The Reveille 9-17-20

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Patrick Peterson Tyrann Mathieu

Leonard Fournette

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D.J. Chark Jr. Grant Delpit

Jonathan Giles

VES

Ja’Marr Chase officially declared for the NFL draft, leaving the No. 7 throne without an heir (for now).

NEWS

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LSU Athletics announces student ticket plans, with priority given to students who have completed a COVID-19 test.

ENTERTAINMENT

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“A childhood favorite, ‘Mulan’ challenges the status quo and highlights the heroism and courageousness of one woman.”

SPORTS

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A pair of former LSU Tigers currently hold the first and second-best odds to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

OPINION

Read on

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“With relatively few tests and a high positivity rate, it is clear the current estimate of 718 is far from the real figure.”

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r e k a m ay- ll l p e u tr ba t a o s o k f r a in LSU o. 7 m

BY BROCK SANDERS @BrockSanders6 Two numbers have always been at the forefront of every LSU fan’s mind: No. 18 and No. 7.

The player who will wear the No. 18 jersey is voted on by coaches and is a symbol of leadership for a worthy athlete to wear. But the No. 7 jersey is now seen as a symbol of the elite, only gaining national attention in 2008 with the arrival of Patrick Peterson. Today, the jersey is a token of notoriety, only being worn by the next play-maker of the team.

However, the jersey was held by one legendary College Football Hall of Fame player before Peterson.

Bert Jones was the first player to wear the number in 1970 as a sophomore quarterback. Jones won the Sporting News Player of the Year award in 1972 after passing for 1,446 yards and 14 touchdowns. Thus began the eventual reign of the No. 7 jersey long before the ceremonial baton, or jersey, passing in 2011.

After Jones left for the NFL following the 1972 season, the No. 7 jersey remained unworn until 1979. From 1979 to 2007, a total of 13 players ranging from freshman quarterbacks to junior linebackers wore the jersey. In 2008, Peterson became the caretaker of the jersey as a top freshman recruit.

Patrick Peterson (2008-2011) Peterson’s LSU career lasted from 2008 to 2011, leaving in 2011 as one of the most decorated athletes in school history with the Chuck Bednarik Defensive Player of the Year Award, the Jim Thorpe Most Outstanding Defensive Back Award and two First-Team All-American awards. That same year, however, another rising star was brewing in the background of Peterson’s reign: a four-star cornerback from New Orleans wearing No. 14 named Tyrann Mathieu.

Tyrann Mathieu (2011-2012) Mathieu, nicknamed “Honey Badger” for his ability to force

fumbles, became the next holder of the No. 7 jersey after speaking with Peterson and the coaching staff at the time. Mathieu discussed in an interview before the 2011 fall season about his relationship with Peterson and the inevitable tradition that would come from wearing the jersey.

“Pat was like a brother to me,” he said in an interview in 2011.

“Me getting his number is me giving back to him.”

The Honey Badger continued Peterson’s tradition into his sophomore season by reclaiming the Chuck Bednarik Award from his former teammate and accumulating an assortment of other accolades, such as the SEC Player of the Year award, Consensus AllAmerican and a Heisman Finalist.

The team released Mathieu for team-violations, and the jersey spent two seasons without a worthy owner.

Leonard Fournette (2014-2016) The next big-time play-maker in Death Valley, Leonard Fournette, came from the Seventh Ward of New Orleans and wore the number not only as a participant of the tradition, but as an homage to his home. Fournette came from the same high school as Mathieu and quickly rose as the new star play-maker of the Tigers’ lineup.

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“No. 7 is the number for big-

time play-makers from the program like myself, Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu,” he said.

“As I mentioned on Twitter, that number changes the program and there’s a lot to come for players wearing that number.”

Fournette ended his career with record-breaking games and stats including averaging 162.8 yards per game his sophomore season. On his departure, the tradition fell to his roommate, wide receiver D.J. Chark Jr. D.J. Chark Jr. (2014-2017) “We always had talks about the number and the legacy and making big plays,” said Chark Jr., describing his talks with Fournette. “When he left, he passed it on to me. I couldn’t wait to wear it.”

Chark Jr. wore the No. 7 his senior year after showing his speed and versatility the year prior. In the 2018 season, he finished third in receptions, second in receiving yards and tied for most receiving touchdowns. One year later, he nearly doubled his yards, receptions and touchdowns earning himself the nickname “The Flash.”

After Chark Jr.’s departure, new wide receiver Jonathon Giles transferred to LSU after a phenomenal season at Texas Tech

WHO COULD BE NEXT? Many sports analysts would say sophomore prodigy Derek Stingley Jr., who ended his freshman campaign as one of the league’s top cornerbacks. But for the time being, keeping No. 24 seems to be the choice for Stingley Jr., according to a tweet he made last week.

In the meantime, the No. 7 will remain in the lockers as another goal to achieve for the current team members.

Whether it be Stingley Jr., freshman tight end Arik Gilbert or a mystery player on the LSU roster who has yet to rise to the occasion, the jersey is only as valuable as the player wearing it. Any future player to continue the tradition could either crumble under the pressure (like Giles did) or rise as the Tigers’ lead play-maker like Peterson intended.

University, where he recorded over 1,000 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. However, those numbers would not translate into the Tigers’ offense.

Jonathon Giles (2017-2018) Giles wore the No. 7 for six games and only caught seven catches for 32 yards. He switched to No. 12 and finished a lackluster season with 10 catches for 59 yards. The jersey then sat for the remainder of the season with no player willing to take its pressure until the next season.

While Giles struggled to continue the play-making tradition of the jersey, sophomore safety Grant Delpit was flourishing alongside other defensive powerhouses as one of the best safeties in the NCAA. Grant Delpit (2017-2020) Delpit was given the number after his breakout 2018 season, where he was a finalist for the Nagurski Award– which is given to college football’s best defensive player– and a consensus AllAmerican.

“I understand what the number represents and how important the number is to the LSU football program,” he said in a press release in 2019.

Although Delpit dealt with a consistent ankle injury, the No. 7 had returned to a rightful owner as the Houston native won the Jim Thorpe Award and helped the Tigers’ defense in their National Championship run.

Ja’Marr Chase (2018-2020) Another star on the roster that year, who wound up winning the Biletnikoff Award, was sophomore wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. As the final seconds ticked off the clock and LSU became the 2019 National Champions, many saw Chase as the new rightful owner of the No. 7.

However, Chase gave up the jersey prematurely after he opted out of the 2020 season to prepare for the NFL Draft. With Chase’s departure, the famous No. 7 jersey is now vacant with no immediate heir to the historic throne.

Digital Editor LARA NICHOLSON News Editor ANNA JONES Deputy News Editor KATHERINE MANUEL Sports Editor NATASHA MALONE Deputy Sports Editor REED DARCEY Entertainment Editor WHITNEY HICKS Opinion Editor GRACE PULLIAM Production Editor JENNIE DELATTE Multimedia Editor ABBY KIBLER

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

ABOUT THE REVEILLE The Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. A single issue of The Reveille is free. To purchase additional copies, please visit the Office of Student Media in B-39 Hodges Hall. The Reveille is published 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

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SOCIALLY DISTANT SEASON LSU Athletics announces new student ticket prioritization system

Fat Boy’s Pizza opens, serves 30inch pizza

BY AMBER BUETTNER @Amber_Buettner

Due to Tiger Stadium’s 25% capacity, the LSU Ticket Office and Student Government developed a prioritization plan that attempts to “accommodate as many students as possible with a ticket to at least one game” this season. Tickets will be allotted to students using both the 2019 LSU Student Priority Point Rankings, as well as by classification. Seniors will receive 40% of available tickets, and juniors will receive 30%. Sophomores, freshmen and transfer students will each receive 15%, and graduate/professional students will receive 10%.

The University announced

A new location of Fat Boy’s Pizza is bringing New York-style pizza to University students.

The popular pizza place already found success in Metairie and does not plan to stop expanding.

Fat Boy’s Pizza is known for its 16 and 30 inch pizzas and for selling pizza by the slice. The restaurant also offers appetizers, daiquiris, beer and desserts. The Baton Rouge location opened Sept. 3 at 3624 Nicholson Drive.

Owner Gabe Corchiani saw this large, single-slice pizza in Miami and, with inspiration from New York-style pizza, the Fat Boy’s pizza slice was born.

He knew nothing similar was being offered in Louisiana and wanted to bring the unique style of pizza to the state.

“Because the 30-inch pie is so large, it’s always a conversation piece or people always want to take pictures of it or post it because it’s definitely a concept you don’t usually see,” Corchiani said.

The single-slice pizza can be helpful to those who live in dorms and don’t have a place to store leftovers. While one slice of pizza might not usually be enough for a meal, a slice at Fat Boy’s is about three times the size of a normal slice.

“We do sell the pizza by the slice, which are very large, you know, our motto is ‘size matters,’”

see TICKETS, page4

see PIZZA, page 4

REVEILLE ARCHIVES

BY BAILEY CHAUVIN @BaileyChauvin LSU Athletics announced its plans for student ticket priority consideration on Monday.

Priority consideration will be given to students who have completed a COVID-19 test and reported their results to the University at any time after Aug. 15. In his weekly Wednesday press conference, Interim President Tom Galligan said all tests will be prioritized at the same rate, regardless of when the test was taken.

Galligan said the priority date, currently set at Aug. 15, may be moved as the season progresses.

“We didn’t make it a requirement,” Galligan said.

“We made it a priority. If people choose to get tested, they will be prioritized.”

Students are the only group of fans that are being incentivized to get tested, LSU Athletics Director Scott Woodward said. All other fans, including season-ticket holders, are encouraged to get tested but will not receive any priority consideration for doing so.

Information on how to submit proof of a completed COVID-19 test is included in LSU Athletics’ student ticket request online form, which can be found here. The University offers several free testing options on campus, including various testing PODs and testing in front of the Student Union.

The Sept. 14 email also included a number of “fan safety precautions” that all attendees, including students, will have to adhere to.

Fans who may be sick, are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or have medical issues of concern as listed by the CDC are advised to stay home.

Face masks covering the nose and mouth are required at all times on campus; coverings may be temporarily removed while consuming food and beverages. Social distancing is also mandatory at all times on campus, including Tiger Stadium. Fans aren’t permitted to smoke or vape on campus and must adhere to all other safety guidelines as indicated by on-premise signage at the stadium.

Fans will also be asked to reduce the items they bring to Tiger Stadium to minimize contact points and bag searches. Geaux Safe and other in-stadium policies remain in place for 2020. All transactions

will be cashless this season, but cash-to-card kiosks will be available.

ENVIRONMENT

LSU researchers aim to combat face mask pollution on campus

BY MADELYN CUTRONE @cutronemadelyn

On a walk around his neighborhood, LSU professor Mark Benfield spotted disposable masks, gloves and wipes littered on the street. He decided to begin a research initiative on personal protective equipment waste that has now spread around the world.

Benfield photographed littered PPE using a device with a geolocator that tagged where the image was taken. Paired with a fitness tracker on his phone, he was able to determine the scope of the area he was walking and how many pieces of PPE he encountered.

Soon after he began this project, colleagues from across the globe joined in his mission.

To date, he has collected data from the United States and U.K to Canada, Italy, the UK, Germany, China and several other Asian nations.

“This is an entirely new class of plastic waste we’ve not seen before. All we can do is try to contain it and minimize how much it gets into the environment,” Benfield said.

Benfield said Louisiana is not one of the worst polluters in the world, but it’s “not the best either.”

On a short walk from LSU’s Energy, Coast and Environment building to Tureaud Hall, he encountered three pieces of PPE: a disposable mask, a reusable mask and a glove. In downtown Baton Rouge, he noticed an unused COVID-19 test kit, nasal swabs

and a Purell bottle. “[Littered PPE] is only one rainfall away from getting into the Mississippi River or a bayou and then into the Gulf of Mexico,” Benfield said. “All the fibers in masks are potentially millions of microplastic particles that will break down and get into the ocean. The pollutants that attach to those plastic particles act like a sponge for pollutants.”

Benfield said PPE waste becomes personal when students realize the fish they catch in other areas of Louisiana could be contaminated by the plastic they litter.

“You could be eating chemicals that were attached to the plastic that got amplified and moved up the food chain,”

see MASKS, page 4

ELIZABETH SULLIVAN / The Reveille

A face mask in the grass on Sept. 5 outside the Art and Design Building.

Thursday, September 17, 2020

page 4 TICKETS, from page 3 that approximately 2,200 student tickets will be allotted for each game. This means approximately 880 seniors; 440 juniors; 330 sophomores, freshmen and transfer students and 220 graduate students will be offered tickets for each game.

All 71,000 football season ticket holders had the option to opt out of this season; over 46,000 chose to do so. Besides the student tickets allotted, the University announced it will allot for 24,850 opt-ins, 500 Tiger Band seats and 500 seats for the visiting institution.

The deadline to place a student ticket request is Thursday, Sept. 17, at 5 p.m.

When completing the request, students will be asked to list the game options in order of the games they would most like to be considered for. There is no maximum or minimum to the number of games students can select. Students who receive the Sept. 26 Mississippi State game will be notified via email by Sept. 21. Students selected for all other games will be notified via email by Oct. 2.

Students will be charged for their ticket once selections are completed; they will also receive more information on how to reserve tickets with friends who may also be attending that game. Student tickets will not be allowed to be transferred, and no student

guest tickets will be available.

A $2 processing charge will be added to each ticket price a student pays this season.

All tickets will be reserved seating.

Students will receive information about group seating at a later time, but groups are limited to a maximum of four people.

Tailgating on campus will not be permitted in 2020, meaning all tents, trailers, outdoor cooking, generators and communal food and beverage areas will be prohibited.

Fans can visit LSU Athletics’ 2020 Tiger Stadium Policies for a full list of rules and regulations for the 2020 football season, which is set to open on Sept. 26.

PIZZA, from page 3 Corchiani said. “Generally, the favorite is usually between the pepperoni and the Fat Boy, and the Fat Boy is the supreme.”

Between 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday through Friday, Fat Boy’s Pizza offers a lunch combo that consists of a half slice of cheese or pepperoni pizza, choice of a side salad and a fountain drink for $9.99 “I liked that the pizza slices were really big, so I only had to get one,” dietetics senior Macy Kidder said. “it was really flavorful and was a good price for how much we got.”

At the Metairie location, the Saints Point After show is hosted in the restaurant. Fat Boy’s

plans to do the same in Baton Rouge “We’ve gone ahead and seen that a lot of athletes have come in so far and tried our pizza and liked it a lot,” Corchiani said. “So, we plan on doing a whole lot with the LSU football programs as well as all the athletics.”

Sports administration senior Gavin Assavedo said the Metairie location was a favorite of his in high school, and the supreme pizza is some of the best he’s had.

“I got the wings and a slice of pizza which I felt was the perfect meal,” Assavedo said. “I’m a big fan of the Point After show so I hope they do something similar at the Baton Rouge location.”

2020 FOOTBALL SEASON STUDENT TICKET PRICES MISSISSIPPI STATE Sept. 26 $15

MISSOURI Oct. 3 $12

SOUTH CAROLINA Oct. 24 $12

ALABAMA Nov. 14 $30

OLE MISS Dec. 5 $15 MASKS, from page 3 Benfield said.

PPE is also a potential biohazard and cannot be recycled, according to Director of the Office of Environmental Health and Safety Michael Hooks. Even properly discarded masks and gloves will end up in a landfill, emit greenhouse gases and contribute to rising pollution levels.

“There’s really no way to recycle something that’s been contaminated,” Hook said.

“Typically that material is given to a third party vendor and it’s incinerated, then the ashes are treated and landfilled.”

Assistant Director at Campus Sustainability Sarah Temple said her department is considering buying biodegradable gloves for custodians. Temple is researching environmentallyfriendly cleaning methods and sustainable options for campus.

Campus Sustainability is also working on several social media awareness campaigns to combat PPE litter around the community.

“It might seem like one pair of gloves to you, but it adds up and it’s really bad for the environment,” Temple said. “It’s affecting the water that we eat, drink and fish from.”

KRISTEN YOUNG / The Reveille

Fat Boy’s Pizza opened on Sept. 16 on Nicholson Dr. Temple said she is considering the possibility of litter cleanup crews focused on PPE waste. The logistics of maintaining in-person meeting guidelines as outlined in LSU’s COVID-19 Presidential Directive are still being explored.

PPE can be properly disposed by placing all contaminated items in a secure bag and putting it into a waste receptacle. Benfield said loose PPE is likely to blow out of trash cans and wind up on the street. He said it’s beneficial to wildlife when strings are cut off of disposable masks.

“I think that’s something everyone should do,” Benfield said. “Like taking six-pack rings and cutting them.”

Students interested in joining Benfield’s research project can email covid19waste@gmail.com.

Participants must have a phone with a suitable camera and geolocation option and a fitness app with tracking capabilities.

“We all take pride in our beautiful campus,” Benfield said. “Seeing this medical waste on the ground sends entirely the wrong message to LSU students, staff and visitors. It’s something in terms of campus pride we should be considering. All of this PPE waste is very much under our control.”

JALEN HINTON / The Reveille

A mask lies on the ground on LSU campus on Sept. 11.

ENTERTAINMENT

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This Week in Baton Rouge

BY CAROLINE HEBERT | @sister_carols

With a global pandemic happening, events may be limited, but the fun does not have to be. Baton Rouge is always offering fun activities to participate in; below are suggestions that are fun yet safe.

Pretty Sights

Mid-City Makers Market

Sunset Paddle

With events lacking, visiting Baton Rouge’s prettiest locations can be a fun way to spend your time. Below are a list of places perfect to take cute pictures or to admire the sights.

This Saturday, people can experience Baton Rouge’s mid-city market to see, taste, smell and hear what our great city has to offer. The fun is located at 1509 Government St.

RiverFront Plaza @ 300 River Rd.

Looking for a reason to get your hands dirty? Throw Me Something, located at 257 Lee Dr. Suite P, offers lessons to learn how to throw pottery. Visit throwmesomething.com to find out more and to book your session.

This Thursday at 6:30 p.m. you can paddle board or kayak while watching the warm colors of the sunset fade at Milford Wampold Memorial Park (located at 901 Stanford Ave). Make sure to register at register.brec.org and reserve your spot before they are gone.

Burden Museum & Gardens @ 4560 Essen Ln. LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens @ 4560 Essen Ln.

Pottery Lessons

Although activities are slim, that does not mean there can’t be fun. Be creative and find new spots in Baton Rouge to keep your weeks filled with excitement.

GRAPHICS BY SOHPIE VAGIANOS

MOVIES & TV

Quarantine reality shows: are they still as entertaining?

BY ENJANAE’ TAYLOR @_queenet_ The world we once knew has completely changed, with 2020 throwing us the big curveball that is COVID-19. We’ve all had to adjust, and we have all spent way more time than we’d like to admit watching TV, or at least I have.

A lot of shows have also been forced to shut down production until it’s safe to continue filming.

However, there’s a type of show that always manages to stick around: reality show.

Reality TV has always been my guilty pleasure, and with no new shows coming out for a while, it’s one of my only options for new entertainment.

Some shows are managing to keep up with their modified quarantine versions, and others are not as exciting as they would be normally. Here’s a rundown of some of your quarantine show options and how they’re handling this new normal: “Big Brother: All-Stars” Season 22 of “Big Brother” is its much anticipated, all-stars season. The filming of this season was delayed due to COVID-19, but after each house guest

quarantined for two weeks and got tested, they were allowed into the Big Brother house to play the game. The network did the same thing with its popular show “Love Island.”

I’ve been loving this season and getting to see so many of my favorite players play the game together. Not much has changed; the house guests are always isolated and unaware of what’s going on outside the house, and this season there’s no exception.

The biggest difference is fans are watching the game in the late summer, but I don’t mind since it’s one of the only things keeping me sane during the beginning of the school year.

“Catfish: The TV Show” “Catfish” is back with remote, virtual episodes. The editing is still good, and it’s cool to see little peeks of Nev’s and Kamie’s lives from home. Honestly, this is the perfect show to do remotely.

It highlights online relationships, so it only makes sense to do it online.

Watching the show on Zoom feels like a big gossip session with friends, and I’m here for it.

Now, the most they can do is get the mystery love interest to video

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

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COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

chat, but I still find it interesting to watch and catch up with all the drama.

cided to get their couples to film themselves during quarantine.

This allowed fans to get an inside look on how the couples were handling being together 24/7.

This lockdown adds a whole new layer to what’s al-

ready a complicated and hard relationship. It’s interesting to see how each couple is handling the situation, so I don’t mind this little mini season, but I hope they don’t do a full virtual season because it wasn’t as good as a regular season.

“90 Day Fiancé: Self-Quarantined” The very popular TLC reality show “90 Day Fiancé” de-

Thursday, September 17, 2020

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Thursday, September 17, 2020

REV R ANKS

MUSIC

MUSIC

KRISTEN YOUNG / The Reveille

Top 5 places to buy records in Baton Rouge

BY OLIVIA DEFFES @liv_deffes If you haven’t heard yet, vinyl records are increasing in popularity years after their initial prime. Instead of going out with the old and in with the new, music lovers are embracing this out-dated way of listening. Here are five of the best places in the Baton Rouge area to expand your collection or pick out your first press.

The Exchange Located on Government Street, The Exchange truly is a musical diamond in the rough.

Blink and you might miss it, but you definitely won’t want to if you’re looking for your next vinyl purchase.

This place is crammed with thousands of records at affordable prices. Overflowing

MOVIES & TV

REV R ANKS

BY ENJANAE’ TAYLOR @_queenet_ Freeform has announced its lineup for 31 Nights of Halloween and it’s full of scary good movies for the whole family.

The annual spookfest is often ridiculed by fans. For the past few years it seems like Freeform could never get a complete lineup of movies to please everyone.

This time around however, it got everything right.

Not only did it continue the takeover of “Hocus Pocus,” it also included “Halloweentown” and “Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge.”

Some other series showing next month include “Twitches” and “Twitches Too,” “The Addams Family (1991)” and “Addams Family Values,” and “Scream” and “Scream 2.”

I’m personally excited for “Ghostbusters” even though I’ve watched that movie more times than I can count, I still get excited to watch it during spooky season.

The 2016 version of the hit film starring Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy and Leslie

crates are organized by genre and artists. You can even ask to have a record played while you shop.

Another perk of this store is the “wish list” at checkout where customers can write down their name and number along with whatever they couldn’t find in-store, and they will be contacted once the record is available.

The Exchange is more than vinyl records; it also offers CDs and video games. Take a look through the fifty-cent bins outside the store and the $2 rack at the front of the store; you never know what kind of deals you might find.

Capital City Records Found on Perkins Road, Capital City Records offers both new and used vinyl records along with a selection of CDs. Personally, I like to flip through the $5 records

when I’m browsing for my collection.

If you have time while shopping, take a second to strike up a conversation with owner Dana Labat; this man sure knows his music. This store also one of the best record stores to go to if you’re looking for older records.

All of the used records I’ve purchased from Capital City records were in great condition. Whether you’re looking for an original pressing or a new release, Capital City Records has it all.

Cool Vinyl Records at The Pink Elephant Although this is not exactly a full record store, Cool Vinyl Records is comprised of a booth inside of The Pink Elephant, an antique store located on Government Street.

Starting from the low price of $3, shopping at this booth won’t

break the bank. Although it may seem small, Cool Vinyl Records is always stocked with popular artists and titles. Cool Vinyl Records sells most of the records that are featured in Rolling Stone Magazine’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” list.

Even though you’re not shopping at an actual record store, you can pick up some vinyl from this booth then shop around the antique store for other knick-knacks from the past.

Pop Shop Records A local shop in Midcity Baton Rouge, Pop Shop Records prides itself on being a record store that gets to know the music lovers they supply. Pop Shop Records is a great place to go if you’re looking to start out your collection.

Along with vinyl, both old and new, this store also offers turntables and record players. Pop Shop

Records also has social events such as open mic nights and small live performances. Can’t make it to the shop? Browse a selection of new records and vinyl equipment online. Whether you’re looking for Harry Styles or The Beatles, Pop Shop Records has something for you.

Urban Outfitters Urban Outfitters is more of a clothing store than a place to buy records, but it has expanded its selection of in-store vinyls instore. Located in Perkins Rowe, Urban Outfitters has dedicated a large part of its upstairs section to vinyl lovers. For the people into newer and indie artists, Urban Outfitters has many popular artists to choose from. I like going here for those exclusive vinyl records that are cool colors instead of plain black or are printed with pictures right on the disk.

31 Nights of Halloween n e e w o l l a H f o s t h g i n N 1 3 31 Nights of Halloween 31 Nights of Halloween Jones will be making its Freeform debut on Oct. 24.

I’m also excited for some of my favorite classic Halloween films from my childhood to be on the schedule again like “Caspar (1995),” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Monsters Inc.” and “Corpse Bride.” “Beetlejuice” is another favorite of mine that made the cut.

I personally think Freeform did a great job with the schedule this year. I think many people agree, being that I haven’t seen the comment section of a 31 Nights Of Halloween schedule post this calm in years.

Of course, there aren’t any of your full on scary movies, but that makes sense because Freeform is a family friendly network. Besides, so many other networks keep the “Halloween” series and films like it running all month long, so you’ll get the best of both worlds in the end.

Freeform has a good mix of actual children movies, including some many of us grew up with, and more spooky movies for all ages.

The best part is, the complete

schedule gives us even more great movies to catch.I would definitely recommend looking at the complete schedule on Freeform’s website because there’s a lot of extra movies I’m sure people have been requesting.

Movies like “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” (I know my Tik Tok users are

thinking about him), “Matilda,” and “Jumanji” appear on the full schedule. Of course, some people were still upset with some classics missing from the mix, like “Scooby-Doo,” “Coraline” and “Monster House.”

I understand people’s frustration being that those are some of my favorite movies as well, but I’m guessing Freeform chose its battles

regarding what it would pay the rights for.

It seems determined that we won’t have a normal spooky season this year which is extremely upsetting. Even though it sucks we can’t do what we normally do, like experiencing the horrors of Tigerland, it’s important to continue to social distance and wear face masks.

This is the perfect time to take advantage of 31 Nights Of Halloween and have a movie night at home. To look at the full 31 Nights Of Halloween schedule, visit https:// w w w.freefor m.com / news/recaps - a nd news/31-nightsof-halloweenschedule.

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1000 GECS AND THE TREE OF CLUES 100 gecs

100 gecs has to be my favorite duo of all time.

I’ll even compare them to Paul McCartney and John Lennon because they’re innovative and experimental. Their music basically taught me to express my true self and embrace how weird the world is. 100 gecs makes life fun and interesting.

Britney Young @byoun99 NETFLIX SERIES

GET EVEN Netflix

“Get Even” doesn’t bring anything new to the teen thriller genre. There are plot holes and cliched teenage melodrama. The cinematography isn’t that special and doesn’t stands out. However, the soundtrack established scenes’ moods and sometimes stole the spotlight. The secondary characters aren’t that memorable, leading me to go back and say, “Who is that?”

Ariel Baise @arielbiancaa MUSIC

SMILE

‘Mulan’ highlights heroism and breaks societal stereotypes

BY JORDANNE A. DAVIS @jordanneashley A live action version of a childhood favorite “Mulan” challenges the status quo and highlights the heroism and courageousness of one woman.

Portrayed by Yifei Liu, Mulan defends the empire and protects her family while fully embodying loyalty, bravery and truth.

Speaking to the admiration he had for his daughter, Zhou, played by Tzi Ma, narrates this version of the film. Opening with a tribute to her chi, he details the unique power and abilities of Mulan, explaining how one’s chi is strengthened through honesty.

Marked as being honorable for a man to wield, having chi and its subsequent abilities were honorable in men, where “a daughter would risk shame, dishonor, exile.”

Foreshadowing the significance of the phoenix, Mulan and Zhou return to the broken statue when she is a young girl. “Some

say the phoenix is consumed by flame, then emerges again. I think she can survive a broken wing. Your chi is strong Mulan, but chi is for warriors, not girls,” said Zhou, burying the fire within his daughter with the fall of every word.

Only partly stifling her chi, Mulan expressed her power in small doses to maintain the appearance of what a woman should be and how she should act. Fearful of her father not returning home from war, Mulan acted on instinct and joined the ranks of the army by disguising herself as a man. Reconnecting with her chi while training, the truth of Mulan began to move closer to the surface, seeping out slowly and then all at once, guiding her to fulfill her destiny.

I could not be more proud of the message the film it sends to women everywhere. Heroism does not distinctly and exclusively belong to men. Women can wield power, intelligence and expertise.

Challenging the status quo,

Mulan breaks barriers for the mere belief that women can be more than just “quiet, composed, graceful, elegant, poised, polite,” that women can be champions, warriors and winners.

Surveying the film in its entirety, there is only one aspect that I would like to have seen that was left out of the most recent version. The melodies of the iconic songs such as “Honor to Us All,” “Reflection” and “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” are present, yet the actual songs fail to make an appearance.

However, with a purely objective stance, both films can stand strongly on their own.

Additionally, the choices of the director to not explore the romantic relationship of Mulan and her possible love interest allows the strength of her womanhood to stand in its entire glory, giving absolute truth to the words of Zhou at the end of the film in regards to Mulan, “The girl became a soldier. The soldier became a leader, and the leader became a legend.”

Katy Perry

I love this album, and it definitely made me smile despite all the chaos 2020 has given us. You’ll like it if you’re a fan of Perry’s, but I think it has something for everyone. The pop star came out fully swinging with her first single for this new album last year “Never Really Over.” It was a great way to start off the album and set the bar high for the rest of the songs.

EnJanae’ Taylor @_queenet_ AMAZON SERIES

THE BOYS Amazon

While the setting and circumstances are crucial to the narrative, the real focus is the observable changes in the way characters grow to engage with their respective conflicts.

Whether that means grappling with the unavoidable power or the frustrating helplessness against Vought, it shows a monstrously large corporation as powerful and morally crooked as its “heroes.”

Taner Morgan @taner_morgan Read the full reviews online at lsunow.com/entertainment

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page 8

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The Student Media Board is comprised of LSU students, faculty, staff and media professionals who are responsible for interviewing and selecting students who have applied for the top editor or manager positions for The Reveille, Tiger TV, KLSU Radio and Gumbo Yearbook. The at-large student must not hold office in Student Government, must not be enrolled in the Manship School of Mass Communication and must not be employed by LSU Student Media. Availability for Friday afternoon meetings up to three times per semester is required.

The first meeting is Friday, November 6th via Zoom. If interested, please email studentmedia@lsu.edu and include a brief statement about your interest in LSU Student Media and why you want to serve on the board.

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FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

THE Daily Commuter Puzzle ACROSS 1 Old crone 4 Teasdale & Gilbert 9 Out in the __; visible to all 13 Sty supper 15 Wooden box 16 Actor Bridges 17 Turner or Fey 18 Traveler’s stop 19 SAT, for one 20 Chattanooga’s state 22 __ and crafts 23 Showed up 24 Tai __; meditative exercise 26 Do-to-do on the piano 29 One who studies plants 34 Unsteady 35 Stitched 36 Sorority letter 37 Nat or Natalie 38 Prepared to take a selfie 39 Largest car maker in Italy 40 “__ You Lonesome Tonight?”

41 Closes 42 Walkway 43 Lifesavers 45 Shoved 46 “__ Clear Day You Can See Forever” 47 Make haste 48 South American capital city 51 Like a terrible headache 56 Big spades 57 In the air 58 Morays & congers 60 Express pent-up emotion 61 Barnes & __ 62 Hilarious person 63 Does basic arithmetic 64 Rough woolen fabric 65 Scale divisions: abbr.

DOWN 1 Truman’s initials 2 Landed

by Jacqueline E. Mathews

Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews

3 “Going, going, __!”; auction cry 4 Crafty plot 5 Went skyward 6 Word of disgust 7 Fits to __; is exactly right 8 Chose 9 Acquire 10 Look long & hard 11 Bridge position 12 Crazy 14 Flapjack 21 Shade of blue 25 “…Humpty Dumpty __ a great fall…”

26 “Sesame Street” fellow 27 Task 28 Yarns 29 Outperforms 30 Has debts 31 Like Pierce Brosnan & Liam Neeson 32 Layered rock 33 Carried 35 Tart 38 Ring-necked bird 39 More questionable

9/17/20

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

41 Source of light 42 Brisbane’s nation: abbr.

44 Shorelines 45 Played miniature golf 47 Soldier’s gun 48 Mauna Loa’s output

9/17/20

49 Applied frosting to 50 Repair 52 Farm machine 53 Frontal __; part of the brain 54 Diamond, for one 55 Big dollop 59 Canonized people: abbr.

SPORTS BEGINNER’S LUCK The NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award is LSU’s to lose

BY TAYLOR LYONS @taylorjlyons A pair of former LSU Tigers currently holds the first and second best odds to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, the first and last selections in the first round of the 2 0 2 0 draft, are the

duo that currently leads the offensive rookie of the year race, which also features fifth overall pick and former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as well as a pair of running backs in the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor and Rams’ Cam Akers.

Tiger fans should be used to seeing Burrow and EdwardsHelaire tear up defenses at the college level, and what they’re doing at the professional level shouldn’t be surprising either.

Edwards-Helaire displayed his elusiveness and quickness, breaking tackles and juking past defenders to lead the league in rushing in week one, racking up 138 yards and a touchdown on 5.5 yards per carry in a 34-20 win last Thursday night, when the defending Super Bowl champions took on the Houston Texans.

Burrow nearly led his new team to a win as well, leading the Bengals down the field against a strong Los Angeles Chargers defense late in the fourth quarter, passing for 70 yards on the final drive.

Cincinnati kicker Randy Bullock missed wide-right on what would have been the gamewinning field goal as the clock

page 9 FOOTBALL

Chase Closed: Ja’Marr’s LSU Legacy

BY ANTHONY MOCKLIN @anthony_mocklin

committee approach at the position. The Chiefs have rushed for 1,769 yards on average as a team in the last four seasons, but featured an individual 1,000 yard rusher only once in that span.

Edwards-Helaire offers Reid the option to move away from the committee approach and feature a bell-cow and do-it-all back, which the former Tiger was dur-

LSU receiver Ja’Marr Chase officially announced his decision to opt out of the 2020 college football season on Aug. 30th via his Twitter. With just one season left of eligibility, he is expected to focus on preparing for the NFL Draft.

Chase is the top wide receiver prospect in the 2021 draft class and could be taken with one of the first five selections.

A Louisiana native, Chase was the nation’s No. 19 wide receiver prospect for the class of 2018. He was a four-star recruit at Archbishop Rummel High School following a senior campaign that featured a first-team 5A All-State selection.

Chase hauled in 115 passes for 2,152 yards and 30 touchdowns during his time at Rummel. He said he intended to play at Auburn the night before signing day but ultimately chose LSU. “Being close to my family, that’s the biggest thing for me right now,” Chase said in an emotional announcement during 2018’s National Signing Day. “Going through the process

see ROOKIES, page 10

see CHASE, page 10

ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille

LSU senior quarterback Joe Burrow and junior running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (22) get ready for a play on Jan. 13 after LSU’s 42-25 win against Clemson at the National Championship in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. struck zero, just seconds after Burrow had a touchdown pass that also would have won the game called back for an offensive pass interference penalty on receiver A.J. Green.

Kansas City’s high powered offense should provide the rookie running back with an opportunity to produce a similar stat line throughout the season. Andy Reid’s offense has traditionally gone with the

FOOTBALL

Football notebook: Farrell returns; case numbers unclear

BY REED DARCEY @byreeddarcey COVID-19 Update LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward said on Wednesday morning that Ed Orgeron was “a bit too transparent” when he disclosed in a press conference that “most” of the players have already caught the coronavirus.

“The beauty of Coach O is that he’s transparent and honest to a fault,” Woodward said in a press conference. “It’s a great thing.”

LSU Football does not disclose specific virus numbers, citing two student privacy protections, HIPPA and FERPA. The U.S. Department of Education has set FERPA guidelines that allow schools to disclose blanket virus numbers, so long as they do not reveal specific student information.

Orgeron also said on Tuesday that the team currently has three to four active cases.

“I think most, not all of our players, but most of our players

have caught it,” Orgeron said.

“So hopefully they won’t catch it again, and hopefully they’re not out for games.”

Over the summer, Sports Illustrated reported that at least 30 football players were isolating after either testing positive for the virus or encountering someone who did.

All but four members of the offensive line missed some practice time in late August while in quarantine, The Advocate reported.

“I think the vast majority of [the cases] have happened socially,” Woodward said. “I don’t think they received it at practice or in our weight room.”

SEC protocols call for athletes in “high-risk” sports to be tested three times each week and undergo extensive cardiac screening. A player who tests positive is not required to get tested again for 90 days.

“I think our COVID protocol is robust and good, and the kids and

their parents are happy with it,” Woodward said. “I’m happy with it, and I think it speaks of how

and what we’re doing things.”

LSU has reported 718 total cases of COVID-19 on campus

since the school year began.

see NOTEBOOK, page 10

ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille

Coach O arrives on Jan. 13 before LSU’s 42-25 win against Clemson in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

page 10 CHASE, from page 9 with my family, we had our ups and downs. With all the other teams and coaching staffs, too.

I’m glad to get this over with.”

Chase’s recruitment featured a rollercoaster of decisions. He said he initially wanted to play at Ole Miss before the program was penalized by the NCAA. Chase planned to commit to TCU on national television via NFL Network, but the segment was cancelled due to a scheduling conflict. He then announced his commitment to Florida but decommitted following coach Jim McElwain’s departure.

“Auburn made a hell of a push at the end,” said Jimmy Chase, Ja’Marr’s father. “We were all LSU until we went to Auburn. The only thing is that we didn’t have enough time to build a relationship with Auburn because it happened so fast. But LSU is a perfect fit for him.”

Once Chase got to Death Valley, there was no looking back.

He played all 13 games for the Tigers in 2018, finishing second on the team in catches (23) and third in yards (313).

It was Chase’s sophomore season that turned him into a household name. He became the most decorated receiver in the program’s history.

Chase’s 2019 accomplishments include the Biletnikoff Award for the top receiver in college football. He became the first wide receiver and 11th LSU player to ever be named a unanimous All-American.

Chase was also unanimously named to the All-SEC first team by the Associated Press. He set

ROOKIES, from page 9 ing his junior season, when he rushed for 1,414 yards on 215 attempts, something Kansas City hasn’t had in years.

Edwards-Helaire also flourishes in the passing game. He caught 55 passes for 453 yards last season at LSU and looks to do the same with his new team, a place where running backs received 107 targets last season.

A running back has won the award three of the last five years. The other two, and most recent winners, were quarterbacks.

As the first overall pick, being given the starting job right away is a tall task, as well as a perfect combination for high expectations. Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor says his new quarterback has exceeded them.

“He’s got a full grasp of our offense. …You want your quarterback to be the hardest worker on the team and an extension of the coaching staff. He fits both those descriptions for us right now,” Taylor said of Burrow before training camp. “He really breathes life into this offense, into this team… He’s very confident, he’s not arrogant. I think the team believes in this guy right now, but again he’s earned that in the way that he’s gone

Thursday, September 17, 2020 the single-season SEC records for touchdowns (20) and yards (1,780).

Chase broke the records with a pair of touchdown catches against Clemson in the College Football National Championship. He is the first receiver in school history to record three 200-yard games in a season and the only player in LSU history to have two 200-yard regular season games.

Despite only playing two seasons, Chase said he is thankful for the support he has received. Although his time with LSU football has come to an end, he has left a lasting mark on the program.

“It is truly an honor to represent this university, community and the great state of Louisiana,” Chase said. “The competitor in me badly wants to play the season and go to war with my brothers, but during this time with so much going on, this is what’s best for my family.”

Chase will undoubtedly go down as one of the best receivers to ever wear the purple and gold. He, along with teammate Justin Jefferson, joined Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry as the only wide receiver duos in LSU history to reach 1,000+ receiving yards in the same season.

Chase joined more elite company before this season even started when he was selected to wear the coveted No. 7 jersey. The number is a tradition at LSU, given to those who have left a legacy at the school and to honor those who have worn it before them.

“Personally, words cannot describe the great honor I have

felt to wear the LSU uniform and the No. 7,” Chase said. “I also understand the responsibility of being chosen to wear the No. 7 jersey, and that’s an honor that I don’t take for granted.”

Despite such a great honor, Chase said he believes that it is in his best interest, as well as his family’s, to opt out of the 2020 season. Junior defensive tackle Tyler Shelvin also decided to opt-out shortly after.

“We wish Ja’Marr and Tyler the best,” coach Ed Orgeron said on 104.5’s Off the Bench. “They helped us win a national championship. They are two great young men from great families.”

Senior defensive back Kary Vincent Jr. also joined Chase in his decision. Chase, Shelvin and Vincent Jr. are expected to prepare for the draft.

Sophomore standout Derek Stingley Jr. expressed his support for Chase in his decision.

Arguably the best cornerback in college football, Stingley said the future is too clouded amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I was not surprised,” Stingley said via Off the Bench. “He has to do what’s best for himself. I respect it, because I just put myself in Chase’s shoes.

What would I do in this situation, because it is a tough situation that we’re dealing with.”

Considered a lock for a top10 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Chase has virtually nothing to gain, but everything to lose. As the college season remains in the balance, Chase has taken the safe approach to secure the health and safety of his family as well as his draft stock.

“I have been fighting the thoughts and concerns that have

crept into my mind but I cannot ignore what I feel in my heart.

This ultimately is the best de-

about his work.”

LSU may very well already have the award locked up, with two former teammates who

once worked together to take down opponents now battling it out between themselves for who comes out on top.

NOTEBOOK, from page 9

cision for me,” Chase said. “I’ll look forward to returning to the field in 2021.”

ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille

Ja’Marr Chase (1) prepares for a play at the Jan.13 College Football National Championship game in New Orleans.

Farrell Returns. Could Shelvin follow suit?

Junior defensive lineman Neil Farrell has opted back into the 2020 season, The Athletic reported.

Farrell opted out in August, citing family health concerns amid the pandemic.

Last season, he recorded 46 tackles, seven tackles for loss and

three sacks. He started in three games and appeared in all 15.

Orgeron said on Tuesday that he has talked to the family of defensive tackle Tyler Shelvin, who opted out of the season. Rumors are circulating that Shelvin could also re-join the team.

Shelvin is widely considered one of the best defensive linemen in the SEC. If he returns, he will likely start next to Farrell and make an immediate impact.

ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille

LSU junior running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (22) runs the field on Jan. 13 after LSU’s 42-25 win against Clemson at the National Championship in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille

Coach O cheers on his team on Jan. 13 during LSU’s 42-25 National Championship win against Clemson in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

OPINION

page 11

COVID CASE CONCEALMENT ‘We have no idea how many COVID-19 cases are on campus.’

CLAIRE’S COMMENTARY CLAIRE SULLIVAN

@sulliclaire

Above all else, students want their university to care about them - to put their well-being and safety first.

With a pandemic engrossing the country, a natural disaster ravaging Southwest Louisiana and millions suffering economically from the fallout of 2020, that sentiment rings true now more than ever. These events crept into students’ lives unexpectedly, and we looked to the University for security and understanding.

The issues our administration has been forced to deal with have been enormous and varied, and it deserves our compassion for the difficulty of the task that lies before it. I don’t envy the position it’s in.

There are areas in which the University is falling rapidly behind. It must course-correct now to keep students and employees safe.

On Wednesday, the number of reported coronavirus cases on campus rose to 718. In last week’s weekly press briefing, Interim President Tom Galligan said there had been 4,442 self-reported tests, putting several alarming

facts into context.

First, given the latest data, the University’s positivity rate is a whopping 16%—more than three times higher than the rest of Louisiana.

This fact reveals a simple, but powerful revelation: the University is not conducting anywhere near enough tests. A high positivity rate is indicative of low community testing; for reference, the World Health Organization urges communities and states to strive for a positivity rate under 10%.

With relatively few tests and a high positivity rate, it is clear the current estimate of 718 is far from the real figure.

This cuts at the core issue in the University’s testing strategy: voluntary testing is not enough, especially when young people with the virus are primarily asymptomatic. And, to put it bluntly, students who put themselves in high-risk situations, such as parties with no masks or social distancing, are probably not the same students who would get tested out of their own volition for the common good. (Of course, students engaging in high-risk behaviors do not make up the totality of COVID-19 cases on campus, but they are certainly more likely to contract the virus.)

And opening up Tiger Stadium to 25,000 fans when our CO-

VID-19 data is about as accurate as guessing the number of jelly beans in a jar? It’s clearly unsafe, and it makes you wonder whether that decision was really made with students’ well-being at the forefront.

The University must change tracks by implementing mandatory testing for all students living or attending classes on campus. The coronavirus is an invisible enemy, but the University can at least try to know the scope of what it’s up against.

Students must hold the University accountable for its decisions.

Likewise, the University must also hold students accountable for their irresponsible behaviors; students who test positive for coronavirus and fail to disclose that information to the University should be subject to a disciplinary hearing.

This virus is a matter of life and death. Tigers cannot fail their fellow members of the campus community by knowingly putting them at risk. If they choose to abdicate that responsibility, there should be consequences.

The troubling idea of students not reporting cases to the University is another issue that would be put at rest by a regular, mandatory testing program for every person on campus.

Each day, the reality of this

CARTOON BY BRANDON SHEPHERD

year becomes a little more strange and frightening. The news is full of grief, loss and restlessness.

This is not the year or semester any of us imagined. Now more than ever, we need transparency,

strength and compassion from the University.

Claire Sullivan is an 18-year-old coastal environmental science freshman from Southbury, CT.

Off-campus apartments unsafe for students amid COVID-19 GOING SOUTH TAMIA SOUTHALL

@tamiabrem_

Over Labor Day weekend it seems everyone suddenly forgot social distancing protocol and freely celebrated the holiday with parties throughout Baton Rouge.

Most of the popular pool parties that ended up splattered across social media were located at Baton Rouge apartment complexes, including a few that are considered popular choices for the University’s students as substitutes for upperclassmen housing due to their proximity to campus.

Yet Baton Rouge apartment

complexes still are not doing enough to make sure their residents are following proper social distancing guidelines.

These apartment complexes should have developed strict safety protocol in light of this pandemic. There’s no logical reason not to increase security during holidays. Some of those Labor Day parties had dozens in attendance; complexes should hold residents that arrange these events accountable for jeopardizing the health of those around them.

Those same complexes need to start holding themselves accountable for their lack of preparation during this pandemic.

Most of their occupants are young college students who have

been stuck inside for months.

Why not have extra protocol in place to protect residents?

I live in one of these off-campus apartments. From first-hand experience, I do not feel safe.

There are few regulations to prevent social gatherings; even the mask requirement is not strictly enforced. On multiple occasions, parties in my building had toa be dispersed by police.

There is little security in these buildings, which gives residents the opportunity to freely party.

While there are security guards, they’re generally very inattentive; employees often stroll the hallways and enter residents’ units without wearing masks.

Baton Rouge apartments need to do more to protect their resi-

dents. Housing should have increased supervision to guarantee residents’ health and safety as well as prevent large parties from occurring in their buildings. Overnight security should be increased, and maintenance employees should sanitize common areas more often.

Are our Baton Rouge complexes doing enough to ensure the safety of their residents during a pandemic? No, they are not.

Students depend on these buildings for quality off-campus housing; in turn, their safety affects the on-campus community and the city as a whole.

I cannot put the blame entirely on management. As students, we must refrain from putting ourselves and our peers in danger

Editorial Policies and Procedures EDITORIAL BOARD Bailey Chauvin Brittney Forbes Anna Jones Katherine Manuel Grace Pulliam

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.

for the sake of going to a party.

Your life, and the lives of those around you, is far more valuable than whatever enjoyment you’ll get out of hanging out by the pool for three hours.

These parties won’t matter if you have to quarantine for 14 days or—even worse—be put on a ventilator.

We are all eagerly waiting for life to return to normal, but it will not happen if we keep putting ourselves and our peers in harm’s way. Management can only do so much; we also need to do more to protect ourselves.

Tamia Southall is a 19-year-old mass communication sophomore from New Orleans.

Quote of the Week “If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.”

Carl Sagan astronomer 1934 — 1996

Thursday, September 17, 2020

page 12

Rape culture is real, must be addressed and dismantled KEVIN WONDERS OF THE WORLD KEVIN DOUCETTE @kgdouce Rape culture, whether we believe in it or not, is a reality which we all submit to and participate in as members of a community. We live under a culture wherein rape is seen as an inevitability; an unfortunate, yet typical, fact of life.

Though it may barely register for the offender, rape stays with the victim forever. Even “minor” instances of sexual harassment, such as catcalling or groping, are likely to traumatize victims.

The preservation of rape culture only draws out the pervasive epidemic of sexual violence in America and abroad. An American is sexually assaulted every 73 seconds, according to Rainn; one in six females have experienced sexual assault; one in 10 victims of rape are male; and 21% of transgender, genderqueer and nonconforming college students have been sexually assaulted.

Just as you likely know someone who has been a victim of sexual assault or rape, you likely know an assaulter or rapist. Otherwise kind and well-liked members of the community can successfully hide monstrous private lives.

In August, former LSU student and running back Derrius Guice

was accused of rape by two female alums, one of whom was a former tennis player at the University.

Despite both victims reporting the incidents to the University, neither were ever investigated by the Title IX office. A campus nurse who corresponded with one of the women admitted the incident would probably “get pushed under the rug.” The incident even came to the attention of Coach Ed Orgeron, who reportedly reduced the alleged rape to a sexist comment, remarking, “Everybody’s girlfriend sleeps with other people.”

Enablers will continue to dismiss allegations and protect abusers, especially when doing so lines up with their own social or political motivations. Addressing horrific rape allegations goes hand-in-hand with personal accountability.

If we are to dismantle rape culture, we must approach it both personally and politically. We must de-platform and discourage abusers within our communities and larger institutions.

Through policy, we can secure funds for survivors’ services while ensuring those services are held accountable. That means seeking solutions that benefit survivors, deliver justice and reduce the probability of harm moving forward. The University’s alleged response to Guice’s accusers show we have particular work to do in

ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille

The covered walkway lies empty on June 17 in the Quad on LSU’s campus. our immediate community.

Another vital service for victims of rape is access to abortion.

Like it or not, survivors should have options in approaching a pregnancy resulting from rape.

The state has no business limiting access to essential medical procedures, as that only further violates a victim’s bodily autonomy.

Both Joe Biden and Donald Trump have an obscene number of sexual misconduct and rape allegations against them. Judging from our current political climate, you probably believe at least

one—if not both—of these men is a rapist. With all the public scrutiny such influential figures have weathered successful in the past, we must question: is the system indifferent to rape? Are we?

Culture is built on individual values. When alleged rapists— or admitted ones—prevail in the public eye and even go on to win elections, our values are exposed through democracy.

Keeping our principles in check is necessary to dismantling rape culture. No matter any inconvenience it could bring, we must

believe and amplify survivors’ stories. By discouraging enabling behaviors such as misogynist comments and victim-blaming, we can create a more just society.

Rapists and abusers have no place in our social circles, popular media or political offices. If we truly wish to address the pandemic of sexual violence, we’ll have to contend with these facts and change course.

Kevin Doucette is a 20-year-old political science junior from New Orleans.

Online dating during the pandemic really is the worst GABBING WITH GABBY GABBY MARTINEZ @martinez_g0 Online dating in the year 2020 feels less like a comingof-age romance movie and more like an apocalyptic thriller. From Hinge to Bumble to Tinder, it feels almost impossible to make actual connections with complete strangers amid the global pandemic.

It’s no secret that the bane of every online dater’s existence right now is pick-up lines like: “If COVID-19 doesn’t take you out, can I?” and “Stay home if you sicc.

Come over if you thicc.” Such clichés have spread across these sites like the virus itself, and I can guarantee that absolutely no one wants to catch them.

Yet romantic conversations are admittedly harder to have without someone mentioning the life-threatening coronavirus plaguing our society. Instead of asking about hobbies or aspirations, it’s natural to want to veer more into the realm of casual existentialism.

These timely conversationstarters always seem to get the ball rolling: “Have you gone clinically insane after spending six months in the same house as your family?” or “Do you work with the general public? If so, how often do you cry yourself to

sleep?”

OK, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. But it is hard to have any kind of interaction these days without bringing up the terrifyingly obvious reality we’re all living in.

However, when you do have the occasional decent conversation, it doesn’t tend to stay on a dating app for long. Many young adults and college students prefer using a different platform to communicate—Snapchat.

With online dating, this is where a good connection tends to go bad. Maybe it’s because I’m a writer who prefers to show her immeasurable wit through text, but something about sending pictures of my face or my mundane quarantine surroundings to someone who doesn’t care feels weird and impersonal to me.

Nothing beats finally meeting the person you’ve been strictly online with. As restrictions loosen in the real world, it can be awkward to suggest outings for dates if the other person isn’t completely ready to go back out into the real world just yet. This is a great opportunity for homebodies looking for a chill night in—or a potentially terrifying situation for any woman ever.

This brings me to another fun pandemic dating perk, which is the cat-and-mouse game of waiting to see who brings up their medical status first.

Much like when it comes to

CARTOON BY BRANDON SHEPHERD

gestures like holding the door open and paying on the first date, I’m a traditionalist: I believe it should fall to the more masculine person.

For the more desperate singles, you could always go in completely blind and hope your date isn’t going to secret frat parties in their free time.

If you go with that option, expect to have a potential curveball

thrown your way. As a tip: just think about how you’re going to react when the conversation is going predominantly well only for them to casually mention they were one of the first confirmed cases on campus.

Online dating right now isn’t for the faint of heart—by any means. Did they ghost you, or are they just stuck in the hospital? The world may never know.

At the rate everything is going, I think it’d be smarter for us to revert to the olden times and let our parents arrange our marriages for us. Now is definitely not a great time to be searching for the love of your life—or even just the love of your Friday night.

Gabrielle Martinez is a 19-yearold mass communication sophomore from Gonzales.