THREE DOWN TO
LSU to name its next president early next week. Here’s what to know about the candidates.
FINAL ROUND
LSU names finalists for president, Board to vote next week
BY MAIA TYLER & COURTNEY BELL Staff Writer & News Editor
LSU is poised to name its next president early next week, almost six months after former President William Tate IV left for the same position at Rutgers University.
The presidential search committee selected its finalists for LSU’s next system leader Wednesday. The Board of Supervisors will now vote on which applicant will become president at their special session on Tuesday.
The committee interviewed five candidates on Wednesday. Of the five, the committee recommended Robert Robbins, James Dalton and Wade Rousse as the finalists.
Here’s what to know about each finalist.
James Dalton
James Dalton, the current provost at the University of Alabama, said he wanted to make his time as the president “student-centric” by prioritizing workforce development, hiring strong faculty and increasing academic and research support.
“We’ve got to make sure that we have a culture that’s getting people in the room where they can express ideas and feel the part of this team that’s going to win,” Dalton said.
Dalton wasn’t initially included as one of the candidates and was introduced as an applicant Wednesday shortly before the interviews began, with some committee members apparently not aware he’d be interviewed. He said he had a “delay in applying.”
Dalton prioritized workforce development for LSU students. He said he wants to do this by adding what he calls “high impact practices” to the curriculum, like smaller class sizes and hands-on learning opportunities paired with strong faculty.
“If we are going to admit a student to LSU, we’ve got to do everything that we can to make sure that they’ve got a path out of here with a degree in hand and an eye on a job,” Dalton said.
Dalton explained that curiosity, hard work and mentorship are what are important on a college campus. He said that not only does he embody these traits, but he looks to hire faculty that do as well. He emphasized that as president he would invest in the people on LSU campuses, including undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty and staff members.
In addition to hiring faculty, Dalton laid out a plan to recruit graduate students. He said it’s important to offer graduate students an environment they can excel in with strong faculty and
increased stipends.
“We’ve got to make sure that we’re investing in graduate education,” Dalton said. “We’ve got to make sure that we’ve got the support for them to do the research, to live on a living wage and to make sure that they can be successful and devote their time to studies.”
Dalton also explained that though he wants LSU to be an elite university, it must also balance the need of making public education accessible in the state.
“It’s our responsibility as the flagship of the state to make sure that we’re keeping that door open and letting any student that wants to come here, come here,” Dalton said. “It’s our other responsibility to make sure that when we open that door that there is another door on the other side of the room that leads out with a degree.”
Dalton explained the importance of the university’s relationship with the governor’s office and the state Legislature, as well as the Louisiana community more broadly.
“As president, I think one of my prime responsibilities, as I did as a dean and provost, is to get out to meet those people, to learn what those values and goals are and to put in the resources to make sure we’re moving in the same direction,” Dalton said.
Robert Robbins
Former president of the University of Arizona, Robbins expressed his excitement to be given the opportunity to apply for LSU’s president. The Mississippi native discussed his accomplishments at his previous school, including boosting research funding from $600 million to $1.2 billion.
“You’ve got to have a leader that expects excellence, expects to be successful, expects for this place to grow,” Robbins said. “What I did at [the University
of Arizona], doubling research funding, that is an achievable goal here.”
Robbins expressed the need for a leader that cares. At his former school, he said he would frequently interact with students, getting to know them and even handing out his phone number for if they ever had a question for him. He said his focuses are student outcomes and success and giving students a pleasant university experience while preparing them for their next chapter.
“I think building trust comes from sitting down, having a dialogue and listening,” Robbins said. “I’m big on meeting with students. I will try to meet anytime I can. I hosted them at my home. I walk across campus, they stop me, they want to talk. . . I think that goes a long way.”
When asked about how he would unify all the schools in the LSU system, he emphasized that everyone should feel valued. With different events and research happening on the various LSU campuses across the state, Robbins says it is important to create a plan that prioritizes all the campuses’ needs.
“We’ve got a team of champions. What we don’t have is a championship team. So I think you’ve got a team of champions,” Robbins said. “You need to come together across the entire enterprise that is the LSU system to be able to be successful.”
Robbins found out about the opportunity to become LSU’s next president through Mark Emmert, a former LSU chancellor.
Robbins resigned from Arizona as the school was dealing with a $177 million financial deficit that stemmed from an accounting error. Robbins assured the committee there was no foul play and that the university was never at risk of default. Daniel Tirone, a member of the search committee and the Faculty Sen-
B-16 Hodges Hall
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, La. 70803
ate president, said he’d also confirmed that by calling his former colleagues at the University of Arizona.
Wade Rousse
The sitting president at McNeese State University, Rousse emphasized a need for LSU to invest its resources in its programs, people and future generations. A part of this investment is the integration of more corporate partnerships, he said. He states that the funding pool in Louisiana has changed over the past 10 to 20 years and that it calls for a dramatic change in strategic objectives for the administration.
“We’re not going to allow them to skew the purity of the research,” said Rousse. “That’s a non-negotiable, but the idea that we need [corporate funding] to be a part of our curriculum, our research agenda, and truly create partnerships, true partnerships that we can maybe monetize together moving forward, I don’t think it’s negative.”
Much of the public comment before the interviews was used to caution the committee against selecting Rousse, with LSU Students for a Democratic Society members saying he would be a “Landry lap dog.” Rousse indirectly responded to these criticisms in his interview.
“There are those, perhaps some in this room, who will make me a proxy for a political or cultural battle that I am not fighting,” Rousse said. “To those individuals, I have one simple request: Look closely. Look to my breadth of experience… Look to the turnaround my team and I engineered at McNeese.”
Under Rousse, McNeese has seen increases in enrollment the past two years after 14 years of decline.
Rousse also said he’d support splitting the role of LSU president back into two: a chancellor of the Baton Rouge campus and
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CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS
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ABOUT THE REVEILLE
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HINESLEY BRYANT / The Reveille
Wade Rousse (left), Robert Robbins (middle) and James Dalton (right).
HALLOWEEN
Students share their favorite spooky songs
BY MIA HATTAWAY Staff Writer
Halloween isn’t just about what you’re wearing — it’s also about what you’re listening to. Students shared which tunes are setting the tone for the spookiest night of the year.
Senior Temi Oduola-Owoo is one of many who listens to more moody tracks to get into the fall spirit. To feel “mystical” and “esoteric” when the air turns chilly, she turns on “How Soon Is Now?” by The Smiths and “Witches” by Alice Phoebe Lou.
In the same vein, sophomore Evy Spero listens to “Crystal” by Stevie Nicks to get into the witchy vibe. The ballad was fittingly featured in cult classic “Practical Magic.”
Junior Steph Kontcho, on the other hand, is opting for a more percussive and grounded sound with “Tu Nous Connais” by 4Keus. Switching to a song that prioritizes rhythm and flow, Kontcho is setting the tone for a high-energy Halloween.
Similarly, sophomore Larenzo Manuel turns on “Check The Fleet” by Destroy Lonely.
This sleek and icy sound is sure to make your autumn soundtrack killer.
“It’s just got like a dark swag that’s different from most rap songs,” Manuel said.
Of course, a handful of spooky staples were mentioned. Sophomore Emma Lockeby mentioned their love for “Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the CryptKickers.
“I get such a deep feeling of nostalgia for my childhood Halloween experiences,” Lockeby said.
Senior Jaden Frew echoed her appreciation for the timeless tune.
‘A skeleton for everyone’: The Skelebrity Graveyard gives Baton Rouge a bone-a-fide Halloween haunt
BY LEXIE WARE Entertainment Editor
When you think of Halloween decor, you may think of orange-colored lights, spooky yard inflatables or the classic jack-o’-lantern. However, 7425 Bocage Blvd. poses a different sort of decoration: a ‘graveyard’ filled with specially outfitted skeletons.
The display, set in the front yard of the house just off the sidewalk, con tains dozens of plastic skeletons costumed to look like real people. Each bony figure is labeled with its own pun related to the person it is inspired by, whether it be an undead play on their name or a spectral joke about their life.
Skeletons range from LSU Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal to Harry Potter flying on a broomstick in the treeline.
This skeletal spectacle belongs to none other than Rebecca Harrod, lovingly dubbed the “Mother of Skeletons.” Harrod described the graveyard as both over the top and very fun. She said she did it in a previous year on a much smaller scale, but decided to bring it back to entertain her children.
signed to each skeleton character. She said that once the two put their heads together, they came up with so many ideas that it was difficult to stop adding details.
“Once you start, you can’t stop,” Robe said.
It took about six days to get the majority of the skeletons positioned in the yard display. In the meantime, the spooky silhouettes filled the Harrod home to the brim.
“They lined my hallway. They lined everything,” Harrod said. “My husband didn’t know we were do ing it, and so he came home to, like, 100 skel etons staring at Harrod’s birth day passed on Oct. 19, and she considers the process of creating the skeletons as a birthday pres ent to herself. Her own skele ton, displayed as the cen terpiece, is adorned with a birthday girl crown and her trusty glue gun. She joked that she should put an empty wallet on her husband’s skeleton due to all of her skeleton-related pur chases.
Harrod wanted to display the skeletons as quickly as possible, but did not think of the idea until October had already begun, meaning the turnaround for each design needed to be quick. The outfits are either handmade by Harrod, sourced from local thrift stores or purchased online.
“I made a list of as many as I could think of,” Harrod said. “I’d make the list, write the pun name and then I would go to Amazon and order stuff. It was ridiculous and a total waste,” she joked.
Olivia Robe, a family friend of Harrod’s, assisted with the Halloween-themed puns as -
Though Halloween is fast approaching, Harrod said she is nowhere near done with her skeleton spree. She estimates that she puts out three new skeletons every day whenever she is in town, and she hopes to continue the tradition next year.
Harrod’s “favorite child,” as she dubbed the skeletons, was difficult to choose.
“I can’t really pick a favor ite because, you know, there’s some that are boring, but most of them are really funny,” she said.
One notable skeleton that Harrod created was former LSU football player and broadcaster Doug Moreau, who also hap pens to be her uncle. Moreau was recently honored at the
LSU versus South Carolina game, so Harrod felt it necessary to place him in her graveyard.
Moreau is not the only LSU icon in skeleton form. Other Tigers in the display include “Grim” Mulkey, Paul “Skins” and Joe “Burrow-ed alive.” Another memorable addition is the recently fired Brian “Skelly,” paired with another jerseyclad skeleton titled “LSU’s Dead
“I don’t think any of us thought it would get so popular,” Harrod said. “I thought the neighborhood would like it and, like, my friends.”
There is no shortage of passersby for 7425 Bocage Blvd. People young and old have flocked to Harrod’s home to see her macabre menagerie. The onlookers can be heard chatting amongst themselves about each skeleton and taking the time to examine each detail. Many have told Harrod cording to the pair, the answer
“There’s a skeleton for everyone,”
NEWS SAFE HAVEN
Campus clinic cares for injured eagles, other wildlife
BY EMILY BRACHER Staff Writer
Most people associate the LSU Veterinary hospital and school with the health of their cats, dogs and other small animals. But within the building, a 400-square-foot portion is dedicated to the care of the creatures found outside of the household.
The LSU Wildlife Veterinary Hospital is an extension of the university’s School of Veterinary Medicine and accepts injured wildlife seven days a week. Director Mark Mitchell said that the hospital expects to treat around 2,000 patients this year.
“Ninety percent of them are brought in by good samaritans who find these injured wildlife,” Mitchell said.
Because of the small size of the clinic, it can only take birds, reptiles and small mammals. The clinic has to turn away raccons, foxes and bigger mammals. Mitchell said the hospital is fundraising to build a $10 million, 14,000 square foot stand-alone hospital just for wildlife.
All of the money is privately fundraised without support from the state or the university.
In June the clinic noted a 30%
increase in patients compared to other years. Mitchell said this is due to an increase in interactions between humans and wildlife. For animals such as the bald eagle, he said that they used to see one a year. Last year, they had 22.
“The more urbanized the world becomes, the more interactions there are. Unfortunately, the wildlife ends up on the negative end of that,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell said one of the biggest injuries seen in their birds is gunshot wounds. Most of the other injuries are either caused by human interaction or by interactions with other animals.
All of the animals the clinic takes in have to be released back into the wild unless they are an ambassador animal, which are used for educational purposes. Mitchell said that about 35% of the animals that come in are successfully rehabilitated and released. The other 65% have to be humanely euthanized.
Beyond conservation, Mitchell said the hospital provides great opportunities to teach veterinary students through hands-on work they might not be able to get with a client-owned animal. The students are presented with decisions about the specific treatment a pa-
tient might need, what rehabilitation will look like and if they will survive.
Throughout the year, the students also take the ambassador animals to around 50 presentations to schools around the state to improve education on conservation and their veterinary efforts. This is also used to show that a majority of the patients are there because of the actions of humans.
“Our wildlife is very important, and we need to really focus on being good stewards for them,” Mitchell said.
Zoey Lex never thought that she would go to vet school. Now she is a second-year wildlife medicine resident, one of the first two in the program’s history. She said that her push was after seeing the wildlife hospital’s raptor rehabilitation unit.
The Raptor Rehabilitation Team is a program that vet students are accepted into halfway through their first year. The group works with the bird patients to make sure they remain healthy during their stay, keep tabs on their medications and for the transient birds, ensure they are getting their flight laps in.
Before a bird is released into
see VET HOSPITAL, page 5
LSU hosts science event for K-8 students
BY EMILY BRACHER Staff Writer
The Louisiana Sea Grant hosted its 27th annual Ocean Commotion in the PMAC Tuesday.
From 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., K-8 students were able to interact with and learn from 60 different exhibits about Louisiana’s unique coast and environment. With this year being the 50th anniversary of “Jaws,” staff and volunteers could be found wearing t-shirts inspired by the movie.
“A lot of them don’t get to go to the coast, and it’s a way for them to learn a little bit about the coast,” said Roy Kron, the communica-
GREEK LIFE
tions director for the Louisiana Sea Grant.
Ocean Commotion started in 1998 as a project between the LSU Office of University Relations and LSG in hopes of turning students into “environmental and coastal stewards.” They also hoped that it would encourage some students to attend LSU and consider majoring in one of their multiple programs dedicated to studying the state’s coast and environment.
Some of the exhibitors were BREC’s Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Keep
LSU TKE members arrested for hazing
STAFF REPORT
Two members of LSU’s Tau Kappa Epsilon chapter were arrested Wednesday with criminal hazing charges, WBRZ reported.
Both students were arrested with one count of criminal hazing and simple battery each, WBRZ reported. One was also
charged with a count of principle to theft, according to WBRZ.
The arrests were made following an Oct. 13 report that two active frat members were hitting pledges, according to WBRZ, with the incidents occurring at two different on campus locations on Oct. 9.
WBRZ said more arrests may be made.
Turning Point tour stops in Baton Rouge, Jeff Landry speaks
BY LIV TEES Deputy News Editor
Turning Point USA held its Baton Rouge stop of The American Comeback Tour Monday with features from several prominent Republicans, including Gov. Jeff Landry and conservative Christian podcaster Allie Beth Stuckey.
Much of the night was spent on the topics of religion and freedom of speech. The speakers also memorialized Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, who was scheduled to talk at LSU before he was assassinated last month at the first stop on his college tour.
Over 1,500 people were in attendance, Landry said in a video posted after the event.
Landry gave a speech about the importance of reading, curiosity and seeking the truth. He said that not only was Kirk a “ferocious reader,” but that his curiosity about the world rooted him firmly in his faith and inspired him to question others.
“The one thing I want to challenge you all, especially those that are in a university setting: be curious, ask questions, seek the truth,” Landry said. “Not your truth, but the truth.”
Landry said Kirk’s mission was to protect unalienable rights and freedoms of the American people that “only come from God.” He referenced the Revolutionary War and said people are lucky they can now resolve disputes through discussion instead of with muskets and cannon balls.
“We get to fight with ideas, with dialogue and with faith,” Landry said. “Because simple disagreement is not weakness, it is the strength of democracy.”
Before leaving the stage, Landry
urged audience members to carry out Turning Point’s conservative ideologies. He compared the concept of being American to being like the signers of the Declaration of Independence who were willing to sacrifice in the pursuit of freedom.
“Whether we continue to champion freedom and opportunity and responsibility or surrender to overreach and decline, that question is up to you,” Landry said to the audience members.
After Landry finished speaking,
the president of Turning Point USA at LSU, Luke Arabie, thanked him for his continued support for their chapter.
As Stuckey took the stage, she began by listing what she thought were Kirk’s five most “controversial but true” opinions. Those opinions were that modern feminist practices have failed women, porn has weakened men, merit always trumps DEI, America is a Christian nation and that Jesus is the only way to heaven.
Stuckey said she was a close friend of Kirk’s for over eight years and is proud to continue his legacy of furthering his beliefs.
“What a movement that Charlie started,” Stuckey said. “To be able to have a legacy that lives on and actually multiplies after you die, that is the most that any of us could ask for.”
Following her introductory speech, Stuckey took questions from the audience members. Many expressed their support for Turning Point’s mission and asked how to practice Kirk’s beliefs.
Other questions referenced topics like abortion, how to live a Christian life in a secular world and what the proper punishment is for sexual assault.
Stuckey was asked about her thoughts on the church avoiding politics and controversial issues and whether she thought politics should have a place in religion. She contended politics should be addressed at the pulpit because “every single law is a moral decision,” saying morals are rooted in the Bible.
“It’s not that our theology as Christians has become political,” Stuckey said. “It’s that politics have become theological.”
A 13-year-old girl named Darby asked Stuckey how she could “be a leader and stand up for life when in school, kids make fun of Christians for believing in the Bible.”
“The seeds that you plant with your friends in middle school and in high school, they may never tell you, or maybe they’ll tell you in 50 years and say ‘Darby, you don’t know this, but that one time you shared the gospel with me changed everything,’” Stuckey said.
Stuckey took questions for about an hour.
Following the event, Landry traveled to LSU’s campus and posted a video challenging the LSU Board of Supervisors to erect a statue of Kirk on campus as a symbol “to defend the freedom of speech on college campuses.”
HINESLEY BRYANT / The Reveille La. Gov. Jeff Landry greets the crowd during the Turning Point USA rally Oct. 27 at the Raising Canes River Center Theatre.
the wild, they must pass a mice feed trial to demonstrate they can be out on their own again.
The clinic works on a two-week rotating system. For the first two weeks, Lex and other residents teach students as they treat the patients in the hospital. The other two weeks are for research, with Lex’s work focusing on the interaction between opossums and meloxicam, a pain reliever.
Lex said that not only would a larger hospital allow them to take in a wider variety of animals, but would make the patients’ experiences less stressful. On busier days, she said that cage after cage can be found stacked throughout their space. Animals can die from the stress of overcrowding and it makes it harder for the students to maneuver.
“Just having the space to be able to take care of them all, I really want to be a hub for learning where rehabbed can come in and learn,” Lex said.
The hospital also works with rehabbers across the state, such as For the Birds of Acadiana in Lafayette and Acadiana Wildlife Rehabil-
SEARCH, from page 2
a president over the LSU system. The roles were combined in 2012.
“I think it’s all about the metrics and accountability,” said Rousse. “If we don’t have a president of the system, I feel as though the natural tendency is for the head of each one of these campuses to work in their own self-interest. If we’re going to put together a unified vision of how we educate Louisiana differently, the LSU system drives it.”
Louisiana Beautiful, the Louisiana 4-H Youth Wetlands Program and many more. Kron said that because of the wide range of very different organizations, students were able to learn about topics ranging from marine mammals to mosquito control.
Director of education and engagement for the LSG College Program Dani Dilullo called Ocean Commotion a “passion project.”
She said to put together such a big event for so many students takes
itation & Education in Youngsville. These outside resources help with teaching the stabilized birds how to fly again and providing more space, especially during baby season.
Lex said that some days, the hospital is so busy that everyone on the team only has a quick moment to eat and get back to work.
Fourth year veterinary student Catherine Carranza has always had an interest in wildlife, especially reptiles. She decided to move from Texas to Louisiana because the LSU veterinary school had a wildlife program. She is also a part of the raptor team.
“I was interviewing at different places and a lot of them didn’t really have a very robust exotics program,” Carranza said. “They didn’t have the same opportunities that they have here.”
Carranza is currently in the clinic portion of her studies, which means she is doing her rotations with patients. Six to seven days of the week, she is working from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. running around the hospital. Despite it being physically demanding, she said it is vital training to get her and other students used to time and stress manage -
In regards to students and their well-being, Rousse defined trust as the key component to relating to the student body. He said at McNeese, he and his wife moved into the dorms to be closer to the students. He cited the Student Government Association at his current school as his driving force and said he trusts them to guide him on what to do and what not to do.
Rousse also suggested that students who are denied entry to LSU A&M be re-delegated to other campuses in the system with a transfer
a team, whether that is guiding school groups, coordinating parking or working with the PMAC staff.
A student could be petting a live alligator at one table, touching a shark at the next table or printing a 3D model of a fish at another, Dilullo said. Beyond learning about what’s in the water, students were also able to interact with soil and plants.
“It really is like a snapshot of all of coastal Louisiana in a one-stop shop,” Dilullo said.
Dilullo said that many grade school students are learning about
ment, patient care and processing medical records.
She said she never has the same day twice.
“It can be really exciting, but it’s also very exhausting,” Carranza said. “But in the end, it’s ultimately rewarding.”
When coming in contact with an injured animal, Mitchell said that if it is not a situation where animal control or Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries can pick it up, it is important to protect yourself and the animal. It’s a matter of catching the animal, using towels, getting them into a box and reducing light as much as possible. The hospital is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for intake.
Mitchell said to be mindful when hunting and only shoot birds that you have a license for. That never includes bald eagles or Mississippi kites. He said to minimize harm by securing trash can lids to avoid attracting wildlife into residential areas and to be more aware of your surroundings while driving, especially at night.
“Humans have so much potential, but we don’t really achieve that potential very well when we behave this way,” Mitchell said.
option still available after a certain time.
“When a young person walks through our gates, they are making an investment,” Rousse said. “Not just in their tuition dollars, but their time, dreams and their faith that LSU would deliver on its promise.”
Rousse has faced criticism for his lack of experience in a research context and at a high-level university. He said though he doesn’t have hundreds of scholarly citations, he understands the pro -
animals from all over the world in their classes. She said that while that is very important, events like Ocean Commotion give local context to their lesson that they can hopefully take home with them
“It’s a great way for us all to share the work of what’s going on, on the coast,” Dilullo said.
One of the “one-stop shops” was the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, the state’s leading authority in coastal restoration, hurricane protection and community resiliency efforts.
The agency was started in response to Hurricane Katrina and Rita. The CPRA’s public information director Ryan Shaw said that there was an outcry for a single authority and agency to be in charge of coastal restoration and protection in the state. They work with people all over the world to get the “best science,” Shaw said.
Shaw said that CPRA attending Ocean Commotion is incredibly important because, the older students will be faced with the question of what career they want to pursue in the future and don’t know about job opportunities working for CPRA. The event shows them that they can go on to be a coastal engineer, coastal scientist and so much more.
“There’s all kinds of jobs that these kids can do, because we do
cess. Rousse said that the biggest leadership challenge he would face would be gaining the trust of the research faculty.
Though they interviewed Wednesday, the search committee did not recommend current LSU Interim President Matt Lee or Giovanni Piedimonte for the Board of Supervisors’ consideration. Lee, who has been a part of LSU for over 20 years and was until recently the vice president of agriculture, only received nine out of 20 votes for recommendation.
need the future of our state to be protected by the people who are kids today,” Shaw said. “I think a lot of the other vendors here today are doing the same thing, teaching these kids about things that they don’t think about and how important they are.”
Educator at BREC’s Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center Harper Martinez could be found at their exhibit holding Voodoo, a 16-year-old red and black snake.
The Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center is in the heart of Baton Rouge. Their center is covered with nature trails venturing deep throughout the swamps that help drain stormwater. Martinez said that their mission is to be able to provide environmental education to schools and neighborhoods through events like this.
Martinez also said that students might not always have the opportunity to go to the nature center in such a large group, so events like Ocean Commotion allow them to meet in the middle and foster stewardship and conservation.
Lee had significant support among LSU faculty, letters written to the committee showed.
Each finalist will now have a full day set aside for them to hold public forums and meetings with stakeholder groups. Each finalist will be available to publicly speak with students, faculty and staff. Robbins was assigned Thursday, Dalton Friday and Rousse Monday, according to the Louisiana Illuminator.
Liv Tees also contributed reporting to this article.
“It really starts with close encounters with nature and animals and becoming comfortable in caring for not just nature, but the environment and even all the small little things around you, to then be able to take one step at a time to preserve the natural environments,” Martinez said.
Many of the exhibits were hosted not by professionals, but by students. At the Louisiana 4-H Youth Wetlands Program table, St. Louis Catholic High School student Bailee Papadimitriou taught students about subsidence and its impact on coastal Louisiana.
Before joining, she never expected to get as involved as she did with the organization and hopes that other young students like her “try to help save their home for the future.”
At the Keep Louisiana Beautiful booth, programs and events manager Shelby Pelafigue stood behind a pile of trash at her booth with the hopes of ending littering. The organization’s new initiative, Love Our Waterways, will specifically focus on removing waste from Louisiana’s waters.
Pelafique said that by targeting K-8 students, Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s initiative can reduce littering early on, and once the students are done with school, they will be the ones teaching it.
“If we catch it young, it becomes like muscle memory for them,” Pelafique said.
For more information on the Louisiana Sea Grant and for information on next year’s Ocean Commotion, check out their website.
OCEAN COMMOTION, from page 4
VET HOSPITAL, from page 4
EMILY BRACHER / The Reveille
Students gathered around the Louisiana 4-H Youth Wetlands Program.
HINESLEY BRYANT / The Reveille LSU veterinary students and a veterinary technician intubate an owl for a procedure Oct. 11 at the LSU Veterinary Hospital in Baton Rouge, La.
CALLING ALL QUEENS
Delta Mouth Drag ball and costume contest on Oct. 26 at Mother’s Lounge on Third Street in Baton Rouge, La.
Drag Queen Andy Black gives second performance.
Drag Queen Kozmik commands the crowd during the ball.
Drag Queen Kozmik performing during the ball.
Drag Queen Andy Black performs as Bellatrix Lestrange during a performance for the ball.
Delta Mouth Director Caldwell Holden presents.
Drag Queen Puss C. Savage performs during the ball.
Drag Queen Puss C. Savage performs as Cruella de Vil during a performance.
PHOTOS BY PILAR FRANKLIN SPREAD BY MYKENZE NEWELL
ENTERTAINMENT
BY PAUL TIBBETS Staff Writer
I am going to get this out of the way first: I have never read the original Shelley novel. My exposure comes from the 1931 film and general pop culture knowledge about the story. I love the original film, but this version elevates the story for me so much.
I always appreciate a movie that throws you right into the middle of the action and catches you up later. This one is no exception.
It may be surprising to hear, but Oscar Isaac is fantastic in this. He becomes an entire new person in Victor, and it’s exciting to witness. You can see traces of the mad scientist he will become before he creates the monster. In many ways, he is worse than what he will create; he is a self important opportunist who only cares for his own personal well-being and success.
His tale drags a lot to be honest, especially in the childhood sections. Much of that could have been cut out, as many of the ideas featured could have been condensed to much shorter scenes. The pacing picks up a lot when he reaches adulthood, bar for another few meandering scenes.
The world Guillermo del Toro creates in this film looks absolutely gorgeous. Dripping in a macabre mood and gothic set design, it is very much a del Toro film. Surprise, surprise: del Toro made a spectacular looking film with phenomenal direction and a beautiful story about
someone’s relationship to a monster.
The standout moment in this first act truly is the birth of Frankenstein’s monster. The castle’s set design is already some of the best of the year. In true del Toro fashion, he takes an already inter-
BY SARAH WALTON Staff Writer
As a die-hard gothic literature and Frankenstein fan, I was a tad bit worried I was going to be disappointed, but Guillermo del
esting gothic landscape and ups it to 11. Unfortunately, there are parts of the castle afterwards that could’ve spent a lot more time in the effects lab. The best way I can describe some of the green screen and effects is “Netflix-y.”
Paul: 9/10
Toro once again proves that he is a master of gothic storytelling. The cinematography, story and design choices all came together to create an experience that was chilling and moving.
An important and genius feature about the film is the decision to separate it into two. The first half tells “Frankenstein’s Tale,” the second, “The Creature’s Tale.” In
Rev Rank: Is Netflix’s ‘Frankenstein’ movie dead on arrival?
the books, the creature only gets a small section to tell his story, but spending half of the run time dedicated to the creature was a beautiful and well executed choice. Nothing compares to seeing an epic story like this on a movie theater screen. The film mixes these intimate and quiet shots with grand landscape shots that will take your breath away.
Jacob Elordi as the creature may seem unexpected, but he owned the role and embodied the character with a level of depth, sincerity and beauty that is truly unmatched. The creature has always been sympathetic, but this adaptation of the character is arguably the best put forth so far.
If there is something about del Toro, there is going to be romance between a girl and a monster, and the addition of a connection between Elizabeth Lavenza and the creature was well written and refreshing.
In this new interpretation, Lavenza stands as a real force in the story as someone who challenges Frankenstein and gives the creature the care and respect he deserves. Like any gothic tale, the two characters have an undeniable connection, something that is a tad bit strange but beautiful nonetheless.
In any del Toro film, the costuming stands out. Kate Hawley, the set designer, created incredible pieces that not only highlight the characters, but tell a story. The costumes, like all other design elements within the movie, are breathtaking and build a gothic world that is worth falling for.
Sarah: 10/10
The ‘Twilight’ saga’s movie re-release proves nostalgia bites
BY SAVANNAH BOYNES Staff Writer
For the 20th anniversary of the release of its book counterpart, “The Twilight Saga” movies return to theaters this October and November for all bloodsucker-obsessed fans, whether they are just discovering the cheesy romance movies or have been loving the story since its debut.
In 2005, Stephanie Meyer added on to the many interpretations of vampires by releasing her very first novel, “Twilight.” The story follows a 17-year-old girl, Bella Swan, who moves from Phoenix, Arizona to Forks, Washington to live with her dad. On her first day at her new high school, she meets a boy, Edward Cullen, who is later revealed to be a 104-year-old vampire.
The story then spirals into more than just a cheesy romance, adding on a heated love triangle, complex vampire covens and a theme of the importance of family.
As she states on her official website, the story idea came to Meyer in a dream. Little did she know, her dream would ignite the flames of love for vampires among young girls and older women alike years later with not only the novel’s release but also following the movie adaptation’s premiere in 2008.
When the film hit theaters, so did a boom of fanatic obsession over vampires across the coun-
try. Edward’s sparkling complexion and his werewolf rival Jacob Black’s countless shirtless scenes captured the hearts of girls and women, so much so that it coined the term “Twilight Mom.” The obsession took hold of the older population arguably more than the younger population.
As all franchises do, “Twilight” birthed many different forms of merchandise. From T-shirts to blankets to even board games, the fans could not get enough of boys who sparkle. Due to the pressure of fans having to choose between “Team Edward” or “Team Jacob,” almost all adorned pins stating which side they chose.
Even though the film harbored an aesthetic more towards the indie movie genre and the storyline was iffy towards a general audience, its earnings proved fruitful to the masses with its numbers.
During its opening weekend, “Twilight” grossed over $69.6 million at the box office. Over its lifetime gross, it surpassed over $192.7 million. The film ranked eighth for its overall earnings in the domestic box office for 2008.
Kristen Stewart’s portrayal of Swan allowed for many viewers to see themselves in her, but Robert Pattinson’s role as Cullen only fueled the desire to actually be Swan. It could have been his mysterious demeanor, cold stare or even just Pattinson’s appearance, but it
was very clear why many women flocked to the film.
While the diehard fans (or Twihards) love the film and its franchise wholeheartedly, there have been just as many critics over the years.
Some criticize the cultural portrayal of the Native American Quileute tribe, Cullen’s controlling actions or Black’s manipulative nature. However, the more trivial issue most people cite as the reason for their hate is how “cringe” the movie series is. This criticism is drawn from the questionable acting choices of the cast and the odd storylines.
Due to this criticism, there came a general consensus, especially on the internet, about how “Twilight” is cringey and only appealing to teenage girls. The film and its four sequels then were placed in a sort of limbo, where it leaned out of the public eye for a while.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a “Twilight” resurgence occurred in 2020 and 2021 on none other than TikTok. From users attempting to emulate the aesthetic through their outfits and makeup to curating memes out of lines from the films, “Twilight” attracted younger audiences once again.
The franchise’s killer soundtracks helped its popularity as well. “Twilight” includes hits such as “Supermassive Black Hole” by Muse and “Eyes On Fire” by
Blue Foundation. Pattinson even makes a vocal appearance with the song, “Never Think.” The series’ second movie, “Twilight: New Moon,” includes one of the biggest lyrical hits across the films: “Roslyn” by Bon Iver and St. Vincent.
With all this talk of “Twilight,” one can only wonder: Is it 2008 again? It seems more and more so recently, especially because of the “Twilight” merchandise hitting Hot Topic’s shelves almost two decades later. Though, it seems this new wave of memorabilia is stronger than ever because there is now Swan and Cullen perfume, eyeshadow palettes and Vampire glitter spray.
Fans can even book a stay at the official Swan house from the “Twilight” films, where the own-
ers even replicated the look of her room as well as placed cardboard cut-outs of the characters in the house.
If bookings are full or fans don’t want to spend the money, they can always visit Oregon to see the multiple filming locations, such as the Carver Cafe, where Bella couldn’t get ketchup out of the bottle, and La Push Beach, which the Cullens never visit.
Starting Oct. 29 and lasting through Nov. 2, “The Twilight Saga” returns to theaters across America to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first novel. “Twilight” will be shown the first day of the re-release, with each day showing the following film in the franchise, ending with “Twilight: Breaking Dawn - Part 2.”
COURTESY OF NETFLIX
A promotional poster for “Frankenstein“ (2025).
Nine last-minute Halloween looks that are scary easy to pull off
BY SARAH WALTON Staff Writer
If you haven’t already found your perfect Halloween costume, here are some recommendations to make sure you fit right in.
Superman and Lois
With the release of the new Superman movie, it has never been a better time to be a fan of DC comics. For an easy solo or couples costume, dressing up as Clark Kent or Lois Lane is the obvious way to go. Using some stuff sitting in your closet, a white button up, tie, pants, glasses and maybe a Superman shirt, you can play the role of the perfect Daily Planet reporter. If you’re in the mood to bring a little hope, you can always dress up in the iconic Superman suit or even take on the role of any of the new “Justice Gang” members.
Elphaba and Glinda
In the same vein of iconic and beloved movies right now, dressing up like Glinda Upland or Elphaba Thropp is always a perfect choice. For Glinda, a cute pink dress would do the trick, and for Elphie, a black dress will do nicely. Whether you decide to paint yourself green or just wear some green gloves and tights, emulating the wonders of the Emerald City is always a good look. And as a bonus, you can reuse it when “Wicked: For Good” releases this November.
Rodrick Heffley
This one may seem a little out of nowhere if you haven’t been on TikTok in recent days, but it is never a bad time to bring back iconic characters for the 2010s. Dressing up as everyone’s favorite rocker older brother can never go wrong. His costume is super simple: gets some jeans and a white t-shirt, take a marker and write “Loded Diper” on the front. To make it a little more punk rock, cut the collar or the sleeves off the shirt. Oh, and don’t forget the eyeliner!
When it comes to Halloween, there is a group of monsters that do it like no one else. The stu-
SPOOKY SONGS, from page 3
“It’s such a classic, and it’s so fun to sing along to,” Frew said. Though the song is seen as somewhat juvenile nowadays, it was banned from being played on the radio in 1962 for its apparent morbidity. Despite once being buried long ago, the song rose from the dead to now be a staple during the spooky season.
Following along the lines of childhood classics, senior Ava Esquivel is looking forward to listening to “Calling All the Monsters” by China Anne McClain.
dents of Monster High have always been fashion forward icons, so if you want a scary cool costume, they might be the choice for you. Whether you decide to go with the color palette of the characters or try to recreate every detail, it’s easy to say that you’ll undoubtedly look drop-dead gorgeous.
Hamilton
With the 10th anniversary of the Tony Award-winning show Hamilton recently passing, as well as recent TikTok trends, dressing up as one of the founding fathers might be the way to go. Getting a white shirt or blouse, a vest and drawing on Lin Manuel Miranda’s unmistakable goatee will for sure make the night memorable.
Sinners
With one of the best films of the year returning to theaters this Halloween, dressing as any of “Sinners” characters would be perfect, especially the twin brothers Smoke and Stack. To channel the meanest twins this side of the Mississippi, you’ll need a vest, pants or a skirt, ties and a hat that is either blue or red, depending on which of the twins is your favorite. Dressing up as Pearline or Mary would be easy too, with yellow or pink silk dresses to fit the juke joint style.
Snoopy
Dressing up as the coolest dog around will never not be a
“It’s nostalgic and has a crazy beat for a Disney Channel song,” Esquivel said. Originally released on “A.N.T. Farm” in 2011, this energetic number is a core piece of Gen Z pop culture.
“Thriller” by Michael Jackson is also receiving some love this Halloween. If you’re planning on putting your dancing shoes on for Halloweekend, have the “Thriller” dance on your docket — you’re likely to hear it at one point or another.
“It’s just such a fun and iconic song,” sophomore Emma Smith said.
PUZZLES
good idea. Snoopy has had many lives and done so many things, it wouldn’t be too hard to find one of these iconic moments to recreate. You could get some dog ears and a shirt that says “Cool Joe,” or wear a white sweater or brown aviator jacket with a red scarf.
King Julian & Mort
On the idea of famous animals, dressing up as the iconic pair from Madagascar is a possibility. Mort’s love for King Julian is one of the most memorable parts of the Madagascar films and shows, so channel your inner lemur and have fun. To dress up as King Julian, an all-grey outfit would work, with a tail and a crown or even his iconic head piece. Mort is a little easier, only needing a brown outfit and a tail.
Scooby Doo
To end the list of many costume ideas, the Mystery Gang will always serve as a solid Halloween costume choice. Whether it’s Shaggy and Scooby, Velma and Daphne or Daphne and Fred, a group of teen detectives always makes the night better. For Fred, jeans, a light colored sweater and an orange scarf would work. Velma is the typical orange sweater and red skirt, and Daphne is a full purple outfit with the green ascot. For Shaggy, the simple green shirt and brown pants always work, and to tie it all together, an all-brown outfit with dog ears will represent Scooby well.
Sophomore Nhojaray Offray raised “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr., an enchanting dancepop masterpiece. “I love how I can dance to the groovy beat,” Offray said. Whether you’re listening to an 80s classic or futuristic rap, one thing is certain: your soundtrack is sure to set the tone of your spooktacular night. It doesn’t matter if you’re spending Halloween at home carving pumpkins or going out on the town to flaunt your costumes; LSU students show that the right queue can turn any night into a real scream.
Stella Zawistowski
CARMEN FAJARDO / The Reveille
Monster High
SPORTS
Gov. Jeff Landry blasts Athletic Director Scott Woodward, says he won’t pick next football coach
At a press conference related to SNAP benefits, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry revealed a strong opinion about who should pick the next LSU football head coach.
“I can tell you right now, [LSU Athletic Director] Scott Woodward is not selecting the next coach,” Landry said. “Hell, I’ll let Donald Trump do it before I let him do it.”
When asked who would pick the coach if not Woodward, Landry said he didn’t know but proposed the Board of Supervisors might form a committee.
LSU football head coach Brian Kelly was fired on Sunday after
a disappointing start to the SEC season, which meant the school is set to pay his $53 million buyout. Landry complained about that money, calling it a “liability.”
“I believe that we’re gonna find a great coach,” Landry said. “I’m tired of rewarding failure in this country and then leaving the taxpayers to foot the bill.”
Woodward, who’s been at LSU since 2019 and is from Baton Rouge, was also the athletic director at Texas A&M when it hired football coach Jimbo Fisher.
Fisher was eventually fired, forcing Texas A&M to pay a $77 million buyout, the largest in college football history. Landry pointed
to that as evidence of Woodward’s “track record.”
Woodward was no longer working at Texas A&M when Fisher was fired.
Kelly’s buyout could be reduced if he gains “football-related employment” like a job in media or another coaching gig. It’s also still being negotiated to potentially lower it through an agreement, LSU Athletics said Sunday in a statement. The program said that negotiation could take weeks or months.
WDSU reported that LSU won’t use state funds for Kelly’s buyout on Monday.
Landry was reportedly heav-
ily involved in the decision to fire Kelly. Meetings took place all throughout Sunday with LSU leaders and donors, and one reportedly took place at the Governor’s Mansion. Many of the meetings, however, didn’t include Woodward, reports have said.
In LSU’s statement announcing Kelly’s firing Sunday, Woodward was quoted as saying he made the decision to fire Kelly.
While at LSU, Woodward has also hired women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey, baseball coach Jay Johnson, and gymnastics head coach Jay Clarke, who have won four collective national championships at the school.
ATHLETICS
Should Scott Woodward be fired?
BY ADAM KIRSCHMAN Columnist
Many LSU fans have recently been rejoicing the firing of Brian Kelly, but now the next person fans are calling to be replaced is Athletic Director Scott Woodward.
People have been disappointed with the impending multimillion dollar buyout in the contract Woodward signed Kelly to, and after Kelly was dismissed of his head coaching duties on Sunday, the time to pay is now.
This also comes only two years after the Jimbo Fisher buyout at Texas A&M, which became the most expensive buyout of all time due to the contract Fisher signed in 2018 while Woodward was the athletic director at A&M.
Now Woodward has had two extremely embarrassing football coach hires over his career, being directly responsible for the two most expensive buyouts in college football history.
While his LSU Athletics career has not been anything I’d call legendary, he has made great hires for other sports, signing national championship
see WOODWARD, page 11
Interim coach embraces his roots, promises to lead with pride
BY ROSS ABBOUD Staff Writer
“I will do my very best and die trying to represent us as a university, as a state, as a community, the best of my ability, with dignity, with honor, with pride, the way LSU has always been and will always be,” Frank Wilson told media in his first appearance as LSU’s interim head coach.
He spoke for nearly 25 minutes in his first press conference on Tuesday, but it wasn’t his answers to the questions that spoke the loudest. It was his attitude.
He said this job isn’t just about the team; it’s about the program, the university and Louisiana as a whole, with one clear thing in mind: make LSU football represent the state well.
“There’s no place like LSU,” Wilson said. “LSU is not just bricks and mortar, it’s the people. It becomes a part of you.”
Since Brian Kelly’s firing many
have said that if you come into Baton Rouge and love LSU and Louisiana, LSU and Louisiana will love you tenfold.
“It’s the people in this building, it’s the people in this community, it’s the people in this state that gravitate, that pulls you in,” Wilson said.
“And it’s why we say, ‘Forever LSU,’ because it’s not just a job — for me, for many.”
And Wilson understands that.
He’s from New Orleans and played football at St. Augustine High School before he went on to play college football at Nicholls State University.
Wilson would come to be a part of LSU’s program for the first time as running backs coach and assistant head coach from 2010 to 2015.
“I’m a part of the fiber of this state,” Wilson said.
It was during his first tenure at LSU that he got a close look at what it means to be a Tiger.
He spent a few seasons away from Baton Rouge, but he ultimately
returned in 2022. Little did he know he would take the title of head coach three years later.
“I was a head coach at another university in this state,” Wilson said. “I left that university as the head coach to come back here. And I chose to come back here because it’s a very, very unique place.”
Wilson expressed his gratitude for the opportunity countless times in his first appearance and stressed the importance of unity and resilience as a program.
He believes that LSU is a lifechanging place and program.
“It’s not a four-year decision, it’s a lifetime decision that LSU will forever pull you back in and continue to love on you and foster you,” Wilson said.
This was his first time under the spotlight, and Wilson made one thing clear: he is Louisiana through and through, and he truly understands what it means to be ‘Forever LSU.’
MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille
Gov. Jeff Landry speaks March 25, 2024, during Coastal Day 2024 inside the Louisiana State Capitol.
Frank Wilson at football practice.
WOODWARD, from page 10
winning coaches Jay Johnson, Kim Mulkey and Jay Clark.
Now the question lingers of, what happens next for Woodward? Will LSU fire Woodward before the next football coach is hired to hopefully avoid another disaster of a signing, or does LSU Athletics still see Woodward as the man for the job and give him a second chance?
Woodward returned to his alma mater, LSU, before the 2019 season, disappointing many who were not able to look past his pricey hiring of Fisher the year before. Fans would quickly forget about the Woodward hiring, though, as then-LSU football head coach Ed Orgeron went undefeated and won the infamous 2019 College Football Playoff national championship.
Other than that first year, running football has come as a challenge for Woodward. Woodward would make the decision of hiring Kelly to an insane 10year, $95 million-deal in 2021, making him the fourth-highest paid coach in the SEC.
To sign someone to such a lengthy and expensive contract, an athletic director should make sure the coach has the qualities to fit the SEC, and this is where I feel Woodward failed. Kelly just couldn’t match the intensity of the SEC.
Kelly came from Notre Dame, and though he had a great record, coaching an independent team and a top-caliber SEC team are polar opposites. At Notre Dame, Kelly would likely only play two or three top-tier teams a year before the playoffs, which he made twice, but at LSU, almost every game is a challenge and requires peak performance to win.
Kelly just never seemed like the SEC coach who could fire up his players in a must-win game and did not seem to have the correct approach of improving the team rather than finding excuses for his poor decision making.
Kelly’s hiring is completely at fault of Woodward, with it seeming like Kelly was hired mostly off name value rather than him actually being the correct fit for LSU. This really just feels like a complete repeat of the Fisher issue and it should worry fans if Woodward takes charge in hiring the new coach.
Although Woodward has been extremely disappointing in running football at LSU, he has played a key role in the immense success of other LSU athletic programs that doesn’t go unnoticed.
In his six years here, Woodward has won multiple national championships: one in football, gymnastics and women’s basket-
Overall, I feel like this decision really falls down to LSU weighing Woodward’s success against other athletic directors looking for a job. Due to Woodward’s connection to LSU and other successful hirings, it would take someone of high status to replace him, and I’m not sure it’s even fair to call Woodward the problem.
If he makes a more educated decision rather than just hiring the most successful coach in the pool, LSU could find a suitable SEC coach for cheaper and less guaranteed time. I think if Woodward stays in charge but his new hire is short of what’s expected, that could be the end of Woodward’s time here.
Woodward can very realistically see another year in charge, but I also would not be surprised at all if he’s removed this offseason. I would say, though, that LSU fans need to be careful what they wish for.
ball, and two in baseball. These programs have won in direct response to Woodward’s great hirings of coaches who have changed the culture of their programs dramatically. As mentioned before, Woodward hired Johnson, Mulkey and Clark, all of whom look to be huge successes and will be around LSU for years to come.
Now LSU will have to make the tough decision of weighing the success of other sports against football when deciding whether to keep Woodward or not. Football for sure holds the most financial and cultural weight at LSU, so it’s important not to be set up for more years of mediocrity by whatever coach comes in next.
Woodward may not be the answer for football, but simply replacing him does not guarantee success. LSU is in a very chaotic time, needing to deal with players transferring and recruits flipping in response to uncertainty of the coaching staff and program overall. With this, I don’t think removing one of the only remaining familiar faces would actually spark improvement.
ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille
Brian Kelly poses along with athletics director Scott Woodward Dec. 1, 2021, while holding up LSU’s “win!” bar during the press conference held in regard to his recent hire as LSU football’s new head coach at the Bill Lawton Room in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
OPINION
Bring back silly costumes and don’t
SAVOY’S SCOOP
CADE SAVOY
Columnist
Like any college student reeling from fall semester midterms and looking for an excuse to drink, I’m a Halloween fiend. As I tried to procrastinate reading John C. Calhoun’s “Disquisition on Government” — a real thriller, mind you — it occurred to me that my October schedule is chock-ablock with spooky celebrations: this weekend alone, I’m going to three Halloween parties.
What better excuse to avoid saving my GPA than preparing for the scariest night of the year?
And the scariest thing of all: I don’t have any costumes. If I’m going to drink my liver into sepsis, I’m at least going to look cool.
So, sprung into action by my desire to impress the Halloween huzz, I consulted the sage annals of TikTok. Surely, I thought, my favorite social media thirst trappers would lead me to salvation.
My search proved futile.
Almost all of the search results were couples costumes. By the end of my doom scroll, I’d seen no less than 60 20-somethings masquerading as Beast Boy and Raven, Suki and Bullet and Mr. and Mrs. Fox (I also saw a gay couple dressed as the Menendez brothers… no incest for me,
thanks).
Naturally, these were useless to me. I’m newly single, so seeing a fleet of foxy foxes only exacerbated my intensifying ennui. Much like Bullet in “Fast and Furious,” I wanted to drive my car into oncoming traffic.
But amid the darkest moment of my mid-day crashout, I discovered a diamond in the rough: two college guys dressed as Tucker Carlson and a sexy green M&M.
If the Chinese Communist Party is really using TikTok to brainwash American teenagers, it’s moments like this that make me salute the hammer and sickle.
After sending the video to all four of my friends, I finally found a costume partner. My only
CRAWFORD’S CORNER
GORDON CRAWFORD Columnist
When Brian Kelly entered Tiger Stadium on a gilded chariot, the winningest coach at one of the epicenters of football history, he now finds himself… where does he find himself? I’ve walked or driven past his million-dollar home on the lake many times, pondering the judgement in choosing a house that size when the title of coach is so often fleeting.
I remember when he purchased the property, and it was framed as a major recruiting move. A nice space to entertain the stars.
Recruiting. The foundation of a college football program. Every single aspect of the program stems from that element.
Kelly was brought in to be the executive guru, the calculating strategist who could put together a top-notch staff and maneuver the transfer portal. Stars, stars, stars. A 5-star recruit from California, 5-star from Kentucky, with functionally limitless coffers — the entire nation was to be our oyster.
Yet, the Kelly era will be remembered by its fundamental laziness. Watch any game, and it’s right there on the field. The players are giving it their all, but when you’re executing your 10th run up the middle on third-and-10, there’s only so much you can do.
Laziness. In the cutthroat world
EDITORIAL BOARD
Jason Willis Editor in Chief
Managing Editor Olivia Tomlinson
Courtney Bell News Editor
Chloe Richmond
Sports Editor
Garrett McEntee Opinion Editor
of power conference football, you can’t afford to be complacent. You can’t afford to take a bye week off to relax. Every minute of every day, some coach or coordinator in the South is staying up through the night, plotting every way to orchestrate your demise.
Laziness. Watch, as we run it up the middle again.
I was a Kelly sympathizer for a long time. SEC fanbases are brutal. Our love is as fleeting as the seconds on the play clock.
I thought the hokey accent was silly, a bit of an overdone joke, but no harm, no foul. I don’t need my football coach to taste a ceremonial gumbo or play “Tiger Rag” for them to earn my respect. They just need to win — and wear our colors while doing it.
I was willing to give him some time, too. The rose-tinted glint of 2019 and that gravelly Cajun French charm tends to obscure just how demolished the program was at the end of the Ed Orgeron years.
Demolished. How do you define demolished? Nobody will contest that the program was in the dirt, having lost back-to-back games against its most hated rivals. Yet, there were still plenty of absolutely fun games.
The double upsets against ranked Florida and a sweet home win against the Aggies come to mind. Things were bad, yes, but you still had to tune in, you still had to fill the student section and stay the whole game.
Coach O was an objectively bad coach at the end. However, you
take yourself seriously
regret? That somebody thought to dress as Republicans’ favorite midnight snack before I did. God, I hate it when people are funnier than me.
But my quest for a Halloween costume also taught me a lesson that I hope to impart to you all. As satisfying as it is to look hot on Halloween, sometimes it’s okay to have fun with your costume.
Nobody will remember the fox couple number eight during their Sunday morning hangover. But if I play my cards right, everyone will remember the night I got into my best Carlson drag and tried to seduce my chocolatey friend.
Maybe the Halloween huzz were the friends we made along the way.
Of course, my costume could
also go horribly wrong. I suspect that Fred’s collective will be none too keen to laud my performative satire. Gov. Jeff Landry already wants us to build a Charlie Kirk statue. Who’s to say how he’ll feel about me making fun of Nick Fuentes’ Gen X bestie?
Frankly, though, I don’t care.
And that’s the whole point of Halloween: dress how you want, upset who you want and drink as much as you want.
You’ll have much more fun rolling the dice than sticking to the same tired playbook. And hey, you might wind up TikTok famous.
Cade Savoy is a 21-year-old political science and philosophy major from Breaux Bridge, La.
In memoriam of our beloved head football coach Brian Kelly
still had the sense that the games truly mattered to him, that LSU beating Ole Miss holds a greater significance than the material value in the standings.
“Kellyball” is passionless. Run it up the middle. Throw a simple pass across to the receiver you’d expect. The team should do the absolute minimum needed to win and nothing more.
Even in the years we had electric athletes like Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers, the whole season existed in the shadow that LSU was simply perpetually deficient. One element of our team was always MIA.
Oh, our special teams are bad? We can fix that next year. Now our defense is bad? We can fix that next year.
And here we are, years after next year was supposed to have come, and we are listless.
Thus, the games become
chores. The line between loss and win becomes somewhat hazy. When you put up 20 points, whether you win or lose, the product remains a constant.
Coach O failed, but he failed spectacularly, so when he notched an upset, the stadium still
shook.
They hand out Oscars for the best films, and Razzies for the worst, but nobody gives an award to the purely competent ones. Those end up on the Hallmark Channel.
However, a part of me will hold onto some bit of fondness for the Kelly era. The great memes, the temper tantrums — it all made for great entertainment when the games were over.
Furthermore, uniting around the universal hatred of Kelly has been an easy way to bond with new
people. I may not know your music taste, or your favorite show, or your major, but there’s a good chance we can connect over how much that game last weekend sucked. I could have a million more words to write about Kelly and what he has done to the program I love. However, I think Nabers put it best. In a now-deleted Instagram story, he simply shared a video of a guy kicking rocks.
Gordon Crawford is a 19-yearold political science major from Gonzales, La.
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The Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, The Reveille or the university. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to editor@lsu.edu or delivered to B-39 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must provide a contact phone number for verification purposes, which will not be printed. The Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Reveille’s editor in chief, hired every semester by the LSU Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.
Quote of the Week
“Dear Great Pumpkin, I am looking forward to your arrival on Halloween night.”