The Reveille 1-23-20

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FALSE ALARM A Baton Rouge man arrested for posting a fake bomb threat on Instagram is now suing LSU for defamation.

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photo by BELLA BIONDINI

page 2 NEWS

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Students and faculty push against the LSU’s decision to schedule National Championship make-up days on Saturdays.

ENTERTAINMENT

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Good Bird is now open at 144 W Chimes Street serving fresh rotisserie chicken and an all-day breakfast menu.

SPORTS

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LSU senior Ruby Harrold cried on her first visit to campus. Now, she’s become a nurturing force for a young Tiger team.

OPINION

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“The Saturday make-up classes are pointless and detrimental to student education.”

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

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Baton Rouge man arrested for 2018 Instagram bomb threat suing LSU for defamation, slander

BY KATHERINE MANUEL @kmanuel_2 A Baton Rouge man arrested on suspicion of posting an Instagram bomb threat is suing LSU after a district attorney cleared him of all charges.

On Dec. 14, 2018, Evan James was arrested on a charge of communicating false information of a planned bombing on school property. He was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

Now, James is suing the University for defamation, libel, slander, false arrest, false imprisonment and malicious prosecution after the Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar C. Moore declared him innocent.

A petition for damages was submitted by James’ attorney, Aidan Reynolds, in December.

The petition described James as a “well performing student with aspirations to attain a degree in radiology” with no prior criminal history.

James was a victim of an armed robbery on Alvin Dark Avenue on Dec. 14, 2018, as he was walking back to his home around 1:45 a.m., according to the petition. The perpetrator held James at gunpoint and demanded his property, which was $8 and his cell phone, the lawsuit alleges.

The gunman then demanded the passcode to James’ phone before fleeing.

James tried to flag cars down and then ran to a construction site, where a supervisor called the police for him, the petition said. A Baton Rouge Police Department officer responded and filed a police report.

The next morning, multiple armed LSUPD officers went to James’ house with a warrant for his arrest after an Instagram post from James’ account threatened to bomb the University’s campus.

The gunman used James’ phone after the robbery to post the threats, according to the petition. Reynolds said the plaintiff could not have made the threats at the time they were posted because James had no access to his social media accounts.

“Im gone to bomb LSU tmr I don’t love life any more they just bad ppl they just bad ppl,” the threat in the post read. “3:10am it’s going on.”

Reynolds said that he has known James for more than eight years and knows that James does not write emails or texts that way.

“It was clearly not him,” Reynolds said via text.

The petition said LSUPD did not investigate the validity of the posts but instead had an arrest warrant signed based on screenshots of the posts used as the only evidence.

The Reveille contacted LSU Media Relations Director Ernie Ballard for a statement on behalf of the University and LSUPD. Ballard said LSU does not comment on pending litigation.

Following James’ arrest, an investigation was conducted by the East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s Office, which cleared James of all charges.

Moore wrote a letter in November formally declining James’ prosecution and deeming him factually innocent. A copy of Moore’s letter was filed with the lawsuit.

“It is clear from the evidence that Evan James did not make the unlawful communication and he could not have initiated the communication through others,” Moore said in the letter.

James was admitted to the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University to study radiology but was dismissed in July 2019 due to LSU’s negligence, according to the lawsuit. He was taking classes at Baton Rouge Community College to prepare for the radiology program prior to the incident, according to Reynolds.

Reynolds blames LSU for James’ dismissal from the radiology program.

“Of course, LSU with all its malice called BRCC and caused him to be thrown out of the school,” Reynolds said via text.

“Thereafter, again LSU in association with Our Lady of the [L]ake — because that is a joint venture — demanded he resign from the radiology program.”

The 2018 threat hasn’t been the only recent false bomb threat to rock the University’s flagship campus.

On Oct. 12, a University of Alabama student called in a bomb threat to Tiger Stadium during the highly anticipated LSU-Florida football game.

According to East Baton Rouge Parish booking records, a call came to the Baton Rouge Police Department’s non-emergency line during the game that said “there is a bomb in the stadium.” Detectives traced the call to the phone of Connor Bruce Croll, 19, and discovered he was a student at the University of Alabama.

ESPN announced there were over 102,000 fans in attendance that night and 6.45 million viewers on television, making it the most watched college football game on the network in two years.

Connor Bruce Croll, 19, was charged on Oct. 18 for communicating false information of a planned bombing on school property, a felony offense, by the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office. He now faces up to 20 years in prison.

In a statement about the incident, Ballard said LSUPD and University officials, as well as federal and local law enforcement on location, have protocol in place to respond to perceived threats at Tiger Stadium and across campus.

“In this case, protocol was followed efficiently and effectively

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After Evan James’ phone was stolen in an armed robbery, the post above appeared on his Instagram account, prompting his arrest. to quickly ascertain the source of the threat,” Ballard said via email.

“That protocol includes an immediate sweep of the stadium and a multi-agency investigation, which led to the suspect being identified within minutes and arrested soon thereafter.”

Ballard said there is nothing more important than safety and well-being on campus.

In 2012, an anonymous bomb threat called to campus around 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 17 caused University-wide evacuation and panic. At 11:30 a.m. that day, phones and computers across campus lit up, notifying everyone on campus of the reported bomb threat and issued a mandatory evacuation.

Students immediately began pouring out of classes, but many were stuck in a campus-wide traffic gridlock. Traffic was backed

up across campus due to the evacuation, and many Tiger Trails buses were stuck in traffic for hours. Students living on campus also felt stuck, as they weren’t allowed to return to their rooms and apartment until seven hours after the ordered evacuation.

Bomb squads began searching campus buildings around midday, but an explosive was never found. The campus was deemed safe around 11 p.m., about 12 hours after the initial emergency text ordering the evacuation was sent out.

William Bouvay Jr. plead ed guilty to calling in the threat and was later sentenced to 24 years in prison.

The 2012 bomb threat occurred four days after bomb threat hoaxes at the University of Texas at Austin and North Dakota State University.

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 biweekly 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 THE TIGER’S DEN

LSU’s best kept secret features all-you-can-eat buffet for students, faculty

BY TAYLOR LANDRY @taylor.landry Many University students may be unaware there is another sit-down dining option on campus aside from restaurants in the Student Union and the dining halls. On the corner of Highland Road and Veterans Drive, there is a building labeled as The Faculty Club. What’s inside may be one of the University’s best-kept secrets.

The building houses an elegant restaurant known as The Club, which is open to not only faculty, but also for staff, students and community members to enjoy. The restaurant is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and offers an allyou-can-eat buffet. For $10.69, visitors can receive soup, salad, multiple entrees, sides, desserts, assorted cold beverages and coffee.

Marketing & Guest Experience Manager Cheramie Gosnell said that one of the best parts about The Club is the laid-backyet-elegant atmosphere.

“It lends itself to be a very laidback atmosphere at lunch,where students can feel very comfort-

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LSU COMMUNITY

Saturday classes proven unpopular

BY LARA NICHOLSON @laranicholson_

enjoy a nice meal.

The official LSU Faculty Club was originally founded in 1938 as an organization to foster so-

Mechanical engineering sophomore Robert Breaux will wake up on Saturday, at about 6 a.m. for his first class. He will get to campus for his 8:30 a.m. class, likely stop by Highland Coffees or Inga’s during breaks and then go home and change before work at Zippy’s Burritos, Tacos & More.

His shift at work starts at 4 p.m., and it’s called the ‘late night shift.’ This is because it runs for 12 hours, ending at 4 a.m. early Sunday morning. By the time he gets home and gets in bed, it will likely be 6:30 a.m.

He will have spent almost 25 hours awake, all so that he does not miss his mandatory makeup class on Saturday.

“Even then, I still have to try to get to sleep,” Breaux added.

LSU won the College Football Playoff Championship on the night of Jan. 13. The Mercedes-

see THE CLUB, page 4

see SATURDAY CLASSES, page 4

BELLA BIONDINI / The Reveille

The LSU Club at Union Square, formerly known as the LSU Faculty Club, sits on 2 Veterans Drive, Baton Rouge on Monday, Jan. 13, 2020. able dining in between classes,” Gosnell said. “If looking for an elegant atmosphere, you will not find a better place on campus.”

The Commuter Meal Plan, Paw Points and TigerCASH are

all accepted at The Club, which allows students to stop by and grab lunch at an affordable price. The easily accessible location on the east side of campus makes The Club an ideal spot to

LSU COMMUNITY

LSU to complete bike lane installation on campus this March

BY TAYLOR LANDRY @taylor.landry Bikers on LSU’s campus will soon be able to commute without fear of getting hit by a car or hitting a pedestrian. The LSU Planing, Design and ConstructionDepartment began construction of a new biking lane on campus began over winter break and is expected to be completed by late March, according to Executive Director of Facility & Property Oversight Tammy Millican.

The purpose of installing the bike lanes is to fulfill popular student request and ensure the success of the University’s new bike sharing program, Millican said.

Baton Rouge launched the Gotcha Bikes bicycle rental program last summer, which has increased bicycle accesibility on campus. The program allows students to rent a bicycle via various mobility hubs around campus.

“The greatest importance is the safety of bicyclists,” Millican said. “Bike lanes reduce the conflict between bicyclists and cars, but it also is a huge time saver for students because it allows them to avoid traffic and

not search for a parking space.”

The University was awarded a Silver Bicycle-Friendly University Designation from The League of American Bicyclist several years ago for its accommodations for bicyclists. Millican said the University is now striving to receive a gold designation.

The construction involves striping roads and installing signage on campus. The lanes will be implemented on many popular campus streets such as River Road, Skip Bertman Drive, South Stadium Drive, Tower Drive and Dalrymple Drive, where it will connect to Baton Rouge’s existing multi-use bike path.

The number of students traveling to and from campus is rapidly increasing, but the majority of these students use vehicles or the bus system. With the new bike lane installation, more students and faculty will be able to use bikes than in the past, which Millican said will also have a positive effect on the environment.

“By influencing fewer vehicles to be on the road, LSU is doing its part in reducing air pollutants,” Millican said.

Millican said she expected on-street parking to be mini-

EMILY SCHEXNAYDER / The Reveille

An LSU student bikes in the new bike lane on Saturday, January 11, 2020 on Dalrymple Drive. mally affected by the installation because the increasing number of campus bicyclists with the added bike lanes will likely cause fewer vehicles to be on the road.

LSU Planning, Design and Construction Department, in

conjunction with Facility Services, has created a plan to transform all aspects of transportation on campus based on the results of a campus-wide survey conducted last February.

Along with adding bicycle lanes, the University plans to im-

plement a well-lit walking and biking path called “Tiger Walk” that runs from south to north of campus. The plan also includes creating new parking zones, a micro-transit “Park and Geaux” system and improvements to the Tiger Trails bus system.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

page 4 THE CLUB, from page 3 was originally founded in 1938 as an organization to foster social interaction among faculty, staff, administration and friends of LSU, according to the LSU Faculty Club website. In

SATURDAY CLASS, from page 3 cedes-Benz Superdome along with surrounding bars and restaurants were filled to the brim with LSU and Clemson fans.

The University anticipated students traveling to New Orleans or watching the game with friends. To accommodate these students, the LSU Board of Supervisors voted to cancel classes on Jan. 13 and 14.

Now that students have begun to settle down from the historic win, the University’s administration announced in a Jan. 17 email students must return to school on Saturdays Jan. 25 and Feb. 8.

Student, teacher and fan reactions were not happy.

“The University seems confused about the difference between ‘cancel’ and ‘postpone,’” Lafayette Attorney Kathy Hurst commented on Facebook. “If [classes] were canceled, they shouldn’t have to make them up.“ Many professors have already canceled class for this up-

1963, LSU Union took responsibility for managing the restaurant. The Faculty Club still operates as a social organization and regularly hosts events for its dues-paying members.

Over the years, the Faculty Club has provided amenities

such as a television room, a billiards room and faculty dormitories. The historic venue is also available to rent for private parties and offers online ordering and catering services.

While the name of the building may fool some students,

coming Saturday, since faculty members already had to work the day of the championship.

“I certainly won’t be holding Saturday classes,” Mass Communication Professor Robert Mann said in a tweet.

Students complained about the announcement for a variety of reasons, including prior conflicts and being forced to attend Saturday classes even if they are not football fans.

“Would have went to class during the days that got cancelled instead of going to Saturday classes,” interior design sophomore Tabitha Douzat wrote on Facebook.

Political science sophomore Claire Lynch said she is frustrated because the University is not taking into account other conflicts that students have, like work.

“For a lot of students with jobs, this announcement wasn’t made far enough in advance for them to request off,” Lynch said. “I can’t just say, ‘hey, I’m not showing up’ because LSU decided to hold class that day.

It’s not fair to my job, and it’s not fair to me.”

This isn’t the first time that students have been forced to attend classes on Saturday to make up for cancelled school days. The most recent example was in spring 2018, when classes were cancelled on a Wednesday and Thursday due to winter weather. Make-up classes were scheduled for about a month after the day classes were supposed to occur.

Classes were also cancelled due to winter weather in spring of 2014, and a piece by the Reveille offers a telling satire of students’ attitudes that year: “Harold, a senior majoring in Flappy Bird physics, said, ‘Of course I’m going to my snow day make-up; what else would I rather do on a Saturday morning?’

The most extreme schedule change in recent history was in the fall semester of 2008, in which the entirety of fall break was cancelled after Hurricane Gustav hit campus.

Based off the history of

Gosnell wants students to know that The Club is open for everyone to enjoy. She said her team wants to get the word out and share the beautiful space with students and the LSU community.

“It is very common to have

deans and professors meeting at one table and a group of students next to them grabbing a bite to eat between classes,” Gosnell said. “The mingling of students, faculty and staff is one of the best parts of The Club.”

ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille

LSU fans cheering The Tigers to victory in the College Football Playoff Championship. make-up days at the University and current student opinion, though, it’s unlikely that classrooms will be filled during Saturdays’ classes.

“Not having class for those two days was nice,” coastal

environmental science junior Cressy said, “but I imagine that most students that had already planned on skipping class that Monday [or Tuesday] won’t feel very obligated to go to class on a Saturday instead.”

SPORTS Harrold’s Home

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‘It’s maxed my expectations’: England native, senior Ruby Harrold finds home at LSU The Reveille Archives

LSU all-around junior Ruby Harrold performs her floor routine during the Tigers’ 197.5125 first round success at 2019 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championship Semifinals meet on Friday, April 19, 2019, in the Fort Worth Convention Center.

BY KENNEDI LANDRY @landryyyy4 Ruby Harrold is pretty sure she cried when she first came to LSU on her official visit. No, she’s positive she cried.

It was overwhelming for the senior all-arounder all those years ago — the pomp circumstance and atmosphere of the LSU gymnastics program that has been led by D-D Breaux for the past 43 years.

“The whole family integration of a team, the interactions between the coaches and the gymnasts where the coaches treat the girls like adults and not just like athletes,” Harrold said.

“I knew that this whole thing was something that I wanted to do. It wasn’t a case of me trying to figure out what school I wanted to go to.”

Co-head coach Jay Clark convinced the former Great Britain Olympian to take a shot at LSU. Harrold met Clark when she and her elite coach went to a training camp with former Tiger gymnast Lexie Priessman in 2014.

Harrold and Clark stayed in contact and Clark persuaded her to visit LSU. The rest was history.

“Jay showed enough interest in me as a person, which was very flattering so I said ‘Let’s do this thing,’ and I ended up here two years later,” Harrold said.

After three years in Baton Rouge — with three Super Six/ Final Four appearances and two national runner-up titles — Harrold has become ingrained in Louisiana culture while helping lead the Tigers during her senior season.

Coming to a new country was enough of a change for Harrold, but coming to a place as unique as Louisiana presented a different set of difficulties, but Harrold wasn’t too phased.

“Definitely just the way of life, the culture, the food (is different), but I’m not picky so it doesn’t really matter,” Harrold said.

“People’s demeanor, like everybody is so friendly. Just learning the way of life and how things roll around here. It was challenging, but I’ve learned a lot.

“I like crawfish a lot. Your typical jambalaya, gumbo. I’m a fan of etouffee.”

The food in Louisiana was the easy part, but learning about football, on the other hand, was not.

Harrold said people in England don’t love sports the same way as in America, especially when it comes to collegiate athletics.

While her father is from Liverpool and supports the city’s Premier League team, Harrold is not big into sports. She admits to not really understanding

American football until last year.

“I was just here for the fun honestly, the songs and all,” Harrold said. “I understand you have to get the ball from this side to this side, but that’s the extent.

I never knew why they stopped, why they started, why you kick the ball, why you run with the ball. I always find myself, instead of watching the field, I would watch the screen because I would lose where the ball was. I had no idea.”

For all Harrold learned outside of the gym during her time at LSU, adjusting to the culture and atmosphere, she has become somebody that can lead the Tigers with a certain level of care and attention in 2020, said coach D-D Breaux.

Breaux said the maturity and the seriousness with which Harrold carries herself through everything, from her academics to her social life, is a bonus for the Tigers because of what she’s done and accomplished on the floor.

“I’ve seen her become very serious about her academics and not that she wasn’t when she got here, but I think she has a plan and a direction and a vision and that’s critically important when you’re in school and when you’re pursuing your dreams,” Breaux said. “If it’s a real dream and it’s attainable, I think she’s created that for herself. I think she knows where she wants to go and what

she wants to do.”

Her maturity and experience and ability to lead is vital for a young, inexperienced LSU team.

“She’s very nurturing,” Breaux said. “Sometimes the coaches aren’t nurturing, sometimes we’re hard and we push and are demanding. Ruby is the one behind them going ‘You got this.

Come on, move forward. This is what we do and how we do it.’

She’s been extremely nurturing to a really talented freshman class.”

Freshman all-around gymnist Kiya Johnson emphasized that Harrold’s constant advice and guidance helps LSU’s large freshman class with the transition from JO to NCAA gymnastics.

Despite high praise from her teammates and coaches, Harrold downplays her importance to the freshmen’s development, while still doing all she can to help them along the way.

She knows how difficult it was coming in as a freshman and trying to figure out how everything that encompasses college gymnastics on her own.

She wants to prepare this group for what to expect and how to adapt smoothly.

“This isn’t something you can teach,” Harrold said. “It was difficult for me freshman year because I came into this big bubble that I really had no idea about. My seniors were great, but I felt like I lacked being told

things that I really didn’t know I needed to know.

“Just to make sure that they know what they’re doing and that if you make a mistake it’s fine. It’s not the end of the world, it’s only gymnastics. I feel like making sure that they know that it’s going to be OK and we’re going to figure it out and we’re here as a team and it’s not an individual thing anymore is cool.

Just teaching them that through this whole thing.”

This whole thing will come to an end for Harrold in April.

She has been doing gymnastics for her entire life. It’s been her entire life, from two Olympic Games to four years at LSU and everything in between.

And come graduation in May 2020, she will hang up her leotard and “just do Ruby.”

“It’s maxed my expectations,” Harrold said. “I knew this whole thing was fun, but I didn’t know how fun. And I still get to do what I grew up with, but I also get to prioritize my academics and get a degree out of it. I couldn’t get more happy for that to (LSU) to care afterwards as well, not just what you’re doing for these four years.

“I wouldn’t change it for the world. I wouldn’t have wanted to go anywhere else. It’s been rocky, and it’s been bumpy, but that’s a part of the journey.

You don’t grow if you don’t go through stuff like that.”

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Thursday, January 23, 2020

FOOTBALL

Column: LSU can claim title “best of all time”

BY MYLES KUSS @KussMyles

Sometimes everything falls into place.

Sometimes you can look at the puzzle pieces on the ground and instantly make the image on the box.

The accumulation of this LSU football team is exactly that; as they built a perfect storm which resulted in the first SEC team to finish 15-0 and defeat the Clemson Tigers (14-1 Athletic Coast Conference).

We can all say that we saw it coming, but the future prediction could not possibly prepare for the feeling that came when Joe Burrow kneeled the ball with 50 seconds left to secure the National Championship.

Nothing could prepare Tiger fans for that moment.

Coming back after a 10win season with a coach and a quarterback that no one wanted made the win that much sweeter.

Not only did the duo of Ed Orgeron and Burrow defeat a team that was boasting a 29game win streak, they defeated Clemson 42-25 against the projected first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft in Trevor Lawrence.

Even with these accomplishments, the win cemented one thing: the 2019 LSU Tigers are the best college football team to ever play the game.

A bold statement but there has never been a team like this one.

To start, LSU swept every major award by winning the Heisman, multiple Coach of the Year awards, the Biletnikoff for the nation’s best wide receiver and the nation’s best assistant coach.

With all these talented players, this offense delivered the most explosive season of all time, scoring the most points in the AP

era with 726, including a whopping 95 touchdowns.

The biggest contributor had the best season for an offensive player in NCAA history, and it was not even close.

Burrow finished the season with the most passing touchdowns in a season with 60 while only throwing six interceptions. In addition to the passing touchdowns, he also ran for five more which gives him the record for most touchdowns responsible for in a season.

Burrow will also go down as the second most accurate passer ever with a completion percentage of 76.3. Just missing a record he held all season.

Burrow will be the first one to tell you he could not do this alone, though his scrambling magic might give you the illusion that he can. He said in a podcast that he could have thrown the ball with his eyes closed and his receivers would go and get it.

The championship game illustrates this point exactly as Ja’Marr Chase seemed to always be one step ahead of the opposing defense.

The Biletnikoff winner caught nine passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns to help LSU secure their fourth title.

The crazy part is, that it’s not that outrageous of a day for a man who averaged 21.2 yards a catch. This was just another day at the office for him.

Chase carried the load in the Superdome, but another receiver stepped up in Atlanta against Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl and deserves to be mentioned as to why this offense will never be forgotten.

Justin Jefferson quietly had one of the best seasons as a wide receiver as he hauled in an NCAA-leading 111 passes and came in second in touchdowns with 18. Only behind fellow Tiger Chase.

Jefferson played when the

ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille

Coach O smiles big with the trophy on Monday, January 13, 2020 after LSU’s 42-25 win at the National Championship in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. lights were brightest and did exactly what was needed in the slot.

No other game demonstrates this like the Peach Bowl against Oklahoma where he always seemed to be in the end zone.

He finished that day with fourteen catches for 227 yards and — this is not a typo — four touchdowns which included some tough grabs in tight coverage.

While he did not win the best receiver in the nation, he deserves every part of that championship ring and adds to the greatest team to ever touch a college football.

Lastly, the two most underrated factors contributed to the undeniable success of the Tiger offense: the offensive line and running back Clyde EdwardsHelaire.

The offensive line was awarded with the Joe Moore Award for the nation’s best, and they constantly gave Burrow time to find any route available.

Most importantly, they allowed LSU to become balanced by making easy running lanes

for the hard-nose running of Edwards-Helaire, who won the award for best all-around player.

Add in a defense consisting of All-American Derek Stingley Jr. and the rest of the defensive cast that includes Kristian Fulton, Grant Delpit and JaCoby Stevens, and you get a perfect storm that comes once in a lifetime Yes, most of these names are leaving for the NFL and two of LSU’s best assistant coaches — defensive coordinator Dave Aranda and passing game coordinator Joe Brady — will be moving on to other jobs; but that does not matter.

If you see anyone from this team, look them in the eyes and shake their hands because they supplied the best team ever and one that will not be topped for the foreseeable future.

As long as Coach Orgeron is still around, maybe lighting will strike twice, but until then, enjoy living in a time where LSU is the best college football team ever.

LSU softball holds annual media day at Mike Moore Performance Center Beth Torina, Aliyah Andrews, Amanda Doyle and Maribeth Gorsuch addressed local reporters on Wednesday for LSU softball’s annual media day inside the new Mike Moore Performance Center.

LSU announced it will hold an official ribbon cutting event on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. for “The Mike,” which is now pinned as the largest indoor softball facility in the conference.

“It’s changing how we’re doing business on a daily basis,” said Coach Torina on the new state-ofthe-art facility. “We’re able to do a lot more things. This space itself provides a lot more room to do

different drills. We all understand how special this facility is.”

The Tigers return 16 players, including several All-American and All-SEC performers from last year’s squad, but Torina is also excited about the seven freshman that were added to the roster.

“The freshman class is special.

They are very talented,” Torina said. “They are a well-rounded group that fills a lot of holes, and I think you’re going to see a lot from them early in their careers.”

Torina highlighted freshman infielder Taylor Pleasants, who, during the summer of 2019, was selected to play for the USA Junior National team. Pleasants is the front-runner to start at shortstop on opening day and is exceeding

LSU basketball remains unbeaten

BY ANTHONY MOCKLIN @anthony_mocklin

SOFTBALL

BY HARRISON VALENTINE @HValentineLSU

MEN’S BASKETBALL

the coaching staff’s expectations so far.

LSU finished the 2019 season with an overall record of 43-19, ultimately falling to Minnesota in the Minneapolis Super Regional.

For Torina, the expectations are still the same in 2020: get to OKC. “The expectations are never going to change,” Torina said.

“We want to be the best team in the country.”

Senior Amanda Doyle is one of five seniors on the team, along with Aliyah Andrews, Maribeth Gorsuch, Akiya Thymes and Claire Weinberger. Doyle is taking her final season in Baton Rouge in stride and savoring each moment she gets around this program.

“This could potentially be my last season of playing softball ever,” Doyle said. “I’m just trying to go out there, have some fun and enjoy my time with my teammates.”

Doyle, who started all 62 games in 2019 at first base, is making the switch to third base.

“I’m excited,” she said. “I’m readjusting, but I definitely feel prepared. I’ve played [at third] practically all my life in travel ball. I’m ready to go.”

The Tigers are set to begin the season at Tiger Park on Feb. 6 against Central Arkansas. LSU was picked to finish third in the conference, according to the SEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll that was released last week.

The LSU basketball team took down the Florida Gators 84-82 on Tuesday to remain atop the Southeastern Conference standings. The Tigers improve to 14-4 on the season and 6-0 in conference play.

It was a defensive battle for much of the first half. LSU initially found success inside, but both offenses were mostly stagnant.

After leading by as many as eight points, Florida went on a scoring drought that lasted nearly four minutes.

The Tigers clawed their way back and trailed 36-34 at the half.

Trendon Watford led the way with 10 points and three rebounds. Javonte Smart scored seven points while dishing four assists, and Marlon Taylor added five points and seven rebounds.

The second half was also closely-contested as both teams continued to trade baskets. LSU started to pull away after taking a 61-52 lead following an 11-3 run with just under ten minutes left to play.

The Tigers only hit two threepointers, but the biggest one came from none other than Skylar Mays to take a 71-62 lead with just over four minutes remaining.

Florida made a late push to cut the lead to two, but LSU closed out the game to remain unbeaten in SEC play.

LSU had six players with double-figures in scoring. Emmitt Williams had a game-high 19 points, while Mays and Smart each had a team-high seven assists to go along with 18 and 13 points, respectively.

LSU dominated on the glass with 38 rebounds due in part to an 11-rebound double-double from Taylor.

“A lot of our teammates stepped up tonight,” Williams said. “I want to give all the credit to my whole team because we did a great job keeping the ball out of the paint. As you can see, me and Darius (Days) are short fivemen, but I think we are the biggest guys in the world.”

LSU had a 10-point lead with 1:16 remaining in the game. That deficit was almost completely wiped away following an 8-0 Florida run, but the Tigers held on for the victory.

“We have to do a better job at the end of the game,” Mays said.

“We know how to get ourselves back in it, now we have to figure out how to take care of (a lead).

Credit to these guys, we’re 6-0.

We just have to keep winning.”

LSU will look to keep the ball rolling when they travel to Texas this weekend for Saturday’s matchup against the Longhorns.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

page 7

REV R ANKS MOVIE

1917

Sam Mendes

It is breathtakingly visceral, expertly put together, heartbreakingly emotional and an incredible achievement in filmmaking. It is the single best film I have seen in 2020 and will stand the test of time as a truly spectacular war drama. The no-cuts approach to this film results in a filmmaking experience more immersive than anything else I’ve experienced this year.

Charles Jones @saxycj

MOVIE

THE IRISHMAN

Netflix

It is meditative, yet breathtaking. Somber, yet hopeful. It is a commentary on legacy and impact, and works as Scorsese reflecting on his own career. It all adds up to be one of the greatest films in an infamously great filmography, and is one of the finest crime dramas ever conceived. It is a true artist working at the height of his creative power.

Charles Jones @saxycj

ALBUM

RARE

Selena Gomez

“Rare” encourages self love and acceptance. Offering a mixture of reggae, techno, funk and pop, Gomez offers a raw look into her personal emotions. The titular single offers a beautiful narrative... [and] proves to be the perfect name for her album; it’s the choice to finally put herself first, to choose her own rare emotions over others.

Morgan Money @MorganPMoney

MOVIE

LIKE A BOSS Paramount Pictures

The comedy “Like a Boss” is one of those classic ‘it’s supposed to be funny’ movies that ended up just a little below average. Don’t get me wrong, I did not mind watching it. The film is great for a girls’ night with wine and OnDemand, but I would not go and see this movie in theaters.

Caroline Hebert @sister_carols

Read the full reviews online at lsunow.com/entertainment

‘You’ season 2 shocks but doesn’t surprise with rewashed storyline

BY ALEXANDRIA DUQUE @AlexInTheMedia Love languages come in many different tongues, such as stalking, murder and obsession. At least this is true for the Netflix original “You.” If you happened to catch the madness from season one, spoiler alert, season two is just as crazy.

As I sat on my couch contemplating whether I wanted to subject myself to another predictable season, I found myself starting the first episode.

As I suspected, there were a few unforeseen twists and an extra dash of crazy here and there.

The foundation was the same as the first season. Joe Goldberg falls in love and will take any means necessary to get the girl. Although the story line was molded differently, there’s only so many times you can try to recreate the same concept before it becomes dried out.

The first season was a plateful on its own, but trying to stretch it into another psychotic series of episodes was just fishing for ratings.

The biggest question on everyone’s mind is, “How in the world did he get away with all this deviant behavior?” The simple answer is the fact that it’s a fictional show; the alternative answer is that it just doesn’t make sense.

The show lets Joe Goldberg get away with way too many high crime antics that would’ve caused him to be caught and discovered in reality. Even after kidnapping a random person, stealing his entire identity and creating a very vague back story for his new identity, no one questioned him.

Also, everyone’s favorite flaw to point out is how he is able to sulk around in a navy cap without being detected even though he is always within 20 feet of his targets. My personal favorite is that both girls from season one and two chose to completely ignore every red flag. What makes this show so interesting is also what makes it so frustrating.

Season two ends in one big turn of events many didn’t see coming. It also foreshadows that there will be a continuation of the madness in a third season.

The face of the new girl isn’t revealed but it gives the viewer enough context to know that her story will be told in a later season to come.

Overall, You, gets points for its creativity, but it is not a nail-biter that has its audience counting down the days for a new season. After watching all 10 episodes, I’d say it was a moderate waste of my time.

It’s almost like waiting an hour in line for a roller coaster that only lasted for two minutes and left you feeling unfulfilled upon realizing how many other rides you could’ve enjoyed during that hour of waiting. That being said I will be watching season three solely to see what other twists the producers can concoct for yet another season.

COURTESY OF IMBD

Classifieds

Thursday, January 23, 2020

page 8

Now twice a week. To place your ad, visit www.lsureveille.com/classifieds and click Submit an Ad Costs: $0.34 per word per day. Minimum $3.75 per day. Deadline: 12 p.m., three school days prior to the print publication date

Help Wanted PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY AND ORTHODONTIC ASSISTANT Looking for the right outgoing, hard working, enthusiastic person to work part time( min 15 hours) during school semester in an extremely fast paced office. Must be available during holidays and full time during the summer. Great pay, great team, and no experience needed. Email resume and school schedule to ssbatonrouge@smilestars.com Part time employment opportunities available at Campus Federal Credit Union on Perkins Rd. Visit www.campusfederal.org for information and to apply. EOE Seeking male, preferably alpha male type to promote book on relationships. Muscles and/or bad boy attitude are a plus. Promotions will be done via social media. You’ll do a photoshoot with book and speak on camera. Pay is $300. Must sign model release form. Email reel/ headshots to koy_pr1@yahoo.com or call/text Koy at (225) 397-6922.

Seeking energetic, outgoing, attractive, articulate female 19-25, to promote book on relationships. Promotions will be done via social media.

You’ll do a photoshoot with book and speak on camera. Pay is $300. Must sign model release form. Email reel/ headshots to koy_pr1@yahoo.com or call/text Koy at (225) 397-6922.

For Rent

Graduate Student needed as Resident House Adviser for the Delta Chi Fraternity LSU. Must be at least 25 Years Old and pass a background screening. Room provided in Delta Chi Fraternity House on Campus, 17 Dalrymple, includes all utilities, basic cable tv and wifi. Scholarship Stipend of $1,500 Paid Monthly. To apply e mail resume to: lsudxpresident@gmail.com

Receptionist needed 9-5 Wed thru Sat please send resume to info@cocolashbeautybar.com Drakes Catering is gearing up for the 2020 LSU Baseball Season! We are now hiring WAITERS, BARTENDERS, SERVERS, RUNNERS, AND CASHIERS to work all the baseball games of the 2020 Season.

All employees must have the LOUISIANA STATE and EBR Parish bartending license and responsible vendor permit. We can give direction on how to get this if hired. Please include any relevant work history when applying.

For Sale

coolest ads in Baton rouge !

1 bedroom $600/mo. Clean quite safe small complex. Refrigerator, microwave, stove. 256 W Roosevelt St. (424)333-6369, lavakeandmai@ sbcglobal.net

821 Iris St. House Walk 2 blocks to LSUCampus. 2Br.1Ba.Lr/din Kit. stove fridge laundry w/d. Great for 2 or 3 serious students or small family. $900/mo (225)-767-5594 NEWER 4 BED 2 BATH 2 CAR GARAGE, GRANITE, STAINLESS STEEL, LAUNDRY, PRIVATE YARD/PATIO $1890/MO 808-292-0842

Available now! Lake Beau Pre. 3 bed, 2 bath. Fenced backyard. Super clean.

The

Place a classified at LSUReveille.com

1996 Ford F-150, 1 owner 57k miles, $2050 sale price, 5.0L garage kept since new.

Contact: staceefont@gmail.com

smawe’re the rte st Place a classified at LSUReveille.com

FOR RELEASE JANUARY 23, 2020

THE Daily Commuter Puzzle ACROSS 1 Rollaway bed 4 Battle verbally 9 Lie next to 13 Haughtiness 15 Live’s partner, in phrase 16 Forbidden thing 17 Sincere request 18 At __; free to roam 19 Big smile 20 “Thirty days hath __…”

22 Covetousness 23 Table supports 24 “My __ Sal” 26 __ down; topsy-turvy 29 Troublemaker 34 __ in; brings under control 35 Forest fire 36 Actress McClanahan 37 Sudden loud noise 38 Steer clear of 39 Bread for a gyro 40 Hardware store chain 41 Beats severely 42 Out of style 43 Recent arrival 45 Money hoarders 46 Put __ fight; resist 47 Bakery desserts 48 Dictionary entry 51 Abandoning 56 Gung ho 57 Egypt’s capital 58 Requirement 60 Peddle 61 Stomach woe 62 Terminal-to-plane entryway 63 __ on; victimize 64 Canary’s lunch 65 Trotted

by Jacqueline E. Mathews

Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews

5 Paper quantities 6 Clothes 7 Longing 8 Jazz up 9 __ Lansbury 10 “__ in the U.S.A.”; Springsteen hit 11 Brown or Columbia: abbr.

12 Broadway award 14 Young tree 21 Allen & Danson 25 Gobbled up 26 Not rural 27 Tranquillity 28 Tough fibrous tissue 29 Birch tree variety 30 Chokes 31 Not fresh & original DOWN 32 __ space; 1 Tam or beret NASA’s realm 2 Many of van Gogh’s paintings 33 Peruses 3 Cypress or spruce 35 Femur or fibula 38 Capital of Syria 4 Assert without 39 Short-lived proof

1/23/20

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

41 Black-and-white driver 42 Passed away 44 Like a big stuffed animal 45 Those not yet of age 47 Removed apple skin

1/23/20

48 Flying insect 49 Finished; done 50 Peeve 52 Narrative 53 Grain 54 Close by 55 “__ grip!”; cry to the hysterical 59 Comfy room

ENTERTAINMENT

page 9

TRADER JOE’S VS. SPROUTS POV: A broke college student just trying to eat healthy

BY CAROLINE HEBERT @sister_carols As New Year’s resolutions get harder to follow, we turn our hopes to organic grocery stores to keep our motivation up with affordable, delicious and healthy foods.

Trader Joe’s can be a “happy place” for some people— at least for me. The quaint store opened back in 1967 has happy employees and prices which make me happy. Their organic produce is fresh and reasonably priced. However, if you expect prices to be like Walmart, you’re out of luck.

Keep in mind, Trader Joe’s has organic inventory.

Trader Joe’s has a good variety of what they have in store, but they have a limited selection of produce. The store lacks fresh deli and seafood sections.

Yet, I find myself pleased after leaving the store. Trader Joe’s teaches you to rethink buying junk food (because they really don’t have any) and to be more conscious of what you put in your body.

I went to Trader Joe’s on a

Thursday at 6 p.m. The store was fairly crowded, but the lines moved quickly. I bought Trader Joe’s crunchy Cookie Butter (do not question this, try it now) for $3.69, multigrain pita chips for $1.99, 10oz of kale for $1.69 and a 2lb bag of apples for $2.99. All of these items added up to only $10.67, and most of these items can last up to two weeks for me.

Though Trader Joe’s has a limited selection of inventory, it is fresh and reasonably priced for organic foods located in a homey atmosphere. With over 488 locations I’d say they are doing very well, and, for a college kid, if you choose wisely what you want to eat for the week, Trader Joe’s can work on almost any budget.

I went to Sprouts Farmers Market on a Tuesday afternoon at around 4 p.m. Sprouts gave me more of a grocery store feel than Trader Joe’s. Its selection of produce was greater than Trader Joe’s, and it also had a fresh deli and seafood section.

Sprouts opened back in 2002, and it strives for clean produce with over 300 locations. The store has great sales and an assortment of granola and nuts.

Even with the sale items my

final price of $36.64, which I thought was on the higher side since I didn’t buy everything on my list. The items I bought were avocado dressing for $3.00, two cucumbers for .59 cents (great deal), half a pint of blueberries for .98 cents (another great deal), red grapes for $4.45, spaghetti squash for $6.00 (a little pricey) and seven other items.

The line for checkout was a little longer but not bad.

Sprouts Farmers Market has a bigger selection of items that could cover your entire list from food to toiletries. However, Trader Joe’s takes the cake. The service and liveliness of the small store is captivating and gives you a great fresh environment to shop in.

Although Sprouts gives a clean and crisp vibe, I believe that, from a college student’s perspective, it is easier to get the food you need from Trader Joe’s while staying within your price range.

However, a final props goes to Sprouts for opening an hour earlier and staying open an hour later than Trader Joe’s.

For more information and locations on Sprouts and Trader Joe’s check out their websites.

TRADER JOE’S 3535 Perkins Rd. OPEN DAILY 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. www.traderjoes. com

SPROUTS 4841 Rouzan Square Ave. OPEN DAILY 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. www.sprouts.com

AURIANNA CORDERO / The Reveille

Trader Joe’s is loacted on Perkins Rd. on Monday, Jan. 20.

Good Bird serves good food at new Chimes location

BY CAROLINE HEBERT @sister_carols A new year means new restaurants, and, luckily for Baton Rouge, Good Bird came to town.

As you can guess, Good Bird serves fresh rotisserie chicken. This new fast-casual spot was brought to us from New Orleans and is a great place for a quick bite. Good Bird provides for the Tulane community in New Orleans, and they took a chance to see if LSU would enjoy it too.

Chef Leo Sloan started Good Bird in 2016 with the goal of pleasing customers by providing them with local and fresh ingredients. “With the rotisserie right there, the customers can see what they are eating and can know it’s fresh,” Sloan said.

Having chicken as the main protein at Good Bird allows him to be able to cook everything fresh and to order. Sloan enjoys creating new dishes that are fun, yet still classic that revolve around the chicken.

Being able to have returning customers that enjoy the food as much as Sloan loves making it is important to him.

Located right off campus at 144 W, Chimes Street, students and faculty can walk right on over to Good Bird to enjoy dishes that range from breakfast, smoothies, bowls, salads and of course sandwiches, and yes there are vegetarian options.

A personal favorite from Good Bird is the “Larry Bird.” You can’t go wrong with rotisserie chicken, bacon, avo mash, romaine, tomato and aioli on ciabatta bread. The simplicity of the chicken is dressed up with the

avocado spread and a yummy aioli, making this dish perfect for a quick lunch that is not too heavy.

The “Egg Sandwich” is next on my list to try. With two eggs, swiss, arugula, garlic aioli, hashbrowns, bacon or turkey sausage and tomato jam, this just sounds like an “I’m going to treat myself today” kind of breakfast.

Besides providing great meals, Good Bird also takes pride in using clean, local ingredients. Their bread is from a bakery in New Orleans,

and the chicken is from a farm that raises free-range birds that are free of hormones and antibiotics. Sloan’s hope is to try to find more local resources to provide for the city of Baton Rouge.

With an intention to provide for the LSU community, Sloan picked the perfect location and has a menu that can please all. So next time you’re near campus and want to eat a healthy quick option, stop by Good Bird, and you won’t be disappointed.

GOOD BIRD 144 W Chimes St. OPEN DAILY 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

FULL MENU www.goodbirdnola. com

ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille

Good Bird sits on Monday, Jan. 20, on W. Chimes Street. The location is new for 2020.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

page 10

OSCAR OPINIONS

BY CHARLES JONES @saxycj This past Monday, while University students cheered the Tigers to a national football title, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominations for the 92nd Academy Awards, lovingly (and not) re-

ferred to as the Oscars. While celebrated films like “Joker,” “Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood” and “The Irishman” received just praise, notable snubs for films like “Uncut Gems” and “Knives Out” were a little too hard to ignore.

In the Best Picture category, the surprises were few and far between, as “The Irishman,” “Once

Upon a Time…In Hollywood,” “1917,” “Joker” and “Marriage Story” all snagged nominations for the night’s top prize.

“Parasite,” considered by many to be the surprise favorite and one of the best films of the decade, garnered a Best Picture nomination, along with Best Director for Bong Joon-ho and

BEST PICTURE Nominees: “Ford v Ferrari,” “The Irishman,” “Jojo Rabbit,” “Joker,” “Little Women,” “Marriage Story,” “1917,” “Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood,” “Parasite.”

My prediction: Although “Once Upon,” “The Irishman” and “1917” have all garnered their worthwhile praise and collection of awards, the general steam that it has been picking up as well as its SAG (Screen Actors Guild) win for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion picture (usually an indicator of what will win Best Picture) leads me to believe that “Parasite” will walk away with this year’s top prize, becoming the first ever foreign film to win Best Picture.

Best International Feature Film, among several other technical nominations.

Acting favorites like Joaquin Phoenix for “Joker,” Brad Pitt for “Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood” and Laura Dern for “Marriage Story” are among those nominated in the actor categories.

Notable is Scarlett Johansson, who

pulled a rare feat and became nominated for both Lead Actress (for “Marriage Story”) and Supporting Actress (for “Jojo Rabbit”).

“Joker” leads all films in this year’s slate with 11 nominations.

“Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood,” “The Irishman” and “1917” all follow closely with 10 nominations each.

ACTING CATEGORIES It will be an absolute shock if Joaquin Phoenix does not take home Oscar gold for his lead performance in “Joker.” Brad Pitt and Laura Dern seem to be shoe-ins for supporting roles in “Once Upon” and “Marriage Story” respectively.

The real point of contention here is in the Actress in a Leading Role award, where there is no clear front runner. While Renée Zellweger certainly seems to be a leading candidate for “Judy,” I think the Academy will show some love to ScarJo for “Marriage Story.”

CINEMATOGRAPHY

(not exactly a major award, but my personal favorite to discuss)

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM Nominees: “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World,” “I Lost My Body,” “Klaus,” “Missing Link,” “Toy Story 4.”

My prediction: Though Pixar is a usual shoe-in for this award, “Missing Link” winning best animated feature at the Golden Globes is huge, and the momentum of such, I think, will carry it to the Oscar as well.

Nominees: Rodrigo Prieto (“The Irishman”), Lawerence Sher (“Joker”), Jarin Blaschke (“The Lighthouse”), Roger Deakins (“1917”), Robert Richardson (“Once Upon”).

My prediction: Though a win for “The Lighthouse” is perhaps the most deserving on this list, “1917” and the greatest living cinematographer Roger Deakins should walk away with this one.

MY THREE BIG SNUBS DIRECTING Nominees: Martin Scorsese (“The Irishman”), Todd Phillips (“Joker”), Sam Mendes (“1917”), Quentin Tarantino (“Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood”), Bong Joon-Ho (“Parasite”).

My prediction: While all directors are worthy of this award (though some noticeable snubs are too hard to ignore here, *cough cough* Rian Johnson), and the all-male nominees is a little surprising given the amount of great films directed by women this year, Sam Mendes has this award in the bag. A war film captured in one take is right up the Academy’s alley.

1. “Knives Out” deserved so many more nominations than the lone one it actually did for screenplay.

Director for Rian Johnson, Best Picture, Supporting Actor for Daniel Craig, and technical awards like editing and cinematography seemed like no-brainers for the modern day who-dun-it.

2. Awkwafina and Taron Edgerton, both following Golden Globe wins, were shut out of the awards this year for “The Farewell” and “Rocketman” respectively.

3. “Uncut Gems” deserved, at the very least, a Best Actor nomination for Adam Sandler’s transcendent performance, but the gambling and crime thriller was shut out of this year’s awards.

OPINION

page 11

The LSU Campus Mounds need protection now more than ever EVAN ON EARTH EVAN LEONHARD @ evan_leonhard The Indian mounds on Dalrymple Drive, officially known as the LSU Campus Mounds, are among the University’s most iconic campus landmarks. Their mysterious presence has captivated the minds of students for generations, fueling of outlandish speculation, folklore and tradition.

After decades of archeological investigation, the enormous historical significance of the mounds has finally come to light.

Given the immense cultural importance of these ancient structures, effective and permanent protection for the mounds is long overdue.

The traditionally-held consensus was that the mounds date to around 6,100 years ago, putting their construction thousands of years in advance of monuments like Stonehenge and the Great Pyramid. It’s thought that the site likely served as a meeting point for the nomadic bands that once inhabited the area.

If that isn’t impressive

enough, earlier this week, the Advocate published an article detailing a new claim posed by LSU geology professor Brooks Ellwood, a leading researcher on the campus mounds. In the article, Advocate staff writer Youssef Rddad stated, “Ellwood says the mounds could be twice as old as previously thought . . . Ellwood now estimates [the mounds are] about 11,300 years old, based on the material he found inside them.”

Although Ellwood’s claim still needs to undergo the peer review process, the implications are nevertheless alarming. If what Ellwood suggests is correct, then the LSU Campus Mounds would be, as Rddad describes them, “the oldest man-made structures in the Western Hemisphere, and possibly the world.”

Half a century of gameday tailgates and traditional cardboard sledding has tragically left the mounds in a serious state of disrepair. Various attempts have been made to slow the site’s inevitable deterioration while simultaneously trying to remain sensitive to the memories and expectations of alum and life-long Tiger fans.

In the 1980s, sidewalks and

small bricks walls were constructed around parts of the mounds to keep off vehicles and subtly guide pedestrians along a less destructive route.

In 2010, the University’s “Save the Mounds” campaign managed to bring unprecedented awareness to the site’s fascinating past and problematic present. However, the operation ultimately fell short as it concluded with the current practice of erecting temporary chain-link fences around the mounds during game days.

It was a tremendous move in the right direction, but temporary protection is simply not enough for a something as substantial as the campus mounds.

Despite the handful of small signs and subtle deterrents, I regularly see people climbing on the mounds. If, as Ellwood suspects, these unsuspecting knolls areamong the oldest standing human structures on Earth, the University’s continued neglect of this site is nothing less than tragic and embarrassing.

There needs to be a permanent, all-encompassing solution that definitively prevents unauthorized people from setting foot on the mounds. A more straightforward answer might simply be

cartoon by Ethan Gilberti

a fence, one more durable and more aesthetically appealing than its gameday counterpart, that completely encloses both mounds while preserving the area’s serene sensibility.

I would also like to see more inclusion of local Native American communities when deliberating on matters of Indigenous heritage like this. As far as I can see, apart from the permission needed from Native leaders to conduct research, the voices of contemporary Native communities seem rather absent from dialogue concerning the mounds and how they should be pre-

served or presented to the public.

So many people, for so many reasons, possess deep emotional, cultural, and intellectual ties with the LSU Campus Mounds.

The University enjoys the unique privilege of housing such an important piece of human history in its own backyard. It’s our responsibility as a community to make an effort in preserving these ancient structures for generations to come.

Evan Leonhard is a 19 year-old English and Philosophy major from New Orleans Louisiana.

The University shouldn’t have any Saturday make-up classes WRITING UNDER STATELY OAKS CORY KOCH @kochcory Kevin Gates once said, “Anything lost can be found again, except time wasted.”

On Jan. 13, the LSU football team became the 2019 national champions, following a historic win over the Clemson Tigers.

The LSU Board of Supervisors recognized the importance of the occasion and canceled classes due to safety concerns about students driving back from the event, along with a desire to give students ample opportunity to experience the game.

But they didn’t stop there.

An email from the Division of Strategic Communication on Jan. 17 dispelled any thoughts of lost school hours. In the email, students were informed that classes would be made up on two Saturdays, Jan. 25 and

Feb. 8.

I have one huge problem with this updated calendar: hours spent in these make-up classes would be wasted time.

With hundreds of instructional hours a year, the University is not enlightening any minds with these two supplemental weekend days. Students would be better served with added homework and additional time for self-study and rest.

Few students and professors were upset with the decision to cancel classes for the championship, but many are unhappy about this make-up decision.

The following weeks are sure to be sluggish, as students will be forced to operate without the time normally reserved for recharge. Students can only pay full attention and exert maximum focus when they are functioning on routine schedules of sleep, work, and play.

The addition of weekend class time act more as a punishment

than a supplement.

The attendance level for these weekend classes will be abysmal, as many students will simply take a flex day instead of subjecting themselves to the equivalent of high school detention. Working on the weekends is annoying to some and sacrilegious to others. Sabbath days are still holy for some people, and a class on Saturday could even be considered a religious impediment.

As students, we are also preparing for the real world, and the University is tasked with fulfilling this goal. Fortune 500 companies are switching to three or four-day work weeks to boost productivity. An increased workload for the remaining hours in the business week is becoming the norm.

Adding an extra business day is abnormal; the University fails to follow common protocol.

The University made a mistake in adding two supplemen-

The Reveille Archives

The University recently announced students would have to attend classes on Saturdays to supplement missed class for championship game. tal days of class. The Board of Supervisors made the decision to add classes on Saturdays within days of their decision to cancel them. They made the right call the first time, but I believe the power that be have been remiss in their second

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.

decision. Saturday classes will prove to be a waste of time for many, time that can never be recovered.

Cory Koch is a 20-year-old political science junior from Alexandria, Louisiana.

Quote of the Week “It’s a piece of cake until you get to the top. You find you can’t stop playing the game the way you’ve always played it”

Richard Nixon Former President 1913 — 1944

page 12

Thursday, January 23, 2020

LSU faces critical juncture in search for the next president THE REVEILLE EDITORIAL BOARD Less than two weeks after LSU’s triumph in the College Football Playoff National Championship, it’s time to focus on another topic – the selection of the University’s next president.

F. King Alexander announced his intention to become the next president of Oregon State University in December, after six tumultuous years of battling the state legislature, addressing Greek Life policy overhauls and an admissions policy controversy. Entering the new decade, LSU is without a permanent leader or a clear vision for its future.

A decade of budget cuts decimated the University by delaying vital construction projects and exacerbating the loss of talented faculty. Louisiana ranks 48th in the nation for per-student spending at four-year public universities, according to a Louisiana Board of Regents report. LSU ranked No. 153 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 ranking of American universities. Though administrators often boast the University’s low cost of attendance, U.S. News & World Report slotted LSU No. 173 in its list of

“Best Value Schools.”

The state’s higher education spending has finally stabilized after years of bloodletting. Former Gov. Bobby Jindal and the Republican-controlled legislature of the early 2010s gutted the University. State appropriations to LSU were cut by 49% during the Jindal Administration, down from $230 million to $117 million.

In many ways, the next president will take over a University bubbling with potential. He or she will inherit a financial situation much better than Alexander’s in 2013, due to Louisiana’s economic growth. Gov. John Bel Edwards pledged to increase the state’s higher education funding as he embarks on his second term this year. The University’s “Fierce for the Future” campaign rolls on, seeking to push the LSU System’s total endowment over $1.5 billion. And, of course, LSU Athletics continues its on-field excellence.

Despite LSU’s apparent momentum, the selection of the next president is a critical juncture, which could elevate the University to unprecedented heights or send it spiraling back to the nightmarish Jindal years. This de-

cision not only affects the current crop of University students but their children and the next generation to walk the stately oaklined campus paths as well.

The Board of Supervisors’ search process for the University’s president in 2013 was shrouded in secrecy. Participants in the process were encouraged to thwart Louisiana public records laws by using personal email accounts and avoiding written communication about the candidates.

A 2013 lawsuit filed by former Daily Reveille Editor-in-Chief Andrea Gallo - later joined by both The Times-Picayune and The Advocate - combated this secrecy.

After Gallo’s requests for the names of candidates applying to the presidential position were denied, she sued for release of information to the public. Although a district judge ruled in favor of the Board of Supervisors, the lawsuit itself encapsulated the extreme discontent of the University community. In the Board’s current search for president, a commitment to transparency must be of the utmost importance.

Over its 160 year history, the University has had over 25 super-

intendents and presidents, all of whom have been white men. The Board should make an effort to consider females, people of color and other candidates that better reflect the University’s changing demographic.

One of the top priorities for the next president must be to demolish the Troy H. Middleton Library. The place is a decaying relic unfit for the state’s flagship institution and a shrine dedicated to the University’s painful, racist past. The Campus Master Plan calls for the replacement of Middleton, but few steps have been taken since the plan’s implementation in 2017.

Funding, as expected, is the greatest impediment preventing the demolition of Middleton. Total enrollment stands at 31,751, as of Fall 2019, after back-toback record-breaking freshman classes, but still falls short of the Campus Master Plan’s target goal of 35,000. Due to slashed state funding, a lion’s share of the University’s revenue must come from tuition and fees. Tuition and fees for in-state and out-of-state students skyrocketed 129% and 99%, respectively, from 2009 to 2019.

Reduced state funding not

only handicaps the University’s ability to demolish Middleton and address its $616-million backlog of deferred maintenance projects but makes it difficult to retain and attach talented faculty members. From 2009 to 2013, University faculty received no raises.

Though raises were issued three times during Alexander’s tenure, the pay increases fail to compensate for years of stagnant salaries.

Candidates should address parking and housing concerns.

With larger incoming classes and overflowing residential housing, something must be done by the next administration to comfortably accommodate all students.

This fall, Res Life was in “overflow” mode, temporarily housing students in the retired Kirby Smith Hall. Parking is also a pressing situation on campus, with declining availability of parking near the central campus and a steady flow of tickets issued to students.

As the spring progresses, a handful of names will be circulated as Alexander’s replacement.

The successor must provide an alternative to the status quo, not a continuation of the University’s current trajectory.

Despite societal and cultural pressure, it’s okay to not be okay TEA WITH MARIE MARIE PLUNKETT @ MarieC_214 Most students have probably faced at least a few setbacks in their lives, whether academic, social or personal. After such a setback, it’s typical for a support group to materialize and say things like “don’t stress about it,” “shake it off” and “it could be worse!”

Things could be worse, but that doesn’t stop the sadness, guilt or pain, and it shouldn’t stop you from giving yourself time to feel.

We have emotions for a reason.

Students are under pressure to perform well in the classroom,

cultivate high GPAs, pad their resumes with extracurriculars, maintain social lives and still somehow get a decent amount of sleep.

We don’t need the added stress and tension of bottling up our emotions and forcing a positive perspective for everyone around us. Just as it’s unrealistic to expect everyone to be a ray of sunshine, it’s unrealistic to expect yourself to be. It’s ok to not be ok sometimes.

We’ve fostered an atmosphere of jovial stress and nonchalant mental decay in our educational system without providing ourselves or each other with a contingency for escape. Laughing off sleep deprivation and waving aside serious problems just

to conform to the idealistic “stay positive” lifestyle is unhealthy and unsustainable.

Taking proactive steps to recover from negative experiences not only improves wellbeing, but also prepares you to deal with similar situations in the future.

Not all negative emotions produce negative results. Anger and disappointment can inspire a stronger drive to do better and succeed.

Sadness and grief can build compassion and empathy for others in difficult situations.

There shouldn’t be a stigma attached to sadness, anger or any emotion labeled “negative.” When properly used, these feelings are the strongest instigators of change in our lives. They remind us to strive for happiness and work to

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Any of LSU’s 330 academic programs can be paired with our BS in Entrepreneurship.

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cartoon by ETHAN GILBERTI

better ourselves and the lives of people around us.

Feeling negative emotions is a routine part of life, but if you find yourself experiencing persistent sad, anxious or “empty” feel-

ings, please seek professional assistance.

Marie Plunkett is a 20-year-old classical studies junior from New Orleans.

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