LEGACY Magazine - Fall 2013 | Issue 1

LEGACY LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY

Ain’t no Hollaback

Girl Catcalls are not compliments, even during tailgating season. pg. 42

Gluten-free + Is worth the

hype?

PURPLE, GOLD

AND NAVY Passion pushes the NROTC.

WHEN fashion isn’t His or Hers tradition

trumps change:

Greek community talks relationships.

FALL 2013 | ISSUE 1

TAB LE OF CONTENTS

17

24

04

08

38

20

MUSIC + CULTURE 04 Paul Dean: DJ Misc 06 On the Record with The Widowers 08 Fashion: Going Both Ways

Hunger Games Ballin’

HEALTH + LIVING 38 Pinned to Tradition 40 Polished Perfection

OPINION

L E G ACY

Getting Around Gluten

For students with celiac disease, gluten-free isn’t a fad.

20 Our Dark Horse

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24 On Board

Students’ dedication to the Navy goes beyond the call of duty.

28 Books, Bouquets and Bridal Gowns

Students include marriage in the college experience.

32 Not Immune

42 Ain’t No Hollaback Girl

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17

Horses, teamwork and skill distinguish the LSU Equestrian Club.

FOOD 12 14

FEATURES

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Volunteers and victims cut through the apathy surrounding AIDS and HIV.

ENJOY THE LEGACY EXPERIENCE ONLINE lsulegacymag.com LSULEGACY LSULEGACYMAG Like us on Facebook

MISSION STATEMENT: LEGACY is a quarterly student-produced magazine that explores the diverse community of Louisiana State University through in-depth features, profiles and photography. LEGACY focuses on student entertainment, leisure and academics, and it strives to be informative provocative and dynamic.

LETTER FROM THE

EDITOR

C

onfession: The first story I wrote for LEGACY was a flop. Embarrassed, I returned to the story with a renewed dedication. I triple checked every source, vanquished all passive voice and, most importantly, asked for advice and guidance. Seeing my name in print for the first time was exciting, but the challenge of rewriting the story made my accomplishment feel even greater.

Although they seem daunting, challenges put our desires into perspective and push us to be the best we can be.

This issue of LEGACY captures the unique challenges individuals face every day. For some, it’s the decision to defy social norms and make marriage a part of the college experience (pg. 28). Some challenges don’t have concrete finish lines but are defined by little victories.

Volunteers and victims of AIDS and HIV continue to cut through the apathy surrounding the disease (pg. 32), and one LEGACY writer discusses the importance of each individual’s voice in combating street harassment (pg. 42).

As you read through this issue and our online content at our website, lsulegacymag.com, we hope you embrace your own challenges.

After all, a challenge is what gives accomplishment meaning.

STAFF EDITOR IN CHIEF Katie Macdonald MANAGING EDITOR Sydney Blanchard PHOTO EDITOR Jesse Guillory ART DIRECTOR Christina Li MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR De’Andra Roberts DESIGNERS Claire Cassreino Kelly Kral Roland Parker Ellie Platt WRITERS Victor Cano Lauren Duhon Austen Krantz Raina LaCaze Gabrielle Schick Shakeyra Taylor PHOTOGRAPHERS Jordan Hefler Sarah Kershaw Rebecca Ratliff Lainey Reed SALES MANAGER Fatima Mehr TECHNOLOGY ADVISER Alex Cook ADVISER Tim Schreiner

Katie Macdonald EDITOR IN CHIEF

PUBLISHER Office of Student Media

lsulegacymag.com

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PAUL DEAN:

DJ MISC.

STORY SHAKEYRA TAYLOR

PHOTOS SARAH KERSHAW

Graphic design associate professor Paul Dean lives for music — but outside of the classroom.

“I call myself [DJ] Misc. because I like the variety of things,” Dean said.

The North Carolina native learned to mix music 18 years ago and has been doing so at numerous clubs and parties ever since. Dean attributes the universal effects music has on people to why he’s been mixing for so long.

“It’s not just certain people who can walk through an art gallery seeing pictures. Everyone everywhere can enjoy [music],” he said.

With longevity comes change as more DJs converted from records to electronic spinning. Dean slowed down as a DJ as a result of the technological switch and completely stopped after being robbed of his turntables about 10 years ago. He turned to another love of his to keep him busy. He began studying the artwork that covered his music instead.

“I was collecting records from the time I was a teenager, and I still collect records,” he said. “I probably became a graphic designer from enjoying record album covers.”

Homemade-looking album covers from bands like The Sex Pistols intrigued Dean. He said he knew the album covers looked simple but were much more to a trained eye.

Dean said he loved the idea of album cover art so much he agreed to design the debut album cover, “Darker Days,”

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DESIGN KELLY KRAL

Paul Dean, shown in his studio, designed the album art for “Darker Days” by The Connells.

for long-time friends The Connells, a North Carolina rock and pop band.

Dean noticed historians neglected the history of album cover art when he began teaching the history of graphic design at LSU after his run with The Connells. He decided to weave a few details about album cover art history into his lectures and says he hopes to one day have a class devoted strictly to the subject.

Dean incorporates the history behind album cover art specifically in his color design class. He has students tell the class their most memorable experience with color on the first day of the class because he believes “color is really significant and it affects our emotions, thoughts and impressions.”

Dean remembers his first experience with color as walking home from elementary school and seeing red flames from the Earth’s crust breaking open. It turned out to be a shattered glass ball reflecting in the sunlight.

Dean said he carries his classes and life like an album cover, full of expression, right down to the Hawaiian shirts he wears every day.

“I could never wear a suit and tie,” he said. “I’m from the generation that eliminated the tie.”

He recently started mixing again for friends and plans to frequent a few bars downtown.

TOP 5 SONGS

96 Tears – ? and the Mysterians (1966) 1969 – The Stooges (1969) Do It Again – Steely Dan (1972) Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get – The Dramatics (1971) Out of the Blue – Roxy Music (1974) Tomorrow Never Knows – The Beatles (1966)

NEW HALO BANGLES 24K Gold Overlay with Purple Beads

Dean’s dog, Yoko, curled up in a blanket made from Dean’s collection of Hawaiian print shirts.

TOP 5 ALBUMS The Beatles – Revolver Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti Roxy Music – Country Life Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols The Clash – London Calling

Dean filled his home with the sounds of vinyl throughout the shoot.

!"#$%$&'(#)*

MUSIC + C ULT URE

STORY SYDNEY BLANCHARD PHOTOS REBECCA RATLIFF DESIGN ELLIE PLATT

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LEGACY had the opportunity to catch up with The Widowers after their Aug. 23 show at Chelsea’s Cafe. High on post-show adrenaline, we spoke with Matt Sigur who started the band in 2007, as well as Widowers drummer Zach Bourque. What began as Sigur’s “caffeinated” foray into writing and recording eventually became known as the Widowers, with Sigur on vocals and guitar, Bourque on drums, Lee Barbier on guitar and Jonathan Loubiere on bass. Here’s what they had to say!

SO HOW AND WHEN DID YOU GUYS FORM THE WIDOWERS? WHERE, ALSO? MATT: So it started out as a recording project. And I would just, you know get really caffeinated. I didn’t even tune my guitar. I would just record constantly, because I had a Macbook and it had a mic input…Then I met this guy, Will Burdette, who’s in The Tomatoes, and I gave him a CD just because, it’s like, I wanted to start something. And that was around 2007, 2008. Will and I would just hang out all the time, evenings, and he was just like, “Dude, you gotta get a tuner.” So I got a tuner and it changed my life. I started recording and I met Zach through a friend and Zach heard and song and was like…

ZACH: I dug it a lot. I said I’d check it out, play some gigs.

MATT: We played our first show at Loubie’s [Loubiere’s] place. It was a house show. Loubie and Lee were always to me like the people to know in the Baton Rouge music scene...I’d always get intimidated. But then I met Loubie and I was all formal with him about the house show and he was like, “Dude you don’t have to be formal, it’s really no big deal.” He eased a lot of the nerves. And when it came time to get a new bass player he was like, “Dude, I’ll do it.” He said he liked the songs...And Lee, I’m in so many bands with Lee...and I was like, “Lee do you want to come on?” and he was like, “Fuck it, we’ll do it.” He’s a pro.

Loubie’s a pro. Zach’s been playing drums for like...what?

Matt Sigur, Zach Bourque, Lee Barbier and Jonathan Loubiere from The Widowers share their unique ’90s alternative music with the Baton Rouge area.

ZACH: Oh, 11 or 12 years.

like, “Play a cover! Play a cover!”

MATT: But live we’ve been playing for how long? Three years?

SO, YOU’RE NOT A COVER BAND? MATT: No, no. We did play happy birthday tonight, though, we normally don’t. I need to learn covers. When Adam Young died, we did “Sabotage” in honor of him because we were all big Beastie Boys fans. But normally we just like original music.

ZACH: Has it been that long?

MATT: It’s been three years. We’ve had some fun. We’ve definitely had our times.

ANY ALBUMS, EPs THUS FAR? MATT: So um...I put out Friendly in 2010, May, right after I graduated, and I’ve steadily just released EP after EP and singles. They’re all on Bandcamp.

MATT: I write and record a lot of it...

We’re all multi-instrumental...writing is kind of like, it’ll just pop in, and I’ve got to catch it. And even if I have to stop what I’m doing and put a shitty beat on it, and you know, build on it.

SO DO YOU GUYS PLAY MOSTLY IN BATON ROUGE OR DO YOU PLAY ELSEWHERE? MATT: We’ve played in Lafayette, we’ve played in Houma, which was a fun time. We played in New Orleans.

We played at Circle Bar, and that was a good time. We packed into our friend’s van, and we all just went over there and got really shit housed and played. We played Lake Charles too…we would play a song, and these three people started a mosh pit and then they were

ZACH: I think we’re too loud to play at weddings.

SO I’VE THROWN OUT DINOSAUR JR. AND MY BLOODY VALENTINE IN THE LAST HOUR. BUT WHAT OTHER BANDS WOULD YOU SAY ARE YOUR INSPIRATION? OR WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO MAKE MUSIC? MATT: Inspiration really can come from anywhere. I mean, something you see on the road. You know, “Cornersong,” that last song we played, that was a dark period. I got in this habit, every night I’d go to this corner store and get a candy bar, but it was also at the same time, like, you want to be with somebody, you want to call up that person that you love. Everyday things are inspiration but also, there isn’t a moment of my day when I don’t have headphones on. I gobble up music, and if I really like it, it’ll seep in.

Read the rest of the interview at

LSULEGACYMAG.COM

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FASHION:

GOING WAYS STORY GABRIELLE SCHICK PHOTOS JESSE GUILLORY DESIGN CHRISTINA LI

Go ahead and raid your partner’s closet: Androgynous fashion is here to stay.

Instead of following traditional gender lines, recent fashion trends incorporate men’s button-downs and blazers into women’s fashion and florals and silks into menswear. Even gender neutrals, like denim and black leather, have seen a comeback. What’s not to love?

We’ll show you how to use your girlfriend’s blouse or friend’s denim to spice up your wardrobe and embrace your masculine and feminine sides.

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[TOP LEFT] Black garments are fashion forward for both men and women. Rugged leathers and fringe create show-stopping looks for both sexes.

[TOP RIGHT] Combining a woman’s striped top with silk, drop-crouch pants is a comfortable way to embrace gender neutrality. Pair men’s denim with any top to create a casual look.

[BOTTOM LEFT] Blazers can enhance your wardrobe. Go for a powerful look by combining a blazer with a button down and boots, or contrast colors for an extra pop.

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The classic white shirt creates a blank canvas for colored or patterned pants.

Denim doesn’t discriminate. Swap your pants and blouse with a friend for a fashionable, unisex look.

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HUNGER GAMES

From oven to doorstep, discover the tricks and challenges of students inside the delivery business.

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STORY AUSTEN KRANTZ PHOTOS JORDAN HEFLER DESIGN CLAIRE CASSREINO

Sometimes the night gets away from you. You’ve been studying — or partying — and it’s suddenly 1:00 a.m., and you’re hungry.

You’re not coherent enough or in the mood to make the drive to Taco Bell, so there’s one option: Delivery. But delivering in Baton Rouge isn’t easy. Narrow roads that fill up quickly during prime-time delivery hours and constant back and forth swerving through them can run down a vehicle and add stress to the job.

Luckily, other students are willing to put their time and cars on the line for your hunger. Whether it’s rush hours or late hours, these delivery drivers traverse Baton Rouge’s inconvenient infrastructure and gridlock traffic more frequently than most students drive down the street to get snacks from CVS. In fact, drivers drop off most deliveries to other students according to Amanda Kittoe, a recently graduated anthropology major and pizza/sandwich delivery driver.

Actually, 95 percent of her deliveries go to other students.

Kittoe has delivered food for about eight months: four at Jimmy John’s and the last four at Hungry Howies, which she said proved less stressful because of the efficient delivery system, the easily memorized delivery area and especially the late night shift.

“It goes by a lot quicker, the people are a lot different, people are more relaxed,” she said. “It’s the end of the day, so the people I deliver to aren’t working anymore. They’re ordering pizza as a treat, or they’re drinking.”

While Kittoe prefers a more laid back late night shift, others, like recent LSU graduate Ryan Branson, willingly grab the busiest schedules.

“I’m not very comfortable delivering to businesses, because people seem to be unhappier,” she said. “They don’t look at me as a person. I don’t really like delivering to businesses during the day.”

And it’s pretty common for evening orders to invite drivers in on some of their fun. Kittoe always turned invites down to get back to delivering, but these included more than one tempting pool party, she said.

However, the job was never an

easy one for Kittoe as a full time student. Balancing a night shift at a fulltime job and grad school was difficult, but even after she graduated, working 40 hours a week was never easy.

From undergraduate programs or technical programs like nursing school, Branson said managers understood student workers’ priorities when considering shift hours. This ultimately allowed the job to be a great temporary source of income that didn’t butt into school.

“It’s really stressful being in your car all the time.”

AMANDA KITTOE

Branson started delivering for Domino’s Pizza in Hawaii, but since last January she started delivering at niche times for Domino’s on Staring Lane — during the rush shift.

“I’m not a night person,” she said.

“I’ll usually work from five to eight or nine o’clock — till the rush ends.”

While it’s a short shift, it’s an intense one between the waves of orders and Baton Rouge traffic.

“It’s a lot of wear and tear on your car. We’ve had three accidents in the past four months, but three of them [we] were not at fault,” she explained.

“It’s really stressful being in your car all the time.”

Kittoe said delivering to these students in the afternoon can be a lot more comfortable for her than stopping by businesses midday. When employees are in the middle of the work, they can come off as focused and irritable rather than the evening loungers who are having some beer or watching TV, Kittoe said. l su l egacy mag.c om

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BALLIN’ STORY VICTOR CANO PHOTOS LAINEY REED DESIGN CHRISTINA LI

The snowball business, for most, is just a hobby or job. Maybe even a summer project.

But not for Baton Rouge residents Debbie Nelson and Laura McDavitt.

Their passion for snowballs has transformed Cool Tiger Ice from a small stand serving locals to serving Hollywood movie sets.

Breaking in the Business

Customers are the inspiration for the unique flavors available at Cool Tiger Ice. The Purple Haze Ultimate, a combination of piña colada and raspberry, was created by LSU’s own Ultimate Frisbee team.

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Nelson one day had the idea to start up a snowball stand. McDavitt, who had yet to become a partner of the business, said that she came to Nelson one day in order to hire her for a charity event. When she arrived, Nelson had just accepted a big contract and turned to McDavitt for help. McDavitt, who was not working at the time, agreed to help her friend. In half an hour she walked out knowing how to make a snowball, keys in hand and $50 to open the register the next morning.

When McDavitt stepped in as manager of Cool Tiger Ice she noticed that the trailer used to sell the snowballs was different. Nelson had designed a trailer that fit Cool Tiger Ice’s specific needs.

“It’s not something that you just go buy off the line,” said McDavitt. “It’s something we designed, she created, wonderfully done in the whole bit.”

Nelson and McDavitt also debated the specifics of their snowballs, from flavor to consistency. Cool Tiger Ice makes its snowballs with very fine ice that resembles the consistency of snow, McDavitt said. The thinner ice

[LEFT] Cool Tiger Ice takes the snowball stand to the next level with a drive-thru window and a menu packed with both traditional and customer-created flavors. [RIGHT] From front to back: Annika’s Aqua World, Cool Tiger and the Purple Haze Ultimate.

enhances the snowball flavor and prevents icy clumps, McDavitt explained.

“When you receive your snowball, you don’t want to be biting into an icicle,” said McDavitt.

Flavors When choosing Cool Tiger Ice’s flavors, it’s a matter of taste.

“If Denise and I like it, we add it,” McDavitt said. “It’s that simple. If it’s good to us, we sell it.”

Snowballs come in a variety of flavors, ranging in complexity from grape to Bananas Foster. Most stands create flavors by mixing premade concentrates with simple syrups of sugar and water.

“We like to add more of the concentrate to our syrup,” said McDavitt.

“By adding more of the concentrate we make a more intense snowball.”

McDavitt said Cool Tiger Ice also experiments with less traditional flavors. “We also make our own chocolate flavor,” McDavitt said. “We make it by mixing three different chocolate syrups and adding plenty of sugar.”

A Family Affair A snowball stand can be a family affair, and Cool Tiger Ice is no exception.

McDavitt said most of her children and family have worked for the stand.

“My son actually just had his last day,” said McDavitt. “Once we started the business my family would ask if soand-so could work and of course my answer was always yes.”

During Cool Tiger Ice’s eight-year run, McDavitt and Nelson have seen young customers become employees.

“We have pretty much watched these kids grow up and become adults,” said McDavitt. “I feel like just yesterday their moms were driving them to the snowball stand, and now you see them in the car but with their mom in the passenger seat!”

Tiger Pride

The Purple Haze Ultimate, a combination of piña colada with raspberry drizzled over the top, was named after the Ultimate Frisbee team at LSU. “The team spent 45 minutes trying all the different types of flavors we had,” McDavitt said. “Once they found the flavor combination that they liked the most, Debbie and I tried it and loved it. We then decided to name the flavor in ode to them.”

Loving the Job After eight years of business, both Nelson and McDavitt said they still appreciate the happiness snowballs can bring.

“I like making a product that is the happy spot in somebody’s day,” explained McDavitt. “When I hand out that nice cool sweet treat out the window and I get nothing but smiles.

That’s why I do this.”

Self-proclaimed LSU aficionados, the Cool Tiger Ice owners said the University has inspired some of their most popular flavors. l su l egacy mag.c om

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DEP A RT M ENT

1c Pitchers and $1 calls untill 10 girls are free before 11 $6 double Ketel One

Open Bar 7-10

girls pay no cover till 8pm $2.75 Coors Light $6 double Crown

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GETTING AROUND GLUTEN STORY LAUREN DUHON PHOTOS LAINEY REED DESIGN KELLY KRAL

F

ood trends come and go. Some diets are backed by the motivation to slim down while others are simply “what’s in” at that moment in time. Other diets are endorsed by celebrities or can be seen advertised on late night TV infomercials. But for some people, diets can be life threatening if not strictly followed.

One diet that is gaining momentum around the country is the gluten-free diet. Some people choose to live a gluten-free lifestyle, but for many, gluten weakens the villi and causes long-term health risks if frequently ingested. Gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye, has sparked a booming $5 billion per year industry in the United States where gluten-free products have become more readily available in grocery stores and have made their way into the homes of countless people.

Celiac disease, an autoimmune condition that damages

the lining of the small intestine due to exposure from gluten and prohibits the proper absorption of nutrients by the body, prompts most people to choose a gluten-free lifestyle.

For years, celiac disease remained undiagnosed by doctors.

Only one in every 5,000 instances was properly diagnosed, according to Dr. Rajat Bhushan from the Metabolic Center of Louisiana. He said far more people are gluten intolerant now with nearly one percent of the population having celiac disease and more than 95 percent remaining undiagnosed.

That means more than three million people have celiac disease and only 200,000 know about it, according to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. The reasons for this are attributed to a lack of understanding of the condition and an increase in gluten wheat usage over the years, Bhushan added.

Despite the growing familiarity with these products

Spinach salad with grilled shrimp from Maxwell’s Market l su l egacy mag.c om

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TRULY FREE BAKERY & DELI

MELLOW MUSHROOM

From Truly Free Bakery & Deli, honey roasted turkey panini with sweet potato fries from.

From Mellow Mushroom’s gluten-free menu, the Mighty Meaty pizza with gluten-free crust.

and health concerns regarding gluten, the public regularly misunderstands gluten allergies. Dr. Sheetal Verma from the Metabolic Center of Louisiana said people often classify living a gluten-free lifestyle as a “trend diet”, which can diminish the severity of the medical issues people face when dealing with gluten-induced conditions.

“There is a health benefit for non-celiac people, because it is a healthier way of eating,” she said. “But, there are risks involved. Non-celiac people who choose this diet need supplements.”

Verma said there is a way for non-celiac people to follow a gluten-free diet, but there needs to be a balance.

There is a fine line between “need” and “choice” when it comes to gluten-free lifestyles, according to Gluten-Free Baton Rouge founder Julie Baron Sheffield. This is what often confuses “regular” people, she joked. For some people, it is a trend diet, but it is a necessity for many, Sheffield added.

For those with intolerance, living a gluten-free lifestyle promotes better nourishment and absorption of the nutrients by the villi, which are small, finger-like projections in the lining of the intestinal wall, Verma said. Every patient’s reaction is different, but patients often describe it as a fog that has been lifted, she added.

“You no longer feel like you’re going through the motions, kind of like a zombie mode,” she said.

The severity of intolerance to gluten varies, from sensitivity to true intolerance (celiac disease), and different people have different symptoms, she said. Symptoms can include, but are not limited to: rashes, fatigue, gastrointestinal distress (such as diarrhea, gas, bloating, etc.), anemia, joint

and muscle pain, mood disorders, neuropathy, osteoporosis, infertility and weight gain or loss.

It is a serious condition that must be controlled, Bhushan said. A person’s quality of life is important to consider, he added.

This served as a key factor to consider when students Heather Quick and Missy Wheeler were confronted with celiac disease. Quick, who is a textile apparel and merchandising sophomore, found out that she was gluten-intolerant during her freshman year of high school after many years of being sick. She said the transition to a gluten-free lifestyle was challenging, but she eventually found enjoyable foods that fit within her diet. Confusion from friends who didn’t understand her condition complicated the situation, she said.

“At first, I had a lot of negative reactions, because people didn’t believe me,” she said. “They had never heard of such a thing. I don’t think many people understand.”

Quick said her favorite thing is when people realize that she has to cut out everything from breads to pastas to cakes to even beer, something Wheeler said she could relate to when she tells her friends that she can’t eat gumbo because of the roux.

“There is always a look of horror on their faces,” Wheeler added.

However, Wheeler, who is an international studies and English junior from Missouri, is new to the gluten-free scene after being diagnosed recently in February following frequent stomach pains and headaches. When switching to her new diet, Wheeler said her frustrations continued to linger as she dealt with mixed reactions from curious friends and

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CHICK-FIL-A

GLUTEN-FREE RESTAURANTS 100% GLUTEN-FREE: Truly Free Bakery & Deli

GLUTEN-FREE ITEMS: MJ’s Cafe: gluten-free bread Mellow Mushroom: gluten-free From Chick-fil-A’s gluten-free menu is the chargrilled chicken filet (with no bun) and waffle fries.

tried to avoid being a burden to others.

“I don’t usually bring it up unless I’m going out to eat or in a situation where I need to turn down food that is offered to me,” Wheeler said. “I couldn’t be more sick of having that conversation. I feel bad for all of the friends I’ve had who are lactose-intolerant or decided to change their diet, because I know I asked them the same questions.”

Wheeler said she tries to not be an inconvenience, but it can be hard sometimes, especially when food options are limited on campus. LSU Dining offers gluten-free menu items in dining halls, but the Tiger Lair food court is limited.

Both Wheeler and Quick think more options could be added to ease the minds of students.

To help students like Quick and Wheeler and other members of the community, Sheffield hopes that GlutenFree Baton Rouge can serve as a platform to share information with others about where to shop and eat.

“There is a lack of convenience,” she said. “You can’t just eat anywhere, but it isn’t terribly difficult. It is getting better all the time.”

The group keeps track of an on-going list of “glutenfree friendly” and not so friendly restaurants and brands to keep tabs on the evolving gluten-free scene in Baton Rouge.

Sheffield said the group allows people to speak freely about their discoveries or frustrations.

Neither Quick nor Wheeler has used the group, but both students think it would be beneficial. When facing the challenges of a gluten-free lifestyle, support is crucial because it is definitely a lifestyle change, Quick added.

“It isn’t just a diet,” she said. “You have to be committed.”

pizza crust Nino’s Italian Restaurant: homemade gluten-free pasta Jimmy Johns: any sandwich can be made as a lettuce wrap Pinetta’s: noodle-free lasagna called “Bella” Rock-N-Sake: has gluten-free soy sauce

GLUTEN-FREE MENUS: Outback Steakhouse: gluten-free menu available upon request P.F. Chang’s: gluten-free menu available upon request

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OUR DARK HORSE STORY RAINA LACAZE PHOTOS REBECCA RATLIFF DESIGN CHRISTINA LI

One of the University’s most successful teams is also its least recognized.

But through their teamwork, dedication and skill, members of the LSU Equestrian Club excel in their field.

T

hough the team has been around since 1999, the LSU Equestrian buzz is muffled next to the bleacherstomping roar of LSU football fans.

Unlike football ­— and nearly all other LSU athletics — LSU Equestrian is considered a club sport because it competes outside of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and is not funded by the University.

In 2006, former LSU Equestrian Team rider Leaf Boswell became the coach, and since then, she has helped the team evolve into its current rank as 10th in the nation.

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has been riding since she was 4 years old and has been on the team since she was a freshman. She explained how grateful she is to have a group of friends who share her love of horses.

“Equestrian people are different than everyone else. We understand each other. It’s a weird thing,” Case said.

The IHSA

[LEFT] Katie Borne leads Poet to the arena to mount up for practice at Ravenwood Stables. [RIGHT] Faith Meyers puts a running martingale/breastplate on Beaux to get ready for practice.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Equestrians The 26 women involved in the equestrian team build strong bonds with each other through a shared passion for riding, forming a niche within LSU’s large campus.

Team Public Relations Officer Maggy Case made her way to the highest division as an open rider.

The women in higher divisions act

as role models for the beginner riders by remaining a source of encouragement. No matter what division the women are in, Case said their constant support creates a winning attitude.

President Jessi Farestvedt has been riding on the team for three years and said the team is like a family.

Former president Corinne Plough

Robert E. Cacchione established the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association in 1967 based on the principle that students should be able to compete regardless of skill level or financial status. The IHSA consists of six divisions: walk/trot, beginner walk/trot/canter, advanced walk/trot/canter, novice flat and fences, intermediate flat and fences and open flat and fences.

“The way we have shows are very different from the normal horse world,” Plough said.

In the IHSA, riders follow the rules of catch riding. Shortly before showing, participants are required to draw a random name or number out of a hat that indicates which horse they will ride.

Situating in the stirrups is the only interaction allowed with the horse before the rider shows.

“It really focuses on your ability to adapt to different horses and control different horses. It’s really scary because you’ve probably never seen that horse before,” Plough said.

Collegiate equestrian is one of the few sports in which men and women compete against each other. However, the sport has historically been more popular with the ladies.

Boswell said there has been talk of the club becoming a varsity team for 11 years. Though a timeframe has not been established, the team has prepared as much as they can for a transition.

If the team were to become varsity, they would join the NCAA and no longer be a part of the IHSA. Many changes would occur in funding and competition. LSU would be required to build a barn, provide horses and employ coaches for a women and men’s team. l sul egacymag.c om

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Tradition REINS

The struggle is real

Traditions are necessary to provide teams with unity.

Unlike most sports, riders are not allowed to represent their team in any way. Instead, all riders wear the same jackets, helmets and jodhpurs.

According to Boswell, this removes bias but also the sense of team spirit. As a compromise, the team members place small temporary tattoos on each rider’s wrist that remains concealed under his or her jacket during competition.

Plough said that Boswell made a bet with a former president stating that if the team ever won Nationals, she would make the temporary tattoo a permanent one.

After first joining, each member receives a team jacket.

Members then get their name embroidered on their jacket when they qualify for Regionals. If members move on to qualify for the next level of competition after Regionals called Zones, they receive a bracelet with a small metal facing that has “LSU Equestrian” inscribed on it.

“We have little things that kind of show people how far you’ve gone and what you’ve done,” Boswell said.

Plough said the level of disorganization due to poor delegation was frustrating when she first became an officer.

Officers now dedicate themselves by attending leadership workshops and sharing experiences with senior officers.

The team has also progressed significantly on a competitive level. In order to prepare them more for catch riding, their coach sometimes rotates the women’s horses during their practices. Boswell pinpoints weaknesses a student may have with a particular horse and works from there.

Boswell said the team’s biggest obstacle is only practicing once a week only if weather permits. Varsity teams with their own horses and indoor arenas are able to practice up to six times a week.

“Imagine if football could only practice once a week. It’s just really amazing what these girls do with what we have,” Boswell said.

Though practicing only once a week affects their strength and endurance in competition, Boswell said all of the women are determined to be the best.

[LEFT] Faith Meyers and Beaux clear a jump during practice at Ravenwood Stables. [RIGHT] Maggy Case pick’s out Lola’s feet to remove any debris or dirt.

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Team members wear an LSU tattoo at competitions because teams are not allowed to have specific uniforms to distinguish themselves.

Although the fees have prevented some students from remaining on the team, the club sport offers financial plans for those that wish to stay. The organization does everything possible to keep semester fees at a minimum, and the UREC has become irreplaceable in its role of reimbursing the team for some of its costs.

Members pay for weekly riding lessons at Ravenwood Stables. The team is also expected to pay for traveling expenses not covered by fundraisers. Overall, Farestvedt said, cost is nothing compared to the many benefits of being on the team.

Danger in the Saddle?

Riders are expected to adapt to their horse quickly because they have personalities just like people. A rider may have more control and mesh better with a particular horse than a teammate because of complementing natures.

Riders never know how their horse will react to them.

Though the team has not had any major accidents, they have seen a competitor or two get bucked off of their horse during a competition. Plough said ride at your own risk.

“Many members have fallen off, but then the saying goes- you’re not a real rider until you’ve fallen off,” Farestvedt said.

No matter the cost and no matter the risk, LSU Equestrian riders continue to do what they love.

“I love riding. There is something indescribable about being a team with an animal that is so powerful and yet so graceful. It’s like their movements become your movements and together you glide across the ground, almost dancing,” Farestvedt said. “Ride like you’re winning, even if no one is watching.”

There is something indescribable about being a team with an animal that is so powerful and yet so graceful. It’s like their movements become your movements and together you glide across the ground, almost dancing.

JESSI Farestvedt

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ON BOARD STORY VICTOR CANO PHOTOS JORDAN HEFLER DESIGN ROLAND PARKER

Being a part of the Naval ROTC program at LSU is no walk in the park. It’s more of a 5-­mile run with countless sit­ups and pushups before 7 a.m., ­all on another campus.

L

SU students in NROTC wake up before 5 a.m. to make it to physical training exercises at Southern University.

After finishing physical training, PT, they attend classes at Southern that are geared towards professions in the Navy before heading back to LSU. While NROTC at LSU is small in comparison to other ROTC programs at the University, the program is rigorous.

Despite its size, the members of NROTC face big challenges.

They not only have to win a scholarship to enter the program, but must also dual enroll at Southern University, where the base of the program is located. Once accepted into

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both universities, the students register for Navy specific classes at Southern.

While many would see this as an extra obstacle, students that participate in the program say the program is worth it.

WHY THE NAVY? Hillare´ LaFond, junior and civil engineer major, joined the ROTC program as a freshman. Although LaFond originally wanted to draw cartoons, she became interested in the military while living in Pensacola, Fla., which has a strong naval presence.

Family history also played an important part in LaFond’s decision­ . ­Two great uncles fought in the Navy during both World Wars.

“I’ve always loved America, and I’ve always wanted to give back in some way before I did what I wanted to do,” LaFond said.

For junior Mitchell Mason, a computer science major, joining the Navy was a “no brainer.”

“I suppose you could say the military is in my genes,” Mason said.

“It’s an unspoken tradition that, in my family. The males all serve in uniform at one point or another.” Mason went on to explain how the day his dad turned 18, his grandfather made him register for the selective service.

Other than following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Mason chose the Navy for more reasons than one.

“I picked the Navy because they offered me a scholarship,” Mason said.

“I didn’t really try with anyone else because the Navy has given me a great life thus far.”

Midshipman Hillare´ Lafond at Navy ROTC practice

NO WALK IN THE PARK Depending on where the student lives, he or she may wake up as early as 4:30 a.m. in order to drive to Southern University. For LaFond, the time she wakes up depends on what she has to wear to physical training, or PT, the next morning. If the dress is just shorts and a T­-shirt, she treats herself to 30 extra minutes of sleep and wakes up at 5 a.m.

“Even though we’re about to go

run in the mud with our boots on they still have to be pristine when we show up to Southern,” LaFond said.

“Because of this, I have to wake up at 4 a.m. and make sure my boots are shiny and clean.”

LaFond also makes sure that she is extremely punctual as she does not want to be the midshipman that walks in five minutes before PT.

THE PROCESS

When a student first decides to be in the ROTC program, the first thing he or she needs to do is choose a branch of service. For some it is an easy pick, but many carefully think about what they want to do in the military. If a student decides to join the NROTC, then he or she must fill out an extensive l su l egacy mag.c om

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everything else will fall into place.”

To make sure the midshipmen remain on track, the program directors group fields of study into one of three tiers.

Tier 1 majors include mechanical, electrical and nuclear engineering, as well as other fields that directly relate to popular careers in naval service.

Individuals who choose to major in technical studies that don’t directly relate to the military comprise Tier 2.

Everything else lands in Tier 3.

PERKS OF BEING A MIDSHIPMAN

Members of the NROTC wake up as early as 4:30 every morning for PT at Southern University.

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application, write essays on topics such as “Why Do I Want to Be in the Navy?”, obtain letters of recommendation and schedule an interview with an Officer in the Navy.

According to Lieutenant Erik Gardner, Assistant Professor of Naval Science and the Recruiting Officer for the Red Stick Battalion unit, the best thing to do if you are joining the NROTC is to start planning early.

“My best advice for new midshipmen (students in the program) once they get here is to put forth your absolute best effort in everything you do every day while keeping a good attitude,” says Gardner. “If you do that,

Despite all the hard work, there are some perks to being a midshipman.

After graduation members will be able to enter the United States Navy as an officer.

Students also participate in events that they would normally get to do if they were active duty sailors, such as a trip on an aircraft.

For LaFond and Mason, their favorite deployment was last summer when they spent a month aboard the USS Maryland.

“The Maryland is a nuclear­ powered submarine that was used to give midshipmen some hands­ -on experience with the nuclear Navy,” explained Mason. The program gives the students experiences that they will never forget.

“We got to do some amazing things on board,” said Mason. “But nothing beats getting on top of the sub, standing on the bridge and watching the sun set over the open sea just before submerging.”

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& bridal gowns Who says marriage is dead? Love is in the air for students who defy social norms and view marriage as their college experience.

STORY GABRIELLE SCHICK PHOTOS SARAH KERSHAW DESIGN CHRISTINA LI

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any college students’ weekly responsibilities consist of grocery shopping, doing laundry, going to class and studying for exams. Some undergrad students choose to face these weekly responsibilities for two. These students and their significant others are taking the step forward to make a lifelong commitment through marriage.

At the end of the day many wonder why young people take on this responsibility in addition to the everyday stresses of college. Ultimately, love is in the air. Defying the social norm, these students view marriage as their college experience.

One LSU foreign exchange student decided to change his long-term plans for the sake of love. When Oscar Rossignoli left Honduras to study music at Louisiana State University, he soon realized how hard it was to be away from his childhood sweetheart. After a semester of dating at a distance, Rossignoli returned home and proposed to his girlfriend, Carolina.

“It was not your traditional down-on-one-knee proposal,” Rossignoli said. “It was a mutual decision and we knew we wanted to get married so we could be together and start our lives together.”

Oscar is now a junior at LSU studying music with his

loved one by his side. Carolina left behind her job in Honduras and is on a dependent student visa so she can be there for Oscar while he finishes school.

Facing the Facts

The average marriage age is 28. Today about 18 percent of undergraduates reported they were married, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, which surveyed 20,928 undergraduates in 2008. This number does not take divorce into consideration; however, more times than not, these undergraduate marriages are short lived.

Over one-third of all divorces come from 20 to 24 year olds. Many of these men and women are college students or recent graduates.

Unlike the happily ever after that most college newlyweds expect, many students find themselves facing divorce, like recent LSU graduate Michal Dedon. Dedon was married and divorced within a school year as a result of a physically abusive relationship.

Dedon said she gained insight from her short marriage, like having the ability to detect signs of physically abusive behavior, relating to others who experienced similar

relationships and learning to put her ambitions at the forefront. As a result of her experience, Dedon stresses her view on cohabitating with a significant other before marriage.

“You should always live with someone before you get married,” Dedon said. “You don’t truly know a person before you live with them.”

Different factors play a role in college marriages ending shortly after their start. According to Dedon, it doesn’t matter if you date someone for one or 10 years, you can’t ever truly know your significant other.

“It is more about knowing what you want and realizing if the person you think you want to spend the rest of your life with is on the same path as you,” Dedon said. “I was educated and he was not. We wanted different things in life.”

Hardships Under the Microscope

Marriages between college undergrads raise many questions. Students that choose to tie the knot while still attending college face numerous hardships. It is not all play when you are responsible for yourself and another human being.

Marriages require work and work requires time. This time may put studying on the back burner and put grades at risk. l su l egacy mag.c om

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Oscar explained his college experience is easier and happier with Carolina by his side.

For these reasons, graphic design senior Hanna Browning, soon to be Braud, noticed that many of her peers questioned her engagement for her Aug. 3 wedding.

“My family was very supportive when I announced my engagement,” Browning said. “I could tell my friends were excited too, but at the same time concerned since we’re still in college.”

In addition to putting grades at risk, marrying as undergraduates before financial stability can be nerve wrecking. Making monthly payments for two is a challenge that all undergrad married couples must face.

Marriages cost a ton. According to CNN in 2013, newlyweds spent an average of $28,427 on weddings and related events. After the wedding, couples are usually living together, and living together means double the expenses. Monthly bill payments must be made on time as well as school assignment deadlines.

Mass communication senior Catherine Melancon experienced the financial burden before her marriage even began. During her engagement to her fiancé, Melancon realized that getting married right away and starting a family was not necessarily the best

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decision for her finances.

“We decided to push the initial date back a full year,” Melancon said.

“I knew that going into a marriage with financial issues would be a recipe for disaster.”

Moving Forward

Life goes on after marriage. Browning speaks excitedly of her and her fiancés plans after they complete their undergraduate programs.

“After we both graduate, my fiancé wants to go to seminary to become a pastor,” Browning said. “We may move to Dallas for a little bit to try out something different.”

For Rossignoli, he and his wife have unclear plans for their future.

Rossignoli would love to stay in the United States and continue studying.

He wants to get his master’s degree in Jazz.

The visa process for the Rossignolis will be a hardship of their marriage, but the couple said they are both willing to risk it all so they can live happily in the United States doing what they love.

“You can make a living doing what you love here,” Rossignoli said. “I

would love to keep growing as a musician and continue learning the culture.”

Why Wed?

Those who choose marriage in college have several reasons for taking the big step. Melancon’s strong faith pushed her to tying the knot with her boyfriend of over eight years.

“For me it is more about the sacrament of matrimony,” Melancon said.

“It is about getting married in front of God.” Marriage opens a lot of doors that may have been shut in the past. It is a new experience where couples have their ups and their downs.

Saying “I do” will not be the only new experience for small town native Browning. She was raised in a conservative household where she still resides. Once she and her fiancé tie the knot in August, she will experience many “firsts.”

“Married life won’t be my only first,” Browning said. “It will be interesting living on my own for the first time with my husband by my side.”

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Fighting HIV/AIDS ignorance in Baton Rouge can be a struggle, but volunteers and victims cut through apathy to stress the importance of everyone’s engagement in HIV prevention.

A SUDDEN CHANGE OF PACE

THE STRUGGLE OF PREVENTION

Millicent Foster found out she had AIDS in 2003.

She was diagnosed while she was living in Angie, La., after multiple visits to the emergency room for physical difficulties.

“When I found out, the most I knew about HIV or AIDS was, you can get it from being gay, or you got it from blood transfusions, or you could get it from using drug needles,” she remembered. “I never heard anything about getting it from unprotected sex.”

She first noticed her hands becoming numb, which made her job as a beautician difficult. She later grew worried as her hair fell out and her skin grew dark from the neck up. But it wasn’t until a year later, in 2002, that her symptoms began intensifying and a doctor finally suggested an HIV test.

Two weeks after the test, her results were positive. Her viral load (the measure of a virus in one’s body fluid) was high enough to prove she had an established case of AIDS.

“‘We estimate you might live about six months,’” Foster recalled the doctor saying. “‘We may not be able to bring it down, and we may not be able to do much for you.’”

But she beat that estimate, “Thanks to God.” Since her diagnosis, Foster defeated an addiction to crack cocaine, raised a granddaughter, buried her only daughter and continues to resist her bodily disease. And after seven years, she began speaking to community groups around southern Louisiana about her experiences in an effort to help prevent the further spread of HIV.

Organizations like Baton Rouge AIDS Society make HIV information readily available, but the number of recorded AIDS cases in Baton Rouge continues to grow, making the city one of the highest AIDS per capita in the U.S. Despite offering treatments, testing and other preventative information, BRASS still struggles in its outreach to the community about the effects of contracted HIV and the necessity and responsibility of residents to prevent its growth. But people often aren’t aware of these provisions or that they even have HIV according to LSU Health Promotions Coordinator Sierra Fowler.

“They don’t have insurance, or they don’t know that they have these [AIDS Service] organizations or they just don’t even know they’re infected,” Fowler said. “You can have HIV for up to 10 years and not have any symptoms, and you think that you’re completely fine. Then you get sick and you’re already at full-blown AIDS status.”

Fowler said this lack of personal knowledge partially accounts for Baton Rouge’s growth in AIDS rates. While more people may have contracted the disease in recent years, more people who previously had HIV now have AIDS, or people have discovered their previously dormant illness. This, in turn, inflates the current rates.

Apathy also plays a part in this inflation. Some locals affected by HIV don’t want to know their status with the disease and don’t care if they spread it to others.

Foster has spoken to several church groups and community organizations

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Since being diagnosed with AIDS, Millicent Foster has become a promoter of AIDS awareness. She shares her story with others in hopes of helping those who are uneducated or unaware of the disease.

about her own AIDS diagnosis and the importance of HIV awareness. And she’s come face to face with residents who know and care little about the issue.

“A lot of people know you can contract HIV from unprotected sex, but still a lot of them will not use condoms.

You feel it can’t happen to you,” She said. “HIV does not discriminate. It don’t care how old you are, what color you are or what your sexual orientation is. It’s out there and it’s real, it’s very real.”

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THE MISSION Along with other readily available information and services, BRASS’s website explains the nature of the HIV virus and why AIDS is essentially incurable: HIV is a virus that attacks T-cells, or cells that fight disease and infection. AIDS is the final stage of an HIV infection when one has no T-cells to fight off other infections or diseases at all. With such weak immune systems, the infected are prone to die from other contracted illnesses. And

while treatments exist to slow HIV if it is recognized before it develops into AIDS, none of these treatments cure the virus. They only slow it down.

Work like Foster’s plays an important part in engaging residents on a personal, visceral level to better promote a message that local organizations like BRASS continually address.

With so many residents unaware of the full and far-reaching effects of HIV, local organizations dedicated to preventing the spread of this disease have a specific strategy: educating both the infected and those who think they’re unaffected. By informing the uninfected about how to prevent and avoid infection, and making sure residents with the virus are aware of their cases and won’t spread the virus further, residents can collectively stop the spread of disease and dedicate more time to helping those who have HIV or AIDS.

Gonzales’ Face to Face Enrichment Center founder Gabrielle Johnson began working with AIDS patients and outreach with BRASS in 1998, but created the Enrichment Center to address AIDS and other community issues in Ascension parish. She regularly speaks to schools, churches and community centers about HIV statistics and prevention methods, and both organizations’ offices offer free HIV testing that she said has become increasingly straightforward. The needle-to-vein blood sampling is no longer necessary.

“We don’t mess with needles here,” she said, referring to the potentially unattractive blood sampling test method.

The Enrichment Center’s small but invitingly cozy office hosts counseling space and pamphlets on HIV and other health information along with the free OraQuick ADVANCE® Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Tests. These tests mix an oral swab from one’s mouth in a bottle of solutions that show HIV results in a matter of 20 minutes.

“I wish more people would come and get tested,” Johnson said. “I mean, it’s here and it’s free.”

Johnson said her organization outreach always seems well received.

Most churches and schools she visits often ask for her organization to return.

Gabrielle Johnson, founder of the Face to Face Enrichment Center, regularly speaks out to the community about statistics and methods of prevention. The Enrichment Center offers free HIV testing.

Face to Face presentations seem particularly impactful to schools, she said.

“The kids are amazed. Whenever we talk about the stats and the symptoms of HIV it’s like their eyes get really big,” Johnson said. “We think we’re having a positive effect on them, and we hope we are, but we’re still getting those positive test results.”

Despite positive feedback from using this information in her outreach, Johnson said some attitudes undermine her organization’s work.

She explained certain victims aren’t concerned about the severity of these diseases; they neglect tests out of fear of positive results or they actively seek out diseases for governmental benefits.

“There are those people who they call ‘bug chasers’ who want to get infected so they can get the benefits like the housing,” Johnson said. “So they’re intentionally trying to get infected.”

Under the Louisiana Ryan White Health Insurance Program, those affected by HIV can receive health

insurance aid and temporary or potentially permanent housing.

Johnson also added that most cases who test positive for HIV in the Baton Rouge region are high school men, many of whom aren’t concerned about the consequences. She explained victims can feel complacent in contracting these diseases because they come from poor living environments, have bad role models and feel they will never amount to anything greater.

“Whether you’re HIV positive or negative, or your partner is HIV positive or negative, they have a choice as to whether or not they want to be with you,” Foster said. “Going around and being intimate with someone and not letting them know — that’s not a good thing.”

PREVENTION MONEY Johnson’s husband, founder and CEO of BRASS, Reverend A.J. Johnson said the limited number of AIDS service

organizations also makes disseminating their information difficult and less impactful on communities. And with governmental funding continuing to dwindle, budget cuts largely limit these organizations’ resources according to Mrs. Johnson, while at least three other AIDS service organizations shut down as a result of cuts, she said.

“A lot of organizations have been cut down because of budget cuts, so there’s really not as many organizations out there doing the outreach as there once was,” she said. “That makes our job even harder because we have to take the slack from the other organizations who are no longer in the community.”

Louisiana disperses funds from the Ryan White Health Insurance program to various AIDS service organizations in Louisiana like HAART, the HIV AIDS Alliance for Region Two, the region that contains Baton Rouge and Ascension Parish. However, with recent cuts in this program, less money l su l egacy mag.c om

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is dispersed through these organizations. Mrs. Johnson also said the state’s Office of Public Health has made staff cuts in its own STI/HIV prevention program.

“We’re not doing enough because we have less money or no money in some areas,” Mr. Johnson said. “The state currently funds one organization to provide HIV testing to the entire region . . . being No. 1 [AIDS rates] this is not the time to reduce testing sites, this is the time to increase testing sites.”

OPENING UP To boost community outreach in the midst of these cuts the Johnsons approach residents on a personal and emotional level with work like Foster’s and outreach with churches.

Before Foster began speaking on the local issue, the first people she influenced were within her family circle. After her diagnosis, family and friends immediately sent her all the information they could learn and find about HIV and AIDS in hopes of helping her.

“I’m getting five or six envelopes a week full of information,” she recalled of the weeks following her diagnosis.

But Foster still had not fathomed talking to others about the disease and its effects on the community.

“I was still caught up with the stigma, I didn’t want anybody to know,” she said. “I had so many bad experiences in those seven years. I wasn’t comfortable with myself or talking about them with anybody else.”

She first whimsically spoke about her experiences at a family services open house at the request of her case manager. After being impressed by her testimony, one attendee put Foster in contact with A.J. Johnson, who helped her fortify her story-telling and helped her gain confidence in her abilities to retell her experiences to ultimately reach out to others.

“I heard you speak, and you have an awesome testimony,” she recalled the BRASS member telling her.

“And people need to hear what you have to say, you could actually help somebody.”

Foster was skeptical, but she spoke at another open house for the organization, after which she started working with Mr. Johnson and speaking at different community events. By her first AIDS Day speech in 2009, she had eight bookings to speak about her experiences. She now works largely with Phenomenal Women with Voices, a travelling group skit that tries to encourage those affected by HIV. The group also works in other community outreach handing out information and protection for safe sex.

It was the responses following her speeches that Foster said gave her the confidence to continue speaking on her past. People still approach her in public to thank her for her story’s influence on their lives.

“I think if more of us were stepping out, the stigma wouldn’t be as bad,” she said. “More people would come out and get tested.”

KNOW YOUR STATUS No. 1

Baton Rouge had the highest AIDS per capita in 2010 and 2011, according to the CDC.

29.4 per 100,000

people are infected with AIDS.

300+

children in the state live with HIV.

55%

Nearly of HIV positive Louisianans also have AIDS.

Louisiana has been ranked in syphilis cases since 2006.

No. 1

Louisiana has been ranked in gonorrhea cases.

No. 2

Louisiana has been ranked in chlamydia cases.

No. 3

Courtesy of the Face to Face Enrichment Center

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COLOSSAL EFFORTS TAKE TIME LEGACY RETURNS NOVEMBER 11.

Experience our online content at lsulegacymag.com until then. photo / jordan hefler

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Danielle Kelley, former member of Zeta Tau Alpha, holds the candle that her boyfriend’s fraternity presented to her during the lavaliering ceremony.

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To sum up chivalry in the 21st century, one could simply say, it’s changed.

Luckily, tradition trumps change as the Greek system paves the way.

Romanticized notions of monogamy and devotion can be found in a number of the Interfraternity Council fraternities and Pan-Hellenic Council sororities on LSU’s campus. These organizations participate in ceremonies designed to illustrate a public commitment to one’s significant other and the relationship, known as lavaliering, or pinning.

A fraternity member lavaliers his significant other once he decides he wants to be in a serious relationship. A lavaliere necklace given to a significant other displays a monogram of the fraternity’s letters; each of the letters represents something only members of the fraternity know.

When a fraternity man gives his significant other the badge he received during his initiation, the process is known as pinning. Pinning a significant other usually indicates the couple’s plans to become engaged.

These fraternity men are fair game, and the ceremonies aren’t limited to members of the Greek community. There is, however, a second ceremony for women who are lavaliered and/or pinned if they are a part of a sorority.

A candle passing ceremony with the sorority member’s sisters occurs.

Members sit in a circle and pass a lit candle around until the honoree blows

out the flame. The number of times the candle is passed indicates the celebration- once for lavaliered, twice for pinned and thrice for engaged.

The act of lavliering and pinning has died down in recent years due to lack of interest and knowledge of the ceremonies explained recent LSU alumnus Grant Tolbird.

Those who still perform the ceremonies are usually juniors and seniors in college who are getting ready to move to the next chapter of their lives.

Tolbird and his Pi Kappa Alpha brothers serenaded Tolbird’s girlfriend, Danielle Kelley, during her pinning in August 2012. Tolbird invited Kelley to the Pi Kappa Alpha house where the men fell to one knee and sang their ceremonial “The Dream Girl of Pi Kappa Alpha” song.

“It sounds sweet, but it wasn’t the prettiest thing you’ve ever heard,” Tolbird said with a laugh. A few men forgot some of the words as pinning isn’t an everyday occurrence.

Kelley and her Zeta Tau Alpha sisters sat in a circle in a dark room, sang a song and passed around a lit candle to reveal the pinning to her sisters. Kelley blew out the candle once it was passed around twice and celebrated her “very honored” feelings with her sorority sisters.

Changes have been made in chivalry that both women and men have adjusted to, but who’s to say a romanticized tradition can’t triumph?

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Kevin Nguyen loves to make his LSU clients feel at home when they come in for an appointment.

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Polished Perfection STORY RAINA LACAZE PHOTOS JORDAN HEFLER DESIGN CLAIRE CASSREINO

Kevin Nguyen never thought he would be painting a Tiger’s toes Tickle Me Pink when he opened Nail Finiti 11 years ago.

Former LSU kicker Drew Alleman said he visits Nail Finiti every two weeks to keep his feet feeling good. Nguyen even paints a pink ribbon on Alleman’s big toe for every game during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

Having to miss so many LSU games for work would devastate most fans, but not Nguyen.

“I love football, but the [football players] come here and they get their pedicures. I don’t have to come to them, they come to me and that’s a blessing,” he said.

Nail Finiti became the go-to salon due to the faithful support from pageant, Golden, Tiger and sorority girls alike.

Nguyen said the buzz started with Miss LSU 2008, Lauren Edwards. After meeting him, Edwards said she distributed his business cards at other pageants because she was so pleased with Nguyen’s service. Word of mouth took on a life of its own, and soon after women from all over began to come to Nail Finiti to prepare for pageants.

“Visiting Nail Finiti is like going to hang out with your friends,” Edwards said.

Nail Finiti now sponsors several pageants across Louisiana. Nguyen said he doesn’t mind being a part of so many organizations, and he loves the backstage chatter among contestants concerning their nails. He said he enjoys getting to take pictures with beautiful women on stage before parents do.

“Without [the contestants] I probably wouldn’t do it.

And that’s another funny thing, I never wanted to do nails,” Nguyen said.

He knew that the nail business was demanding, but he followed his family’s footsteps because he has always been interested in art. Now, Nguyen considers himself an artist of the beauty industry.

He is greeted every day by a variety of women. It can sometimes be tough deciphering the dancers and pageant girls from the mix because some women don’t tell him their title right away.

“So, basically, I have to have an eye for it. I’m blessed that I have that ability,” Nguyen said.

He rarely misses the opportunity for a photo with each

of his clients. He has professional lighting equipment, and his camera is set up so that with a push of a button, grins and pristine nails are captured and downloaded straight to his phone to be posted on Facebook shortly after.

Nguyen said he always puts the customer first by constantly improving the salon with various gadgets and personal inventions. Kevin knows his craft, Edwards said, and he keeps up with trending nail techniques.

“The best part is my people. If a person really enjoys what you do for them, I think that’s the best thing. I don’t have the best job in the world, but I wouldn’t trade anything,” Nguyen said.

“I don’t have the best job in the world, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

KEVIN NGUYEN

The only downside to his job, Nguyen said, is working all the time. He misses the time not spent with his family, but, like most things, he makes the best of it and accepts the fact that he maintains a different lifestyle.

Nguyen said the only time he is in a bad mood is when he hasn’t seen a pageant contestant come in the shop for three or four days. He said it’s nice when they come in on a daily basis and tell him stories.

Nguyen considers Baton Rouge to be his hometown, but he said he will never forget where he came from. Nguyen emigrated from Vietnam at the age of 2, and he said he would love the opportunity to return and see what it’s like.

“In my life, I let everything just happen on its own because if I just try to be positive and do the right thing, I know that [God] will take care of me,” Nguyen said.

Nguyen’s unique personality has captured the attention of many, even players from the football team. He provides the LSU athletes with some free advice: “First, do what you love. If you love what you do, they already know it.” l su l egacy mag.c om

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OPINION

AIN’T NO HOLLABACK

GIRL

STORY LAUREN DUHON PHOTOS SARAH KERSHAW DESIGN KELLY KRAL

Street harassment is a tough issue to tackle. The definition is subjective, and your opponents are those who dismiss it as a compliment and others who are apathetic to the situation.

Truth is, it exists. And it isn’t a form of flattery.

In fact, there is an 80 percent chance women or LGBT people will experience some form of gender-based harassment in their lifetime, according to Stop Street Harassment, an organization dedicated to documenting and ending gender-based street harassment worldwide.

On its website, the organization defines street harassment as “unwelcome words and actions by unknown persons in public places which are motivated by gender and invade a person’s physical and emotional space in a disrespectful, creepy, startling, scary or insulting way.” This can include everything from catcalls to explicit comments, sexist remarks to groping, stalking, public masturbation or even sexual assault. The severity varies, but it can happen anywhere at anytime, especially on campus.

One particular atmosphere that provokes unwarranted contact is tailgating. Founder of Stop Street Harassment Holly Kearl said some people use events like tailgating as an excuse to act poorly.

“Common courtesy and seeking consent before talking to someone or touching them sometimes seems to be ignored

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in these situations,” she said. This could be attributed to the added pressure of having a good time, even if it is at the expense of another person’s well being, Kearl said.

As the alcohol courses through the veins of thousands of football fans and the excitement for the evening’s match between two rival schools draws near, the concept of personal restraint and respect goes out the window. Capt. Cory Lalonde, LSU Police Department public information officer, said the excessive consumption of alcohol is a major factor when dealing with sexual harassment. In the past five years, four cases of sexual violence have been reported to LSUPD at football tailgates. In addition, approximately 60 percent of cases involving sexual violence go unreported, he added.

“Just because we don’t always report or respond, doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen,” Lalonde said. When dealing with sexual harassment, people often let it go and don’t pursue anything further because it isn’t defined as criminal activity. However, Lalonde said individuals should always share their story, whether it is with the police or not.

I’ve seen countless women objectified by men on game day, myself included, and I’ve seen every shade of harassment on campus, in and out of the stadium. The stories I hear from friends of weekend festivities all too often include examples of disrespect and harassment: everything from

WAYS TO NOT BE “THAT GUY” ON GAME DAY

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fans yelling “hey baby” from the street or passersby touching them inappropriately. A friend told me one person even went as far as putting his hand down her shirt. The situation should make anyone uncomfortable. Women should not have to worry about being groped or verbally harassed by drunk fans. Everyone is looking for a good time but not without consent.

In order to create a safe space for everyone and to ensure that everyone equally enjoys his or her game day experience, it is important to speak up. Kearl said people can create a game plan for what to do in the event that they see or experience harassment firsthand.

“Setting a good example and setting the tone for how your group of friends should interact with others can also be a powerful action,” she said. This sets a precedent that allows for positive changes to occur.

As sports fans, we are all there for one thing, and that is to root for the same home team. No one’s game day experience should be any less enjoyable because one individual decides to invade another’s personal space and privacy.

Harassment is not a compliment. It is important for women to know that they are not at fault. Those who act without judgment or respect deserve a penalty. But you do have a voice, and you can shout back.

Respect boundaries when a girl says “stop” or “no” (No means no, bro).

Talk to her, don’t yell at her from across a crowd of sweaty football fans.

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Don’t hover (If she’s not interested, move along).

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Alcohol is not an excuse to do whatever you want.

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Don’t make someone feel unsafe, especially if they are alone. You don’t want to come off as scary or intimidating.

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The way that a girl dresses is not an invitation for you to harass her or to comment on her looks.

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If you want to say hello, just say it. Don’t call her “baby” or “sweet thing.”

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Think about how you would want someone to treat your mother, partner, sister, girlfriend or daughter in that situation.

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Do not assume that all women are interested.

Use common sense. Don’t be a creep.

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