The Reveille 3-22-21

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BOWMAN-MILLIGAN

Meet the

Candidates UNITY Javin Bowman & Abbie Grace Milligan COURTESY OF BOWMAN-MILLIGAN

COURTESY OF TYLER JOHNSON OF IT’S TIME CAMPAIGN

IT’S TIME Amina Meselhe & Preston White COURTESY OF UNITY

Mia LeJeune & Angelina Cantelli NEWS

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The United Nations’ Human Rights Council deems the new development in Cancer Alley a form of environmental racism.

ENTERTAINMENT

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Life Raft Treats makes dessert fun with treats made to look like food, such as its popular “Not Fried Chicken” ice cream.

Voting for Student Government elections begins March 24.

SPORTS

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LSU hoops secures its first win at the Big Dance over St. Bonaventure, setting up a matchup with No. 1 seed Michigan.

OPINION

Read on

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“When news of AstraZeneca’s purported blood clotting risk spread online, many women were left puzzled.”

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

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Campaign Spotlights

BY CAROLINE SAVOIE @carolinesavo

BOWMAN-MILLIGAN Student Government veterans Javin Bowman, a criminology and political science junior, and Abbie Grace Milligan, a political science, Spanish and international studies junior, teamed up to “unapologetically advocate” for students across LSU’s campus in LSU’s spring 2021 presidential election.

Bowman said as a Black man, he has grown tired of the University treating minority students like numbers to bolster its claim of being “diverse.”

“In all my years at LSU, I’ve been seen as a dollar sign,” Bowman said. “I decided to run for SG president because I can bring other people who feel that way to the table with me...not just Black and white, but Native American, Asian and LGBTQ+ people too.”

The two students call their

or, on the University’s academic search committees and requiring professors to meet deadlines when grading and responding to students.

“Administration doesn’t include students in any decisions,” Milligan said. “They have reached out to us more recently because we put pressure on them, but most of the time students are invited in to ‘help’ later, after decisions have already been made.”

Bowman said platforms like ProctorU and TopHat require students to pay for functionalities that are built in to Moodle, which is why they’re requesting that administration prohibit professors from using the third-party testing programs.

Bowman said their community policies work to bridge the divide between student organiza-

tions, students and the residents of Baton Rouge. As Milligan sits on SG’s Sexual Violence Prevention Committee and serves as SG’s director of safety, she has made connections with sexual assault resources within and outside of LSU to implement sexual assault trainings in local schools.

“If elected, we’d only serve for one year, but our policies would outlive our time at LSU,” Milligan said.

The ticket’s policies relating to culture aim to increase diversity and inclusivity on campus, like encouraging administration to hire professors from diverse backgrounds and writing legislation to instate gender-neutral bathrooms.

“Students are more comfortable when we learn from professors who look like us,” Bowman said. “Our faculty should represent the people they’re teaching more than they do right now.”

felt like her chances of winning were slim because she is a woman.

“It’s the perfect name because it really is time,” Cantelli said.

“It’s time to put women in the best positions to make tangible differences. It’s time to remove the double standards. Even if we don’t win, it’s time to set an example for other women who want to lead on campus.”

LeJeune said she sees her candidacy as laying a foundation for women to feel accepted, valued and integral to setting policy on campus.

“Now, more than ever, LSU students are craving female leadership,” LeJeune said. “I’m hopeful that we can pave the way for more women to run for office and make campus healthier for all students.”

After Husch Blackwell released its investigation into LSU’s mishandling of sexual misconduct cases, the campaign called for the termination of any faculty members found guilty of covering up instances of sexual assault.

LeJeune said she is passionate about civic engagement, which is reflected in It’s Time’s voting initiative. It would require students to register to vote before being accepted into LSU if they turn 18 before enrolling.

“We come to this University to become better people and better citizens, and if any student graduates without knowing the importance of voting, it’s a failure on LSU’s part,” LeJeune said.

LeJeune is the only presidential candidate who is a member of Greek Life as a member of Pi Beta Phi. The campaign’s policies relating to Greek Life include removing failed policies from years past and separating fall recruitment from LSU’s Welcome Week

events in August.

Cantelli said that one of her focuses is on improving the availability of mental health services at the Student Health Center, both online and in-person.

Cantelli said graduate students are often overlooked by undergraduate students running for SG. After meetings with SG’s former Grad Gold ticket, It’s Time secured the graduate students’ support, took the Grad Gold candidates into their ticket and drafted policies to reflect graduate-specific problems like lack of healthcare and adequate pay.

A local branch of the United Campus Workers of LA, a union comprised of LSU faculty, staff and graduate students, endorsed the campaign on March 12, marking the first time the union has supported a ticket.

“This is a historic ticket on so many levels, and we’re ready to keep meeting the moment every step of the way,” LeJeune said.

be a platform for movements that need to be amplified.”

Amplification is one of the pillars of the UNITY campaign, along with accountability and advocacy, according to the campaign’s website.

Meselhe and White said UNITY is a grassroots campaign that is garnering funds from the community instead of requiring its supporters to pay campaign dues. They said that they don’t want to force students to pay to see change.

She said that the most frustrating aspect of her time in SG was the culture of pride and politics that permeates the organization.

“There’s just this divide between branches of SG,” Meselhe said. “There was more time arguing about the minutia than actually making a difference with

students. It has to do with pride, but most students don’t know who’s in Senate or who’s in the executive branch anyway. They don’t know or care whose name is on the initiative, just that the change is made.”

She said she and White will work to remind the branches of SG that they work as a force to implement change, a force that, if unified, presents a strong front against injustices on campus.

One of UNITY’s core policy points is to support and aid in the creation of a Black Marketplace, a space in which Black students, organizations and businesses can promote their ideas, initiatives and products during Wild Out Wednesdays. The administration would build the Black Marketplace up, as students in NPHC fraternities and sororities are hosting a smaller

version of the event.

Meselhe, a Muslim daughter of Egyptian and Chinese immigrants, said that diversity is at the core of UNITY’s campaign.

“We go to a predominantly white institution, so we see a lot of white students trying to speak for people of color and championing their ideas,” Meselhe said.

“We want to reinstate the President’s Cabinet, where the presidents of student organizations get together to discuss ideas as a group.”

She said this coalition would encourage joint initiatives and allow student organizations to work together and share resources. White said that the cabinet would get student leaders who don’t normally connect to consider the problems they have in common and work as one unified front to fix them.

movement “Unapologetic Advocacy,” a campaign of 55 candidates who promise to advocate for the needs of students whose voices go unnoticed or ignored.

“When minority organizations apply for funds through SG, we do a good job of giving them their money and then not seeing them for a year,” Milligan said. “Instead, we need to let them know the money is there for them, how to get it, and then follow through and support their events.”

The campaign said their policies fall under three categories: climate, community and culture.

Their policies to improve LSU’s campus climate focus on getting students more involved in administrative decisions and holding professors accountable.

This would include placing students, especially students of col-

IT’S TIME The It’s Time campaign is led by Geaux Vote president and mass communication junior Mia LeJeune, and SG Deputy Chief of Staff amd English junior Angelina Cantelli. The campaign boasts the largest number of students running for office, with 114 candidates representing all 17 senior colleges on LSU’s campus.

“Once I saw SG navigate the events of 2020 and watched other tickets pop up, I knew SG needed a new face and new energy, something to reinspire and reignite SG for the better,” LeJeune said. “Students were tired of how they were being treated by administration and feeling unrepresented, so I decided it was now or never.”

Cantelli said she considered running for office before LeJeune extended the invitation, but she

UNITY The UNITY ticket is headed

by Amina Meselhe, a civil engineering junior and presidential candidate, and her running mate, geology junior Preston White.

“When we were freshmen and sophomores, we watched SG take credit for initiatives and changes on campus that came from the efforts of other student organizations, not just SG,” Meselhe said.

She said if elected on March 24, UNITY will amplify the ideas of students across campus without claiming the ideas as their own.

“We want to provide student organizations with the resources and connections to grow their ideas,” Meselhe said. “SG should

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NEWS

page 3 AWARDS

Miss LSUUSA 2021 winner crowned

CANCER ALLEY

BY ANNE MARIE WHERRITT @amwherritt

plants and oil refineries occupy this stretch of land, where most residential communities are predominantly Black.

Some residents in St. Gabriel Parish have complained of nighttime chemical releases that result in thick yellow mists coating their yards and dead birds in their lawns. Residents are also convinced the pollution is leading to higher rates of cancer and miscar-

Hannah Fontenot, a fashion merchandising sophomore, was crowned Miss LSU-USA 2021 on March 14.

“I was most excited to compete and hopefully represent LSU,” Fontenot said. “It’s more than just a crown and a sash to me.”

Fontenot is from Lafayette and a member of Phi Mu. She said her whole family has had an experience in pageantry — whether as a makeup artist or as a contestant.

“I love talking to my parents about this,” Fontenot said. “This has always been one of our biggest dreams.”

Her first pageant was 2020 Miss Lafayette, and she placed third.

“My parents and I remember seeing Keighley Kelley, 2019 Miss LSU-USA, walk past us in the homecoming parade,” Fontenot said. “I have dreamed of this day.”

Fontenot said her favorite part of the pageant was working with the other contestants and forming friendships. She will represent LSU at the Miss Louisiana USA pageant in January 2022.

see CANCER ALLEY, page 4

see MISS LSU, page 4

THE REVEILLE ARCHIVES

The Misssissippi River bridge spans the Mississippi River on Sept. 29, 2020.

Developments in cancer alley deemed a form of environmental racism

BY JOSH ARCHOTE @JArchote In St. James Parish, a welcome sign sitting beside a gravel road is covered in reddish-brown dust called bauxite, a potentially harmful byproduct of an alumina manufacturing plant nearby.

Below the sign in white letters barely visible through the dust reads “Don’t Litter” with the phone number to report litterers.

But littering is the least of con-

cerns for residents in St. James and surrounding parishes, who are exposed to some of the highest concentrations of cancer-causing chemicals and toxic air in the country.

“You can see that the air is not clean,” LSU graduate student Adam Dohrenwend said.

Dohrenwend, who studies geography, is writing his dissertation on the land along the lower Mississippi River. He said the number of plants in the area

shocked him while he was doing field work.

“There are fence-line communities that are right next to these plants, just divided with a little fence,” he said. “These people in these communities are basically treated like surplus space or surplus people.”

The area is known as Cancer Alley, a petrochemical corridor along the lower Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. More than 150 chemical

STUDENT LIFE

More LSU students are now eligible for SNAP food assistance

BY JOSH ARCHOTE @JArchote Congress changed the rules for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to make the program more accessible to college students than before the pandemic.

SNAP, formally known as food stamps, is a federal program established under the USDA that provides money for groceries each month for people who qualify based on their income.

The program previously excluded full-time college students unless they met certain exemptions. Some of these exemptions included working at least 20 hours a week, having a disability, caring for a child under the age of 6 or participating in a state or federally financed work study program.

Congress added additional criteria through the Consolidated Appropriations Act that broadens who is eligible to receive benefits. A full-time college student now qualifies for SNAP benefits if they are eligible to participate in

state or federally financed work study during the regular school year, or have an expected family contribution (EFC) of 0 in the current academic year.

Additionally, SNAP recipients are receiving the maximum amount of money allowed for their household size because of financial strain caused by the pandemic. Beforehand, SNAP benefits ranged from $19 to $234 for an individual. Now, singleperson households receive $234 for groceries per month, while two-person households receive $430.

Money for groceries could relieve strain on other parts of eligible college students’ budgets, such as rent and other expenses.

Although LSU’s food pantry provides students with free meals, Director of Safety Net Policy at the LA Budget Project Danny Mintz said the pantry’s assistance is limited.

“When you think about the investment the college makes in the food pantry, which is cer-

see SNAP, page 4

THE REVEILLE ARCHIVES

The LSU Food Pantry sits in its old location in room 350 on the second floor of the Student Union on Jan. 21, 2020.

Monday, March 22, 2021

page 4 SNAP, from page 3 tainly an important and worthy thing to keep doing, LSU is probably not investing $234 per student per month in the pantry, but that’s the amount that would be available to individual students who qualify for SNAP,” Mintz said. “For every meal that a food bank serves, SNAP serves nine meals generally. $234 a month buys a pretty reasonable amount of food.”

Mintz said the changes better reflect the reality of what college students experience today.

“While in school, they have limited capacity to work outside of school and often are financially independent or otherwise primarily responsible for supporting themselves, and so deserve food assistance benefits just like anyone else,” Mintz said.

A recent survey by Hope Center found that rates of food insecurity among students ranged from 33% to 42% at four-year institutions.

A significant challenge in reducing food insecurity among college students, according to Mintz, is making students aware of assistance they are eligible for.

“Probably the most important action a college can take is for the financial aid office to reach out directly to students through an email and explain that they may be eligible for SNAP based on information already in the University’s system,” Mintz said.

“LSU could work with student organizations to publicize this public benefits change, which would also help reduce stigma around the program.”

The changes to the eligibility requirements are temporary.

The changes are in effect until

30 days after the national public health emergency expires from the coronavirus, but it’s unclear when that could be.

“It’s quite possible that the federal public health emergency could last all the way through the end of 2021,” Mintza said. “That’s at least another six months. Students who qualify under the school rule remain eligible until their case has to be redetermined.”

Mintz said Congress should consider making these benefits more accessible to students even after the pandemic.

“Congress could revisit the current student rules and change them to make these components a permanent part of the SNAP program,” he said, “or they could look at other ways of recognizing that students, for example, who were qualifying for SNAP before they started college shouldn’t be penalized for starting a full-time program.”

For students who don’t qualify for SNAP, the food bank serves free meals for students regardless of their financial circumstances.

Associate Dean of Students and Director of Campus Life Jacob Brumfield said there has been a “strong use” for the LSU Food Pantry this year. He said there were 1,111 student patrons between July 1, 2020 and March 17, 2021. In the previous year, from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020, he said 1,650 student patrons visited the Food Pantry.

“The LSU Food Pantry is open to all currently-enrolled students,” Brumfield said. “We do not ask student qualifying questions when they use our service (level of financial need, extenuating circumstances, why they are using the pantry, etc.).”

SNAP at-a-glance Who qualifies: •A household with a maximum gross income less than the monthly eligibility standard identified by Louisiana •Full-time college students who are eligible for work study during the regular school year or have an expected family contribution of 0 in the current academic year

How to apply: •Complete an online application on Louisiana’s Café Self-Service Portal

Other resources for food insecurity: •LSU Food Pantry provides supplemental food to students facing food insecurity.

•Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank partners with community organizations to feed the hungry in the greater Baton Rouge area.

•Foodpantries.org finds food pantries near you and provides their contact information.

CANCER ALLEY, from page 3 riages in the region.

Residents and activists have been fighting to keep out more chemical plants and ensure stronger air quality regulations since the early 1990s.

It’s an environmental justice problem that’s received national attention. President Joe Biden mentioned Cancer Alley while signing executive orders targeting climate change and industrial pollution during his first week in office.

Recently, the problem received international attention as well.

Experts from the United Nations’ Human Rights Council deemed new development in Cancer Alley a form of environmental racism in a press release March 2.

The statement comes from the UN’s rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerances.

New petrochemical complexes in Cancer Alley have not only polluted the surrounding water and air, but have also subjected its mostly Black residents to cancer, respiratory diseases and other adverse health effects, the report said.

“This form of environmental racism poses serious and disproportionate threats to the enjoyment of several human rights of its largely African-American residents, including the right to equality and non-discrimination, the right to life, the right to health, right to an adequate standard of living and cultural rights,” experts on the council said.

Cancer Alley residents’ most recent fight involves keeping a $9.4 billion plastics complex, Formosa Plastics, out of St. James Parish.

If built, it’s estimated that the plant would significantly increase

MISS LSU, from page 3 Her pageant coach, Ross Walters, has been working with her for about a year and a half, and they rehearse two to three times a week. She also works with her interview coach, Jimmy Lee Langhood, and her fitness coaches, Angie Helm and Megan Bologna.

The pageant is a fundraiser for sorority Delta Zeta’s philanthropies. The sorority has raised over $60,000, and it is still waiting on its ticket sale profits. Delta Zeta’s philanthropies are the Starkey Hearing Foundation, American Society for Deaf Children, SeriousFun Children’s Network, the Emerge Center and St. Lillian’s Academy.

The pageant included an evening gown competition, a swimsuit competition and a round of interview questions.

The pageant started for the contestants at 7:30 a.m. They arrived at the Delta Zeta house and were interviewed by each judge individually. While the contestants were getting ready, the Miss LSU-USA committee did run-throughs and lighting checks before the contestants arrived. Before the pageant, the

levels of toxic carcinogens in surrounding predominantly Black communities.

The cancer risks in predominantly African American districts in St. James could be at 104 and 105 cases per million, while other districts with predominantly white populations could have a cancer risk ranging from 60 to 75 per million, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Air Toxic Assessment map.

Industries have long flocked to the lower Mississippi because of its easy access to shipping lanes and cheap land for large facilities.

“One of the key reasons people use to site a facility is because it’s near other facilities or it’s near an allied facility,” LSU Sociology Professor Kevin Smiley said.

“That’s the intention. What I hear is that’s actually doubling down on a community that’s already polluted.”

Smiley researches health risks from industrial air pollution in the United States by examining the extent of disparities across metropolitan areas, and how those disparities have emerged.

Louisiana also has unique incentives, such as the Industrial Tax Exemption Program, that allow companies to pay less in property taxes than they would in other states, according to Environmental Sciences Professor Brian Synder, who researches energy systems.

“It just becomes one of the best places in the country to build those facilities,” he said, “which has not been great for the people who live especially right on the fence-line.”

Greg Bowser, president and CEO of Louisiana Chemical Association, said racial demographics are not used to site plants.

“We do not know if this group found evidence of such actions,

and if they did, the statement they released does not share that information with the general public,” he said in an interview with The Advocate.

Industries along the lower Mississippi have contended that the Louisiana Tumor Registry, the state’s cancer data aggregator, is proof that there are no adverse side effects for residents. Louisiana Tumor Registry data doesn’t show significant variance in cancer outcomes for residents in Cancer Alley.

However, the Tumor Registry also doesn’t rule out clusters of cancer outcomes in the region since the data is aggregated over irregularly sized areas across which emissions vary, according to ProPublica.

Residents and activists have argued that cancer outcomes are subject to a variety of factors and are not the same as cancer risk, which is the highest in the country in Cancer Alley.

Environmental engineering junior and founder and director of Geaux Green, an LSU student organization devoted to sustainability, Everett Craddock said he wasn’t surprised Cancer Alley is receiving international attention.

“People who are involved in these conversations know how big of an issue this is and know how detrimental the petrochemical industry has been in that area of Louisiana,” Craddock said. “I think it’s a horrible position to put someone in to have to fight for clean air and clean water. That should be something that’s guaranteed for everyone.

“It’s really unfortunate that these people have been put in this position where they’re being told they don’t have a choice and that they’re going to be subjected to these conditions that are going to be impacting their health and their community.”

contestants did a run-through practice of the beginning, top five and the crowning.

Miss LSU Executive Director Leah McPhearson said though there was not a live audience, friends and family of the contestants made posters for the contestants and spread them throughout the Union Theater.

“The posters were such a sweet and personal touch,” Fontenot said. “It was the best surprise.”

McPhearson said the live stream brought in a lot of viewers and sold over 250 tickets. The committee is considering keeping the livestream in the future so contestants’ family members can watch the pageant even if they are not in town.

“I was excited we were able to reach a larger audience via livestream,” McPhearson said.

“However, I missed the audience; there was definitely a disconnect.”

COURTESY OF MADDIE DIEZ

Fashion merchandising sophomore Hannah Fontenot was crowned Miss LSU-USA 2021 on March 14.

ENTERTAINMENT

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IT’S NOT CHICKEN The inside scoop on Life Raft Treats: It’s ‘Not Fried Chicken’

COURTESY OF @LIFE.RAFT.TREATS

BY AVA BORSKEY @iamavab It’s not Popeyes. It’s not KFC. It’s “Not Fried Chicken.”

Don’t let your eyes deceive you. Those drumsticks are actually made of ice cream, and “Not Fried Chicken” is just one example of the specialty ice cream crafts you can get at Life Raft Treats, an ice cream truck found in Charleston, South Carolina.

Cynthia Wong, a six-time James Beard Foundation Award semifinalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef, was working long hours in restaurants owned by other people when she decided it was time for a turn in the tide.

“She decided if she’s going to work that hard, it might as well be for herself,” John David Harmon, Wong’s husband, said.

In 2018, the two started the Life Raft Treats ice cream truck. It offered the perfect opportunity, a “life raft,” to escape the monotony of everyday life.

Wong became the “Grand Chancellor” of the company, and Harmon assumed the role of “Chairman of Businessy Stuff.”

He does a little bit of everything, from finances to supplier relations. She makes the ice cream and comes up with the ideas for the novelty treats.

The most popular of which, “Not Fried Chicken,” was actually inspired from the name of the top selling frozen novelty in the country, the original dipped sundae ice cream cone, the Nestlé Drumstick.

“She looked at me one night, and was just like, ‘wouldn’t it be funny if a Drumstick looked like a drumstick?’” Harmon said. “And that’s how ‘Not Fried Chicken’ happened.”

Each piece of “Not Fried Chicken” is made with waffle ice cream and a chocolate-covered cookie “bone,” coated in caramelized white chocolate and crushed cornflakes.

It takes a lot of time and labor.

Life Raft Treats does everything by hand, and most everything is made from scratch. It uses ingredients from local producers and farmers to ensure the highest quality products; even the milk to make the ice cream comes from a local dairy.

For “Not Fried Chicken,” after the ice cream is made, it has to be shaped and refrozen. Then, the pieces are dipped and rolled in their “batter” before going into the freezer once more to “bake.”

The entire process takes several days. The result is a batch of 900 ice cream bars that look uncannily like pieces of fried chicken.

In the early days of the business, Life Raft Treats participated in a food festival in Atlanta.

It didn’t have a huge marketing presence, and the table only included a simple sign with the business name. “Not Fried Chicken” was out in individual trays for people to sample as they passed by.

“People were just not paying attention, picking it up,” Harmon said. “You could watch them like immediately after they picked it up. First, they looked at their hand thinking, ‘Wait this thing’s cold,’ and then they would bite into it and be like, ‘What the hell is going on?’ some people came back and said, ‘Hey man, your chicken, there’s something wrong with your chicken.’ We would be like, ‘It’s ice cream.’”

In addition to “Not Fried Chicken,” Life Raft Treats makes classic ice creams and specialty flavors like the “Marmalade Sandwich,” a crème fraiche ice cream with brioche croutons and grapefruit marmalade, inspired by the grapefruit tree in Wong and Harmon’s front yard and Paddington the Bear.

Life Raft Treats has also dabbled with other “ice cream foods,” like tacos and Thanksgiving dinner plates.

One of its more recent launches, announced on its Instagram,

rethinks the traditional ice cream sandwich. Literally. It looks just like a ham and cheese on bread, but it’s made entirely of ice cream.

“We say we spark joy and surprise through our frozen ice cream treats,” Harmon said. “It’s getting that reaction from people.

That joyous expression on their faces and surprise. You know, a little levity to the day. That’s what we’re after.”

Harmon said Life Raft Treats is expanding where it can, with the possibility of scoop shops and more retail partnerships down the road.

But with the magic of dry ice, “Not Fried Chicken” can safely cross any road today. “Not Fried Chicken” is available for shipping nationwide in nine-piece and 20-piece buckets through Goldbelly.

So, the next time you find yourself sinking in the seriousness of life, as the Life Raft Treats slogan goes, you can always “save yourself with a treat.”

FASHION

Seven must-have clothes and accessories for this spring

BY BRITNEY YOUNG @byoun99 Spring is here, and it is time to shed off those coats and jackets.

Louisiana’s weather can be tricky at times. One day it’s hot, but the weather decides to be cooler on the next day. So, it is crucial to have clothing that will match the non-consistent weather changes.

I have some pieces that I will be sharing that will offer some inspiration for your next clothing purchases. Some of them you can wear year-round, and many were either bought online or thrifted.

you can find cute sweater vests at Minga London and Cider.

For the spring, I’ll wear sweater vest with a cami underneath.

You can also wear them with jeans, pants or shorts.

become a simple outfit to wear with the right bottoms and accessories. I usually thrift oversized shirts, and Urban Outfitters sell smany cool shirts on its website and in stores.

Tennis Skirts

Crop Tops

Tennis skirts were seen all over the internet during the fall and winter. Although, you can still wear your tennis skirt in the spring. You can wear these skirts with any top or sweater for those cool nights. It’s perfect for mixing and matching.

It is finally time to bring out the crop tops. Crop tops are my favorite when paired with highwaisted shorts or jeans. I love the way it looks, and it is also a simple outfit.

I love stores like Urban Outfitters and PacSun for my crop tops.

You can also check out Motel Rocks for more unique crop tops.

Sweater Vests

Oversized and Graphic T-Shirts

Sweater vests are the new trend going around. I thrift my sweater vests from Goodwill, but

Lately, I’ve been on the oversized craze. I love how an oversize shirt looks on me, and it can

Bottoms I have too many pairs of jeans, but I always end up buying more.

I mostly get my denim from BDG at Urban Outfitters. I always look for high-waisted jeans and shorts, and BDG has never let me down.

You can get away from denim with patterned pants. I also love Nike shorts. They are comfy and great for lounging or walking to class.

Crewnecks It is getting warmer outside, but there are still days when it’s cool. I usually like to wear crewnecks with a tennis skirt or shorts when it is cool outside.

Accessories My favorite accessories are hats and hair scarfs. I put most of my money into those two accessories. They can also help elevate

your outfit.

I personally love bucket hats.

Hair scarves are also in trend, and I got mine from Urban Outfitters.

Trucker hats are strangely back in style, but you can buy them from local businesses like Pastime Resale. Places like Depop like to overcharge people on some thrifted items, but at this site, all thrifted items are reasonably priced.

Tote Bag I also can’t forget the tote bag. I don’t carry a purse, but I do love a good tote bag. For the upcoming summer, it would be a good idea to have a tote bag to bring with you on beach trips. It’s a handy accessory that will also complete your spring outfit.

Monday, March 22, 2021

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Monday, March 22, 2021

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A photo of a student from 1975 boarding an LSU bus alongside a current image of an LSU bus from March 9.

A photo of cars from 1975 along with a photo of cars from March 9.

A photo of the Quad under construction from 1975 alongside a current photo of the Quad from March 9.

A photo of the Quad from 1960 alongside a current photo of Arkinson from March 14.

LIKE YESTERDAY

A photo of the fire-damaged Sigma Chi House from 1975 alongside a photo of the rebuilt fraternity house from March 18.

A photo of Memorial Tower from 1969 along with a current photo of the tower from March 7.

BY MATTHEW PERSCHALL

Captured moments from the late 1950s to the mid-1970s are paired with current photos of LSU’s campus today. Not much has changed; it looks just like yesterday.

OLD PHOTOS COURTESY OF LOUISIANA DIGITAL LIBRARY

A photo of Tiger Stadium from 1975 alongside a current photo of the stadium from March 7.

A photo of the French House from 1975 along with a current photo of the building on March 5.

A photo of a student sitting in the Greek Amphitheatre from 1960 sits along with a current photo of the outdoor theatre from March 13.

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FOR RELEASE MARCH 22, 2021

THE Daily Commuter Puzzle ACROSS 1 Commit perjury 4 One more time 9 Furthermore 13 Emeralds & beryls 14 Dressing choice 15 Wedding ring material 16 Short snoozes 17 Odds 19 Sci-fi vehicle 20 Letters from Greece 21 Freeway entrances 22 Reddish animals 24 Uno doubled 25 Fully grown 27 Feisty little rooster 30 Subside 31 Solar panel spots 33 Pigeon’s sound 35 Henry VIII’s desire 36 Pencil tip 37 Freight barge 38 __-tac-toe 39 Aesop story 40 Make butter 41 Memorizes 43 Monopoly player’s purchases 44 Unknown John 45 Reed or Summer 46 Bedeck; enhance 49 Picture border 51 Cobb & others 54 Give new energy to 56 Italian auto 57 Musical symbol 58 Nonconformist 59 Way too thin 60 __ at; insinuate 61 Unkempt 62 Tattoo parlor supply

by Jacqueline E. Mathews

Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews

8 Org. for Panthers & Coyotes 9 Shocked 10 Appear in the distance 11 Feed the pigs 12 Racetrack postings 13 Bearded antelope 18 Many golf clubs 20 Uncovered 23 On the __; mad at each other 24 Foolish 25 Ship’s pole 26 As sore as __ 27 Clavicle or scapula 28 Charge of DOWN wrongdoing 1 Design on 29 Actor Dudley Canada’s flag 31 Rips off 2 Of no __; 32 Spray WD-40 on insignificant 34 __ up; admits 3 Alphabet member guilt 4 Francis or Dahl 36 Where to spray 5 Trot & canter Windex 6 Singer Paul 37 Steer clear of 7 Writes on a cake 39 Facade

3/22/21

Saturday’s Puzzle Solved

©2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

40 Dunce cap shape 42 Floating aimlessly 43 Unattractive 45 Stupors 46 Prefix for enemy or diocese 47 Where heros are made

3/22/21

48 Kenmore appliance 49 Skedaddle 50 BBQ favorites 52 Hard pull 53 Piglet’s home 55 Humerus’ location 56 CBS drama series

SPORTS

page 9 WOMEN’S GOLF

LSU women’s golf falls to fourth

MARCHING MARCH ING

N making just one of its first 10 shots. The Tigers made two baskets in the first nine minutes before junior guard Javonte Smart knocked down a three-pointer to take a 7-6 lead.

LSU hung onto a 31-22 lead at the break as St. Bonaventure shot an even worse 23.3%. Freshman guard Cam Thomas and sophomore forward Trendon

After shooting an 18-over, 304, on Saturday, LSU women’s golf dropped to fourth place on the leaderboard at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic. Following an even-par Round One on Friday, the purple and gold could not hold onto the lead.

Sophomore Ingrid Linblad, the No. 4 ranked amateur in the world, fired a 3-over, 75, and led the field by two strokes. This would be Lindblad’s first individual win of 2021. She has wins in 2019 and 2020. In Round Two, she was only able to capture a fourth of the birdies she did in Round One, two. She also carded five bogeys, bringing her collective score for the tournament to 5-under.

Freshman Carla Tejedo Mulet was the low scorer of Saturday.

Mulet fired a 2-over, 74. Her second round consisted of five bogeys and three birdies. Mulet is tied for 18th among the field of 90. Senior Kendall Griffin shot a 4-over, 76, bringing her collective score to 8-over, tying her for 37th.

Griffin’s second round consisted

see MARCH, page 10

see GOLF, page 10

LSU basketball advances to the round of 32 after defeating St. Bonaventure

COURTESY OF ASSOCIATED PRESS

LSU forward Trendon Watford (2) makes a move around the defense of St. Bonaventure guard Dominick Welch (1) during the second half of a first round game in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament March 20 at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana.

BY ANTHONY MOCKLIN @mocklin_anthony The LSU basketball team (199, 11-6 Southeastern Conference) made its 23rd appearance in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers finished third in the SEC this season and beat Ole Miss and Arkansas in the SEC Tournament to advance to the championship game.

LSU fell by one point to Ala-

bama and earned a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament’s East region, setting the team for a first round matchup against No. 9 St. Bonaventure at Indiana University’s Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana.

The Tigers’ last tournament appearance saw them defeat Yale and Maryland to reach the Sweet 16 as a No. 3 seed in 2019 before falling to No. 2 Michigan State. Head Coach Will Wade

missed the entire postseason after the university suspended him ahead of the team’s regular season finale.

Wade was reinstated the following month, and after last year’s tournament was canceled due to COVID-19, he became the seventh coach in program history to lead the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

LSU shot a dismal 35.7% from the field in the first half after

BY JOE KEHRLI @joekehrli9

GYMNASTICS

Gymnastics narrowly falls short in SEC Championship

BY MORGAN ROGERS @morgan_rogers In what could be called an unpredictable night, LSU gymnastics narrowly lost to No. 8 Alabama by a .100 deficit in Huntsville, Alabama.

Ranked No. 4, the Tigers finished second with a score of 197.775 on Saturday night in the Von Braun Center. The score registers as LSU’s third-highest of the season, following its home meets against Florida and Missouri.

Kiya Johnson returned in full swing for only the second time this season since the back-toback meets against Arkansas. The sophomore earned the fifth perfect score of her collegiate career.

She came in second at 39.625 in the all-around to Alabama’s Luisa Blanco, who scored four straight 9.950s in all the events. Haleigh Bryant came in seventh for the All-around title with a 39.450, falling below her average all-around score.

The Tigers took home the highest vault and floor scores of the night at 49.625 and 49.500.

The team finished second on bars and third on beam. Surprisingly, Alabama won the bars title at 49.425 while Florida, who averages 197.625 on bars, came in last.

The Gators accumulated the highest score on beam to secure their sole event title of the night.

LSU began the night on the uneven bars. Johnson and freshman Chase Brock started the event with a 9.875 and 9.825. Olivia Dunne followed with a 9.900, the freshman’s second-highest score of the season. Alyona Schennikova only managed a 9.850 despite getting the most height she’s ever gotten on her double layout. Sami Durante anchored the event with a 9.900.

Senior Christina Desiderio opened up the second rotation on beam, giving her weakest score this season. Durante delivered the same score as their last meet against Missouri, coming in at 9.875. Bryant collected by far her lowest score on beam this season.

Senior Bridget Dean competed in her only event of the night to accumulate a 9.875. Johnson picked up the pace to score the highest

beam score of the night for the Tigers at 9.900.

The Tigers’ beam anchor Reagan Campbell finally made her return just in time for the SEC Championships. The senior managed a 9.850 to end the event.

Desiderio once again led the Tigers on floor, executing one of her more impressive floor routines of the year, scoring her third 9.800 for the season. Sophomore Schennikova matched her careerhigh for the third time this season at 9.925. Sierra Ballard, performing on the floor every time since the Auburn meet, raked in her lowest score of the season. Unlike her consistent self, Sarah Edwards scored a 9.700 after struggling to keep her chest up and stick her last landing. Bryant followed with a 9.925, .25 below her last three performances. All-around Johnson wrapped up the floor event with her third perfect floor score of the season and her collegiate career.

Unlike their usual home meets, the Tigers finished with the vault rotation instead of starting with the event. Durante led with a

9.900, setting a new career-high for herself on vault. Schennikova followed with her second-highest vault score at 9.925. Freshman Elena Arenas garnered her highest vault score yet at 9.950 to secure the vault title of the night.

Edwards accumulated a 9.900 to match her score from the last meet. Johnson gave a weaker score at 9.850 as Bryant anchored the event with a 9.950.

Florida, after having consistently high scores the entire year, struggled tonight without its leading performer, Trinity Thomas, in the All-around. The Gators scored their lowest score of the season but still managed to come in third.

Alabama earned its tenth overall SEC Championship Title, its first since 2015. The two SEC teams advancing to Regionals will be announced on March 22.

ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille

LSU gymnastics team throws up ten fingers after freshman All-around Haleigh Bryant’s perfect vault routine March 3.

page 10 MARCH, from page 9 Watford led the Tigers in scoring with seven points apiece.

“I thought we really guarded in the first half,” Wade said.

“Our offense was a little bit raggedy, but we guarded and that kept us in the game. The offense always comes around. For us, it’s about getting stops and rebounding, which is what we did a great job of.”

LSU began to pull away in the second half. The Tigers jumped out to a 16-point lead thanks to a 9-0 run led by Thomas, Watford and junior forward Darius Days. LSU cruised the rest of the way to a 76-61 victory.

“I thought our guys were prepared,” Wade said. “Our guys were ready to go. We prepared to the nth degree for this game both offensively and defensively. You want guys that perform on the big stage that can make big plays in big moments, and we did that today.”

Thomas scored 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line in the second half. He was on the court for almost the entirety of the game, logging 39 out of 40 minutes.

“In the second half, I just wanted to attack the basket,” Thomas said. “My threes and shots were a little off in the first half, so I had to get going by

Monday, March 22, 2021 getting to the free throw line and getting to the basket. That’s what propelled us to win today.”

Thomas, the country’s fourth-leading scorer, turned in one of his best performances of the year on Saturday, finishing with a game-high 27 points, adding four rebounds and three assists. Thomas’ 27 points are the most by an LSU player in their NCAA Tournament debut since Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf’s 33-point game against UTEP in 1989. It was also Thomas’ 15th game of at least 25 points this season, the most by any SEC player in the last 25 years.

LSU dominated the glass with 45 rebounds compared to St. Bonaventure’s 29. Sophomore guard Aundre Hyatt remained in the starting lineup and recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds (including seven offensive) while adding two assists, a steal and four blocks.

“Aundre Hyatt was phenomenal,” Wade said. “I thought he was just tremendous. What you saw today is what we see every day in practice. I trust him. He’s steady and you know where he’s gonna be. We went away from him a little bit during the middle of the year, but he earned that starting spot in his preseason and how hard he worked. He came up huge for us.”

Days (13 points, 11 re-

bounds) and Watford (11 points, 11 rebounds) also recorded double-doubles. Watford’s older brother, Christian, played college basketball at Indiana and hit one of the most iconic shots in Hoosier history to beat topranked Kentucky in 2011.

“The Watfords love Assembly Hall,” Wade said. “He was so excited to play here. He texted me as soon as he knew this was where we were playing. Christian and the family were in the arena today, so they were really fired up. I was so proud of him to be able to play well in a place that’s so special to their family.”

LSU will play the East’s No. 1-seeded Michigan in the second round on Monday after the Wolverines rolled past Texas Southern 82-66. LSU and Michigan have, faced each other three times in the programs’ history.

The Wolverines lead the series 2-1, but the Tigers won the most recent matchup 77-75 on Nov. 20 in the 2017 Maui Invitational.

“We can certainly play better,” Wade said. “Our second half defense left a lot to be desired. We got driven too much.

We’ve played a lot more physical lately. We did a great job on the glass. We’re gonna have to play our best game of the season on Monday, there’s no doubt about that. Hopefully we’re building towards that and can reach a crescendo on Monday.”

EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE GET YOUR COPY TODAY

GOLF, from page 9 of five bogeys, three birdies and one double-bogey.

Sophomore Latanna Stone struggled to find mojo on her second round. After firing a 2-over in Round One, Stone went 10-over on Saturday. Her second round consisted of six bogeys and two double-bogeys. Her collective score of 12-over tied her for 57th with just one day to play.

Playing as an individual, Presley Baggett improved her first

round score of 9-over in her second round, shooting a 7-over. Her collective 19-over ties her for 76th place.

The second round presented a challenge for the entire field.

South Carolina was the only team to post a subpar score for the tournament through the first two rounds. The worst score of the day, 42-over, 330, was from the B Group from the University of Georgia.

The Tigers teed it up for their final round at 9:25 a.m. Sunday.

COURTESY WALT BEAZLEY

Ingrid Lindblad gets ready to tee off at the Blessings Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas in October 2020.

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OPINION

page 11

AstraZeneca suspension highlights sexist medical bias SAUCE BOSS CÉCILE CÉCILE GIRARD @_cegi_ A growing list of European countries have recently halted administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine over suspicions that it causes blood clotting, despite the European Medical Authority’s assertion that the causal link is flimsy.

Of 17 million people vaccinated in Europe, only 37 people, or 0.00022%, developed blood clot-related concerns.

For context, about one in 1,000 American adults, or 0.1% of the population, suffer each year from deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism, both conditions caused by blood clots in the veins and arteries. This incidence rate is 454 times higher than that detected in the sample vaccinated

by AstraZeneca.

I understand why scientists and government officials would want to publicly exercise caution over the vaccine, especial-

ly given the suspicion and distrust surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine since it was first publicly distributed in December 2020.

However, when news of AstraZeneca’s purported blood clotting risk spread online, many women were left puzzled. Why was a 0.00022% blood clotting risk grounds for renewed scientific inquiry when their long-approved birth control pills presented a much higher risk?

The blood clotting risk of birth control is still relatively rare, with an estimated 0.04% to 0.16% of premenopausal women on hormonal birth control suffering from blood clot-related conditions each year.

This rate is comparable to the aforementioned 1% of Americans who suffer these conditions each year, but it’s important to note that it’s still 11/2 to seven times higher than normal for the young women who constitute the vast majority of birth control pill users.

An elevated risk of blood clotting is far outweighed by the benefits of oral contraceptives,

which, beyond its contraceptive functions, can improve acne, make menstruation less painful and relieve symptoms of endometriosis. However, blood clotting is not the only risk presented by hormonal birth control — weight gain, mood changes, soreness and nausea are all also common.

Although these side effects are well-documented, there seems to be little interest among scientists and drug manufacturers to improve contraceptive medicine, even though male birth control trials have been dis continued for causing the exact same side effects that millions of women experience with birth control.

Conception requires both a sperm and an egg, yet women are expected to bear the brunt of contraceptive responsibility. It’s also women who will inevitably suffer most from an accidental pregnancy (as an aside, blood clotting risks are greatly elevated during pregnancy) and as such there is a prevailing sentiment that any pain or discomfort they may suffer from contraception

is a small price to pay for sexual autonomy.

This false dichotomy — you either suffer the side effects or get pregnant — reflects the misogyny inherent in seeing women’s health, especially as it relates to contraception, as a privilege rather than a human right.

Ancient beliefs that tie a woman’s value to her child-bearing capabilities persist in modern labs and doctor’s offices, underlying the scientific biases that will halt vaccine trials for miniscule blood clotting risks but shrug off the much larger risks that come with birth control.

To be clear, I am thankful to live in an era when birth control is an accessible option. However, I am equally frustrated that women’s pain can be treated so flippantly by the same scientific community capable of an abundance of concern and empathy when men are affected.

Cécile Girard is a 21-year-old psychology junior from Lake Charles.

MATTHEW PERSCHALL/ The Reveille

A Covid-19 testing sign stands on Jan. 25, in front of the LSU Union Theater.

University must prepare students for natural disasters SPILL THE TEA WITH MARIE MARIE PLUNKETT

@MarieC_214

On March 17, the Storm Prediction Center issued a tornado watch and severe thunderstorm warning for Baton Rouge, and the University canceled all on-campus classes that began at or after 4:30 pm.

While the University does provide some information on its website about severe weather preparedness, including a short PDF about tornados, official communications did not issue any information about staying safe during the potential storms.

In theory, no student would have been left in a classroom during the severe weather — but with student residents and essential workers still present on campus, more should have been done to ensure everyone was aware of the proper procedures.

After the tragic natural disasters of the past year, the University should be more conscious of the threat that severe weather poses to its students both on and

off campus. A basic infographic, if not an actual list of emergency guidelines and procedures, would be a conscientious way to inform students and show that the University is aware of the reality students face.

We lose power, our cars flood, we can’t get to class — and yet more often than not we are expected to keep up with our peers.

Canceling classes was certainly a wise move on the University’s part, but the glaringly obvious lack of preparedness still shines through.

Does the campus boast tornado shelters or designated rooms for students to gather in to take shelter? Does it have tornado sirens?

How are students, faculty and staff being prepared for emergencies? Besides the LSU eTXT system, how are students being informed about threats?

With the likelihood of extreme weather events increasing drastically according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the University needs to start preparing itself and its students for the worst. Advising students to make emergency kits, designating safe spaces on campus and

training faculty and staff on how to navigate stressful and potentially dangerous situations are all steps we should take toward disaster preparedness.

Until the University actually begins reaching out with information and plans, however, here are a few things you can do to stay safe and prepared.

A lot of us here at the University are Louisiana locals, so we’re used to driving in rain and dealing with flooded streets.

Tornados, on the other hand, aren’t an everyday occurrence. I think I speak for everyone when I say we could all use a little refresher on what to do if a tornado hits.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, it’s best to create a tornado emergency plan, which includes identifying safe shelter locations for yourself and anyone in your household; putting together a tornado emergency kit with water, nonperishable food and medication (similar to stocking up before a hurricane) and compiling a list of important information in case of emergency (including telephone numbers and medical informa-

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Rain falls before the Lady Tigers’ 19-1 victory over Tulsa, Feb. 7, 2019, in Tiger Park. tion).

It’s also important to familiarize yourself with tornado warning signs like green skies, a large dark low-lying cloud and/or a loud roaring sound similar to a freight train.

Tornados may not be the most pressing threat to Baton Rouge,

Editorial Policies and Procedures EDITORIAL BOARD Bailey Chauvin Lara Nicholson Katherine Manuel Nick Frewin Grace Pulliam

Editor in Chief Managing Editor News Editor Deputy News Editor Opinion Editor

The Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, The Reveille or the university. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to opinion@lsureveille.com or delivered to B-39 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must provide a contact phone number for verification purposes, which will not be printed. The Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Reveille’s editor in chief, hired every semester by the LSU Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.

but they’re not unheard of in Louisiana. With extreme weather becoming more frequent everywhere, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared. Stay safe, LSU. Marie Plunkett is a 22 year old classical studies major from New Orleans.

Quote of the Week “Expect problems and eat them for breakfast.”

Alfred Montapert Philosopher 1906 — 1997

page 12

Monday, March 22, 2021

Let’s motivate each other to finish this semester strong FROM THE CRO’S NEST ELIZABETH CROCHET @elizabethcro_ If you are anything like me, it is around this time in the semester that you start to get worn out with school.

Somehow, I’ve been procrastinating doing my schoolwork even more than usual lately.

I’ve realized that this is only happening because I am letting it. Recently I decided to try and find the positive things surrounding me in life. When I took the time to focus on the good instead of dwelling on the bad, it showed me just how blessed I am.

I started to look back to a year ago at this time and realized how far we have come. In March of last year, I was unable to go to church, I attended school from my bedroom and I connected with most of my family and friends solely over the phone.

I am aware some of these

impacts are still in effect, but it seems the end is near. We now have three vaccines and states seem to finally be opening back up. If this is not great motivation to continue moving forward, then I don’t know what is.

Aside from this, spring has officially arrived. The colorful flowers everywhere have automatically brightened my mood: we are now able to stay outside in the sun longer and enjoy some beautiful weather. If you enjoy the outdoors, there is arguably no better time than now to reap its rewards.

I’ve decided to use the arrival of spring as a fresh start in my life. I am trying to have the same excitement now that I did during the first months of the school year.

If spring is not your thing, you can always look to things like Lent or the vaccine distribution as encouragement.

Take time to separate yourself from the things that usually consume your day. Instead, fill that time with things that make you happy. Whether it be cook-

ing, exercising, reading or just hanging out with friends, the best way to get through the remainder of the semester is to motivate yourself with things you enjoy.

It is easy to get overwhelmed with everything going on in our lives. We allow it to weigh us down. We should try to find the good in life and hope that things will get better.

School is the perfect example of this.

School can get stressful at times, so we often lose motivation to keep going. If we could each just have one thing that keeps us going, then we could make it through the semester. My advice is to find your “thing.”

I am sure most of us are looking forward to the end of the school year, but summer will be here before we know it. Do not let the laziness set in. Rather, let’s motivate each other to finish this semester strong.

Elizabeth Crochet is a 19-year-old political communication sophomore from New Orleans.

MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille

LSU students participate in various outdoor activities on March 3, on the Parade Ground.

Cash bail perpetuates a cruel system, must be abolished SULLY’S SCOOP CLAIRE SULLIVAN @sulliclaire Over 80% of the more than 1,400 people incarcerated in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison have not been convicted of a crime. Nationwide, over half a million people share in this reality.

Many of these people are denied their freedom not out of concerns for public safety, but because they do not have the money to make bail.

This is why the Fair Fight Initiative, MacArthur Justice Center and Advancement Project National Office filed a lawsuit against local officials in December 2020: because East Baton Rouge Parish imprisons hundreds of people solely because of their economic status.

Cash bail is just one piece of evidence that the prison system was built to serve the wealthy and punish the poor.

Pre-trial imprisonment harms incarcerated people in deep and lasting ways. Long durations in prison can result in the loss of employment, familial and social connections, child custody and, quite simply, time. The defining human quality of life is that it is so fleeting and short and valuable, yet the criminal justice system acts as a cold machine that destroys these notions of humanity.

The material and quantifiable losses of those in prison are heart-wrenching enough; to think of the lives that are stolen from them is even more troubling.

In fact, incarcerated individuals unable to make bail have report-

ed pleading guilty to crimes they did not commit out of an under standable desperation for freedom.

Meanwhile, the government and for-profit bail corporations have found a way to exchange human suffering for cash.

This is perhaps especially true in the state of Louisiana. The Vera Institute of Justice found that in 2015, the government made $4.5 million from bail and other fines, while for-profit bail companies made $4.7 million.

New Orleans bail companies were later forced to repay millions of dollars in profit to tens of thousands of families after illegally overcharging.

The cash bail system provides heavy profits to corporations and pads the discretionary funding of criminal courts. It is impossible to believe that a system with such misaligned incentives could be relied upon to deliver justice.

It is a moral imperative that Louisiana eliminates cash bail.

Other states have already moved in that direction with great success. Washington D.C. and New Jersey found that elim -inating bail requirements, in addition to implementing other reforms that make it easier to meet a court date, brought equivalent or improved rates of court appearances. Washington D.C. releases 94% of defendants pre-trial; of those, 91% return to court.

These success stories prove that the justification for cash bail — incentivizing people to return to court — is severely flawed.

It is supposedly a founding idea of this nation that the accused are innocent until proven guilty. Cash bail is a violation of

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The East Baton Rouge Parish Prison lies in wake of a rainy afternoon on Aug. 21, 2017. that idea, criminalizing poverty and disproportionately incarcerating people of color.

Cash bail has fractured Louisiana families and robbed tens of thousands of residents of their limited, irreplaceable time.

While millions of dollars have been made off of this pain, the human lives that have been lost cannot be measured. One cannot help but think of the birthdays missed, the beautiful moments never shared and the opportunities vanished.

The Louisiana criminal justice system has attempted to place a price tag on freedom, but it’s time the government sees its residents’ lives for what they are: invaluable.

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

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