The Reveille 11-18-19

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HANDI AP HARDSHIPS

Tiger fans with disabilities share frustrating experiences with handicap accommodations at Tiger Sadium.

Read on

page 2 NEWS

p ag e 3

Performing as a Mike the Tiger mascot at sports games and other events is a multiperson effort.

ENTERTAINMENT

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LSU alumna Paige Guillory expands her acting career while preparing to release original music.

SPORTS

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Thaddeus Moss is making the most of his opportunities after sitting out first two years at LSU.

OPINION

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Eighteen state legislatures across the United States have voted to raise their legal smoking age from 18 to 21 years old.

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

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Six-year-old letter addressing lack of handicap accommodations in Tiger Stadium still unanswered

BY ANNA JONES @annajoneses On game-days, fans load up in RVs, fashion themselves in purple and gold and make their way to Tiger Stadium to soak in the Saturday experience. Few University traditions are more iconic than the sight of the Golden Band from Tigerland marching down Victory Hill or the first notes of “Callin’ Baton Rouge” playing on the loudspeaker before kickoff.

Unfortunately for some lifelong Tiger enthusiasts, gamedays are not always such an inclusive experience.

Anne Marie Barrios, daughter of 1959 alumna Carol Scheffer Ford, said a lack of appropriate handicap accommodations made their game-day experience turn sour.

Barrios purchased tickets to the LSU-New Mexico State game in September 2014 as a birthday gift for her mother.

Her mother had two chronic diseases which required an oxygen tank and inhibited her mobility, so Barrios decided to bring her in a wheelchair. She described the whole day as “a disaster from start to finish.”

“It makes me sad they care so little for disabled individuals,” Barrios said. “By the end of the day, I was physically drained, and my mother felt guilty for what I had to go through just so we could see a football game.”

She detailed their experience in a written letter to the University, LSU President F. King Alexander and local news stations, but never received any responses.

In 2019, Tiger Stadium’s handicap accommodations are something Barrios still thinks about and wishes had been addressed while her mother was alive.

Ford was the president of her local LSU alumni association and a frequent donor. She passed away two years after the New Mexico State game, which Barrios said is the last LSU game her mother attended.

“It makes me so angry all over again,” Barrios said. “People deserve better.”

In the letter, Barrios wrote that she and her mother, who were visiting from Alexandria, had to park in the Barnes and Noble parking garage because all paid-access handicap parking spots were taken. She knew the handicapped spots were available on a first-come, firstserve basis but didn’t want to leave earlier and compromise her mother’s ability to make it through the long day.

Although Barrios was prepared for a long walk, she was not prepared for the poor conditions of sidewalks along Highland Road and Dalrymple Drive.

There were spots on the road so bumpy her mother’s wheelchair could not go over them, and at least one other spot on the side-

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MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille

The sun sets above Tiger Stadium on Jan. 21. walk where there was an upward ramp but not a downward ramp.

The trouble continued when Barrios said she was stopped by an elevator attendant and informed she had to present a handicap parking pass before using the elevator. Barrios said she pointed out to the attendant that her mother being in a wheelchair should be enough and they were let on.

Once in the stadium, Barrios discovered the wheelchair seat she purchased was mounted with no way for her mother to get to. The attendants had to switch Barrios’ and her mother’s seats.

Barrios asked attendants to charge her mother’s oxygen tank in the middle of the game so it would be fully charged on the ride home to Alexandria. While the attendants initially obliged, Barrios said she returned for the machine in the second half of the game and it was unplugged and moved to the side.

The worst part of the day for Barrios was after the game, when she was taking her mother to use the bathroom in the west deck.

“This is the part that was absolutely pathetic, humiliating for both of us and completely unacceptable for a major university, government entity or sports event, all of which this game qualified for,” Barrios wrote in her letter.

Barrios was unable to fit her mother’s wheelchair completely into the stall and had to stand at the door to guard it from people seeing her mother using the bathroom.

Barrios said the fiasco made her and her mother feel uncomfortable, anxious and embarrassed.

When they left the stadium, Barrios was pushing her along the sidewalk area adjacent to the north endzone, and the sidewalk was blocked by barricades. Be-

cause of the blockage, Barrios turned around and backtracked about 50 yards to push her mother in the street.

Two police officers were standing near the women, but were looking down at their cell phones and offered no assistance, Barrios said.

“I was able to push her through a break in the barriers, but I had to wait for five cars to pass while the cops were sure to check their e-mails, text messages and sports updates,” Barrios wrote in her letter. “I wouldn’t have wanted them to be burdened by taking their eyes off their phones to actually help people, of course.”

Barrios, like her mother, is an LSU fan. She still attends games and her daughter is a University alumna.

“For my dear mother, I endured these obstacles,” Barrios wrote. “But it brought the University down a great deal in my eyes.”

Tiger Stadium has 450 handicapped seats in the general seating area, excluding club and suits. Sections with ADA accessible seating include 86 seats in the North Lower-Section 200, 186 seats in the East Upper Deck, 150 seats in the West Upper Deck and 28 seats in the SkyLine.

As for parking, there are more than 200 spaces in lot 409 on a first-come, first-serve basis for visitors with a handicap placard.

There are also spaces available for advance purchase in lot 409 while inventory lasts, according to Senior Associate Athletics Director Robert Munson.

“This has been more than sufficient for ADA parking needs to date,” Munson said.

ADA shuttles run to assist guests to and from the stadium in lot 409.

Munson said he has never had a guest request to plug in their oxygen tank, but the stadium

does allow fans to enter with them and offers use of first-aid rooms for assistance if needed.

Another die-hard LSU fan, Heather Nicole Matthews, posted on Facebook about her difficulties taking her mother to a game after her mother was involved in a serious car accident that crushed her ankle.

“She bleeds purple and gold and attends every football game in Death Valley, but it is very difficult for her to get to our seats,” Matthews wrote in her post.

Matthews went on to say part of the difficulty is a lack of handrails, which don’t extend past the 11th row of seats. Her mother has to hold on to someone’s waist to prevent falling.

“She has fallen in the stadium several times, and it is quite scary,” Matthews wrote.

Matthews concluded her post by asking the University to consider adding handrails in upper rows of seats.

Munson said all the upper decks have handrails extending the entire row.

“We would recommend that ticketholders look at their tickets and if they have any physical impairments, ask questions prior to purchasing seats,” Munson said. “Ask about ramp access, elevators, escalators, stairs or anything that might be of concern.”

It has been years since Barrios’ unpleasant experience, but she still thinks about it frequently and wishes the University would address the issue. She has many friends who don’t bring their elderly parents to football games because of the difficulties associated with the University’s bumpy sidewalks, lack of adequate parking and narrow bathroom stalls.

“It’s not right. Just because you need assistance, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to enjoy things,” Barrios said.

“You’re not dead yet.”

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

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NEWS THE TIGER LIFE

page 3

STUDENT LIFE

Spirit Coordinator describes Mike the Tiger mascot selection process

BY ANA BLOCK @anablock_4 He’s at every football game, but he’s never playing. He’s on the field at halftime, but he’s not part of the band. He even shows up at Middleton Library sometimes, but he’s never studying. Everybody loves him, but nobody knows him - Mike the Tiger.

Mike the Tiger mascot auditions begin every April. Before the selection process, an informational meeting is held to notify potential tigers of general requirements and what the Spirit Squad entails. The height range suggestions are generally between 5 feet 9 inches and 6 feet, so that students can fit into the costumes.

During auditions, candidates dress in tiger costumes and perform, their interpretations of Mike. Only the best contestants are called back for interviews.

The number of student mascots varies every year.

While there have been female Mike the Tigers, the team this year is an all-male group of five.

Spirit Coordinator Pauline Zernott said the position requires a lot of time, though the amount differs each year based on how many Mikes there are.

“It’s like having a part-time job,” Zernott said. “They probably put in up to 20 hours a week, from the beginning of the school year to the end of the school year.”

Once selected, students

Students help pay peer’s speeding ticket

BY PERLA RODRIGUEZ @perlajasminee

person that has not been trained. We have a special pregame walk that he does when he’s out on the court or on the field with the band, he has his

Accounting junior Patrick Cormier was stopped by a police officer and issued a $200 ticket for speeding on Tuesday. Cormier was not sure how he could pay it.

“When I got the ticket, I was really scared. I didn’t have money to pay for it because my work pays bi-weekly,” Cormier said. “I had just been going with the flow of traffic, but the police officer just got me out of the bunch.”

Cormier shared the unfortunate news on social media, asking people for help on Snapchat.

Almost immediately, Cormier noticed donations on the moneytransfer app, Venmo.

“I initially just put it on my [Snapchat] story as a joke, but people actually started sending me a dollar or two here and there,” Cormier said. “I was so grateful for even that little bit of help, but I thought it was absolutely hilarious that people were actually going with it, so I decided to just run with it and make it something really funny.”

Cormier started posting videos with updates for his friends as the night progressed, raising $120 in three hours. In less than a day, there was enough donated to cover the ticket.

see MIKE, page 4

see VENMO, page 4

MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille

Mike the Tiger walks down Victory Hill on Sept. 14. go through mandatory summer training, where they learn everything from Mike’s walks for each occasion to his special signature. The goal is that a fan would never know there’s more than

one mascot.

Zernott said this training is essential for portraying Mike accurately.

“You can’t just jump in the suit and be Mike,” Zernott said.

“You would definitely know a

POLITICS

Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards narrowly wins reelection

BY KATHERINE MANUEL @kmanuel_2 Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards won reelection Saturday night after narrowly defeating Republican challenger Eddie Rispone in the gubernatorial runoff election.

Edwards received 51.34% of the vote with 774,469 votes, while Rispone received 48.66% of the vote with 734,128 votes, according to the Louisiana Secretary of State.

In the primary election on Oct. 12, Edwards received 46.59% of the vote, and Rispone 27.42%. Neither candidate secured 50% of the vote, sending both candidates to the runoff election. U.S. Rep. Republican

Ralph Abraham was also running at the time and received 23.61% of the vote.

In his acceptance speech, Edwards thanked his family, campaign manager, volunteers and campaign staff, saying his campaign staff was the smallest that has ever worked in Louisiana.

“My pledge to you tonight remains the same as it has been for months. I will always be honest with you, I will never embarrass you and I will get up everyday fighting to put the great people of the great state of Louisiana first,” Edwards said in his acceptance speech.

Edwards stressed the importance of working together to put Louisiana first, regardless

of race or party. He said he will work hard for all Louisiana residents, whether they voted for him or not.

President Donald Trump visited Louisiana three times during the election cycle and endorsed Rispone. Edwards mentioned Trump once in his acceptance speech.

“And as for the president, bless his heart,” Edwards said.

Edwards is the only Democratic governor in the Deep South. However, last week Kentucky elected Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear. But unlike many of his Democratic colleagues, Edwards opposes most gun restrictions and abortion.

One of Edwards’ main priorities for his second term is

education. Under former Gov. Bobby Jindal, Louisiana led the nation in budget cuts to higher education. Edwards’ budget

compromise in 2018 prevented a 30% cut to higher education,

see EDWARDS, page 4

GERALD HEBERT / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards talks to media at his campaign office in Shreveport, La., Nov. 14. Edwards, a Democrat, was campaigning in the same metropolitan area as his Republican challenger, Eddie Rispone.

Monday, November 18, 2019

page 4 MIKE, from page 3

VENMO, from page 3

just regular game day walk, which is kind of like a cool cat and then he’s got character as well.”

Football gamedays require more committment. Since the suit is warm, each person can only stay in it for a limited time, especially during the earlier in the season. Mikes regularly switch off throughout the day.

One person does the march down Victory Hill and early events, like tailgating. Another does the pregame and part of the first quarter, followed by a rotation for each quarter. Other sporting events, such as basketball games, usually have two mascots who switch off.

Besides leading the Golden Band from Tigerland down Victory Hill and crowd surfing in Tiger Stadium, the University mascot position comes with a stipend and other athletic benefits.

Mike’s presence can be requested for private functions or community events, and is cur-

One hundred twenty-five people donated to Cormier, who said he felt very grateful for the friendships he made at the University, including the connections he made as an ambassador, Student Government member and member of the 2019 Homecoming Court.

“The next day, I posted another video thanking everyone for their contributions because it’s honestly insane that I can just say ‘Hey, I need a little bit of help,’ and I have people right there by my side willing to contribute their little piece to the

EDWARDS, from page 3 according to his website.

“Gov. Edwards believes that our higher education institutions are key drivers of economic development,” Edwards’ campaign website says.

Political science senior Lexie

puzzle,” Cormier said. “It was honestly so humbling to see that sight on such short notice.”

One of the donors, kinesiology freshman Chloe Glover, said she felt moved by seeing the overall support Cormier received.

“It honestly restored my faith in humanity,” Glover said. “I mean the fact he reached his goal and was able to pay it off with all of his friends putting up $1 to $2 just says a lot about the amount of people that came together to help out. It was hilariously heartwarming to me, and it made me happy to know that it got taken care of. That’s the kind of support everyone needs.”

ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille

Mike the Tiger points at LSU fans while walking down Victory Hill on October 5. rently in great demand. Mascots can volunteer for these non-mandatory events to earn a promotional volunteer point.

At the end of the season, the mascot with the most points receives an additional bonus stipend.

Martin said that Edwards’ prevention of TOPS budget cuts allowed her to relax. Martin said she is excited to see what Edwards will bring to the University with another four years as governor.

“He represents growth and hope for Louisiana and all of

its people,” Martin said. “More than likely, I think he’ll keep his focus on educational investment very close to the top of his priority list.”

Edwards’ other priorities listed on his website include healthcare, criminal justice reform and coastal restoration.

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COURTESY OF PATRICK CORMIER

Accounting junior Patrick Cormier paid a $200 speeding ticket with the help of his friends.

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ENTERTAINMENT ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

page 5

LSU alumna furthers acting career, prepares to release original music

BY LIA SALIME @liasalime Broadcast journalism 2016 graduate Paige Guillory’s rise to stardom has been a work in progress through her life.

Since moving to Dallas, Guillory has worked as an actress.

She held a principal role in a Popeye’s commercial, a featured role in AMC’s “Into the Badlands” and the film “Tasmanian Devil,” and co-stared in Amazon Studios’ “Washed.” She has also been featured in stage play, “The Awakening,” and a student film called “The Painting.”

The Fordoche, Louisiana native comes from a musical family. Her mother sang in gospel groups. Guillory loved performing as a child. She would put on skits and concerts for her family in her living room and imitate TV characters. At the age of 10, Guillory decided she wanted to be an actress.

“As I child, I loved the idea of being a performer,” Guillory said.

“I grew up in a musical family.

My brother can sing. My aunts, uncles, and grandparents all sing.

It was inevitable for me to receive

the gift of music in some way, shape or form.”

In her teenage years, Guillory sang in a youth choir at the Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church and the Livonia High School Choir throughout high school. As a student at the University, Guillory worked as a segment anchor for Tiger TV and as a Manship ambassador, which helped her be more comfortable in front of the camera. It also gave Guillory a better perspective on storytelling and videography.

Guillory began acting while living in Louisiana. She took classes with local acting professors and discovered the importance of investing in classes, professional headshots and building a resume with experiences in different projects to develop tools necessary to reach out to talent agencies. However, Guillory had difficulty landing roles and gaining experience as a new actor.

“In Louisiana, I struggled to find roles that were fit for my level of experience,” Guillory said. “I’ve been acting professionally for two years, but many of the casting directors in Louisiana preferred seasoned actors. Due to this, I strug-

gled booking roles. Since moving to Dallas, I have been exposed to more coaches, more actors and more roles that are fit for my level of experience.”

Guillory, who is represented

by Spark Talent Agency, recently booked a supporting role in “Lowkey,” a local independent film in Dallas which starts filming in December. Guillory said the film will showcase the African-American talent in Dallas.

The movie will have an all-black cast. In addition, the film created opportunities for individuals to share their work with the world.

A multifaceted artist, Guillory felt a call to create music earlier this year while attending church.

After service, she immediately began writing songs. Guillory’s EP titled “Finding You” is within a month of release. She wrote the first single of her EP, “Why Me,” in just 30 minutes which will be released on Thanksgiving. Her experience in Tiger TV also helped her direct the song’s music video.

“It brought me to tears when I first heard it with the music,” Guillory said. “This song has given me hope during life’s challenges, especially the trials and tribulations

COURTESTY OF PAIGE GUILLORY

Paige Guillory is a multifaceted artist from appearing in commercials and TV shows to releasing her own music. that come with being an actor.”

The EP will feature three songs with original, contemporary Christian music produced by Eddy Versatile Keyz of Music Warehouse Studio. Guillory considers her music to be inspirational as she speaks about issues herself and others go through, sending the message that God is with them and there is always hope.

“I’m very grateful for the po-

sition God has given me, and I hope my music can help others get through life’s challenges. I am also grateful for the support of my family and friends. This industry is tough and can be discouraging at times. Having positive people in my corner to push me has been a big part of my success.”

Keep up with the actress and singer on her Instagram @paigevguillory.

FASHION

Messy Deco shows creativity of styling vintage clothing

BY ENJANAE’ TAYLOR @_queenet_ Journalism alumna Rachel Shoun shows off her unique style through her photography and vintage clothing on her Etsy shop, Messy Deco.

Shoun studied library and information science at the University because she liked going to libraries and believed becoming a librarian would be a good public service.

Now, she is a Young Adult Librarian who works on programming, collection development and other programs.

While working as a librarian, Shoun also runs her Etsy shop, Messy Deco. Shoun takes all of the photos posted on her Etsy shop and Instagram account and loves using photography to showcase her style. She also collects vintage items to help express herself through her clothing.

“On the weekends, I love dressing up. I feel like Louisiana in general is very causal. If I had the opportunity to go to more balls and more dress up events, I would wear the craziest things, but I don’t really feel like there’s a place for that here so photography is more of an outlet,” Shoun said.

Shoun has been on Etsy since 2010, with Messy Deco formerly

called Nu Moon Vintage. She’s always had a surplus of vintage items.

At this point she’s been buying and refurbishing vintage clothing for so long it’s like second nature to her.

Messy Deco is one of a kind, fashion forward and colorful, and its name represents these things and shows her personality, Shoun said.

“I was trying to think of something that sounded like me and I really like art deco, architecture and all the shapes and the aesthetic,” Shoun said. “I just kind thought of messy and deco together because I guess I consider myself kind of a messy person. Art deco is very clean and structured, and I just like the juxtaposition of the two words.”

Shoun takes inspiration from different outlets like TV, movies, magazines, music videos and even interior design. Her fashion icons are Mary-Kate Olsen and Fran Drescher in “The Nanny.” She is a fan of the costumes in the Netflix show “Glow” and Ryan Murphy’s “American Horror Story” and “Pose.”

In regards to interior design, Shoun enjoys set decorating and buying vintage furniture for her photo shoots. She also is inspired by a store from London in the ‘70s called Biba.

Shoun draws a lot of inspiration

from photographers from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. Being a fan of Vogue, Shoun found her favorite photographer Guy Bourdin.

“I love looking at old photographs and old Vogue magazines, which you actually can do at the LSU library by the way,” Shoun said.

“There’s just a lot of stuff I like aesthetically, so I feel like all that really influences the pictures I take.”

Shoun shops at thrift stores and estate sales to get the items she sells on her Etsy shop. When it comes to advice for shopping for vintage clothing, Shoun said to look for tags that say made in the U.S.A. Overall, she sees thrifting as a good opportunity to shop responsibly and to help the environment.

“I think people should secondhand shop more because there’s a lot of good clothes out there that just need a second life. I would say be patient and look for stuff that appeals to you and that you can see incorporating in your wardrobe,” Shoun said.

There’s plenty of places to shop vintage in store and online, but Shoun’s store embraces her own unique style and aesthetic, with her photos incorporating all of her interests and allowing her to showcase her artistic abilities.

When it comes to the future of

Messy Deco, Shoun wants to continue to use her styling and photography skills to possibly have her own physical store one day.

“I hope to design t-shirts soon.

I’ve been working on some designs and to eventually move it off the Etsy platform and have my own retail shop,” Shoun said. “I would love to have my own physical space, that would be nice but you know we’ll see.”

Shoun described her dream ca-

reer as either owning a space, costume designing or styling costumes for movies. She continues to do a lot of photo shoots for her store and for fun in local places like Baton Rouge, Lafayette and New Orleans. Her photos always have a vintage spin to them, and she’s constantly looking for people who like to model and collaborate.

Find Shoun’s stylish store on Etsy MessyDeco and on her Instagram @messy.deco.

COURTESTY OF @MESSY.DECO VIA INSTAGRAM

Rachel Shoun collects and sells vintage clothing through her Etsy shop Messy Deco.

Monday, November 18, 2019

photos by AB BY KI B

page 6

R LE

ON THE BIG

SCREEN

The cast of the movie “Swing” prepares for a scene in the LSU Quad.

Archie, one of the people on set, splits for Charles Melton’s Instagram story in the LSU Quad.

Monday, November 18, 2019

page 7

Cast and crew from the upcoming rowing drama “Swing” film in LSU Quad on November 11.

Actor Charles Melton rehearses the next scene in the LSU Quad.

Actor Alexander Ludwig takes pictures with fans in the LSU Quad.

Charles Melton gets escorted out of the LSU Quad.

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SPORTS

page 9

KEEPIN’ ‘EM ON THEIR TOES

FOOTBALL

EdwardsHelaire Thaddeus Moss’ toe-tapping catch just one example of his great season named Paul Hornung Award finalist

BY JACOB BECK @Jacob_Beck25

nior quarterback Joe Burrow said. People have known that all year. He makes catches like that in practice, so that was just another catch for Thad. Maybe that runs in the family.”

The Burrow-Moss connection

Junior running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire was named one of four finalists for the Paul Hornung Award, which is given annually to the most versatile player in college football.

Kentucky quarterback and wide receiver Lynn Bowden, Virginia wide receiver Joe Reed and Nebraska running back and wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson are the other finalists for the award.

Edwards-Helaire leads the Tigers in rushing this season with 958 yards and 12 touchdowns on 158 carries, averaging 6.1 yards per carry through 10 games. His 12 rushing touchdowns lead the Southeastern Conferece.

After Nick Brossette’s departure for the NFL, EdwardsHelaire took over as the starting running back this season, surpassing his 2018 rushing total of 658 in only eight games.

see MOSS, page 10

see FINALIST, page 10

MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille

LSU junior tight end Thaddeus Moss (81) catches the ball on the goalline during the Tigers’ 46-41 victory over Alabama in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Nov. 9.

BY JACOB BECK @Jacob_Beck25 In what will be remembered as one of the better catches in LSU football history, junior tight end Thaddeus Moss wasn’t sure where exactly his feet were when he made the catch.

“I knew it was close,” Moss said. “ I didn’t know if I was in or I was out.”

Much to the dismay of the Alabama faithful, Moss was in bounds. He had ran out of bounds before the catch, but was ruled to have been forced out by defensive

back Trevon Diggs, allowing him to re-establish position in bounds.

It was a play similar to one Moss’ father Randy, an NFL Hall of Famer would pull off. But Moss is trying to make his own name at LSU. “You gotta cover Thad,” se-

SWIMMING AND DIVING

How LSU’s swimming team stays on top of their game

BY ELIZABETH CUI @lizzie_ It’s not just determination in the pool that leads the LSU swim and dive team’s success, it’s what they do out of the pool that counts.

There is no doubt there is a lot of work that goes into being a student athlete. From waking up at early hours of the morning to balancing school and social life.

How do they maintain it all?

Swimmers and divers, although on the same team, have very different practices and schedules.

Swimming has a large variety of events, from long-distance swimming to sprinting, which separates the athletes training techniques. The divers are a smaller group and are trained by a different coach and in a different way.

This difference dictates what each athlete does differently outside of the pool.

The most obvious difference in sports is the energy expenditure that swimmers use in comparison to divers. This impacts how each athlete feels before and after practices, as well as the amount of time they have off.

“I think swimmers’ workouts

are aerobic-based so we need a little more food and sleep between practices to perform at a high level,” said Helen Grossman, a senior swimmer and team captain of the women’s swim and dive team.

Diving focuses on precision and is closely related to gymnastics and trampolining in its artistic aspect. There are more mentally-challenging aspects in diving as it is scary to flip and twist from high heights, Aimee Wilson, a sophomore diver and team captain said.

“I feel like diving is more mental,” said Lexi Daniels, a senior swimmer. “In between practices, I feel like they need to clear their mind. Swimmers, I feel like it’s more endurance so they need to make sure their muscles are relaxed.”

With any sport, especially at a high level, there are a few universal requirements from athletes to follow to be successful in their sports and maintain optimal health.

These athletes train twice a day most days, six days a week.

This can be taxing on the mind and the body so athletes make sure they do everything they can to avoid getting sick or overwhelmed.

MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille

LSU sophomore Ellie Baldwin swims the 200-yard backstroke event during the Tigers’ victory in the LSU Natatorium on Jan. 12.

Healthy practices such as proper diets, hydrating and getting adequate sleep are some of the necessities of athlete care.

Other practices such as seeing a sports therapist or psychologist, yoga, ballet, extra activity and meditation are all examples of how the swimmers stay in top form.

“I’ve recently started meditating before I go to sleep and when I feel anxious about swimming

or school,” Grossman said. “It’s an awesome tool that helps me focus leading up to big meets or races.”

There are also certain sacrifices that athletes have to perform well and balance their school work and training, however, most athletes don’t consider them sacrifices in the grand scheme of things.

“Growing up doing any sport at a high level comes with sacri-

fices, I think for me the biggest sacrifices,” Wilson said. “I have made have been not always being able to go to social events with friends or a lot of vacations growing up.

“At the end of the day I think it was worth it and all the hard work I have put into my sport has taken me to the level I am now and given me so many amazing opportunities that other people don’t always get.”

page 10

Monday, November 18, 2019

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Women’s basketball looks to lean on Mitchell, Pointer

BY RECE BAUGH @Recebaugh The LSU women’s basketball team is made up of 15 players, each of which plays in important role in the rotation, but junior guard Khayla Pointer and senior forward Ayana Mitchell have the two most important positions on the team: the emotional leaders.

The duo are not only responsible for running the Tigers’ offense, but also making sure the rest of the team is ready for every game, especially since five other key players on the team are underclassmen.

“I think this group is lead by a very compassionate but competitive player in Ayana Mitchell,” said coach Nikki Fargas. “She is very much in tune with what we have to do and what we have to accomplish and so is Khayla Pointer.”

Fargas praised the two women for staying in the moment and not getting caught up in what happened last year, referring to was the Lady Tigers’ 16-13 overall and 7-9 conference record, respectively.

Fargas stressed that the current team is better now than where they were last year.

MOSS, from page 9 is one that has blossomed this season, and Moss attributes it to the relationship they have built.

“I’m not gonna sit here and say we’ve practiced that throw before, but I would just say it’s the trust that he [Burrow] has in the throw,” Moss said. “He looked the safety off, came back right away and just fired it and I made a play on the ball.”

The play is destined to join the ranks of LSU history-defining catches at, but beneath the catch, Moss is having one of the better seasons by a tight end in recent memory for LSU. Ten games into the season, Moss is sitting at 32 catches for 355 yards and one touchdown. He’s third on the team in receptions and receiving yards behind LSU’s trio of receivers Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and Terrace Marshall.

Moss’ 355 receiving yards is the most by an LSU tight end since Richard Dickson had 31 catches for 324 yards in 2008.

The emergence of Moss has been just another byproduct of LSU’s offensive transformation under offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger and passing game coordinator Joe Brady.

The catch will be remembered, but for Moss the catch means more than just 16 yards, a first down and a place in LSU football lore.

“For me personally in the time it felt good,” Moss said.

“But moving forward I hope it’ll place more respect on my

She attributed this mindset specifically to the leadership of Mitchell and Pointer.

Mitchell is one of only four seniors on this year’s roster.

She recently broke the 1,000-career point mark in a victory over the University of New Orleans.

Mitchell was named to both the Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy watch lists. She is arguably the Tiger’s best player and their leader.

Mitchell understands the rest of the team looks to her in big games.

While Mitchell is more vocal, Pointer is a different kind of leader — quieter and leading by example more than anything else.

“Khayla is going to be a person of few words, but she is really good with her teammates off the court,” said Fargas, who believes Pointer will develop a more vocal style throughout the season. “There’s a leadership that is unspoken.”

The leadership of Mitchell and Pointer will be a big factor going forward not only in Southeastern Conference play, but in the Tigers’ non-conference schedule.

Fargas said that about 80% of the team’s non-conference name, within our offense and with other teams preparing for our offense. Hopefully it’ll make them prepare a little bit more, think a little bit more about game planning, which will ultimately help our offense as a whole.”

MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille

LSU junior forward Ayana Mitchell (5) looks to pass during the lady Tigers’ 76-52 loss to South Carolina, on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019 in the PMAC. opponents are teams that have previously been to the NCAA Tournament. LSU is currently 3-1. The Tigers defeated in-state opponents Tulane 59-54 on Sun-

day and will play Southeastern next on Nov. 20, followed

by Rutgers, who was a No. 7 seed in the NCAA tournament last season, on Nov. 24.

Then the Lady Tigers begin the Junkanoo Jam in the Bahamas with No. 16 Michigan State on Nov. 29 and then either Memphis or Kansas State.

FINALIST, from page 9

touchdowns as well.

LSU coach Ed Orgeron said he doesn’t know if he has seen a performance as good as Edwards-Helaire’s against Alabama, calling it “unbelievable.”

“I can recall Reggie Bush doing things like that, I can recall Warren Sapp dominating some games, but that’s right up there with it. That was as far as a dominant game,” Orgeron said. “And [Edwards-Helaire] said something like, throw your heart on the line and your body will follow. Phenomenal saying. And that’s him. I’m going to say it again, he’s six foot four, 270 when he runs that football.”

Former LSU standout Leonard Fournette is the last Tiger to accomplish such a feat. Fournette totaled over 180 scrimmage yards five consecutive games and another three game stretch in 2015.

Odell Beckham Jr. is the lone LSU football player to win the Hornung Award. In 2013, Beckham accumulated 1,310 yards and eight touchdowns from scrimmage and added 1,005 return yards. He also returned a field goal attempt 109 yards for a touchdown against UAB. The winner of the award will be announced Dec. 11. Fans can vote now at www.paulhornungaward.com.

Edwards-Helaire is also tied for third on the team in receptions with 32 for 224 yards and a touchdown. He’s also been the primary kick returner for LSU, averaging 22 yards per return.

He’s currently second in the SEC in all-purpose yards averaging 138.1 yards per game, which only trails Bowden who averages 142.3 all-purpose yards.

The Baton Rouge native has had three consecutive games with 180 yards from scrimmage against No. 9 Auburn, No. 3 Alabama and Ole Miss. In LSU’s 4641 win against the Crimson Tide, Edwards-Helaire chipped in four

MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille

LSU junior tight end Thaddeus Moss (81) runs the ball during the Tigers’ 42-28 victory over Florida on Oct. 12 at Tiger Stadium.

MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille

LSU junior running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (22) jukes a defender during the Tigers’ 46-41 victory over Alabama in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Nov. 9.

OPINION VIRGINITY TESTING

page 11

T.I. was wrong for forcing his daughter through it

SAUCE BOSS CÉCILE CÉCILE GIRARD @_cegi_ The rapper T.I. made headlines but not because he released new music. T.I. nonchalantly announced on the podcast “Ladies Like Us” on Nov. 5 that for the past several years, he has taken his now 18-year-old daughter Deyjah Harris to a gynecologist to check if she was still a virgin.

In response to this disturbing announcement, the two female cohosts of the podcast just laughed.

According to the World Health Organization, “virginity testing

has no scientific merit and cannot determine past vaginal penetration.” T.I. addressed this in his podcast interview, saying doctors repeatedly reminded him that the hymen can be broken in countless ways besides penetration.

Even with this knowledge, T.I. insisted that Deyjah go through the humiliating procedure year after year. Not only that, he stated that he stayed in the room while the doctor was doing the procedure, thus violating his daughter’s privacy and ability to have confidential discussions with her doctor.

The majority of online feedback on T.I.’s comments has been critical, but a disturbing propor-

tion of the online response has treated the incident as lightly as the podcast hosts.

Many have taken the incident as an opportunity to make lewd jokes, often at the expense of T.I.’s daughter. Others have taken issue with the fact that T.I. made his family’s private business public, but otherwise find that T.I. was well within his rights to take Deyjah to the gynecologist for virginity testing.

It’s unclear whether T.I. did this just out of an overbearing curiosity or to actively prevent his daughter from having sex. During the podcast, he proudly announced that “[Deyjah’s hymen] is still intact,” yet also said, “Who wants a virgin?

They’re no fun.” Regardless, both of these approaches to his daughter’s sexuality are problematic. He is reducing a multifaceted young woman to what lies between her legs. He is perpetuating one or both of the following misogynist notions: sexually active women are not respectable, or virgins are stuck-up and boring. Neither are universally true, and T.I. engaging in these stereotypes about his own daughter is disturbing.

Even if T.I. forced Deyjah through the embarrassing and scientifically unsound procedure out of parental concern, I hope that other parents of teenagers learn not to follow in his footsteps.

Virginity testing, especially

when it relies on such flimsy “proof” as a ruptured hymen, does little but breed tension and distrust between parents and their children. Deyjah’s recent decision to like tweets criticizing her father and even unfollow him on social media illustrates the resentment she still feels towards her father for the yearly tests.

If T.I. really wanted to help his daughter in the long run, giving her confidential access to her gynecologist would have been infinitely more constructive than repeatedly invading her bodily boundaries.

Cécile Girard is a 19-year-old biology and psychology sophomore from Lake Charles, Louisiana.

LSU is not a walking campus if they allow electric scooters GABBING WITH GABBY GABRIELLE MARTINEZ @gobbymatinez The University is marketed as a “walking campus,” meaning students are expected to be able to make it to and from classes in a time-efficient manner no matter their location on campus. While this factoid has been debated amongst students, there’s no doubt that the University utilizes permitonly access ways and closed-off road times for their students’ safety while traveling.

However, the University is overlooking some of the biggest perpetrators of this walking campus rule: electric scooters.

Currently, the University has no policy or statement on the use of these electronic scooters. Yet, they were quick to ban self-balancing scooters in 2015 for the safety risks presented to both users and pedestrians.

This makes you question why they have yet to implement any action on the grown-up version of the hover board.

Not only are these motorized scooters dangerous for unsuspecting bystanders, but they can be equally as dangerous for the riders.

If inexperienced, scooter riders can easily lose balance or control and become victim to a multitude of unfortunate injuries. Even the most seasoned riders can still find themselves going a little too fast down the University’s hilly sidewalks.

According to The Washington Post, a Salt Lake City hospital reported a 161% increase in scooter injuries within the year. Amongst the most frequently seen injuries were fractures, sprains, dislocations and even lacerations of the wrist, ankle, elbow and shoulder.

Even if you happen to think you’re safe indoors, you aren’t.

Electric scooters can also be found whiring through both residential and educational halls, scuffing and marking the floors. Classrooms are almost interrupted with sounds of accelerating and even sometimes afterwards, a thud.

These scooters also lack designated parking both indoors and out. In turn, they not only become fire safety hazards by blocking entrances and exits, but they can even limit and violate accessibility standards for those with disabilities.

It seems as if the target demographic of these scooters are student athletes, typically seen rolling around the outskirts of Tiger Stadium between classes and practices. However, isn’t this a little counterintuitive for athletes to be

ditching the cardiovascular benefits of walking for fancy Razors?

Also, isn’t it ironic that athletes could put themselves out for a season just by slamming their brakes a little too hard or accidentally jumping a curb?

Worst of all is the obnoxious names of the scooters, my personal

favorites ranging from SWAGTRON to Uberscoot. This leads me to my next question: why pay $800 for a malnourished Vespa named like a bad Soundcloud rapper?

Point-blank, motorized scooters shouldn’t be allowed even ethically on a campus that prides itself on their easy means of pedestrian

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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.

travel. Electric scooters offer nothing but potential hazard, and the University is irresponsible for not yet implementing any policies regulating them.

Gabrielle Martinez is an 18-year-old mass communication freshman from Gonzales, Louisiana.

CARTOON BY ETHAN GILBERTI / The Reveille

Quote of the Week “We’re coming. We’re coming.

And we ain’t backing down.”

Ed Orgeron

LSU Football Coach 1961 — present

page 12

Monday, November 18, 2019

Gender-reveal parties are pointless, potentially dangerous SINCERELY SHELBY SHELBY BORDES @shelbybordes A recent crop plane accident tied to a gender reveal party had me wondering, why are genderreveal parties still a thing? More importantly, why did gender-reveal parties exist in the first place?

The idea of a gender-reveal party seems innocent, but the reality is far too abstract. Traditional baby showers are one thing, but to hold a completely separate event just to reveal the sex of their baby with an expectation of only one of two outcomes is ridiculous.

Companies capitalize on gender-reveal parties by creating merchandise with things like “team blue” and “team pink” printed on it. It is used to sell to pregnant women and their families on the idea that throwing a gender reveal party is a necessity.

Baby showers started as a celebration of life for the mother and the family. I agree a party should be held to emphasize pregnancy as a beautiful process of bringing life into the world.

I believe a gender-reveal party hinders that significance by deciding if the baby will like trucks or princesses determined by popping a black balloon filled with blue or pink confetti, or in a number of ways I’ve seen.

Jenna Karvunidis, the woman who held the first gender reveal party said she had regrets about throwing the party. The baby from the gender-reveal party is now a girl who likes to wear suits and goes outside of the gender norms.

“The idea is as simple as eating cake,” Karvunidis said. “There is no way to have cake to cut into it, to see if the baby is going to like chess, lets just have cake.”

On top of all of this, most of the gender-reveal parties I have seen go wrong. Either the balloon flies away, the father misses the target or worse, a crop plane crashes. It is not worth going to great lengths just to find out something that shouldn’t matter.

By having people choose between “team boy” or “team girl,” it often leads to family members getting upset if the outcome is not what they wanted it to be. The baby should be celebrated merely for the fact it is joining the family in the world not because of its sex.

I don’t think a gender-reveal party is a necessity. It defeats the purpose of having a child.

You are having a baby and that is enough to celebrate, let the baby come into the world without the pressure of living up to the pink or blue powder, confetti or cake.

Shelby Bordes is a 20-year-old mass communication junior from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

KGROOVY VIA FLICKR

Gender-reveal parties often consist of exposing pink or blue colored smoke, powder or cake.

Louisiana drinking and smoking age should be 18, not 21 SAUCE BOSS CÉCILE CÉCILE GIRARD @_cegi_ Over the last five years, 18 state legislatures across the U.S. voted to raise their legal smoking age from 18 to 21.

In May 2019, Louisiana nearly followed suit, but lawmakers rejected a bill to raise the legal smoking age. The issue seemed closed, but Congress has since decided to join the bipartisan fight to ban smoking for adults under 21, possibly setting the legal smoking age at 21 for all states in the future.

Although the reasoning behind the proposed age raise is altruistic, it infantilizes the people it hopes to protect. Eighteenyear-olds are able to vote, join the military, take out student loans, buy a gun, and marry without their parents’ consent, yet they are deemed too immature to decide whether to smoke or drink. The logical imbalance of age restrictions does nothing but unfairly punish legal adults for making personal decisions, albeit unhealthy ones, available to people only a few years older.

If lawmakers want to protect young adults from lung cancer, heart disease, COPD, and the

countless other diseases wrought by excessive smoking, raising the smoking age to 21 is not the solution. Instead, teenagers need to be aware of risks associated with drug use, and then make their own decisions at 18 based on what they know. Declining tobacco use among teenagers suggests substance abuse resistance programs currently in place, like D.A.R.E., Keepin’ it REAL and other tobacco information campaigns are succeeding at spreading information to deter smoking.

The same process should be applied to alcohol by lowering the drinking age to 18 and increasing the prevalence of safe drinking information available to teenagers. Campaigns to change the U.S. drinking culture, which promotes binge drinking and drunkenness, would also be effective in preventing alcoholrelated problems among young adults. According to recent research by the ChooseResponsibility.org, although European teenagers drink more alcohol than Americans, fewer of their drinking occasions lead to intoxication. There is no simple way to reverse an entrenched culture of heavy drinking, especially in Louisiana but starting with early introduction of moderate drinking is a first step.

Despite strict preventative measures, some will always engage in risky levels of smoking and drinking. To counteract this, more resources need to be invested in smoking and alcohol cessation programs to make it easier for addicted users to seek help.

Additionally, cities should ensure a wide network of ride shares to

bring drunk drivers home safely, thus reducing the number of drunk-driving deaths, one of the biggest causes of young adult deaths.

Ultimately, setting the legal purchasing age for alcohol and tobacco at 21 does nothing but penalize 18-20 year olds who have been otherwise granted the

permission to harm themselves in other “adult” ways. Student loans are more likely to negatively affect an 18-year-old’s future than alcohol, and the law should be changed to reflect this.

Cécile Girard is a 19-yearold biology and psychology sophomore from Lake Charles, Louisiana.

SETH WENIG / The Associated Press

A woman buys refills for her Juul at a smoke shop in New York on Dec. 20, 2018.