electorate of the 1980s wanted a “law and order” president—someone like Bush, who’d follow in Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan’s footsteps.

In their eyes, Dukakis was weak and “soft on crime,” just another emotional “bleeding heart liberal.” And they punished him for it, delivering Bush a landslide victory that November.

CARLOS ANTONIO RIOS / Houston Chronicle via AP, file

This undated file photo shows the gurney in the death chamber in Huntsville, Texas.

The primary problem with Bush’s “tough on crime” approach was that it failed to address the underlying socioeconomic conditions that produce crime. Rather than treat criminals as complex human beings who were molded by their circumstances, the GOP framed criminals as morally misshapen monsters. They were solely to blame for where their lives had gone. They bore full responsibility for whatever they’d done.

Under this limited worldview, it makes sense that the death penalty could be applied to criminals.

They did the crime, so killing them is seen as fixing the problem.

Now, over 35 years after Dukakis was humiliated for speaking the truth, there are ostensibly leftleaning people adopting the same supportive attitude about retribution that once characterized Reagan-era conservatism.

What happened to systemic and structural change? To curing the disease, not treating the symptoms?

The expert consensus has long been that the death penalty doesn’t deter criminal activity, according to Amnesty International.

In fact, states and countries with the death penalty tend to have higher murder rates.

“So what?” you might ask. If

the death penalty doesn’t eliminate the root causes, couldn’t it still provide something to a survivor or the family of a victim?

Well, is that brief moment of happiness worth strapping a prisoner to a table as an inexperienced lacky jabs them over and over in the arm in a desperate attempt to find a vein?

Is that brief moment of happiness worth tearing off the head of a prisoner because the rope was too long or subjecting them to a seeming eternity of suffocation because it was too short?

Is that brief moment of happiness worth jolting a prisoner with 2000 volts of electricity for

30 seconds—to the extent that the state’s death squad has to wait a few seconds for the body to cool down before they can check to see if another dosage of death is necessary?

Is it worth their bones breaking and their shin cracking? Is it worth their eyes popping out of their sockets and their head catching fire? Is it worth forcing an already humiliated person to go out with one last uncontrollable death defecation? Does the smell of burning flesh or the popping sounds or a cooked brain make you second guess the pleasure of your revenge?

What about the simple end of their consciousness? They’re utterly destroyed—for your sake.

Who are you to put your happiness above that of the perpetrator? Who are your loved ones to put their satisfaction above that of the prisoner’s?

Are you worth more than them simply because circumstances have led them down a violent path? Are you implying that they’re somehow less than you? That you rank above them in some sort of social hierarchy? That they possess personal responsibility for their actions? That they’re some kind of vermin that needs to be exterminated for the good of the “right” kind of people?

If so, you certainly aren’t a leftist.

Matthew Pellittieri is a 19-yearold history and political science sophomore from Ponchatoula.

Taylor Swift’s underwhelming album didn’t deserve its win GARRETT’S GAVEL GARRETT MCENTEE

@9are_bear The Grammys. Some call it a popularity contest. Others call it the most important moment of their lives. And some people, AKA Taylor Swift, call it a guaranteed win.

Swift has dominated the music industry for just under two decades, releasing banger after banger after banger. With no end in sight, her career is definitely on a high right now.

At this year’s Grammy Awards, Swift was nominated for album of the year for her work on

“Midnights.”

“Midnights” is an objectively fine album. It’s in the running for one of, if not her weakest.

Consisting of tracks that were rejected or inspired by her previous albums, it was a perfect segue to her “Eras,” well, era.

“Midnights” just lacks the same lyricism, consistency and general quality that most of her fans have come to know and love.

Swift’s album was up against several other amazing artists’ work. Two other nominees were the Queen of Coquette, cigarettes and Waffle House, Lana Del Rey, and the progenitor of SZAnesse, SZA. However, there was another soul who wasn’t broken, who deserved to be nominated

but was snuffed. Beyoncé, the Queen Bee, mother of the Beyhive.

So that was the scene on Grammys night: Swift’s “Midnights” against SZA’s “SOS” and Del Rey’s “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.” Undeniably, it should’ve also been against Beyoncé’s “Renaissance.”

“Midnights” is on a similar level as “SOS;” however, I’d argue that SZA’s album is more cohesive, with many of the songs having a voicemail-esque finish to them that ties everything together nicely. Notice the cohesion, something “Midnights” lacks.

“Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd,” on

the other hand, is just absolutely more cinematic and poetic than Swift’s contribution. And it plays with interesting musical ideas like trap-esque beats so much better than “Midnights.”

Sadly though, all of this is irrelevant, because “Renaissance” is just… a masterpiece. Beyoncé introduced the masses to house music. To music that pays homage to ballroom culture, featuring ballroom icons. Chef’s kiss.

In short, “SOS” and “Midnights” had a fair fight. But Beyoncé and Del Rey’s albums both curb stomp “Midnights” then take it out back and shoot it, then set it on fire.

And yet “Midnights” took home the Grammy for album of the year.

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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.

Why? Who knows!

Some would say it’s because of Swift’s popularity across multiple demographics. But then is the statement that the Grammys are a popularity contest and not a talent and skill contest true?

Probably.

Is it a potential testament to the idea that even in 2024, white people can do the minimum and get praised while artists of color have to fight for equal attention?

Probably.

But even ignoring all that, the simple fact of the matter is this: Swift didn’t deserve the win for “Midnights.”

Garrett McEntee is an 18-yearold English freshman from Benton.

Quote of the Week “Nobody wants to watch perfection.”

Nicholas Cage American actor 1964 — present

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