The Daily Reveille 02-15-18

@lsureveille

The Daily Reveille Est. 1887

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Volume 126 · No. 6

lsunow.com/daily

CIVIL WRITES Ted Jemison Jr. retells father’s legacy by writing screenplay on his leading role in the desegregation of Baton Rouge buses, page 2

NEWS

SPORTS LSU professor develops heart disease treatment using antioxidant in red wine, page 3 LSU SG passes bill urging Louisiana legislature to fully fund TOPS, page 4

ENTERTAINMENT Wisconsin grad transfer adjusts to role with LSU beach volleyball team, page 7

Psychology senior hula-hoops for performance and mediation, page 11

OPINION “Interestingly, the same people who take pride in the U.S. being more progressive than the Middle East are the same people who impede the US. from progressing further,” page 18

page 2

Thursday, February 15, 2018

COVER STORY

Civil rights leader’s son reflects on continuing legacy

BY KIANA NAQUIN @Quinndaishone During Black History Month, people celebrate those who brought unity to a nation by fighting for the rights of black Americans. People like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X are known on a national level, but locally, the Rev. T.J. Jemison Sr. came to Baton Rouge and helped organize the city’s first civil rights bus boycott.

A statue of Ted Jemison Sr. will be erected in his honor at A.Z. Young Park near the Louisiana State Capitol. His son, Ted Jemison Jr., aims to retell his father’s story by continuing his father’s legacy. He is currently working on a screenplay of his father’s journey. He wants to show how compromise and negotiation can find solutions, told through his father’s story.

“He was a very strong civil rights leader, a man of honor and distinction, a family man,” Jemison Jr. said. “He believed in the people, and most importantly, he was an ace negotiator.”

Jemison Jr. said his father

believed in helping people and always had a positive outlook on humanity. He raised his children on the philosophy of helping others in a time of need instead of being selfish or self-centered.

“His goal was to create the best of humanity and believed in sacrificing yourself for others,” Jemison Jr. said.

Jemison Jr.’s father grew up in a time where racism and segregation was at an all-time high, and he wanted to do something about it. When Jemison Sr. came to Baton Rouge, he caught King’s attention, and they began to work closely together. Jemison Jr. said his father was almost 10 years older than King and provided him with words of encouragement during hard times.

“You have to seek out someone who will speak out for you when you can’t speak for yourself,” Jemison Jr. said. “My father was a visionary, and he could see what was on the horizon and what was coming. You might not be fully satisfied at first in what you accomplish, but you keep working on the gains you have made, and once you start that, your going to

I think it’s very important to remember this life goes by so fast, and you’re only given a few chances to make change.

TED JEMISON JR.

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EVAN SAACKS

finish successfully.”

Jemison Sr.’s boycotts led to the desegregation of buses in Baton Rouge. Jemison Jr. said it’s up to college students to continue the fight of bettering the U.S because the future relies on the next generation standing up for change.

“As you study to better yourself you have to remain a part of the world at large,” Jemison said.

“On a daily basis, think about what can you do to make significant change for the betterment of all. I think any college student has to have that as part of their regimen when dealing with success.”

Jemison Jr. said he has high hopes for the current generation.

He said college students should not forget history, nor should they repeat it. Working toward greatness and bettering the community is key in making change.

“As you walk around campus, you should want to seek out the best in everyone,” Jemison Jr. said. “I think it’s very important to remember this life goes by so fast and you’re only given a few chances to make change. You have to make your own achievements, and to make things as good as possible, everyone should wake up with that thought of making a better day.”

Deputy News Editor

ABBIE SHULL Sports Editor

HANNAH MARTIN Deputy Sports Editor

KENNEDI LANDRY Entertainment Editor

LYNNE BUNCH Opinion Editor

HANNAH KLEINPETER Production Editor

HA-VY NGUYEN Co-Photo Editor

HASKELL WHITTINGTON Co-Photo Editor

WHITNEY WILLISTON

CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS

CALEB BOURQUE / The Daily Reveille

Ted Jemison Jr. talks about his father, the Rev. T.J. Jemison Sr., during an interview at Highland Coffees on Feb. 12.

EVENTS CALENDAR

15 feb

17 feb

GALENTINE’S DAY THE PELICAN HOUSE 5 P.M.

LSU MEN’S BASKETBALL VS MISSOURI PMAC 1 P.M.

16 feb

17 feb

LSU BASEBALL SEASON OPENER VS. NOTRE DAME ALEX BOX STADIUM 7 P.M.

TIM ALLEN L’AUBERGE CASINO & HOTEL 8 P.M.

16 feb

18 feb

PETTY IN PINK: A TOM PETTY TRIBUTE MID CITY BALLROOM 8 P.M.

LSU GYMNASTICS VS. TEXAS WOMAN’S PMAC 2:30 P.M.

The Daily 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 Daily Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified, please contact the editor at (225) 5784811 or email editor@lsureveille.com.

ABOUT THE DAILY REVEILLE

16 feb

20 feb

LALAH HATHAWAY VARSITY THEATRE 8 P.M.

LSU MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. VANDERBILT PMAC 8 P.M.

The Daily Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University.

The Daily Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. A single issue of The Daily Reveille is free. To purchase additional copies, please visit the Office of Student Media in B-39 Hodges Hall. The Daily Reveille is published weekly during the fall, spring, and summer semesters, except during holidays and final exams. 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 Daily Reveille, B-39 Hodges Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.

News

page 3

The Cost of Learning $11,374 $9,842

LSU tuition & fees, last 15 years $5,233

$3,970

2003-04

2006-07

2009-10

2012-13

2015-16

2017-18

*According to the LSU Office of Budget and Planning

SG forms committee advocating for lower student fees

BY MATTHEW BENNETT @mcbennett4

Bridge the Gap serves elderly community

BY CALEB GREENE @cgreene_24

$6,989 $4,648

BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY

LSU Student Government has formed a new committee to evaluate the ever-growing student fee bills that University students are required to pay each year.

On Feb. 7, the student senate passed a resolution to form the Student Fee Value Assessment Committee, which vows to ensure student fees are effectively used by the University and work toward

removing or decreasing the fees that are inflated or unnecessary.

Coastal environmental science and political science sophomore Jack Green who will be co-chairing the committee with student senator Jose Munoz Ruiz, who said he is excited for the new committee to begin advocating for lower student fee bills.

“I think this is important

see STUDENT FEES, page 5

given the context of where we are right now as a state and higher education, and the situation that students are facing,” Green said. “You see stories and press releases every day about how first-year retention in the state of Louisiana for public schools is so low, and it’s because of high fees and high tuition with low state funding.”

The committee will be

Not even a year into the club’s existence, Bridge the Gap members are giving manicures to elderly women.

Bridge the Gap was established to foster intergenerational cooperation and perform charitable services to communities of older adults.

The organization works with retirement homes, nursing homes and hospices to provide service and care. The club’s name comes from their commitment to bridging the social gap between younger and older adults.

Bridge the Gap President and political science and history junior Emma Looney believes the communication gap between University students and senior citizens comes from the campus’ isolation.

“We might make it to Burbank [Drive] and then sometimes to Corporate [Boulevard], but students are not part of the Baton Rouge community,” Looney said. “It’s a problem not just for older people, but every underserved community in Baton Rouge needs more interaction from young people who are privileged and get to go to college and learn what we learn.”

The organization’s primary goal is to meet the needs of

see BRIDGE THE GAP, page 5 RESEARCH

LSU Vet School professor uses red wine in heart disease treatment

BY RACHEL MIPRO @remroc15 LSU Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences professor Tammy Dugas has revolutionized a new heart disease treatment using red wine.

Dugas is the co-founder of ReQuisite Biomedical, which specializes in using elements from natural compounds to create treatments for diseases.

She graduated from the University in 1996 and served as the president of the Cardiovascular Toxicology Specialty Section for 2016-17.

Dugas recently made a breakthrough on the use of antioxidant compounds from red wine in stents. Stents are small metal tubes placed in arteries to keep them open and clear away

obstructions. The problem with stents is that cells in the blood vessel tend to grow around them, causing blood flow to be restricted. Most stents are also extremely problematic in terms of what they release into the body, such as drugs that cause cancer.

“A lot of the stents and other products out there release cancer drugs into blood vessels.

Chemotherapy agents are known to have all sorts of side effects,” Dugas said. “We were thinking that the product we developed would be better because it would be safer.”

According to the CDC website, about 61,000 people die from heart disease in the United States each year. That number accounts for roughly one in four deaths annually. It is the leading cause of death

for both men and women. The website also says about 735,000 Americans suffer a heart attack yearly, with 525,000 of them suffering one for the first time.

Dugas and her team, after testing hundreds of red wine antioxidant combinations, found an antioxidant compound coating that could help healing as well as stop a certain type of blood cell from growing on the stent. The antioxidant compounds are resveratrol and quercetin.

Using this antioxidant, Dugas then created a new type of stent that slowly releases the red wine antioxidants into the bloodstream, reducing health issues such as inflammation.

She also promises that her stent won’t cause cancer.

see RESEARCH, page 5

LAUREN WATSON / The Daily Reveille

LSU professor Tammy Dugas speaks at the LSU Veterinary School on Feb. 14 about her heart disease treatment made from red wine.

The Daily Reveille

page 4

Thursday, February 15, 2018

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

SG Senate passes resolution urging full funding for TOPS

BY MATTHEW BENNETT @mcbennett4 After Gov. John Bel Edwards proposed his “doomsday budget” on Jan. 22, University students have officially declared their stance through LSU Student Government’s latest actions.

The LSU student senate passed a resolution on Feb. 7 to urge the Louisiana State Legislature to fully fund the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students. This plea is in response to Edwards’ budget presentation for the 2018-19 Fiscal Year.

The governor presented a $233.3 million cut to TOPS funding of in-state students.

Physics sophomore Tyler Porche, biological sciences sophomore Sarah Oliver and mass communication sophomore Frederick Bell are all SG senators who came together to create an official resolution from the student senate that solidified SG’s stance on the budget cuts.

“The goal of the resolution was to send [the message] to everybody in Congress, and actually [give] them a physical sheet of paper that says everybody at LSU doesn’t favor any cuts in TOPS,” Porche said. “That’s kind of our overall goal, just to let people know that we’re still making moves on this, even though it’s already known.”

The passed resolution states

DILYN STEWART / The Daily Reveille

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards gives his remarks on Jan. 31 at the William A. Brookshire Military & Veterans Student Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. the importance of fully funding TOPS in order to retain Louisiana’s best students in higher education to create a brighter future of citizens for our state. It also emphasizes the uncertainty that TOPS cuts causes for prospective college students who continue to look out-of-state for

higher education each year.

SG president Jason Badeaux is pleased with the student senate in passing the resolution quickly.

“What’s important about that bill is the timing of it,” Badeaux said. “If our state senators and representatives wait until June to fund TOPS, then

so many of our in-state students have already left the state and taken scholarships and acceptances to other universities. What’s important is that we fund TOPS now, in February or in March, before students make decisions about what school they’re going to.”

TOPS currently awards tuition to in-state students with a minimum of 2.5 GPA and at least a 20 on the ACT. In 2017, the University accounted for over 28 percent of TOPS recipients in Louisiana. After TOPS cuts were made in 2017, there was a noticeable decrease in application rates at the University.

Porche does not want to see this happen again in 2018.

“School is expensive,” Porche said. “I’ve seen articles where there are students who, after TOPS got cut last year, weren’t able to pay their loans. They had to drop to part-time, etc. Anything on TOPS is relevant [to] any student at LSU who lives within the state.”

A copy of the student senate resolution will be transmitted to all 105 Louisiana House of Representatives, 39 Louisiana Senators and Edwards. SG will continue to work to refund TOPS, Porche said. The next goal is to set up similar resolutions in other colleges around the state, such as Southeastern Louisiana University and Nicholls State University. “[We are] making a movement to where they really know that every year they can’t take away half of our funding,” Porche said.

“That’s not feasible for us. That’s not an option.”

RESEARCH

LSU professor seeks to make Mardi Gras beads more sustainable

BY LUKE JEANFREAU @LukeJeanfreau Beads are a staple of Mardi Gras celebrations. However, apart from some particularly rare or ornate beads, some beads are thrown away, and may end up in landfills. LSU biological sciences professor Naohiro Kato wants to change this.

Using microalgae, Kato created an efficient method to create biodegradable plastic, which he uses to make both beads and doubloons.

“This project actually started about five years ago when I was invited to a Mardi Gras party by someone who lives in New Orleans,” Kato said.

Kato said he is from Japan and moved to Baton Rouge in 2005. He said his friends here were concerned with how they could make Mardi Gras celebrations more environmentally friendly.

“They wanted to change the way we celebrate Mardi Gras, such as Mardi Gras beads being thrown away and going into the sewage system or landfills,” Kato said. “People purchase 12 million dollars of plastic from China in New Orleans every year and it

automatically goes to a landfill.

They wanted change.”

As a biologist, Kato’s mind immediately went to bioplastics. However, this was not a perfect solution.

“I quickly learned that it doesn’t work, even though the technology is present,” Kato said. “Biodegradable Mardi Gras beads are not economically friendly. Mardi Gras beads are very inexpensive, almost the same price as the beads themselves. Even though the technology is there, it is impossible to produce biodegradable Mardi Gras beads. They won’t make any profit.”

According to an article on Smithsonian.com, over 25 million pounds of beads are distributed each year. The article also said that the beads contain trace amounts of lead and other dangerous compounds, causing the soil along New Orleans parade routes to have the highest lead levels in the city.

Despite the challenges, Kato said he believes he can find a way to profitably produce biodegradable beads.

The first discovery to help Kato on his journey took place when an undergraduate student forgot to return an algae

sample to the freezer after running it through the centrifuge. In the morning, the algae had accumulated a large amount of oil, a main ingredient in the plastic.

Additionally, other companies use the same microalgae to produce nutraceutical compounds that are highly profitable, some selling for several thousand dollars per pound.

Because bioplastics can be produced from the by-products of creating these more expensive compounds, Kato said he hopes he can use profits from those to offset the cost of plastic production.

Kato’s company, Microalgae LLC, is currently seeking investors to begin production, he said. Kato plans for the company to produce profitable nutraceutical compounds, as well as the less profitable plastics. Kato said he believes that combining the two products into one company is the only way biodegradable Mardi Gras beads will succeed.

“Louisiana is one of the places to grow microalgae, used to produce nutraceutical compounds,” Kato said. “Why don’t we just produce Mardi Gras beads, as well?”

DILYN STEWART / The Daily Reveille

Department of Biological Sciences associate professor Naohiro Kato discusses his plans to make biodegradable Mardi Gras beads from microalgae.

The Daily Reveille

Thursday, February 15, 2018 STUDENT FEES, from page 3 composed of five members from the student senate and five members of the SG executive branch who will vote on decisions regarding which fees to look into and what recommendations to make based on their findings.

SG president Jason Badeaux, vice president Leah Sanders, speaker of the student senate James Mickler, speaker pro tempore David Hunt and chief of staff Heather Sullivan will act as non-voting members to assist in the committee’s proceedings.

According to Badeaux, there are many required fees that every University student is forced to pay each year that have not been reviewed in 30 to 40 years.

“I think it’s one of SG’s main responsibilities to ensure that student fees are being spent wisely and appropriately,” Badeaux said. “One thing we’ve never done is review the student fees that we do have at the University. It’s time to go back and see [if] these fees [are] still a solid return of investment for our students, or have they run their course at the University and is it time to get rid of them.”

While the committee does not have the power to directly change any of the aspects of the student fee bill, its recommendations will be submitted to the LSU board of supervisors, executive admin-

istration and LSU President F. King Alexander.

Green is already working on finding out more about where students’ money is going each semester.

“We’re looking for [fees] that may not have total transparency as to where all of [the money is] going,” Green said. “Or to some, that maybe if we do have a number that we see is going in a certain direction or is going in a certain way, we are wondering more specifically about how that [money] is being used.”

The first aspects of the student fee bill that the committee will be looking into and possibly cutting are for student media, campus life, and the performing arts, Mickler said.

He pointed out that since 1990, student required fees have increased by over 600 percent, and said he hopes that this is one way SG can help counteract that trend.

“Student fees have been going up since 1965,” Mickler said. “Rarely are they ever decreased or removed. We found two times, and those were just absorbed by other fees. One of the problems is that there [was] no review process.”

The committee’s meetings are weekly and open to the public. The resolution only establishes the committee temporarily for this semester, but a future resolution can be passed to keep it for long-term.

2018 DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. COMMEMORATIVE CELEBRATION WEEK

MLK50

page 5

RESEARCH, from page 3 “We thought could we find a way to deliver it better and to where the disease resides,” Dugas said. “So that’s what we did.

We started building devices that we could use for treating blockages.”

But Dugas didn’t stop there. She decided to use the compound with drug-coated balloons.

Drug-coated balloons, which are relatively new technology, are used in lower body blockages, where stents aren’t effective. Balloons are inserted into the artery and inflated to clear the blockage and then are deflated and removed.

Dugas, along with colleagues Cristina Sabliov and Carlos Astete, designed a new balloon with a formula that would stick to the balloon and slowly release the red wine antioxidant compound. The balloon could be groundbreaking for treatment of peripheral artery disease, which around 8 million to 12 million Americans suffer from.

“We thought ‘Why not put red wine compounds on drugcoated balloons?’” Dugas said.

Dugas got her inspiration

BRIDGE THE GAP, from page 3 older people in Baton Rouge.

Bridge the Gap members establish a line of communication by providing for the elderly in the community.

Looney and her roommate, biology junior and Bridge the Gap vice president Amana Sabir, came up with the idea of Bridge the Gap after noticing the absence of a club dedicated to serving the elderly community. The two share a passion for service and hope to spread that passion throughout the University’s campus.

“You can’t just go in there,

LAUREN WATSON / The Daily Reveille

Dugas and her team tested hundreds of red wine antioxidant combinations. for this research in the early 2000s, when she reviewed an article about the potential dangers of chemotherapy agents in medical devices.

“I thought ‘Well, gosh, why

are we putting chemotherapy drugs on medical devices we put inside blood vessels?’”

Dugas said. “That just doesn’t make any sense. I thought we could do better than this.”

and say I’m going to do this for you,” Looney said. “You have to ask people what they want.”

Along with visiting with the senior citizens, Bridge the Gap members play bingo and complete various household tasks for people on hospice, such as mowing the lawn or buying groceries. Hospices provide care and emotional support for terminally ill patients in a home setting to ensure quality of life can be maintained, and family members can be active in the care.

After its founding during the fall 2017 semester, Bridge the Gap is now fully

operational. The 25-member organization meets twice a month and plans various service events throughout the semester.

“If you want to serve people for the right reasons, you should join and see if you can make a difference in the Baton Rouge community,” Looney said.

The club’s next event will be a manicure session on Feb. 23.

“It doesn’t just have to be girls that know how to paint nails,” Looney said. “Guys can go, too. [Elderly women] just want to have their hands held and have hand massages. It’s not about the nails, it’s about the communication.”

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The primary goal of Bridge the Gap is to meet the needs of the elderly community.

Sports

page 6 OPINION

Lackluster signing day spoils recruiting class

SIDE FLIP ON THE

LSU gymnast uses vlogging to show a different side of student athletes

CAL’D UP CHRIS CALDARERA @caldarera11

BY KENNEDI LANDRY @landryyy14

WHITNEY WILLISTON / The Daily Reveille

F

rom school and exams to practice and competition, the life of a student-athlete is not something that just anybody can handle. LSU junior all-arounder McKenna Kelley took up video blogging, or vlogging, this past September to change that.

Her older sister Shayla, who had been vlogging for years, had often tried to convince McKenna to join her, but failed to do so until recently.

“She was a student-athlete, too, but she never incorporated that whole side of it,” Kel-

ley said. “I thought that it’d be cool to give people an inside look at a student-athlete’s life.

I think, in particular to myself, people see me as Mary Lou Retton’s daughter or a gymnast and you know I want them to get to know me and who I really am besides the sports and my mom.”

The tendency of sports fans to both criticize or glorify college athletes is what finally convinced McKenna that doing vlogs could be a good thing.

She wants to remind fans that all athletes

are human and they’re not perfect.

“We’re college kids,” McKenna said. “We are 18-22-year-old kids. You know, we’re learning so much and college is such a big adjustment time. They don’t know what’s going on in our lives besides sports, so I really wish that they could see that side and see the full perspective of that.”

McKenna’s experience with her mother, Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton, and how she reacted to her own celebrity influenced how McKenna interacts with LSU fans.

see KELLEY, page 9

Last Wednesday, football fans flocked to news outlets and social media platforms as high school players around the country signed National Letters of Intent to their universities of choice.

Signing day is a highly anticipated holiday in the college football universe, but this year’s signing day did little to curtail the skepticism of the LSU football faithful.

It’s not simply the fact that the Tigers whiffed on three of the five remaining prospects on coach Ed Orgeron’s signing day radar. That’s disappointing enough.

Rather, the spurn of this year’s signing day stems from defensive back Patrick Surtain Jr.’s comments regarding his decision to attend Alabama in the fall.

LSU was seen as a heavy favorite to land Surtain, but the Florida native ultimately chose the Crimson Tide, citing their ability to win championships as the impetus for his decision.

In a sports climate where wins and losses speak loudly, Alabama will continue to have a leg up on the recruiting trail.

The Crimson Tide not only win championships, they are on a dominate seven-game winning streak against the Tigers, and the gap between the two

see SIGNING, page 9

BASEBALL

LSU brings mix of experience, potential to 2018 pitching staff

BY GLEN WEST @glenwest21 The first pitch of the 2018 LSU baseball season is on the horizon and many Tiger fans have pondered who will replace the effective rotation of pitchers that were used a season ago.

Replacing first-round pick Alex Lange, Jared Poche and freshman phenom Eric Walker will be junior Caleb Gilbert on Friday, sophomore Zack Hess on

Saturday and sophomore Todd Peterson on Sunday.

Gilbert had one of the most memorable games in recent Tiger baseball history when he went seven innings against top seed Oregon State in the College World Series. Gilbert allowed two hits and one run while striking out seven to send LSU to the Championship Series against Florida.

In the offseason, Gilbert has worked on adjusting to a weekend starter role while adding a third

pitch to his arsenal: the changeup.

“I’m still building from freshman year,” Gilbert said. “I’m not oblivious to what it means to be a Friday starter especially at this University. I’m not scared by it and will attack it like any other pitcher would, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Hess began his freshman campaign as the midweek starter but inconsistency on the mound turned him into a rotational pitcher for much of the season. It wasn’t

until the playoffs when LSU Coach Paul Mainieri finally sniffed out the best role for Hess, which was to be the closer.

The electricity that Hess brings to the mound has been duly noted in the past but the second year pitcher has had to learn how to become a weekend starter and lasting longer in games. Hess said a big part of that is saving his energy on the mound.

see PITCHING, page 9

THE DAILY REVEILLE ARCHIVES

LSU freshman pitcher Zack Hess (38) pitches on March 28 during the Tigers’ 7-6 loss to Tulane at Alex Box Stadium.

The Daily Reveille

Thursday, February 15, 2018

page 7

VOLLEYBALL

Graduate transfer Nelson finds place with LSU beach volleyball

BY JARRETT MAJOR @jarrett_tdr LSU grad transfer Haleigh Nelson is expected to play a big role for the LSU beach volleyball team as it seeks its second NCAA tournament appearance.

It would not be anything new for her.

As a two-time All-American for the Wisconsin Badgers, Nelson helped her team get to four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances in indoor volleyball.

“It was a really great experience,” Nelson said. “I loved my coaches, teammates and playing in the UW Field House. I will cherish it forever.”

For Nelson, leaving Wisconsin was hard after four years.

Although she is from North Carolina, she had made a home in Madison.

“I loved it there,” Nelson said.

“I did not know what to expect when I first got there, but it ended up being one of the best experiences of my life. I really grew as a person. I was challenged every day to be the best version of myself by the community.”

The opportunity to get her master’s in business administration and continue playing volleyball was too much to

pass up for her.

While several other programs wanted Nelson, ultimately it was LSU that won her over because of its similarity to Wisconsin.

Both universities are obsessed with their teams.

“They are very different,” Nelson said. “The cities are extremely different. The one thing that they have in common is everyone in Baton Rouge lives and breathes LSU, and everyone in Madison lives and breathes Wisconsin. So, while the setting and culture is different, the love of the universities is the same. That is something I really wanted when I was looking for a school.”

That choice to come here was a big boost for the Tigers as Nelson helped close out a highly touted class of nine newcomers.

LSU coach Russell Brock sees plenty of potential in Nelson as she makes the jump from indoor volleyball to beach volleyball.

“It was clear from the moment she stepped into the program that she was going to be a great impact on our program,” Brock said. “She is going to continue to understand and learn the game and that part is going to continue to grow.

Her understanding of leadership and her enthusiasm is undeniable.”

Nelson has had to adjust to that difference.

Indoor volleyball has six players on a court while beach has just two on the sand. It has required her to learn a different style of play than she did as a Badger.

“It is totally different, especially for me,” Nelson said.

“The position I played inside was pretty limited to the skills I had to master as far as defense and passing. I did not pass very much out of the middle. So, technically it is different. Then you add the wind and the sun that I never had to deal with inside. It is so different.”

“The big part for us is how much of her skill set can translate to our game,” Brock said. “There are great players in the indoor game that will struggle in our game and there are other players that all of there will set will transfer easily.”

She is not alone in her adjustments.

LSU has two other graduate transfers, Emily Hardesty from Texas A&M and Emmy Allen from Gonzaga.

Nelson found a reliable friendship from her fellow graduate transfers.

“It is awesome,” she said.

“We joke about maxing out our

CALEB BOURQUE / The Daily Reveille

LSU beach volleyball team member Haleigh Nelson stands on the court after meeting with her team. Nelson transferred from Wisconsin after a successful career in indoor volleyball. eligibility sometime. It has been really cool to play with people from different indoor programs. I would have never met them if it were not for LSU beach volleyball. We get to compare different experiences.”

For Nelson, that experience in Wisconsin was a university that embraced her and volleyball in general. The Badgers were third in the nation in attendance in her senior season.

While she has not had a chance to encounter LSU’s beach volleyball fans yet, she is

confident they will, too.

She is equally as confident that the Badgers will continue to support her here.

“I actually do wonder if any of them will make a road trip down here to see us play,” Nelson said. “That would be really cool. They are really great. They really care about us as people. I know that they still keep track of the people that played there before me and support them. They live and breathe Wisconsin volleyball. We hope to build a culture like that here.”

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

LSU guard Chloe Jackson’s journey to LSU stardom

BY JBRIAAN JOHNSON @JBriaan_Johnson

Junior guard Chloe Jackson is recognized as one of the most dynamic guards in the country. With a mid-range jumper that is nearly impossible to stop and one of the quickest first-steps in the nation, the ceiling is extremely high for the second-year Lady Tiger.

Coming out of high school, Jackson was ranked as the No. 19 guard in the Class of 2014 by ESPN and signed with North Carolina State. After only making four appearances at NC State, Jackson made the decision to transfer and take her talents elsewhere.

“North Carolina State is a good school and has good coaches,” Jackson said. The style of play just did not fit my style of play.”

Jackson said she has more freedom playing for LSU coach Nikki Fargas. LSU has allowed her to become more comfortable in what she does as a player and develop her skill set.

“Looking at the team and seeing how they like to play, it went well with me and how I like to play,” Jackson said. “The confidence the coaching staff had in me and the family environment were some things that I really liked.”

As the Upper Marlboro, Maryland-native transitioned

into the in the Southeastern doing it with a lot of confidence,” Conference, it took a while for Fargas said. “She is demanding Jackson to adjust to the intensity. some of the best defenders. PeoWith the competition level being ple are running with her, denyelevated in the SEC in compari- ing her and trying to get her out son to the Atlantic of rhythm, but she Coast Conference, “Looking at the team is still scoring the it was one of the basketball.” things that jumped and seeing how they Jackson’s superb play for out to Jackson first. like to play, it went LSU thus far has “When you look at all the teams well with me and how earned her the recognition of beranked in the SEC, I like to play.” ing included in it’s hard competition every night, the top 10 finalCHLOE JACKSON ists for the Ann even the teams that Meyers Drysdale are not ranked.

LSU junior guard Award, that honors Also, this conference is much more the best shooting physical than the ACC.” guard in the nation.

Learning to adapt to the “Being up for this award is a physical nature in the SEC was a huge blessing,” Jackson said. She challenge Jackson relished and is a pioneer for the game. Being looked forward to. Over time, noticed as one of the best shooting Jackson began learning the ways guards in the country means a lot, of the new conference and her especially with sitting out for two statistics began to take on new years. Being acknowledged after heights. only one year of playing is a huge Jackson is currently leading accomplishment.” the team in points, averaging 17.6 As it turns out, coming to LSU per game. As the primary scorer has resulted as great outcomes for the Lady Tigers alongside se- for both Jackson and LSU. With nior guard Raigyne Louis, Jack- Jackson in the lineup, LSU has son has been a dynamite player knocked off four ranked foes that grabs the attention of LSU’s throughout 23 games. Jackson has opponents. emerged as one of the most feared “She is putting up numbers guards in the country and looks to in a conference that is a tough lead her team to a deep run in the conference to play in and she’s big dance this year.

The Daily Reveille

page 8

Thursday, February 15, 2018

GYMNASTICS

Sarah Finnegan embraces competition in her home state

BY TREASURE WASHINGTON @Twashington490

Junior all-arounder Sarah Finnegan found herself in a familiar place in LSU’s last meet against the University of Missouri.

Although she came 0.025 points shy of clinching the all-around title, Finnegan set a career high in the floor event by scoring a 9.975.

In all four of her events against Missouri, Finnegan never scored below a 9.85.

But the most fascinating part about the Missouri meet in regard to Finnegan is that she competed in an all-Southeastern Conference meet for the first time in her own home state.

Finnegan was born in California but was raised in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, 20 minutes southeast of Kansas City. Prior to her time in Lee’s Summit, Finnegan lived four hours east in St. Louis. Finnegan’s older sister, Hannah, was also a gymnast at Mizzou for four years.

“It was nice to just look up in the stands and see familiar faces,” Finnegan said. “[Columbia] is an hour-and-a-half away from Kansas City and an hour from St. Louis. It was cool to be in a familiar setting.”

Even with her family members from Missouri and many more members flying from California, Finnegan felt a lot more excitement than nerves when competing.

“Some of those people don’t necessarily ever get to watch me,” Finnegan said. “So it was cool to be able to perform in front of them.”

Since the beginning of Finnegan’s collegiate career in 2015, LSU has competed in the state of Missouri only four times.

Finnegan’s first collegiate meet in Missouri took place on Feb. 17, 2017, at the Mardi Gras Invitational in St. Charles. While she led LSU’s beam rotation with a 9.95, she finished fifth on bars with a 9.825.

But the last two times that LSU competed in Missouri, Finnegan had some of the most dominant performances of her entire career.

At the NCAA Semifinals last April, Finnegan clinched the national title in bars by scoring a 9.95 in the event. The thensophomore achieved this in front of a national audience on ESPN, and ended up becoming the first bars national champion in her school’s history.

On the following night at the NCAA Super Six, Finnegan set a career high in the balance

beam event by scoring a 9.975 and clinched one of her two career all-around titles on the exact same night.

But while the fourth-ranked Tigers are seeking to have a third-straight appearance in the Super Six, Finnegan’s focus for herself and her team is to still take things one meet at a time.

“I think that it’s always very important to keep the Super Six in mind,” Finnegan said. “But you don’t want to overthink it and be like, ‘Oh yeah, we’re going to the Super Six.’ It is still tough competition.”

In the SEC, tough competition is found in No. 5 Florida and No. 7 Alabama. Both of those schools are currently ranked inside of the top-10 and have been in the Super Six with LSU in each of the last two seasons.

Despite some struggles on beam, Finnegan is still thankful for the Missouri meet for putting things in a new perspective.

“Everything that we do in the regular season is preparation for the postseason,” Finnegan said.

LSU will be back in St. Charles this weekend to face Missouri, Arkansas and George Washington University for the Mardi Gras Invitational.

CALEB BOURQUE / The Daily Reveille

LSU all-around junior Sarah Finnegan competes in the beam competition during the Tigers’ 197.225-196.700 victory over Kentucky on Feb. 2 in the PMAC.

PUZZLES

Previous Week’s Puzzle Solved

The Daily Reveille

Thursday, February 15, 2018 KELLEY, from page 6 Those type of things, McKenna explained, keep people drawn to the program and keep them invested in the fan base.

“I want to make a moment special for them,” McKenna said.

“It takes zero seconds for me to respond back or like their message or give them a follow back.

If I can do that for them, then I’m absolutely going to.”

McKenna’s roommates, juniors Lexie Priessman and Sarah Finnegan, and the rest of her teammates were not surprised with her new idea. They even encouraged it as “just McKenna doing McKenna things.”

After a few months of vlogging, both McKenna and her teammates have gotten less awkward around the camera.

“A lot of them want to feature in it now,” McKenna said. “I just made of video of me, Sarah and Lexie doing like a ‘Most Likely To...’ video and it was so much fun to get them involved in it.”

McKenna has done a variety of different types of vlogs since starting her channel, from “A Day in the Life of a Student Athlete” to simpler things like “Mom Comes to Town.” She is never set on one specific idea.

“I like to vlog knowing what my initial theme is and what I’m trying to capture that day,” McKenna said. “I think the most fun part about it is how spontaneous things are and how crazy the girls will be and unexpected things

can happen. I do like to have a theme in mind, though.”

After tearing her Achilles tendon in November, just two months before the start of her junior season, McKenna began to use her vlogs as a tool for other athletes going through injuries. She wants people to be able to use it as inspiration to get through whatever emotional place they are in life.

Even more, it has brought of encouragement for herself from her viewers. McKenna has gotten messages from people who have been through serious injuries and others who are going through them that can relate to what she’s going through.

Her family and her teammates have also been shoulders for McKenna to lean on during this transition period in her career.

“They’ve just been there for me and I think that’s enough in itself,” McKenna said. “I think everyone handles their injuries differently so I think just knowing that I have a shoulder to lean on and they can understand. They really do get it and that’s been really nice.”

But despite a season ending injury, Priessman said that McKenna has dealt with the injury better than anyone could have expected. Personality wise, McKenna hasn’t changed at all.

“Everyday, we wake up to her positive energy every day so that’s just something that we feed off of,” Priessman said. “McKenna’s the first person to come in here, into the gym, and have some-

thing positive to say to us and she motivates the team all the time constantly.”

LSU coach D-D Breaux said she wasn’t surprised with the level of maturity and acceptance that McKenna presented, but she was impressed by it.

McKenna has always been known as a fun and enthusiastic person during meets, and her being on the sidelines hasn’t changed that.

“I just love these girls so much and I know what it feels like to be competing,” McKenna said.

“I can’t imagine not being hype.

I literally could not just sit there like this, there’s no way.”

“There’s a lot of enthusiasm and excitement from her on the sidelines and that’s always contagious,” Breaux said. “You know, momentum is an important thing and she senses it and feels it and really kind of strokes that fire.”

McKenna said that she made a decision the day she got hurt, that she could sulk about her injury and be miserable or she could take it day-by-day and turn it into something positive.

She credits LSU and the support system that they have built around their athletes with fans and coaches that has allowed her to stay positive through all of this.

“I’m just really grateful for the sport of gymnastics,” McKenna said. “I think I’m just really grateful for the lessons it’s taught me. It’s so much that I love LSU. I understand what people say when they bleed purple and gold because that’s what I do.”

page 9 PITCHING, from page 6 “You have to go in the mindset that you’re going to be there for nine innings,” Hess said. “Picking and choosing your big fights when you need it and cruise at about 80 or 90 percent the rest of the way.

You kind of have to alter your mentality a little bit.”

Hess is needed as a starter as of now, but if LSU can find another to take that spot, the closing position is one Hess might return to.

“In order to be able to pitch seven innings and keep it to less than 100 pitches,” Mainieri said.

“You just can’t throw 20-25 pitches every inning. You have to have a couple of 10-pitch or less innings.

You don’t have to strike everybody out. You have to be able to field your position. You have to be quicker at the plate to stop the running game.

There’s a lot of things that go into being out there for seven innings, and I think Zack has a tremendous understanding of that.”

Mainieri said Peterson will be the Sunday starter to begin the season, but that role is not carved in stone until the sophomore proves himself. Peterson started a few different midweek games for LSU a season ago and pitched one shutout inning in the regional matchup with Texas Southern.

This past offseason has been about getting in better shape and while an exact amount has not been released, Peterson looks more energized and in shape with just one look at him.

“He’s looked good all fall,” Gilbert said of Peterson. “Saw

tremendous growth and I think just understanding more about himself on the mound. He’s been able to force a lot of ground balls and I think they’ll utilize his strengths to our benefit this season.”

As far as rotational pitchers, LSU has brought in an abundance of new talent to compete for playing time. Freshman Makhail Hilliard has impressed the coaching staff and players since fall ball and will certainly be given a chance to succeed.

Perhaps the most intriguing of the new prospects is JUCO transfer Cam Sanders. Sanders was drafted in the 18th round of the 2017 MLB Draft but decided to bet on himself and transfer to LSU from Northwest Florida State College. Sanders figures to compete for a midweek starting job to begin the season with that role potentially expanding.

“I’ve had some control issues the past year,” Sanders said.

“Working with [pitching coach Alan Dunn] has helped me a lot so everything we’ve been working on is coming together and I feel more in sync.”

Sanders said the biggest piece of advice he’s taken away from Dunn has been to remain true to himself and not let the mental aspect of the game affect his throws.

“He said I’ve got some great stuff,” Sanders said. “Just be confident in my stuff and not try to chase anything. My fastball has a lot more life to it and I can throw it without really thinking about it now.”

WHITNEY WILLISTON / The Daily Reveille WHITNEY WILLISTON / The Daily Reveille

LSU Gymnastics cheers after the Tigers’ 197.450-196.725 victory against Alabama on Jan. 19 in the PMAC.

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SIGNING, from page 6 schools is continuing to grow wider.

This could potentially lead to a vicious cycle for the LSU football program if Orgeron and company can’t mix things up.

Missing out on blue-chip prospects will lead to more losses on the football field, and those losses will lead to more shortcomings on the recruiting trail.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, losing Surtain to the Tide wasn’t the only bad news of the day.

LSU also failed to garner commitments from defensive back Mario Goodrich who signed with Clemson and

LSU freshman right-handed pitcher Zack Hess (38) throws a pitch during the Tigers’ 8-1 victory against Hofstra on Feb. 22 at Alex Box Stadium.

quarterback James Foster who a strong presence in NFL secondaries. signed with Texas A&M. Despite these advantages, I understand that LSU LSU was only doesn’t have a signed one derosie history at Tiger fans expected fensive back. the quarterback more, as they should, Tiger fans exposition, and the from Orgeron who has pected more, as recent amount of a reputation of being a they should, from staff turnover on recruiting guru, and he Orgeron who has the offensive side a reputation of of the ball may failed to deliver. being a recruitlead to serious apprehensions from ing guru, and he quarterback prospects. failed to deliver.

However, there is no excuse Luckily, there was a silver to miss out on defensive back lining for Tigers last week. talent. LSU football parades Louisiana products Kelvin Jothe “DBU” moniker like the seph and Ja’Marr Chase signed school owns the rights to those with LSU allowing Orgeron and letters, and Tiger alumni have his staff to tout the fact that the

Tigers signed eight of the top 10 players in Louisiana. LSU’s recruiting class also finished with a No. 15 ranking according to the 247Sports Composite.

Those accomplishments should certainly merit some pride if you’re an LSU fan, but it doesn’t mask the fact that the Tigers finished short in positions of high need.

While LSU fans should refrain from hitting the panic button just yet, missing out on players at crucial skill positions does not bode well for a football program already plagued with question marks heading into spring practice.

The Daily Reveille

page 10

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Entertainment

page 11 FOOD AND DRINK

HIGH HOOPS

Spoon University searches for applicants

BY MADS REINEKE @mrein39 The University’s chapter of Spoon University serves up the hottest dish about college food culture, but it needs help to keep the light on.

Spoon University’s central hub publishes food and lifestyle content geared specifically for college students across the globe. To make their publications more localized — and to give students an opportunity for on-campus involvement — Spoon offers the opportunity for individual universities to form their own local chapters. Naturally, the University stepped up to the plate with a chapter of its own.

Fashion merchandising senior Vickie Nguyen runs the current Spoon group on campus. She said Spoon was the perfect opportunity to focus her writing about one of her passions.

“The only things I really cared about were fashion and food,” Nguyen said. “But, I only found clubs geared toward food sciences and nutrition.”

Nguyen said when Facebook showed her the opportunity to join Spoon, she was overjoyed. She is the marketing editor of Spoon, but the organization also offers positions in writing, editing, photography and videography.

Spoon offers everything from easy-make-recipes for people who live in dorms to Disney-inspired recipes and

Local hooper uses sport for performing, meditation

BY KIANA NAQUIN @Quinndaishone Talents walk among us everyday on campus, but it’s hard to do something to make a person stand out – hula-hooping is just one of those many talents. However, when watching a hooper perform, you could get lost in the loops. Hooping has become more than a world-wide craze – it is a community of talented individuals who strive for creative expression.

Psychology senior Andrea Smith started hooping after graduating high school in 2015.

Before entering the University, she was having a slow summer, so she wanted to pick up a new activity involving intense performance.

“I like performing,” Smith

said. “I did ballet, tap and jazz, but after I graduated I completely stopped doing those things, so I really wanted another creative outlet and that was hooping.”

Smith said hooping was a gateway to possibilities for her. It would help Smith through her tough times with school and life in general. After three years of this new hobby, she realized it also a great meditation device.

“After a while, it became a stress reliever. When I was sad or upset, I would go outside for 30 minutes to practice and come back in feeling refreshed,” Smith said. “When you’re in that moment, you feel free and you hear the music and you dance to that music and everything else just

see HOOPER, page 16

PHOTOS BY DILYN STEWART / The Daily Reveille

see SPOON, page 16

FILM

Baton Rouge native, child actor expands career in film performance

BY KELLY SWIFT @kellbell237 In just 17 years, Baton Rouge native and child actor Toby Nichols has worked with movie stars such as Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Finn Jones, Bryan Cranston and Diane Lane.

Nichols started his acting career by starring in his older brother’s YouTube videos. Once his brother suggested they take acting classes, Nichols discovered his natural niche for memorizing lines and getting into character.

“I did acting classes for a year and a half before I booked anything,” Nichols said.

Toby went to Nashville, Tennessee for his first lead role in the movie “Chasing Ghosts” in 2015, alongside Saturday Night Live actor Tim Meadows.

The movie is based around a child, Lucas, whose brother died in a car crash forcing him to understand and accept death.

“You’ll see a theme in my movies – pretty much all of them have death or sadness,” Nichols said. “I don’t think I’ve been happy in any of my lead roles yet.”

After “Chasing Ghosts,” Nichols booked “Trumbo,” a film about Dalton Trumbo who was a top screenwriter in Hollywood until he became a part of the

“Hollywood Ten” for opposing McCarthyism during the Red Scare. Nichols shared the screen with huge names like “Breaking Bad” star Cranston and Lane who have also appeared in “House of Cards” and “Man of Steel.”

“While on set for ‘Trumbo,’ I was also watching ‘Breaking Bad,’” Nichols said. “It was so cool to be in a film with an actor from one of my favorite shows.”

After “Trumbo,” Nichols appeared as a plantation owner’s son in “Underground,” which was produced by singer John Legend on WGN America.

see NICHOLS, page 16

SOPHIE GRANZOW / The Daily Reveille

Tobias Nichols, an up-and-coming actor enjoys Highland Coffees in Baton Rouge on Feb. 6.

The Daily Reveille

page 12

Thursday, February 15, 2018

STUDENT LIFE

Dungeons and Dragons gives social outlet, pastime to students

BY MADS REINEKE @mrein39 Contrary to popular belief, the average college student knows more about Dungeons & Dragons than they might think. If they’ve seen the popular Netflix show “Stranger Things,” then they are familiar with what the Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual describes as “the Sibilant Beast and the self-styled Prince of Demons” — the Demogorgon.

D&D has been part of the public eye since its invention in 1974 by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, though it’s taken most of the game’s 44 years of life to reach its current popularity. The role-playing tabletop game gives people from all backgrounds a chance to come together and do something completely new.

The University offers an opportunity for all students to try their hand at adventuring in the form of the Wargaming and Role-playing Society, otherwise known as the WARS Club.

Digital arts sophomore Malorie Pugh, one of the club’s vice

page 18

presidents, said she can’t remember the first time she heard about D&D, but she was more than thrilled to start playing with her friends back in high school.

“We made impromptu games, not based on any logic or books,” Pugh said.

Undeclared freshman Richard Sanmiguel said he found camaraderie through D&D in the form of entirely new friends.

People, he adds, he would never have met without the WARS Club. Pugh, similarly, said she felt the WARS Club gave her an opportunity to talk to people she’d seen around campus, but hadn’t had a chance to talk to yet.

“It was great having something to bond over,” Pugh said.

D&D fans are still stereotyped as the Dorito-eating, Mountain Dew-chugging older guys in their parents’ basements. Sanmiguel said this gave him pause.

“It may seem like a stereotype fits,” Sanmiguel said, “but if you see it through — see it through longer past how it

appears — something great can come from it.”

He notes that, without the encouragement of others to join, he would likely not have plucked up the courage on his own. Pugh, on the other hand, found tabletop games to be a step down from her original start in live action role-playing.

Sanmiguel had his first exposure to the D&D community through YouTube. However, he lacked the surrounding group to make the chance to play a reality. Luckily, the WARS Club was there to give him a home.

Dungeons & Dragons isn’t just a way to pass the time. Pugh and Sanmiguel said they have positively changed since they began playing. Sanmiguel said D&D helps with problem solving, making new friends and opening up a bit. This is the kind of experience, he said, that any interested person can get through the WARS Club.

Pugh, who is rather outgoing to begin with, said D&D has helped her prepare for her future career.

ISABELLA ALLEN / The Daily Reveille

LSU students gather to play Dungeons & Dragons on Feb. 2 in Tureaud Hall.

The Daily Reveille

“I want to make characters as a job, so it’s just kinda prematurely my job,” Pugh said.

Being a college student all the time gets a little tiring after a while, so try being

something new with a group of accepting, like-minded people.

That — more so than both the dungeons and dragons themselves — seems to be the heart of these communities of players.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

WHAT’S SPINNING AT @KLSURadio

KLSUradio

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BY HISSYFIT King Krule is a 23-year-old, red-headed, Starting as an art guitarist, project of Lonmisanthropic singer-songwriter, don-based students Mjöll, producer, and poet hailing fromRakel London.

His AlGo, “The andOOZ,” Bellashows Podpadec, newestice album, us that Dream Wife life quickly sometimes, hurts.became a staple of feminist punk. trio writes King Krule is theThe primary creativemusic outlet that speaks to Archy beingMarshall, a woman with of the mysterious who hassongs covering relationships, also released music under his realsexuality, name, as haand more.

Fast and diswell as rassment, Zoo Kid. Marshall has a particularly torted punk mixed with dreamy strong and distinctive working-class English pop brings listeners intobreaks a world of accent tones and uses British slang that nostalgia filledKrule’s with angst throughyouth heavilyand in his music. King rule breaking. sound isand unique in its blending of punk, jazz, self-titled debut “Dream hip hop, andTheir indie musical stylings.

His music Wife” withElvis the Presley, upbeat Fela and selfis inspired by opens artists like explanatory Make — an ode Kuti, J Dilla, and The“Let’s Penguin CaféOut” Orchestra. grabbingdebut someone smooching Histofull-length albumand “6 Feet Bethem (withreleased consent, of course). neath the Moon,” in August 2013, The attracted a lot of attention and earned him a comfortable space in the indie music scene.

His anger, grit and despair cuts through to the bones of listeners, but is softened by beautiful jazz chords -- a contrast that works in his favor. The words he yells are often profane or vulgar and shock listeners; however, THURSDAY we cling and want more. King Krule is bold

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In histaking career,control King Krule has own maintained a time ofa visceral awareness on sexual asandInmanaged blueness that never sault andsinging harassment, lyrics like “I am goes away, about and revisiting not my body / I subject am somebody” emotionally sensitive matter. Weare morehis than relevant relatable. absorb moods and and textures, feelingOther what tracksit include Without henotable feels, whether is anger, “Love self-loathing, Reason,” “Act My Age,” “F.U.U.” disorientation, isolation, or and anxiety.

Without Reason” is a“The ballad In “Love “Logos,” the sixth track from OOZ,” Marshall sings about the torment he experienced in his childhood by recounting the care of his drunken mother. He sings, “She draws me in and swallows whole.”

These words are paired with somber guitar and distant keyboard sounds.

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sidewalks to screaming car crashes. In the forfourth the angsty, feminist“Skunk punk in all. ever done you wrong. Yell along, and I line he shouts, andusonion Nostalgic, promise you’ll have a great time. gravy, asbubblegum-pop-ridden my brain’s potato mash,”lyrics displaying likehis“Iquirky, feel like I lovewit. you without rea“Dream Wife” is feminist punk for unusual today’s woman. Drawing inspiration son” and “let’s be kids fall in love” num“Cadet Limbo” is aand heart-dropping contrast the entirety the album, ber in which Marshallofsings about a but woman,from Bowie and Madonna, and with still feel familiar raw and beauty fast guitar comparing her over mesmerizing to the hints of riot grrrl sprinkled throughout and drums. of outer space. He repeats, “Hasthe album, Dream Wife has created a deepness “Act My speaks it been this Age” long since I’veto hadthe thisfluidbond?”powerful and safe place for listeners ityWhat of women and the ability to be both these songs have in common is a to let out any anger they have at the world, their friends, or that creepy guy soft and wild all at once.HisIt songs feels like a from deep-seated intensity. sprout manic, dream else. girl anthem with who cat-called them on their way home. feelingpixie and nothing self-aware lyrics.is“Do I amuseemotionallyyou? / Dream Wife redefines what it means to “The OOZ” a beautiful, Dodraining, I confuse you?” sounds almost too thebe a woman in punk with their debut alnineteen-track album in which ARIEL PINK, TRANCE much a lineloss, from ananger indieare comingrootslike of love, and explored.bum, which speaks volumes of what’s FARMERS, BITE MARX of-age film.

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09 feb17 SATURDAY

nov

Violinist and clean vocalist Tim Charles Charles’ growing role as both a vocalist and Australian outfit Ne Obliviscaris returns to the forefront of extreme metal with one of the appears to play a much more prominent role instrumentalist, the album signifies a less imSHIPWRECKED, LOUDNESS ZODIAC, on this particular record. Charles’ vocalsCOFFIN, are pressive retread of “Portal most anticipated album releasesNO of the year. I AM, INSANE CLOWN POSSE, MELTING DAVY CROCKETT & of I” (2012) and andWILD his violin “Citadel” (2014).

The compositions are exten“Urn,” the band’s thirdCHRISTWORM, record, continuesNO soaring WAR, OLESKIES YOUTHand melodic as usual,THE ATTILA FRONTIER, KAY WEATHERS the group’s previous blending of both harsh playing is much improved from the two previ- sive and given room to develop, but there isn’t CADDYWHOMPUS, POPE, MID CITY BALLROOM 524feature STUDIOSous releases. But, there are times when VARSITY THEATRE and clean vocals. The formerly radical SIBERIA anything(NOLA) groundbreaking to witness. the LOUNGE TRASH LIGHT & PARTICLE stemming from the ‘90s has now become an album winds up bogged down by these sooth- 9 P.M.A progressive metal band that fails to 8:30 P.M. 7 P.M. 7:30 PM DEVOTION “progress” inevitably betrays the very appeal almost exhaustive trope within the genre. ing interludes and clean passages.

However, Xenoyr does display some of “Urn’s” standout tracks, the blistering of their act. Though not as intriguing as its SPANISH MOON the finest harsh vocals in the entire scene. “Libera (Part I) – Saturnine Spheres,” the well- predecessors, “Urn” remains an album that 8 P.M. Xenoyr’s performance is once again extraor- developed “Urn (Part I) – And Within the Void should conjure up many favorable impresdinary. His guttural, yet coherent growls are We Are Breathless” and “Urn (Part II) – As Em- sions by those unfamiliar with Ne Obliviscaris’

The Daily Reveille

Thursday, February 15, 2018

page 13

Top Oscar Nominations

As we approach the 90th Academy Awards, there are a few movies that stood apart from the rest. The following are the top 10 competitors in the 2018 film award season: COMPILED BY AMAYA LYNCH | @maya09172

“THE SHAPE OF WATER” This film is the front runner of 2018’s Oscars with 13 nominations. Set in 1962 Baltimore, this mysterious drama follows the unique love between a mute janitor and a scaled creature thought to be a god by local villagers. This awards season, “The Shape of Water” has received over 20 award nominations and was awarded Best Picture and Best Score at the Critics’ Choice Awards and a Golden Globe for Best Original Score.

“LADY BIRD” This simple coming-of-age story received five Oscar nominations, making appearances in the categories of Best Picture and Best Director. The characters in this film experience all the ups and downs of senior year in high school.

Lady Bird, played by Saoirse Ronan, goes through heartbreak, rough friendships and college applications while going through a rocky relationship with her mother. Ronan received a Golden Globe for her performance as Lady Bird.

“DUNKIRK” “Dunkirk” is another front runner at this year’s Oscars with eight nominations. The all-star cast includes Tom Hardy, Fionn Whitehead and Harry Styles. This amazing story has received a Critics’ Choice Award for editing and is also nominated for Best Picture along with Best Director at the 2018 Oscars.

“THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI” “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” received seven Oscar nominations. This film has already been awarded with four Golden Globes and three Critics’ Choice Awards. Frances McDormand was awarded two of the seven nominations, both for Best Actress.

“DARKEST HOUR”

This World War II drama received six Oscar nominations. This film explores the inner workings of those in power and has received multiple nominations. Gary Oldman has received two of them, a Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Award, both for Best Actor.

WHAT IS DISCOVER DAY? LSU Discover Day is an annual undergraduate research and creativity symposium.

Undergraduate students across all disciplines may apply to present in one of four categories: POSTER PRESENTATION VISUAL DISPLAY JURIED ART SHOW ORAL PRESENTATION

APPLICATIONS DUE: FEBRUARY 25

EVENT DATE: APRIL 10

LEARN MORE & APPLY: lsu.edu/discover/discoverday 332 Hatcher Hall | 225.578.8914 | lsu.edu/discover

“GET OUT” This film received four Oscar nominations and is up for Best Picture. In this thriller, directed by Jordan Peele, Daniel Kaluuya plays Chris, a black man going home to meet the parents of his white girlfriend, played by Allison Williams. Chris soon discovers a secret hiding behind the fake smiles of his girlfriends’ family and must find his way out.

Peele broke records with this thriller, becoming the first black writer/director to have a $100 million film debut. Peele has also received an Oscar nomination for Best Director.

“CALL ME BY YOUR NAME” With four Oscar nominations, this adapted screenplay has sparked the interest of many. “Call Me by Your Name” is a summer love story set in 1983 Lombardy, Italy. The film follows the relationship that develops between 17-year-old Elio, played by Timothée Chalamet, and doctoral student Oliver, played by Armie Hammer. This awards season, “Call Me by Your Name” was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Cinematography at the Critics’ Choice Awards and received the Critics’ Choice award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

“MUDBOUND” “Mudbound” is another film that has received four Oscar nominations. The film is about two men who return home to Mississippi to find it no different from when they left. They struggle to adjust to life after the war as racism is still brewing. The star-studded cast includes Mary J. Blige, Jason Mitchell and Garrett Hedlund. “Mudbound” received a Satellite Award for Best Ensemble and 11 other nominations this season.

“I, TONYA” This film made an appearance in three Oscar categories this year for telling the story of Tonya Harding, an ice skater thought to have conspired an incident that occurred involving a fellow skater. While the movie itself is not entirely based on true events, it is the way Harding herself has told the story. Margot Robbie’s performance as Tonya has been recognized many times this awards season and received an award for Best Actress in a Comedy at the Critics’ Choice Awards.

“THE POST” While “The Post” only received two Oscar nominations, it has truly stood out this awards season with almost 20 nominations in total. Steven Spielberg directed this drama about Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham, played by Meryl Streep, and Post editor Ben Bradlee, played by Tom Hanks, teaming up to expose the government’s Vietnam War plans in the Pentagon Papers. “The Post” is one of the nine films nominated for Best Picture at the 2018 Oscars.

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REV R ANKS

Thursday, February 15, 2018

The Daily Reveille

Thursday, February 15, 2018

page 15

‘Funny Face’ an early example of strong women in cinema

‘Cocaine Godmother’ showcases life of drug leader

BY EMMA BURLETTE @theburlettegirl

BY KIANA NAQUIN @Quinndaishone

I know Valentine’s Day has already gone by, but romantic comedies are not exclusively enjoyed in the beginning of February. The few that showcase strong, smart women are especially important to watch in the social climate we now live in.

In 1957, women were ideally wives and mothers. Those who did work outside of the home were overwhelmingly involved in entry-level positions. Very few were promoted beyond that. The percentage of women who attended college in the ‘50s dropped from the previous decade and about 37 percent of those students left to pursue domestic life.

That’s why “Funny Face” is so worthy of study.

Jo Stockton (Audrey Hepburn) is a young, beautiful and strong-willed philosopher working in a Greenwich Village bookstore. When Maggie Prescott, the head of women’s magazine Quality, chooses Jo’s bookstore as a backdrop for a photoshoot, the photographer, Dick Avery (Fred Astaire) takes notice of the “funny faced” Jo. How

anyone could think Hepburn is not a classic beauty is beyond me, but that’s the premise of the film.

Stockton is against fashion as an institution, but Avery and Prescott take an interest in her. She resists their attempt to transform her into a model at first, but Avery tells her they will take her to Paris, which is where her favorite philosopher lectures. Stockton submits to Prescott and Avery in order to secure her ticket to Paris, which she insists is not a corruption of her beliefs.

In Paris, Stockton juggles her obligation to Prescott and Avery and her desire to find Flostre and hear him speak. She also finds herself falling for Avery and enjoying the fashion despite her initial repulsion. When she finds Flostre, he turns out not to be the man she thought he would be.

In the end, Stockton and Avery end up together and she makes a splash as a new Quality woman.

Stockton is the sparkling jewel of this hilarious, quirky musical. Not only is the film visually stunning, but Hepburn’s performance as the headstrong and deeply intelligent heroine is most memorable. She stands on her

own feet without Astaire, something exquisite and rare as a product of the 50s. The film is not a perfect example of feminism by any means and I am not here to say it is. “Funny Face” works as a stepping stone instead.

Stockton shows women it is possible to be smart and independent and, at the same time, be feminine. She has her own ideas about things and uses the system to her advantage. Some people took her move to become a model to go to Paris as a compromise of her morals, but I say different. Strong women know that to get what they want, they need to work for it. I think Stockton had to simply pay her dues and I think she stayed true to herself throughout the film. The only thing she changed was her attitude to fashion and Avery.

Hepburn’s portrayal of a woman who can stand on her own feet in a time where it was unfashionable to think that way is important to remember in the 21st century. Women are still fighting for equality 61 years after “Funny Face” hit theatres.

Hepburn helped to pave the way for how far women have come — this is the perfect film to wrap up my Valentine’s Day series.

This Lifetime production is not your normal cheesy twohour sob story. “Cocaine Godmother” is a movie about the notorious Griselda Blanco, one of the biggest cocaine dealers in Miami. The movie shows the viewers the guts and glory of this amazing woman.

It’s not portraying some boring documentary on someone within history, but re-telling a story of a life who ruled one the most dangerous trades in the world with an iron fist.

Academy Award and Tony Award-winning actress Catherine Zeta-Jones stars as Blanco in the film. She wasn’t too fond of playing this role at first because of who Blanco was.

“I mean, morally, everything this woman did and stood for is so the polar opposite of what I believe in and who I am,” Zeta-Jones said.

At a young age, Blanco was already being introduced into a world of corruption and crime. She was born in Cartagena, Colombia and was raised

Plot twist. Plot twist. Plot twist.

The third “Cloverfield” movie, “The Cloverfield Paradox,” feels like one big plot twist. The movie touches down in the middle of an energy crisis and leaves you to play catch-up for the rest of the movie. Once you start to understand what’s happening, something else is thrown at you that leaves your mind reeling. A movie that requires thought is always welcome, but when you’re not given all of the information needed to understand the situation playing out, everything good about the movie is overshadowed by the confusion.

At the beginning of the Netflix film, information about the state of the Earth is dumped on you full force. In explaining a years-worth crises in the opening

of the movie, the movie creators require the audience to be an active participant in the mental story development. Actors Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Elizabeth Debicki, Daniel Brühl and Chris O’Dowd are just a few of the actors that played the space crew attention to find an infinite source of energy to secure the survival of all those who inhabit the Earth.

The film starts on Earth, travels through space and then through another dimension.

The individual aspects of the movie were all incredible by itself. The effects are clear and skillfully done and the acting was emotionally accurate as well. The problems arose when these great components were put together to execute the story. At some points, you’re not even sure whether something is supposed to be funny or scary.

When big-name producer J.J. Abrams is attached to any movie,

people are attracted to it and this film was no exception. The film advertised its release during the Super Bowl and released right after, bringing in viewers straight from the game. The anticipation that came with the sudden film release was in no way satisfied.

The thrill that was advertised stemmed more from confusion.

Every situation that was thrown out caught you off guard because you never really knew what was going on.

The one trailer that was released made the film seem to be a thriller when it is actually a fantasy/mystery. That is the main reason why the film did not really hit home. If you go into the movie expecting more of a thoughtful movie experience, you will get more out of it. What would have really saved this movie is a better advertising technique. The surprise release was great because it drew in an audience but

courtesy of LIFETIME

her life after she got out of prison.

During her sentencing Blanco was only sentenced to 15 years in prison. She had a body count of over 200 people, but none of them could be pinned directly to her.

Including the three husbands she murdered, hint one of her nicknames, “Black Widow.”

She only did time of one count of conspiracy and distribution of cocaine.

This movie portrays a woman who was not only the

“Queen of Cocaine,” but a true historical figure. Lifetime went into the right direction with this film and really impressed the viewers. Griselda Blanco should be one to remember and written in the history books.

courtesy of PARAMOUNT PICTURES

‘The Cloverfield Paradox’ confuses viewers with twists

BY AMAYA LYNCH @maya09172

by an abusive mother. She was a young prostitute and her first kill was at the age of 11. As she got older, she ended up joining the infamous Medellín Cartel, where she learned first-hand how to distribute cocaine.

Besides Griselda Blanco being a notorious criminal, she was a cunning mastermind. To distribute cocaine more effectively, she used models undergarments to smuggle oversees. She had this sewing factory where her workers sewed pockets into bras, girdles and even underwear on to the garments so the woman could hide them without being noticed by security.

Blanco also made more money than any other drug dealer in Miami. She and her family racked up about $8 million a month from cocaine profit alone. She killed anyone who stood in the way of her drug business, including those who took too long to pay her back.

In the film, they explain how Blanco was also famous for creating drive-by shootings. Sadly, that is the same weapon that eventually took

the trailer could have been better executed. If the trailer had made the movie seem like a mystery rather than a drama, there would not been as much confusion and the movie experience would have been more enjoyable.

Overall, the movie was confusingly put together. While the

plot was sound, the execution was hazy. It’ll definitely keep your attention, but to answer whether it deserves to have your attention is still up for grabs. With an ending that offers anything but closure, you’ll be left wondering if you really understood anything that happened in the movie.

courtesy of PARAMOUNT PICTURES

‘Lore’ podcast tells fantasy stories with historic twist

BY MADS REINEKE @mrein39 History might not be everyone’s favorite subject, but that’s only because they skip out on all the parts about werewolves, vampires, ghosts and other supernatural events. Essentially, all the things covered by “Lore.”

The “Lore” podcast premiered back in March 2015 and is both written and narrated by Aaron Mahnke. Each episode focuses on a different aspect of history, but with a focus on the darker parts of our shared past. “Lore” dives deep into the scary stories our ancestors have told in the dark since the beginning of time.

Episodes range from the origins of the modern vampire story to the recounting of the, frankly, terrifying events surrounding Key West’s famous Robert the Doll — a story you’d have to hear to believe. I still get goose-

courtesy of AARON MAHNKE

bumps just thinking about it.

For history buffs, part of what makes each new episode exciting is finding out what major historical events were happening at the

same time as Mothman’s most active sightings.

With each episode, Mahnke adds something extra: a partial explanation of why he thinks

many of the events of these stories turn out the way they do. He comments on the proclivity of humans toward fear, hope and knowledge that might have pushed

them toward the life-altering conclusions they come to.

“Lore” brings something special to the podcast circuit: a cross between the non-fiction storytelling of “This American Life,” the supernatural elements of a Stephen King novel and a historical proclivities of one of the more interesting History Channel specials.

Not everyone finds the idea of a podcast alluring, but just recently, “Lore” has given these people a solution in the form of a mini-series on Amazon Prime.

The video series recaps six of the show’s best-loved episodes, including “Robert the Doll,” which gets even creepier in a visual format.

Whether it’s in its audio or visual medium, “Lore” is a riveting telling of the darker side of human history and what monsters we’ve created from things that we think go bump in the night.

The Daily Reveille

page 16 HOOPER, from page 11 disappears.”

Smith said hooping does not really contain any negative aspects because it is also a great activity for working out and just plain fun exercise.

“I like the fitness aspect of it, as well, after hooping for maybe 10 minutes, you’re drenched in sweat,” Smith said. “It is nice cardio, and builds arm strength since you’re constantly working with your arms.”

Hooping is Smith’s passion, but she said it was not easy at first. Through determination and some training, Smith has come to master most of the skills.

“I legit had to start from

square one, from learning how to hoop on my hips, to chest rolls, then pizza tosses, and also shoulder hooping,” Smith said.

Smith said she learned perseverance and determination through practicing her hooping skills.

“You have to work from ground zero all the way up and you have to keep drilling and practicing, and honestly it will just kind of come to you one day,” Smith said.

Smith has the strife to perform and show her talent to the world. She enjoys performing to the fullest extent and hopes she can show others what she is really made of.

“I love psychology and I love

Thursday, February 15, 2018

stats, but performing is some- performs as well. thing that balances off using my “I also would like to go to different states and brain and utilizing my creative other hoop“When you’re in that meet ers, especially side,” Smith said. “My whole moment you feel free, Rachel, so I can thank her for goal with hooping is to eventu- you hear the music and making her vidally make it to you dance to that music eos because she a festival or a was my driving rave and per- and everything else just inspiration to do form.” hooping,” Smith disappears.”

She also said. wants to meet Smith is not ANDREA SMITH others who hoop the only hoopPsychology senior er on campus. and the girl who showed She said there her the hoopare at least er life, Instagram icon Rachel three other hoopers attending Sullivan. Sullivan is a well known the University who practice on hooper who posts videos daily and campus occasionally. Not only

are they on our campus, but within the city.

“There is definitely a community of hoopers here, especially in Baton Rouge,” Smith said. “Every Friday, hoopers and poiyers meet at the levee to socialize and practice tricks, and that’s just locally.”

Smith said she hopes one day the University can have a club or just meetings where they can share their talent with each other and, possibly, the world.

“I feel like as a hooper you need to be connected with other hoopers to develop your flow and become better at tricks, or maybe create cool group videos,” Smith said.

DILYN STEWART / The Daily Reveille

LSU psychology senior Andrea Smith hula hoops with an LED hoop in her living room to fight the rainy day blues.

NICHOLS, from page 11 Unfortunately, after two successful seasons, “Underground” was cancelled because WGN wanted to take its network in a different direction.

Following “Underground,” Nichols booked “Iron Fist.” The show is about Marvel Comics’ character Danny Rand, who is known as the Iron Fist. Nichols plays young Danny, which is an essential character to the show.

“When I auditioned, I had no idea it was going to be for a Marvel show. It was all kept completely secret,” Nichols said.

Since his first lead role, one of the only “happy” movies he’s been in is “22 Jump Street,” starring Hill and Tatum.

“I got to curse out Jonah Hill when I was 12, so that was pretty cool,” Nichols said.

Most recently, Nichols worked on a horror film called “Dark,” which was shot in Canada just last year. Toby Nichols’ acting skills are showcased in the film, which will be intensified by horrifying prosthetics, making him appear to have no

eyeballs.

“It would take about two to three hours to make it look like someone burned out my eyes,” Nichols said.

“Dark” will be released at the 2018 Tribeca Film festival in April.

“The cool thing about acting in horror movies is that when you watch them at the premiere, you know when the jump scares are going to happen and it really isn’t scary,” Nichols said.

Being a young actor and taking online schooling isn’t tra-

ditional by any means, but Nichols continues to get the job done.

“Being a young actor is all I know. I have nothing to compare it to,” Nichols said. “It’s something I really enjoy doing.”

Nichols hopes to act in more comedies and wants to get into screenwriting. He wants to write cartoons similar to “The Amazing World of Gumball,” and already has a few in the works.

“I love acting, but I think I’d really enjoy writing, Nichols said. “But also, I am just happy to be where I am right now.”

SOPHIE GRANZOW / The Daily Reveille

fits to joining Spoon. She said the job is a great résumé, but Buzzfeed-esque quizzes her favorite part about work“It’s all fun stuff,” Nguyen ing with Spoon is the friends said. “It’s nothing too seri- she’s made. ous.”

“My favorite thing is the Currently, Spoon is community, and just celebratsearching ing food for students together,” to fill all of Nguyen “We’re always looking for said. the club’s positions, said new members... I just feel herShe especially closest like it should be a bigger colleagues since most of its foundparticipate thing.” ing memin what bers will be she calls graduating in “ S p o o n spring 2018. bondi ng” VICKIE NGUYEN Now that the at least Spoon University marketing editor LSU Un iver sit y ’s once evSpoon chapery month, ter is being where they recognized by many local go out to bowling alley or have food publications and restau- a simple potluck. rants, Nguyen said she hopes Nguyen said Spoon offers more applicants will join the students career opportuniorganization. ties, social connections and “We’re always looking for the joy of sharing a passion new members,” Nguyen said. for all things culinary. With “I just feel like it should be a a myriad of things to offer, bigger thing.”

Spoon has only one question Nguyen said there are both for its student audience: “Are social and professional bene- ya hungry, Tigers?”

SPOON, from page 11

Opinion

page 17

Americans skew perceptions of Middle East, highlight differences HAMMER SEEKING NAIL SOHEIL SANEEI @soheilsaneei The Western world, particularly the U.S., has a skewed perception of the Middle East.

It seems the U.S. forgets its moral commonalities with the Middle East. This has become conspicuous with recent rhetoric and President Donald Trump’s travel bans.

The hatred for people from the Middle East was evident when former president Barack Obama was critiqued because of his Islamic middle name. This insinuates it is nefarious to be Muslim in the first place.

In Islamophobic circles, conversations about Sharia law are common. Instances of acid attacks and lynchings in the Middle East are highlighted in these echo chambers. The U.S. often impedes progressive conversation by claiming moral superiority to places like the Middle East. The Middle East is often used as a point of reference when refuting critiques of activist groups such as the LGBTQ and feminist movements.

Americans’ sanctimony is hypocritical, as the last officially recognized lynching in the U.S. occurred only 37 years ago in 1981. Religion remains a prominent obstacle in American politics. Many American terrorist organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan have based their doctrine in Christianity. The court’s decision

on Roe v. Wade was passed over a quarter-century ago, but religion has been an important institution in keeping stigma against abortion alive. Politicians often pander to their Evangelical base and shape American politics around their Christian beliefs.

Politicians like Sen. Ted Cruz have openly stated they place faith before country. It is also ironic that the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism” is used to fearmonger. There are more domestic terrorist incidents involving white terrorists than Muslim terrorists, according to a study conducted by The Nation Institute Investigative Fund and The Center for Investigative Reporting Reveal.

It appears the U.S. teaches history with ambiguity, rather than analyzing with nuance. It seems the U.S. is negligent to learn from past atrocities such as the Iraq War. The Iraq War was largely a reaction to the World Trade Center being attacked by 19 Middle Eastern hijackers. These villainous attacks killed nearly 3,000 civilians. Emotions were exacerbated, and anti-Muslim rhetoric had reached its pinnacle. The U.S. then took vengeance and committed their own terrorist attack on the Middle East. Approximately 165,000 Iraqi civilians have died since the U.S. invasion in 2003.

This sprung the germination of many terrorist groups in the Middle East that felt angst toward the U.S. These terrorist groups have enveloped many morally decent people in the

Middle East. Many U.S. citizens have stereotyped the majority of people from the Middle East as wicked. Travel bans that plan to quarantine the area just contribute to the evil vacuum created in the region. This allows moral people from the Middle East to either be killed, imprisoned or radicalized.

Politicians still use warmongering rhetoric toward the Middle East, displaying that they have not learned anything from recent wars. A facade of feminism has been employed to combat Middle Easterners, as well. While covering with hijabs is a concept deployed to control women, it is important for U.S. citizens to support Muslim women on the issue.

Malala Yousafzai is an exemplary women’s rights activist. Her advocacy for women’s right to education was inspiring enough for the Taliban to plan her murder. In 2012, she was shot as an order from the Taliban. She was rushed to the hospital and miraculously recovered. Presently, Yousafzai chooses to participate in Islam and wear a hijab.

An ingenuine display of concern with Middle Eastern politics occurred when Trump advocated for the people of Iran, who are on the brink of revolting against a tyrannical government. Trump’s support for Iranians seems misplaced, as they were victims of his proposed travel ban. The U.S. has a history of wanting to topple Iran’s government. It appears as if Trump is only supporting

courtesy of WIKIMEDIA

The U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003, overthrowing the Iraqi government under Saddam Hussein.

Iranians because of other political interests, especially when his rhetoric towards the nation is demeaning.

Interestingly, the same people who take pride in the U.S. being more progressive than the Middle East are the same people who impede the U.S. from progressing further. In Alabama, 68 percent of white voters voted for alleged pedophile Roy Moore, who shares many common political beliefs with the tyrannical governments in the Middle East. Moore, like some Middle Eastern governments, is against gay marriage, abortion and teaching evolution.

The people fighting to keep the U.S. purely white aren’t the ones who are helping this country progress. This country has progressed in large part because of black Americans, Latinos and other minorities, many

of whom are Middle Eastern immigrants. They were the ones who helped Doug Jones defeat Roy Moore in Alabama.

The U.S. has systematic problems. If the last lynching occurred only 37 years ago, then the U.S. cannot claim moral superiority over the Middle East. On a cosmological timeline, the U.S. is less than a second ahead. If society wants to progress, we must be more accepting. A conversation that defines our moral standards should involve everyone wanting to progress regardless of race. Perhaps, if U.S. citizens opened their minds, they’d realize they are more alike than juxtaposed to their Middle Eastern neighbors.

Soheil Saneei is a 19-year-old biological engineering freshman from Metairie, Louisiana.

Melania Trump should break silence, speak against Trump policies ACCORDING TO ASHLON ASHLON LUSK @shlinie Melania Knauss is an immigrant from Novo Mesto, Slovenia, who moved to the U.S. in 1996.

Knauss had a modest lifestyle and began modeling at 16 years old.

She was a middle class immigrant woman.

Melania Trump, First Lady and wife to U.S. President Donald Trump, was not born an American. She is a woman who hides her immigrant background, and she doesn’t stand for any of the issues that would have helped her if she hadn’t married Trump. She quietly stands by her husband — a man who hates immigrants and disrespects women and all people of color. Melania is worse than loud, racist and sexist President Trump.

As children, we are taught to report any bullying we see, and a silent bystander to hate and bigotry is just as harmful as, if not

worse than, a bully. Melania is living with a bully and isn’t speaking out.

President Trump put out a travel ban on Syria, North Korea, Iran, Chad, Libya, Yemen, Venezuela and Somalia. Although none of these are Melania’s home country, they still host people she should relate to. President Trump also wants to build a wall to keep out Mexican immigrants. Melania came to America seeking a better life and financial future, and that is exactly what she did. She should be helping immigrants, not allowing her husband to ban them and put up walls to keep them out. If President Trump had been president when Melania was trying to move to America, it would have been a lot harder for her to live the life she has today.

President Trump also speaks about how immigrants are stealing our jobs, but that is exactly what Melania did; she migrated from Slovenia and took an American model’s job. Yes, she deserved that job because she was qualified,

but that is the rhetoric President Trump preaches.

Along with immigrants, Melania should stand up for women.

Her husband has 19 sexual misconduct allegations, is disrespectful to women and has even said he “grabs them by the pussy.” This is not something I would want my husband saying about other women, even if it was in 2005. President Trump is also against funding women’s health. He is anti-abortion and against government-funded birth control, two issues close to many women’s hearts.

Melania is married to a man who doesn’t support her and arguably goes against everything she is. Immigrants and women can’t look up to her because she sits there quietly and allows her husband to yell and hate anyone who isn’t like him. Melania Knauss would be very disappointed in Melania Trump and her silence.

Ashlon Lusk is a 19-year-old mass communication freshman from Houston, Texas.

cartoon by ETHAN GILBERTI / The Daily Reveille

The Daily Reveille

page 18

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Community colleges asset to higher education, deserve recognition THE NIEMAN NOISE SETH NIEMAN @seth_nieman Before I transferred to the University, I spent the first two years of my college experience at Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit, Mississippi. I didn’t begin at a community college because I was afraid of starting at a university. Rather, I knew doing so would provide financial benefits, and I could knock out several prerequisite courses before transferring.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump attempted to liken the terms “vocational school” and “community college,” by saying, “The word ‘vocational’ is a much better word than in many cases, a community college.” His statement diminishes the extensive role community colleges have begun to take on in the route to a four-year degree.

Vocational schools are not community colleges; the two institutions are not the same thing.

The majority of students enrolled in courses at community colleges are working toward a two-year associate degree. Some community colleges do provide vocational training in areas that allow students to quickly enter the workforce, but that is not

courtesy of WIKIMEDIA

There are 11 states currently offering two years of tuition-free community college. their sole purpose.

Vocational schools typically offer programs that train students on specific trades or skills such as welding, cosmetology, carpentry, electrical installation and many others. After two years or less, students receive a vocational certificate and then begin to search for jobs related to that skill.

Community colleges, similar to four-year colleges, provide a variety of courses, student clubs and athletic teams. Students obtain their associate degree while

following a core curriculum, and then often transfer to a fouryear university to begin working toward their bachelor’s degree.

A report conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics states that in the fall of 2016, 6.2 million students were enrolled in two-year community colleges, which is nearly 31 percent of all college students.

Roughly 46 percent of all students who completed a degree at a four-year institution in the 2013-14 academic year had been enrolled at a two-year institution

at some point in the previous 10 years, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

“Asking community colleges to abandon the transfer portion of their mission, is saying that we want a decline in fouryear degrees and an increase in student loan debt in this country,” said President and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Lynn Tincher-Ladner, in a Facebook post.

Another benefit community colleges provide is dual-enroll-

ment, where high school students can enroll in college courses for credit prior to graduation.

In Texas, high school students make up 25 percent of the total enrollment at 17 of the state’s 50 community college districts.

The financial benefit of community colleges cannot be denied. There are now 11 states that currently offer two years of tuition-free community college after a movement was pushed by former president Barack Obama in his State of the Union address in 2015.

“Tennessee, a state with Republican leadership, and Chicago, a city with Democratic leadership, are showing that free community college is possible,” Obama said. “I want to spread that idea all across America, so that two years of college becomes as free and universal in America as high school is today.”

Community colleges have become well-respected within higher education. More people, like myself, are beginning to see the advantages they provide to Americans in the pursuit of a four-year degree. When Trump says “a lot of people don’t know what a community college means or represents,” he is most likely talking about himself.

Seth Nieman is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from McComb, Mississippi.

American couples should consider consequences before divorce CHATTING WITH ABI ABIGAIL VARNADO @abi_varn Every woman dreams of her wedding from a young age.

There is this idea that we must have a beautiful, expensive wedding with the perfect man. Everything will be whimsical and we will run off into the sunset on our honeymoon happily married, end of story.

What people don’t tell us is the marriage that comes after the wedding is the thing we should all be focused on. Not putting effort into relationships ends in divorce, which can usually be messy, especially if children are involved.

According to the American Psychological Association, 40 to 50 percent of married couples in the U.S. get divorced. This is quite a large number, encompassing about half of our married population.

The U.S. should not have such a high divorce rate, because firstworld married couples can do better, and have several options.

People should think twice before getting a divorce, unless it’s an emergency like abuse. Any other issue can usually be handled and fixed. It only takes time and effort on both sides, or even

couples therapy.

Marriage may seem old-fashioned to some, but it should still be taken seriously in 2018. When people get married, they sign a legally binding contract and make vows in front of witnesses stating they will stay together until death.

Giving up on a legally binding relationship shows younger generations that family doesn’t matter. It shows that adults are not willing to communicate or be respectful toward each other to figure their issues out. This teaches children that it’s okay to give up, argue and be disrespectful to a spouse or friend. That’s a depressing future for upcoming citizens in society. People should work through their differences no matter what, so it’s important to know what causes divorce and how one can avoid it.

According to CNN, studies have found that couples who spend less on engagement rings or weddings usually have lower divorce rates. This could be due to less financial strain after the wedding, so the couple can use more money for payments on a house, car or family.

According to PBS, if a couple spends more than $20,000 on a wedding, they are 3.5 times more likely to divorce.

According to PsychPage. com, after five to seven years of

marriage, couples usually split due to high conflict. After 10 to 12 years, couples usually split due to loss of intimacy or connection.

After so many years of marriage, couples may have children. To divorce after so long over money management, conflict or loss of intimacy is not right.

Adults need to learn how to manage their money. If you can’t afford it, don’t buy it. If you need something expensive, then save up for it. Be responsible for your own person and finances, because it will directly affect your spouse and family.

Couples also need to communicate effectively and respectfully. If there is a problem, then it always needs to be addressed.

Talk to your partner and listen to what they have to say. Don’t scream, yell or throw things. Behavior of that sort never accomplishes anything in life, so don’t use it in a marriage or in front of kids.

Another thing struggling couples can do is go on frequent dates. After years of marriage, or even having kids, romantic life can fizzle out and lead to outside relations. To stop cheating or dissatisfaction, couples can do romantic gestures for each other, go on dates or spice things up. Just because you have kids or have been together for a while,

cartoon by ETHAN GILBERTI / The Daily Reveille

it doesn’t mean you have to stop having fun.

Some situations may not be as simple, but it always boils down to respect. If you respect yourself, respect your spouse and respect your family, maintaining relationships should be natural. After you get married, it’s not just about you anymore.

It becomes an actual team effort. This can also be applicable to other relationships, like boyfriends or girlfriends, family and friends. Stay humble and be a team player.

Abigail Varnado is a 21-yearold English senior from Amite, Louisiana.

The Daily Reveille

Thursday, February 15, 2018

page 19

Feminist movement evolving, losing sight of what matters SARAH SAYS SARAH GROBETY @sarah_grobety If you believe men and women are equal and should be treated as such, you are a feminist by definition. However, admitting you are a feminist can bring judgement and assumptions, especially about your political party. Feminism has become such a partisan issue because people only associate it with the Democratic party.

Today, the word “feminist” is often associated with uber liberal “bra burners.” If you are a feminist, you may be stereotyped as someone who marches for women’s reproductive freedom at pro-choice rallies. These notions of feminism leave out all of the women who believe men and women are equal, but are not liberal.

It is possible to be a conservative feminist. These women believe there should be more female representation in

government, but may not agree on all of the reproductive issues.

That should not disqualify them from being a feminist. These women want a culture of equal rights and opportunities, but may not see eye-to-eye with the liberal feminists.

Websites like WomenAgainstFeminism.com are dedicated to the women who disagree with feminism. These people don’t all believe men are better than women, they just do not like where the “feminist movement” has gone.

Politically, there is sexism on both ends of the spectrum.

Women as right leaning as White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and as left leaning as former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton face the same kinds of sexism in the workplace and media. Women’s fashion choices are often heavily scrutinized by the media. Both Sanders and Clinton have been put on blast for their clothing choices, something that would never make headlines if they were men.

Sometimes feminists seem to only want to defend women who believe what they believe. When this discrimination occurs, it is important to not be a selective feminist. If you are going to label yourself a feminist, it is important to stand up for all women, not only the ones you agree with politically.

Even celebrities like “Game of Thrones” star Maisie Williams have expressed their opinion on the feminist movement. Williams is honest about not liking the term “feminist.”

“I also feel like we should stop calling feminists ‘feminists’ and just start calling people who aren’t feminist ‘sexist’ – and then everyone else is just a human,” Williams said. “You are either a normal person or a sexist.”

This distinction is often forgotten in politics because of the divide in beliefs.

Modern feminism has morphed into a frenzy of women hating other women for their ideological beliefs. Feminism should not be a partisan issue.

courtesy of WIKIMEDIA

Roughly 82 percent of people support gender equality, while only 2 in 10 women identify as feminists.

Fighting for more women in office and better representation is not something that should be claimed by a party. It is something most women want. Feminists need to remember they are fighting for equality. To do

so, they must defend all women, not just the ones who agree with them.

Sarah Grobety is a 20-year-old mass communication junior from Atlanta, Georgia.

Infrastructure plan potential win for Trump administration FRANKLY SPEAKING

JUSTIN FRANKLIN @justinifranklin In 2017, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave American infrastructure a D+ grade report. This group of welltrained engineers cited the absence of investment and delayed maintenance across most categories as two of the many reasons why our system was graded so low.

Unveiled in his recent State of the Union Address, one of President Donald Trump’s 2018 bigger, better and best initiatives is a complete $1.5 trillion overhaul of the American infrastructure system.

“We will build gleaming new roads, bridges, highways, railways and waterways across our land,” Trump said.

One can only hope Trump knows infrastructure is more than just roads bridges, highways, railways and waterways.

It’s the repair of the molding, dilapidated schools millions of children are forced to go to. It’s the total fix of toxic pipe systems like those in Flint, Michigan. It’s the revitalization of some of our most prized

courtesy of WIKIMEDIA

President Donal Trump plans to generate a $1.5 trillion upgrade to American infrastructure. landmarks and cities all around the country. How can America truly progress if the place where we create and master our future is stuck in the past?

American infrastructure has been crumbling for years, and time after time various administrations have done little to nothing to truly get the wheels

The Daily Reveille EDITORIAL BOARD Ramsina Odisho Natalie Anderson Evan Saacks Abbie Shull Hannah Kleinpeter

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

turning on the issue.

Trump striking a deal on this would not only fulfill a campaign promise, but also be a landmark achievement for both political parties. Both parties have always tried branding themselves as the patrons of the revitalization of the American infrastructure system. Both parties want to be

praised for upgrading societal enterprise and providing jobs and income to middle and lower-class workers.

The fact that the U.S. has received a low rating on infrastructure from the ASCE continually since 1998 proves party branding has been far from party execution.

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The Daily Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Daily Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, The Daily 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 Daily Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Daily Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Daily Reveille’s editor in chief, hired every semester by the LSU Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.

Some might argue that the amount of time it would take, as well as the absolute uncertainty of the actual amount of money needed is reason enough to be skeptical about an infrastructure plan. It is true that it could and will take decades to really make monumental strides in repairing and upgrading infrastructure, especially in some of the country’s most populated areas.

This is very agreeable considering a $1.5 trillion budget must require some magic and fairy dust. Lawmakers on both sides agree more funding has to come from somewhere to truly do something useful.

Trump is on the right track, for once. The benefits of having a new landscape that is internationally competitive and functionally beautiful is definitely worth the cost and wait.

Frankly speaking, Trump needs to do his homework on what will truly be the best route for fixing this problem. As for Congress, there is no excuse for all Democrats and Republicans not to come to the table and do what’s best for all Americans.

Justin Franklin is an 18-year-old political communication freshman from Memphis, Tennessee.

Quote of the Week “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.”

Thomas Jefferson

U.S. President April 13, 1743 - July 4, 1826

The Daily Reveille

page 20

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Head to Head Chivalry underappreciated, should be valued by society FACT IS FICTION KIANA NAQUIN @Quinndaishone In this new hookup culture most people seem to thrive in, chivalry seems to be at the bottom of the list for the majority of men. It is not something they prioritize anymore. Men are going through everyday life without common courtesy, as they are not expected to treat women with courtesy for some reason. As an unromantic generation, we are letting them think it is OK to do so.

The definition of chivalry is the combination of qualities expected of an ideal knight: courage, honor, courtesy, justice and a readiness to help the weak.

This may seem a little dramatic due to the fact this term was used in medieval times for how knights should treat a queen or princess. It also may be outdated, but the tradition should still stand. Yes, this is the 21st century, but women still deserve to be treated as queens. Chivalry is about having respect for women, especially if a man is dating or in a relationship with her.

Today’s men are underestimating the small things. Something as simple as holding the door open, pulling back a chair or paying for dinner can really make a woman happy and show you appreciate her.

These things may seem traditional. Some men may think the times are changing, but values and morals should not dissipate. It’s understandable that some young men did not grow up with an example of male chivalry in their life, but that does not give them an excuse to be ignorant to gentlemanly behavior. As time goes by, he needs to educate himself on how a man should treat a woman.

Chivalry in today’s society means walking your date or girlfriend to her

door when dropping her off back home after date night. It means not texting or calling a woman late at night, also known as a “booty call.” It means not playing on your phone while on a date with a woman, especially if this woman means something special to you.

Men of this generation will meet a woman at a bar and not even buy her a drink. They intend to take women home for their own selfish “needs.” He might take her to dinner, but he’ll make her pay her own portion of the meal. At the end of the night, he’ll bring her home, sleep with her and expect her to call an Uber in the morning to avoid any further contact.

Men cannot be given any excuses for being egotistical jerks. Some men think acts of chivalry are humiliating and embarrassing. It is time for men to suck it up and learn how to be men. They are the reason chivalry is dead and gone, and more of them are constantly populating the earth.

Some men say the feminist movement is growing and women do not need them how they used to. Regardless of the number of feminists, women will always want a respectful man by her side. A man should want to do everything he can for a woman he sees a future with and loves beyond words.

A common phrase to describe this notion is, “A real woman can go through anything on her own, but a real man won’t let her.”

Practicing chivalry is all about having respect for the lady. Doing the small things goes a long way, and the lady gives respect in return. A woman can do so much more for her man when treated with the respect she deserves. I do not know why men are losing the chivalrous touch, but it is hurting our society.

Kiana Naquin is a 20-year-old English sophomore from Baton, Rouge Louisiana.

cartoon by ETHAN GILBERTI / The Daily Reveille

Chivalry antiquated practice, demeaning to women OH, NOT AGAIN! KYLE RICHOUX @KyleRichoux Over the past few years, chivalry has been a point of contention among feminists, traditionalists and couples everywhere.

Formed in the Middle Ages, chivalry set the standard for men’s behavior for centuries.

Chivalry was a code of honor sworn on by medieval knights. The code commands knights to be honorable, truthful and good, defenders of the downtrodden.

Despite being the expectation since its creation, chivalry has found itself in the middle of political and social debate alike. Feminists sing its praises, relishing in the opportunity to be treated like a queen by their wild and uncivilized male counterparts. Right-wing religious radicals agree, citing their God-given mandate to protect their women.

The latter example seems noble, but it doesn’t hold up under close inspection.

Women don’t share the same noble calling to protect their men. A look back at history tells us men were trusted with such a goal because they boasted higher willpower and, simply put, a better track record than women. Medieval art often depicted the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, a representation of females’ moral weakness and temptation.

This information doesn’t do feminists a favor, either. If chivalry was built upon women being inferior, then the very notion is anti-feminist by nature. In the Middle Ages, women were afforded painfully little freedom. The most autonomy they could achieve was as a monarch, an abbess or, ironically, a peasant.

Oddly enough, women born into nobility were granted the least freedom. Wealthy men had little oversight compared to their peasant and clergy countrymen. This lack of oversight often led to them treating women as objects. These objects were to be protected and honored, yes, but also to be claimed as prizes.

Enter the code of chivalry. When a man is knighted, he must swear fealty to his king and country. It is a noble mission statement, but it often failed in practice. In reality, most knights came off as common thugs.

The mandate of defending the weak soon twisted into the idea of superiority to others. Since women were not qualified to become knights, they were inherently inferior to the noble horsemen.

European literature tells two tales of chivalry. The first and most notable is the romanticized version of knights in shining armor slaying dragons and saving the king from a horde of invaders, winning the heart of his lady in the process.

This tale is a fantasy, the same as you would find in a game of “Dungeons & Dragons.” When poems and short stories didn’t focus on heroic knights, they gave some hint as to the bondage of women. Women were normally only allowed to roam their land, and were often restricted to their bedrooms.

Opening the door for a woman is sweet until you realize men opened the door to direct women into the chambers they would be locked in. Shielding a woman from mud and rain was a knight’s way of maintaining the trophy earned by “valorous deeds.”

Let’s not forget about chivalry. Let’s learn from it. We don’t need a system where men take ownership of women to protect them. Instead, we ought to abide by a system of common decency. Hold the door open for someone because it’s kind, not because she’s a woman.

We can honor the legacy of chivalry by attempting to be good people.

We should abandon archaic, obsolete forms of interaction.

Women are capable. Women can perform just about the same as men. Treating them as “other” isn’t what is necessary to progress, even if it means treating them like queens. Now more than ever, women have a voice. It should not be wasted begging for a sexist relic of the past. Let’s devote our voices to finding a better future together.

Kyle Richoux is a 19-year-old sociology sophomore from LaPlace, Louisiana.

cartoon by ETHAN GILBERTI / The Daily Reveille