The Reveille 2-21-22

Vo lum e 132 · N o. 9

E s t. 18 87

START OF AN ERA

Mond ay, Fe b r u a r y 21, 2 022

The Jay Johnson era starts off strong after a dominant opening series.

Read on

SAVANNA ORGERON / The Reveille

Former head coach Paul Mainieri and LSU head coach Jay Johnson hug after throwing the first pitch of the season Feb. 18, before LSU’s 13-1 win against Maine at Alex Box Stadium on Gourrier Avenue in Baton Rouge, La.

NEWS

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Students have complained about the unreliability of the LSU’s OnDemand shuttle services and mobile app issues.

ENTERTAINMENT

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LSU’s Feminists In Action teams up with CampusCup to bring free, sustainable menstrual cups to campus.

SPORTS

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Disappointment for LSU men’s basketball, as turnovers and missed free throws result in brutal road loss against South Carolina.

OPINION

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“The university needs to step up and put the research of its scholars into action if Louisiana is going to have a future.”

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

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MONEY MOVE$

Sophomore Blake Money puts on a clinical on opening day.

BY PETER RATUERKUS & JARED BRODDTMANN @peter_rauterkus & @_therealjarbear There are always plenty of storylines going into any opening day, but this year, one stood above them all; a new era in Baton Rouge began as Jay Johnson coached his first game for LSU. The Friday night game started with legendary former LSU Coach Paul Mainieri throwing out the first pitch to Johnson, which felt like a literal passing of the torch.

Mainieri spent the previous 15 years coaching the Tigers and led them to a National Championship in the 2009 season. This would leave big shoes to fill for any coach stepping into this position, but Johnson, a former AU coach, knew the expectations and challenges that came with being the head baseball coach at LSU from the day he was hired.

The game itself went as many expected — LSU dominated. The offense came alive late, and Blake Money proved himself as the Friday night starter, pitching seven shutout innings and striking out 10 batters.

Johnson was lauded by many for what he did with the roster in the offseason, which had a major impact on the offensive performance. JUCO transfer Brayden Jobert opened the scoring spree with an absolute bomb of a solo home run in the fourth inning and finished 2-2 with two RBIs on the night. Jobert was one of many new faces expected to bolster LSU’s offense, and this series against Maine was just a sample of what is to come from the sophomore out of Slidell.

“I was just glad to get an opportunity,” Jobert said, having entered the game as a replacement for the injured Cade Beloso.

“Fortunately for me it ended up as a homerun, but I’m very fortunate to have that opportunity and I’m very glad we came out with a win.”

It is never a good idea to overanalyze a college baseball team’s opening night performance, but when it’s the first game under a new coach, fans became eager to have all their questions answered.

There is not a whole lot to gather from LSU beating up Maine, but this game was the culmination of the last eight months Johnson spent shaping this team and program in his image.

Ever since Skip Bertman took over for the Tigers in 1984 and turned LSU into a powerhouse, the program has had the winning DNA and mentality needed to compete at the highest level.

From Bertman to Mainieri, LSU remained a powerhouse – an overhaul of the program was not what LSU was looking for. However, finding a coach who can keep things afloat despite the immense pressure at LSU while run-

SAVANNA ORGERON / The Reveille

LSU baseball sophomore right-handed pitcher Blake Money (44) talks to the reporters Feb. 18, after LSU’s 13-1 win against Maine at Alex Box Stadium on Gourrier Avenue in Baton Rouge, La. ning the program his own way is hard to find, and Johnson’s work this offseason had fans excited that LSU found that coach.

From his work in the transfer portal to signing the No. 1 recruiting class, Johnson proved his work ethic behind the scenes early, and the only thing fans were still waiting to see was the performance of his team. This in itself brings a palpable pressure as the game featured little action going into the bottom of the fourth inning.

In the bottom of the fourth however, Jobert’s homerun got the party started for the Tigers, and the rest of the game personified the excitement that came from Johnson’s first offseason in Baton Rouge.

“It was awesome,” Johnson said after his debut.

The next national championship is hardly built in one game, but this game was the perfect opportunity for the ball of elation created during the offseason to finally burst. Bertman and Manieri both joined Johnson on the field before the game and the resulting performance from the team very much fit the standard set by those two men.

The standard played out on the field and it was led by Money’s dominant performance from the rubber on the mound.

Blake Money looked over his shoulder with two outs in the top of the sixth. His second baserunner of LSU’s opening night game was taking a rather large lead off the first-base bag. He caught him leaning a few moments before, but the runner just ducked his head back in below Tre’ Morgan’s

swift tag.

Money had been close to perfect through five innings. He tallied nine strikeouts, and his only other baserunner got on via a winding grounder that Jordan Thompson just couldn’t come up with. He wanted this second runner. It was a matter of principle.

He turned and fired to first.

The runner, with too big of a lead, was too far from the bag and Morgan easily tagged him out. Money stomped off the mound, let out a big roar, and with a reputation for talking the talk with his walk, stared down the runner dusting himself off as he marched toward the home dugout.

“I don’t know, it’s been a long time since I picked somebody off,” Money said. “I just felt electric.”

“I thought the pitch was a little close that he walked on,” he smirked. “I was a little irritated by the walk, but to pick him off was just as good as getting him out the first time for me.”

In tremendously efficient fashion, Money sat down Black Bears one after another with paint-chipping fastballs, knee-shattering breaking balls and focused command. With his velocity on his fastballs sitting around 95 mph, he was impossible to get a hold of.

The confidence that Money exudes was on full display both on the field and in his postgame interview. With each strikeout, Money gave the fans a little strut, each step around the mound declaring that this was his field to dominate. He knew he was on his game tonight. The fiery reactions fed energy into the team and the

more he sat batters down, the more the offense progressed as a result of his actions.

“His energy is awesome,” Jobert said. “We feed off that, and it takes us into a higher offensive mentality. It transfers over and it gives us some momentum.”

“I think it’s great,” Johnson said of Money’s competitive spirit. “It’s real too, and I think what I like about it is there’s a mature element of that where he can go from channeling that and get right back to the next pitch.”

As players came and went through the media’s conversations, ready to rest up and get ready for the next day, Money arrives in a pair of jeans, his wellkept boots and a new cloth cowboy hat. With a similar confidence he displayed on the mound, Money strutted in again and let out a big “How’s everybody doing?” much to the dismay of his head coach, sitting in the corner of the room talking on LSU’s postgame radio show.

Money went on to detail how he cleans the cowboy hat with a sponge, careful to give his hat the best care he can offer. It was just another example of how the Friday night starter oozes confidence and joy, And it’s rightfully earned to do so.

Money underwent an off-season of change that was needed for him to get to this spot. He weighed near 280 pounds when he got to Baton Rouge as a freshman. With months of hard work and dedication, Money’s trip home where he ran to boost his cardiological fitness, skipped second helpings of food and showed his commitment to his goals with relentless workouts made the difference in his development.

The entertaining sophomore, 40 pounds lighter, was finally able to see the fruits of his labor come to reality.

“I wouldn’t be able to cut corners day in and day out, and then look guys in the eye and say, ‘I gave you everything I had,’” Money said. “That would just be a lie, and I’ve never really lied.”

With admirable selflessness, Money’s energy, competitiveness and work ethic are never used to boost his own individual status.

Everything he did was to help his teammates achieve their success.

To have a player like that at the head of the defense, facing down a singular individual with just an aluminum bat in his hands, with the unwavering backing of his fielding behind him, is a special team to root for.

And a nightmare to play against.

“I knew my plan was to come back and be in the best shape and in the best mound-presence wise for the guys in the locker room,” Money said. “I’m going to do everything I can to be the best when I get back so I can put these guys in a position to win everything.”

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NEWS ON DEMAND ISSUES Students report unreliability of LSU’s campus shuttle system

BY CHANDLER MCINTOSH @GeauxChandler18 LSU students have complained of inconsistent OnDemand rides through the university’s shuttle system with ambiguous pickup locations and overall unreliability.

LSU’s OnDemand transit services are meant to allow students to request a shuttle from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. throughout the week around campus. To request a shuttle, students must use the TransLoc app or call the shuttle headquarters’ phone number.

“The shuttles are not very dependable sometimes,” said Raven Freeman, a freshman living in Miller Hall. “On some days the shuttles arrive quickly, on other days the shuttles arrive slower than usual. Sometimes the shuttles do not come at all.”

The shuttle’s location can be found on the TransLoc app but is not always exact. The same app is used for the university’s bus system, Tiger Trails, and students have previously complained about app issues regarding bus times and locations as well.

LSU Transportation demand manager Josh Galasso has identified the problems with the communication between OnDemand shuttles and LSU students. Galasso said there’s been a trend in loss of money for LSU through the OnDemand shuttles.

“LSU Parking and Transportation Services are aware of some

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STUDENT GOVERNMENT

New Title IX Group

BY CORBIN ROSS @CorbinRoss5

the fall of 2022 and could ease demand for TigerTrails and the shuttle system.

Freeman does believe that the OnDemand shuttles are efficient to get to various parts of campus

Isabella Rovere, the director of the We’re Committed campaign in Student Government, is organizing an Advisory Council for Power-Based Violence, a council which will advise the Title IX office on how students want sexual assault and domestic violence issues to be handled.

Rovere previously served on the Student Task Force for Sexual Assault Prevention and Advocacy, an organization created to advise administration on sexual assault prevention. The task force was recently absolved, Rovere said, and the new advisory council will take its place.

“We feel like the task force has kind of served its purpose of raising awareness for the campus climate, Title IX culture, etc.,” Rovere said. “So, we were like, ‘Ok, we think we can dissolve that and move forward.’ Then the question was kind of like, ‘What happens now?’ What can we put in place that is sustainable, that is studentled and can actually be helpful towards making Title IX better and moving it in the way it needs to go?”

The Louisiana legislature uses the term “Power-Based Violence,” defined by the Louisiana Board of Regents, as any form of interpersonal violence intended to con-

see SHUTTLE, page 4

see ROVERE, page 4

MATTHEW PERSCHALL/ The Reveille

Lettering reads “On Demand” on Feb. 16 on the side of an LSU shuttle parked by Azalea Hall on South Campus Drive in Baton Rouge, La. of the issues students are experiencing on the TransLoc app,” Galasso said. “We are looking at other options that may be out there, technology platforms or make improvements to the existing system.”

LSU Parking and Transporta-

tion Services and Student Government have created a proposal for a safe ride program. The program will be powered through Lyft to allow students to demand rides to their proximate areas.

The implementation of the safe ride program will be around

STUDENT RESOURCES

Food Pantry takes initiative to assist food-insecure students

BY CHANDLER MCINTOSH @GeauxChandler18 The LSU African American Cultural Center is hosting its 2022 Martin Luther King Food Drive and is inviting students, faculty and campus organizations to donate.

The AACC Center is accepting donations until Monday, and the campus organization that donates the most food will win the Food Drive Award.

Donations will go to the LSU Food Pantry, which assists financially insecure students with getting the food and nourishment they need. Items needed include snack foods, candy, drinks, seasonings, pasta, granola bars and cooking supplies.

Some campus organizations participating in the food drive include the Latin American Student Organization Collective and the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX.

Jennie Stewart, American Disabilities Act coordinator for the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, says the idea of a campus food pantry started 10 years ago when she was working in the Office of the Dean of Students and the Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability, where she met a representative from Florida State University who mentioned the food pantry they had on their campus.

“That would be a dream for LSU,” Stewart said. “[LSU] could never do that. The representative told me that the food pantry was just a bookshelf with a file cabinet in a closet. I said, ‘That we could do.’”

With the support of former LSU Dean Casey White, and former associate dean of students Matt Gregory, a proposal was made, and the LSU Food Pantry became a reality.

“It started in a filing room with

some scrap bookcases from surplus,” Stewart said. “People just started donating. The Food Pantry grew beyond what it occupied.

I and others were just checking Tiger Cards to make sure people were students. We saved Walmart bags for students to use. The food pantry was homegrown.”

Since its beginning, the LSU Food Pantry has continually expanded with help from partnerships and donations from people in the LSU community.

“We then realized that the need was growing, donations were growing, partnerships needed to grow. It was transferred over from the Office of the Dean of Students to the Department of Campus Life,” Stewart said.

The LSU Food Pantry gives out around 1000 pounds of food per day and provides many benefits for students.

see FOOD, page 4

DYLAN BOREL/ The Reveille

LSU Food Pantry sits Feb. 16 on the first floor of the Student Union on 310 Student Union in Baton Rouge, LA.

Monday, February 21, 2022

page 4 SHUTTLE, from page 3 but can become a nuisance when the student is not notified about the exact location of the shuttle.

“If I don’t feel like waiting for a shuttle, I will just walk,” Freeman said.

After comparing which transit service is more reliant, Freeman chooses Tiger Trails as her preferred choice.

“OnDemand shuttles are problematic on some days, and I

ROVERE, from page 3 trol or intimidate another person through the assertion of power.

This includes sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic violence, date violence and stalking.

Rovere will be the chair of the new council and wants to recruit 10 to 12 members. People interested in joining must be enrolled LSU students until at least May of 2023. The organization is accepting applications and can be accessed through TigerLink. Rovere is hoping to have the council organized by Mardi Gras.

“I feel like this is a place where students who are passionate about Title IX and making our campus better and building back that trust between students and administration; giving them the outlet and the opportunity to put that knowledge to work and that passion to work can be very beneficial for our campus,” Rovere said.

Rovere said that it can be difficult for administrators to see things from a student’s perspective, which is why it’s important to have avenues for students to express their concerns.

Since the organization is set

FOOD, from page 3 “Some students’ ability to concentrate decreases when [they are] food insecure,” Stewart said.

“Some students are waiting for a financial aid check or are victims of natural disaster, to which they become food insecure. The food pantry’s purpose was not just to make people smile and be happy.

It was more so of meeting a very basic need.”

Interdisciplinary studies senior Cornel Sims Jr. is helping with the food drive and is grateful for any support offered to the event.

“People who are just down on their luck are benefiting from this food drive,” Sims said. “Some students have been affected during this pandemic. These people may need some food donations to lift their spirits up.”

Sims said he has been in a situation where he didn’t have items he needed and that a helping hand goes a long way.

Although the food drive is held during Black History Month, Sims encourages organizations and students of all backgrounds to donate food.

“It doesn’t matter what race or ethnicity you are, just give,” Sims said. “We want to have the Mar-

would just rather walk to the bus stop,” Freeman said. “I know that Tiger Trails buses will always be at the closest bus stop as soon as they finish their previous routes.”

Patricia Caputo, a freshman, has used the OnDemand rides most recently due to inclement weather and commuting to the LSU Baseball games. She said that the OnDemand shuttles do take time to arrive at the pickup locations, but understands the delays.

“I also understand that they have a lot of students that need to be picked up, not just me,” Caputo said. “Especially during COVID, there is a limited amount of staff that drives the shuttles.”

Caputo does benefit from the shuttles running at night. Living on the east side of campus, She has a long distance to travel for sports events on the west side of campus. Walking alone at night can be frightening, which consequently makes Caputo depen-

dent on the OnDemand shuttles.

“It’s about a 20-minute walk alone to get to the west side of campus,” Caputo said.

Difficulty finding shuttles is the main issue that Caputo deals with.

“I wish the shuttle’s communication was more interactive,” Caputo said. “When the shuttle texts you, they would send a ping to locate where the shuttle was. I wish there was an option to call the specific shuttle that is

picking me up. It can be confusing where the shuttle is going to end up.”

Caputo, as well as Freeman, have to walk to the UREC to get picked up and walk from the UREC to return to their dorms.

Their dorms do not have access to OnDemand pickup and dropoff locations. This can be a problem if inclement weather occurs while asking for a shuttle or a student has disabled accommodations.

up in TigerLink, they will be able to communicate directly with students to better understand what they want to see in the Title IX office. Rovere said the Advisory Council will be collaborating with other organizations such as SG, Tigers Against Sexual Assault and Feminists in Action.

“It’s going to have a lot of sway with us,” said Jane Cassidy, vice president of the Civil Rights and Title IX office. “This group is our conduit to students.”

Cassidy said that although the Title IX office already meets with student organizations, they needed a group which would promote a culture of respect between students and administration, which she said the Advisory Council will provide.

“There was, in the beginning, an acknowledgment that the student voice is going to drive this conversation. Then moving forward, there’s an acknowledgment that the student voice has added value to the conversation, it will be necessary to move us forward,” said Jerimiah Shinn, Vice President of Student Affairs.

“Because at the end of the day, we want whatever we do to be relevant.”

Shinn said that students give

administration an idea of how things are on the ground, which is necessary for making informed

decisions for the campus.

Shinn also said that he hopes the Advisory Council will pro-

mote a shift in the culture at LSU to make it clear that power-based violence won’t be tolerated.

tin Luther King spirit, just giving back to people just as he did.”

International management freshman Emily Demps volunteers with the LSU Food Pantry.

She assists with civic engagement, youth disconnect and food insecurity within the Food Pantry.

Demps encourages all students, food-insecure or not, to take advantage of what the pantry has to offer. Faculty and staff are also welcomed to use the pantry.

“The LSU Food Pantry is a good resource for individuals on campus,” Demps said. “When you hear the words ‘food pantry,’ you think someone is struggling financially. However, in college, we all are struggling financially.

Students, faculty and staff can come into the pantry and pick out whatever they want without having a financial burden.”

Students that take from the pantry are always grateful and accepting, Demps said.

“People who come in are always grateful,” Demps said.

“When volunteers bring pizza, it puts a smile on people’s faces.

The students that are dependent on the food pantry for weekly nourishment are the most impacted.”

FRANCIS DINH/ The Reveille

The Office of Title IX sits Jan. 25, in 118 Himes Hall.

DYLAN BOREL / The Reveille

LSU Food Pantry sits Feb. 16, on the first floor of the Student Union on 310 Student Union in Baton Rouge, LA.

ENTERTAINMENT

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THIS WEEK IN BR

Want to see your event in The Reveille?

Email information to editor@lsu.edu.

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BY REVEILLE ENTERTAINMENT STAFF @Reveilleent

FEBRUARY

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Poured Acrylic Painting Workshop West Baton Rouge Museum Learn a new way to create art at this free workshop with abstract artist and instructor Kellie Rountree is from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Register in advance by calling (225)336-2422.

COURTESY OF WEST BATON ROUGE MUSEUM ON FACEBOOK

FEBRUARY

Battle of the Sexes Coates Hall

LSU’s Black Student Union is putting on a Battle of the Sexes Relationship Panel from 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. in Coates 143. BSU tshirts will be on sale for $25.

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Pirate Party Journalism Building’s Holiday Forum Pirate-themed games, prizes, activities and a pirate photo booth will feature in this event, from noon-4 p.m., meant to raise awareness for the Lymphoma Research Foundation.

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Jolie Pearl Yoga Club North Boulevard Town Square Every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. the Jolie Pearl Yoga Club hosts a free 60-minute yoga session to help exercise the mind and body.

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FEBRUARY

Monday, February 21, 2022

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Feminists in Action brings free menstrual cups to campus

BY KATY-ANN MCDONALD @Katyann0 Periods are expensive.

They’re costly to our wallets, and even more so to our physical and emotional wellbeing.

This month, LSU Feminists in Action are focused on making period products more affordable and accessible by providing free menstrual cups to LSU students who register before Friday.

Aimee Turner, a political science freshman and LSU Feminists In Action Event Chair, is an advocate for period product accessibility.

“I was looking for something FIA could do this semester for access to period products in a more sustainable way,” she said.

“Menstrual cups are great; I’m a fan, I use one. So, we decided to pair up with CampusCup.” The CampusCup program is a new initiative that puts period poverty and menstrual hygiene in the spotlight across US universities. AllMatters, the organic and sustainable menstrual product company, will provide colleges with free menstrual cups for students as part of the initiative.

The average woman spends $9 a on menstrual products a

cycle, according to the New York Times, which adds to over $100 per year.

However, one cup can be used for 10 years with proper care, potentially saving you thousands of dollars, according to AllMatters.

“By providing students with free menstrual cups, AllMatters is encouraging younger generations (the future) to start a conversation that otherwise did not exist in that space,” Madalena Limão, Creative Project Manager of AllMatters said. “We’ve seen the start of so many incredible initiatives inspired by CampusCup – from university-wide events to full ‘period pantries,’ providing even more students with sustainable period products.”

Over the next few Mondays, LSU FIA will be posting demos on how to use the menstrual cups.

Every Wednesday, period book recommendations will be posted to their Instagram under the highlight reel “Women’s Wednesday.” On Fridays, FIA will be table sitting in Free Speech Alley. You can visit them to register for a cup, or just to discuss upcoming events.

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A group of LSU students listen to speakers Oct. 18 during the Feminists in Action protest following reports of LSU mishandling sexual assault cases on the Parade Ground at LSU’s campus.

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visit www.lsureveille.com/application or contact admanager@lsu.edu

Monday, February 21, 2022

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TRENDING

How Wordle took LSU’s campus by storm: ‘I was hooked’

BY GABBY JIMENEZ @gvjimenezz After seeing the “cryptic green emojis” that represent people’s scores frequently posted to Twitter, Chemical engineering freshman Hamood Qureshi decided to try his hand at Wordle.

Wordle is an online brain-teaser game where players have six attempts to guess a randomized five-letter word of the day. Players receive feedback after every guess based on which letters were correct and if they were in the right place. There is only one answer each day, and the game resets at midnight.

Qureshi is currently on a 35day win streak and doesn’t plan on stopping.

“I’m a sucker for word games and daily challenges,” Qureshi said. “Whether it’s at midnight or when I wake up in the morning, I always play the Wordle.”

Wordle’s popularity has led to the creation of similar versions of the game. Along with Wordle, Qureshi also plays Letterle, where you guess the letter of the day; Nerdle, a Wordle-format math equation; Dordle, two Wordles at once; and Quordle, four Wordles at once.

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Environmental engineering freshman Adaire Oliver heard of the game on TikTok. “At first I was opposed to playing, but eventually I was hooked,” Oliver said.

Oliver likes the idea of only getting one turn a day, as opposed to unlimited games with tries.

“It’s a fun way to exercise your brain and since everyone gets the same word once a day, it’s an easy way to start a conversation,” Oliver said. “The fact that it’s a simple once-a-day game keeps people wanting more.”

Anthropology sophomore Gracie Bass started playing Wordle in January after being introduced

to the game by a friend, and now regularly plays the game in between classes.

Like Qureshi, Bass also plays niche variations of Wordle. Occasionally, she’ll play Lewdle (Wordle with crude words) and Taylordle (Taylor Swift Wordle).

“I think [niche Wordle games] are a funny spin on the original game and can be a bit more entertaining,” Bass said.

Bass found that Wordle has helped her bond with friends, as they all share results with each other. She believes the game’s prominence is due to its simplicity and challenge.

“If you struggle with a hard

word, you’re probably going to talk about it with another player,” Bass said.

However, Qureshi attributes the game’s popularity to its accessibility. “There’s not a high barrier of entry to get in — it’s a quick Google search away. Everyone knows five-letter words,” Qureshi said.

Wordle went public in October 2021 after programmer Josh Wardle made the game for his partner. Since then, it has become popular worldwide, with millions of daily players and even translations into different languages.

There has been some backlash regarding the spelling of some

UREC GroupX Spotlight

eXterior FITness with Sarah Miller Sign up: https://www.lsuuniversityrec.com/fitness#schedule

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Definitely worth taking! " #SamiraAwad2023

of the daily answers, which uses U.S. English. U.K. users went to social media to express their anger at “FAVOR,” one of the previous Wordle answers that uses U.S. English spelling.

In January, the New York Times purchased Wordle for an undisclosed seven-figure amount.

The acquisition led to mixed emotions between game players.

“I liked the idea of it being its own creation,” Bass said. “I just hope the New York Times doesn’t start to charge for gameplay to make a profit.”

Oliver was originally indifferent about the New York Times purchasing Wordle, but has noticed that the words have become increasingly more difficult. Despite this, she still continues to play Wordle every day.

While Qureshi believes the New York Times’ acquisition of the game made sense, he expressed concerns over the game remaining free to play.

“The New York Times was able to get a refreshing take on [Wordle] that really only works online,” Qureshi said. “I’m a little worried that [the game] will go behind a paywall, but I’m sure that the Internet will band together to find a way to make it free again.”

SPORTS ROAD BLOCK

page 8 WOMEN’S GOLF

Momentum Halter: Takeaways from LSU’s 77-75 loss to South Carolina

BY HENRY HUBER @HenryHuber_ LSU (19-8 (7-7)) was in a solid position heading into its matchup with South Carolina (16-10 (7-7)) despite the hardships the Tigers recently endured. They had won their last three games, established a winning record in conference play, the potential to become the stand-alone fifth place team in the conference and were climbing the seedings in March Madness predictions.

Throughout the first half, it appeared the Tigers were continuing to ride the momentum they had been building over the last three games. They began the game outscoring the Gamecocks 25-11, getting to 25 points within eight minutes of play behind exceptional shooting and had already caused seven turnovers up to that point.

Then, Jermaine Couisnard happened.

Around the midway point of the first half, Couisnard scored seven points in a minute to get the Gamecocks within five. He proceeded to conclude the half with 18 points, rallying his team to inch within striking distance as they finished with just a six-point deficit.

This was heavily influential on LSU’s overall collapse and is completely related to one of the main problems in LSU’s performance: they never adjusted. Despite Couisnard being on fire, the Tigers still allowed him to shoot uncon-

tested three’s.

He finished with 33 points, shooting 67% from the field and 50% from three. LSU did little to slow him down, as South Carolina continued to cut into the lead until they surpassed them with eight minutes to go in the game.

The Gamecocks also did a decent job of adjusting to LSU’s defense, taking better care of the ball toward the end of the first half and at the beginning of the second. They still turned the ball over 20 times, but considering they were on pace to turn the ball over around 28-30 times, that is critical.

LSU could not rely on points and momentum off turnovers, having to instead focus on obtaining those through half-court offense, which everyone who has been paying attention knows isn’t LSU’s specialty. This greatly limited LSU’s scoring, as you can probably tell from the play-by-play.

After scoring 28 points in the first 10 minutes of the game, the Tigers scored just 14 in the remainder of the period. LSU would also barely surpass 28 points in the second half with 33.

And while scoring dwindled, turnovers increased. The Tigers had eight turnovers through the last 13 minutes of the second half, which isn’t horrible in normal circumstances, but it was rough considering how tight the game got later on.

A lot of these turnovers occurred in the most critical moments, with six of them taking

Women’s Golf Tees off 2022 Season

BY ADAM BURRUSS @AdamNFLDraft

hard.

LSU shot an abysmal 59% (13/22) from the line while South Carolina made four more with the same amount of attempts. Meanwhile, they lost by just two points.

Free throws win and lose games, and many fans fear that

After not playing for the entirety of winter, LSU’s women’s golf team went to the Moon Golf Invitational in Melbourne, Florida on Sunday to tee off the spring portion of play and shake off some winter’s ice.

Before the team sent off its players to continue the season, it was time to look in the rearview mirror at the season prior to this game. Who on the team stands out right now, and who could emerge?

The story of LSU women’s golf cannot be told without Ingrid Lindblad, who ranks second in the World Amateurs Golf Rankings. She looks to continue her streak of dominance within the program, as she is one of two juniors at LSU listed in the top-40 in the WAGR alongside Latanna Stone, who ranks 38th.

Of course, the team’s strengths go beyond Lindblad’s dominance. Carla Tejedo Mulet performed well during the fall season, and the aforementioned Stone won two amateur events between semesters. Stone won the Dixie Amateur and Orlando International Amateur between the season break.

The team has already shown potential. At the Illini Women’s Invitational, the team shot its

see BASKETBALL, page 9

see WOMEN’S GOLF, page 9

COURTESY OF LSU SPORTS

LSU men’s basketball coach Will Wade dressed in his “General Wade” costume. place whenever the scoring margin was one point. And that was not the only thing plaguing them in the trenches.

One of LSU’s most consistent problems has been free-throw shooting. The Tigers are in the lower half of the nation in overall free throw percentage and this time, that came back to bite them

GYMNASTICS

LSU gymnastics posts season-high score to quiet the Tide

BY HANNAH REHM @HannahRehm12 The LSU gymnastics team put on a show for fans in the PMAC and viewers watching from home on Friday night against No.8 Alabama, with another perfect 10 from Kiya Johnson and the team’s first score of the season above 198. The Tigers stayed dominant through all four rotations to outscore Alabama 198.050-197.600.

The night began when the Tigers erupted from the tunnel wearing their new Mardi Gras inspired leotards. The new design was created by Assistant Coach Ashleigh Gnat to look like Mardi Gras masks and debuted just in time for the beginning of Carnival.

The first rotation began with the Tigers on vault, where the gymnasts put up a strong score of 49.500. Kai Rivers, a junior, led off with a 9.9 to get things start-

ed. She was followed by a seasonhigh score from Sarah Edwards, who matched Rivers’ 9.9 with one of her own.

Elena Arenas and KJ Johnson both scored 9.875s to keep the Tigers ahead of the Tide. Kiya Johnson in the fifth spot scored a 9.90 and Haleigh Bryant anchored with a 9.925. The Tigers led Alabama 49.500-49.300 going into the second rotation.

The uneven bars lineup looked a little different for the Tigers with Alyona Shchennikova out with an injury, but they managed to hold onto their two tenths of a lead over the Crimson Tide.

Kiya Johnson led off with a score of 9.90 followed by a 9.875 from Rivers. Olivia Dunne scored a 9.80 in the third spot with the student section making a lot of noise for the sophomore and NIL superstar. Bryant scored a 9.925 with her incredible handstands and new, harder dismount, and

Sami Durante anchored with a 9.95.

One of the highlights from the meet was the Tigers’ beam rotation. They scored a very solid 49.65 led by Kiya Johnson’s perfect 10 in the anchor spot. Christina Desiderio has really found her stride this season and once again set up the rest of the routines with a 9.90 in the leadoff spot.

Bridget Dean scored a 9.90, and Bryant got a 9.95 on the beam.

Freshman phenom Aleah Finnegan scored a 9.90 and was followed by Johnson’s perfect 10. Unlike their last two meets against Auburn and Florida, LSU managed to stay ahead of Alabama going into the last rotation on the floor. The Tigers led the Tide 148.600-147.975.

They kept up their momentum with a new air of confidence fed by the large crowd in attendance.

see GYMNASTICS, page 9

PETER NGUYEN / The Reveille

LSU gymnastics sophomore all-around Olivia Dunne poses in her floor routine Feb. 18, during LSU’s 198.050-197.650 win over the University of Alabama in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Monday, February 21, 2022

page 9

WOMEN’S GOLF, from page 8 lowest total with great combined performances from Lindblad, Tejedo Mulet and freshman Elsa Svensson, as all three had their lowest rounds this year during the tournament.

The team followed that event with a win at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup, where Lindblad won her fifth individual goal title in a playoff win over teammate Tejedo Mulet.

On Sunday, the No. 22 Tigers faced a loaded group; including No. 3 South Carolina, No. 7 Florida, No. 8 Virginia, No. 9 ranked Alabama, No. 15 Baylor, No. 17 Auburn and No. 19 Duke.

Despite the challenge, the team looks forward to beginning the season tied for fifth, six strokes off the lead heading into Monday’s second round.

BASKETBALL, from page 8 the Tigers in that category will cost them when they can’t afford it. They can afford it for now, but this loss has put them in a difficult position, as they now hold a five-way tie for fifth place in the conference as opposed to being the stand-alone fifth- place team.

Head coach Will Wade credited the little things, such as them giving up an open three because they weren’t paying attention

JALEN HINTON / The Reveille

LSU women’s golf sophomore Ingrid Lindblad tees off on April 7, during the LSU Classic Day at the University Club.

“I’m super excited to get the season started,” Lindblad said in a LSU press release. “We’ve put some great work in during the winter, both individually and as a team.”

Lindblad, Stone, Tejedo Mulet, Svensson and another freshman, Jessica Bailey, expect to make up the lineup for the opening event of the spring.

What does this all mean,

on an inbound, as being a main reason they couldn’t get it done Saturday. He also highlighted the importance of this game and how much more pressure the team is under after losing it.

“This was one of those separation games that if you want to create separation, you’ve got to win, and we didn’t get it done,” Wade stated. “We’re in a dogfight the rest of the way and we’ve got to find a way to dig some of these out.”

GYMNASTICS, from page 9 The first five gymnasts performed so well Jay Clark was able to pull Johnson to protect her sensitive foot injury and still got above a 198 for the final score.

Desiderio matched her leadoff 9.90 on beam with another one on floor. Dunne made her PMAC debut on floor and scored a career high of 9.90. KJ Johnson and Bryant both scored 9.875s, and freshman Finnegan scored a 9.90.

though? If previous results mean anything, LSU’s women’s golf team has some potential that it hasn’t yet reached. Even beyond Lindblad, players such as Stone and Tejedo Mulet becoming competitive in amateur competitions bode well for the team’s future results.

Additionally, true freshmen such as Svensson and Lauren Clark saw action during the fall. Hopefully, those two now feel more prepared to take on tougher competition.

This opening tournament represents an important point in LSU’s season. This group faces some talented teams. However, it spent the fall and the winter adjusting to the college game and showing their talents in individual amateur tournaments.

The spring represents a tougher, more competitive time

in the season. After the Moon Golf Invitational, the team heads to the Darius Rucker Invitational in South Carolina, where the Head Coach Garrett Runion said “the field may be stronger than national championship” for that event.

Of course, that challenge is nothing new. According to Runion, the team had the fifthtoughest ranked schedule in the fall and according to him, the spring schedule looks potentially even stronger. Runion said he would not want it any other way.

“I want my team to be tough because once you get to the SEC Championship, Regionals and NCAA Championship you have to have that competitive toughness to accomplish the things they want to accomplish,” Runion said.

One of the most important takeaways from the meet is that this is not the highest score possible for this team.

“Big win. We still got room to grow. There are plenty of things to improve on,” said LSU Head Coach Jay Clark.

Clark also noted the importance of having these incredible leadoff performances of 9.90s from the “table setters” like Desiderio. He said that all good teams have a great back half of

the lineup, so having the first three routines hit could make “something special” happen.

“If they can start you out at that scoring level, there is a chance something special can happen,” said Clark.

This was a busy weekend for the Tigers, as they split the trimeet in Columbia, Missouri falling to Missouri and beating Arkansas after having to reschedule due to COVID-19 earlier in the season.

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Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews

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OPINION

page 11

QUICK

University needs to commit to net-zero emissions CHARLIE’S ANGLES CHARLIE STEPHENS @charliestephns In a March 2018 strategic plan, the university committed to developing a Climate Action Plan and setting a “net neutrality date.”

Almost four years later, no plan is publicly available, even with the additional push of Gov. John Bel Edwards setting a target date of 2050 for the state to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions and President Joe Biden reentering the U.S. in the Paris Climate Accord.

The university also proposed signing the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment in 2018—only to slow-walk this promise, too. Tulane and Loyola universities are the only Louisiana institutions to sign this statement.

The first line in this commitment reads, “We, the undersigned presidents and chancellors of colleges and universities, believe

firmly in the power, potential, and imperative of higher education’s key role in shaping a sustainable society.”

That statement seems like a no-brainer, and it is something the university should embrace as a core value. However, the actions of the university around sustainability, like its actions on many issues, seem motivated more by public relations problems than by care and concern for the future of this state.

The university’s participation in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s rating system yielded a lackluster silver ranking that expired nearly six months ago.

The university received a score of zero in the energy category of the ranking, in part because it was listed as “not pursuing” clean and renewable energy. The university ignoring these important investments doesn’t inspire confidence in its stated goal of sustainability.

In describing the threats faced

by Louisiana, the university’s strategic plan points out that climate change and the coastal land loss it

exacerbates must be met with “urgency.” On the academic research front, the university does outstanding work in coastal sciences.

But in actualizing that research into institutional policy, the university falls short.

Part of the university’s slow response is related to a lack of funding to complete big-ticket projects like electrifying the university’s large fleet of vehicles and pursuing more renewable energy solutions.

But still, the university has a moral obligation to this state to be a leader as the flagship university of Louisiana. Climate change has affected nearly every facet of life in this state for decades, and it’s only getting worse.

The university needs to step up and put the research of its scholars into action if Louisiana is going to have a future. Our state and university must find the resources to do these hard things, and we must find those resources now.

Charlie Stephens is a 21-year-old political communication junior from Baton Rouge.

TA K E S

SHOULD THE COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATE BE MASK MANDATORY FOR STUDENTS? “The university lifting the mask mandate seems like a win-lose.

“The vaccine shouldstill absolutely be mandatory for LSU stuWithCOVID-19 the Omicron variant spreading, not requiring masks dents who live, work or attend classes on campus.

I know a lot of seems to be counterintuitive, especially knowing that we’re all people are going to argue that it’s an infringement upon their rights or probably eager to surround ourselves with people at Mardi Gras.

On the bright side, we or know that majority, if not all,sense.” of LSU that it’s somehow unjust unfair, butthe honestly, it just makes is vaccinated in some way, so I’m not too concerned. reMariePlus, Plunkett moving the mandate means that, after two years, we can finally @MarieC_214 see and understand each other while we talk to one another or in class.”

Drake Brignac

“Yes yes yes. Not only because I want my life to return to normal — and @drakebrignac I believe mass immunization is the only way to do so — but because I have relished the opportunity to be micr-eaux-chipped

by LSU.” “Thelong elimination of the mask mandate on campus is something that was inevitable given the political climate the university finds itself surrounded by. That’s not to say that the campus Cécile Girard community was not ready for the mandate to be lifted.@_cegi_ More than the mask mandate, I am excited to see more people physically on campus because that is what truly makes LSU the community it is.”

Charlie Stephens “Vaccines should not be mandatory. Some people, including myself, @charliestephns are highly wary of the rush on this vaccine. I do not think it has been tested long enough to know the long-term effects.”

“Though it has been nice seeing everyone’s faces, I am worried for those who are unvaccinated. Even though theTamia majority of Southall faculty and students are vaccinated, not all of them@tamiabrem_ are. I think that enforcing and lifting the face mask mandate is going to be a consistent cycle for years to come. Even though it is nice to not have to wear a face mask, I believe that the face mask “The University should every person who is medically able to mandate is not gonerequire forever.”

get a vaccine for COVID-19. We are all desperate Kacey to return to a more Buercklin normal world, but that cannot happen without mass vaccination.

This @0kacey1 policy is necessary if we wish to resume more in-person instruction and other traditional college experi“I’ve been pretty cautious about COVID-19. I gotClaire the vaccine Sullivan

and the booster, but I don’t mind the mask mandate@sulliclaire being lifted. Almost everyone on campus is vaccinated and generally low risk given the age demographics. I don’t like wearing masks, “No, I do notwhile believelifting the COVID-19 vaccine should be and especially or playing basketball, so mandatory.

I’m lookingIf forwhen vaccineback is accessible to in everyone, I think it is a personal deciward the to going to normal that regard.”

sion. If someone is comfortable getting it, by all means, they should.”

Frank Kidd @FK446852315 Elizabeth Crochet @elizabethcro_

“I feel pretty neutral on the change in the mask mandate. I did not mind wearing one, but it’s nice to be able to see the face of my andasclassmates.

It makes little bittoeasier to “Yes.professors It’s as simple that. Once the vaccine itis aavailable the larger communicate in class. long aspromoting studentsthe remain vaccinated public, the priority shouldAsbecome vaccination of the or frequently I willstaff feelbody. safe Ifwithout a mask.” entire student,tested, faculty and you refuse to get the vaccine,

then you won’t be allowed to ‘return’ to the pre-pandemic status quo...”

Lura Stabiler @lstabiler Domenic Purdy @Tigerdom16

MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille

A smoke stack rises above the surrounding buildings on Feb. 20, 2021, at the Cain Department of Chemical Engineering.

“The fact that the university has decided to lift the mask mandate and simultaneously return to fully in person classes is frustrating, but not surprising.

It’s not that they’veon ”COVID-19 vaccination should definitely be shocking required for students already rules.

I suspect thattolifting mask campus.implemented The University new already requires students receivethe a number mandate and returning to in-person classes will cause an inof other vaccines to ensure the safety of its students, staff and faculty crease in COVID-19 numbers on campus, and we will be forced members. Why should this vaccine be any different?” to reinstate the old regulations.”

Evan Leonhard

Editorial Policies and Procedures EDITORIAL BOARD Lara Nicholson

Editor in Chief

Enjanae’ Taylor

Managing Editor

Josh Archote

News Editor

Bella Dardano

Deputy News Editor

Claire Sullivan

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 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.

Mia Coco @evan_leonhard @MiaMarieCoco1

Quote of the Week “OUR TRUEST LIFE IS WHEN WE ARE IN DREAMS AWAKE.”

Henry David Thoreau American naturalist 1817 — 1862

Monday, February 21, 2022

page 12

Super Bowl halftime show hype blinded by nostalgia SERIOUSLY KIDDING FRANK KIDD @FK446852315 Sunday, Feb. 3 marked the 56th Super Bowl and, with it, the 56th edition of the Super Bowl halftime show. This year’s show prominently featured West Coast hip-hop sound, which was fitting for the Los Angeles location.

Gauging by the online reaction, many people believe that this was the greatest Super Bowl halftime show ever. While I enjoyed the performance, I vehemently reject that idea.

The show featured Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige. The first four of those artists are rappers who often swear in their lyrics.

This means they had to change their songs to make them clean for a mass audience, which altered the feel of their music.

Sometimes censoring a song doesn’t significantly change it, like in Snoop Dog’s performance of “The Next Episode.” Other times, you get Kendrick Lamar’s performance of “Alright” or “M.A.A.D City,” where the omission of some lyrics causes him to change the flow to something foreign to regular listeners of the song.

The changes to “Alright” were

the most off-putting. The song has a theme rooted in Blackness. From the jazz-influenced instrumental, to the lyrics that speak to a specifically Black struggle, neutering the song by leaving out the n-word takes away from the feeling the song evokes.

I’m not arguing that the halftime show should be uncensored. I am arguing that rap has an inhibitor that other genres rarely have to deal with, and that inhibitor significantly alters the performance in front of a large audience.

Beyond changing lyrics, another issue I have with calling this year’s performance the greatest ever is that there was a better show just last year. The Weeknd’s performance had better outfits, more energy and a better vocal performance than this year’s artists.

Traveling back to 2013, Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child put on an incredible show with production so extravagant that it created a 33-minute, 55-second blackout.

In 1993, Michael Jackson had one of the greatest performances ever. His performance began with two full minutes of cheering from the audience before he sang “Billie Jean’’ and “Black or White.”

After bringing the house down with these energetic numbers, he tugged at the audience’s heartstrings with “We are the World” and “Heal the World.”

MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ / Associated Press

Dr. Dre, left, and Snoop Dogg perform during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals Feb. 13 in Inglewood, Calif.

In 2007, Prince put on what is widely considered the greatest halftime show of all time. His performance brought everything from pop to rock to funk, culminating in his legendary performance of “Purple Rain” in the rain.

Recency bias is one reason viewers are adulating this year’s show. People tend to overrate the importance of things that have just happened, only to later discover

under more sober analysis that the thing they experienced wasn’t quite what they thought.

The idea that this year’s halftime show was the greatest ever is also fueled by nostalgia. People hearing the music that they grew up on had more of an influence on their perception of the show than anything else. If next year’s show featured Playboi Carti, 21 Savage and Lil Uzi Vert, there would be

a younger generation calling it the greatest of all time, but that would not make it so.

This year’s Super Bowl halftime show was good, but it belongs in the league of Maroon 5 and Lady Gaga, not in the rarefied air next to Prince and Michael Jackson.

Frank Kidd is a 20-year-old mass communication junior from Springfield.

LSU alumni network offers vital post-grad assistance KACEYING THE STORY KACEY BUERCKLIN @0kacey1 Students spend an average of six years in college, a short period of time in the grand scheme of life. As students approach graduation, many look back on college in a blur and wonder where all the time went. But even when students leave the university, they will always remain a part of the Tiger family.

This fact has become clear to me in my last semester of college. I have recently begun my job search, as I will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication in just a few months.

I am moving to the Big Apple in May, but I have only ever been to New York City once when I was 14. I loved the city, but I don’t remember much about it. My family is from Georgia, and I’m the only person I know who wants to live in New York.

Two months ago, I was completely lost on how to make my dream of moving to New York City a reality.

Searching for guidance, I posted on a Facebook group for LSU alumni living in New York City, explaining that I am graduating in May and would appreciate any advice for moving to the big city and launching my career.

The amount of help that alumni offered was excitingly overwhelm-

BY EMILY TRAN ing.

I had multiple alumni who went out of their way to reach out to me and connect me with different career opportunities. Fifteen to 20 alumni in New York City alone have contacted me and tried to help.

I have continued to speak to several of them—some recent graduates, some who graduated

over 30 years ago. I have yet to run into alumni from the university who are unwilling to help.

Many alumni who helped me said they also had alumni help them as they began their lives post-graduation. It is a beautiful cycle of those from the university community investing in one another’s success.

New York-based alumni have

offered me an enormous amount of help, but they are still only a tiny portion of the alumni assistance I have received throughout my time at the university. Without the generosity of alumni donations toward student scholarships, I would not even be graduating this May. Throughout it all, I have learned how grateful I am to be a

Tiger. Being an LSU Tiger provides another family, with members all over the country and world. As I graduate and continue with my career, I am determined to someday impact future LSU students the way alumni have impacted me.

Kacey Buercklin is a 20-year-old political communications senior from Murrayville, GA.