Legacy Magazine Fall 2018

LEGACY Fall 2018

Meet the students behind LSU’s iconic mascot Add a splash of color to your fall wardrobe this season Still no plans to tear down 52-year-old graduate apartments

Cheers to us An inside look at LSU Cheerleading

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

he most memorable part of my three years in LSU Student Media is credited to the cumulative effect of every single person I’ve ever met in the basement of Hodges Hall.

Behind each published story is a team of students who wrote, designed, and edited, while simultaneously juggling other priorities. For these students, student media isn’t about the pay; they have an intrinsic motivation.

Over the years there’s been a growing, nationwide discussion about the value and importance of student media. I find myself lucky to have attended a school with a wide student media department, spanning multiple outlets like magazine, newspaper and radio. As the conversation about media continues to grow, I learn about other universities that don’t have the opportunity to give real experience for so many different platforms, and the negative effects not having student media can have on students.

In this issue, our team presents a variety of topics, ranging from music and travel, to sports and investigative reporting. You’ll read about on-campus housing continuing to house students and families despite being recommended to be demolished; a deeper look into the dedicated cheerleaders on our sidelines; what it takes to be one of the most energetic and well-known mascots in the country; our not-so-friendly biking campus; and much more.

These stories are a closeup of LSU and our community. Without Legacy — and without student media — these stories would go untold.

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LEGACY Magazine EDITOR IN CHIEF Taylor Oliver

MANAGING EDITOR Lauren Heffker

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ramsina Odisho WRITERS

Brandon Adam Grace Bartel

Lynne Bunch Dillon Lowe

Kaylee Poche Olivia Smith

Sheridan Wall PHOTOGRAPHERS Frances Bryant Aubrey Dean Austin Lu

Micah Viccinelli

Haskell Whittington DESIGNERS Alyssa Berry

Lindsay Heffker Austin Lu

Taylor Oliver EDITOR IN CHIEF 2

Legacy Fall 2018

Ha-Vy Nguyen Emily Poole

ON THE COVER Cheers to Us

They practice four days a week, workout three times a week and have games every season. Go behind the scenes of LSU Cheerleading, Page 17 Photos by Alyssa Berry and Micah Viccinelli

FEATURES

4 Abe Felix’s latest film explores biracial experiences

8 Meet LSU’s iconic mascot, Mike the Tiger

10 LSU plans to become more bike-friendly

LIFESTYLE

14 I wumbo. You wumbo.

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He- she- me- wumbo.

The best boozy bites in the Capital City

30 LSU graduate apartments

22 Incorporating color into

34 Red Stick Roller Derby

28 A guide for the best day

recommended for demolition in 2015

empowers Baton Rouge women

your fall wardrobe

trips near Baton Rouge

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Film still courtesy of Abe Felix

A New Perspective

How a locally made short film aims to shed light on the biracial experience in America

By Dillon Lowe

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rowing up in her small Louisiana hometown, Jane never quite felt she fit in. Born to a Vietnamese mother and a white father, she looked different than all of the other children in her predominantly white school. From a young age, she was confronted with a frequently asked existential question: “What are you?” Even as a child, she wanted to respond: “I’m a human.

I’m a girl.”

Now, as a young adult, Jane is leaving her hometown with her sights set on a new, big city.

Leaving her insular upbringing and struggles with identity in the rear view, she drives toward her fresh start — her new beginning.

This is the story of both the titular protagonist of “Jane,” a new short film by Baton Rouge filmmaker Abe Felix, and of Catherine Miguez, the film’s co-writer and lead actor.

“Jane’s” script was largely inspired by Miguez’s real-life experiences as a biracial child in Lafayette.

“When you’re a child, you don’t realize that your parents are different races, or that your mom has an accent,” Miguez says.

“But once you go out into the world, people start to focus on things you didn’t think were different.”

The pacing of “Jane” is simple — the audience rides alongside Jane as she drives with the rest of her possessions packed away in her car. Along the way, she pulls to the side of the road and finds an old diary, prompting her to relive some adolescent memories.

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“Jane” is Felix’s narrative directorial debut. He met Miguez while they were both working for Launch Media, a local production company.

Felix, an aspiring director, and Miguez, an aspiring actor, co-wrote the film over the course of nine months. When Miguez shared her story with Felix while spitballing for ideas,

he saw its potential — even though the film would highlight a character in a very specific circumstance, its themes could resonate with a wide audience.

“I think that ‘Jane’ is a film for anyone who feels that they’ve been ‘other,’” Felix says. “The hope is that the film will be a conversation starter and something that mixed race people can look

Photo by Micah Viccinelli / LEGACY Magazine

at and take a little bit of inspiration from.�

The film was shot over the course of two days in October 2017, thanks in part to a month-long crowdfunding effort that garnered nearly $10,000. With those funds, Felix was able to hire a 15-person crew and film with the same equipment used in many major Hollywood productions.

With these resources, he turned his directorial vision into a reality.

Felix is currently in the process of establishing “Jane’s� presence on the U.S. film festival circuit — it was screened at the 2018 New Orleans Film Festival — and he aims to see the film published online in some format before the end of the year.

In speaking with Felix and Miguez, it is clear they are both eagerly awaiting the day they can share “Jane� with the world.

“Once the film goes public, people across the world can see it and realize their stories matter,� Miguez says. “Hopefully they’ll be inspired to make their own films and share their own stories.�

Miguez is not alone in hoping the film will be culturally significant — Felix believes it may have the power to shift audience perspectives on race. “The role we play as artists, creators and filmmakers is to create work that helps people critique their own behavior and inspires them to be more accepting and more tolerant of people who are different than they are,� Felix says. “I think that’s what ‘Jane’ can do. It can start a nuanced discussion about race and the way race often makes people feel.�

“

‘Jane’ is a film for anyone who feel that they’ve been ‘other.’

�

Poster courtesy of Abe Felix

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BOOZY BITES Six local sweet and savory snacks to satisfy your craving — without the hangover

By Olivia Smith | Photos by Aubrey Dean

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ABITA AMBER INFUSED STONE-GROUND SHRIMP AND GRITS Mansurs on the Boulevard 5720 Corporate Blvd.

CRISPY FISH TACOS WITH BEER BATTERED MAHI-MAHI

The Rum House Caribbean Taqueria 2112 Perkins Palm Ave.

A side unmatched in its Louisiana flair, the Abita Amber infused stone-ground shrimp and grits from Mansurs on the Boulevard combine two of our favorite things: beer and brunch. They remind us of the grits we ate growing up, but better.

You don’t have to wait for Taco Tuesday to eat these fresh, savory tacos served with a side of jalapeno coleslaw. Plus, any weekday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., customers can get two tacos for $7 and three for $9.

RASPBERRY CHAMPAGNE DONUT

BOOZE-INSPIRED CUPCAKES

District Donuts

7415 Corporate Blvd.

District Donuts is known for its palatable, rich donuts, and this raspberry Champagne donut is no exception. With a lineup featuring variations of more than 100 different donuts, you have to snag this one when it’s available. Follow them on Instagram @districtdonuts to see what’s offered daily.

Smallcakes Cupcakery and Creamery 18135 East Petroleum Drive Scrolling through Instagram photos of Smallcakes’ droolworthy cupcakes alone is enough to inspire a serious craving.

The shop offers a wide selection of boozeinspired rotating cupcake flavors, including White Russian, piña colada, and lemon amaretto. Keep an eye out for Kentucky bourbon, Irish Car Bomb, and Bananas Foster; they’ll be here soon! Contact the store at 225-831-1856 to check out Smallcakes’ daily specials.

PATRON CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING

Mestizo Louisiana Mexican Cuisine 2323 South Acadian Thruway Mestizo’s Restaurant may be better known for its Louisiana Mexican cuisine and industrial-strength margaritas, but its Patron chocolate bread pudding will have you feeling some type of way. Even though you might fill up on chips and queso, be sure to make room for this dessert.

BOOZY MILKSHAKES Curbside Burgers 4158 Government St. Curbside offers a fun twist on the standard burger-and-shake combo with six indulgent boozy shakes, with flavors like Death by Chocolate, which has chocolate vodka and Heath bars, or the Jr. Special, which includes Loopy vodka, fruit loops and captain crunch.

If you’re in a treat yo’self type of mood, you can’t go wrong with any of Curbside’s creamy creations.

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SUIT UP

The students behind LSU’s iconic mascot

By Sheridan Wall | Photos By Alyssa Berry

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e’s an LSU icon, a staple in University athletics. He’s known for his wacky team spirit, confident strut and goofy antics. He has a way with the ladies, and he’s always hanging out with the cheerleaders and Tiger Girls. He never misses a football game and even has his own jersey, along with a designated spot on the field. Meet Mike the Tiger.

MAKING TEAM MIKE Every April, potential Mike the Tigers gather at the Carl Maddox Field House for a three-day audition process. Typically, about 10 people show up for tryouts, but Team Mike captain Reese Smith says the Spirit Squad is hoping to get that number up to 30 next year. The candidates spend the first afternoon in “Mike 101,” a crash course introduction to the character of Mike and his signature walk.

Friday night concludes with the first round of cuts. The potential Mikes don the tiger costume and are individually evaluated based on height and fit of the suit. Most of the audition process is anonymous, as candidates dress in the tiger suit with only numbers attached for identification, says LSU Spirit Squad Director Pauline Zernott.

Mastering Mike’s character is the key to securing a coveted spot on Team Mike, but it’s a task easier said than done.

“Mike is very cocky,” Smith says. “He’s a cocky, ADD cat who’s also a ladies man.”

Smith, a construction management senior, knew he wanted to be the man behind the tiger after he watched Mike on the field as a

student, but Smith’s dream wasn’t realized yet. He had to try out three times before finally making the team.

“Then, once you actually come to a tryout and see Mike, you still get excited,” Smith says. “It’s an experience that not many people get to do.”

The Mikes are primarily judged on their ability to fill out the Mike suit and maintain uniformity between different Mikes in the costume, Zernott says. The Mikes must also be able to improvise to different songs with a variety of props while portraying Mike’s cocky, playful character.

The mascot hopefuls spend the second day of tryouts attempting to better channel Mike. They may practice interacting with Tiger Girl volunteers and playing with Mike’s props, such as the giant Nintendo game controller that he brought on the field in Dallas, to get more comfortable in the bulky suit, Smith says.

Sunday, the last day of tryouts, consists of oneon-one interviews with Zernott and Smith after the pool of potential Mikes has been narrowed down followed by a final audition, Smith says. During the audition, the Mikes must stay in character while performing the pregame walk and pretending to hype up a crowd.

Final selections are dependent on the number of Mikes needed, Zernott says.

“If we have a strong group of Team Mike, and we want to continue with those people, we may only need one or two spots filled,” Zernott says.

This year’s seven members represent the largest Team Mike thus far, Zernott says.

The size of Team Mike can vary between five and seven members.

Post-audition, Team Mike is a yearlong commitment of 20 hours per week. The Mikes receive a $500 scholarship per semester, plus an extra $250 each year they’re on the team, Smith says. Mike attends athletic, corporate, campus and charitable events throughout the year as well as one hour of practice each week. During practice, Team Mike reviews event logistics, rehearses routines with the Tiger Girls and cheerleaders

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and coordinates prop usage.

A GAMEDAY IN THE LIFE Saturday night in Death Valley is a time-honored tradition for LSU football fans, one that wouldn’t be complete without Mike the Tiger. For Team Mike, gameday is equal parts excitement and exhaustion.

A typical game day with a 6 p.m. kickoff starts around noon. All seven Team Mike members arrive at the Carl Maddox Field House to prepare their costumes and props for the day. The first Mike will suit up, while the rest of the team boards a golf cart. From about 1 to 2 p.m., the team will ride around campus and visit unsuspecting tailgates, armed with silly string. After an hour, it’s another Mike’s turn. The team switches in and out of the costume, so that one person doesn’t get overheated.

Two hours before kickoff, the Mikes will return to gear up for the walk down Victory Hill.

Five Mikes will go to the hill, while two mascots stay behind in the PMAC for an appearance before the pregame. Just as the Mikes enter the arena, they’re out and headed toward Tiger Stadium. The Mikes use the next hour to cool off and prepare for the pregame.

During each quarter of the game, a different Mike appears before the crowd.

Smith recalls his first experience as Mike the Tiger at last season’s college gameday, when LSU played the Wisconsin Badgers at Lambeau Field.

“That was insane because I was nervous,” Smith said. “Your first few games, even though no one can see you, you still get that nervous feeling that the cheerleaders and Tiger Girls get because you don’t want to mess up.”

Team Mike tries to maintain some anonymity, Smith says. The Mikes are allowed to tell their families, but they usually refrain from talking openly about being Mike.

“We will say we are part of Team Mike, but that’s only if people ask,” Smith says.

“We aren’t allowed to tell our friends, but they usually just end up figuring it out.”

It’s an experience not many people get to do.

”

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SHARE THE ROAD LSU bicycle infrastructure lacking, projects in development

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By Lauren Heffker | Photos By Frances Bryant

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n 2016, the League of American Bicyclists designated LSU as a silver-level bicycle friendly university, despite amounting only one quarter of a mile of dedicated bike lanes on Field House Drive along with shared lane strips on Highland, South Stadium and Dalrymple drives.

The University of Lafayette, which is a bronze-level Bicycle Friendly University — a lesser distinction than LSU — has nearly three quarters of a mile of bike lanes.

Students and faculty are biking to campus more than ever before. According to the 2017 LSU Master Plan, 14 percent of students, faculty and staff travel by bike on campus.

The 2017 Master Plan also states, “a lack of bicycle lanes and limited sidewalk connectivity between off-campus student housing and campus encourages driving …

Given that there are currently no dedicated bike lanes connecting to campus or on-campus (with a few small exceptions) this suggests significant potential for a more robust network of bicycle paths, on-campus amenities such as lockers and showers, repair stations and secure, weather protected bike parking.”

Though the University has made strides in recent years to accommodate the growing number of cyclists on campus, its bicycle infrastructure remains a work in progress. The University integrated phase one of the Easy Streets program in 2007, making LSU a “walking campus,” along with adding bike racks around campus.

“I think those were really good first steps, and they showed a commitment to biking on campus as a regular and safe thing to do,” says Bike Baton Rouge president Doug Moore. “The issues now are a result of growing pains.”

Bike Baton Rouge works with LSU Campus Sustainability to offer insight on potential projects and helped develop the “Bicycling at LSU” tab on the office’s website. Moore also worked at the University for 10 years and biked to campus daily.

The accommodations the University has implemented thus far show the trend is here to stay, Moore says.

“But on the flip side, there does need to be more accommodation,” he says. “The Easy Streets and bike racks are good first steps, but that’s really all the campus has done.”

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AMY BURKE Coastal environmental science junior

Moore says there should be more education for driver and bicyclist awareness, as well as protected bike lanes that go throughout campus instead of on-street parking. He’d like to see more bike lanes on campus and less on-street parking, as well as the University collaborating with the city-parish more to improve access into campus on busy roads like Dalrymple Drive, Burbank Drive and Nicholson Drive, he says.

Especially with the expansion of student living complexes along Ben Hur Road and Burbank Drive, student activists could have significant impact on local government to get protected bike paths for commuters biking off campus, Moore says.

The University is in the discussion stages with the city-parish to add more bike infrastructure off campus, says executive director of Campus Sustainability Tammy Millican.

Moore says there is a lack of knowledge of laws and safety protocols among younger cyclists because although bicycling is a growing trend, it is not a cultural norm in Louisiana. As a result, cyclists are biking on sidewalks, which is not legal or safe, he says.

University students Amy Burke, Julianne Lamy and George Carson all ride on the sidewalks on campus. They say that if there were

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more dedicated bike lanes on campus, they would not hesitate to use them. Though biking on sidewalks is illegal because it endangers pedestrians, Lamy, Carson and Burke believe riding in streets with heavy traffic, such as Highland Road or Dalrymple Drive, endangers cyclists.

To Carson, an engineering senior, pedestrians and drivers aren’t the issue when it comes to safety — it’s other cyclists. He doesn’t feel like other cyclists pay enough attention when riding, leading to near-accidents.

Moore and the students emphasize bike safety education for both cyclists and drivers.

Burke, a coastal environmental science junior, has even had to crash her bike while cycling on campus to avoid being hit by a car, she says. Since Jan. 1, 2013, there have been 34 bicycle-involved accidents reported through LSUPD, according to LSUPD spokesman Ernie Ballard.

Assistant Director of Campus Planning Dennis Mitchell says building more infrastructure to bring cyclists into campus is a problem to be solved, and the University is working on developing a solution. However, overhauling roads on campus won’t happen overnight.

“It’s going to have infrastructure changes and those take time,” Mitchell says.

For example, with a road like Highland

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LSU is definitely not a bike-friendly campus.

where the street itself is not wide enough to add a bike lane, they could convert the existing sidewalk into a bike lane and construct a new sidewalk for pedestrians. However, there isn’t enough funding for such a large-scale project.

Many cyclists avoid biking on Highland Road, which runs straight through campus, because of the heavy volume of vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

“I am more afraid to ride my bike on Highland than I am on Burbank,” Burke says. “That is just horrific. I really think LSU could do something about that road.”

Highland Road is unavoidable, yet doesn’t accommodate cyclists besides share the road signs, which are ambiguous and ineffective, Moore says.

“Shared routes is not ideal, we would really like to have a dedicated lane, and it can be done,” Mitchell says.

But recent construction to widen West Parker Boulevard near campus heading south toward Burbank, which was completed in July, did not include a bike lane. “It doesn’t seem like any thought was put into it for bikes,” Burke says.

“I really don’t think they do anything [regarding campus bike accommodations].

There’s that one bike lane, and then everything

else is just nonexistent,” Burke says. “LSU is receive ideas and feedback on the proposed definitely not a bike friendly campus.” bike routes.

However, the Department of Planning, Students will likely see one solution Design and Construction, and Campus Susimplemented by fall 2019: a bikeshare program. tainability are working to make the Master Plan LSU will be part of the Baton Rouge Bikeshare, recommendations a reality. and will start off with 100 bikes at about 10 sites The University conducted a campus mothroughout campus. bility study over the past six months to assess Millican says eventually removing on-street how to implement the Master Plan’s proposals, parking is another goal for the University.

Mitchell says.

The removal will happen in phases, Millican The University is working with an says, because Parking and Transportation Seroutside consultant to propose new bike routes vices must create new parking in other areas not and evaluate how bike lanes can have better in the interior of campus before it can remove connectivity from the center of campus to on-street parking. The department is working its outskirts. on developing park-and-ride options for the lots Funding comes on the outskirts of campus from the University, and has some solid leads on grants, and the Student funding, she says.

Sustainability Fund.

In addition to improvThe Student Sustaining the quality of life for ability Fee is $2 during students and faculty, develthe fall and spring seoping more bicycle inframesters and $1 during structure can also serve as the summer semester. a recruiting tactic for the “Generally the inUniversity, Moore says. frastructure cost to put “We’re losing out to TAMMY MILLICAN in bike paths is pretty other universities, other citExecutive director of Campus Sustainability expensive, so it’ll come ies that are trying harder and from some combination doing better,” Moore says. of state funding and grants,” Millican says.

“I hope LSU is not post-bike activism.”

In about six months, they’ll likely have a list LSU Cycling Club president Connor Juban of projects that will be implemented when fundagrees. ing is secured, Mitchell says.

“I think the University should look at that as “We also have the ability to connect some an investment in its students and in its image,” existing bike paths and create some new ones Juban says. at minimal cost, and that is what we are currentThe University of North Carolina is also a ly working on with our mobility consultant,” silver-level Bicycle Friendly University. UNC Millican says. has had a bikeshare program since fall 2017, The department will hold mobility and has bike racks and bike repair stations on parking forums in the coming months to campus and offers a 50 percent discount off a

“

There are big changes coming that are going to be so positive for the bicycling community.

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U-lock for registered bikes. UNC also has a Commuter Alternative Program (CAP) to reward students, faculty and staff for using sustainable transportation to get to campus. The University of Tennessee has an electric bicycle sharing system and several dedicated bike lanes.

Lamy, a natural resource and ecology management freshman from New Orleans, lives near Loyola University and Tulane University.

Both schools have bike stations with tire pumps and tools for minor fixes, she says, which came in handy with her older bicycle. But at the University, Lamy has yet to find a tire pump that works. Burke shares Lamy’s struggle.

“LSU says they have tire pumps at some of the bike lock areas, but all of them are broken.

None of them work. I have not found a single one that works,” Burke says.

If a student finds a bike pump isn’t working, they should call Parking and Transportation Services who will then come and fix it, Millican says.

“We’re constantly watching to see if changes need to be made,” Millican says.

To help promote biking on campus, LSU Sustainability holds Bike Month in November with social media contests, prizes and bike safety education courses taught by LSUPD, says LSU Sustainability Assistant Director Sarah Temple.

LSUPD also provides information on bike and pedestrian safety at freshman orientation, and LSU Sustainability is working with Student Government to create an online bike and pedestrian safety course that will be offered through Moodle, Millican says.

“We’re doing the preliminary work with the goal being that we bring in the campus community to share thoughts and ideas,” Millican says.

“There are big changes coming that are going to be so positive for the bicycling community.”

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WUM WUM Wumbo builds regional presence, plans future album

By Grace Bartel | Photos By Micah Viccinelli I wumbo.

You wumbo.

He- she- me- wumbo.

The quirky name fits the five lighthearted, comedic musicians. Inspired by a 2002 episode of the Nickelodeon TV show, “Spongebob Squarepants,” the band knew they’d found the perfect name when they 14

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formed in 2016. The group has an easygoing repertoire, exchanging jokes and comebacks among one another.

The band formed when vocalists Jake Heflin and Mitchell Mobley began writing songs together in high school. Once in college, Heflin invited keyboardist Tanner Yeldell, previously the bassist, to join the group in 2017, while Mobley recruited his classmate, Kevin McCabe,

to man the drums. Zak Ocmand, the current bassist, was introduced when Yeldell moved away for a time. Nearly all of the members are University students or alumni.

“Whenever the name idea came up, it wasn’t questioned after that,” Heflin says. “Its only context is Spongebob Squarepants, and that’s a great kind of concept.” Mobley adds, “It seemed right, as a word. It just rolls off the tongue and it

MBO MBO just doesn’t mean anything.”

After releasing its self-titled EP earlier this year and coming off a cross-country tour, Wumbo is steadily building its fanbase and local presence.

Self-described as “space indie-pop and jazz rock,” Wumbo’s music is a conglomeration of odd sounds and undertones that create a dreamy, ambient sound when fused together.

This is what distinguishes Wumbo from other groups — how they blend sounds from their everyday lives into their music to generate contrast. Most recently, Heflin recorded his air-conditioning unit and strums from a banjo

and is planning on fusing Morse Code sounds into songs.

Merging all of their styles was a challenge for the group at first, but they’ve worked to sound like one unit, Heflin says. Heflin and Mobley’s songwriting process is a collaborative effort with other band members. The duo starts out writing song lyrics and playing the guitar, layering their vocals around each other. Then, Ocmand devises a bass line and McCabe adds a drumbeat. Lastly, Yeldell adds Wumbo’s signature synth to the arrangements.

“Mitchell and I came together with these songs that we thought were nearly completed

that we had made before, and we were like, ‘Okay, how do we play these live? How do we make it cohesive?’” Heflin says. “We’re trying on different instruments and songs … that was something we tried to work toward, and more recently it has been like it [evolved] out of that.”

The band is always experimenting with sound and tone, naturally and out of necessity. McCabe is a member of the LSU Tiger Band Drumline, so he can’t play shows on gamedays during football season. Although it wasn’t ideal, Wumbo performed enough shows acoustically that they became comfortable with Legacy Fall 2018

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the thinned band, rather than not play at all.

Learning how to change their sound on demand has shaped their range, too.

“We’ll play with hand drums, shakers and things like that live if we’re really stripped back, and we’ve actually found we like that a lot,” Heflin says. “We’ve thrown those stripped back sounds into our recorded sounds.”

Heflin also does the band’s booking and planned its seven-city tour this summer. His double role is a balancing act, he says, but working directly with venues to schedule shows,

meeting other bands and handling public relations means every step in the right direction is hard-earned. Now they’re a familiar name on the local music circuit and regulars at venues like Mid City Ballroom, The Varsity Theatre and Spanish Moon.

The five-track EP’s cover art is eye-catching. It has a retro vibe and warm tones, featuring plants, an older TV model and place settings on an orange tablecloth.

Though they didn’t shoot the cover as an underlying reference to their music, there are several unintentional flora references in their

songs, Mobley says.

“We wanted a nature shot but of something that obviously didn’t belong in nature, something weirdly out of place,” he says. “We thought the color palette was kind of odd. We thought it was interesting, and we liked it.”

Looking forward, Wumbo is in the process of recording a full-length album and booking more shows regionally.

“This is a big [expletive] country and I just wanna play music for them,” Ocmond says.

WUMBO’S TOUR IN FIVE WORDS (OR FEWER): People are the same

kevin mccabe

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Music, cars and more cars jake heflin

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A

fter every event, the LSU cheerleaders stand in a circle, hold the right pinky of the person to their left, and Spirit Squad Director Pauline Zernott leads them in a prayer. This prayer has been said for decades, so cheerleader alumni, along with current students on the team, know the words by heart.

Noah Rogers cheered in 12 different stadiums over his five years as an LSU cheerleader, and the only stadium that ever came close to Death Valley was Lambeau Field in Wisconsin, he says.

“I think it speaks volumes as to how spectacular Tiger Stadium is,” Rogers says. “Being in the stadium is just totally different. It’s a feeling I can’t even begin to explain because it’s so exciting, and it just takes your breath away... It’s extremely hard to put into words because you’re just awestruck.”

He still remembers the feeling of butterflies in his stomach on gameday. Rogers, who graduated from the University in May, recalls feeling nervous because of the complex, skilled routines the cheerleaders perform for pregame. Once pregame ended, Rogers says his heart would race because the team would feed off of the crowd’s energy on the field.

It’s easy to get pumped up when cheering for a team like LSU, he says, where the game’s outcome is often unpredictable and the anticipation is tangible.

“It’s really easy because we’re cheering on one of the most incredible teams in the NCAA,” Rogers says. “LSU is well known for their excitement, their aggression, for a heart attack — you never know. With four seconds left in the fourth quarter, LSU will either win a bowl game or they will fight to the death.”

During the games, the cheerleaders aren’t afraid to let loose and have fun. At 2015’s game against Western Kentucky University, the cheerleaders made it onto cbssports.com when they used their signs as slides and made a slip-n-slide game of the torrential downpour.

On home game days, the team starts its day at a facility in the Carl Maddox Field House 3.5 to four hours before the game. The team begins with promotional events for the Tiger Athletic Fund and the L Club, as well as an event in Tiger One Village outside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Afterward, the cheerleaders return to their facility at the Field House before their entrance to Tiger Stadium, where they prepare for the game. They then return to North Stadium Drive for the parade down the hill with the LSU Tiger Marching Band, one of the most revelled events on gameday. Once the parade ends, the team is back in the stadium until the end of the game, lasting upward of 3.5 hours.

At halftime, the cheerleaders take a break in Tiger Stadium’s historic Bill Lawton Room, where they welcome the opposing team’s cheerleaders and eat.

Despite the busy day, it’s pure magic for team members.

Senior and fourth year LSU cheerleader Lily Lowry says the emotions she feels during the games are indescribable. Watching the student section celebrate after a touchdown and hearing the fireworks before pregame is “incredible.” She recalls her first game as an LSU cheerleader: a sunny gameday when students threw their waters and drinks in the air, “like a golden rain.”

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“it ca n a lot, be b we’re ut tough

.”

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For team captain Brendan Bice, gamedays are a “once in a lifetime experience,” but his fellow cheerleaders are what make it truly special, he says.

“That’s the reason I keep showing back up,” Bice says. “Like ‘Oh, man, we got practice again,’ but I get to see the people here. The people on the team are incredible ... It really is like a whole second family.”

Members describe cheer as a lifelong experience -- participating in something few have the opportunity to do and making lasting friendships. Cheerleader alumni often play the pregame song at their weddings, with ex-cheerleaders in the crowd performing the hand motions with the bride or groom, Rogers says.

The family aspect isn’t lost on Riley Reynolds, who is in her third year on the team.

Reynolds described the cheer facility as her home away from home, but overall she enjoys the opportunities outside of gameday and practice the most.

“Being able to represent and be an ambassador for this school is something I love,” Reynolds says. “I couldn’t imagine doing anything else in my college life. It’s so much fun.”

Though many would assume the cheerleaders’ favorite sport to cheer at would be football, that’s not always the case. For instance, Rogers loved cheering for basketball in the PMAC. Rather than 30 yards away like in Death Valley, you’re close enough that you can feel the basketball players’ sweat fling off when they’re running up and down the court, Rogers says.

“The energy in [the PMAC] is probably 10 times more [than Death Valley] when the PMAC is maxed-out, full capacity, everyone is just screaming, and everyone is fighting for those last 11 seconds,” Rogers says. “Basketball definitely has a close place in my heart … it’s loud, it’s obnoxious, and I loved every second of it.”

The cheerleaders don’t have a specific season because they’re on the sidelines for every sport that does have a particular season, Rogers says.

Cheerleaders go from about July 10 to March 20, but soon after it’s time for the first round of tryouts and workouts until their summer camp in July. They then attend a week-long spirit camp in Alabama before returning for a final round of cuts in August, if necessary.

“For girls, the tryout experience and preparing is a lot different than guys,” Rogers says. “For the guys, we are there to make the girls look good. That is our main job.”

However, participating in a traditionally female-dominated sport as a male cheerleader

isn’t always easy. But, social norms are changing, Rogers says.

“I think [people] think it’s cool because you’re involved with LSU and sports ... I have not had too many bad experiences, but honestly at the end of the day when I have had [them], you just shake it off and realize ‘Dude, you know, I got the best seat in the house,’” he says.

Male cheerleaders are responsible for keeping the girls safe as they’re executing difficult stunts.

Like any sport, injuries can occur, so safety is the number one priority when they’re learning routines, he says.

Trying out for a collegiate team is a different ball game for the girls, Rogers says — female cheerleaders have to have every their act together. They have to be in physical shape, be coherent of their body while tumbling or stunting, have a top-tier presentation and carry themselves for the community.

“At the end of the day, there’s probably a 3or 4-year-old girl in a cheer uniform, and she’s looking up to those young ladies. So you have to have a girl who is well-rounded and who is able to take on the responsibility of being in the limelight for a lot of these little girls and/or little boys,” Rogers says.

Cheerleaders represent the University and act as ambassadors for LSU, so they have to uphold an appropriate appearance and always be conscious of their behavior, including their social media presence, Rogers says.

LSU cheerleaders perform at athletic events throughout the entire year, but they report to LSU Athletics’ marketing team and can attend up to three promotional events a week.

As long as they maintain an LSU cumulative GPA of 2.3, they’re eligible for scholarships, known as “Financial Service Awards,” which are awarded based on their year on the team. Members can receive up to $2,000 and are also eligible for service awards based on volunteer service hours.

LSU cheerleaders can take advantage of resources offered to student-athletes, such as tutoring services and study rooms. The cheerleaders are expected to log in study hall hours every week, in addition to their practice time and workouts.

Practices are usually held four days a week for two hours, and workouts are held three days a week for one hour, which consist of strength and conditioning training.

“I’m not sure if people underestimate, but I doubt if they are fully aware of how much work actually goes into it,” says coach Chris Bradford.

Bice says it’s hit or miss if fans realize the amount of effort put into being an LSU cheerleader, but the recognition the team receives is beginning to grow.

“We’ve gotten emails from people that really appreciate that we are there,” Reynolds says.

“We love receiving them – having input, any corrections they have, their feedback – we really enjoy that.”

The team currently has 36 members this academic year. According to the team website, the cheerleading team is broken down into three squads: Purple, Gold and White. Gold consists of eight advanced co-ed couples who cheer at football and basketball games, gymnastic meets and other special events. Purple is made of eight coed couples who perform at football and basketball games, as well as both indoor and beach volleyball matches. The White squad consists of four to six co-ed couples that fill in for the other squads as necessary.

After the team is finalized for the school year, they work almost nonstop for nine straight months, perfecting routines, tumbles and choreography. This work entails more than just practicing their stunts for the sideline – every year team members travel to Orlando, Florida to compete in the UCA National Collegiate Cheerleading Championship.

“We just push through it,” Lowry says. “It can be a lot, but we’re tough.”

The cheerleaders start their preparation for nationals in September, and work begins to pick up in October and November. Come December, the team practices twice a day, up to six hours total. Their winter break is typically consumed with preparation for nationals and cheering the bowl game, besides three days set aside for Christmas.

“It is exciting because what the fans and what the students see on gameday is not what we bring to nationals,” Rogers says. “It’s a totally different mindset.”

The cheerleaders tied for seventh place last year.

The experience from cheerleading extends beyond athletics. Rogers says post-graduation, he uses skills he learned from cheerleading to connect with other people and in his professional life, as well.

“I don’t think it’s a sport. I think it’s a lifestyle,” Rogers says. “I think it’s much greater than a sport.”

Brandon Adam and Lauren Heffker contributed to this story.

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MODEL: Falon Brown MAKEUP: Ha-Vy Nguyen TOP, SKIRT AND EARRINGS: Frock Candy SHOES: Model’s own

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Legacy Fall 2018

ON TREND This fall season features the return of autumn classic fabrics like suede, corduroy and leather, as well as neutral colors like black, taupe, and cognac. These closet staples work great on their own, but they pair even better with colors like olive, teal, maroon, or blush. Adding color is simple: it’s all in the details. From accessories to simple prints, adding a splash of color to your fall wardrobe is easy. Here are some of our favorite looks.

Photos By Haskell Whittington Shot at LSU Hilltop Arboretum | Styled by Taylor Oliver and Ramsina Odisho

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MODEL: Sandra Nguyen MAKEUP: Ha-Vy Nguyen JUMPSUIT AND EARRINGS: Frock Candy

TOP, JEANS AND ACCESSORIES: Frock Candy

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SWEATER: Wanderlust by Abby SKIRT AND EARRINGS: Frock Candy

MODEL: Charlee Leblanc MAKEUP: Ha-Vy Nguyen TOP, JACKET AND ACCESSORIES: Wanderlust by Abby SHORTS: Frock Candy Legacy Fall 2018

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MODEL: Falon Brown MAKEUP: Ha-Vy Nguyen TOP AND EARRINGS: Frock Candy JEANS: Wanderlust by Abby

TOP: Frock Candy SKIRT AND ACCESSORIES: Wanderlust by Abby

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LEFT MODEL: Pira Suksucheep TOP AND PANTS: Time Warp Boutique RIGHT MODEL: Saxon Boudreaux TOP: Time Warp Boutique SHORTS: Model’s own

LEFT TOP AND JEANS: Model’s own RIGHT TOP AND PANTS: Time Warp Boutique ACCESSORIES: Model’s own Legacy Fall 2018

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LAFAYETTE Only an hour away, Lafayette is the perfect destination for a short day trip filled with historical views, Cajun classics and southern shopping. The city features a historic homes site, Vermillionville, which offers tours and Yoga en Français every Tuesday. After you work up a sweat you can celebrate by getting a cone from Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream where ice cream is made to order and flash-frozen using liquid nitrogen, or grab one of the best sugar cookies you’ll ever have at Pouparts Bakery. Run

by Mainstreet at River Ranch before you head home for some local shopping, including boutiques, dining and services in a small-town atmosphere.

ABITA SPRINGS Abita Springs is Louisiana’s Stars Hollow. The small town consists of 2,300 people and is found on the North Shore about an hour from Baton Rouge. The town center feels like it’s straight from a movie, which is fitting because Zac Efron’s “The Lucky One” was shot there in 2010. Walking along the trailhead, you’ll find a park and pavilion, storefronts housing local businesses like Artigue’s Abita Market and Blu Skye (a great ice cream and snowball shop), and the Abita Mystery House — a must-visit if you like anything zany and unusual. Don’t leave without eating at the Abita Brew Pub and touring the Abita Brewing Company. Other picturesque areas near Abita Springs include downtown Co v i n g t o n , Old Mandeville and the Madisonville riverfront.

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Whether it’s winter break, a day trip, these locati from the Red Stick. Th small towns, to hikin

By Legacy S

break, a weekend getaway, or a spontaneous ese locations are all a one- to two-hour drive d Stick. They have everything from beaches, to , to hiking — making for the ideal mini-vacay.

Looking for a vacay that’s just a few more hours away, but still within Louisiana? These locations are great for longer trips and holiday breaks.

Legacy Staff | Illustration by Emily Poole

NATCHITOCHES

BAY ST. LOUIS Louisiana’s Gulf Coast locale means we have a close proximity to beach states like Alabama and Florida, but they aren’t the most convenient for a day or weekend trip. Enter Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Luckily, this twohour destination has sun and sand for that perfect summer vibe. After a day at the beach, you can cool off with popsicles at Pop Brothers, or have an alligator po-boy at Dan B’s Restaurant and Bar. Noteworthy neighboring gulf towns include Biloxi and Gulfport, Mississippi.

TUNICA HILLS Tunica Hills is a go-to hiking spot for nature lovers near Baton Rouge. About an hour outside of the Capital City, hitting this hidden paradise is the perfect way to de-stress after a long week. From camping to waterfalls, Tunica will make you question if you’re still in the Bayou State. Pro tip: Getting lost on the way is common, so plan for extra time. Also pack a lunch to enjoy a peaceful outdoor picnic.

Take a walk down the river and shop the 33-block historic district, an easy three hours away. Take a tour of the “Steel Magnolia” filming sites, but be sure to grab a famous Natchitoches meat pie before you leave. Spend a night under hundreds of thousands Christmas lights for the annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival, which ranked third in 2013 by Yahoo.com for “Best Holiday Light Show” behind the Rockefeller Center and Disney World.

SHREVEPORT Only four hours north, tourists can visit the new Shreveport Aquarium and enjoy a unique dinner and movie experience at the Robinson Film Center. Guests 21 and older can visit one of the many well known casinos. Stop

by Strawn’s Eat Shop and grab a slice of strawberry or chocolate pie, or drive over the bridge and walk the outdoor shops at the Louisiana Boardwalk.

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While While Res Res Life Life prepares prepares to to tear tear down down dorms dorms across across campus, campus, there there are are no no plans plans to to replace replace 52-year-old 52-year-old Edward Edward Gay Gay Apartments, Apartments, despite despite recommendations recommendations to to demolish demolish

By Kaylee Poche | Photos By Aubrey Dean

They predate Lockett Hall and were built just seven years after Middleton Library, yet there is no date set to replace the only on-campus housing for the University’s married students and students with families.

Originally built in 1966, the Edward Gay Apartments have not been majorly renovated since its construction. They still house 183 residents — graduate students, married students and students with families — with a large population of international students.

Despite decades of wear and tear that have left the apartments in a lackluster state compared to its newer counterparts across Aster Street, the University announced on Oct. 3 its plans to demolish Herget, Kirby-Smith, McVoy, Miller, Acadian and Broussard residence halls by 2023, neglecting to include Edward Gay. A new resident or passerby will find exposed or even cracking pipes at Edward Gay. Several of the brick beams on the exterior are also fracturing while grime coats the cinder block walls of the building. Residents complain of mold and roaches.

Anthony Hewitt, who worked as a desk assistant for Edward Gay in the summer of 2016, says the residents of the complex, located on the outskirts of campus, seem to live independently.

“They pretty much handled everything on their own, like the Wild West,” Hewitt says. “They did what they needed.”

The 138 units in the complex — all unfurnished — are comparably smaller than off-campus housing in the area with 540 square feet for a two bedroom apartment and 645 square feet for a three bedroom. For comparison, a neighboring complex, The Venue at Northgate, has two bedrooms ranging from 788 to 935 square feet and 1058 square-foot three bedrooms.

However, the apartments are also far less expensive than surrounding complexes with monthly rates of $710 and $765, respectively. Split between two or three residents, that comes to about $255 to $355 a month—utilities, Wi-Fi and basic cable included.

The comparatively low rate and its easy accessibility to campus makes Edward Gay an affordable option for the University’s international students, many of which are attending the University seeking an advanced degree.

Assistant Vice President for Residential Life Steve Waller says Residential Life is considering the price point as they plan how to approach replacing the complex.

Food sciences graduate student Kriza Calumba, an 30

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international student who lives in the apartments, says she uses the money she saves on rent to travel the country. While she’s only been in the United States a little over a year, Calumba has already dipped her toes in the sand of Florida beaches, posed in front of The Bean in Chicago, spent Christmas in Las Vegas and seen Antelope Canyon in Arizona.

Between her food sciences courses, lab work, involvement with the International Cultural Center and position as a hip-hop dance instructor, she’s not home much anyway. “It’s just appropriate for my normal, day-to-day life,” she says.

However, the aging of the building has lead to concerns from residents about the quality of life at the apartments. Hewitt says the problems residents at Edward Gay reported to him were more serious than when he worked the desk at other on-campus complexes.

“If they were coming, it was for a bigger deal than anywhere else,” Hewitt says. “Usually, when I was in Herget, it was a key or a light bulb or something. Over there, it was like something flooded.”

For instance, keeping the temperature too cold in the apartment lead to moisture forming on the cinder block walls that would sometimes result in mold growing along them, Hewitt says. Maintaining the air in the apartment above the recommended temperature proved an issue for residents, especially in the scalding hot Louisiana summers.

Waller recommends residents keep their thermostats set to 70 degrees year round. He says problems also arise when residents leave their door open or engage in other activities that let humidity into the apartments.

“It’s like anywhere in Louisiana,” Waller says. “It’s no different than anywhere else. If you don’t manage your environment—if you go home and you open your windows and you turn your air conditioning on, you’re going to have a moisture issue.”

Chang Liu, who lived at Edward Gay from August 2016 until April 2017 working as a Graduate Resident Assistant, says he and the three other GRAs who worked there would conduct monthly inspections to make sure the apartment was clean and void of any prohibited items. They would follow a specific protocol should they find mold, he says.

“If you see black mold growing in their bedroom, that’s going to be a problem for their health,” Liu says. “We’d have to put a note on their door and say, ‘We’ll send a team out to clean it for you. Just make sure you cover your stuff.’ If it was black mold,

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it should be taken care of the next working day.”

Liu says he would field mold complaints approximately once a month or less during his duration as a GRA. Edward Gay residents also report small roach infestations.

“That’s the main problem Edward Gay has,” Calumba says. “No matter how much I clean it, I still see those baby roaches.”

Liu says lots of residents would complain about the roaches, a problem he believes is not an easy fix. “They can’t really clear them out,” Liu says. “I’m not in engineering, but I heard it was because the building was too old. So I heard those things were living between the walls.”

Waller says Residential Life sprays the cracks and crevices inside the apartments quarterly and sprays the outside semi-annually. Then, the department follows up with spot treatment if students report roaches.

“We have been fairly aggressive, not only at Ed Gay, but at all of our apartments,” Waller says.

In public records obtained by Legacy Magazine, a letter sent by Project Manager Ellen Jenkins to Senior Project Manager Steve Losavio on Dec. 2, 2015, contained the results of an October 2015 inspection, in which she found the “buildings have outlived their useful life” and recommended their demolition.

“Due to their age, infrastructure and the HVAC system is a costly continuous maintenance issue,” the memo reads, referring to the heating, ventilation and air 32

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conditioning system in Edward Gay. “The cabinets are in very poor condition and also require continuous repairs.”

“The exterior storage closets for the units are falling apart due to water intrusion and failure of the brick structure,” the memo continues. “The plumbing system requires service and repairs on a daily basis. Exterior utility pipes are in poor condition.”

Many basic amenities in the apartments are either non-existent or unreliable. The small kitchen nook contains just enough counter space for a sink and a stove, but not a dishwasher. The only bathroom in each apartment does not have a cabinet underneath it, leaving piping exposed.

The apartments do not contain a washer or dryer in the unit. Instead, residents have to go to the laundry room in a separate building and pay per load. Several residents hang their clothes to dry outside rather than pay the $1.25 per load fee to dry on top of the $1.25 spent to wash.

Additionally, residents would often come to the desk for assistance with internet problems, Hewitt says. “They could never get the internet to work over there because it was so far away,” he says.

The 2001 Campus Master Plan suggested the apartments be privatized, but Residential Life decided against it in 2005 after talking with residents, Waller says.

“We surveyed the students,” he says. “We serve a niche on campus, so we decided not to do that.”

In the years since, Residential Life has been looking into ways to continue to offer affordable graduate and family housing at a new facility.

Residential Life is an auxiliary service whose funding comes from the rent of its complexes rather than the University. Waller says Residential Life hopes to raise money through fundraising to help finance building new family housing complex and then help residents pay a portion of the higher rent of the new apartments.

“We were number three on the Student Affairs Priority List as far as trying to do fundraising,” Waller says. “Our goal is to do something like they did for the business college or the engineering college. If we could get donations to cover half of the construction cost, then we would do a 50-50 match.”

“That would allow us to build new apartments on campus...with rates that would be comparable with what the existing population has the ability to pay,” he adds.

Since the new complex would be built in a different location on campus, residents would continue to live in Edward Gay until its construction is complete.

A previous plan to build a new family housing complex spurred a request to demolish Edward Gay, approved in 2016 in conjunction with the new project. However, the project was put on hold because “the cost of construction necessitated the projected rent rates soar beyond what students with families could afford,” Associate Director of Communications for Residential Life Catherine David says.

“The postponement of the project forced the return to an interim solution until alternate sources of funding can be secured,” David says. “The existing apartments provide that interim solution — a reasonable, affordable campus housing options for students with families — that we maintain with shortterm investments, constant facility work and resident education.”

There are no current plans to demolish the apartments, according to the University’s Assistant General Counsel Johanna Posada.

“We serve all students, so it’s important to us that students with families have an affordable campus housing option,” David says. “Right now that option is Edward Gay Apartments, but it is not a viable long-term solution.”

In the meantime, some residents like Calumba have made themselves at home at Edward Gay, finding a sense of community amongst its cinder block corridors. When Calumba moved into Edward Gay from the Philippines, she noticed there was a significant Filipino population in the complex.

“I came here alone, but I realized there are a lot of Filipinos here at LSU and in Baton Rouge,” Calumba says.

Now, Calumba and her friends have frequent get-togethers, whether it’s going on weekend beach trips, having surprise birthday parties or orchestrating crawfish boils on the playground.

“The best part is having most of the Filipinos here in Edward Gay because it’s very easy to go to somebody if you need somebody to talk to, or if you don’t have food, you can just knock on their door and ask for food,” Calumba says with a laugh. “Filipinos love singing so we’ll have karaoke. Here it’s like everyday karaoke.”

Since plane rides back home aren’t included in Calumba’s Fulbright scholarship, the tile-floored apartment is her home until she graduates in May. Connecting with other Filipinos helps bring her a little closer to her home on the other side of the world — a 29-hour flight away.

“I’m not choosy when it comes to a place to live,” Calumba says. “As long as I sleep comfortably in my bed, I’m good.”

Calumba has visited friends in more expensive off-campus student living complexes, complete with pools and exercise equipment and found a lot the amenities excessive, she says.

“I think that there’s a lot of unnecessary leisure,” Calumba says. “There’s just all this stuff, each room has a TV — what are you going to do with those?

You pay a lot for that, but you’re not going to use everything. It’s just too nice, too beautiful.”

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Red Stick Roller Derby empowers, connects women of all backgrounds

By Lynne Bunch | Photos By Austin Lu When you think of roller derby, images of fishnet stockings, tutus and glitter may come to mind — what you may not imagine is that a once glitzed-out, niche sport now encapsulates athleticism and community.

Sports can impact an athlete’s life in more ways than just the hours they spend practicing or competing with a team. But, for many of the women who make up Red Stick Roller Derby, the camaraderie extends beyond the limits of an everyday sport — derby provides a kind of empowerment you can’t find elsewhere.

Founded in 2007, Red Stick Roller Derby is the first all-women, full-contact, flat track roller derby league in Baton Rouge. Within the league, there are three adult teams named after local neighborhoods: the Spanish Town Flamingos, Generals of Southdowns and Mid City Mafia. The league is also home to the Red Stick Rascals, a junior team where girls ages 7 to 17 can develop skills before they get to the full-contact 34

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adult teams.

Women of all ages, body types and backgrounds can join the derby world no matter their experience with roller skating. Many of the women begin their career in derby as novices and join because they are drawn to the welcoming atmosphere, says league member Elisabeth “E-Rex” Mourot.

“It’s not just the sport itself,” Mourot says. “It really is the community of women — you will not find a community of such diverse, supporting women where you have 50-plus people you can call any time of the day and ask for help.”

Mourot was first introduced to derby at Red Stick’s “fresh meat” class, where women can check out the league and learn the basics of roller derby. Mourot says she didn’t know how to skate at the time, but over the course of three months, coaches taught her everything she needed to know about skating, game play and strategy. Mourot, like all league players, chose her “derby name” after training — E-Rex, for her love of “Jurassic Park.”

After Mourot graduated derby training, she joined the league as a player and has been involved ever since.

Even after dislocating her kneecap in January, she stayed to help coach the junior team and fresh meat classes. In addition to the supportive community, one reason for her continued involvement is the large number of LGBTQ women in the league, she says.

“Roller derby’s LGBTQ community is massive — like, it’s probably the most unique, most accepting [group] you will find in any other sport,” Mourot says. “I don’t want to throw a percentage out there, but a large percentage of the roller derby community is LGBTQ, queer, gender fluid or just in the community.”

Finding a tight-knit group of LGBTQ women can be difficult, Mourot says, so discovering such a community in Red Stick is an

irreplaceable resource.

“It’s so cool, especially in the South where you can’t go out and meet people like this unless you join an organization like Spectrum at LSU or something like that,” Mourot says. “But to come here and have a sport where you’re working out and meeting new people just to feel totally accepted in who you are is just amazing.”

League member Alyssa “Guacarolly” Fitzsimmons says she also joined derby in hopes of settling into a home within the LGBTQ community. Looking for other queer women was not about finding someone to date, but rather about meeting people who live a shared experience, she says.

Fitzsimmons found the community she was looking for and fell in love with the league and the sport itself. Above everything else, derby teaches her to live a fearless life both on and off the track, she says.

“It just really drives you to be like, ‘if I can do this one really cool, hard thing, I can really do whatever I want,’” Fitzsimmons says.

What connects women in Red Stick is ultimately their passion for the sport, no matter their sexuality or background, Fitzsimmons says. Though roller derby has a thriving LGBTQ community, women from all walks of life are connected to the sport. Women in the league are teachers, mothers and everything in between.

Anna “Trash Panda” Lacy,

who is an elementary school art teacher, league member and coach for the junior team, says roller derby allows her to serve as a role model for the girls she mentors.

“We’re trying to encourage [the junior players] to be confident in their bodies, as well as realizing that it’s more important to be strong than it is to be skinny,” Lacy says. “We’ve had girls that started out and they’re like, ‘I want to do this because it’s going to make me really thin.’

And then about a week into it, they’re like, ‘oh I like playing this because look at how strong I am and look at these muscles that haven’t been there before.’”

Lacy says her work in the derby world shows girls, even outside of the league, they can be just as strong as their male peers.

“It’s pretty fun because even the kids who don’t play are able to see that if the art teacher can play, [they] can play,” Lacy says. “Girls don’t have to just be cheerleaders — they can be strong, too. They can get out there, and they can play the same things the boys are playing.”

Lacy is not the only derby woman dedicated to setting a positive example for younger generations. When league member Cynthia “Original Cyn” Sanders decided to have a baby in the middle of her derby career, she chose to merge both aspects of her life.

Sanders continued to skate — not play — for eight months of her pregnancy. Now, her son is 2 years old, and she continues to compete in derby as she balances the sport on top of having a family and working two jobs.

“It’s a constant juggle, I think,” Sanders says. “Don’t let yourself say, ‘I can’t do it because I’m a mom.’ I struggle every day wondering if I should be spending more time with [my son], but he’s given no signs that he’s missing me. So until he does that I’m just going to keep going.”

Sanders doesn’t know what her life would look like

without derby. Thoughts of what comes next after derby will cross her mind, usually during bouts of exhaustion, but she says she will keep competing because it shows her son a real-life example of a strong woman.

“When my kid sees a picture of a derby girl, he says ‘mommy,’ and that’s pretty cool,” Sanders says. “We just had an assignment for his day care where he had to do things that start with the letter A. We did ‘athlete,’ and it was a picture of a derby girl. He didn’t say ‘athlete’ — he would only say ‘mommy,’ and to me, that’s what makes it. I’m going to keep doing it forever.”

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