The Reveille 11-22-21

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FIGHT FOR .500 LSU gets through ULM game, sets sights on bowl appearance Read on

page 2 NEWS

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Baton Rouge residents called for a second majority Black congressional district at a redistricting meeting.

ENTERTAINMENT

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The 35th edition of the Turkey Trot in downtown Baton Rouge is just one of many events happening this Thanksgiving week.

SPORTS

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Saturday’s win over ULM showed that Ed Orgeron’s new free-style coaching scheme is risky.

An upset was nearly avoided.

OPINION

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“It is notable that Louisiana—a traditionally proud oil and gas state—has committed to net zero emissions”

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‘A WIN IS A WIN’ Johnson adjusts target depth, but offense still frustrates in ULM win

BY REED DARCEY @byreeddarcey Max Johnson’s offense was up 10 points midway through the third quarter when he stared down a 4th and 3 from UL-Monroe’s 14-yard line.

LSU could have kicked the field goal and given their stout defense a larger cushion, but no: Ed Orgeron was fired a few weeks ago, and he was going to be aggressive.

“We didn’t think 13 points was good enough,” Orgeron said.

Offensive Coordinator Jake Peetz called a pass play. Three wide receivers lined up in a bunch formation, and after the snap, ran in three different directions. Jaray Jenkins popped open, but the rush had already gotten to Max Johnson, whose futile throw sailed out of bounds as his knee hit the turf.

Johnson looked frustrated as he picked himself up off the grass.

He was benched last week against Arkansas, but now he was back at the helm of a precarious LSU team. This tilt against the neighboring Warhawks, a far inferior opponent from a far lesser conference, and Johnson had a chance to show that he deserved the starting job in a tune-up game before hosting Texas A&M. Instead, midway through the third quarter, LSU had managed only 17 points on a team from the Sun Belt.

How did Johnson react when Orgeron told him he was

benched last week?

“Like a champ, didn’t say a word,” Orgeron said Monday as LSU was preparing to face ULM. After Orgeron gave the bluechip freshman gunslinger Garrett Nussmeier a shot and decided he wasn’t ready yet, he tossed the keys back to Johnson. And LSU handed him a different game plan.

Against ULM, Johnson released the ball notably quicker, connecting with receivers on quick screens and crossing routes. A quick crosser to Malik Nabers, a quick screen to Tyrion Davis-Price, a swing route to Jack Bech: These were plays that took advantage of LSU’s athleticism. They were designed to put skill players in space and make Johnson more comfortable in the pocket.

For the most part, the new approach worked. LSU won 27-14. Despite a conservative scheme, LSU had little trouble creating chunk plays. Two of their first three touchdowns came on short passes that receivers Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. used their speed to take it to the house after the catch.

Johnson’s unit also had no trouble slowly marching down the field. But again, something they have dealt with all season, the Tigers struggled to capitalize in the red zone.

On their first drive of the second quarter, LSU dialed up three runs that gained 10 yards and moved them to the 9-yard line. Three incomplete passes later, LSU settled for a field goal.

“It seemed like we could nev-

er throw the knockout punch,” Orgeron said. “And they kept on fighting, so give them credit.”

When Johnson was sacked on fourth down in the third quarter, LSU had entered the red zone four times, but on those drives, they came away with only 10 points. They had mounted two drives that combined for 27 plays and 124 yards, chewing 12 minutes of the clock. On those methodical drives, LSU scored zero points.

Orgeron yanked Johnson against Arkansas after two fruitless drives, which resulted in two punts on two drives, one of which ended in Arkansas territory–and a new quarterback for LSU. The freshman Garrett Nussmeier came in and woke up a sleepy Tiger offense. On his first play, he chucked a 40yard bomb that fell incomplete, intended for Nabers.

After some ups, some downs and some theatrics, Nussmeier’s debut ended with an interception in the end zone. He sulked after he threw that pick, and Orgeron advised him and his father after the game that it would be wise to redshirt. They obliged, and Johnson took all the snaps the next week.

Against the Warhawks fans saw a different Johnson, and a slightly different offensive scheme, but the same frustrations lingered. Johnson has struggled with deep-ball accuracy all season, so against ULM he rarely visualized deep targets. Davis-Price said this change was based on ULM defense’s scheme. The offense

Max Johnson vs. ULM Max Johnson Season Avg. CMP: 22 ATT: 33

CMP: 18.5 ATT: 30.5

struggled in the red zone, failing to capitalize on opportunities to put the game away, and leaving opportunities for ULM to climb back into the game.

If the Warhawks hadn’t missed two wide-open receivers in the end zone on two separate fourth downs, maybe the game would have been a lot closer.

Maybe ULM pulls off the upset, and Orgeron doesn’t get one last chance to go to a bowl game.

Instead, LSU slogged through a sleepy non-conference November game in front of a sparse crowd, with little to play for and little improvements to make that will matter. They will now try to salvage whatever’s left of their season against Texas A&M. “Did we play great?” Orgeron asked. “No. Did we make some mistakes? Yeah. But we won the game, and I’m happy for the boys in there.”

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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 Daily Reveille.

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ABOUT THE REVEILLE The Reveille 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.

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NEWS LSU REDISTRICTING FIGHT commuters

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TRANSPORTATION

Black Baton Rouge residents call for more congressional representation

BY PIPER HUTCHINSON @PiperHutchBR Black Baton Rouge residents called for a second majority Black congressional district in Louisiana at the Joint Governmental Affairs Committee’s fifth public meeting on the redistricting process.

At the Nov. 16 meeting at Southern University in Baton Rouge, attendees pointed out that Black residents make up a third of the state’s population, but only one of Louisiana’s six congressional districts is majority Black.

This sentiment was repeated by state Rep. Ted James, chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, who gave public comment.

“One third of six is two,” he repeated multiple times during his five-minute speech.

After U.S. Census results are delivered every 10 years, state legislatures use the data to redraw district lines, which determine how areas of the state are represented politically on a local, state and federal level. Louisiana’s district maps for the U.S. House of Representatives, state legislature, Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and other local jurisdictions will be redrawn.

Louisiana became less rural and more diverse in the last 10 years, the 2020 Census shows. New Orleans and six surrounding parishes are no longer majority white.

Redistricting in Louisiana has historically been fraught with accusations that political districts have been drawn in ways to limit the power of minority voters and keep dominant political groups in

THE REVEILLE ARCHIVES

Gov. John Bel Edwards stands on the side on Jan. 31, 2018, at the William A. Brookshire Military & Veterans Student Center Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony. power.

During his monthly call-in radio show Nov. 17, Gov. John Bel Edwards made his first public comments on the redistricting process.

He said he was prioritizing that the maps be fair and easy to understand.

“We want a fair map so that the voter has a reasonable chance of choosing their representatives, rather than representatives choosing their voters,” Edwards said.

Edwards said he’s concerned about “packing and cracking,” which are types of gerrymandering meant to weaken the voting power of a political party or racial group.

Packing forces a large number of voters from one group into a single or small number of districts to lessen their power in other districts. Cracking dilutes the power of those voters into many districts.

State Rep. John Stefanski, chair of the House and Governmental Affairs Committee, which oversees redistricting, said that he hasn’t had any communication with the Governor.

“The Governor has the final say whether or not any bill becomes a law,” Stefanski said. “So it’s a relevant consideration through this process. At this point, I have not had any contact with the admin-

istration about anything that they would like to see.”

Stefanski pointed out that the legislature hasn’t begun drawing maps.

“When we get to a point where we start drawing maps, it’s going to be something that we say, ‘I wonder if the Governor could sign something like this,’” he said.

Mike McClanahan, a representative from the Louisiana NAACP, raised the threat of litigation if the maps don’t have two majority-minority districts during his public comments to the joint committee.

Previous lawsuits on racial gerrymandering in Louisiana cited Section Two of the VRA, which prohibits procedures that discriminate on the basis of race.

“I have something called the law on my side,” McClanahan said. “​​I like to tell people to know how to organize, mobilize, agitate and litigate. If it don’t work, I’m gonna sue you. And I can tell you now when we sue, we win.”

Stefanski was asked if Edwards would sign off on a congressional map that doesn’t have two majority Black congressional districts, but Stefanski declined to speculate, simply saying that he hasn’t heard from the Governor.

While Edwards has not commented on specifics of what he will veto, he did say that he would prefer if it didn’t come to that.

“As governor, you hope that you can work with the legislature and others to create legislation that doesn’t need to be vetoed,” Edwards said. “I will veto bills that I believe suffer from defects in terms of basic fairness.”

turn to scooters

BY MADDIE SCOTT @madscottyy Scooter-bearing LSU students often receive backlash online for their choice of transportation. But many of them say it’s the easiest and most efficient way to navigate an increasingly unwalkable campus as close parking becomes a rarity.

Philosophy sophomore Evan Guth noticed students riding scooters this semester and wanted to try it for himself. He spent $200 on an electric scooter, and he hasn’t looked back since.

“When the school year first started, sometimes I had to park [and make] a 30-minute walk,” Guth said. “It hasn’t been so bad now. It still saves me like 20 minutes having the scooter.”

LSU commuting students have shared frustrations with limited parking this semester that often forces them to make hikes across campus. There are currently 8,200 commuter spaces across campus, down from the previous school year when there were 9,184 commuter spaces, and LSU sold 12,381 commuter permits this semester.

Guth’s favorite place to ride his scooter is the PMAC ramp. His friends used to make fun of him, but when they tried zipping down the concrete slab for themselves, they realized how fun it was.

see SCOOTERS, page 4

CRIME

Family continues search in 60-year dissappearance of Ferriday

BY CLAIRE SULLIVAN & ETERNITY HONORE LSU Manship School News Service Six decades after a Louisiana man’s disappearance and presumed murder, his family is still looking for answers and a body to bury.

Carl Ray Thompson, then 26, spotted his cousin’s two-toned Buick on the side of the FerridayVidalia highway as he sat in the back of a sheriff’s car in July 1964.

His cousin, Joseph “Joe-Ed” Edwards, had gone missing just a couple days prior, his family left with only rumors as to his whereabouts.

Thompson had spent a night sitting in a Ferriday jail cell for a robbery he did not participate in, listening as sheriff’s deputies beat three or four other young Black men arrested for the crime. As the night dragged on, Thompson felt his turn for a beating coming. But

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Joseph Edwards, missing since 1964, is believed to have been murdered

by Ku Klux Klansmen and sheriff’s deputies. His case is thought to be the only one investigated by the FBI and Justice Department during the Civil Rights era in which the body has never been found. morning came, and the arrival of the regular office staff spared him the brutality the deputies reserved for the privacy of night.

As deputy Frank DeLaughter

drove the men to the parish jail in Vidalia that morning, he pointed out the green-white Buick, belonging to Edwards, on the side of the highway.

DeLaughter, 6 feet 4 inches and 280 pounds, peered at Thompson through his rearview mirror. He told the men that if any of them spoke about what happened the night before, they would meet the same fate as Edwards.

No arrests were ever made in Edwards’ case, but FBI files and tips from local residents suggest that members of a Ku Klux Klan organization known as the Silver Dollar Group–and sheriff’s deputies, including DeLaughter and Bill Ogden–were responsible for the disappearance and presumed murder of Edwards, who was in his mid-20s. His disappearance is the only Civil Rights-era cold case examined by the FBI in which a body has never been found.

Still, Thompson, Edwards’ sister Julia Dobbins and other family members remain hopeful that they may someday give Edwards a proper burial.

“I was really hurt that they nev-

er told us what really happened to my brother,” Dobbins said. “Everybody lied from one person to the other. I had got disgusted with people.”

Dobbins said she would sit every day, waiting for her brother to come home to visit his 11 siblings, like he always had. But weeks, months and years passed, and he never came.

The FBI surmised that the Silver Dollar Group targeted Edwards after he kissed a white woman he worked with at the Shamrock Motor Motel in Vidalia one afternoon in July 1964. According to the FBI files, the woman reported the incident to her boyfriend, who, in turn, reported it to Vidalia Police Chief Johnnie “Bud” Spinks.

Spinks and another man visited the woman’s house, where she declined to press charges against Edwards.

see THOMPSON, page 4

Monday, November 22, 2021

page 4 THOMPSON, from page 3 Spinks, according to an FBI informant who was a Silver Dollar Group member, turned to the group, led by Raleigh “Red” Glover of Vidalia. The FBI listed DeLaughter and Ogden as members of the group, which acted as a Klan hit squad.

One witness saw a Buick matching the description of Edwards’ vehicle and an unmarked police car pulled over on the side of the Ferriday-Vidalia highway by what was then the Dixie Lane Bowling Alley. Another witness told the FBI that Edwards ran up the levee after being pulled over and that Ogden pursued him in his patrol car while DeLaughter chased him on foot.

The FBI investigated the case from 1964 to 1968 and took another look at it from 2007 to 2014.

The bureau identified seven individuals–including Glover, Spinks,

SCOOTERS, from page 3 He understands why people often think lowly of students on scooters, since many of them speed long the sidewalk and maneuver around pedestrians, which he says isn’t safe.

“It’s important to be safe, not stupid, and be considerate of other people and watch for cars,” Guth said.

Psychology freshman Avery

DeLaughter and Ogden–as “most likely suspects” but said it could not determine what happened to Edwards. However, multiple witnesses pointed to the sheriff’s office deputies as the main participants in his disappearance.

Reporters for the LSU Cold Case Project are now reviewing hundreds of pages of FBI files and tips from other people to try to figure out the most likely places where Edwards might have been buried.

Edwards grew up just south of Natchez, Mississippi, in an unincorporated community called Sibley. In the 1950s, he moved with his grandparents to Clayton, Louisiana.

As a child and an adult, Edwards had a vibrant, outgoing personality. He was a small man at 5 feet 6 inches and 160 pounds.

Thompson said that wherever they went, Edwards would always try to start a conversation with some-

one.

The FBI agents who worked on Edwards’ case were astounded at how well known a motel porter, who mowed grass and cleaned rooms, had become among Klansmen and the Sheriff’s Office. His reputation for flirting with white women spread through the community, and some people said that Edwards helped manage prostitution activities at the Shamrock.

Ill will against Edwards from local white supremacists mounted in the days before his presumed murder.

Thompson and other family members pleaded with Edwards to leave the Shamrock, which was frequented by Klansmen and sheriff’s deputies. But Edwards would not listen.

Thompson said that one day Edwards came to his house and told him a man had pulled a gun on him at the Shamrock. Thompson told Edwards not to come

around to his house anymore unless he quit his job, saying he was living too dangerous of a life.

Thompson feared there could be repercussions for their family, and he felt them that night after Edwards’ disappearance when he was held in jail with the other young Black men.

After Thompson had been transferred to the Vidalia courthouse, prominent local businessman Joe Pasternack called the Sheriff’s Office and demanded he be released, vouching that Thompson had never stolen anything in his life.

Ogden, one of the deputies who would become a suspect in Edwards’ disappearance, then escorted Thompson to the front door of the Sheriff’s Office and told him to run home as fast as he could.

Dobbins and Thompson described Edwards as a sociable, generous man who always looked out for his family.

“He wouldn’t hardly miss a date coming to my house,” Thompson said. “Now you don’t think that’s love?”

Dobbins said her brother would want to be remembered as “the good and kind-hearted fellow like he was.”

The subject of Edwards’ disappearance remains difficult for the family. Since the subjects connected to the presumed murder are all dead, finding the body is the sole resolution left for the family.

Thompson said that those responsible for his cousin’s death could have at least given the family a body to bury.

As for justice, he said, “God can take care of that.”

If you have any information that might help, please contact the LSU professors overseeing the project, Christopher Drew at 225578-3984 or lsucoldcaseproject@ gmail.com or Stanley Nelson at stanley@concordiasentinel.com.

Natal uses her scooter because she tore her ACL. The $180 discounted scooter that she bought from Walmart comes in handy because she can avoid putting pressure on her leg from walking long distances between her classes.

“I found it convenient to not have to walk, stress out and have to put pressure by going to and from classes,” Natal said. “The scooter made it very accessible and easy to get places that were

far apart. It was easier on me, I feel like.”

She hears negative experiences of running into people are more so associated with people riding bikes.

“I have never run into anyone,” Natal said. “I slow down or get off of it if there is a congested area.”

Business freshman Walker Hosford doesn’t own a scooter, but he owns a skateboard. He notices scooter people constantly,

and it catches his eye every time.

Seeing them zoom past him on campus, he says, makes him envious “[The heiarchy] definitely goes scooter, bike, skateboard, rollerblades and ice skates,” Hosford said jokingly.

Finance freshman Grant Taylor is part of the LSU baseball team, and even though he is an athlete, he was not issued a scooter like many people believe. After seeing

football players on scooters, he collectively decided with his team to buy scooters from Amazon.

Taylor is aware of his surroundings when using his scooter because he witnessed a crash between someone riding a longboard and another student.

“I try to stay off the sidewalks as much as I can because I don’t want to run into people,” Taylor said. “That’s something I’m super self-conscious about.”

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ENTERTAINMENT

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THIS WEEK IN BR

Want to see your event in the Reveille?

Email information to editor@lsu.edu.

THURSDAY AT 7:30

WEDNESDAY AT 6

TUESDAY

MONDAY AT 7

BY AVA BORSKEY @iamavab

NOVEMBER

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“The Lost Boys” EBRPL Main Branch Enjoy a free screening of the 1987 horror comedy “The Lost Boys” starring Kiefer Sutherland. The movie starts at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22 at the Main Library, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. Registration is available on the EBR parish library’s website.

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NOVEMBER

Remnants of Spain’s Heritage in Louisiana EBRPL Main Branch

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Learn about the unique Spanish impacts on Louisiana culture on Tuesday, Nov. 23 at the EBRPL Main Library, 7711 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge. Raymond Berthelot, Louisiana Office of State Parks program manager and Baton Rouge Community College adjunct faculty, will speak about a variety of topics from makeup to history.

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NOVEMBER

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Cajun Christmas Wooden Cutout Workshop Create Studios Prepare for the rapidly approaching holiday season by painting cajun-themed wooden cutouts. Create your newest Christmas decoration at 6 p.m. at 546 Bienville St. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

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NOVEMBER

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Baton Rouge Turkey Trot Downtown

Get your steps in before you feast. Sign up for either the 5K run or 1 mile-long fun run at the Baton Rouge Turkey Trot. Both courses start and end on Fourth Street at Convention Street in downtown Baton Rouge. The Turkey Trot is a partner of The March of Dimes.

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Monday, November 22, 2021

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CHYNNA MCCLINTON/ The Reveille LSU football freshman wide receiver Malik Nabers (8) leaps across the goal line as he scores a touchdown Saturday, Nov. 20 during the LSU football game against ULM in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

Monday, November 22, 2021

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MATTHEW PERSCHALL/ The Reveille LSU fans smile at the jumbotron in Tiger Staduim on Saturday, Nov. 20 during the LSU football game against ULM in Baton Rouge, La.

MATTHEW PERSCHALL/ The Reveille LSU football head coach Ed Orgeron leads the team onto the field on Saturday, Nov. 20 during LSU’s 27-14 victory over ULM in Tiger Stadium.

LSU defeats ULM 27-14 on Nov. 20 in Tiger Stadium.

CHYNNA MCCLINTON/ The Reveille LSU football junior wide receiver Devonta Lee (16) prepares to stiff-arm ULM football senior cornerback Adam Sparks (22) Saturday, Nov. 20 in Tiger Stadium.

CHYNNA MCCLINTON/ The Reveille LSU football sophomore quarterback Max Johnson (14) listens to someone speaking through a headset Saturday, Nov. 20 during LSU’s 27-14 win against ULM in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

CHYNNA MCCLINTON/ The Reveille LSU football head coach Ed Orgeron smiles and wraps his arms around freshman safety Messiah Farinas (36) and freshman linebacker Sloan Wright (48) Saturday, Nov. 20 in Tiger Stadium.

MATTHEW PERSCHALL/ The Reveille A number of LSU football players pose for a photo on Saturday, Nov. 20 during LSU’s 27-14 victory over ULM in Tiger Stadium.

MATTHEW PERSCHALL/ The Reveille Mike the Tiger runs across the endzone in celebration at the LSU football game on Saturday, Nov. 20 in Tiger Stadium.

MATTHEW PERSCHALL/ The Reveille LSU football sophomore defensive tackle Jaquelin Ray (99) rushes on Saturday, Nov. 20 during LSU’s 27-14 victory over ULM in Tiger Stadium.

SPORTS ‘RECKLESS’ COACH

page 8 FOOTBALL

Pros and Cons of Lincoln Riley as next coach

BY JARRED BRODTMANN @_therealjarbear

CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille

LSU football junior wide receiver Devonta Lee (16) prepares to stiff-arm ULM football senior cornerback Adam Sparks (22), Nov. 20, during LSU’s 27-14 win against ULM in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

BY NICK OMBRELLARO @NObrellaro “Don’t do that. Don’t give me hope.”

Jeremy Renner’s soft delivery of one of the most compelling Marvel Cinematic Universe lines has me now feeling the same way about the Tigers, as we have one “scheduled” game remaining this season.

The Tigers, sitting at 5-6 after their win over Monroe, do still have a chance at a bowl game if they can find a way to upset Texas A&M this upcoming Thanksgiving weekend.

LSU fans, however, might want to avoid being thankful for this.

Sure, if they win against A&M, they can be selected, giving them

the chance to finish both Ed Orgeron’s tenure with a win, this season over .500, and another bowl win for the program.

However, this gives Orgeron another opportunity to have Tiger fans questioning his decisions, as there were many to point at against ULM. This game should have been a lot closer than it was, as two drives for Monroe ended within two yards of the goal line. Both drives in question were extended due to costly penalties by the Tigers, as they gave up three first downs due to them.

This “bend, but don’t break” mentality may have gotten them past ULM; however, opportunities like that are not going to be wasted against a greater opponent like

Texas A&M. LSU was favored by 29 points in this game, and managed to walk away winning by 13. Texas A&M, on the other hand, easily covered the spread of 41.5 points, knocking aside Prairie View 52-3.

In their four non-conference games this year, the Aggies outscored opponents 237-20, winning all four games. LSU went 3-1 out of conference, losing to UCLA 3827 to start the season, but collectively outscored opponents 137-80, a much tighter margin.

One call that was reflected on during the postgame press conference was the decision to attempt a fake punt on their own 39-yard line. On the play Punter Avery Atkins took the snap and threw towardsthe Monroe sideline attempt-

ing to connect with Jontre Kirklin.

Instead, Kirklin slipped coming out of his break, and the pass was easily intercepted by Monroe’s Josh Newton and returned to the LSU 28-yard line. A negative 11yard play for the Tigers, and two plays later ULM had their first score of the game.

“We were going to throw the ball to Jontre [Kirklin]. It was forth and three and ULM’s cornerback played off. All we had to do was catch the ball and throw it four yards. He would’ve been wide open, but Jontre [Kirklin] slipped.

It was wide open,” Orgeron said postgame.

Even in his explanation of the play, Orgeron was off. Had Kirklin

see ULM, page 9

Reasons why Lincoln Riley would come to LSU: 1. The Money Jake Crain of the Jboy Show reported Wednesday afternoon LSU offered Riley an 8-year, $96 million contract, and that Oklahoma was unlikely to match such a massive offer. It would make him the highest paid coach in the sport, at $12 million a year. Riley will be considering that when it comes time to decide on his future. On the other side, Woodward is making a huge investment and gamble on the 38-year-old offensive titan. LSU just got out of a big contract by buying out Ed Orgeron, so they will have to be certain Riley is the man they want to invest eight years of money into.

2. The Resources With Oklahoma’s move into the SEC looming, there will be an adjustment period where the Sooners will have to overcome adversity as they make the transition from a faster paced, offen-

see LINCOLN , page 9

BASKETBALL

LSU overcomes Days’ struggles destroys McNeese 85 to 46

BY HENRY HUBER @HenryHuber_

After averaging 24.3 points per game through their first three contests, Darius Days was held scoreless through the first 11 minutes of LSU’s game against McNeese State, starting the game 0-4. By the time he scored his second basket, the team had amassed a 20-point lead and absorbed any momentum McNeese thought they had.

“We have a lot of weapons,” Days said. “Tonight just wasn’t my night. Tari [Eason] picked up my slack, Eric [Gaines] picked up my slack, Fudge had a couple good dunks and a couple of the other guys did some good things. We can win in different ways.”

This is not important because Days had a bad game, because he did not; it is important because it shows that this team can operate effectively if their star contributor is contributing less than usual. A team that relies too heavily on one player- (like last season’s team or Trae Young’s Oklahoma)- is bound to struggle as the season goes on,

Chynna McClinton/ The Reveille

LSU men’s basketball senior forward Darius Days (4) smiles as he sprints off the court Nov. 18, after LSU’s 8546 win against McNeese in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on North Stadium Drive in Baton Rouge, La. as defenses can easily adjust to their gameplan by simply focusing more of their attention on the star.

Nine players scored more than

five points. Five players had multiple steals, and the assist and rebounding categories each had two key contributors. On top of all of

that, the defense held McNeese to just 16 points at the half (with a six-minute stretch in which they did not score,) and caused a total

of 27 turnovers- (a turnover every minute-and-a-half.)

Head Coach Will Wade credited the full-court press for a lot the success in the turnover department, briefly mentioning players like Gaines, Murray and Pinson as the perfect players for the press they are running and key contributors to that massive number of turnovers.

“If you have two guards [in front of the press], you have to have two pit bulls up there that can guard.

You can’t have poodles,” Wade said. “You have to have guys out there that can sit out and guard, and Pinson, Tari and Gaines are all like that.”

Though the game was mostly a team effort, Tari Eason clearly earned the game ball, contributing 19 points and grabbing 14 rebounds on his way to a career day.

Despite playing just four games with the team, he’s already making a huge impact in rebounding, defense and hustle.

“That’s always been something

see MCNEESE, page 9

Monday, November 22, 2021 ULM, from page 8 not slipped, the play could have been there, a likely 7-yard reception good enough for a first-down.

However, where the throw ended up, 11 yards off the line of scrimmage, says there was miscommunication even on the play.

Kirklin was breaking in his route, likely to curl back for the reception. If that was the mark, like Orgeron says it was, the ball

LINCOLN, from page 8 sive-minded Big 12 to the physical, defensive-minded SEC. The competition would be at a different level, and Riley would consider a move to LSU from Oklahoma not as lateral, but an upgrade to a program that is well established in the conferences in money, facilities and recruiting in the conference.

Reasons why Riley would not come to LSU: 1. The Stability It is undeniable Riley has a good thing going. The Sooners are perennial playoff contenders without having too many challengers from the Big 12 on a yearby-year basis. He has produced some ridiculous quarterbacks lately, in three NFL starters in the Browns’ Baker Mayfield, the Cardinals’ Kyler Murray and the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts. The talented

page 9 should have been thrown short and incomplete.

This play is one of many marred by miscommunication this season.

Being up by 10 points halfway through the third quarter would have most coaches desiring more points even if they were field goals. Instead of taking the points, Orgeron decided to go for it on 4th and 3 at the ULM 14-yard line. This would have been PAT distance for

Cade York, who is a perfect 3333 this season on point-after attempts. Easy points.

Alas, Orgeron did not go this route and opted for it all. Max Johnson fumbled the shotgun snap and, replay review confirmed, regained control of the ball while his knee was down.

Reflecting on this, Orgeron felt that a two-score lead would not be sufficient at this point in the game.

Mind you, the Tigers had only giv-

en up 130 yards of total offense at this point, and the seven points were a result of a short field.

The aggressive nature of play calling was reminiscent of the Alabama game a few weeks ago. The Tigers had to pull plays like these off to have a chance of beating Nick Saban. That game ended up closer than most were expecting, but like most games this season Orgeron has not lived up to his competition.

ULM is not the same level competition as Alabama, and giving them an opportunity to gain momentum with careless mistakes as those on display Saturday night was reckless to say the least.

The Tigers got the win, and that’s the positive that can be taken from the game. Everyone stressed the importance of the next game on the schedule, but none looked to be ready for the challenge that the Aggie’s present.

Spencer Rattler and Caleb Williams await should he choose to stay and cultivate another Heisman candidate and first-round pick. The Sooners are a college football power, and Riley will recognize that as much as everyone does. That might change when the time comes to move to the SEC, but for now, the job is stable and fruitful.

2. The Villainy If Riley signs the dotted line on Woodward’s deal for his soul, the backlash from Oklahoma fans would be unlike anything college football has seen. The last two games LSU has played against Oklahoma have been the 2003 National Championship game, a 21-14 LSU win, and the 2020 CFP semifinal, a 63-28 LSU win. The Sooners have a distaste for the Tigers. Riley’s choice will define what he wants his legacy in Norman to be. Should he choose to leave, the hatred for him through-

out the city and Sooner fandom would rock the core of college football. If that sort of thing matters to Riley, he may hesitate on making the move to Baton Rouge.

MCNEESE, from page 8

He certainly helped them do just that tonight, as LSU ultimately defeated McNeese 85-46 on their way to a 4-0 start on the year.

Their next game will be another mild challenge, as they’ll face off against Belmont on Monday, another perennial tournament team.

Can they make it five in a row?

RAY CARLIN / The Reveille

Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley questions the referees during first half of an NCAA college football game against Baylor in Waco, Texas, on Nov. 13.

s l w o t nigh

that I’ve prided myself on,” Eason said when asked about his hustle. “[I] go out there and do the little things, get a rebound, block a shot.”

“As y’all have seen over the past few games, our defense leads to offense. So, I think that’s really what I’m trying to focus on, making an impact defensively because it can turn into positive things on the other end of the court.”

Eason has posted three doubledoubles in just four games to start the season and leads the team in rebounds with an average of 9.25 per game.

“I’m just trying to go out there and play hard every day,” Eason said when asked about his stats.

“Obviously, my rebounding ability and what I can do on the floor just comes with it. I’m just trying to do what I can do to help the team win.”

CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille

LSU men’s basketball freshmen forward Bradley Ezewiro(21) rises up for a dunk Nov.18, during LSU’s 85-46 win against McNeese.

early birds

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OPINION

page 11

Gov. Edwards’ commitment to clean energy vital for LA CHARLIE’S ANGLES CHARLIE STEPHENS

@charliestephns “We can’t afford to be more ‘pro oil and gas’ than the oil and gas companies,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said at the United Nations Climate Conference in Glasgow earlier this month.

Edwards was one of just a few U.S. governors invited to the international conference, which revisited the original action plans set in December 2015 by the Paris Agreement.

The governor’s presence at the conference represents the

culmination of efforts in his second term to more aggressively promote climate action in Louisiana.

In August 2020, Edwards created the Climate Initiatives Task Force to research and implement strategies that would bring Louisiana to net-zero emissions by 2050—the same standard set

by President Joe Biden when he rejoined the Paris Agreement on his first day in office.

It is notable that Louisiana— a traditionally proud oil and gas state—has committed to net zero emissions, especially considering the open hostility our fellow oil and gas-dominated states have shown toward tran-

sitioning to clean energy.

That hostility was on full display when former President Donald Trump announced the U.S. would “cease all implementation” of the Paris Agreement in June 2017. In response to that decision, Democratic governors from California, New York and Washington formed the US Climate Alliance to ensure their states would stay on track to meet the carbon neutrality commitments made in Paris.

Louisiana joined the alliance last May as its first and, as of now, only Gulf Coast member.

Our state’s inclusion was a major shift for the U.S. Climate Alliance, which is still primarily

comprised of left-leaning states.

These climate commitments are in addition to the massive coastal restoration effort that Louisiana has undertaken since 2007 to save an ever-retreating coastline. Since Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana has invested hundreds of millions of dollars toward saving the coastline after repeated devastation from record-shattering hurricanes.

Edwards has not cowed to Republican pressures to stay the course and appease oil lobbyists. Rather, he has set Louisiana on a path to be a leader in saving the Gulf and, more broadly, the planet. He should be commended for doing so, es-

pecially in a state so determined to maintain its petroleum industry. The world is leaving us behind, and recognizing that is crucial to Louisiana’s continued survival.

To paraphrase the Governor, far too many in this state are more steadfast in their support of oil and gas than those very companies. We are not doomed to sink into the Gulf to protect the profits of ExxonMobil and Shell; there is a path forward, and Edwards has set us on that path.

Charlie Stephens is a 21-yearold political communications junior from Baton Rouge.

Undergraduate research is a fun, easy way to get involved SAM’S TWO CENTS SAMUEL CAMACHO @SamuelE17713784 I’ve noticed something very unusual in the past semester. So many students are trying to get involved on campus, but with little success.

As co-president of a club on campus, this frightens me. I often encourage students to join not only my organization, but any other club that sparks their interest.

However, since many leadership members graduated while COVID-19 temporarily shut down many clubs, campus involvement just isn’t the same anymore. Some clubs lack experienced members to lead activities, and others have disbanded forever.

If you’re having trouble finding the right organization for you on campus, either to make friends or to enhance your learning, consider a great involvement outlet that is often overlooked—undergraduate research.

Doing undergraduate research is one of the best ways to gain valuable knowledge and skills.

According to LSU’s Discover Undergraduate Research Program, research allows you to “develop your personal and professional skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking and perseverance.”

Research is an opportunity for you to challenge yourself by going the extra mile and honing in on something you’re interested in. It lets you explore career possibilities, boosts your applications

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Those in attendance visit the different displays Apr. 7, 2016 during LSU Discover Day in the LSU Student Union Royal Cotillion Ballroom. to graduate schools, allows you to participate in real-world applications of your interests and leads to unparalleled letters of recommendation.

Unlike clubs with registration fees and dues, doing research doesn’t cost a penny. A substantial portion of the thousands of dollars you pay for your education goes toward funding on-campus research.

Not only is research free, you can often get paid to do it.

Depending on your financial aid, you might be eligible for the President’s Student Aid or Federal Work-Study programs, which will pay you to work in on-campus jobs, including in research posi-

tions.

Instead of spending hours doing menial tasks at a desk, you could earn the same wage helping a faculty member develop his or her projects.

If these options are not available, you could get paid directly by your professor if they’re being funded by the university or some other organization. These types of jobs are harder to find, but are a feasible option with a bit of searching and asking around.

Additionally, LSU Discover offers research project grants to fund student-led research. You are eligible twice during your college career for the grant, which covers

wages up to $1500 a semester, and $2500 for the summer.

These grants are very competitive, with reason. Getting a grant as an undergraduate is impressive, especially on graduate school applications. Anyone could get it, especially if students applying from an underrepresented major or college, such as the College of Business.

Even if you don’t find a way to get paid for doing research, some professors offer course credit instead.

A good start is seeing if your desired department offers an “Independent Study” course in the schedule booklet. Many of these

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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 editor@lsu.edu 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.

courses can fulfill elective requirements on your degree audit, so you can participate in research without adding extra time commitments to your course schedule.

If this sounds like something you’d want to do, here’s what you need to know: Go to the Mentor Database to find faculty members seeking research assistants on ongoing projects. Don’t be afraid of cold emailing every professor listed under your subjects of interest—remember, you lose every opportunity you don’t take.

If you need help or advice, reach out to the LSU Discover Staff, or check online for tips on sending cold emails.

I understand that not everyone shares my enthusiasm for research.

After all, I’m a Research Ambassador, a candidate of the Distinguished Undergraduate Research Program and an applicant for the Discover grant next semester.

Still, I believe that every student, not just the zealots like me, can benefit from undergraduate research.

It’s free, rewarding, challenging and a great way of getting involved and meeting new, smart people.

Every field is vastly different, so this advice is constrained by personal experiences and biases.

Reach out to either a professor or Research Ambassador in the field of your interest.

Believe me, they’ll be happy to help you.

Samuel Camacho is a 21-year-old economics junior from Maracaibo, Venezuela.

Quote of the Week “From Bourbon Street to Baton Rouge, the freaks come out at night in Louisiana.”

Pat Forde

sports journalist

Monday, November 22, 2021

page 12

Evangelicals benefit from greater personal liberties MATTERS OF MILK AND HONEY CANAAN CHARRIER

@canaanbcharrier In our “one nation under God,” policymaking history has long been inspired by conviction of a moral high ground. Yet, as sweeping decisions surrounding LGBT+ rights, recreational drug use and abortion accessibility have passed despite resistance from fundamentalists, it is time we revisit our ideas of policymaking and understand what it means to “legislate morality.”

Ever-shifting ideas of what is “right” and “moral” push politicians of all ideological stripes to frequently amend their stances.

Former President Donald Trump’s change of heart on abortion during his run for office and President Joe Biden’s evolving positions on gay marriage and segregation throughout his career are just recent examples of this phenomenon. Motivated by personal bias, maturity or the almighty vote, politicians adjust their personal ideological goalposts as national dialogue dictates what’s expected in today’s world.

“Legislating morality” describes making policy decisions based on subjective principles rather than

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Sister Cindy points in disgust at an LSU student on Jan. 15, 2020 during her time preaching to students in Free Speech Plaza. concrete metrics like personal liberties or empirical data. No matter who does the moral arbitration in Congress, some group will inevitably be unhappy—a Baylor University study found that individuals feared for restriction of their personal liberties largely along religious lines; atheists distrusted Christians, while Christians feared

Muslims. Evangelicals, who attribute our country’s success to its upstanding Christian principles, are prominent faces of deciding what is moral, but they are far from the only ones concerned with what the government does and doesn’t allow.

As a born and raised Bible Belt Christian, I understand the sanc-

tity of a Christian’s code of conduct. However, I hold that many evangelicals fail to realize what a dangerous standard they have imposed.

A legal and legislative history wrought with precedent on moral and religious behavior only gives the government a stronger basis from which to impede on personal

liberties, including religious liberties. Our culture is fluid, and it could only be a matter of years before their history of legally imposing moral principles comes back to haunt conservative Christians.

The best response for Christians is to champion personal liberties and direct legislation away from the private affairs of citizens. This style of governance not only protects religious liberties, it doesn’t conflict with any biblical principles. There is no biblical call to action to pass laws prohibiting behavior; instead, there is instruction to search inwardly. The Bible is not a standard for all to abide by, but it can be followed despite the decisions of others.

From Prohibition to prayer in schools, many a legislative nightmare could have been avoided altogether if politicians set aside moral codes and adopted a “live and let live” mentality for citizens.

The founding fathers drafted a document with language that guarantees rights for all. As time passes, our understanding of what this means will hopefully evolve to accommodate a more inclusive world.

Canaan Charrier is a 20-year-old finance, religious studies and international relations sophomore from Monroe.

Growing American labor movement challenges inequality SULLY’S SCOOP CLAIRE SULLIVAN

@sulliclaire

Sanitation workers in New Orleans went on strike November 5 in protest of low wages, poor conditions and unfair treatment.

Union leadership said the company was unresponsive to their concerns, and workers plan to strike until their demands are met.

These workers join a growing labor movement across the country. Workers everywhere in every sector—John Deere employees, Starbucks workers, film and television staff and many more—are using the power of collective bargaining to demand better from their employers.

Demands for higher pay, better conditions and basic dignity are abundantly reasonable. The greed of corporations that seek to crush unions and steal power from workers should be admonished.

Growing wealth inequality during the pandemic has only exacerbated these urgent demands.

American billionaires have gained $2.1 trillion since the start of the pandemic. These 745 people now hold two-thirds more wealth than the bottom half of Americans.

Despite conservative adoration of “trickle-down economics,” this exorbitant hoarding of wealth has certainly not trickled down to the working class.

Take John Deere, where more

CARTOON BY EMILY TRAN

than 10,000 workers represented by the United Auto Workers union are striking for better compensation and treatment.

John Deere CEO John May took a 160% salary increase during the pandemic as the company projects a record $5.7 billion in

profits for the 2021 fiscal year.

Meanwhile, workers report inadequate wages and unstable employment.

It is difficult to understand the greed that motivates May to inflate his own already enormous salary while his workers struggle.

John Deere executives have gone to great lengths to safeguard their own wealth and avoid the abundantly reasonable demands of their workers. In one example, executives forced salaried employees to take the place of striking workers, which immediately

resulted in accidents.

Large corporations almost universally value profit above the well-being and prosperity of their workers. The government throws subsidies and tax breaks at these companies, promising that what’s good for the company is good for the worker. But corporate executives almost always use extra profits to line their own pockets, not to better compensate their employees. Too many American corporations don’t treat their workers as people, but as capital-extracting, profit-maximizing tools.

Collective bargaining is a powerful, irreplaceable tool to change these unfortunate realities. Organized protest forces employers to realize their workers aren’t as replaceable as they treat them.

When one group of workers somewhere wins better treatment, it benefits workers everywhere by demonstrating the power of organized labor.

Don’t cross picket lines. Refuse scab work. Do what you can to support striking workers.

American workers deserve much better, a truth many have found harder to ignore amid pandemic conditions and inequality, sparking thousands to organize and millions to leave their jobs in the “Great Resignation.”

The American labor movement is growing, and it isn’t stopping any time soon.

Claire Sullivan is a 19-year-old coastal environmental science sophomore from Southbury, CT.