The Reveille 10-3-19

Vo lum e 130 · N o. 11

E s t. 18 87

T hu r s d ay, O c t o b e r 3, 2 019

Finding their way Visually impaired students struggle to get around on campus, Disability Services says it’s not the place for them.

Read on

page 2 NEWS

p ag e 3

Student Government is now distributing free metal straws around campus to promote environmental awareness.

SPORTS

p ag e 5

29-year-old Zach Von Rosenberg is trying to blend in with younger teammates and maintain consistency as a punter.

ENTERTAINMENT

p ag e 11

Ryan Be Tryin’ creates earrings featuring the faces of celebrities including Coach O, Drew Brees and more.

OPINION

p ag e 13

“What makes Beyoncé so overrated? Is it her talent, something she has spent decades perfecting...?”

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

page 2

Visually impaired student struggles, Disability Services says LSU is not the place for them

BY ANNA JONES @annajoneses Business administration freshman Ryan Barnes is an average student at the University. He goes to class, works out at the UREC, has lunch in the Student Union and met all the same admissions requirements as everyone else in the freshman class. But the University is telling him and his family that he should consider transferring.

Barnes is visually impaired and needs assistance to navigate campus. He is typically helped around three to four times a day by the Delta Gamma sorority. Sorority members walk him to his classes, drive him to the gym, accompany him to the grocery store and make sure he has the notes he needs, among other things.

Barnes’s mother, Felicia Jackson, described the DG girls as a “blessing,” but said she had multiple frustrating encounters dealing with LSU Disability Services.

“I talked to a few people in the disability office, and their response to me was that if my son couldn’t find his own help, LSU was not the place for him,” Jackson said. “At that point, I had to turn to the DG girls.”

Letting her son come to the University this year was not an easy transition for Jackson.

“I cried a whole two weeks,” Jackson said. “I got lost on campus moving him in. So how is it going to be for him? I just kept thinking, ‘my baby’s going to be lost.’”

Jackson sought accommodations for her son, such as having someone walk him to his classes and having all of his classes in the same building. She was told Disability Services is not equipped to have a staff member escort students to their classes, and she never received a response regarding his class location.

“I told them, if he could get some kind of help, he’s a quick learner,” Jackson said. “As soon as he gets shown around, he would have it.”

Additionally, Jackson said Director of Disability Services Benjamin Cornwell is paraplegic and compared his situation to her son’s by saying he could get around campus without help.

Jackson argued the campus is more accessible for people who have difficulty walking than people who are visually impaired, since the campus has ramps and those in wheelchairs can see where they are going.

“If they have a disability, I’m not saying treat them differently, but [they should] have some type of sensitivity dealing with them,” Jackson said.

For the members of Delta Gamma sorority, their philanthropy is more than just about service hours; it’s about personal relationships.

History junior and DG’s Service Director Savannah Weisensee said the members have group mes-

sages with the visually impaired students they help, and they try to make the drives as entertaining as possible.

Members of DG said they have had several powerful moments with the students they assist.

Elementary education junior and DG Service Chair Sydney Barreca remembered a time when a student they were helping was amazed at the sight of a rainbow.

The student said she hadn’t seen a rainbow in 15 years, but that day it was bright enough to see from the car window.

“Everyone can make a personal connection,” Barreca said. “Some of these girls have done dozens of hours and it’s not even midterms yet. It’s amazing to see how much they care.”

Weisensee loves her sorority’s philanthropy, but is concerned they will not be able to help everyone who comes to them, even with the program constantly growing over the past two years.

At the beginning of her freshman year, they regularly assisted two students. Now, they do over 50 drives per week.

“If it weren’t for DG, these students wouldn’t be able to go to their classes,” Weisnesse said.

“Eventually, we won’t be able to help everyone.”

Barreca agreed Disability Services should be doing more rather than relying solely on other students.

“It’s the fact that Disability Services says, ‘we can’t help you, but there’s a sorority on campus that can,’” Barreca said. “We’re thankful we can help these students, but we can only do so much.”

Barreca brought up one incident where she was trying to help a visually impaired student learn how to get to Lockett B9 from Lockett B3. When she asked Disability Services if a staff member could show him the route to his class for the first few days, she said Disability Services refused.

“They couldn’t even walk him down a few doors,” Barreca said.

“We were more than willing to do it, and he learned pretty quickly.

We’re happy to take this upon ourselves, but whether we should is another question.”

Weisensee said her encounters with Disability Services staff members has always been positive, and lack of funding is a large part of the issue. Still, she wishes they could do more.

“LSU does what they have to do relative to what they’re required to do,” Weisensee said. “It brings up the question, are you only helping because you’re required by the law or do you actually want to help?”

DG and Jackson’s difficulties working with Disability Services come in the wake of a political communications class that conducted a study last spring uncovering limitations for the visually impaired on campus.

The research team discovered classrooms, room directories and

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

NEWSROOM (225) 578-4811 Editor in Chief CALEB GREENE Managing Editor HAILEY AUGLAIR Digital Editor BRITTNEY FORBES News Editor BAILEY CHAUVIN Deputy News Editor RACHEL MIPRO Sports Editor KENNEDI LANDRY Entertainment Editor WHITNEY HICKS Opinion Editor ASHLON LUSK Production Editor LUKE JEANFREAU Co-Photo Editor ALYSSA BERRY Co-Photo Editor CHRISTA MORAN

COURTESY DELTA GAMMA SORORITY

Delta Gamma sophomore Emily Wood takes a selfie with freshman Ryan Barnes. bathrooms without proper Braille signage in Lockett Hall. Additionally, one visually impaired student reported he accidentally went into the women’s restroom because the restroom was incorrectly labeled as the men’s restroom.

Some specific accommodations that are offered by Disability Services include large print text, note-takers, extended time on exams, access to take exams in the Office of Disability Services, readers, scribes, e-text audible software, relocating classes and consideration for tardiness.

After the study uncovered the mislabeled Braille signs, former Student Body Vice President and Delta Gamma alumna Rachel Campbell launched an initiative to install corrected Braille plates. Campbell discovered the cost would be steep, upwards of $60,000, but she felt the project was important enough to warrant the expense.

“Even basic accommodations are lacking,” Campbell said. “One student even said he once had to FaceTime a friend to help him find the right classroom number. That was really frustrating for me, and I think it also made me realize how much I take simple things like getting to class for granted.”

Student Government members took a survey of popular academic buildings around the Quad. They found classrooms and bathrooms in the vast majority of academic buildings on campus either have no Braille plating, or the Braille plates were covered by stickers, or above doorways, or falling apart.

Campbell said it’s important to ensure the University is in compliance with the Americans with

Disabilities Act standards and intentions, which are to provide equitable access to academics and campus resources regardless of one’s disability.

When she left the vice president position in spring, Campbell passed the information along to the current SG leaders, who she believes are working to get the price down to something more manageable.

Weisensee said people who think visually impaired students need to go to another school should reflect on how difficult their own lives would be without sight.

“How did you get to campus today?” Weisensee said. “Did you drive, did you walk? What was it like doing your homework? What was it like going to the Union and waiting in line for thirty minutes?

Realize how important your sight is on a daily basis.”

Both Weisensee and Barreca expressed disappointment in the treatment of disabled students on campus.

“Do they really want the students here, or do they do the bare minimum so they’re technically able to be here but it’s extremely hard to succeed?” Weisensee said.

Despite some difficulties, Jackson is not ready to give up on the University for her son.

“I’m not done with the University, but I’m disappointed,” Jackson said. “I felt like a school of this magnitude would be able to help. Instead, we were told we were asking for too much.”

Editor’s note: Anna Jones is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority.

ADVERTISING (225) 578-6090

Layout/Ad Design MATTHEW OAKMAN Layout/Ad Design EMILY POOLE Ad Design SARAH FRANCIONI Sales Representative EMILY MARANTO

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.

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 twice 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 ARE YOU VOTING?

LSU students and faculty discuss importance of voting, civic engagement

BY PERLA RODRIGUEZ @perlajasminee Voting is the pinnacle of democracy, the wheels that keep the freedom bus trucking along.

But what role do students play in this?

Young adults, especially college students, have a bad reputation for voting at lower rates than older generations. College students also move more frequently, are less likely to have a driver’s license and aren’t contacted as frequently by political campaigns as those in older age groups. These obstacles create barriers for students when registering and voting.

Political science junior Emanuel Lain said voting and registering to vote should be simplified so more people, especially college students, have the opportunity to vote.

“As a country, we could make voting easier by taking steps such as same-day voter registration, automatic voter registration and making sure that polling sites are located where students are so that they can vote easily,” Lain said. “The absence of these policies is a form of voter suppression. If we want a fully functional democracy, we must take steps to ensure that everyone can participate in it.”

Political science freshman Olivia Grice said voter education should be prioritized. All voters, including college-aged voters, should educate themselves on the elected officials and policies that affect their state before arriving at the

page 3 STUDENT GOVERNMENT

SG offers free metal straws in office

BY MARIA MARSH @mariarose22

accessible for students. The organization held a Voter Registration Day on Sept. 19 to give students the opportunity to register to vote before the Sept. 21 deadline.

Geaux Vote is dedicated to changing these historic trends and increasing student voting turnout rates at the University, according to Geaux Vote LSU President Grace Bordelon.

“One of our goals is to remove the barriers around voting by educating students and also by passing legislation that makes it easier for them to get out and vote,” Bordelon said.

Bordelon also mentioned the organization recently worked on legislation that allows stu-

LSU Student Government began distributing free metal straws to students at the beginning of the semester to lessen the use of plastic straws on campus.

SG Sen. Christina Georgacopoulos and Sydney McGovern coauthored a bill passed last March, which allocated $4,500 for the purchase of metal straws to be given to students “as an effective measure in promoting environmental awareness and sustainability.”

SG has given out a large portion of the straws at various events throughout the semester and will also be giving them out at Fall Fest, on Oct. 11 on the Parade Ground.

The straws are available at the Student Government Senate and Executive offices in the LSU Student Union.

Members of SG have also been personally giving them out to students in classes and around campus.

Construction management freshman Taylor Letourneau thought handing out metal straws is a good idea.

“That’s pretty cool,” Letourneau said. “Obviously the planet is in pretty bad shape right now with climate change, so any little bit that could help is obviously a good thing.”

Letourneau also appreciates that the straws are free, as most of the time students are more willing to listen to a message and ac-

see VOTING, page 4

see METAL STRAWS, page 4

ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille

LSU Voter Registration Day takes place in Free Speech Plaza on Thursday, September 19, 2019. voting booth.

“I would rather people not vote if they know nothing about politics and what is going on in their state,” Grice said.

Millennials and Generation Z will be the largest share of eligible voters in 2020, according to The Campus Vote Project.

These age groups haven’t been the largest share in the past due to its lower voting rates in previous elections.

Political Science Assistant Professor Anna Gunderson said young people should continue to be encouraged to vote.

“Young people need to vote to make sure their voices are reflected in our government and to encourage policymakers to pay attention to the needs and wants of younger voters,”

Gunderson said.

She also expressed how the University’s faculty members can encourage voting within their classes.

Elected officials make decisions on topics like student debt, funding for higher education and the economy, all of which are relevant to students. Student voters more than doubled from 2014 to 2018, but some think there is still a way to go, according to a Tufts study.

Geaux Vote LSU is a nonpartisan student organization that aims to engage University students in civic responsibility. It holds voter registration drives, educates students on the voter process and works on legislation to make voting more

STUDENT LIFE

Grad student dies after being hit by car on Burbank Drive

BY KATHERINE MANUEL @kmanuel_2

Courtesy of RAJAN DHAKAL

Cival engineering graduate student Binod Nepal died on Sept. 27 after suffering critical injuries from a Sept. 23 collision on Burbank.

An LSU graduate student died Friday from critical injuries he suffered after being hit by a vehicle on his way home on Sept. 23.

Cival engineering graduate student Binod Nepal, 26, was walking to a bus stop across Burbank Drive when he was struck by a vehicle. He was transported to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center following the crash.

Nepal started classes at the University this fall. He was conducting research with the Louisiana Transportation Research Center and serving as the public relations chair of the Nepalese Student Association at LSU. Nepalese Student Association President Rajan Dhakal met Nepal when he arrived to campus in the fall. Nepal lived with Dhakal for 10 days before moving to his own

apartment.

“When he came to stay with us, he was very curious [about] all the American ways of doing things,” Dhakal said.

Dhakal said Nepal used to talk about bringing his wife to America with him. His wife is still in Nepal’s hometown of Kathmandu.

“He was looking forward to his life,” Dhakal said. “He was just starting in the U.S. He had a lot of dreams.”

After earning his undergraduate degree, Nepal worked for the Nepal government in earthquake relief. Dhakal described him as a bright and curious student.

“He used to ask questions like, ‘Why are the roads in Nepal not as good as here? What can I do from my side to make the roads

and transportation research more effective in Nepal?’” Dhakal said.

Materials science Ph.D. student Dipendra Banjara picked Nepal up from the airport when he first arrived in the U.S. and lived with him for his first few days in the country.

“In a short time he shared many things with us,” Banjara said.

Banjara highlighted how difficult it can be for international students to travel far from their homes for college, but he encourages students to be like Nepal and explore the world.

After Nepal’s death, Dhakal said there were issues with sending information, paperwork and fees about Nepal’s death to his family because they’re so far away.

He said Nepal’s relatives were dev-

astated by their loss, and dealing with this while in a different country has further complicated things.

“There were a lot of hassles, a lot of headaches,” Dhakal said.

“It would be nice if LSU, as a representative of this student, could make this process easier.”

Dhakal said he is meeting with University officials soon to discuss the situation.

He also would like the University and the city of Baton Rouge to take more precautions for students that walk or bike to and from school. Dhakal said there should be more crosswalks and a lower speed limit in the busy streets surrounding campus.

“The place where he crossed the road should be properly man-

see GRAD STUDENT page 4

Thursday, October 3, 2019

page 4 METAL STRAWS, from page 3 tively participate if there are free things involved.

The bill was written by Georgacopoulos and McGovern after a meeting with oceanography and coastal sciences graduate student Kerrin Toner. During the meeting, Toner discussed her concerns about the excessive use of plastic in the Student Union.

Over 500 million plastic straws are used every day in the U.S, most of which end up in the oceans, according to For a Strawless Ocean, a program advocating for the use of alternative straws. By using nonplastic straws, such as metal straws, Americans can reduce the amount of straws that pollute the ocean and kill marine life there.

Georgacoloulos, McGovern and Toner agreed metal straws would be one way to contribute to conservation efforts at the University.

However, biology and psychology junior Kaylin Chauvin said she doesn’t think SG’s initiative will have much impact.

“I don’t see it making that much of a difference,” Chauvin said. “I’m just being realistic. I think it’s good that they’re trying to do that, but I think there are better things they could do to improve the environment.”

Chauvin said on a past trip to the University of Colorado at Boulder, she learned the city of Boulder had composting bins in addition to recycling bins along sidewalks.

Chauvin believes this would be a better use of the money because it would have a more significant impact.

McGovern believes the metal straws are making a difference, as she has noticed people using the metal straws in restaurants and around campus.

SG spent $3,750 on 2,000 metal straws, although the bill was allotted $4,500. The leftover money was put into budget.

McGovern added that all students should make sure to get a metal straw to do their part in preserving the environment.

ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille

LSU Voter Registration Day takes place in Free Speech Plaza on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

VOTING, from page 3

ALYSSA BERRY / The Reveille

LSU Student Government provides free metal straws for students in the LSU Student Union.

dents to present their TigerCard as means of identification at polling locations for students who may not have a driver’s license.

Political science and liberal arts senior Brooklen Farley listed organizations, including Geaux Vote LSU and Students for John Bel Edwards, that have encouraged students to be civically engaged, but said some students are still

apathetic about voting.

Farley said many young people are ridiculed when they attempt to be civically engaged, which can contribute to this apathy.

“Our voices, it’s not that they are not heard, they are constantly invalidated,” Farley said.

“Older generations count on us not paying attention and not banding together. If we amass our power through social media and digital advertising, I think it would make a large impact.”

GRAD STUDENT, from page 3 aged so that other accidents will not happen in the future,” Dhakal said.

Dhakal, Banajara and other members of the Nepalase Student Association at LSU started a GoFundMe to support Nepal’s family.

As of Wednesday, the GoFundMe has raised almost $24,000 of its $50,000 goal.

Nepal’s funeral was Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at Wilson Wooddale Funeral Home in Baton Rouge.

OCTOBER 7-11 M O N DAY

9:30a.m.-3:30p.m. IN THE MAIN LOBBY

T U E S DAY

9:30a.m.-3:30p.m. IN THE MAIN LOBBY

W E D N E S DAY

9 : 3 0 a . m . - 3 : 3 0 p . m . I N T H E T H E AT E R L O B B Y

SPORTS ELDER STATESMAN

PHOTO BY CHRISTA MORAN

Zach Von Rosenberg keeping up with the youngsters, Tommy Moffitt’s antics

BY JACOB BECK

page 5 FOOTBALL

Fournette leaves LSU football team

BY REVEILLE STAFF

@Jacob_Beck25

Senior running back Lanard Fournette has left the LSU football team, according to the LSU Athletic Department. Fournette was removed roster on the team’s website on Wednesday.

Coach Ed Orgeron said in the fall he expected Fournette to be a big contributor to LSU’s new offense due to his abilities as a pass catcher out the backfield, but Fournette only carried the ball 13 times for 36 yards and a touchdown to go with five catches for 19 yards in four games.

Fournette fell down the depth chart behind highly-touted freshmen John Emery and Tyrion Davis-Price. Orgeron has made it a priority to get Emery and Davis-Price experience in recent weeks.

Emery was a five-star recruit out Destrehan, Louisiana, and was ranked as the No. 1 running back in the class of 2019, according to various recruiting services. After a strong career at Southern Lab High School in Baton Rouge, Davis-Price ended his career ranked as a top 10 running back in the class of 2019, according to 247sports.com.

Against Northwestern State, Emery and Davis-Price combined

Junior punter Zach Von Rosenberg celebrated his 29th birthday on Sept. 29, making him one of the oldest football players in the NCAA this season.

At 29, Von Rosenberg has experienced a lot more than your average college football player, whether it’s the grind of minor league baseball, or being on the cusp of 30 years old.

Here’s a few fun facts about Von Rosenberg. He was born in 1990, just one year after LSU passing game coordinator Joe Brady was born. Freshman kicker Cade York was born in 2001, around the same time that Von Rosenberg was starting middle school.

“It’s definitely kind of weird, seeing all of these guys that were born in 2000, 2001, but it’s not too weird,” Von Rosenberg said.

“Now we’re recruiting guys for the 2020/21 class and they were born in 2003. It’s time for me to leave.”

Von Rosenberg said this jokingly, but it really is no joke that he’s among a very rare group of players who landed something other than football right out of high school, than made the jump to collegiate football afterward.

Coming out of high school, Von Rosenberg considered playing baseball for LSU, but decided to go straight to the pros and spent six years in the Pittsburgh Pirates minor league system. After being released by the Pirates, Von Rosenberg decided to go to the school he almost played baseball for. Von Rosenberg joined the football team as a tight end before moving to punter.

see ROSENBERG, page 7

see FOURNETTE, page 7

Column: Without Brees, Saints defense carrying the load MYLES KUSS @KussMyles There is a point in every person’s life where they have to rely on someone else to get through the day.

Whether it’s due to sickness, a bad day or simply a lack of knowledge, everyone needs someone they can lean on when times get tough.

For years, New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton has been able to rely on quarterback Drew Brees in any situation when Payton did not have a feel for the game.

In the especially rare times when Brees struggled to get anything going, Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara answered the call with equal efficiency and showed the capability to lead the Saints to victory on their shoulders.

Now with Brees out and Ingram gone, who can Payton

rely on when the opposing defense stacks the box with bodies against a superstar like Kamara.

The answer comes from the other side of the ball: the turnover machine that is the defense.

The argument through the years has always been that Brees could have multiple Super Bowl wins with a competent defense that has ranked near the bottom multiple times while number nine has been under center.

That argument has seemed to die out as the 2019 defense has put up impressive performances against a tough first place schedule.

The defense has produced six turnovers through four games and all have come when it counted.

Marcus Williams has had two huge interceptions with one coming in a tight Texans game against the Houston week one and the other to seal the deal against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.

The turnovers are what is go-

BILL FEIG / AP Photo

New Orleans Saints Vonn Bell (24) celebrates a fumble recovery against the Dallas Cowboys Sept. 29. ing to make these performances stable and keep producing wins, but another bright spot has come from unexpected names like Vonn Bell and David Onyemata.

Vonn Bell had a breakout year last year and has followed it up

with a great four games thus far.

He currently leads the team in tackles with 31 and allows Williams to play as a pseudo center field.

Onyemata had to sit out week one and the gap in the middle of

the defense showed as New Orleans allowed 180 yards on the ground to Houston.

In the next week in a loss to the LA Rams, Onyemata added

see SAINTS, page 7

Thursday, October 3, 2019

page 6

Allee Morris finding role, navigating freshman obstacles

BY ANTHONY MOCKLIN @anthony_mocklin LSU volleyball’s Allee Morris has made the most of her time so far as a freshman. A Louisiana native from Covington, Morris is all too familiar with everything LSU has to offer.

“I grew up an LSU fan, so to be able to get to play here was perfect,” Morris said. “Tons of people I know go to school here, and my family is able to come, so I’m happy that I get to play in front of them.”

In her fourth match at LSU, Morris played a key role in helping the Tigers sweep Southern Miss on Sept. 20, tallying a season-high 11 kills and adding two blocks.

Coach Fran Flory knew from the beginning that Morris was going to be a big help for the tigers. Standing at 6-foot-4, Morris has asserted her dominance at the net.

“She hasn’t even touched her potential,” Flory said. “Her ability to affect play above the net as a freshman is among the best that I’ve ever had. She’s come

in and certainly made it known that she’s gonna be a force to be reckoned with.”

But then LSU fell to Tulane on Sept. 21, who moved to 10-3 on the season and proved to be one of LSU’s tougher opponents so far. The Tigers managed to take the first set against the Green Wave, but proceeded to drop the next three sets and the match despite Morris’ nine kills and five blocks.

“Our freshmen became freshmen,” Flory said. “Those are the signs of freshmen carrying a big load. Having to be as physical as they had to be above the net and practice every single day for the first month of the season is comparable to their entire high school season.”

“They have played as much volleyball in one month than they did in an entire season, and they just hit the wall,” Flory said.

Morris is trying to overcome that wall and said transition to the college level has not been easy and takes some getting used to.

“Of course I still need a lot of work,” Morris said. “I think just being able to be disciplined and be coachable is key in college because it’s the only way you’re going to learn quicker.”

LSU bounced back following the loss to Tulane, opening conference play with two straight sweeps over Arkansas and Mississippi State. It’s a tremendous start for the Tigers, who were 0-5 last season in SEC play before picking up their first win.

“Anytime you can win an SEC match either on the road or on your home court and sweep the opponent, it’s a statement that we have something good going,” Flory said. “Our freshmen are seasoned veterans now as much as they can be. They’ve gotten a lot of experience.”

“It’s certainly better to get started winning than not winning,” Flory said. “We’re excited about the opportunity, and we think our schedule is favorable for us.”

LSU faces another tough test this week, hosting Ole Miss on Sunday, before traveling to Tennessee and Georgia next week.

MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille

LSU freshman middle blocker Allee Morris (14) participates in practice in the LSU Volleyball Practice Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019.

LSU baseball begins fall practice ahead of 2020 season

BY REED DARCEY @byreeddarcey LSU baseball continued its fall practice period on Monday with an intrasquad scrimmage at Alex Box Stadium.

Cole Henry returns Sophomore pitcher Cole Henry returned to the mound for the “gold” team, sporting a sleeve on his pitching arm after elbow soreness forced him out of the Tigers’ rotation for a month last season and again after two innings in the Tigers’ Super Regional against Florida State in June.

Henry threw 31 pitches in two innings during the scrimmage on Monday. It’s a positive step for Henry, who threw 41 pitches in his last live outing.

“His command wasn’t great, but he’s throwing hard,” said coach Paul Mainieri. “Cole’s going to be fine. He’s 100% healthy.”

Mainieri said that Henry is regaining his strength after losing about nine pounds due to a stomach flu last week.

Ailing catchers Junior catcher Saul Garza will miss the entirety of fall camp after undergoing surgery on his left thumb, Mainieri announced on Friday.

Garza hyper-extended his thumb over the summer during play in the Cape Cod League, said Mainieri. He opted for surgery after experiencing pain two months after the injury but is expected to be fully healthy for the spring.

Garza finished last season with a .303 batting average, five home runs and 27 RBIs. He was a

big reason for LSU’s strong finish, and in his absence, LSU will rely on freshmen catchers Alex Milazzo and Hayden Travinski.

Mainieri also said that Travinski showed concussion symptoms after taking a pitch to the head in Sunday’s scrimmage, but he will be fine for the rest of fall once cleared.

Milazzo and junior Braden Doughty saw action at catcher in Monday’s scrimmage. In the first two days of practice, Milazzo threw out three base runners attempting to steal.

“We knew [Milazzo] could throw,” said Mainieri. “He just needs to experience the game and continue to improve.”

Prep Baseball Report ranked Milazzo No. 3 overall in Louisiana’s 2019 recruiting class.

No. 6 ranked recruiting class Collegiate Baseball recently ranked the Tigers’ 14-man recruiting class No. 6 in the country. Four players — outfielder Maurice Hampton and infielders Zach Arnold, Zack Mathis and Cade Doughty — were drafted into the MLB but decided to go to LSU. “[Wes] Toups is a scrappy little player, and Mitchell Sanford, I think, has a lot of upside,” Mainieri said about his recruiting class. “I hate to even single out anybody because I’m excited about all of them.”

It’s a big boost for LSU, which lost five starters in the field. Both of LSU’s top hitters in shortstop Josh Smith and right fielder Antoine Duplantis are gone along with center fielder Zach Watson and second baseman Brandt Broussard.

ARCHIVES / The Reveille

LSU baseball players wait for the game to start during the Tigers’ 2-1 victory over Kentucky on Saturday, March 16, 2019, in Alex Box Stadium.

Thursday, October 3, 2019

page 7

ROSENBERG, from page 5

SAINTS, from page 5

Through his first two seasons at LSU, Von Rosenberg shared punting duties with former Tiger Josh Growden, but managed to averaged 44.6 yards per punt.

Becoming accustomed to typically having at least three to four punts per game, Von Rosenberg has had to get used to not being deployed as often with the Tigers high-scoring and highly efficient offense. Even though he shared punts with Growden for his first two seasons, Von Rosenberg still punted the ball 87 times.

“In pregame it’s a little different just because I’m now doing a lot more reps than I would in the past seasons, Von Rosenberg said. “Now that the offense is scoring on basically their first three drives every game, I know that I’m not really going to be getting as much work.”

Before having five punts in the Tigers 66-38 win over Vanderbilt, Von Rosenberg only had six total punts in LSU’s first three games.

Through LSU’s first three games in 2018, he punted the ball 13 times.

While Von Rosenberg hasn’t had as much work this season, he’s still been subject to the infamous antics of strength and conditioning coach Tommy Moffitt, who in his 19th season with the Tigers, apparently hasn’t slowed down one bit.

“He loves breaking chairs, that’s just fun, I like that,” Von

death and pitched in three solo tackles.

His real impact came against the Cowboys on Sunday night.

Along with Malcolm Brown and a returning Sheldon Rankins, Onyemata and the rest of the defensive line held the NFL’s best rusher, Ezekiel Elliot, to 35 yards on 18 carries.

That is a performance that everyone should be excited about as the depth on the defensive line is not going away and has shown that they can compete against the best. The Saints defense has not allowed a single 100-yard rusher in 30 straight games.

The defensive line is the strong suit for this group, but an-

MITCHELL SCAGLIONE / The Reveille

LSU junior punter Zach Von Rosenberg (38) punts the ball during the Tigers’ 65-14 victory over Northwestern State on Sept. 14.

Rosenberg said. “The [Texas] game was really fun, especially with all of the other things that happened besides the actual game. Sometimes it just depends on the mood of the team, but also how many energy drinks he’s had.

“The strength staff were drinking so many that the team nutritionist had to tell them to stop drinking them.”

Whether it’s watching the Tigers offense evolve or Moffitt break chairs, Von Rosenberg has had a front row seat for all of the weird and amazing things that can happen on the LSU football team.

FOURNETTE, from page 5 for 47 total yards and three touchdowns on 12 touches while Fournette had three carries for seven yards and no touchdowns. The disparity grew against Vanderbilt. The two freshmen totaled 14 touches for 59 yards and a touchdown to Fournette’s one carry for one yard.

During Fournette’s football career with the Tigers, he had a total of 162 rushing yards and two touchdowns and 11 catches for 74 yards.

A source said Fournette “just wants to move on with his life,”

Before..

..After BREWING NEW IDEAS

.

(225) 578-6090 admanager@lsu.edu

Design Services

other top talent woke up in week four during a time that the city desperately needed him.

Through three weeks, cornerback Marshon Lattimore was not having his best start. Lattimore allowed big plays across the board to the likes of Deandre Hopkins, Cooperkupp and Tyler Lockett.

Then he had to go into a game against another tremendous receiver in Amari Cooper.

The 2017 Defensive Rookie of the Year stepped up and was a huge factor as to why Dallas mustered 10 points.

Cooper finished with 48-yards receiving, and the supposed highoctane Dallas offense finished with only 212-yards passing.

Add in linebackers Demario Davis and A.J. Klein, and

New Orleans has a defense that can keep up the impressive performance into the foreseeable future.

While the numbers for the defense do not look pretty on paper, the way that each group plays shows the chemistry and playmaking ability that is uniform throughout the defense.

Payton now has a team that looks a lot like 2009 when Brees returns. The Saints were built around a solid offensive group with weapons, multiple running backs who can do more than simply run and a defense that forces turnovers constantly and maintains the attitude of bend and do not break.

Parton can rely on his defense in the tough times ahead, and wins will surely follow.

according to ESPN’s Edward Aschoff. Fournette is the younger brother of former LSU star and current Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft.

The two brothers played at St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, and the older Fournette was the No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2014. He finished as LSU fourth leading rusher in school history, and in 2015, he was a consensus All-American while setting LSU single season school-records for rushing yards (1,953 yards) and rushing

touchdowns (22).

While Lanard was never as highly regarded as his older brother, he had a successful career at St. Augustine and was a three-star recruit in the class of 2015. Lanard followed his brother at LSU, but he never felt like he was in Leonard’s shadow.

“I guess that was kind of just everybody else’s outlook on it,” said Fournette in an interview. “I always looked at myself like I’m me. We’re two different people. I always just did my own thing and never listened to anybody else.”

HOMECOMING WEEK OCTOBER 6–13 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 Homecoming Banner Viewing 2 p.m.

Front steps of the LSU Student Union

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 Parade 11 a.m.

LSU Campus Route posted on lsu.edu/homecoming

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7 Super Fly Monday Block Party 12–4 p.m.

LSU Parade Ground

Homecoming Madness 5 on 5 Basketball 2–6 p.m.

LSU UREC

SplatterBeat Hosted by the Residence Hall Association 7–9 p.m.

LSU Parade Ground

Homecoming Kick-off Pool Party 6–8 pm.

LSU UREC

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8 Homecoming Talent Show 7 p.m.

LSU Student Union Theater

Geauxing Back In Time

HOMECOMING WEEK IS PRESENTED BY

Alligator Cookoff Tailgate 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

LSU Parade Ground Court Walks Down Victory Hill 4:30 p.m.

Victory Hill LSU vs. Florida 7 p.m.

Tiger Stadium

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10 Homecoming Concert Silent Disco Special Guest Artist to be Announced 8 p.m.

Pete Maravich Assembly Center (PMAC)

Court Announcement Half-time of game Tiger Stadium

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 Fall Fest 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

LSU Parade Ground

SPONSORS Campus Federal Credit Union

LSU Ring

Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers

WITH GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM

Homecoming Student Committee • LSU Alumni Association • LSU Residential Life LSU University Recreation * Residence Hall Association • Student Activities Board

Questions? Contact LSU Campus Life at 225-578-5160 or campuslife@lsu.edu lsu.edu/homecoming

Fall Fest

Friday, October 11 • 11 a.m.–2 p.m. • LSU Parade Ground Free Food | Entertainment | Games | Activities

lsu.edu/fallfest

FALL FEST PRESENTED BY

SPONSORED BY

Campus Federal Credit Union LSU Ring lsu.edu/fallfest Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers

WITH GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS FROM LSU Dining LSU Facility Services LSU Staff Senate

Questions? Contact LSU Campus Life at 225-578-5160 or campuslife@lsu.edu

Classifieds

Thursday, October 3, 2019

page 10

Now twice a week. To place your ad, visit www.lsureveille.com/classifieds and click Submit an Ad

Costs: $0.34 per word per day. Minimum $3.75 per day. Personals free for students

For Rent

Help Wanted Looking for motivated individuals to teach aftercare programs for students with dyslexia in grades 1-8. 3:15pm-5:45pm M-F @ $10/hr. email tracy.ritchie@ lakeyacademy.com

St. John the Baptist Human Services is looking for reliable workers to work with adults who have disabilities! If interested call (225) 216-1199 or email: stjohnthebaptisthumanservices@gmail.com for more details!

Let Your Business Bloom

HELP WANTED LSU Student Media Distribution Assistant LSU Student Media is seeking applicants for the position of Distribution Assistant. This position is responsible for delivery/distribution of The Reveille newspaper and special publications. Applicants must be LSU students enrolled full time and in good standing. Reliable personal transportation and availability in the early morning hours on Mondays and Thursdays are required. Job expectations include attention to detail, good communication skills and the ability to follow instructions precisely. Distribution Assistants are considered brand ambassadors of the Reveille/ Student Media and are accountable for the presentation of the publications distributed. Rate of pay is $20/hr. Please submit an application at www.lsureveille.com/application.

2 BR HOUSE FOR RENT $1050 1 COMPLETE BATH 6 BLOCKS FROM LSU 9853208448

Place a Classified

LSUReveille.com

Do you like playing golf? The University Club is seeking part time kitchen help. Flexible schedule. Apply in person at Clubhouse 15333 Memorial Tower Dr. MID CITY BEER GARDEN WANTS YOU! We are hiring servers, food runners, doormen, and bussers. Will train for success. We are a very high volume bar located in Mid City, and we strive for excellence customer service and beer knowledge for our constantly changing taps.

Please send resume to info@midcitybeergarden.com or apply in person Monday-Wednesday between 4pm- 6pm.

Deadline: 12 p.m., three school days prior to the print publication date

Tired of Roommates?? Need Your own 1 BR Apt!! Walk to LSU!! 225 266-8666

our ads are

Pretty Sweet Place a classified at LSUReveille.com

our classifieds are

TEA-RIFFIC! Place a classified at LSUReveille.com

REEL IN SOME

business!

Scare up some interest!

place a classified at

LsuReveille.com!

Place a classified at LSUReveille.com

FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 30, 2019

THE Daily Commuter Puzzle ACROSS 1 Sleep under the stars 5 Cleans the floor 9 Reddish dog 13 Those not to be trusted 15 “Zip-__-Doo-Dah” 16 Peru’s capital 17 Cupid’s projectile 18 Inflammation of the liver 20 Fraternity letter 21 Female animal 23 Afternoon rest 24 Command 26 Egg producer 27 Slow graceful dance 29 Human being 32 Kilns 33 Boscs & Bartletts 35 Abyss 37 Drill tips 38 Actress Keaton 39 Mongolian desert 40 __ up; arrange 41 Breath fresheners 42 Bundled hay 43 Choose 45 Orange-andblack bird 46 Word attached to meal or cake 47 Feeling sorry about 48 Large antelope 51 Indignation 52 One of Santa’s helpers 55 Mushroom 58 Deadly 60 Piece of evidence 61 Woodwind instrument 62 Hit hard 63 __ on to; kept 64 Tears 65 Frosted DOWN 1 Sound of thunder 2 Haughtiness 3 Puppet on strings

by Jacqueline E. Mathews

Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews

4 Expert 5 TV’s Bill __ 6 “__ to a Nightingale” 7 Energy 8 Coast 9 Customer 10 __ the books; studies 11 Leave out 12 “Jeremiah __ bullfrog…”

14 Uppsala folks 19 Wedding cake levels 22 Damp 25 Trots 27 Unruly crowds 28 Climbing plants 29 Le __; French auto race 30 Remorseful 31 Written slander 33 Half-quart 34 “Please Don’t __ the Daisies” 36 Laundry soap brand

9/30/19

Saturday’s Puzzle Solved

©2019 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

38 Tyrant 39 Put on weight 41 Lunch & dinner 42 Undies, for some 44 Rich 45 “__ Father, Who art in heaven…”

47 Angers

9/30/19

48 Poison ivy symptom 49 Beauty mark 50 Anka or Reiser 53 Tardy 54 Ran away 56 __-Wan Kenobi 57 “Alley __” 59 French friend

ENTERTAINMENT WE’RE ALL EARS

page 11

Ryan Be Tryin’ creates festive Coach O earrings for game day

BY ENJANAE’ TAYLOR @_queennet_ Does anything show your dedication for the Tigers more than having Coach O’s face on your earrings for game day?

Ryan Be Tryin’ caught the internet’s attention last week when Barstool LSU posted a picture of a customer wearing earrings with LSU football coach Ed Oregeron’s face on it. The caption said, “High fashion at its finest.”

Louisiana native and Ryan Be Tryin’ creator, Ryan Sonnier, had no idea where the influx of customers to her Etsy shop was coming from. Sales were coming directly from Instagram with many LSU fans ready to get their hands on the unique item.

Sonnier sells a lot more than just the face of Coach O, even though that’s enough for a lot of Tiger fans. She also sells earrings with the faces of other famous coaches and football players. You name it, she has it: Celebrities, TV and movie characters and emojis.

With a fun name filled with as much spunk as the shop itself, Ryan Be Tryin’s name came about by accident.

“It was just kind of a joke between my mom and I, and I just rolled with it,” Sonnier said.

Sonnier worked for a criminal defense attorney for 12 years before she became pregnant.

During her pregnancy, Sonnier was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum, a type of severe morning sickness women can get

during pregnancy, which caused her to quit her job.

After her son was born, she was still recovering and not yet ready to return to work, so she started making t-shirts, earrings and other monogramed items to make money.

One day, one of her friends sent her a business logo and asked if she could put it on a pair of earrings. After that same friend posted the earrings on social media, Sonnier recieved hundreds of messages from people requesting to purchase a pair.

A f t e r completing 100 earrings with the help of her mother and realizing the potential of her business, Sonnier decided to branch out even more with her designs.

“My imagination just started going wild, and I started making all kind of different ones. Then my friend encouraged me to open up an Etsy shop, so I did that, and now I make all kind of different designs, and it’s my full-time job,” Sonnier said.

Ryan Be Tryin’ has a wide variety of choices, with earrings for football and spooky season already up on Etsy. Seasonal

@rya nbetryin_ via Instagram choices are always huge, but Dolly Parton, Biggie and Tupac are some of her biggest regular requests.

The designer thinks of all of

the popular people and things related to the season or events happening at that time to get ideas for her earrings. Once she makes a custom earring for someone, she will post it to her Etsy and repost it on her Instagram so people can have inspiration and buy that certain style if they’re interested.

Along with earrings, Sonnier makes necklaces, pins, bracelets and key chains. The best part is that everything is available to be custom made, with the opportunity to change the size and design of the earrings.

Imagine going to a concert with the lead singer dangling from your ears or to your best friend’s wedding with her on your left ear and the groom on your right.

From family members, pets, bachelorette and birthday parties, Sonnier has done it all. As long as you can think of it, Sonnier will make it.

“I don’t know if I should say, but I made it,” Sonnier said when asked what

was one of the craziest custom order she’s ever made. “I learned I don’t ask questions; I just make the earnings.”

Sonnier’s regular earrings sell for $10 and her custom earrings sell for $15. With unique items and great prices, Ryan Be Tryin’ will continue to be a standout competitor. The shop was already an Etsy top 5000 shop in 2018, and Sonnier sells to every state in the country. She also ships internationally, and has customers all over the world.

Sonnier taught herself how to do all of the editing and printing required to make her jewelry, making Ryan Be Tryin’ a true home-grown, self-run business success story.

“Ryan Be Tryin’ to get out there,” Sonnier said while speaking about her desire to continue to grow her business.

Getting into more boutiques and making her business bigger and better are her main goals.

She already has many distributors in multiple states that buy wholesale from Ryan Be Tryin’, including Baton Rouge’s very own Hey Penelope.

Sonnier is in the process of opening up her own website in addition to her Etsy shop. She also wants to look into getting her earnings into more boutiques.

Ryan Be Tryin’ is quickly going from a one woman show, to a full-blown business, with the many faces showcased on her earrings making hers one to know.

FOOD & DRINK

Chow Yum Phat: affordable Asian street food with a twist

BY BRITNEY YOUNG @byoun99 There are times when our stomachs tell us to go out to eat, but our wallets beg us not to. At Chow Yum Phat, you don’t have to worry about that anymore.

Vu “Phat” Le and Jordan Ramirez are longtime friends and business partners of Chow Yum Phat. Which just opened at a new location under the overpass on Perkins only 10 minutes away from campus.

Ramirez and Le worked together at Tsunami, and they would do food pop-ups. The two eventually created Chow Yum Phat, and they pride themselves on not following the rules of traditional Asian dishes.

“We don’t want to hold ourselves to one type of cuisine,” Le said. “I want to keep it broad, so we can do whatever we want.”

Chow Yum Phat focuses on Asian street food and small dishes. Many people don’t want to spend over $50 just to have a fun night out with friends. Le and Ramirez understand that and want to bring customers the mindset of enjoying different small dishes.

“Me and my wife go out, and we order a handful of appetizers and small plates,” Ramirez said.

“We don’t try one dish. We try what the restaurant has to offer, and we want to promote that style of dining.”

This type of dining promotes everyone to come together and enjoy great food, without having to worry about digging a hole in then bank accounts. Customers can enjoy dishes like baos, dumplings, ramen and appetizers.

Ramirez and Le are building a menu to include new and unique foods.

Le and Ramirez are also coming up with future plans for brunch on Sundays and a late night menu for Friday and Saturday.

The atmosphere has a neighborhood-bar vibe where a community of people can come together. The interior of the restaurant also gives off a street style. Inside, there’s a painting that immediately catches your eye, and there’s a mural piece outside on the patio.

“Regardless of where you’re from or your status, this is for everyone,” Le said.

Le wants Chow Yum Phat to be known as a place where people can come together and have a good time. You can come and eat at the restaurant multiple times a month, because you’re not blowing your budget on one plate.

Chow Yum Phat prides it-

self on being unique among the other restaurants with their own twist on Asian street food. Affordable prices and a wide variety of foods attracts audiences who cannot afford to spend exuberant amounts of money when going

out to eat.

Text that group chat and make plans with your friends or a date to enjoy a nice assortment of baos, dumplings or nice bowl of ramen. You don’t have to make a dent in your pockets to enjoy high quality food.

BELLA BIONDINI / The Reveille

Chow Yum Phat sits on 2363 Hollydale Ave. Baton Rouge on Oct. 1

page 12

REV R ANKS TV

TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES

The CW

The story lines felt incomplete or rushed, the acting was dollar store quality, and it wasn’t even “terrifying.” It was like taking “Black Mirror,” watering it down a couple times then wringing it out and using what scraps were left to piece together a new series. Each episode will give you the first sentence to elude you to think of multiple ways the plot could go. Then at the end it will reveal the final sentence so that you can read the horror story in two sentences. I was disappointed with how predictable and underplayed the storylines were.

Alexandria Duque @AlexInTheMedia

MOVIE

BETWEEN TWO FERNS: THE MOVIE Netflix Zach Galifianakis trolling a bunch of celebrities for about an hour and 20 minutes. Awkwardness and hilarity ensue. The film mixes a fictitious narrative with the premise of interviewing real celebrities for a public access TV Show. The show also tries too hard to be awkward and funny, which has the opposite effect. I get that the show and the film are parodies of talk shows, but it would elevate creativity if Galifianakis, who is a comedian in addition to being an actor, was allowed to be random and spontaneous along with his guests.

Lia Salime @liasalime

TV

UNBELIEVABLE Netflix

This show is based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning article about this case. Marie was 18 years old when a masked man broke into her home and raped her. Marie told the two male detectives of what happened, and the investigation goes on. This show represents the notion that rape victims are sometimes not believed by members of the police force. The show does represent how showing compassion and being passionate for justice can eventually solve a heinous crime. They received the justice they deserved, and I hope anyone who faced this type of crime get justice and encounter people who will support them.

Britney Young @byoun99

Read the full reviews online at lsunow.com/entertainment

Thursday, October 3, 2019

‘Mario Kart Tour’ falls short compared to original games

BY MASIE O’TOOLE @masieotoole “Mario Kart” is a staple of many childhoods, so when Nintendo revealed its plans to turn it into an app, there was obviously a lot of hype.

The game has always been simple— get to first place. There are other aspects that make it more interesting, like characters, items and karts, but for the most part the fun of the game rests in the competition.

A concept as simple as this should be easily translated into an app, right?

“Mario Kart Tour” was released on Sept. 25 and has blown up.

The hype was fairly short lived, though. After users got their hands on the game, that excitement quickly dissipated.

The game is the same concept as the original. Users choose a character, kart and track and take off, gaining items to use against other players.

The mechanics have undergone a massive amount of change in order to make them smartphone compatible, but the essence of the game remains.

The biggest changes come in outside of the races. The app is

free to download, meaning in order to make any revenue without overloading the game with ads, there are going to be a ton of paid upgrades. To get players to want to buy these upgrades, there are limitations within the game.

The most immediate limitation is gaining new characters, karts and gliders. In most other Mario Kart games, these are gained through experience.

The further you progress, the more you unlock. From there, whatever character you choose is a question of which you like

the most.

In “Mario Kart Tour,” some characters are unlocked as you progress through the levels, but most have to be purchased with coins in a “picks-of-the-day” style or rubies, with no choice of which character you receive.

These characters give you certain upgrades in each race and allow you to get more experience, helping you to unlock more races down the line. If you don’t earn enough experience, you can’t progress, and it’s much more difficult without having the correct character for each race.

Another factor in gaining experience is your character’s, kart’s and glider’s upgrade level. After completing a race with each item, it adds a few points to the level of the item, granting you more down the line. This is limited per day, however, so there’s only a certain amount you can boost in one sitting. To get your items to the new level after reaching the limit, you have to purchase tickets.

The app itself isn’t a complete bust, but it’s very obviously designed to put paid upgrades at the center. The concept itself is still addictive, and the nostalgia adds a nice touch.

OPINION

page 13

PARDONED PARTYGOER Ohio “Baby Killer” Brooke Richardson seen partying just days after trial SINCERELY, SHELBY SHELBY BORDES @shelbybordes Brooke Richardson was seen at a party after avoiding deserved jail time.

Richardson was with her friends laughing and having fun like she had forgotten what she had done to her newborn child.

Richardson was accused of killing her newborn just two days after her senior prom. She justified burying the newborn in the backyard of her family home in Ohio by saying she was still-born.

She was thinking of herself and her own future as she dug the hole where she would place her newborn. She didn’t think it was possible to maintain her image and have a child. The former cheerleader kept the news of her pregnancy quiet as she continued to attend school, go to parties and plan for her future. Richardson’s family said her weight gain went unnoticed because it usually fluctuated due to her eating disorders.

Two months after she

buried the newborn, Richardson’s gynecologist reported it to the police. The coroner was unable to determine the cause of death of the newborn, but prosecutors insisted it was a homicide.

Prosecutors presented the jury with the idea that Richardson wanted the perfect life. The pregnancy would have ruined the “good girl” persona she was trying to achieve, which is why she took action.

The action that Richardson took to ensure her future goes beyond a side effect of fear. What Richardson did was a selfish action that she blamed on ignorance.

After the defense claimed the prosecutors “overcharged” Richardson, Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell said they owed it to the little girl to take it to trial.

The jury found Richardson not guilty of all serious charges.

She was sentenced to three years of basic supervision, which isn’t a harsh enough punishment for her actions.

Although Richardson has already received backlash from the media, eventually most will forget and move on. I’ve noticed

people have even labeled her the “baby killer.” No matter how horrible the nickname, it will not make up for what she has done.

By not giving Richardson a harsher punishment, it leads women to believe they could take the same action and receive the same treatment. Richardson wanted to live a normal life by going to college and planning for a future that did not consist of having a child so early on.

Richardson took an outrageous and unlawful action in order to keep her image. By allowing her to walk free, she can do exactly what she planned to do without being punished.

There is no justice for her baby.

Tracy Johnson, the child’s paternal grandmother, expressed her grief over the loss of her first grandchild. Johnson said she would have taken care of the baby if she knew Richardson was pregnant.

“As we live with our grief and loss, she can now live knowing that her selfish decision was not her only choice,” Johnson said.

This issue stems from the underlying problem of how women are treated if they get

pregnant at a young age. With constant backlash and judgment, it causes young, pregnant women to act out of fear.

In many societies and cultures pregnancy before marriage is still seen as unacceptable. Single pregnant women are often the center of gossip and retaliation.

Women go to different measures to avoid the punishment they might receive from others.

Women should never feel this

way or go to such extremes as Richardson did.

Richardson deserved a harsher punishment to show others that what she did was not okay. If she had received a more serious sentence she would have gotten a better chance to reflect on her actions and truly regret them.

Shelby Bordes is a 20-yearold mass communiations junior from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

MICHAEL BUCKINGHAM / The Associated Press

Brooke Skylar Richardson makes her first court appearance in Franklin Municipal Court in Franklin, Ohio in July 2017.

Beyonce is not overrated, degraded as successful woman I SAID WHAT I SAID MAYA STEVENSON @MayaSStevenson Notable for embracing her cultural identities and revolutionizing the entertainment industry with each project, Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter is a singer, songwriter, actress, fashion designer and more.

Queen Bey, or Bey, as she is affectionately called, is loved by many but also hated by others. Of course, this likely doesn’t matter to her.

Anytime Beyonce makes the headlines or social media, comments about her overrated-ness inevitably follow. Her fans are compared to religious worshippers, something even she has set straight.

What makes Beyoncé so overrated? Is it her talent, something she has spent decades perfecting, which shows every time a note leaves her mouth?

Is it her work ethic, where she invests months to years into every project? Is it her philanthropy, which she doesn’t broadcast but still gives plentifully? Is it her

personal life, which isn’t our business anyway? Is it her womanhood? Is it her blackness?

It’s very likely both.

Unfortunately, Beyoncé is just susceptible to one of the many issues that plagues women everywhere: the minimizing of achievements. Even in this day and age, the success of women makes people uncomfortable. Beyoncé herself isn’t the problem; it’s what she represents. It’s hard for those uncomfortable with female success, to see a black woman like Beyonce reach success of her caliber.

Truth be told, this phenomenon is everywhere. And one might think it’s just men who do this, but it’s not. I’ve encountered several women who rather than correcting their internalized misogyny would prefer to belittle other women and their accomplishments. I once talked to a woman who reduced one woman and all of her accomplishments to being someone’s wife. Even though said “wife” was so much more than that, it was easier for her to ignore that in an effort to insult her.

Another example is Michelle Obama, former first lady of the United States. I’ve only been alive for four presidencies, but I can’t help but think Obama was the victim of more criticism than any other First Lady, not to mention a brand of criticism completely different from other presidencies. She was one of the most educated and eloquent First Ladies we’ve ever had. Critics constantly reduced her to attacks against her appearance, or even more vilely, her race.

Female accomplishments are constantly diminished, even when they’re for the glory of the country.

The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team, four-time winners of the World Cup, were subject to the most disgusting hate, even after they won the tournament this year. When fighting for equal pay, they were constantly compared to their male counterparts, who have won their World Cup a total of zero times. It was more important that these female athletes who have brought home several trophies were attacked for having fun, drinking and standing up in the

face of hate. Those things were easier to focus on than them getting something done that men couldn’t.

Women everywhere are faced with this kind of problem.

It’s even more difficult when one of their other identities intersects with the reduction of their achievements. We see it everywhere, in the office when we do our job twice as well as

the male across the hall, but he still gets a promotion first. We see it in our families, where male family members are praised for doing the bare minimum. We even see it in ourselves, when we suppress any pride, because a woman is supposed to be humble.

Maya Stevenson is a 20-yearold English and Philosophy major from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

CARTOON BY ETHAN GILBERTI / The Reveille

Thursday, October 3, 2019

page 14

Louisiana’s GOP must stand up to Trump’s dehumanization LETTER FROM THE EDITOR CALEB GREENE @cgreene_24 On the campaign trail in 2000, then-candidate George W. Bush famously said, “Family values don’t stop at the Rio Grande [River].” Bush embodied a strand of compassionate conservatism that began to decline in the mid-2000s and died altogether by 2010.

In an article published Tuesday night, The New York Times detailed the White House’s ongoing immigration debate. In an Oval Office meeting earlier this year, President Donald Trump suggested shooting migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border to slow them down. This idea was one of Trump’s many suggestions. According to The New York Times, the president also talked about building an alligator-and-snake-infested moat and placing metal spikes that could pierce flesh at the top of the border wall to prevent illegal crossings.

Trump eventually settled on shutting down the border, a decision that he would later walk back. The New York Times article revealed more than just the

internal debate on immigration; it highlighted the president’s disregard for the law and his patronizing treatment of former Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen.

“Kirstjen, you didn’t hear me the first time, honey,” Trump said during a briefing on the department’s legal authority to down drones. “Shoot ‘em down.

Sweetheart, just shoot ‘em out of the sky, O.K.?”

Trump’s suggestion to shoot migrants in the legs is the latest example of a lifetime spent dehumanizing people of color, from the Central Park Five to his 2016 campaign rhetoric.

Louisiana’s GOP congressional representatives stand near the edge of a perilous cliff. They can continue to march in unison with the president, or they can offer a rare voice of dissent in the Republican Party.

There is a real need for comprehensive immigration reform, but that debate should be settled in the Capitol chambers and at the ballot box, not by the executive-ordered shooting of migrants crossing the border.

Rep. Steve Scalise, Rep. Clay Higgins and Sen. Bill Cassidy have reputations for being Trump lap dogs. Scalise votes in line with the president an incred-

ible 99.2% of the time, and every other Republican representative from Louisiana votes with Trump at least 90% of the time, according to FiveThirtyEight.

Some of the votes may be simply a result of congressional politics and similar ideologies, but when will enough be enough?

Will Louisiana’s Republican representatives continue to ignore every moral and ethical instinct, or will they speak out against Trump on this issue? Unless Scalise, Higgins, Cassidy, Rep. Ralph Abraham, Rep. Mike Johnson, Rep. Garret Graves and Sen. John Kennedy criticize the president for his suggestions to shoot migrants and build medieval border defenses, we should assume they share the same belief.

The response to the president’s rhetoric detailed in The New York Times’ article needs to transcend political differences. This is the supposed leader of the free world talking about shooting individuals whose crime is fleeing poverty, corruption and violence and seeking refuge in America.

Scalise’s website says, “He does not want to reward those who have committed a crime,” but also that the United States

L SU Student Media Student At-Large Board Member Position The LSU Office of Student Media is seeking a student to serve a one year term as the at-large member on the LSU Student Media Board. The Student Media Board is comprised of LSU students, faculty, staff and media professionals who are responsible for interviewing and selecting students who have applied for the top editor or manager positions for The Reveille, Tiger TV, KLSU Radio and Gumbo Yearbook. The at-large student must not hold office in Student Government, must not be enrolled in the Manship School of Mass Communication and must not be employed by LSU Student Media. Availability for Friday afternoon meetings up to three times per semester is required. The first meeting is Friday, November 8th.

If interested, please email studentmedia@lsu.edu and include a brief statement about your interest in LSU Student Media and why you want to serve on the board.

was founded on immigration. He may not want to reward migrants for illegally crossing the border, but certainly shooting them is not an option either. Higgins’ website reads, “America will always be a land of compassion.” It’s time that Louisiana’s congressional

representatives do more than simply plaster beautiful, articulate phrases on their websites. If they believe the U.S. is really a land of compassion and was founded by immigrants, then will they denounce Trump’s dehumanizing rhetoric?

THE REVEILLE ARCHIVES

Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump delivers a speech on Thurs., Feb. 11, 2016, during a rally in the Baton Rouge River Center.

News That

ROARS Download the app & Subscribe to the newsletter.

BELL

9:41

100%

Monday, August 26

REVEILLE

now

News for tigers, by tigers, turn on your notifications!

Slide for more

Thursday, October 3, 2019

page 15

Parties at plantations, a confusing commonplace Your Best Brett BRETT LANDRY @bmlandry3 As a history lover, I fully understand the desire to immerse yourself in the longstanding monuments of the past. However, there is one commonplace in American society, particularly in the American South, that is just puzzling.

Americans from sea to shining sea appreciate a good party, and there is a never-ending list of reasons to celebrate. However, one of the stranger locations frequently used for receptions, balls and weddings are historical plantations. Thomas Jefferson’s childhood home and former plantation, the Tuckahoe Plantation hosts about two weddings annually. Morally, there is

no absolute about a celebration at the plantation being right or wrong, but let candid facts stand.

Plantation homes are only a small sliver of the larger plantation system, and a hollowed version of said history. Those plantation homes were financed and furnished by the institution of slavery.

The plantation homes themselves were attended to by the slaves who the plantation owners deemed worthy of working inside. However, this is typically not generally acknowledged when an arbitrary event is held there. Rather, the focus is placed on the beauty of the home.

The plantation home is as beautiful as it is old. It is questionable if it makes sense to have people throw parties in the halls of an American an-

tiquity. When a museum holds receptions, it makes sure the artifacts and exhibits are secure from any potential destruction by attendees. Would it not make more sense for people to just admire a plantation home on a tour as opposed to exposing the home to arbitrary guests? I digress.

Furthermore, the demographics of the guests should be analyzed, if only to prevent a comically ironic situation from occurring. If a fraternity or sorority is predominantly white, it’s probably best to schedule the event somewhere other than a plantation home. It’s probably not ideal to see a historical recreation of the Antebellum South for a spring formal.

If you happen to be rich, it is probably also best if you opt to hold your event elsewhere,

since the Plantation South held a rigid class structure that aimed to keep plantation owners wealthy and everyone else financially inferior.

Many plantation homes are privately owned. The free market dictates that people can do what they wish with their private property, including renting it out to guests. If the guests do go and admire the beauty, potentially sparking a greater interest in American history, then maybe the frequent receptions are worth it.

The only exception to this standard would be if the event planned had some historical significance and relationship to the plantation home. For example, Mt. Vernon in Virginia is the former plantation home of President George Washington. If a historical society was having

an event based on Washington, then it would be understandable to use the plantation home for the event.

However, holding a social function at Mt. Vernon, or any other plantation, for the sake of having pretty scenery overlooks the plantation’s historical significance.

If we are aiming to rebrand the modern plantation home as something new, while still respecting the history of the establishment, then let the future decide how that movement will go. But with a past of slavery and a complex history worthy of the greatest museums, you must admit, throwing a party there is kind of strange.

Brett Landry is a 20-year old mass communication senior from Bourg, Louisiana.

Letter to the editor: LA needs a governor who’s for the students

BY SEAN JI Dear Editor, As a Louisiana native and a graduate of LSU, I am extremely concerned with the $233.3 million cut to the TOPS program that Gov. John Bel Edwards proposed. Not only was he planning to cut TOPS funding, but higher education as well, which

would make it hard for students and families to attend and support our flagship University.

Since the temporary 1% sales tax is expiring, $1 billion in state funds will be lost and it is not fair that TOPS is what is taking the hit. Higher education continues to be hit, and Louisiana needs a governor who will advocate for students. We need to ensure that families and individ-

uals have the ability to not only stay in their home state to earn their degree but also want to stay and help boost Louisiana’s economy. If the uncertainty around TOPS and higher education funding continues to grow, students will continue to leave the state and receive an education elsewhere.

There needs to be a change in leadership. Louisiana needs

a governor who will fight to preserve TOPS and push for higher education funding. U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham has always believed in putting Louisiana families first. He will make the changes necessary to ensure there is no doubt on whether the youth of Louisiana will be able to afford attending college in their own backyard. Doc is ready to take control of the bud-

get and put higher education funding as a priority and never let it be on the chopping block again. I am voting for Abraham for governor because I want to make sure that everyone in the state will have the opportunity to obtain a degree in our great state and I encourage you all to do the same.

-Sean Ji-

“Devoid of stricter safety regulations, a simple walk to the LSU bookstore becomes a dangerous game of Frogger” cartoon by ETHAN GILBERTI / The Reveille

Editorial Policies and Procedures EDITORIAL BOARD Caleb Greene Hailey Auglair Baily Chauvin Rachel Mipro Ashlon Lusk

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.

Quote of the Week “In the end we can endure much more than we think we can.”

Frida Khalo Artist 1907 — 1954

CONGRATULATIONS HOMECOMING COURT

Evan Doré

Emily Wood

Cora Barhorst

Patrick Cormier

Lake Charles, LA

Bossier City, LA Sophomore Political Science

Baton Rouge, LA

Junior History and Studio Art

Crowley, LA

Dominique Cravins

Colt Hardee

Ragan Benton

Jordan Landry

Washington, D.C.

Kaplan, LA

Madisonville, LA

Sophomore Biochemistry and Psychology

Junior English

Junior Agricultural Business

Junior Economics

Kaplan, LA

Graduate Student MS in Kinesiology

Graduate Student PhD in Political Science

Senior Court Voting at lsu.edu/vote4court runs through Thursday, October 10 at 11:59 p.m.

Sebastian Brumfield Mejía

Hayden Guidry

Matthew Johnson

Sarah LaBorde

Baton Rouge, LA

Lake Arthur, LA

Baton Rouge, LA

Alexandria, LA

Senior Philosophy, Political Science, and Sociology

Geauxing Back In Time

Senior Biological Sciences

Senior Psychology and Interdisciplinary Studies

Students will vote via the link on the lsu.edu/vote4court website. The LSU student body will vote via TigerLink for two students to be named Homecoming King and Queen from Monday, September 30 at 5:00 p.m. through Thursday, October 10 at 11:59 p.m. Students must log in to their Tigerlink accounts and are limited to one ballot cast. Their ballot will be tied to their PAWS ID and will carry a time/date stamp.

Senior Mass Communication

Catherine McKinney

Sarah Procopio

St. Francisville, LA

Baton Rouge, LA

Senior Political Science and History

Senior Mass Communication

SPONSORS HOMECOMING WEEK IS PRESENTED BY

Campus Federal Credit Union

LSU Ring

Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers

WITH GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM Homecoming Student Committee • LSU Alumni Association • LSU Residential Life LSU University Recreation * Residence Hall Association • Student Activities Board Questions? Contact LSU Campus Life at 225-578-5160 or campuslife@lsu.edu lsu.edu/homecoming