The Reveille 6-19-19

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We d ne s d ay, Ju ne 19, 2 019

TRYING TIDES LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine building deals with water intrusion as the Mississippi River, experiencing a historic period of flooding, begins to encroach upon campus, page 2

NEWS

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LSU medical school alumna and professional in residence reconnect over music and neurology.

ENTERTAINMENT

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Coyote Moon shows customers ways they can find spirituality through crystals, stones and more.

OPINION

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“It has never been illegal to be straight in the U.S. or to show physical love to a heterosexual partner.”

L SU Re ve i l le.co m @l s u r e ve i l le

page 2 WEATHER

Rising river levels cause flooding in, around School of Veterinary Medicine building

BY LARA NICHOLSON @laranicholson_ The routine starts the same each rainy day before work: LSU veterinarians drive to work as it rains cats and dogs, they circle their parking lot looking for spots before settling for the visitor lot and they enter the building.

Then they pull out a mop and vacuum to clean the puddles of seeping water off the training room floor.

According to the National Weather Service, once the Mississippi river’s flood stage reaches 35 feet, the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine building and its surrounding area “become soggy.” After more than 150 consecutive days of being over that flood level, standing water has been seeping in through the floors and eliminating parking spots for employees.

School of Veterinary Medicine communications manager Ginger Guttner said that when the Mississippi River rises, water seeps through the floor of a surgery training room for students. Parking spots also become unusable due to slippery moss buildup on the surface of flood water, causing employees to park across the street.

“It’s a water pressure issue,” said Facility Services Interim Executive Director Laura Morrow. “That is a design issue.

We can’t undo a design. There’s mitigating factors, but there’s nothing that’s going to solve that problem when you’re next to the Mississippi river.”

The building was constructed in 1978, and release wells were installed in 1983 to pump water away from the building.

Since that installation, little to no renovations have been made on drainage of the building.

Morrow said this attributes to much larger issue: a lack of funding for facility services to perform these repairs. There are currently over $623 million in deferred maintenance across campus due to a lack of funding.

“There is no money,” Morrow said. “It’s not attractive or engaging, and it’s not drawing students in. It’s underground and you’ll never see it once you put it in. It doesn’t attract people to say, ‘hey, $500,000 to do a small piece of pipe.’ I think that’s the bigger issue. It’s so widespread — it’s all of campus. We have indications of what we should do.

There’s no funding.”

According to Guttner, however, the problem is not severe.

“We’re talking about a puddle here and there,” Guttner said. “We just use a shop vacuum to pick it up. The only inconvenience is that where there are large puddles of water, we can’t park there. It’s a little inconvenient, but it’s not stopping people from getting to work or doing their jobs.

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Baton Rouge broke the record for the number of days the Mississippi River has remained at flood stage, which hasn’t been reached since 1927. Forecasts predict the river will remain above the 35-foot flood stage until late June.

Regardless, School of Veterinary Medicine staff members are planning to work with engineers to aid the current drainage pumps. These repairs may not be enough, however, if the water continues to rise as predicted.

Baton Rouge broke the record for the number of days the Mississippi River has remained at flood stage, which hasn’t been reached since 1927. Forecasts predict the river will remain above the 35-foot flood stage until late June. The river mea-

sured 43 feet Tuesday morning.

“I’ve never seen anything like it in my entire life,” Fifth Louisiana Levee District President Reynold Minsky told the Monroe News Star. “I’m on pins and needles until it falls below flood stage.”

The Daily Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Daily Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. A single issue of The Daily Reveille is free. To purchase additional copies, please visit the Office of Student Media in B-39 Hodges Hall. The Daily Reveille is published weekly during the fall, spring, and summer semesters, except during holidays and final exams. Secondclass copies postage paid at Baton Rouge, LA, 70803. Annual weekly mailed subscriptions are $125, semester weekly mailed subscriptions are $75. Non-mailed student rates are $4 each regular semester, $2 during the summer; one copy per person, additional copies 25 cents each. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Daily Reveille, B-39 Hodges Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.

NEWS

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strike a chord

Former LSU School of Music professor reconnects with former student and neurologist after being diagnosed with Parkinsonism

N UYE ILLUSTRATION BY HA-V Y NG

BY LYNNE BUNCH @lynnebunch11 As a professional in residence in the LSU School of Music for nearly 30 years, Jan Grimes has accompanied more than 600 students in their performances. One student, Sarah Perez, a 2004 graduate whose specialty was the clarinet, proved to stand out from the others when a conference in 2017 brought the two back together in unexpected ways.

While Grimes continued her life’s dedication to music, Perez decided return to LSU to pursue another field — medicine. After taking her science requirements and the MCAT exam, she moved to the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans for medical school.

In 2006, Grimes noticed a tremor in her thumb, leading her to her own world of medicine. Unable to find an answer in Baton Rouge, she sought help from Baylor Medical School in Houston where she found a doctor who provided her with a diagnosis.

“When I got back in the

The real message we want to convey is that there is hope — there is life after a diagnosis of Parkinson’s.

SARAH PEREZ

Neurologist, LSU alumna chair he said, ‘I think you have Parkinsonism,’” she told LSU in an interview. “He said that I didn’t swing my left arm as much as my right. I am glad I found out what it was and to confront it.

But I spent a lot of time on that river of denial.”

Perez, unaware of what was happening in Grimes’ life, was going to medical school for neurology, the same field that covers Parkinsonism and other neurological disorders. After graduating medical school and a fellowship at the University of Alabama, she moved back to Louisiana, where she was reunited with her former accompanist.

Grimes and Perez reconnected at Pennington Biomedical’s Parkinson’s Disease Conference.

Grimes found out about the con-

ference after speaking at the Louisiana Federation of Music Club and was invited by a woman who just so happened to be Perez’ mother-in-law.

“A woman came up to me and said, ‘You’ve got to meet my daughter-in-law, Sarah Perez,’” Grimes said. And we talked about Sarah. But little did I know, it was the same Sarah because I knew her as Sarah Roberts. So I looked her up and realized I knew her and couldn’t believe she was a neurologist. It was fabulously shocking and great news.”

When Grimes and Perez reunited at the conference, both of them were able to share their passion for music and life of neurological science. The friendship provided Grimes with a neurologist she’s close with and

gave Perez a chance to play the clarinet again. “[Grimes] was an answer to my prayers. Literally a few weeks beforehand I had prayed for an opportunity to play again,” Perez said. “I missed it so much. And two weeks later, I was reunited with Jan. I couldn’t believe it,” she said.

Grimes and Perez continue to bring their story to people throughout Louisiana, including performing at the LSU Science Café on May 28. The performance, called “Full Circle: Music, Struggle, Reunion & Inspiration,” included five compositions as well as the retelling of their story.

“We use this as a platform,” Perez said. “The real message we want to convey is that there is hope — there is life after a diagnosis of Parkinson’s. [Grimes] is living beautifully with Parkinson’s, just as she lived beautifully anyway.”

The eighth annual Parkinson’s Conference will be held on July 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pennington Biomedical’s Conference Center in Baton Rouge.

ENTERTAINMENT

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OVER THE MOON

MUSIC

Citizen Cope adds to Varsity Theatre’s list of indie acts to perform near LSU

BY LIA SALIME @liasalime

NAIF OTHMAN / The Reveille

Coyote Moon provides tools to assist in finding spirituality, peace

BY MASIE O’TOOLE @masieotoole Since ancient times, cultures from every corner of the earth have found significance and healing power in the natural world, from the constellations illuminating the night sky to the rocks and minerals comprising the ground below.

In the modern age, many have forgotten these traditions, opting instead for other sources of comfort and healing. Without practice, they could fall into obscu-

rity, eventually even fizzling out altogether.

Coyote Moon is doing what it can to change that.

The store was established in 1992 by Molly McKenzie in Baton Rouge. What once began as a meeting place for spiritual discussion soon evolved into a store, supplying tools to assist in customers’ spiritual lives. The store sits at 1938 Perkins Road, right in the heart of the community.

After almost 35 years in the McKenzie family, the store was sold to husbands Chris and

Jason Romero, two long-term Coyote Moon employees. Since 2016, the couple has been doing their best to fulfill the needs of the Baton Rouge spiritual community.

Since he was young, Jason has been searching for some answers, an explanation for the energies he felt around certain objects and materials and what that buried meaning might be.

“For me, I have always looked for something more,” he said. “I knew in my soul even when I was younger that there is a deeper

see COYOTE, page 5

truth spiritually.”

On a trip to Coyote Moon long before he worked there, the now-owner picked up a copy of “Love is in the Earth” by Melody, an encyclopedia of the different crystals and what energy they possess.

From there, guide in hand, Jason began to study the art of crystal healing on a more serious level and how he may be able to help himself and others.

“I’m not saying that these stones are going to magically heal a broken bone or a broken heart,”

After spending the day celebrating fathers and paternal figures, crowds gathered at Varsity Theatre to enjoy singer-songwriter Clarence Greenwood, better known as Citizen Cope, as he served a concert that mixed blues, soul, folk and rock.

The concert officially kicked off at 8:40 p.m. as Citizen Cope stepped on stage and sang “Holdin’ On.” He followed with performances of “Let The Drummer and “Bullet and a Target,” some of his better known songs that feature alternative hip-hop, synths and protest-like lyrics.

The crowd screamed as Citizen Cope left the stage at 10:15, only to return and perform two finals songs for the encore — upbeat rock song “Brother Lee” and the melancholic “Sideways.” Even the audience members who seemed unfamiliar with his music appeared to enjoy his onstage charm.

Citizen Cope’s performance quickly tugged at newcom-

see VARSITY, page 5

MUSIC

LSU students, musicians find cathartic outlet in Group Therapy

BY LIA SALIME @liasalime Theatre sophomores Rain Scott-Catoire, Sophia Brazda and Sydni Myers share their original, self-composed lyrics and alternative piano rock tunes with the University campus through their band, Group Therapy.

Group Therapy had its debut concert on May 3 at the French House, performing the upbeat “Contraband,” “Words” and “Fate Is You.” The group received major support from friends and family as well as the LSU School of Theatre community.

The band is ready to share their music with the rest of the University and the world come fall with an EP they expect to make available to listeners through Spotify and Apple Music.

Group Therapy unexpectedly began during a fateful night in the Spring of 2019 in Brazda’s dorm room, the designated hangout spot due to her roommate’s continual absence. Though the women were friends, Brazda and ScottCatoire did not know each other well. Myers had brought ScottCatoire along to hang out.

That night, they had a sleepover where they shared stories and secrets, including a poem Brazda had written in high school about having a crush on her then-boyfriend’s best friend.

“I was reading this little poem I had written with a very basic melody to it,” Brazda said.

“Then I looked up from my phone because I was terrified to see their faces and they were

both beaming at me.”

Scott-Catoire immediately asked Brazda to let her put music to the song. The next night, they met up in the School of Music at a practice room, and Scott-Catpore conceived a bouncing eight note chord to accompany the lyrics. Since then, the group has focused on original songs.

The name of the band surfaced in a practice room after a series of vetoes from Scott-Catoire, who required a meaningful name for the band.

The group reflected on how cathartic their practice sessions were, leading to Brazda’s winning suggestion of Group Therapy. The rest is history as the women decided it matched

see THERAPY, page 5

courtesy of GROUP THERAPY

LSU theatre sophomores Rain Scott-Catoire, Sophia Brazda and Sydni Myers started Group Therapy as a way to express their emotions through songs. The band will release an EP in fall 2019.

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

page 5

VARSITY, from page 3 ers’ musical heartstrings, said animal science junior Shelby Granier, who hadn’t listened to the performer before Sunday’s show.

“My sister told me about Citizen Cope,” Granier said.

“I came with her to this concert because we don’t do that very often and I’m having a really good time. This band is capturing my heart. Every single song he sings I feel on an emotional level.”

The Memphis-born singer currently records and produces under his own record label Rainwater Recordings, which he founded in 2010 following his decision to no longer work with major labels. On March 1, he released his first album in six years, “Heroin and Helicopters.”

The Varsity is well-known for bringing alternative rock and indie acts like Citizen Cope as well as local musicians to the University area. Earlier this year, the venue hosted a blast-

COYOTE, from page 5

“The Varsity has a wide range of acts,” LSU alumnus David Bankston said. “A lot of the big crowds we have are a lot

of bigger metal and rock acts, but we have a wide variety from local to brass bands and country, indie, pop, all that type of stuff. I get to see tons of cool shows and it’s in the field I want to go to. I want to go in the music business — booking and managing events.”

In addition to concerts, The Varsity hosts a variety of other events such as “Trivia on Tap” and the “LSU Science Café.”

The Science Café is an on-going event that features speakers as it aims to increase inclusion in STEM fields.

The next Science Café will be on June 25 featuring LSU Assistant Dean for Diversity & Inclusion Zakiya Wilson-Kennedy for an inspiring presentation on how communities around the U.S., including here in Baton Rouge, are effectively broadening participation in STEM. The event is sponsored by the Office of Research & Economic Development.

he said. “I’m saying that they will assist in the healing process.”

Now, Jason and Chris work together to spread those resources they found at Coyote Moon as customers.Along with stones and crystals, the store also carries sterling silver jewelry, books, tarot and oracle decks, statuary, essential oils, incense, candles and an array of resins and herbs.

Coyote Moon also gets involved in the community through different events and fairs, like Rock N’ at the Swamp at The Bluebonnet Swamp Nature center, the Spiritual and Healing Fair and most recently, Baton Rouge Pride Fest.

“We were very excited to be a part of Baton Rouge Pride,” the owner said. “This was Coyote Moon’s first year to have a booth at the event. It was exciting to see everyone laughing and having a great time, just being who they are.”

All of this may be a little overwhelming to someone just

starting out, but the owners want to extend an open hand to anyone and everyone who wants to learn more about their own spirituality and how to spread positivity and healing throughout the community.

“We have created an atmosphere that is a safe place where people from all walks of life,” Jason said. “No matter who you are, or where you come from can come and shop in a calm relaxing environment without fear of prosecution or judgement.

All are welcome.”

we can all build this thing together, but the basis, it starts with one of us getting inspired.”

A classically trained pianist, Scott-Catoire composes the music while also providing vocals along with Brazda

and Myers. All three students have incredibly strong voices that, when harmonized, create a sound that commands any listener’s attention.

While most bands experience dry spells of creativity, Group

Therapy has the opposite problem — they have an outpour of it with 22 songs in various stages of development. As they prepare to release the music in the fall, they expect the emotions to be as strong as the melodies.

“The problem with having a band centered around group therapy sessions is that everything comes tumbling out at once,” Brazda said. “ So, when it does hit the internet, it’s going to be with a bang.”

from-the-past performance with former Nickelodeon teen icon and musician Drake Bell. The venue also provides an avenue for LSU students who want to go into the music industry to gain hands-on experience.

“This band is capturing my heart.

Every single song he sings I feel on an emotional level.”

SHELBY GRANIER

LSU Animal Science Student

NAIF OTHMAN / The Reveille

THERAPY, from page 3 exactly what they were doing.

“What’ll happen most of the time is one of us will write a song that has a melody and lyrics and then we’ll bring it to each other,” Scott-Catoire said.

“We’ll all contribute to it so that

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OPINION

page 6

VIRAL VIGILANCE Media violence desensitizing, decreasing awareness

OLIVE’S GARDEN OLIIVA JAMES @afroliviaa These days, it seems like I can’t scroll down Twitter without seeing an obscene video of someone getting beat up or dying.

Whether it just be a school fight or someone being shot by the police, I am tired of seeing things like this. I don’t think seeing bodies sprawled across the ground should be a norm, especially when they are black and brown.

Besides what it can mentally do to people who look like us, this constant spread of violent media makes us indifferent toward the topic as a whole. I understand that violence is a part of everyday life, but that does not mean we should have no reaction when seeing it.

Desensitization is a process that diminishes emotional respon-

siveness to a negative or positive stimulus after repeated exposure to it. There are many differing studies on the effects of different types of media on the brain, so it would be ignorant to think that there is no effect at all.

We are only concerned with violence for a few seconds before it meshes with everything else on our feed. We become more apathetic toward violence the more we see it. Violence has become the norm so no matter how gruesome, it seems like people don’t even blink.

Daniel Linz, Edward Donnerstein and Steven Penrod conducted a study in 1984 measuring men’s reactions to films portraying sexual violence against women. With each day of watching the violence, their anxiety decreased.

With each day of watching, they considered the films less and less violent though it was in fact the same content. The men were pre-

sented a mock trial where a woman was a victim of sexual assault.

The men who saw the films were less sympathetic toward the victim and sexual assault as a whole.

This is how this gross desensitization can affect our real lives past the screen. Violence on TV or on social media, though it may be footage of actual happenings, is not the same as being in a real life run in with violence or being in a courtroom determining what violence is. How does one determine that if they have seen it so much that it is the norm?

This repeated viewing of violence can affect victims too. People may be more passive when they are a victim in a situation and deny help because what happened to them is so normal.

The desensitization is so widespread that people’s first instinct when a violent crime is happening is not to call the police, but start recording. Recording is help-

cartoon by ETHAN GILBERTI / The Reveille

ful in situations of police brutality, but not in the case of two people fighting. This problem is not one that will be fixed overnight, and the U.S. already shows violence in media a little less than the rest of the world due to regulations. So, just what do we do? We become more empathetic.

Even if our brains’ first re-

sponse to seeing violence through various forms of media is to look and just scroll past it, we must be more aware of the victims. We must not accept it as the norm, and we must be more vigilant.

Olivia James is a 19-year-old mass communication freshman from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

‘Straight Pride’ inconsiderate of plight of the LGBT community ACCORDING TO ASHLON ASHLON LUSK @ashlonrose Straight people don’t deserve straight pride because they have never been discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. It really is that simple.

Pride originated as a commemoration of the Stonewall riots, where members of the LGBTQ community defended themselves against a police raid in 1969. It was illegal to be gay in 1969 and “sodomy” was still considered a crime. It has never been illegal to be straight in the U.S, nor has it even been illegal to show physical love to a heterosexual partner Men could be arrested for wearing drag and women had to be wearing at least three items of “feminine clothing.”

It wasn’t until 2003 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in the Lawrence v. Texas case,

which officially overruled the sodomy law in Texas that criminalized same-sex relations.

Members of the LGBTQ community are discriminated against every day. Just three years ago, the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando ended with 49 people dead and another 53 wounded.

Straight and cisgender people have never been shot at just because they are straight and cisgender The people who want straigght pride don’t understand the suffering, discrimination and oppression that comes with being a part of the LGBTQ community.

Walking down the street holding your partner’s hand, feeling safe is straight privilege. Comfortably kissing your partner in public is straight privilege. Seeing straight couples accurately depicted in the media is straight privilege. No one asking you to be their “straight friend” is straight privilege.

The list doesn’t end there: in

case anyone has forgotten, never having to come out to your parents as straight is straight privilege. This one event could change someone’s life if their family doesn’t accept them, and no one will ever disown you for your sexuality if you are straight.

There isn’t a need to feel proud to be straight because no one has ever told a straight person it’s not OK to love who they want. There are still churches that refuse to marry gay couples.

People who use their religion to spread hate are just homophobic people trying to make themselves feel better. It is a sin to lie, steal and cheat because those are things people choose to do.

It is not a choice who you love.

No one ever tells a straight person that it’s a sin to love who they love.

People wanting there to be a straight pride are the same type of people who want a white history month. White people, just like straight people, have never

courtesy of WIKIMEDIA

been systematically oppressed, and therefore don’t need a month to celebrate their history. White people’s history of enslaving black people is similar to straight people’s history is oppressing gay

Editorial Policies and Procedures EDITORIAL BOARD Lynne Bunch Ha-Vy Nguyen

Editor in Chief Managing Editor

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 opinion@lsureveille.com 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.

people — neither should be celebrated, and neither should be a source of pride.

Ashlon Lusk is a 20-year-old mass communication sophomore from Houston, Texas.

Quote of the Week Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court March 15, 1933 — present

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Announcements

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Wednesday, June 19, 2019

page 8 LETTER TO THE EDITOR

‘Open Education Resources’ key to reshaping textbook market materials all published under an open copyright license. These In response to the previ- materials have been written by ously submitted “Letter to faculty and have undergone the the Editor” regarding underuti- peer-review process just like lized textbook resources, there regular textbooks. Faculty and is no question that the outra- students can access these mategeous price of textrials for absolutely books imposes an no cost. There are undue burden on materials for every students.

Forgomajor subject area. ing purchasing reThere needs to be Faculty have the opquired course mato choose from a shift away from tion terials can cause the available catathis system to one log of materials. anywhere from minor nuisances that provides quality The materials can be customized, all the way to mamaterials without also jor grade impliallowing faculty to financial burden. cations. But the tailor the materials problem won’t to fit their courses. be fixed by what OERs are spreading, with major these large publishing companies institutions, including Tidewater Comare offering. The nature of the textbook indus- munity College, Texas A&M, and try allows several multinational UMass Amherst, already making publishing companies to com- the switch. pletely dominate the market.

While the programs highInstead of completely relying lighted in the previous letter on publisher-sponsored materi- provide students with access to als, there instead needs to be a some resources, there are still complete reshaping of the mar- setbacks. Publishing compaket in the direction of Open nies offer services that provide Educational Resources. e-textbooks for reduced rates.

Open Educational Resources However, that reduced rate can (OERs) are textbooks, problem still creep into the hundreds of sets, quizzes, tests and other dollars range depending on the

BY CHARLIE SPRING

courtesy of WIKIMEDIA

book. These e-textbooks cannot be shared. They expire and often require separate access codes for problem sets and quizzes that can cost hundreds more.

Open Access Textbooks can be accessed online for free, with

no page limit for downloading or printing.

Publishing companies are able to charge obscene amounts of money for textbooks because they have a monopoly on the industry. Prices are allowed

to soar exponentially because students are a captive audience.

In order to break the cycle, there needs to be a shift away from this system to one that provides quality materials without the financial burden.

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