The Reveille 2-17-20 by Reveille

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IT JUST MEANS MOORE LSU Softball opens brand new state-of-the-art facility that puts them atop the SEC

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NEWS

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An LSU professor presented a resolution at a Faculty Senate meeting asking the University not to cancel classes for sporting events.

ENTERTAINMENT

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These four Baton Rouge shops are here to help you find the Mardi Gras outfit that speaks to you.

SPORTS

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A trio of resurgent arms in the LSU pitching staff leads them to a series victory over Indiana.

OPINION

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Two columnists debate whether Tinder is dehumanizing and socially isolating, or an empowering and freeing experience.

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How businessman, deacon Mike Moore put the LSU Softball team at the top of their game

NEWSROOM

BY REED DARCEY @byreeddarcey LSU softball officially opened the Mike Moore Performance Center on Jan. 23. Construction began in the summer of 2018, and the facility was fully operational ahead of the 2020 season. At its ribbon-cutting ceremony, donors, season-ticket holders, softball alumni and fans milled about the 14,500 square-foot turf infield. They peered up at its netting system—which falls to form batting cages— and “The Mike’s” cardio equipment. Patrons gawked at the weight room, the only one in the country solely for softball, and the stateof-the-art camera system, used for immediate film review during practice. Of all the facility’s unique elements, the most notable one is its name: Mike Moore. Mike Sr. was not an LSU student, athlete, coach or administrator. He built swimming pools and served as a deacon at a small Southern Baptist church north of Shreveport. He was raised in the ‘60s on radio broadcasts of LSU football and train rides from Shreveport down to Death Valley. AHe enrolled at Louisiana Tech but dropped out after one semester to join the family business: Morehead Pools, a swimming-pool construction company. Mike Sr.’s son, Mike Jr., is the President and CEO of his late father’s company. He sat in the front row of the ribbon-cutting ceremony while various speakers praised Mike Sr. He and his family cut the ribbon with golden scissors and returned home to Shreveport. A few days later, Mike Jr., hopped on a flight to Guatemala, where he attended a company sales training and leadership retreat, living out his father’s commitment to educating and empowering his employees. Mike Sr. duplicated this business strategy in his support of the softball program. He willed their sustained success with a large subsidy. He may have also, unwittingly, forced the rest of the softball world to follow the template. The Tigers left for their road trip in February of the undefeated 2015 season, winners of their first 11 games. The tournament marked the first time that Mike Sr. was fully immersed in the program away from home. He had reached the peak of his softball fandom, which had blossomed from a passion for football. After he first started working at Morehead Pools in the late ‘70s, LSU fundraisers stopped in Shreveport on a tour, holding meetings at municipality clubs, mostly with wealthy alumni. Mike Sr. scored football season tickets on the East Side of Tiger Stadium, seats his family still owns today. Mike Sr. was ordained a deacon in 1992 at a small Southern Baptist Church north of Shreveport and coached youth sports on the side, as he moved up the Morehead cor-

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The ribbon-cutting ceremony occurs on Jan. 23 during the opening of the Mike Moore Performance Center. porate ladder. After his mother’s death in 2000, he assumed ownership of the company and grew the business tenfold. Mike Jr. played football at Louisiana College and worked as a counselor at summer camps of Fellowship for Christian Athletes (FCA). There, he befriended a Northwestern State softball player named Lindsay Leftwich. Leftwich joined LSU softball’s coaching staff when the team named Beth Torina head coach in 2011. Mike Jr.’s daughter had recently picked up softball, so Leftwich invited her to be a bat girl at Tiger Park. Mike Sr. took his granddaughter down to Baton Rouge for her first game and left impressed by what Torina and her staff were building. “Man, I love that softball program,” Mike Sr. would tell his son. “There’s some good stuff brewing. They’re going to be really successful there. They’re going to build something special.” When the team reached regionals in 2014, Mike Sr. decided on a whim to fly to Tucson, Arizona, to watch them face the University of Arizona. The Tigers lost the series on that weekend, but Mike Sr. found a new favorite sport, and LSU softball gained a valuable booster and mentor. “He made the decision shortly thereafter that he was going to dive in head-first,” Quinlan Duhon said. Duhon is the program’s Director of Operations and its liaison to the Diamond Backer Booster Club. “We really all kind of fell in love with each other and each other’s energy,” Duhon said. Tiger Athletic Foundation (TAF), the fundraising arm of LSU sports, met with Mike Sr. to gauge his interest in spearheading funds for a new practice facility after the 2014 season. He agreed to the proposal and spent more time around the team in the following season. On a later California trip, Mike Sr. stayed at the team hotel, attended each game and event over three days and ate every meal with the team. After the Tigers shut out Northwestern University on Saturday night, the team invited Mike

Sr. to one final meal with the team before their flights left on Sunday morning. “He was just absolutely in heaven,” Duhon said. “That was the one of the happiest days he had had.” After a fun, relaxing evening, the team asked Mike Sr. to take a photo with them outside the restaurant. In the picture, Monica Moore, Mike Sr.’s wife, stands on the left with her arms around a couple of players. Mike Sr. stands on the right, smiling ear-to-ear. Mike Sr. texted the photo to his son, who was at home. “This team’s ‘gon do something this year,” he told him. “I can feel it.” The next morning, Mike Sr. suffered a heart attack and died. The team honored Mike Sr. by wearing a sticker with his initials on the side of their helmets for the rest of the 2015 campaign. They had a successful season, advancing all the way to the semifinals of the Women’s College World Series. The Moore family met with TAF officials during the 2015 season to carry out Mike Sr.’s commitment to the new facility. To memorialize their late father, Mike Jr. says the family made a larger investment in the project. TAF suggested that the new performance center be named after Mike Sr., and the Moore family obliged. Empowering female athletes was one of Mike Sr.’s goals since the mid ‘80s, when he coached a youth softball team to a top-13 finish in the nation. The new facility achieved this goal. “[Mike Sr.] saw the impact that he could have on young women,” Mike Jr. said. “And you know, you’re talking 1985. I mean even today, women’s athletics aren’t what men’s are, but in 1985 you can only imagine, right? Even smaller.” Mike Sr. affected softball players of a previous generation with coaching and today’s athletes with donations. Ben Ross is TAF’s Vice President of Development, the leader of their fundraising team. His predecessor, Ben Broussard, worked on the Moore project. Ross imagines the state of the

“Olympic” programs without private support. “I still think that the program would be excellent,” Ross said, “but [donations] are the kinds of things that help you remain excellent.” “It gives them the tools,” Mike Jr. said. Private support puts collegiate athletic programs on the cutting edge. Upgrades to facilities and equipment enables athletes to maximize their potential. Often, one lavish facility will spark another in a different program, one that is bigger and better than the previous one. “I do think for the upper tier programs, they’ll take a step back and evaluate,” Ross said. “What do we have, and do we need something like [the Mike Moore Center] to remain competitive and to be able to compete and recruit at the highest levels?’” That would mean Mike Sr.’s support will drastically change the careers of not only LSU softball players, but also other athletes around the nation. “I mean, these young ladies are getting an education,” Mike Jr. said, “they’re playing a sport, but then they go out and they do life after that, and so, it’s really key for that program to be creating the next generation of leaders with character, integrity, honesty, hard work, effort.” “[Boosters] want to put these kids that give so much to the program in a position to be able to succeed, right?” Ross said, “To be able to have some of the best facilities to train in and to compete in and to make sure that they have everything necessary to realize their full capability.” “You’re not buying anything,” Ross said. “You’re investing in something, right?” In the college softball world, the Mike Moore Performance Center is the new standard, set by a wealthy man who wanted to maximize his impact in the lives of young women. “A dollar at Tiger Stadium and a dollar at Tiger Park,” Mike Jr. said. “You have a bigger impact with your dollar at Tiger Park.”

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

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

NEWS Equiptment NO MORE TIMEOUTS! managers

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ATHLETICS

support football team

BY CAITIE ZEILMAN @caitiezeilman

tory,” DeSimone said. “The school would have had record low attendance because a majority of the student body would have skipped class for the game.” While the Board of Supervisors’ decision was met with elation from the students, it left a bad taste in the mouths of many faculty and staff who felt the decision made a mockery of the University. Cope’s resolution mentioned other disparaging facts regarding the circumstances surrounding the cancellations. The resolution acknowledged that LSU’s opponent in the national championship, Clemson University, did not cancel classes for the event. Clemson sits at No. 70 in academics in the U.S. and World News Report, whereas LSU is No. 153 on the same list, according to Cope’s resolution, suggesting that decisions such as the one made in January greatly impact the integrity of the University in the public eye. Cope’s resolution also points out some of the more social incon-

The LSU football athletic equipment team played a crucial role in the team’s journey to the national championship this season. The athletics equipment team is made up of four full-time managers, over 35 full-time undergraduate students and several graduate students, according to LSU Sports. They work “tirelessly and timelessly” to assist with everything from fitting players in equipment to setting up practice for 20 of LSU’s varsity sports. A team of football equipment managers worked hard to create a winning environment for the players this season, according to Student Football Equipment Manager and mechanical engineering junior Chase Falterman. Falterman worked with the equipment management team as a volunteer his freshman year before being hired on scholarship one year later. This marks his fourth full-time semester. The work of a student football equipment manager involves lots of behind-the-scenes work, according to Falterman. He assisted coaches during practice, packed and unloaded the team’s 18-wheeler for away games, set up Tiger Stadium for home games and fitted players in equipment to ensure their safety. Falterman said he and other equipment managers made sure

see SENATE, page 4

see ATHLETIC, page 4

LSU professor presents resolution at Faculty Senate meeting urging University not to cancel classes for sporting events

ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille

BY CHARLES FISKE @chuck_fiske After 3 p.m. on Feb. 12 in the University Foundation Building, LSU Interim President Tom Galligan introduced himself to the LSU Faculty Senate at the beginning of their monthly meeting. He expressed a deep gratitude and appreciation for the University’s faculty and staff and the pivotal work the University has been doing throughout the past few years. He professed a commitment to “stability and progress,” with a heavy emphasis on the University’s responsibility as a flagship institution to lead the way for the state of Louisiana. English and comparative literature professor Kevin Cope felt the University has not fulfilled this responsibility. On Jan. 10, the LSU Board of Supervisors cancelled classes on Jan. 13 and Jan. 14, the opening days of the spring semester, in response to the LSU football team’s participation in the national championship game in New Orleans.

Cope wrote a four-page resolution, which he presented to faculty and staff at the Faculty Senate meeting, urging the University not to cancel classes for sporting events, especially on such short notice. “The LSU mission statement presents the core duties of LSU as ‘offering a broad array of undergraduate degree programs and extensive graduate research opportunities designed to attract and educate highly qualified graduate and undergraduate students,’ and as ‘contributing to a world-class knowledge base that is transferable to educational, professional, cultural, and economic enterprises,’” Cope stated in his resolution. “That seems unlikely to be advanced by canceling of classes for a sporting event.” The movement to push back the start to the semester was fueled by extensive support from the student body. A petition was started on Change.org to garner support from students in hopes of swaying the Board’s decision on whether class-

es should be cancelled; the petition has roughly 5,000 signatures. Though make-up classes were scheduled on two Saturdays within the month of the championship game to alleviate the disruption caused by the decision, many students found the event to be a permissible circumstance worthy of class cancellation. International trade and finance sophomore Kyle Suarez said the location of the game was likely the University’s deciding factor on whether to cancel classes. “I believe the school’s decision on cancelling classes for the national championship game wasn’t due to the school going to the final and having the biggest chance to be champions, but how close to campus and unexpected the championship was,” Suarez said. Human resource management senior Vince DeSimone also said the University made the right decision. “I think it was a good thing that LSU decided to cancel classes for the national championship because it allowed students to witness his-

ACADEMICS

New major offers less traditional approach to graphic design BY MARYKELLY MUNSTER @mkokayokay A new major at LSU will offer students a less traditional approach to graphic design and new ways to be creative in the classroom. The upcoming degree program combines photography and graphic design to create a tailored learning experience for students interested in digital art. Rod Parker, a graphic design professor and director of the College of Art and Design, led the initiative for the new major along with colleagues who shared his opinion that artistic curriculum

should be more flexible. “The world is changing much faster than curriculum can keep up,” Parker said. “Curriculum is often outdated because it is created by faculty, and we are shaped by institutions which are now shaping you.” Photography and graphic design will be a Bachelor of Arts program as opposed to a Bachelor of Fine Arts. The new degree path will allow for more flexibility in how students use their credit hours. While it will require the same total number of course hours, the photography and graphic design major will allow students

to explore other fields through a minor, dual major or approved course of study. “You can roll your own degree in a certain way with a strong center in art,” Parker said. Specific requirements for the new major include two studio courses and two art or design history courses. Students may select the rest of their courses from a myriad of classes and seminars offered to students pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts. “There are so many different paths,” Parker said. “There’s so much you can do.” Some students agree that the major will benefit those

seeking a well-rounded knowledge of modern graphic design as opposed to a more traditional learning experience. Graphic design sophomore Mackenzie Rodrigue said she would consider changing her major to photography and graphic design. “With graphic design, you are creating your own content and with photography you are learning how to work with what’s already there,” Rodrigue said. “I think combining the two could teach people how to see both sides.” Rodrigue also said she could see how some students might

think the graphic design major is too traditional and offered ideas on what she thought the new major’s coursework could entail. “Maybe creating a class where [students] focus more on photoshop and editing photos to make them usable with the things we are creating for graphic design,” Rodrigue said. Parker expects the new degree to appeal to students interested in working in game design, special effects and movie editing, as well as students who want to be creative but might not have their parents’ support to solely

see DESIGN, page 4

Monday, February 17, 2020

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ATHLETIC, from page 3

gruities of the decision. “The values embedded in Title IX that call for gender equity were not evident since no cancellation of classes has ever occurred for LSU women’s sports teams that participated in national championships,” Cope wrote in his resolution. “The disparities between men and women or between minority and majority populations continue to be evident.” The resolution also tipped its hat to the professors who spend weeks or months developing lesson plans for the new semester and had to completely alter their lecture schedules to accommodate the sporting event. The resolution was closed by a request for LSU Leadership to “take immediate action to reaffirm their commitment to LSU as ‘a leading research-extensive university, challenging undergraduate and graduate students to achieve the highest levels of intellectual and personal development’ per the mission and vision statement.” Cope also called for more interactive dialogue from the Board of Supervisors concerning potential cancellations and other matters further in advance to avoid short-notice tangents from scheduled operations.

players and coaches had what they needed “day-in and day-out.” This included everything from laundry to odd requests. “They know they can come to us for anything they need, and we will take care of them,” Falterman said. The equipment managers form close relationships to the coaches and players, Falterman said. The ability to interact with them is one of his favorite parts of the job. Second-year Student Equipment Manager and construction management junior Henri Terrebonne said most of his work was behind-the-scenes, but it never went unnoticed. “We contribute so much to practice and games that players, coaches and other staff members recognize our hustle and respect us for it,” Terrebonne said. “In fact, the day Joe [Burrow] left campus we helped him and his family load all of his stuff in his car. Afterward, he came up to each one of us thanking us for taking care of him while he was here at LSU.” The group of equipment managers had been with the team since January 2019, following the Fiesta Bowl, according to Terrebonne. Winning the national championship was a great way to end the

season, he said. Terrebonne and Falterman said they believe the work of the equipment team contributed to the overall success of the players. “I think our staff was vital to the success of the team with working all hours of the day to ensure that the only thing players and coaches needed to worry about was winning the football game,” Falterman said.

DESIGN, from page 3 major in art. Parker also said the degree will be useful in a fast-evolving world with industries that may have yet to be created. “When [current students] were in middle school, there were huge phones with antennas,” Parker said. “Today, everyone walks around with a multimedia computer in their pocket.” Parker also elaborated on the specific skills that photo graphy and graphic design students might take forward into the world. “Someone who can design a logo, design a brochure, design an annual report, shoot photography, shoot a video and edit it,” Parker said. “That’s someone with a huge set of skills.”

ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille

Coach O holds up the trophy on Monday, January 13, 2020 after LSU’s 4225 win at the National Championship in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

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ENTERTAINMENT FAT TUESDAY 'FITS

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BY CAROLINE HEBERT @sister_carols

Time to get festive with your best Mardi Gras outfit from local Baton Rouge shops

Located at 11843 Bricksome Ave or online, Sweet Baton Rouge Louisiana Apparel has every graphic tee design you can think of. Its Mardi Gras collection is filled with women’s and men’s merchandise. The shirts range from simple to elaborate and can please any crowd looking for festive shirts.

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MORGAN CLAIRE Morgan Claire is located at 7350 Jefferson Hwy suite 440. The boutique has all the needs for the Mardi Gras ball season. From gold shoes to fun gowns, you can find the perfect outfit here. Along with its nice attire comes their comfy casual Mardi Gras pullovers, T-shirts and earrings.

BELLA BELLA Bella Bella, located at 3064 Perkins Rd, has graphic tees for the festive season. Sweatshirts and t-shirts with purple, green and gold lips, tie-dye patterns and sequin stripes will spice up any casual day the Mardi Gras way. You could even pair the purple, green or gold leggings or sequin shorts with cute shirts as well. And yes, they have big Mardi Gras themed earrings.

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SWEET BATON ROUGE LOUISIANA APPAREL

MOXI BOUTIQUE Moxi Boutique is located right by campus at 320 Lee Drive. Its cute, trendy outfits are perfect if you are looking to dress up your Mardi Gras outfits. With green, purple and gold shirts, skirts and pants, you can find an outfit that is classy and sassy but still Mardi Gras. Moxi has women’s apparel ranging from casual to fancy to please all your outfit needs.

@MOXI_BOUTIQUE VIA INSTAGRAM

Monday, February 17, 2020

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H E T S N I

PHOTO

An LSU baseball player holds a baseball during LSU’s 7-4 victory against Indiana in Game 2 on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020 in Alex Box.

Monday, February 17, 2020

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BACK

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LSU Baseball wins 7-4 over Indiana in Game 2 on Saturday, Feb. 15 in Alex Box Stadium.

LSU baseball first base sophomore Cade Beloso (24) catches a ball during LSU’s 7-4 victory against Indiana in Game 2 on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020 in Alex Box.

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LSU baseball sophomore Cade Beloso (24) sets his foot on second base during LSU’s 7-4 victory against Indiana in Game 2 on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020 in Alex Box.

LSU baseball junior Hal Hughes (3) looks up after hitting the ball during LSU’s 7-4 victory against Indiana in Game 2 on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020 in Alex Box.

LSU baseball junior Zack Mathis (17) prepares to bat during LSU’s 7-4 victory against Indiana in Game 2 on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020 in Alex Box. LSU baseball right-handed pitcher sophomore Nick Storz (21) prepares to pitch the ball during LSU’s 7-4 victory against Indiana in Game 2 on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020 in Alex Box.

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FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 13, 2020

THE Daily Commuter Puzzle ACROSS 1 “Old MacDonald had a __…” 5 Ermine with a black-tipped tail 10 Early man 14 Zone 15 Lacking manners 16 Actress Glaudini 17 Easter flower 18 Buried the hatchet 20 Lemon or lime suffix 21 Cod or perch 22 Baseball’s Pee Wee 23 Accepted standards 25 Summer blower 26 Forty winks 28 Team defeats 31 Narrow street 32 Footwear 34 Notice 36 Reclines 37 Coral ridges 38 Lively 39 Scale divisions: abbr. 40 Four cups 41 Irk 42 Personal problems 44 Teeth straighteners 45 Vegetable casing 46 Native New Zealander 47 Skirt fold 50 Mattress buyer’s choice 51 __ Wednesday; 2/26/20 54 Isolate due to disease 57 Actress Sheedy 58 Seldom seen 59 Castro, for one 60 Clothed 61 Phoenix team 62 Suspicious 63 Excessive publicity DOWN 1 “Deck the halls with boughs of holly, __…”

by Jacqueline E. Mathews

Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews

2 Very dry 3 Bound and determined 4 Spring month 5 Be frugal 6 Long lock of hair 7 “That hurt!” 8 Commotion 9 Part of a royal flush 10 Flying saucer pilots 11 Clinton’s 1996 election opponent 12 Schooner drinks 13 Created 19 Uncouth 21 Unravel at the edges 24 Singles 25 Enemies 26 __ for; summon 27 Excuse 28 Upper room 29 In particular 30 Begin a tennis game 32 Black & Bering 33 That woman 35 Facial features

2/13/20

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37 Was remorseful about 38 Scorch 40 Fixed minimum 41 School dance 43 Is merciful to 44 By a whisker 46 Ore seeker 47 NO followers 48 Lanai feast

2/13/20

49 Make money 50 Bona __; genuine 52 Word attached to stick or happy 53 Jekyll’s alter ego 55 Org. for Eagles & Seahawks 56 Even score 57 German exclamation

SPORTS PITCH PERFECT

Strong pitching performances led the Tigers to series win over Indiana

BY NATASHA MALONE @malone_natasha LSU clinched the season series over Indiana, winning 7-4 behind resurgent arms. At the end of Landon Marceaux’s freshman campaign, he started feeling sluggish. Marceaux wanted to come back in 2020 revamped and ready to go. The sophomore righthanded pitcher decided to completely transform his body by cutting back 15 pounds and growing out his hair in hope to bring up his velocity and better his command. In his freshman year, Marceaux showed glimpses of greatness but struggled through most of the season with injury and confidence issues. Marceaux posted a 2-0 record with a 1.99 ERA in the postseason. The Desterhan, Louisiana native’s off-season work showed in his short outing as Marceaux recorded 4.1 IP, allowed three earned runs on six hits with two strikeouts. The plan coming into the weekend was that Marceaux would only be getting four-to-

five innings of work and be on a 75-pitch count limit. Marceaux was pulled after allowing a solo homer and a double

ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille

off the wall. “I didn’t have my best stuff today,” Marceaux said, “I was a little inconsistent, but we got the job done.” Junior Trent Vietmeier was the first relief pitcher for the Tigers. The Pittsburgh native gave LSU 1.2 Innings of scoreless work and recorded two strikeouts. LSU got their first look at the 6-6 hard-throwing right-handed pitcher, Nick Storz. The sophomore has made two appearances in his LSU career, both coming in 2018. The B r o o k lyn native was forced to take a medical redshirt in 2019 due to injury and came in looking to make some noise. Storz allowed one hit and one walk over an inning of work. “I’m so happy for Nick [Storz],” Marceaux said with a smile. “It’s been three years for him. He works so hard with training staff and at practice every day.” The Tigers brought in the heat to close out

a chilly afternoon with Devin Fontenot. The junior out of the Woodlands, Texas left everything he had out on the mound in the final game of 2019 as he gave LSU an heroic performance before ultimately falling to Florida State in the Baton Rouge Super Regional. Fontenot struggled finding the strike zone and he found himself in an eighth inning jam. It looked like Fontenot escaped it after an electric double

play but the call got reversed. Fontenot then surrendered a single to left to let in another run. Fontenot’s final line for the day included

see PITCHING, page 10

page 9 BASEBALL

Beloso shows he can be the go to man MYLES KUSS @KussMyles

Everyone loves a big first baseman that bats from the left side and hits bombs. It’s a tale as old as baseball has been around. The good news for LSU baseball is the tale will be in practice most weekends and all eyes will be on first baseman Cade Beloso. While the weather seems to not notice it yet, college baseball is back at The Box and there is truly nothing like it. After a cold Friday night matchup against Indiana, Baton Rouge cooperated and delivered a beautiful afternoon for a doubleheader. The Tigers went 2-1 in the season-opening series but showed the world who should be afraid: everyone. LSU used 15 pitchers over the three games, with the most dominating ones being Cole Henry and Jaden Hill. Those two are simply the tip of the iceberg, and all of them showed potential to play in any situation. While pitching was the biggest strength, the LSU defense could use the most improvement. First year starter Zach Mathis played the hot corner, showing he could

see BELOSO, page 10

TRACK & FIELD

Mondo Duplantis resets his own pole vault world record BY JARED BRODTMANN @_therealjearbear It seems like this has already become a familiar refrain, but Mondo Duplantis has broken another prestigious record, with one alteration from the norm; this time, he is breaking his own marks. Duplantis’s 6.18 meter pole vault reset the world record this morning at the Muller Grand Prix in Glasgow, UK, topping his 6.17 meter mark he set last weekend. “I felt good, I felt good jumping,” Duplantis said post meet to reporters. “It’s a really nice place to jump, the track was really fast; I felt really good on the runway. Crowd was giving me really good energy, and when that’s the case, it makes it a lot easier to jump.”

The twenty-year-old phenom has become a worldwide sensation since his decision to start competing professionally. The track and field community around Europe has been showing Duplantis an outpouring of love, especially today in Glasgow. “It was a fantastic time,” Duplantis said. “I’ll remember this place forever.” Duplantis was quick to give the credit to his family, specifically his mother, Helena. “I wouldn’t be in the situation I’m in without my mother,” Duplantis said. “It’s been a great time for us, not only as my mother as my coach, but just as my mother, just kinda mother-son bonding time.” Helena Duplantis competed for BELLA BIONDINI / The Reveille

see MONDO, page 10

LSU freshman pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis is interviewed in the Carl Maddox Field House on Feb. 19, 2019.

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Monday, February 17, 2020

MONDO, from page 9

BELOSO, from page 9

the Swedish track team as a heptathlete in the 1980s, as well as playing indoor volleyball. She has been behind her son in all aspects since the beginnings, from coaching tips to just being a mom. “It started as a little dream that me and her had, and we’ve been doing this for so long now, it’s still hard to process everything that’s happening right now,” Mondo said fondly of the journey he and his mother have gone on so far. Duplantis cleared attempts of 5.50, 5.75 and 5.84 meters consecutively, and then, showed no issue with clearing a 6.00 meter attempt. He decided to bump his attempt up to 6.18 meters and jumped over the bar with ease, grace and room to spare. His legend just keeps sprouting to new heights. But as Duplantis continues his ascent chasing wins and records, he has never forgotten where the roots of his success are dug in strong: his family - call it a Louisiana thing.

bat three-hole but did not look natural at the position. Even the sure handed Hal Hughes at shortstop looked to be rusty. Once you switch your sights to the opposite end of the field, you might see the man who could carry this team. Sophomore Beloso had himself a stunning opening weekend and showed that he could be leaned on when LSU needed a clutch at bat. The slugger went 6-for-12 in the series and found gaps from

line-to-line to show opposing teams that he is simply not a dead pull hitter. He even hustled to turn a single into a double. While there were no home runs out of those six hits, he’s showing the ability to hit for average. And the long balls will come when the weather gets hotter and the wind calms down. To top it all off, Beloso has shown superior improvement in his defensive repertoire. In the first game of the doubleheader, he picked up a short hop, threw the ball to second and hustled to back

to first to catch the tail end of the double play. Beloso has put in work in the offseason, and the progress, already, is showing. By the end of the season, we will be pointing back at this series and realize that we should have seen Beloso being a First-Team All-American as an obvious answer. LSU will need Beloso to be just that as the pitching appears to be the strong suit of this team, but there will be days when runs will have to be scored in SEC

play, and Beloso can provide that spark along with Mathis and Daniel Cabrera. From the amazing double dances on the bag to his improving glove, Beloso is the best Tiger through the first weekend and has the personality to match. Now the only question is, can Beloso lead this mix of veterans and youngsters through 53 more games and into Omaha? If Beloso’s early numbers and confidence is anything to go by, he absolutely will and will have infectious fun doing so.

PITCHING, from page 9 two innings of work, three hits and one strikeout. He also was credited with a two-inning save. “[Fontenot] didn’t have his best stuff,” Coach Paul Mainieri said. “But he pitched in the clutch a lot and got out of some jams. He doesn’t give up. He keeps fighting and battling.”

ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille

LSU baseball first base sophomore Cade Beloso (24) observes the field during LSU’s 7-4 victory against Indiana in Game 2 on Feb. 15 in Alex Box Stadium.

ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille

LSU baseball first base sophomore Cade Beloso (24) screams during LSU’s 7-4 victory against Indiana in Game 2 on Feb. 15 in Alex Box Stadium.

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OPINION

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Head

Tinder, other dating apps, Dating apps like Tinder actually great for students cause more harm than good GRACE UNDER FIRE GRACE PULLIAM @gcpulli If you’ve been single at all in the past few years, there’s a pretty good chance that you made a Tinder account at some point. There’s also a pretty good chance that you renounced the app after about a week, then you reinstalled it, probably because you saw your ex going around with someone new and shiny. Then you uninstalled it again, and then you reinstalled it. Ad infinitum. For the uninitiated, here’s how it all works: by applying a fairly simple algorithm based on pre-selected age and location preferences, Tinder allows users to “swipe” through an apparently bottomless selection of potential romantic and/or sexual partners. Two users “match” by making affirmative right swipes on each other’s profiles, signifying mutual attraction. The two users then communicate with each other via the app’s direct messaging feature. From that point forward, the matched pair are left to gauge individual compatibility and decide whether or not to pursue something further. Tinder first launched in late 2012, 17 years after the debut of Match.com officially kick-started the online dating revolution in 1995. The app experienced immediate traction, gaining over 50 million active users in its first two years. Its reputation was less than favorable. Over the years, public reception of Tinder has remained overwhelmingly negative; users themselves have cited Tinder as superficial, even cynical. Superficial? Only inasmuch as its user base is. Humans are nothing if not. But cynical? This human begs to differ. The more vocal among Tinder’s critics tend to hark back to the “good old-fashioned days,” a supposed Golden Age of dating in America during which couples had no choice but to meet in real life. It’s a sentiment which—steeped in misplaced nostalgia as it is—fails to provide a solid argument as to how or why the circumstances under which two people meet would happen to have any bearing on the quality or validity of the relationship that follows. There’s this idea that Tinder commodifies relationships somehow, that it reduces people into swipes—right for yes, left for no—but I don’t think that’s true. Just because the app’s handy algorithm gives its

users more convenient access to a broader array of individuals doesn’t mean that the resulting matches are any less meaningful or worthy of pursuit. The difference in the structure and procession of “old-fashioned” relationships and digital relationships is fairly minimal. On Tinder, matched individuals are still entirely responsible for carrying out the actual heavy-duty relationship work, just as if they had only chanced upon each other in a bar, or in a coffee shop or wherever else it is people are expected to meet organically. The increased autonomy enjoyed by users on Tinder and similar dating apps when it comes to setting expectations and selecting suitable partners means that these partnerships often have stronger and more deliberate foundations to build from than couples who meet “the old-fashioned way.” These stronger foundations may become healthier, longer-lasting relationships. There’s no doubt modern romance is changing. People, especially students, are busier than ever. Most of us can hardly find the time to sit down, let alone go out and try to meet new people, but Tinder isn’t to blame for this; it offers a possible solution. If you’re out there looking to find someone and trying it the “old-fashioned way”, why not try swiping right? After all, it just might make the perfect match. Grace Pulliam is an 18-year-old creative writing junior from Zachary, Louisiana.

WRITING UNDER STATELY OAKS CORY KOCH @kochcory It is often said that it is better to have loved and lost than never loved at all, but does the same ring true for hookups? Is it really better to hook up and ghost someone than to never hook up at all? The standard form of relationships for centuries was etiquette-bound courtship, before it was eventually replaced by less formal dating. Courtship became dating. The often idealized days of diner dates and drive-in movies romanticized by movies like “Grease” have seemingly gone with the wind. Dating culture seems to be becoming a thing of the past as well. Today is the age of hookup culture. The popularity of apps such as Hinge, Grindr and Tinder have led to a fundamental change in romantic relationships for college students. The way our generation dates is not the same as our when parents did. Instead of going on multiple dates with various suitors, there are multiple matches waiting to text. Additionally, a good pick up line doesn’t hold quite the same zing when sent online. When a date doesn’t go well or a text conversation turns bland, one must simply un-match to move on. One of the key issues of online dating is the selection process. Dating app

CARTOON BY ETHAN GILBERTI

interactions are based almost entirely on looks. Key personality traits and virtues cannot be unveiled through a 200-word bio attached to a picture of you posing at the beach. Relationships and interactions built from looks alone encourage shallow behavior and hook ups, with no possibility of something deeper. The element of humanity has been replaced with technology. People have been replaced by profiles. Another damaging aspect of online dating apps is how it affects self-image. The act of reducing one’s entire being to a profile makes it easy to attach your selfimage to the success of your profile. Matching frequently with randoms can build up some self-confidence, but that same confidence can be smashed when someone you don’t even know doesn’t swipe right. We connect our self-worth to the opinions of people we might not ever meet. A generation-wide lack of foundational relationship-building skills can be partially attributed to online dating as well. The important social skills that are honed through face-to-face interactions are lost when these interactions become completely virtual. The uncomfortable and awkward situations we face going on bad dates create social skills that are impossible to replicate. Bad dates make us better people. Safety is another massive concern with online dating. Catfishing, or pretending to be someone you are not, is a common problem that most have heard of. Catfishing may seem harmless, but it isn’t the only thing that can go wrong online. Countless cases of inappropriate relationships between children and adults are formed through dating apps and the internet. The average person might not have concerns about who is on the other side of a virtual conversation, but the reality is frightening, as there have been violent crimes resulting from relationships that began online. The world of online dating has some incredible benefits, and might lead to real relationships, but at what cost? Our generation has begun to sacrifice the essential components that make us social creatures. We have sacrificed safety and reality for convenience. I do not believe that dating apps are inherently bad, but it is time we take a closer look at how they affect us. Online dating is not worth the price we pay. Cory Koch is a 20-year-old political science junior from Alexandria, Lousiana.

Editorial Policies and Procedures EDITORIAL BOARD Caleb Greene Brittney Forbes Baily Chauvin Anna Jones Rachel Mipro

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

The Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, The Reveille or the university. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to opinion@lsureveille.com or delivered to B-39 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must provide a contact phone number for verification purposes, which will not be printed. The Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Reveille’s editor in chief, hired every semester by the LSU Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.

Quote of the Week “It is in our soul to have Mardis Gras.”

Arthur Hardy Mardis Gras Expert 1948 — present

page 12

Monday, February 17, 2020

“Bernie or Bust” mentality not beneficial to students SAUCE BOSS CECILE CECILE GIRARD @_cegi_ If you spend entirely too much time scrolling through Twitter threads, like myself, then you are probably familiar with the phrase “Bernie or Bust.” For readers who do not possess the self-hating streak that leads to excessive Twitter usage, “Bernie or Bust” is the maxim used by ardent Bernie Sanders supporters to declare that if Sanders is not the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, then they will not vote for any candidate in the general election. Reasons for this extreme stance vary from person to person. For some, it is a show of collective bargaining to pressure the Democratic elite to nominate a progressive candidate. Others identify as habitual nonvoters whose disillusionment with the political system means they will only show up to the polls for a candidate who inspires them. Some even think that President Trump is the best presidential alternative to Sanders, believing that four more years of

Trump will implode our political system and force us to consider progressive policies at the next election cycle. A recurring belief throughout is that if Sanders is not nominated, American politics will suffer regardless of who is in power. Although I would personally love to see a Sanders presidency, I find it troubling that a faction of his supporters disregard the other Democratic candidates as equals of Trump. Their policies may not be as revolutionary as free tuition for public colleges or Medicare for All, but they are nonetheless improvements on the current American status quo. Even moderates like Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar have proposed to, respectively, “make public tuition free for 80% of American families” and “double the maximum Pell Grant.” Any LSU student currently struggling under the weight of college expenses can compare their situation to Buttigieg and Klobuchar’s proposals and see the upgrade. Refusing to support the other Democratic candidates in a general election ignores the millions of people whose lives have been derailed by President Trump’s presidency. This includes the

CARTOON BY ETHAN GILBERTI

young Dreamers and the Muslim immigrants whose existence in America, although legitimate, has been forced into a precarious political tug-of-war. People who espouse the “Bernie or Bust” mentality need to consider the privilege of their position because even if another

Trump term will change little about their lives, it could mean life or death for many others. The appeal of seeing radical change sweep America is understandably enticing, but petty inaction in the name of activism helps no one. Taking incremental steps to an America that provides

for the healthcare, education and general well-being of its populace is better than nothing, which is what we will get if the “Bernie or Bust” faction keeps its word. Cécile Girard is a 20-year-old psychology major from Lake Charles, Louisiana.

University, society needs to hold predators accountable GABBING WITH GABBY GABBY MARTINEZ

@gobbymatinez

In a recent interview with the New York Times, Donna Rotunno, Harvey Weinstein’s lead defense attorney, said that she had never been sexually assaulted. Rotunno followed this up, however, with an extremely controversial statement, saying that the reason she hasn’t been assaulted is because she would never put herself in that position. Rotunno explained by saying that in college, she would watch what she drank and consciously chose not to go home with strangers. I believe that this statement weakens both her image as a lawyer and Weinstein’s attempt to plead not guilty in his trial. More generally speaking, however, her comments exude an energy of socially-taught misogyny. After a booming #MeToo movement in the late 2010s, you’d think this stigma would not be tolerated by now. However, Rotunno’s unapologetic statement shines a light on the continuous victim-blaming in rape culture. Comments like these hurt innocent women by piling blame on things like their clothing choices or their willingness to have sex. This effectively falls under a disgusting umbrella of slut-shaming and hinders productivity in prosecuting the actual rapists. Consent should be far from a debate or “grey area,” but it’s easy to admit that women can be scared to decline sexual ad-

The Reveille Archives

Panelists speak about the climate around sexual assault and harassment for professional women and students at the MeToo panel on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018, in the Atchafalaya Room in the LSU Student Union. vances due to the fear of physical and mental repercussions. Men in power, like Weinstein, have the ability to ruin careers and monetary livelihoods. Powerful men aren’t exclusively found in explicit places of power. Societal hierarchies in places such as frat houses and intramural sports have the ability to destroy the reputations of victims within their own campuses—areas that should be safe.

Colleges see the most rape cases and typically only offer weak solutions. We see this within our own university, especially in LSU’s newly-released 2018-2019 Campus Climate Survey results. Taking into account the early 2019 stalking cases, the survey revealed 70% of female students and 74% of transgender students felt a sense of fear at least once in a while. Meanwhile, 65% of male students chose the “never fear for

their safety on campus” option. Students even shared personal experiences of sexual assault on campus, including the very limited repercussions that their rapists face. The University offers a selfdefense class at its student recreation center. Other than that, there has been no effort made to stop the actual root of the problem: sexual predators. It’s time to stop putting the expectation of preventing rape on

the women themselves. Instead, society needs to take responsibility in not only teaching consent but also enforcing imperative actions against those who violate it. A first offense shouldn’t be seen as an accident or a warning, but should be seen as what it is: a criminal act. Gabrielle Martinez is a 19-yearold mass communication freshman from Gonzales, Louisiana.