The Reveile 9-16-19

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WEATHERING THE STORM Freshman diver Manny Vazquez Bas reflects on his experiences with Hurricane Maria on the two-year anniversary of the storm.

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College of Business Dean Richard White Jr. reflects on his LSU career following the announcement of his retirement in June 2020.

SPORTS

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LSU football reaches milestone 800th win after 65-14 victory over Northwestern State on Saturday.

ENTERTAINMENT

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Power Pump Girls Inc. is fighting the stigma and inequality surrounding menstruation and feminine hygiene products.

OPINION

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“It was frustrating having my pepper spray confiscated on a campus that really emphasizes its commitment to student safety.”

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

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‘Maria was going to be the end of my career’: Manny Vazquez Bas and the storm that shaped him

BY REED DARCY @byreeddarcy Freshman diver Manny Vazquez Bas sat in the LSU Natatorium’s press box as Hurricane Dorian scraped the East Coast of the United States after devastating the Bahamas, largely sparing his home of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

As he recalled Hurricane Maria, which made landfall two years ago on Sept. 16, 2017, Vazquez Bas’ bright smile and positive aura momentarily subsided, clouded by a brief tinge of sadness.

A couple of months before Maria, Vazquez Bas took his talents to Orlando, seeking upgraded training, facilities and exposure. His family stayed in San Juan.

“It was hard,” Vazquez Bas said.

“I wasn’t sure what happened. It was probably three days after the hurricane [and] I still wasn’t in contact with my parents. I couldn’t travel there. All I was hearing was the news that the hurricane destroyed thousands of houses.”

His normal composure quickly returned.

“For the most part I was pretty comfortable,” Vazquez Bas said. “I knew that my parents would be fine.”

Vazquez Bas’ family survived the storm. His father, Carlos Quinones, a federal employee, kept his job, but his mother, Liza, was out of work for a year. Vazquez Bas’ grandfather is a sailor, and Maria sunk his boat. Although his house’s concrete structure withstood the impact, it was without electricity for four months, forcing the family to spend thousands of dollars on generator fuel on top of Vazquez Bas’ living expenses in Orlando.

Still, the Vazquez Bas family emerged from the storm in relatively fortunate circumstances. Maria claimed a staggering 3,000 lives and caused $90 billion in damage.

Power wouldn’t be fully restored to the island until 11 months after the storm.

And it nearly took Vazquez Bas’ livelihood.

“Maria was going to be the end of my career,” Vasquez Bas said. “There was no pool [after the storm] for me to train [in]. There was nothing. It was just surviving.”

FEMA came under fire for its delayed arrival in Puerto Rico as the death toll climbed in the absence of electricity. Maria still haunts Vazquez Bas, and he is grateful that he could focus on diving, not surviving, during his home’s long, painful recovery. He signed with LSU in Nov. 2018, a few months after the power was restored in Puerto Rico.

When the school year started in Baton Rouge, Vazquez Bas found himself in a similar situation. Tropical Storm Dorian threatened Puerto Rico in what could have been the first major test of the power grid since Maria. Vazquez Bas was in another new environment, even farther away from his family this time.

Vazquez Bas admitted to be-

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MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille

LSU freshman diver Manny Vazquez Bas practices a dive in the LSU Natatorium on Sept. 4. ing scared and concerned, but he remained calm as Dorian moved through the Gulf of Mexico. He wasn’t too worried once he realized it wasn’t going straight through the middle of the island like Maria did.

Dorian then strengthened to a Category 5 storm with his second home of Orlando in its path.

Vazquez Bas said he spoke to a few friends, all of whom “were pretty chill.”

“I’ve been in hurricanes my whole life. It’s a normal thing that happens,” he said.

On the diving platforms, in interviews and in the face of hurricanes, Vazquez Bas is poised.

He has honed the mental side of diving, crucial for any diver determined to reach the highest levels of competition.

Diving is “more mental than physical,” according to Elizabeth

Cui, a former Olympian and LSU diver.

“One of the Vazquez Basic and most common fears everyone has is falling, and our sport is pretty much falling,” Cui said. “So naturally it’s very scary, and it goes against human nature. You’re trying to conquer that fear everyday.”

When asked to describe how he has found peace of mind in a tense sport, Vazquez Bas exhaled: “It’s been a long process,” he said. “[Diving] teaches you that not everything is going to be great and how to stay calm and not overreact and know how to think before reacting,” Vazquez Bas said.

“Everything is in your mind, and once you get that out, you’re going to be able to perform better.”

Vazquez Bas’ mental fortitude allowed him to block out past calamity in the face of potential disaster. It also brought him to the

highest levels of diving in tournaments in Canada, Cuba and Columbia, ascending him through Orlando, to Baton Rouge and possibly to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics.

“Diving has opened so many doors for me,” Vazquez Bas said.

“It has brought me so many great experiences, and I’ve met so many people who have helped me grow as a person and as an athlete too.”

“If I didn’t have diving, I don’t even know where I’d be,” Vazquez Bas said.

If Vazquez Bas falls short of Tokyo, will he consider it a failure?

His answer was predictably positive.

“Even if I don’t qualify, I won’t see it as failure,” Vazquez Bas said.

“I would see it as an experience, as a learning lesson.”

Elizabeth Cui is a former LSU diver and current Reveille staff reporter.

The Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure its readers the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards. This space is reserved to recognize and correct any mistakes that may have been printed in The Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified, please contact the editor at (225) 578-4811 or email editor@lsureveille.com.

ABOUT THE REVEILLE 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. A single issue of The Reveille is free. To purchase additional copies, please visit the Office of Student Media in B-39 Hodges Hall. The Reveille is published weekly during the fall, spring, and summer semesters, except during holidays and final exams. Second-class 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 Reveille, B-39 Hodges Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.

NEWS FOND FAREWELL

LSU College of Business Dean Richard White Jr. announces retirement

BY RAYMOND CONSTANTINO @r_dog_3 LSU E.J. Ourso College of Business Dean Richard White Jr. announced on Wednesday that he will retire in June.

White has served as the College of Business’ dean since April 2014. He has overseen a number of improvements to the College of Business during his career, including the introduction of several new minors and various fundraising efforts. White said the accomplishment he’s most proud of is the installation of the Office of Business Student Success.

“Probably the most important is I’ve created the Office of Business Student Success,” White said.

“It’s a one-stop shop for all of our students to get all their support activities taken care of.”

White, who will soon turn 74, said he decided to retire because he and his wife want to travel and spend more time with their family while they are still in good health.

White said he feels his deanship has run its course and that the college needs a new dean to steer its course.

“I’ve really felt good after (deciding to retire),” White said.

“When I retired from the Coast Guard, I didn’t look over my

shoulder, and I don’t expect to do so with this job. There are challenges ahead and some great times ahead.”

Being a dean is tough and the job is more physical than one might think, said White. White traveled often for fundraising and other events. He said football games were usually more work than pleasure because he had to entertain donors.

Not only is the job physically demanding, White said he often has to go back-and-forth between the extremes of being a dean.

“It’s a very schizophrenic job.

One minute you’re giving out awards to students and really positive, uplifting events,” White said, “and then the next hour I’m having to fire somebody or kick somebody out of school. You’ve got to put on many faces.”

White said the most disappointing part of his tenure as dean is the effect that Louisiana state politics has had on the University. He said state politicians have made it very difficult to balance the budget by continually taking away state funding.

“There have been nights over the last eight years where I’d wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat thinking how am I going to make it through this year,”

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SOARS helps STEM students

BY MARIA MARSH @mariarose22

funding is the college’s biggest weakness, according to White.

“Our student-faculty ratio in the college is 42 to 1, the rest of the University is 22 to 1,” White said. “Our students pay the price of our financial difficulty by being in classes that are twice as filled as the rest of the University.”

Despite these difficulties, White said he believes the College

The LSU College of Science was recently granted $988,837 through the Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program, sponsored by the National Science Foundation. This grant will fund a project that will aid economically-disadvantaged students who are seeking STEM degrees at the University.

The project, Scholarship Opportunities Aimed at Retaining Science Scholars, or SOARS, is designed to aid students that are academically talented, but have not had the same level of resources as their peers due to economic reasons.

There will be two groups of 10 students that will be supported for their four years at the University.

The program was designed to aid students not only financially but also academically. Each student in the program will be offered a scholarship and mentorship to aid them throughout their academic process.

The National Science Foundation holds competitions that

see WHITE, page 5

see STEM, page 5

THE REVEILLE ARCHIVES

Dean of LSU’s E. J. Ourso College of Business Richard D. White Jr. addresses attendees on Oct. 13, 2016 at the sixth annual LSU 100 event in the L’Auberge Casino Hotel of Baton Rouge.

White said. “Am I going to have to lay off people? Am I going to have to cancel classes?”

One thing White repeatedly mentioned in his interview with the Reveille was his belief in the quality of business students at the University. He said that the College of Business’ biggest strength is its students.

However, the amount of students combined with inadequate

HEALTH

“We’re here”: NAMI aims to destigmatize mental health

BY KATHERINE MANUEL @kmanuel_2 The National Alliance of Mental Illness at LSU aims to remove the stigma around mental health and bring awareness to the importance of mental health on campus through meetings, events and resources.

LSU NAMI president Tatiana Gonzalez-Quiroga believes in the importance of mental health and wants the entire campus talking about it.

“Mental health is something that we all have in common,” Gonzalez-Quiroga said. “I think it’s nice that this club really gets that conversation started.”

The club holds a monthly general meeting, which includes a topic pertaining to mental health and sometimes a speaker relevant to that topic.

The first meeting of this semester will be an informational meeting about NAMI and what members can expect from the club.

In November, the meeting theme will surround gun violence and mental health.

NAMI also holds events throughout the month aside from their general meetings. One of these is “NAMI and Chill,” a movie night on one Friday each month where members get together and watch a movie related to mental health, then discuss it afterward. Other events the club hosts include mindfulness yoga, therapy dogs and music therapy.

NAMI also has a booth during Fall Fest each year to reach out to the LSU community and promote mental health. Last year the theme of its booth was “Hang Your Worries Up To Dry,” where University students could write their worries on a paper in the shape of a t-shirt and hang it on a clothesline.

In 2018, NAMI at LSU won the Advocacy Program of the Year award at the Love Purple Live Gold Awards for its Black History Month program about mental health in the AfricanAmerican community.

NAMI partners with the Student Health Center for many of its events and initiatives. This semester they are working together to

promote four new mental health initiatives for students at the University. One of these new services will be a 15 minute walk-in therapy session available to students in four locations across campus.

Vice President Savannah Weisensee is one of the students working closely with the Student Health Center on this new program.

“When you call the Health Center and say you need to talk to a therapist, you have to wait a month or two to get an appointment,” Weisensee said.

“Usually by the time someone is calling the Mental Health Center, it’s because they’re already in crisis mode.”

The new service will make the resources available to University students for their mental health more accessible.

“We’re here to help,” Weisensee said.

NAMI LSU is a branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a nonprofit organization that works in communities to provide education and resources regarding

mental illness to those in need.

NAMI has a Louisiana and a Baton Rouge chapter, both of which are involved with NAMI LSU.

NAMI at LSU posts updates about upcoming events and meetings on Instagram, @geauxnami, and Twitter @mentalhealthlsu.

COURTESY OF NAMI AT LSU

NAMI at LSU’s booth at Fall Fest 2018, “Hang Your Worries Up to Dry.”

Monday, September 16, 2019

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We apologize for associating partying with black students Letter from the editor CALEB GREENE @cgreene_24 On Thursday’s edition of The Reveille, we used a photo that depicted a group of female African-American students attending an on-campus event with the headline “Rowdy Reputation: University struggles with image; continues to rank among

nation’s top party schools.”

Since Thursday, I have received multiple phone calls and emails regarding the messaging of this image. It was not the intention of The Reveille to associate the University’s party image with the African-American community on campus, but we recognize our error. As editorin-chief, I would like to sincerely apologize to any individual who found the photo offensive.

The Reveille is dedicated to

inclusivity, and will take a comprehensive look at our production process to help prevent a similar error from occurring in the future. Additionally on Thursday, I spoke to LSU Vice Provost for Diversity Dereck Rovaris Sr. about the future diversity training for The Reveille staff.

I have prided myself and my staff on The Reveille’s ability to cover social issues on campus.

To this point in the semester,

we have done that, from our leading coverage of the racial slurs in the student section to our digital team’s timeline of reported racist events at LSU since 1961. Our mistake made in Thursday’s newspaper has been taken very seriously by The Reveille management staff and myself. In good conscience, I felt that I must apologize for the error.

The Reveille is work done by students for students. We

will continue to cover social issues on campus closely, and spotlight injustices felt within the LSU student body. I want to thank all those who reached out to The Reveille regarding the cover photo and I welcome every conversation I have with a Reveille reader. Together, we can work to make The Reveille’s coverage whole and create a more inclusive University, both inside our newsroom and across the campus.

STATE NEWS

NATIONAL NEWS

Governor Edwards US Border Wall will potentially reach 450 miles, new construction holds fundraising lead

BY ASTRID GALVAN The Associated Press YUMA, Ariz. (AP) — On a dirt road past rows of date trees, just feet from a dry section of Colorado River, a small construction crew is putting up a towering border wall that the government hopes will reduce — for good — the flow of immigrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally.

Cicadas buzz and heavy equipment rumbles and beeps before it lowers 30-foot-tall (9-meters-tall) sections of fence into the dirt. “Ahí está!” — “There it is!” — a Spanishspeaking member of the crew says as the men straighten the sections into the ground. Nearby, workers pull dates from palm trees, not far from the cotton fields that cars pass on the drive to the border.

South of Yuma, Arizona, the tall brown bollards rising against a cloudless desert sky will replace much shorter barriers that are meant to keep out cars, but not people.

This 5-mile (8-kilometer) section of fencing is where President Donald Trump’s most salient campaign promise — to build a wall along the entire southern border — is taking shape.

The president and his administration said this week that they plan on building between 450 and 500 miles (724 and 806 kilometers) of fencing along the nearly 2,000mile (3,218-kilometer) border by the end of 2020, an ambitious undertaking funded by billions of defense dollars that had been earmarked for things like military base schools, target ranges and maintenance facilities.

Two other Pentagon-funded construction projects in New Mexico and Arizona are underway, but some are skeptical that so many miles of wall can be built in such a short amount of time. The government is up against last-minute construction hiccups, funding issues and legal challenges from environmentalists and property owners whose land sits on the border.

The Trump administration says the wall — along with more surveillance technology, agents and lighting — is key to keeping out people who cross illegally.

Critics say a wall is useless when most of those apprehended turn themselves in to Border Patrol agents in the hope they can be eventually released while their cases play out in immigration court.

In Yuma, the defense-funded section of tall fencing is replacing shorter barriers that U.S. officials say are less efficient.

It comes amid a steep increase since last year in the number of migrant families who cross the border illegally in the Yuma area, often turning themselves in to Border Patrol agents. Many are fleeing extreme poverty and violence, and some are seeking asylum.

So far this year, Border Patrol agents in the Yuma sector have apprehended over 51,000 family units. That’s compared with just over 14,500 the year before — about a 250% increase.

The Yuma sector is the third busiest along the southern border, with officials building a temporary, 500-person tent facility in the parking lot of the Border Patrol’s Yuma headquarters in June.

It spent just under $15 million for the setup and services for four months, including meals, laundry and security, but officials are evaluating whether to keep it running past next month as the number of arrivals in Yuma and across the southern border have fallen sharply in recent months.

The drop is largely due to the Mexican government’s efforts to stop migrants from heading north after Trump threatened tariffs earlier this year to force Mexico to act.

The number of people apprehended along the southern border fell by 61 percent between this year’s high point in May and the end of August. In Yuma, it fell by 86 percent, according to government figures. Most people apprehended are either traveling as families or are unaccompanied children.

“Historically this has been a huge crossing point for both vehicles as well as family units and unaccompanied alien children during the crisis that we’ve seen in the past couple of months,” Border Patrol spokesman Jose Garibay said. “They’ve just been pouring over the border due to the fact that

we’ve only ever had vehicle bollards and barriers that by design only stop vehicles.”

Victor Manjarrez Jr., a former Border Patrol chief who’s now a professor at the University of Texas, El Paso, was an agent when the government put up the first stretch of barriers along the southern border — in San Diego.

He’s seen barriers evolve from easily collapsible landing mats installed by agents and the National Guard to the sophisticated, multibillion-dollar projects now being done by private contractors.

Manjarrez says tall border fencing is crucial in some areas and less helpful in others, like remote stretches of desert where shorter barriers and more technology like ground sensors would suffice.

“One form doesn’t fit in all areas, and so the fence itself is not the one solution. It’s a combination of many things,” Manjarrez said.

The ease of construction varies by place and depends on things like water, Manjarrez said, adding that just because a plot of land is flat “doesn’t mean it’s not complex.”

He said building 450 to 500 miles (724 and 806 kilometers) of fence by the end of next year would be tough if that figure doesn’t include sections of the wall that have been built recently.

“As it stands now, contractors are building pretty fast,” Manjarrez said. The real question is whether the government needs to build that much fencing, he said.

The Trump administration may face those issues along with lawsuits from landowners who aren’t giving up their property so easily and environmentalists who say the barriers stop animals from migrating and can cut off water resources.

The Tohono O’odham tribe in Arizona also has expressed opposition to more border fencing on its land, which stretches for nearly 75 miles (120 kilometers) along the border with Mexico.

Near Yuma, the Cocopah Indian Tribe’s reservation is near the latest fencing project, and leaders are concerned it will block the view to its sacred sites, spokesman Jonathan Athens said.

BY MELINDA DESLATTE The Associated Press BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Republicans challenging Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards couldn’t match the Democrat’s fundraising pace as they ready for final advertising blitzes ahead of the Oct. 12 election, but GOP businessman Eddie Rispone is using his own money to reach Edwards’ spending levels.

The Deep South’s only Democratic governor raised more than $1.6 million in the latest fundraising period from July 5 through Sept. 2.

U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham brought in $761,000 for his governor’s bid and Rispone drew $147,000 from donors, according to the latest campaign finance reports filed Thursday night with the state ethics administration office.

Rispone, however, continued to pour his own money into the campaign to maintain a similar pace of spending as Edwards. A wealthy owner of an industrial contracting company, Rispone added another $1.5 million to boost his personal loans to the campaign to $11.5 million.

HOW MUCH RAISED AND SPENT? For the final advertising stretch, Edwards reported $5.7 million in his campaign account, while Abraham had $1.4 million in the bank and Rispone had $6.3 million available.

The candidates have raised more than $18 million from donors for the race, with Edwards bringing in $14 million of that for his campaign as he fundraised across four years in office. Abraham’s drawn $2.7 million in donations, while Rispone’s campaign has seen $1.5 million contributed outside of his own personal loans.

Both Abraham and Rispone are trying to keep Edwards from winning outright in October and forcing him into a headto-head matchup in November.

If no candidate tops 50% of the vote, the race heads to a Nov. 16 runoff.

Rispone has focused less on fundraising, largely self-financing his campaign effort. He’s seeking to leapfrog Abraham by outspending him, blanketing the airwaves with advertising while Abraham has less money to spend.

The three main contenders have spent $16 million on the governor’s race so far, with Edwards accounting for half of the spending and Rispone for $6.9 million. By comparison, Abraham has spent $1.3 million.

Three other candidates are in the competition, but they’ve done little fundraising and spent significantly less on the race.

PAC MONEY Political action committees have been raising and spending money on attack ads in the governor’s race.

The pro-Edwards Gumbo PAC spent $1.8 million in the latest cycle, largely to attack both of Edwards’ main GOP competitors. Most of the organization’s money is coming from the Democratic Governors Association.

The Republican Governors Association, which has focused its efforts on slamming Edwards’ performance in office, also spent $1.8 million during the period.

A pro-Abraham PAC called Securing Louisiana’s Future spent $198,000.

OTHER STATEWIDE RACES Six other Republican statewide officials are running for reelection on the ballot: Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, Attorney General Jeff Landry, Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, Treasurer John Schroder, Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain and Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon.

Nearly all of them are sitting on much larger war chests than their competitors for the final weeks of the campaign. Landry reported the largest amount in the bank, $1.9 million. His Democratic opponent Ike Jackson reported about $500 in his campaign account.

Monday, September 16, 2019

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LSU professor Belinda Davis runs for LA Legislature LSU Political Science associate professor Belinda Davis has a picture of Rosie the Riveter drawn by her son framed on the wall next to the computer in her small office.

“This is what reminds me why I do everything I do,” Davis said.

“We need more women in the legislature.”

Davis, a Democrat, is one of five candidates seeking election to the Louisiana House of Representatives to represent District 70.

Davis has taught political science at the University for 14 years.

Before arriving at the University, she taught political science at Michigan State University. This semester, she is teaching two courses.

She was previously an evaluator of various Louisiana governmental services, including the Department of Social Services, the Department of Education and the Workforce Commission.

“They hired me to come in and investigate whether or not a policy is working the way it’s supposed to,” Davis said.

When the University offered Davis her job 14 years ago, she said she “jumped at the chance to come home.” Davis grew up in Ba-

ton Rouge and graduated from Baton Rouge High School. All of her family members live in Louisiana.

She said it was important to her to move home and have the chance to raise her three boys where she grew up.

However, Davis said that she’s become increasingly concerned that her boys wouldn’t be able to have the same opportunities she did because of the lackluster education funding in Louisiana. According to Davis, this was especially true under the Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration.

“Quite frankly, the Republican party has not had the same dedication to investing in education,” Davis said. “I’m running as a Democrat to help the state reinvest in our youth.”

Education is an extremely important issue for Davis. She believes that investing in education, particularly early education, supports better outcomes for children, which will lead them to be more prepared for the workforce when they graduate.

Davis is also concerned about rising higher education tuition costs in Louisiana. As a professor, she has seen students who miss class to go to their jobs because if they don’t work, then they can’t pay for school.

WHITE, from page 3

STEM, from page 3

of Business is ultimately in a good place, and that business students are in a position to succeed if they work hard and apply themselves.

White said he wants business students to have a thirst for knowledge. He advises them to travel and experience other cultures, which he said will help them get better internships and jobs.

“I’m always critical of universities just piling on so many prerequisites and technical courses and not giving you the ability to really broaden your stay here,” White said. “People are not fired for their technical skills, they’re fired for their people skills.”

universities may enter to receive awards that help support students.

College of Science Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion Zakiya Wilson-Kennedy developed the idea for this project with the help of a group of faculty and staff members.

The group looked at institutional data and thought about how the grant could best aid low-income students. The group then submitted an application into an S-STEM competition.

This idea came from Wilson-Kennedy’s own experience. Wilson-Kennedy said she grew up in a small town in Mis-

BY KIMSEY STEWART @KimseyStewart

“When your economic situation is forcing you to work in a way that interferes with your ability to concentrate on your classes, we need to be thinking critically about higher education funding,” Davis said.

The opioid epidemic in Louisiana also concerns Davis. Louisiana doctors wrote 89.5 opioid prescriptions per every 100 persons in 2017, well above the national average of 58.7 per 100 persons, according to the National Institution on Drug Abuse. While that number was one of the highest in

the US, it was actually a historic low for Louisiana.

Davis believes better oversight of prescriptions is needed.

“There is no believable explanation for why there would be a legitimate need for 89 prescriptions written for every 100 Louisiana residents,” Davis said.

Better oversight of prescriptions is something Davis believes needs to happen on a national level. On a state level, she’s more concerned about training people on how to handle overdoses,

particularly on college campuses.

“I think that it would be great for LSU to be the pilot university for implementing a program like that,” Davis said.

She believes having life-saving medications that can stop an opioid overdose should be in every residence hall.

Davis said she is excited about running so she can be a voice for education and educators in the state legislature.

Louisiana’s primary election is on Oct. 12 and the general election is on Nov. 16.

BEN CAPLAN / The Reveille

Belinda Davis on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019 in the second floor conference room of William C. Stubbs Hall. sissippi where her opportunities would have been limited had she not taken advantage of programs similar to SOARS. “What has been really impactful for me and my development were programs and support to help me figure out how to navigate it,” Wilson-Kennedy said.

Wilson-Kennedy emphasized the importance of mentorship in order for the ensured success of low-income students.

“Given that a student’s academic performance, the quality of the educational experience through student engagement, and a student’s overall integration into the academic and social cultures are factors that

contribute to student persistence and success, institutional supports are vital to retaining lowincome students,” Wilson-Kennedy said in a statement.

LSU Undergraduate Admissions will soon list SOARS as a scholarship opportunity, and students will send in an application and an essay detailing their passion for science and math.

Students will then go through an interview process. Students will be chosen for the program based on their financial need and their enthusiasm for science and math.

The College of Science has not yet decided how mentors will be chosen. Wilson-Kennedy said in the past, professors have

generally answered the call for mentorship.

“There are a lot of faculty on this campus that are really passionate about our students being successful,” Wilson-Kennedy said.

Wilson-Kennedy did not come from a scientific background-- neither of her parents were scientists. She feels very fortunate for the people and programs that helped her pursue a career in a field she loves and hopes to give others the same opportunity.

“I’ve just been really grateful for the opportunities in my career to pay forward the things that other people did for me,” Wilson-Kennedy said.

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D E T T I M M O WE’RE C LSU IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING SEXUAL VIOLENCE SURVIVORS BY PROVIDING ROBUST RESOURCES AND SERVICES TO MEET THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. It’s our shared responsibility to create and maintain a campus environment in which sexual violence against people is not tolerated and to intervene in a safe way when we see a risky situation unfolding. It could be something as simple as asking for the time to divert attention. Standing up to intervene not only helps foster safety, but sends the message that this kind of behavior is not acceptable in our community. Being an active bystander helps to shape our campus community into one where respect, consent and responsibility are valued. Talk to your friends, practice ways to intervene because it’s everyone’s responsibility.

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SPORTS FAST AND FURIOUS

LSU’s offense scoring touchdowns at staggering pace fueled by big plays

BY BRANDON ADAM @badam__ Big plays fuel momentum as LSU coach Ed Orgeron always says, and in LSU’s offense, big plays are also fueling the breakneck pace at which the Tigers are scoring.

LSU scored seven touchdowns in under three minutes during its 65-14 win against Northwestern State on Saturday. It’s the fifth most points scored by a LSU team in regulation, and it’s only the second time in program history LSU has scored 45 points or more in three consecutive games.

“We work on scoring fast, and getting our defense on the field,” said sophomore receiver Terrace Marshall Jr., who leads LSU with six touchdown catches this season.

“That’s our motto – score quick.”

Through three games this season, LSU has 17 touchdown drives in less than three minutes, and the average amount of plays and distance per drive is six plays, 62 yards.

Eight of LSU’s touchdown drives this season have been six plays or longer and 62 yards or more while remaining under three minutes – a compliment to the team’s ability to sustain drives down the length of the field, while also maintaining an increased tempo.

Last season, LSU scored 23 touchdowns in under three minutes, and only six of those drives were six or more plays and over 62 yards. The increased pace on offense resulted in the Tigers averaging 55 points per game, leading the Southeastern Conference this season.

While LSU can slow down the pace if needed, it is not something the Tigers have relied on a lot this

season. Senior tight end Stephen Sullivan said LSU makes the decision on how fast to play based on what the opposing defense gives them.

“If they adjust pretty quickly then we’re going slow it down,” said Sullivan, who caught four passes for 51 yards. “We’re going to take our time with it, but if they can’t really line up when we’re going fast. We’re just going to keep it moving.”

LSU’s tempo caused all three of Georgia Southern, Texas and Northwestern State’s defenses trouble – most notably when the referees accidentally halted LSU’s offense to allow Georgia Southern to substitute on defense.

But the quick pace has also had an adverse effect on LSU’s own defense. Defensive coordinator Dave Aranda’s unit has struggled in the previous game against Texas and in the first half against

Northwestern State.

“We just need to get our butts in shape,” said junior safety JaCoby Stevens. “We’re not going to try slow those guys down. We want to keep the rhythm up, and with them scoring, it gives us a lot of confidence because we know we can hang with anybody in the conference or in the nation because they’re putting up about 50 points

see OFFENSE, page 12

MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille

LSU freshman running back Tyrion Davis-Price (3) runs the ball during the Tigers’ 65-14 victory over Northwestern State on Sept. 14, at Tiger Stadium.

page 7

LSU soccer freshmen look to make impact

BY NATASHA MALONE @malone_natasha Going into the season, the Tigers had many question marks surrounding the team and its ability to input new players into their system. With many incoming freshmen and inexperienced upperclassmen gaining significant playing time, it left the Tigers with a lot of grey areas.

Junior goalkeeper Emma Grace Goldman, sophomore forward Meghan Johnson and freshman midfielder Maddie Moreau are among the Tigers who have earned their first-career starts this season, helping lead the Tigers to a 2-3-1 record to this point, but how have they fared in each of their matches?

Moreau, a midfielder from Youngsville, Louisiana, came into LSU as one of the more talented recruits for the Tigers.

Moreau was named Louisiana’s 2018-2019 Gatorade Girls Player of the Year after leading St. Thomas More to back-to-back state title matches in 2018 and 2019.

While at St. Thomas More, she scored a steller 72 goals and registered 44 assists. Since arriving at LSU, she has continued right where she left off. Though the stats don’t show it, Moreau has lent a helping hand to the Tigers offense, helping create an abundance of opportunities on

see SOCCER, page 12

LSU’s Whitney Foreman’s consistency, confidence clear on court

BY ANTHONY MOCKLIN @anthony_mocklin

embraced her role as a focal point of the LSU sophoteam. more Whitney “[Taylor] takes things “My team Foreman has and my coach shined so far personal on the court have really enfor the Tigers which I really really couraged me,” said. this season. respect and I think that Foreman “I’m the oldest She recorded double digit really improves a lot of at my position kills in two our play in the middle as a sophomore, so I’ve separate matchof matches.” es against had to mature Arizona State at that position WHITNEY FOREMAN and Houston and take a lot sophomore volleyball player in the Flo Hyof responsibilman Collegiate ity and that Cup last weekhelps my play a end. lot.”

Foreman was put into the Playing alongside Allspotlight right out of the gate. SEC teammate Taylor She started every match that Bannister, the duo has led the she played in during her freshman season, and she has truly see FOREMAN, page 12

REVEILLE ARCHIVES / The Reveille

LSU freshman middle blocker Whitney Foreman (4) celebrates a play during the Lady Tigers’ 1-3 loss in the PMAC against Duke on Aug. 31.

y F r a r n u s F

Monday, September 16, 2019

LSU fans bring their dogs tailgating for the Northwestern game.

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page 11

LSU football becomes 12th team in FBS history to reach 800 wins

BY JACOB BECK @Jacob_Beck25 The LSU football team won its 800th game in program history Saturday as they defeated the Northwestern State Demons 65-14.

The Tigers are just the 12th team in Football Bowl Subdivision history to reach the 800 win mark and only the fourth team in the Southeastern Conference to do so.

“LSU is a very prestigious program, there’s been a lot of great coaches, a lot of great players that paved the way for us,” LSU coach Ed Orgeron said. “It’s an honor to represent these guys on a daily basis. Having 800 wins is the sign of an elite school, and hopefully we’ll have many more.”

Through 2019, LSU teams have recorded nine wins or more in a season 33 times, with 16 of those seasons coming within the last 23 years.

The Tigers recorded their first victory 125 years ago in 1894, when they defeated the Natchez Athletic Football Club 26-0.

The Tigers’ 200th win came in 1936, when LSU bested rival Mississippi State in Tiger Stadium 12-0. The Tigers only allowed 33 points the entire season, the 4th lowest in a single season in school history.

LSU reached 400 wins in 1968 when they defeated longtime rivals Tulane 34-10 at Tulane Stadium. Running back Kenny Newfield led the way for the Tigers with 97 rushing yards on 16 attempts. LSU defeated Florida State 31-27 in the Peach Bowl at the end of the season.

The Tigers 600th win came in 1997 when LSU went on the road to Lexington and beat Kentucky 63-28. LSU great Kevin Faulk had one of the best performances of his career, rushing for 212 yards and 5 TD’s on 28 carries and adding two catches for 43 yards.

Running back Rondell Mealey rushed for 131 yards and two scores on just 13 touches as well. The ‘97 season is most known for LSU’s shocking 2821 upset victory over No. 1 Florida in Tiger Stadium. The Tigers snapped a nine-game losing streak against the Gators with the win.

Win No. 700 came in 2008 when the Tigers defeated No. 14 Georgia Tech 38-3 in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

Running back Charles Scott rushed for 65 yards and three TD’s on 15 carries and running back Keiland Williams rushed for 42 yards and a TD on five carries. The 2008 season was a disappointment for the Tigers who were coming off of their second national championship in five seasons.

BELLA BIONDINI (TOP) & MITCHELL SCAGLIONE (BOTTOM) / The Reveille

The LSU football team celebrates after scoring during the Georgia Southern and Northwestern games.

LSU soccer looks to put things together before SEC play

BY NATASHA MALONE @malone_natasha

With Southeastern Conference play just around the corner, the Tigers are looking for more consistently on both sides of

the ball.

This season has been very up and down for the Tigers.

They are currently trying to snap a three-game losing streak.

In the first two matches of the season, offense was very hard

to come by. The Tigers took a total of 16 shots, 11 of which game in the first match against Villanova which resulted in a 1-0 victory.

That same trend continued in the second match against Navy,

MITCHELL SCAGLIONE/ The Reveille

LSU junior defender Chiara Ritchie-Williams (4) enters the field before the Lady Tigers Game against Arizona State on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2019, in the LSU Soccer Complex.

where LSU only registered a mini- defense played stellar in one of mal five shots, but still came out their most recent matches against with a 1-0 win in double overtime the number one team in the counthanks to a sophomore forward try, North Carolina at the Duke Meghan Johnson Nike Classic. LSU game winner. only surrendered “ P r a c t i c e “We need to continue one goal late in makes perfect the second half. to get better and we have been “It was a great working on in- everyday as a unit, opportunity for creasing offensive us to be able to it’s not all on the opportunities evcompete against backline.” ery day at practice. a team that is Being with a new number one in EMMA GRACE GOLDMAN squad, we started the country,” said Junior Goalkeeper working on deHensley.

“Being fense and now are able to be in the transitioning to ofgame with them fense,” said coach Debbie Hens- and have it be competitive gives ley. us a huge confidence booster goLSU then proceeded to bounce ing into SEC play knowing we can back and exploded in its home- hang with anyone in the country.” opener against McNeese State, In the second match of the shooting a total of 15 shots - one Duke Nike Classic, the defense less than the two previous match- had one of its worst outings of the es combined. The Tigers scored season, surrendering six goals to on their first shot of the match a Duke team that was ranked in in the first five minutes and con- the top-15 in the country. Duke tinued that pressure throughout was able to get 24 shots off, while the game. the Tigers struggled to even get There has not only been a lack one. of offensive consistency, but de“We need to continue to get fensively as well. Going into the better everyday as a unit, it’s not season, there was a lot of talk all on the backline,” said junior among the back line about their goalkeeper, Goldman. “We need inexperience and how they would to work on keeping our lines hold up. With the help of junior tight, communicating and having goalkeeper Emma Grace Gold- cover. If we can get that in the man, the Tigers were able to reg- right direction, I think we will be ister two-straight shutouts. The good for SEC play.”

page 12

Monday, September 16, 2019 goal this season. That one goal being her first-career goal that was registered as a game winner and lifted the Tigers to its first victory of the season against Navy in double overtime.

“It’s been a dream to start for LSU. I have been striving for this since I was little,” said Johnson.

SOCCER, from page 7 the offensive side of the ball.

“It has been amazing so far, I have loved every second of it,” Moreau said. “I need to work more on the tactical stuff more and focus on the game of soccer itself.”

Goldman, has arguably made the biggest contribution of the newcomers. Although she is a junior, she has earned her first-career start this season after patiently waiting her turn behind former Tigers keeper, Caroline Brockmeier.

During the first games of the season, Goldman has been a rock for the Tigers in the goal. Goldman has played a total of 525 minutes this season and is allowing 1.5 goals per match. Along with that, comes 39 saves and an 81% save percentage.

“It’s definitely an adjustment that I had to make,” Goldman said. “You just have to stay mentally prepared.”

Johnson, a Baton Rouge native, is a talented scoring forward from St. Joseph’s Academy, where she was a four-time district champion and all-district first team selection from 2015-18.

In the first quarter of the season for the Tigers, Johnson has already tripled her shot production from 2018 and is sitting at six, three of which were on goal through six games of play.

Johnson has accounted for one

OFFENSE, from page 7 a game.”

The high-flying, quick-paced offense is just another part of the new-look offense designed by offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger and passing game coordinator Joe Brady, who Orgeron referred to as the “gurus upstairs.” The players practiced all offseason under the current tempo and thrive on stacking up big plays.

Against Northwestern State, LSU had 12 passing of plays of 15plus yards and two run plays of 10plus yards. Senior quarterback Joe Burrow said the offense is now geared around throwing the ball to open up the run, and he wishes to throw the ball every play if he could.

And if the results from the last three games are what is anticipated the rest of the way, don’t expect LSU to slow down at all.

“Once we get a big play going then we try not to stop,” Sullivan said. “We try to keep going and try to keep them on their toes.”

MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille

LSU junior running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (22) celebrates after a touchdown during the Tigers’ 65-14 victory over Northwestern State on Sept. 14, at Tiger Stadium.

FOREMAN, from page 7 MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille

LSU senior midfielder Marlena Cutura (20) fights for a ball during the Lady Tigers’ 1-0 defeat against Arizona State on Sept. 15, in the LSU Soccer Complex.

team in kills so far this season.

Having such a force up front, the Tigers have excelled at protecting the net.

“It’s really fun playing with Taylor,” Foreman said. “She takes things personal on the court which I really really respect and I think that really

Gone Viral?

improves a lot of our play in the middle of matches.”

LSU fell to No. 4 Penn State this past weekend, but the Tigers got the victory over Iowa State in five sets. Despite the loss, Foreman sees the Penn State match as a learning experience not only for

herself, but for the team as well.

“I think being able to play these high-ranked teams is going to help us mature because we’re such a young team,” said Foreman. “I think we have the potential to be up there one day.”

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ENTERTAINMENT

page 13

PHRESH OFF THE PRESS BR business creates eco-friendly, plantable cards

BY ALEXANDRIA DUQUE @alexinthemedia Nothing says I care about you more than a handmade card.

Nothing says I care about youand the environment -more than a handmade, plantable card from Phresh Press.

At Phresh Press, all occasion cards are made using old newspaper and wildflower seeds, so that they can be planted instead of thrown away. Each card is hand pressed and painted for a unique design you can’t find in stores.

It all started in 2018 when Darian Graivshark moved to Baton Rouge and took a job working as a reporter for a local newspaper. She noticed the mass amounts of paper thrown away each week in the newsroom once they became outdated. After doing her own research, she found a way to repurpose old, forgotten newspapers into occasion cards that could be passed on to someone else.

“I felt so sad seeing all this paper being thrown out,” Graivshark said. “I got to thinking, what could I do with this paper to give it another purpose?”

Her cards became a beautiful way to give new life and meaning to something that’s been used or

overlooked. One newspaper can make about six cards. Graivshark took her cards one step further by adding wildflower seeds into the paper-making process. This way her cards could be planted instead of ending up in the trash or in a recycling bin. It is a card so resourceful it’ll make you wet your plants.

The process begins with tearing up and blending the old newspapers. Once it becomes a big ball of deconstructed paper, she pats it down to get that flat card shape. She lets it dry for three days then cuts it into a square card shape. Then, using an incision knife, she cuts small pockets into the paper, adds the wildflower seeds, and reseals it will a little water.

Once the card is fully dried, she uses watercolors to write a clever pun or paint a picture on the cards. Some personal favorites are, “Welcome To The World Little Sprout” and “I’m Proud To Be Y’Orchid.”

“These cards are handmade, fresh [and] free of chemicals and bleach,” Graivshark said. “So you can know that you’re buying a legitimately recycled card.”

Phresh Press can make cards for any occasion. Birthdays, engagements, get well soon, graduations, Halloween, Christ-

@PHRESH_PRESS VIA INSTAGRAM

mas and even custom cards can be made to order.

Pre-designed cards with seeds are sold for $6. Custom cards and pet portraits are sold for $10 and coasters are only $5. Since each card is individually and carefully designed, a batch of about 20 cards can be made in

five days.

Each order includes the envelope, seeds and planting instructions. You can also be on the lookout for Phresh Press monthly calendars as well as other upcoming projects.

Phresh Press cards can be found online at

Ph r e s P r e s s . s q u a r e s p ac e .c o m or at popup art shops in Baton Rouge. To see the full Phresh collection you can visit @Phresh_Press on Instagram or Facebook. For more information on custom requests or pet portraits, message Graivshark on social media or by email.

Get with the flow: Power Pump Girls fight period poverty

BY ALEXANDRIA DUQUE @alexinthemedia Everybody bleeds—but not everyone has the same access to affordable feminine hygiene products. Fighting period poverty and the lingering stigma around menstruation is exactly what the Power Pump Girls are here to do.

In 2017, LSU alumni Raina Vallot and Sherin Dawud launched Power Pump Girls Inc. (PPG), an organization that aims to encourage, elevate and empower all who identify as women. Although they were building a strong network of sisterhood in Baton Rouge, they knew that there was more work to be done.

It wasn’t until Vallot and Dawud took a trip to New York City that they realized a huge gap between those who suffer from period poverty and those who have never had to worry about their basic needs being met. In order to bridge this gap, the PPG founded Secured, a non-profit that serves as a platform for the distribution, advocacy and de-stigmatizing menstruation

and hygiene products.

“We started to think, ‘how can we fight period poverty at a grassroots level to where it has perpetual change for our children?’”

Vallot said. “A society where everyone is provided for and everyone feels dignified regardless of race, gender or income.”

It all begins locally. Ambassadors who have partnered with PPG help raise money, volunteer and support women whose needs aren’t being met. All money that is raised through Secured is used to buy menstruation products to donated to local homeless shelters and schools.

In order to educate a society that has stigmatized this bodily function for centuries, it all begins on an individual level. PPG believes that by talking about periods normally through everyday conversation, menstruation can eventually be de-stigmatized.

“Something that’s naturally occurring shouldn’t be awkward to talk about,” Vallot said. “By starting now and changing the dialogue, we can de-stigmatize menstruation for future generations.”

On average, women

COURTESY OF RAINA VALLOT

spend $180 per year on menstruation products.

Women who cannot afford this basic necessity are forced to use unhygienic substitutions such as socks, napkins, old shirts or receipts. In some cases, women miss school and women miss work because they have no other option.

Since women’s hygienic products are considered a cosmetic

product, they are taxed at higher prices. Yet, Viagra is covered under most health insurances, and condoms are given out freely at schools and doctor’s offices.

PPG is bringing awareness to menstruation products being a right, not a choice.

“We can use our voice as PPG the organization and PPG as individuals to speak out on those inequalities when it comes to ba-

sic necessities,” Vallot said.

Change starts with power and there is power in numbers.

To get involved or for more information about Power Pump Girls Inc. you can visit them on Instagram or Facebook @PowerPumpGirlsInc. You can also reach them by email Heygirl@power pumpgirls. org. for more information on how to donate.

page 14

Monday, September 16, 2019

Bengal Tap Room downtown offers high quality food and drinks

BY CHARLES JONES @saxycj Baton Rouge sports bar culture is an interesting creature. For the average college student, the solution is as simple as A or B. To catch their favorite team, many students simply turn to the bars of Tigerland for cheap drinks, loose rules and fun interactions with their fellow sports fans.

Others turn to the downtown area, for a more relaxed, distinguished environment to enjoy the game.

However, each side has its drawbacks. While Tigerland is cheaper, the food options are severely limited, and many do not want to get as intoxicated as many Tigerland attendees tend to eventually become. On the other side, downtown bars can get a little too expensive when drinks and food are calculated together, as well as the complicated situation of parking that always comes with venturing downtown.

However, one relatively

new addition to the sports bar and nightlife scene in Baton Rouge could offer up a middle ground between the two seemingly different worlds.

Opened in January 2018, Bengal Tap Room, located on Third Street, 10 minutes off campus in downtown Baton Rouge, offers not only a wide selection of beer and cocktails, but an established and chef-curated menu of food and a comfortable, hometown environment to cheer on your favorite team, no matter the sport. The inside area features a large bar and several booths.

The outside patio has several tables. TVs line the walls inside and out. Everywhere you look, there is a TV displaying the game.

“We wanted it to be that kind of neighborhood bar where you can come and hang out, very mellow,” said Montanna Mercer, general manager of Bengal Tap Room since the establishment opened.

“But also somewhere where you can catch all of the games.”

As it is a tap room, the main focus is beer, but

that’s not all the bar has to offer. Bengal Tap prides itself on its wide selection, and frequent rotation, of beers, liquors, and creative and fun cocktails.

“Everyone that works here is a beer nerd,” Mercer said.

“We spend a lot of time familiarizing ourselves with our product, but also what is on the market...there is some kind of beer or drink for everyone.”

It isn’t all about the drinks. A sports bar is not a sports bar without buffalo wings, a big cheeseburger, or an endless selection of finger foods and appetizers. Bengal Tap has all of the classic bar food staples and sandwiches, yet chefs prepare them every day not only with a unique flair, but a dedication to quality food for every single customer. “Our kitchen and our chef does a really good job of putting out good, just delicious food, that is really consistent,” said Mercer.

“We hand-make everything... we make everything in house.”

As a new addition to the

downtown area, with all of its previously mentioned complications in terms of price and parking, the owners and managers of Bengal Tap Room hope to offer a median between high quality drinks and food, and a cheaper, more affordable excursion into downtown. “Our everyday lunch specials are something that you wouldn’t get at your typical sports bar,” said Tanika Storey, a manager with the bar since February of last year.

“Typically Thursday through Sunday really, we have a variety of crowds.”

Mercer followed up on this, saying, “We kinda wanted, earlier in the day it’s not as much for college students, but it’s kinda catered towards people who are working down here, and who want to have a good home-cooked lunch, but without breaking their bank.”

The bar has its own parking lot, so you don’t have to pay the often ludicrous parking fees associated with downtown.

Owned by lifelong Baton Rouge residents, the people at

Bengal Tap Room understand the local culture, and display a love of the city, and the flagship university that it hosts, rivaled by few. “They just wanted to give Baton Rouge more,” Mercer said. “I think they wanted people to visit Baton Rouge more.”

So the next time you want to catch the Tigers take on their next SEC opponent on the road, don’t settle for having to choose between expensive sports bar chains and the debauchery of Tigerland. Check out the Bengal Tap Room for good food, great drink specials, and a home-grown environment.

ABOUT BANEGAL TAP ROOM Hours of Operation: Sun-Wed: 11 AM-12 AM Thurs-Fri: 11 AM-2 AM Sat: 11 AM-12 AM Address: 421 3rd St, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Phone: (225)778-5479

Karfty Kravingz brings fun and flair to BR with unique pieces

BY ENJANAE’ TAYLOR @_queenet_ Krafty Kravingz gets creative with personalized accessories and items that you’ll want to add to your collection.

LaKenda Johnson-Rogers, the owner and creator of Krafty Kravingz, has always had a passion for crafts and homemade pieces. She needed something for herself that she could do for fun, so she decided to start her business.

Between work, being a wife and being a mom, JohnsonRogers never the time to create.

Johnson-Rogers has been an orthopedic nurse practitioner for five years, and even though she believes it is her calling she admits it’s hard to balance everything.

“I love what I do, my job is basically a Monday through Friday type of gig,” JohnsonRogers said. “So, it’s hard, especially balancing work with children with their life and also my side hustle, which is Krafty Kravingz, but all that to say I love it all.”

After getting a circuit shirt maker as a gift, she began looking up how to make certain things herself. After watching YouTube videos and some trial and error, Johnson-Rogers became a self-taught artist.

She started off making Mardi Gras shirts. Everything escalated from there.

“I base it off of the things I like and the things that I think that other people may like,” Johnson-Rogers said while explaining her creative

process and how she decides what to make.

Game day is a big deal in Louisiana, and Krafty Kravingz often has some of the most festive things to spice up your attire for games. JohnsonRogers likes to pay attention to when things are seasonal and when things seem to stick around for a long time.

Animal print and purple and gold will always sell in Baton Rouge. Johnson-Rogers favorite piece to make is her “cheetah babe” shirt, a mustard top with monogrammed initials in cheetah print.

Krafty Kravingz has things you can use year-round for nearly all ages. Krafty Kravingz has it all: shirts, decals, cups, candy jars and signs.

The quality of the items and the person who sells it makes Krafty Kravingz unique and sets the brand apart from other local boutiques and businesses.

“I think that above all things my personality, my loyalty to it, and my dedication,” Johnson-Rogers said.

“That’s what basically drives my business and that’s what sets me apart, and that’s what will set me apart when I’m really out there in the business along with everybody else.”

Johnson-Rogers sees herself creating more t-shirt designs as well as possibly finding a graphic designer to do screen printed shirts in the future. She also has new items with an empowering “girl boss” theme coming soon.

Johnson-Rogers is also passionate about collaboration

@KRAFTYKRAVINGZ VIA INSTAGRAM

and wishes to do in the near future. She hopes to gain more knowledge through other women who also loves working in the industry.

“I think that’s what my goal is, collaboration with women doing what I love, and I’m doing what they love,” Johnson-Rogers said. “They could actually mentor me, as to the point where when my business does grow, I am very well educated about it and I have done my research and I’m ready to move along to be in those

top categories as other boutiques around the local area,” Johnson-Rogers said.

Johnson-Rogers is eager for the future, and even hopes to have her own physical store one day.

Even though JohnsonRogers wants to continue to grow, she doesn’t see herself as competing with anyone because she’s focused on going at her own pace. She likes her life how it is now and doesn’t see herself giving anything up.

With dreams of opening her own physical store, collaboration would be a huge part of Krafty Kravingz’s future success.

“Being a nurse practitioner is definitely a calling for me and I don’t see me at this point in my life just totally giving it up,” Johnson-Rogers said. “Now, I do plan to eventually open a store later on and hopefully I can have someone else like a woman that loves to do the same things that I do to run the store for me, so that’s my goal.”

OPINION

page 15

Pepper spray confiscation unnecessary for stadium security AIN’T NOTHING BUT A THING DRAVEN COLEMAN @colemandraven Despite student concerns surrounding campus safety in recent years, some University security policies continue to abate the problem at hand.

New safety campaigns like the “See something, say something” initiative implemented by LSUPD have been effective in reducing the frequency of certain crimes, such as burglaries and motor vehicle theft, by encouraging people to report suspicious activity to authorities, but other crimes have risen in spite of these efforts.

The occurrence of aggravated assaults on and around campus increased threefold from 2015 to 2017, according to the 2018 Annual Security and Fire Report issued

by LSUPD. Reports of stalking increased as well, going up from

16 reported instances in 2015 to 26 in 2017.

Women at the University know this and will not hesitate to say that they do not feel safe walking campus alone or at night, which is why so many choose to carry pepper spray or stun guns to protect themselves from aggressors. Even though they may never have to use one of these devices, simply having one gives them the confidence and sense of security to go about their business.

But what happens when these defenses are stripped away from their owners for the sake of event security?

Mass communication senior Sarah Hunt found this out the hard way when Tiger Stadium security confiscated her pepper spray at the gate before allowing her entrance to the season opener against Georgia Southern.

“It was frustrating having my pepper spray confiscated on a campus that really emphasizes its commitment

to student safety,” Hunt said.

“Baton Rouge is not a safe city, and now I have to walk around every day defenseless.”

Tiger Stadium security protocols follow industry-wide standards and explicitly state that “weapons of any variety” are not permitted, but a case should be made against the ban on pepper spray for all sporting events. The only recorded incidents of pepper spray being discharged in football stadiums were from police officers attempting to quell violence in the stands or on the field, which is a completely justifiable measure, especially given how quickly things can escalate in a crowd of thousands.

Assistant Athletic Director David Taylor said Tiger Stadium has approximately 700 security and guest services staffers for every home football game, along with a contingency of over 100 officers from various law enforcement agencies stationed inside who are under the LSUPD umbrella of command.

Taylor said LSU Athletics is more concerned about the potential for accidental discharge from pepper spray in the stadium, rather than the risk of a fan purposely using it against someone in the stands, because the department understands that pepper spray is typically a defensive weapon not used out of anger. Any delays caused by an accidental discharge could disrupt the department’s meticulous plans to facilitate events smoothly.

Fans undoubtedly feel safe during the game with a security presence this large, but that will not help them much once they leave the stadium and must fend for themselves. Officers from the Baton Rouge Police Department and the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office are stationed on nearly every corner after a football game, but their primary objective at that point is to conduct traffic and maintain contraflow.

Besides, most criminals are smart enough not to attack a

passerby in front of an officer to begin with.

While the ban on pepper spray is understandable from the side of security and event planning, there should at least be a service for fans to leave their pepper spray at the gate for later retrieval rather than security staff disposing of the possessions outright.

Women who want to circumvent this issue altogether can always attend women’s self-defense classes offered by LSUPD and the Student Health Center.

The organizations jointly offer 12-hour Rape Aggression Defense courses and Equalizer classes taught in 2.5-hour blocks.

Never hesitate to contact LSUPD if you feel that something is amiss.

“A false alarm is always better than a crime that could have been prevented,” according to LSUPD’s website.

Draven Coleman is a 21-yearold mass communication senior from Wesson, Mississippi.

The University’s plus-minus grading system illogical, harmful I SAID WHAT I SAID MAYA STEVENSON @mayasstevenson In the 2015 fall semester, the University implemented the plusminus grading system with the intention of more accurately representation of students’ grades.

This only put more academic pressure on them.

The reasoning was, “This grading change is consistent with current standards in the majority of LSU peer universities and provides greater resolution in the assignment of student letter grades to accurately reflect the student’s overall performance in a course,” according to the system’s frequently-asked questions page.

I’m not sure how accurate the University wants grades to be, but the plus-minus system isn’t the best way to reflect it.

The implementation of the plus-minus system created a variation of the letter grades that we received in high school,

each being worth more or less than the other. For example, a regular letter grade of an “A” turned into an A+, A and A-, worth 4.3, 4.0 and 3.7 quality points, respectively.

The quality point worth decreases as you go down the letter grade list. Previously, an “A” was only an A, being worth 4.0 quality points, and further on for the letter grades following.

Such a grading system sounds great for over-achievers, but it’s not even conducive for them in reality.

Eighty percent of college students feel overwhelmed by their responsibilities as a student, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The plus-minus system doesn’t do anything to help that statistic. By the end of the semester, most college students just want it to be over and rightfully so. They don’t want to be wondering whether their grade is a 93 A- or a 96 A, since each has a different impact on their GPA. Gil Reeve, Vice Provost for Academic Programs Planning and Review, explained

how the new system helps to, “identify students who are doing very well, instead of those who barely scraped by.”

If a student scrapes by with a 90 A instead of a 97 A, that means the grade is less worthy.

That’s incredibly shallow and I guarantee it doesn’t matter to most college students. Many students are mature enough to be past jealousy. Furthermore, they’re too busy to worry about the grade of the person sitting next to them in class. Students are definitely not crying over someone having a grade two points higher than theirs.

Grades are important, but shouldn’t we be focused on actually learning, rather than the implications of having a three-point difference in our letter grade?

Unfortunately, with the plusminus system, we don’t exactly have that option. When the University departed from its former grading system, a 4.0 GPA became a 3.7. That’s unfair, especially considering the way the University handled student feedback regarding the system.

CARTOON BY ETHAN GILBERTI

On the previously mentioned FAQ, the University does acknowledge Student Government passing a resolution regarding the policy. What isn’t mentioned is the resolution did not favor the new grading system.

The opposing resolution from SG, the student-elected representatives of the student body, resulted in a 26-14 vote against the implementation of the plus-minus system. The Faculty Senate disregarded the vote and approved the policy, attempting to make the

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Editor in Chief Managing Editor News Editor Deputy News Editor Opinion 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.

University seem more academically prestigious.

It is not an acknowledgement of a lack of effort or intelligence to question the plus-minus grading policy. How is basing an academic numerical value as important as GPA on variations of a letter grade with as little as a three point difference between them logical in any way?

Maya Stevenson is a 20-year-old English and philosophy junior from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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