A TIGER’S WISH
LSU football made this 5-year-old superfan’s dreams come true.
MORE THAN A GAME
How Tucker Barton met ‘his heroes’ in magical game day experience
BY RAMI BURKS Staff Writer
For many young kids in Louisiana, LSU is a dream. From the lively crowds to the march down Victory Hill, game day is a dream come true in their young lives.
For Tucker Barton, game day was an everlasting wish.
Tucker, 5, is an extreme LSU football fan that has been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and the Tiger family made his dreams come true on Saturday night. The Dreams Come True of Louisiana contacted LSU and got Tucker and his family the ultimate game day experience.
“The entire day was filled with smiles, surprises and moments that felt like pure magic,” Tucker’s mom Taylor Harrison said. “LSU didn’t just host us, they poured their hearts into making this day special for Tucker, and we’ll never stop being grateful for how they treated him like a superstar from start to finish.”
Tucker and his family had an entire itinerary built out for them to make the most of the day, including meeting Mike, eating lunch at the L Club in the PMAC and getting sideline access during the beginning of the game.
Harrison said that in addi-
tion to the amazing day built for them, Tucker was also gifted a signed LSU football helmet. She also said that it would be a memory he would talk about forever.
The difference in his demeanor before and after receiving the present was astounding.
“Once we got to campus, LSU took over in the best way,” Harrison said. “The boys got to meet Mike the Tiger, which might’ve been the highlight of Tucker’s entire year. Watching his face light up was something I’ll never forget.”
She said that the day made him feel seen, like he was a part of the LSU family.
Unfortunately, this magical game day came from a multitude of tragedies. Harrison said that their family was in and out of several doctors offices trying to explain why Tucker was experiencing such oddities. She said that the doctors would brush off the pain or not explain the causes of random broken bones Tucker had, and one morning she couldn’t take it anymore.
She made the decision to pack Tucker up and drive him four hours from Wisner, Louisiana, to New Orleans.
“That decision changed everything,” Harrison said. “They kept us overnight, ran the tests no one else had and that’s when we finally got the truth: it was
ALL. Our world flipped in an instant, but that drive saved his life. And from that moment on, the real fight began.”
Tucker loves football, and he especially loves LSU. His dream was to get to go to a game, and Becky Prejean at Dreams Come True of Louisiana made it happen for him. Prejean got in contact with Tiger staff on the family’s behalf and orchestrated the dream day.
Harrison said their family will be forever grateful for everything LSU and Dreams Come True of Louisiana has done for them and other families in their situations.
Not only is Tucker an LSU fan, but Harrison says that the Tigers are the thing that fuels Tucker’s strength.
“To Tucker, the LSU Tigers are more than a team; they’re his heroes,” Harrison said. “Through every hospital stay, every tough day and every long drive to appointments, LSU has been the thing that lifts his spirits.”
Now that he’s experienced the magical day the Tigers put together for them, the family knows just how much LSU loves its fans. Harrison said the Tiger event staff working with them were extremely patient and helpful, and it truly created a bright spot in such a dark time.
She also said that Tucker and
their family got to experience things some people will never experience, and it’s a memory of a lifetime for all of them, no matter the circumstances. It was a surreal moment for this family, and it allowed Tucker to just be a kid on a big campus for one of the most exciting days of the year.
“It was a bright, unforgettable moment in the middle of a really hard journey,” Harrison said. “A day where the worry paused, the smiles came easy and Tucker got to just be a kid soaking up pure happiness. It’s the kind of memory you hold onto on the tough days, the kind that reminds you that people care, that your boy is so loved and that you’re not walking this road alone.”
Louisiana hospitality showed up for Tucker, and it showed how football is more than a game.
The Tigers might be the thing that keeps Tucker going during the tough times, and now he has an experience of a lifetime to remind him how much LSU loves him back.
“Their colors, their fight, their energy, it all makes him feel stronger and braver,” Harrison said. “When he talks about LSU, you can see it in his eyes: the Tigers give him something to believe in and something that keeps him smiling, no matter what he’s going through.”
4
Meet the new director of the Student Health Center
BY LIV TEES Deputy News Editor NEWS
LSU’s newest executive director of the Student Health Center, Keena Smith, has returned to her Louisiana roots after a hiatus in Texas following Hurricane Katrina.
Her 20-year long career in healthcare and social work has taught her lessons in leadership, compassion, humanity and how best to serve the public.
A native of the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans, Smith started college at the University of New Orleans. But soon after she evacuated for Hurricane Katrina at 20 years old with her newborn son, she enrolled in a community college for two years.
She worked full time as a single mom in childcare while at the community college before transferring to University of Texas at Arlington where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work.
While in school for her master’s she worked as a case manager in an LGBTQ+ HIV clinic, where she discovered her passion for healthcare education and how important it is to provide proper care and support.
Smith said that the more knowledgeable someone is the more likely they will make a wellinformed decision about their health. She hopes to share this knowledge with LSU students.
“I would say education and making sure the education is accurate and easily accessible is important,” Smith said. “I think especially in an environment like this, finding ways to make sure that we’re getting that information to students in the most efficient way, I think is going to be super important.”
Shortly after graduating with her master’s, Smith joined the Methodist Health System in Texas and worked her way up from manager to director of care management. She got the job one week before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S., an experience she described as a “trial by fire.”
“I was a single mom at the time and it gave me the flexibility to be able to work full time and get a discount on childcare while I was going to school full time,” Smith said. see DIRECTOR, page 4
The Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure its readers the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards. This space is reserved to recognize and correct any mistakes that may have been printed in The Daily Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified, please contact the editor at (225) 578-4811 or email editor@lsu.edu.
The Reveille is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. A single issue of The Reveille is free from multiple sites on campus and about 25 sites off campus. To obtain additional copies, please visit the Office of Student Media in B-39 Hodges Hall or email studentmedia@ lsu.edu. The Reveille is published biweekly during the fall, spring and summer semesters, except during holidays and final exams. The Reveille is funded through LSU students’ payments of the Student Media fee.
COLE TAMPLET / The Reveille
LSU Student Health Center Executive Director Keena Smith.
Students celebrate global education week
BY DREW SARHAN Staff Writer
LSU’s Office of Global Affairs held International Education Week last week to promote greater awareness of international cultures and customs among students.
Daniela Chu-Rodriguez is the director of international student engagement at the LSU Office of Global Engagement. She said that LSU has been running International Education Week for over a decade now and emphasizes the importance of university students learning about their broader international impact.
“I think it’s important to the whole country, just because there’s so much power in colleges and universities,” Chu-Rodriguez said. “They are hubs for change in any community that they’re a part of, and to celebrate the power that international education brings into colleges and universities, it is really pivotal for us, particularly because we do have almost 2,000 international students on our campus.”
The National Association of Foreign Student Advisors, an association of international educators, created International Education Week. It is held annually by the U.S. State and Education departments. NAFSA is the world’s largest nonprofit promoting international education with professionals globally.
Chu-Rodriguez stressed the importance of multiculturalism in the university setting. An example of this was the use of Louisianagrown rice in the Thankful Global Village Festival on Tuesday. Su-
How to stay safe during fog season
BY EMILY BRACHER Staff Writer
During the early hours of the morning, a dense fog has wrapped itself around Baton Rouge, in recent days.
Fall marks the beginning of fog season in Louisiana, starting in late October and peaking in the winter months. Fog is most predominant from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. during this time.
FESTIVE FEAST
LSU hosts annual International Thanksgiving potluck to connect students with different cuisines
BY KALEY MELANCON Staff Writer
LSU’s College of the Coast & Environment celebrated culture, community and Thanksgiving Wednesday with an international potluck.
The feast was the college’s third annual International Thanksgiving event. Students, faculty and staff were encouraged to bring a dish from their home country to share.
“We all want to be somewhere where we feel community,” said Sibel Bargu Ates, the interim dean of LSU’s Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School.
Ates said the event aims to engage with students from anywhere, especially since LSU is so culturally rich. Culture was certainly on the table — three tables to be exact.
One room in the Energy, Coast and Environment building was solely dedicated to food. Three long tables lined the walls in a horseshoe layout. Members formed a single-file line and began filling up their plates.
It started with appetizers and sides, which included dishes like Mediterranean cornbread, Turkish green beans and samosas. Main course options ranged from classic American turkey with cranberry sauce to African Jollof and chicken biryani.
No meal could be finished without desserts. Southern bread pudding and apple pie were accompanied by Brazilian truffles and Italian sweet bread. Pans of food were quickly emptied as people moved on to mingle.
In a separate room, tables
were placed for people to eat and talk. A garland made from different country’s flags surrounded the room while music quietly played.
While most students came for the food, Adriana Dimas came to share hers. She said she wanted to come so she could make a loaf of sourdough bread to bring.
Dimas, a fourth-year doctoral student, said this meal was her only plan for Thanksgiving this year. She said the event was a nice break between classes to talk to people she does not get to see everyday.
Originally from Honduras, Dimas put her home country on the map — literally. Students were able to put a star sticker on one of three maps displayed: a world map, a United States map and a Louisiana map.
The picture was clear; the college brought people from all over the world together. From Nigeria to Brazil, Rhode Island to California and even right here in Baton Rouge, students left their mark.
This community is why Allen Barchak decided to come. Barchak, a coastal environmental science junior, said it gave him the chance to know those he has been working with better.
“I love the sense of community everybody has with one another,” Barchak said.
Hanging out with other members isn’t something that happens every day. Research associate Monique Boudreaux said being heavily involved in research means being stuck in labs.
She said it is good for the
department to come together while also showcasing each other’s cultures. Boudreaux is half Brazilian and made coconut and chocolate brigadeiros, a traditional Brazilian truffle to share.
Along with eating, members could choose between playing Jenga, UNO or cards at the game table. LSU Study Abroad also set up a table to inform students of upcoming programs.
One activity got everyone involved. A colorful, star-shaped piñata was hung between a door frame ready to be smashed.
One by one, students got three swings to break the candy out.
Eagerly, students went back to the food room to grab what they could before it was all gone. What was left was a lingering feeling of community and collaboration.
“It makes me feel really valued as a member of the college,” Barchak said.
Over the past few years, many instances of heavier fog in south Louisiana have left drivers in disarray. In October 2023, a 168-car pile up on I-55 led to eight deaths and dozens of injuries due to the lack of visibility.
“Big temperature swings are part of the reason that we can get these fog episodes,” said Paul Miller, an associate professor in LSU’s Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences.
Miller said that one of the main reasons that Louisiana ends up with so much fog during this time of year is because of the large temperature differences between the air and the water around the state. During the summer, the Gulf of Mexico might be 80 degrees and the air temperature ranges from 70 to 90 degrees, which is pretty similar.
But starting in October and November, the Gulf starts to cool off as tropical air moves in. The coast starts cooling down and winds have picked up. This stirs up the water, which now might be 60 to 70 degrees while the air above it is still warm.
That temperature difference between the air and water helps condense out water from the air,
ERIN BARKER / The Reveille
Members of the LSU College of the Coast & Environment get food at the International Thanksgiving Potluck event on Nov. 19, on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge, La.
ERIN BARKER / The Reveille
A member of the LSU College of the Coast & Environment fills her plate at the International Thanksgiving Potluck event on Nov. 19 on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge, La.
ERIN BARKER / The Reveille
The LSU College of the Coast & Environment International Thanksgiving Potluck event on Nov. 19 in Baton Rouge, La
CAMPUS LIFE
WEATHER
CULTURES, from page 3
preme Rice, a Louisiana-based company, was provided to international student associations to be used in their cultures’ cuisines.
The Sri Lankan Student Association prepared milk rice with caramelized onions in a sambal sauce. The Vietnamese Student Association prepared com tam, a grilled pork and steamed rice dish
served with a fish sauce. The West Indian Student Association prepared Haitian rice and beans and the Indian Student Association prepared chicken biryani.
Oz Redmond, a natural resource ecology and management sophomore, went to the food festival with his friend group.
“I really liked how everything was rice based,” Redmond said. “I love rice. And I tried each food stand even if I didn’t know how it would taste. I really enjoyed the stand selling the rice and beans. It was my favorite and had such good flavor.”
Also at the festival was a table of spices from around the world. Some options
, from page 3
which is what forms the cloud. It takes water vapor that is invisible and condenses it into a small droplet right near the surface, which makes the fog.
Through satellite tracking, meteorologists can identify the areas of fog near the ground.
“It’s sort of like if you’ve got this cold water body with warm air on top of it, then it’s sort of like when you end up with fog in your glasses,” Miller said.
In instances such as the 2023 pile up and similar situations, super fog is to blame. Super fog is similar to normal fog with the addition of a smoke that thickens it. Throughout the month, the National Weather Service sent out dense fog advisories, partially because this is also the time of year where sugar cane farmers are burning their crop.
In order for the water droplets that create fog to form, Miller said that there needs to be a seed to form on. The particulates in smoke provide a lot of seeds for the fog, which is one of the reasons why it gets very thick.
DIRECTOR, from page 2
“That chapter of my career, I would say if I learned anything, I learned how to lead through tragedy,” Smith said.
Smith moved back to Baton Rouge when she married her wife and has lived in the state since 2023. Her son, a junior business major at LSU, is another plus for Smith joining the LSU community.
She is no stranger to the rollercoaster of demands a healthcare job requires. She says she is ready to bring her vast knowledge and experience to LSU and offer students the best healthcare support she can. Her time in healthcare and social work has presented challenges, but also plenty of opportunities to learn how to be an effective and car-
included za’atar from the Levant region of the Middle East, ground chili powder from South and Central Americas and cinnamon, which originates from Sri Lanka.
“When I’m making food I love to try different spices, Redmond said. “I also am wary about buying a spice if I never personally tried it, so I like how I can take a little with me for free to try. And seeing all the spices laid out gave me recipe ideas honestly.
Interviews for the Global Ambassadors Program happened during the week. GAP is an interdisciplinary initiative program, where the deans of each academic college nominate a handful of students. One of the nominated students is from each college then chosen for the opportunity to go to West Africa. This year, GAP is going to Senegal during spring break.
Other ways that students learn are through various study abroad opportunities. During International Education Week, students could
Though super fog is not seen very often, the threat is taken more seriously during this time of the year because of the agricultural burning going on.
“When you have sort of these variable excursions, where because Baton Rouge can be in the 80s in November, that’s creating that temperature difference between the water and the air, that’s leading to the fog,” Miller said.
The opposite happens in the spring. In months like January, February and March, the air can be cooler than the water, which causes steam to form above bodies of water.
The Mississippi River is a big culprit for springtime fog, Miller said. For example, in March it can be over 80 degrees in Baton Rouge. This is when the river water is much cooler, a big reason being because of the snow melting in northern states. That flows all the way down to where the river meets Louisiana.
“You might drive along River Road to get to campus and see fog the whole time, and then you might get to your parking lot on campus and there’s no
ing leader.
“I think that my greatest lesson was just really seeing the strength in people during trauma and tragedy and how if you are willing to persevere together, you can get through it,” Smith said.
As she begins her time at LSU she hopes to connect with students on a personal level to learn what they need and want from the Student Health Center so she can help them in impactful ways.
“I’m still hoping to get more feedback, start figuring out the needs, building those relationships with the students and the staff and the faculty so we can see where that next step is for the Student Health Center,” Smith said.
Smith is hopeful and optimistic that she can reach more
go to a peer adviser in Hatcher Hall to discuss their study abroad plans. Amber Makosky, a freshman environmental engineering major, is one of those advisers.
“Study abroad is an amazing experience,” Makosky said. “You get the chance to go abroad and experience other countries and other cultures while also continuing on your academic journey. A lot of students love to put that on their resume; it’s a great resume builder just to see that they’re putting themselves out there.”
Study abroad opportunities vary in time commitments and who leads the program. Makosky said the difference lies in the price per semester and who students would pay. In year- and semesterlong exchanges, the student would pay tuition to the university they are studying abroad at, while LSU would receive tuition for the faculty-lead opportunities.
On Friday, the Global Community Center collaborated with the International Student Association
more fog,” Miller said.
Meteorologist for the Baton Rouge and New Orleans National Weather Service Tyler Stanfield said that one of the biggest reasons they track fog so closely is for the safety of drivers, aviators and mariners.
Dense fog advisories are sent out when visibility of one quarter mile or less over land or one
nautical mile or less over water is expected or ongoing.
to hold a Cultural Night. Traditional American Thanksgiving foods were served, like turkey, mac and cheese and green beans. Traditional New Orleans-style bread pudding was served for dessert.
Maganizo Kapita is a doctoral student working towards a mathematics degree and an orientation leader for the Office of Global Affairs. He attended the Cultural Night, along with other events from the week. He said that the turkey was what he was most excited for, calling it delicious and beautiful.
Kapita said his favorite part of the week were the connections students were able to make with each other.
“This week is the richness that LSU brings [to international students],” Kapita said. “Just appreciating that LSU is able to bring all these people together from different parts of the world, and appreciating each other and showcasing each other’s cultures, that has been the climax of my week.”
Stanfield said that when drivers encounter fog, it is important that they slow down, increase driving distance and turn on their low beam headlights. If possible, he recommended delaying travel until the fog clears and if visibility drops to zero, to pull off the road and turn on hazards.
“In recent years, we have seen high impact super fog events that reduced visibility to less than 10 feet and played a role in the seventh largest multiple vehicle accident in U.S. history,” Stanfield said.
For more information on fog advisories, check the local National Weather Service website.
students and advocate for the unique resources the center offers like specialities in dermatology and allergies.
“One of the things I can say that allows us to stand apart and differentiates us from other places is that we offer those niche services that you may not necessarily think is offered in the Student Health Center,” Smith said.
One of the many things Smith is passionate about is education in the health and wellness sector.
As Louisiana continues to rank in the bottom of healthcare in America, Smith is dedicated to teaching the next generation of adults how to ask for help when they need it.
“I think for a lot of students it’s overwhelming. You’re walking into adulthood and you want to believe that you can manage
all of these things, right?” Smith said. “Because you see the people around you, your parents, the adults managing it and it looks so easy.”
Smith said that when she was in college, she was trying to get things done by herself without asking for help. She didn’t know help was available.
“I wish I had the foresight or someone to tell me, ‘Hey, there’s services that could help you and from those services you can get extra help with your classes,’” Smith said.
Smith addressed the current partnership between LSU and the private Catholic hospital Our Lady of the Lake and the controversy it has drawn from students and stakeholders alike. She said that in a meeting with administration from both LSU and OLOL,
there has been nothing but positive goals and visions discussed.
“I walked in with a very good understanding of some of the concerns around it and I walked in very excited about the collaboration with Our Lady of the Lake,” Smith said. “Our interactions have been great and I think the goal and the vision Our Lady of the Lake and LSU has is the same: to serve every student.” Smith is confident and excited at the prospect of what is next to come for the Student Health Center.
“I want them to know that they can come here, that they feel safe, that this is a place for them to seek treatment and care and that every student will come here and be taken care of,” Smith said. “It’s important to us and it’s important to me.”
COURTESY
DREW SARHAN / The Reveille
Students attend the Thankful Global Village Festival on Nov. 18 in Free Speech Alley in Baton Rouge, La.
FOG
ENTERTAINMENT
How the annual Art Market shows off student artists of all mediums
BY PAIGE CHERAMIE Staff Writer
From ceramic bowls to abstract prints, the LSU Art Market offers a wide variety of student works for anyone to purchase in support of collegiate art organizations and student artists.
The annual Art Market brings together many LSU art organizations in a celebration of handcrafted artwork, consisting of the Photo Club, the Digital Art & Design Association, the Printmaking Guild, the Graphic Design Student Association, the Painter’s League and Ceramics Arts Student Association.
The market is not only a way for students to see profit for their hard work, but also a major fundraiser for the organizations. For every item sold, a portion of the money goes towards the organization, while the rest goes to the student artist. Each organization takes a different percentage of the sales, depending on what they provide to their members.
Lily Breaux, president of the Painter’s League and an art and design major, explained how her organization decides to split the profit between the artist and the organization.
“Painter’s League takes 25% [of the profit from each item] because we try to go for more gallery connections, do a lot of artist talks and critique days and look at more field trips,” Breaux said. “Having that resource of money really amplifies how much we can do and how much community we can build by giving these opportunities.”
When student organizations are able to get funding, it allows them to create an environment filled with encouragement and growth, uplifting its members to their full potential. The Art Market is a great example of this: with funding, the organizations can cover the cost of prints, packaging and materials needed to produce the items on sale.
To bring the Art Market to life, a lot of work goes on behind the scenes. The process varies for each organization, but in general, members must first create the artwork and submit it to their respective organization. After the work is submitted, the organization’s leaders work diligently to format, print, cut, organize and prepare the artworks for the sale.
“There’s a big part of handiwork that our officers put into it, but it’s really lovely having the artists get to see their own work in this marketable and physical form that they can hold,” said the DADA president and digital art major Brooke Faget. “I love to see everyone’s reactions to their work and getting to be paid for their time and their efforts.”
Throughout the course of the Art Market, students are able to branch out and meet people who have similar interests and grow the community of artists on LSU’s campus. By volunteering their time to run the stands, students see firsthand how their art brings others joy.
“You find a lot of people who
are into the same stuff as you, into the same fandoms, into the same little niches and it’s really lovely that a lot of people do come to the Art Market and they do see stuff that they like because there’s so much community among students across all the fields,” Faget said.
For those looking to get involved with the Art Market, you must first join one of the organizations. Fortunately, most of the organizations that participate in the Art Market welcome all majors, allowing a wide variety of participants from different backgrounds and experiences.
“You do have to be a part of the organization to get your art on the table, but you don’t need to be an art major to join at all,” Breaux explained. “You can join just for the love of the game.”
This year’s took place in Free Speech Alley from Friday to Sunday. Everyone was welcome to stop by to browse the art on display and support the art community of LSU. The prices of items and art styles ranged greatly, providing something for everyone to enjoy.
LUKE RAY / The Reveille
Students browse art for sale at the LSU Art and Design Market in Free Speech Alley on Nov. 19 in Baton Rouge, La.
LUKE RAY / The Reveille
A shelf of ceramic and glass items sits for sale at the LSU Art and Design Market in Free Speech Alley on Nov. 19 in Baton Rouge, La.
A TIGER TRADITION!
Alan Arias-Perez
Chaise Arpke
Amelia Austin
Melanie Baker
Tia’ Alexis Banks
Siana Barker
Mira Grace Barrow
Caleb Paul Basnight
Madelyn Baumbouree
Dylan Bernstein
Reyna Bibian
Lindsay Blake
Paige Makayla Blanks
Desiree Bojorquez
Lauryn Keshayla Faith Boschulte
Isabella Boudreaux
Christian James Bouler
Andrew Bouler
Madylaine Brooks
Savannah Bruce
Avery Bryan
David Earl Burge Jr.
Jaden Michael Bush
Lauren Lexi Lily Butler
Scarlett Evelyn Carey
Arianna Lucia Carrasquero-Paz
Estella Faye Carroll
Megan Castle
Olivia Ann Cate
Kaleb Champagne
Morgan Elizabeth Charles
Gracie Chen
Lakayla Cleveland
Nabinye’ Quitana Colvon
Reagan Connolly
Patrick Cruice
Rebecca Curran
Brynn Davis
Judayah Davis
Haylee Estelle Deshotel
Jenae Dollar
Leilani Tatiana Drake
Noemi Duran
Madelyn Amalie Duronslet
Lauren Casimira Eckert
Madison Eckholdt
Tamara Engels
Aliyah Espiritu
Nicole Estrella
Julia Morgan Everitt
Ava Findahl
Jake Fletcher
Gavin Flores
Arielle Forest
Allison Yvonne Forsythe
Preston Reid Fournet
Cameron Freed
Lily Rose Frucht
Jaslyn Gallien
Maria Belen Garcia
Giuliana Gasca
Gabreyela Gonzalez
Thalia Gonzalez
Grace Granger
Catherine Angelic Greco
Cameron Green
Andrew Guidry
Bella Guidry
Stella Gunjevich
Bella Rose Couvillion-Hadley
Caleb Hall
Hannah Catherine Hall
Cassidy Hardy
Molly Claire Harris
Collin Hebert
Kylie Myli’yah Henry
Jesus G. Hernandez
Autumn Herring
Eva Herron
Molly Hoffstetter
Patrick Ryan Hogan
Anniah Holliday
Taylor Ja’Vae Horn
Allie Christine Hubbard
Bianca Elena Huerta
Madeline Reese Hurt
Landon Paul Hyder
Emma Claire Jimenez
Jalani Johnson
De’jah Amethyst Johnson
Kelsey Johnson
Darren Johnson
Tayelor Kees
Caleb Jamir King
Ethan Koch
Aidan Louis LaBrano
Juliette Langlinais
Remi Leigh Larson
Eli LeBlanc
Berlin Ledet
V. Joseph Liberto
Ashlyne Littleford
Megan Kelly Lockhart
JJ Lockwood
Karlee Ann Lyles
Gabriella Sari Magenheim
Gage Anthony Martin
Ana Paulina Martinez
Avery Jayda Mastin
Trey McCann
Presley McDeavitt
Trent Lee McKinney
Trey McLin
Hope Wanlei McMillen
Laura Esther Medina Motino
Bellamia Miceli
Ashley Miller
Christina N. Miller
Adia Mohammed
Madison Monken
Katherine Montalbano
Joseph R. Monzon
Amanda Michelle Moore
Paz Michael Nair
Madison Elizabeth Nash
Brianna Je’niece Nelson
Mallori Grace Nessa
Nikole Nguyen
TO OUR FALL 2025 RING RECIPIENTS!
Mia Jude Nobile
Mia Theresa Oliveras
Ella Paretti
Catherine Perilloux
Madison Piglia
Kylle Nicholas Broussard Poiencot
Delaney Laurynne Broussard Poiencot
Bella Gabrielle Porché
Alejandro Porcuna IV
Carleigh Marie Price
Shelby Primeaux
Knyles Tyrese Randall
Olivia Danielle Redivo
Mark Reese
Taylor Rich
Marisa Rickard
Madelyn Ridgedell
Alexandra Robey
Valerie Rodriguez
Hannah LeAnne Roquemore
Meghan Rousset
Laylei Danielle Saint-Vil
Landin Sanborn
Maureen Mae Sanchez
Maureen Shelby
Mason Shelley
Dallas Sherod
Morgan Shouse
David Cecil Simmons
Andrew Sincovec
Jake Inman Slaton
Thomas Baker Smith Jr.
Gavin Smith
Brooklyn Elizabeth Sneed
Izabella Rose Southern
Faith Ann Stanley
Ella Stanley
Sanaa Stingley
Justin Strickland
Julian Antonio Tapia
Balseba Tewelde
Michael Thompson
Stephen Keith Tower
Emily Ann Tucker
Sebastian Gael Vielledent-Santiago
Ryan Villarreal
Brianna Vucinovich
Kayla Washington
Abigail Watson
Raegan West
Andrein Whitlock-Poirier
Olivia Ann Whitmer
Allison Williams
Amani Williams
Mason Williams
Daniel Winstein
Kaylee Wisor
Zariel L. Woods
Julia Wyatt
John Thomas Young
LSU football defenders
LSU football redshirt junior linebacker Princeton Malbrue (52) celebrates.
LSU Tiger Girl poses.
LSU football redshirt junior linebacker Princeton Malbrue (52) holds a rose.
Mike the Tiger points to the camera.
SENIOR NIGHT
Tigers pull out a 13-10 win on Senior Night against Western Kentucky Nov. 22 at Tiger Stadium.
A member of the trumpet section marches.
Photos by Hinesley Bryant & Luke Ray
Design by Riley White
LSU football freshman cornerback
DJ Pickett (3) celebrates.
LSU football redshirt
junior linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. (7) hugs someone.
BY RAMI BURKS Staff Writer
LSU’s win over Western Kentucky was an unexpected rollercoaster, and yet it fits right into place in a chaotic season.
Senior night was a celebration for LSU, but that doesn’t mean that the game was clean.
Here are three takeaways from this close non-conference matchup.
Cardiac Cats are alive and well
LSU has been known to be the Cardiac Cats for years, and this game versus the Hilltoppers was no exception. Western Kentucky carried the momentum during most of the first half, and scored first.
The Tigers have played from behind most of this season, and they dug out of the early hole they found themselves in by the end of the first quarter. The team pulled themselves together to surge late, but the message was the same it’s been all season: offense was inconsistent.
It’s no secret that the offense has struggled this season, and it was easily no exception in this matchup. It took LSU more than the
Column:
BY ADAM KIRSCHMAN Columnist
After Garrett Nussmeier aggravated a nagging abdominal injury in the leadup to the Arkansas game, the fifth-year senior’s tenure at LSU came to an end, outside of a potential bowl game
The once Heisman hopeful truly had a tragic ending to his LSU career. LSU entered the year ranked the highest it has been with Nussmeier starting, and after the production in his junior year, many fans saw this season as the perfect opportunity for a playoff berth.
The season could not have gone any different, though, and
3 TAKE AWAYS
first quarter to pull it all together to put points on the board, but nonetheless the Tigers showed their grit to tough out another close victory.
LSU was hot and cold the entire way
Every time the Tigers would have an encouraging moment, something would happen to set them back. In the third quarter, PJ Woodland intercepted a pass, and on the very next play Michael Van Buren Jr. stunningly caught his own blocked pass and ran it 10 yards.
Yet a first down was not made on this drive.
Several moments like this littered the game, and it set the offense back more than needed. In a game where the offense struggled to handle the ball, LSU threw away some of the opportunities handed to them.
When the score was 7-3 in the second quarter, Western Kentucky quarterback Rodney Tisdale threw a beautiful pass that was dropped by the receiver in the end zone.
A Power Four team like LSU shouldn’t be in such a close game with a team making fundamental
errors like this, especially when the Tigers have played an otherwise clean game.
Tigers let the Hilltoppers gain too much momentum
Not only did LSU allow Western Kentucky to score first, but it allowed the Hilltoppers to lead the pace. During the beginning of the game, there were several moments where they controlled the pace of play.
In the first quarter, the Hilltoppers played with merciless stamina. They didn’t waste time on the clock, and made LSU play their game. Western Kentucky did what any team looking for an upset did: They made a plan and stuck to it, and their plan was to make LSU play at their pace.
The Tigers fell into the trap as well. It took almost two whole quarters for LSU to take over and control the pace, and even into the fourth quarter the Hilltoppers weren’t slacking up a bit. With just over a minute left in the game, Western Kentucky returned a Tiger fumble to recover it for a touch-
Soccer advances to its first ever Sweet 16 game
BY TRIPP BUHLER Staff Writer
For the first time ever, LSU soccer is heading to the Sweet 16.
Fouls, shots and reviews all came often in the first ever meeting between LSU and Iowa.
The second round matchup was supposed to happen Thursday. Inclement weather pushed it back to Friday afternoon, where the Fighting Tigers took over and reigned supreme. Though the two squads had never met on the pitch, they played like storied rivals.
Despite the first half not featuring LSU’s leading scorer Ava Galligan, shots were still arriving in bunches during the game. Shots and fouls seemed like they were coming down as much as the rain in Nashville.
That being said, Galligan did get her time to shine in the second half, and she proved to be the brightest offensive star for the Tigers, scoring the game winner in the 65th minute.
She had two of LSU’s nine shots in just 37 minutes on the pitch.
The shooting barrage started early, as Elle Wildman got a shot on goal for Iowa within the first few seconds. LSU’s brick wall goalkeeper, Audur Scheving, got in the way of the first shot and defender Sydney Cheesman stopped the putback.
10 minutes in, it seemed like LSU got the best of Iowa early. Jazmin Ferguson sent a header just over the outstretched arm of Iowa keeper Fernanda Mayrink. After a review, a borderline call overturned the goal due to Ferguson being offside.
Back to square one.
Each team continued to take their attempts, but Iowa was able to strike first. The LSU defense
was caught sleeping, and Kenzie Roling sent one across the box for freshman Wildman. Her shot was fired to the opposite side of the net and got past Scheving to open the scoring.
The ball quickly flipped sides of the field and LSU was awarded a penalty kick when Sariyah Bailey’s ankle was kicked inside the penalty area in the 16th minute. Ida Hermannsdottir took the kick and deposited it on the right side of the net for the equalizer.
Her 10th goal of the year was also the 30th of her career, and she now sits at fifth all time among Tiger goal scorers. Her expertise on penalty and corner kicks has led the Tigers all year and that continued against the Hawkeyes.
The first half showed that physicality had been the focus, but detrimental fouls were allowing key opportunities for both squads. Both teams had fouls greatly outnumber their shots taken.
In LSU’s NCAA Tournament opener, Sophine Kevorkian stepped in and played the second half in goal for the Tigers. This time, Scheving stayed in, and despite catching a shin to the face just a couple of minutes into the half on a shot attempt, the tough and clutch goalkeeper stayed in the game.
The rain started to pour down, which was opening up shots as the slick field was making it hard for defenders to keep up. Iowa had control throughout the game once the field became wet. The pace belonged to the Hawkeyes.
LSU needed its clutch scorers to get moving.
Galligan subbed into the game in the 53rd minute, and her second shot on goal was the powerful
is not defined by one bad season
because of Brian Kelly’s poor coaching and leadership, LSU kissed its playoff hopes goodbye.
Even though Nussmeier did not live up to the high expectations in his final year, he still produced for the Tigers and will sit comfortably with other legendary quarterbacks in LSU’s history. Fans should not let this year make them forget truly how loyal and passionate Nussmeier has been to LSU over the past five years.
Although Nussmeier’s production took a steep decline from his fourth to fifth year at LSU, his name is all over LSU’s records book. Nussmeier is tied for fourth in all-time passing touchdowns with the legendary JaMarcus Russell, while also being third in all-time passing yards and second in completions.
Nussmeier is also a part of a legendary group of players who won the title of bowl MVP multiple times, with only Joe Burrow, Matt Flynn and Rohan Davey being the others to do this. LSU’s website even named him as the “the most prolific first-year starting quarterback in LSU history” as he had more passing yards, completions, attempts, touchdowns and total offense than any first-year starter in program history.
Nussmeier’s loyalty is another reason why he should be remembered as an LSU great. He grew up in Lake Charles, Louisiana, as a huge LSU fan and committed to LSU in 2021 as a fourstar recruit, driven by his love for the university. Nussmeier sat as a backup for three years until finally earning the starting job in 2024.
It’s a huge risk to sit as a backup for more than one year, especially for a talented quarterback like Nussmeier with NFL aspirations, but he would not let some adversity stop him from achieving his dream of starting for the Tigers.
Nussmeier was even quoted saying, “I didn’t want to watch anybody else be the guy that leads LSU to the national championship … I always wanted to win a national championship here.”
Nussmeier’s love for LSU will never be questioned. He always had a professional and humble attitude to him while being the face for LSU football the past few years. Even when fans called for his removal as starter, he never
ALEXIS PERSICKE / The Reveille
ERIN BARKER / The Reveille
A member of Alabama’s coaching staff speaks to LSU football fifthyear senior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (18) Nov. 8 after LSU’s 20-9 loss to Alabama at BryantDenny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Al.
see TAKEAWAYS, page 11
see SOCCER, page 11
see NUSSMEIER, page 11
Football’s defense carries hapless offense again in WKU win
BY TRIPP BUHLER Staff Writer
LSU’s mind-numbing offense was once again carried by its elite defense as the Tigers defeated Western Kentucky 13-10 in an unsettling game.
Senior night festivities opened the final home game of 2025. The LSU fans housing Tiger Stadium on Saturday night warmly embraced 27 seniors that were being celebrated for their final game in the purple and gold at home.
Interim head coach Frank Wilson said that before the game, he let seniors speak to the team, calling it “from a brother’s heart.”
Though he didn’t play, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier spoke to his team and later received the largest ovation from the crowd, signalling their appreciation for his dedication and loyalty to the LSU program. Senior receiver Aaron Anderson also did not play.
One senior that made the most of his tribute night was Zavion Thomas. He entered the night as LSU’s third leading receiver. He recorded 47 yards Saturday to make it his fifth game of the year as the Tigers’ top receiver. He also returned five punts for 48 yards.
The Tiger defense was led by interceptions from DJ Pickett and PJ Woodland that kept Western Kentucky from ever taking a meaningful lead.
“He was our MVP,” Wilson said about Pickett. “He is an elite player [and] exactly what we desired for him to be for us.”
One of the star running backs from the last game, freshman Harlem Berry, continued his tear against the Hilltoppers. He ran for 80 yards on 18 carries, and also had two receiving yards. His counterpart, Caden Durham, only rushed for 16 yards on 6 attempts.
Wilson said after the game
TAKEAWAYS, from page 10
down.
This brought the Hilltoppers within a field goal to tie it, and it forced LSU to recover an onside kick to seal the victory.
This was the first time the Tigers showed dominance over the Hilltoppers throughout the contest. For most of the game, Western Kentucky dominated the pace of play, and LSU scrambled a step behind.
The Hilltoppers took advantage of the confusion LSU has experienced throughout the season. Western Kentucky took advantage of the chaos and almost pulled off the upset.
Despite the challenges the Tigers faced, they still did enough to end their season 6-1 at home with the victory over the Hilltoppers 1310.
LSU will try to end the season with its third consecutive win as it faces Oklahoma on the road on Nov. 29. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m.
that Durham was concussed, which is why he was absent for almost the entire second half.
Quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. completed 60% of his passes in his second LSU start for 202 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
The start of the game saw LSU struggling to keep up with a fast-moving Hilltopper offense.
A 4-of-5 start passing for quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr. helped his team into the Tiger red zone.
Western Kentucky’s first drive ended in a 36-yard field goal from John Cannon.
On the offensive side of the ball for LSU, it continued its first drive futility. A three-andout hampered any momentum it could have taken from Barion Brown’s long kickoff return to the Tiger 34.
The failures became formality as the Tigers proceeded through most of the first half scoreless.
LSU didn’t reach Hilltopper territory until the final minute of the first quarter.
The second quarter was
NUSSMEIER, from page 10
intentions of the program.
After last season, Nussmeier did more than enough to be seen as one of the top prospects going into the 2025 NFL Draft. With how bad the quarterback talent was that year, he likely could have been a first round pick, but he stuck to his word and wanted to try to win the Tigers that national championship
SOCCER, from page 10
rip that gave the Tigers the lead.
The energy shifted and LSU had its most clear control of the game yet.
Multiple corner kicks from Iowa threatened the Tigers as the game was nearing 10 minutes left, but the Hawkeyes couldn’t capitalize.
Iowa had a corner kick in the last few minutes but couldn’t score. A foul against the Hawkeyes gave the Tigers possession.
opened by LSU getting penalized for offensive pass interference, then an interception by defensive end Harper Holloman. The Hilltoppers subsequently started marching down the field on offense.
Despite the presence of all three Weeks brothers on the field, the Tigers front seven were getting beat on most plays. The Hilltoppers were in command of the game.
Western Kentucky got inside the Tiger 10 and decided to try some trickery to attempt to grow its lead to two possessions.
On 2nd-and-goal, Tisdale and running back Marvis Parrish shifted to the right for the back to take the snap. He passed it to an unnoticed Tisdale, but he dropped the easy touchdown.
LSU could not have had a luckier bail out.
An eventual turnover on downs made that dropped pass the most impactful play of the game. Failed fourth down conversions hurt both teams, but they continued to roll the dice.
by coming back for one final year.
Although LSU did not get anywhere near this goal, and Nussmeier practically tanked his draft stock in the process, he should not be the one taking the blame. Maybe his play did not meet expectations, but in a season riddled with nagging injuries, horrible coaching and one of the worst offensive lines LSU has ever seen, other top quarterbacks would’ve struggled, too.
Another foul gave LSU a free kick. It just kept piling on.
It was too much and the Tigers took the win.
It’s been two months since LSU has been beaten in regulation. On Monday, the Tigers face the Vanderbilt team that beat them in 10 rounds of penalty kicks in the SEC Championship.
Revenge is on the horizon. The Commodores will be playing tired after their late game ended in double overtime. The rematch will take place on Monday at 2 p.m.
zone, four plays inside the 5-yard line wouldn’t even be enough to score a touchdown. Ramos made his first field goal on his senior night from only 18 yards.
“It’s crazy to think about it [being my last home game],” Ramos said after the win. “I took a moment at the end to see the stadium and enjoy it and take it all in one last time before exiting. I’m just blessed.”
After his score, the LSU defense continued in its flow state. Woodland didn’t let the freshman defensive back have all the fun for himself. His interception ended the next drive for the Hilltoppers.
With time winding down, LSU was steadily able to drive down the field and control its own pace. It converted third and fourth down plays to lead into the red zone. Van Buren found Trey’Dez Green at the goal line to finally get the Tigers on the board.
They would take that 7-3 lead into halftime.
Early on in the second half, it looked much like the first. A shoddy first drive was only remedied by Pickett’s second career sack, a booming hit to force fourth down at Western Kentucky’s own 2-yard line.
“It took us a moment to settle in, and once we did, we were absolutely dominant defensively,” Wilson said.
The stud freshman kept his playmaking abilities alive on the next possession, when he intercepted the ball off West Weeks’ tip, setting the Tigers up to extend their lead.
LSU’s offense getting back on the field was the worst part about the turnover. Even though the interception started them in the red
Fans should not be quick to see Nussmeier as a failure at LSU. I still think he’s a talented quarterback, and with the right coaching could be a solid NFL quarterback. LSU’s struggles cannot be fully blamed on him, and if he just decided to let go of how much he loved LSU he would likely currently be playing on Sundays in the NFL. LSU fans need to remember when he was one of the only bright spots on
The Tiger offense looked like it had regrown its legs at the start of the fourth quarter, but lost them again inside the red zone. Ramos was called upon for a second time, and extended the lead to 10 from 29 yards out.
“I thought our special teams played the best they played all year in totality,” Wilson said.
LSU looked to run out the clock in the final few minutes until Berry coughed up a fumble that was returned 71 yards for a touchdown to keep it interesting. The following onside kick was recovered by the Tigers.
LSU finished its 2025 home slate 6-1, a rather impressive feat outside of the context of the season in its entirety. Though there is only one more regular season game left, Wilson indicated that this team is not done learning.
“We tried a gambit of things [on offense],” Wilson said. “We’ll continue to hammer at it, to look at what defenses are doing to us… to try to crack the vault to create more touchdowns.”
This game also might have marked Wilson’s last at home leading the team.
“I’m living in the moment,” Wilson said. “I’m where my feet are, and I’m taking it one day at a time.”
a declining program and how he carried them in important SEC and bowl games.
Overall, the success and excitement Nussmeier brought to LSU should be appreciated and remembered by fans for years to come, but there’s no doubt it will always be a huge what if for LSU if Nussmeier could have been that Heisman contender everyone thought he would be in his final season.
LUKE RAY / The Reveille
LSU football interim head coach Frank Wilson high-fives fans as he runs out of the locker room before the game against Western Kentucky on Nov. 22 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
ALEXIS PERSICKE / The Reveille
The LSU soccer team celebrates Nov. 14 during the 4-1 win over Houston Christian at the LSU Soccer Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
OPINION
LSU needs to ban e-scooters. Students can’t handle them
BERGERON’S BRIEFINGS
THOMAS
BERGERON
Columnist
Scooter users, I’m sorry, but this column is not for you. Without the option for a parking pass, I walk around campus — a lot. Normally, the scariest thing for a pedestrian is a lifted truck barreling through stop signs or a 2001 Honda Civic with a Gemini behind the wheel. While I have nearly been hit by all the above, there is nothing I fear more, nothing I loathe more than the electronic scooter.
I used to live in Washington, D.C., one of the major tourist capitals of the world. First, it was the Segway gangs of tourists zipping around the national monuments; but then came the apocalypse of rentable scooters all around the DMV.
Now, while these things would occasionally clutter street corners or unaware couples would crash into light posts, for the most part, scooter riders would obey traffic signs, utilize bike lanes and gen-
erally leave foot traffic alone. This is not the case at LSU.
Starting my first week as a graduate student in Baton Rouge, I learned what it felt like to be a US Navy aircraft carrier in the Pacific during World War II.
Scooter riders charge full speed into gaggles of walkers along sidewalks, speed across crosswalks without minding oncoming traffic or zig zag through the tight corridors of the Quad (a place you’re not supposed to even ride bikes through, FYI).
These speed demons appear to be a clear and present menace to all foot traffic around the LSU campus. It’s honestly appalling that LSU Athletics would issue these vehicles to their studentathletes — there’s nothing quite like risking a multi-thousand dollar human investment via these battery-powered suicide machines.
So, what can we even do about these contraptions? Well, attempting to change the disposition of the drivers may not change much — many have already shown a disregard for their lives as well as the lives of the pavement pounders around them. Giving in to
my intrusive thoughts of throwing them all into University Lake probably won’t help much either. What needs to be considered is more structural, more intelligent than my notional brute force operation.
Washington, D.C. and Baton Rouge share a surprising amount of similarities: they both are political capitals, both have the best food in the world and also are somehow neither walkable nor drivable. But one thing they do not share is good city planning.
In D.C., micromobility vehicles like scooters and bikes have dedicated, well-defined lanes, signage and rules (that are often followed). While LSU’s campus may have bike lanes on a selection of roads, scooter navigation seems to be based more on vibes, appearing more like a forward motion battle royale than any kind of efficient travel to class. Treating the term “sidewalk” as a suggestion isn’t entirely the fault of the rider. It’s partly due to the environment LSU has created.
If LSU genuinely wants to strike a harmonious balance between wheels and feet, it needs to start treating e-scooters like
the vehicles they are. And that means clearly defined designated lanes, specific no-ride zones and actual enforcement of these rules. Perhaps even policing the slew of rentable metal carcasses left in the middle of pathways and bushes would be a good start.
Alternatively, LSU could seek to solve the growing concern of general transportation to, from and around campus that has plagued our institution for some time. While the parking problem may never be fixed, investing in expanding the campus transit system could be of great benefit to easing the handle-barred terror currently in our streets.
In a 2024 study released by the Transportation Consortium of South-Central States on the impact of e-scooters at LSU, its surveys found that 61% of respondents in their sample indicated they would rather walk than take any other form of transportation, were e-scooters not invented. This is emblematic that the current systems in place just do not work — whether it be cars or public buses. The key is ensuring that students don’t have to pick between missing class or committing micro-ve -
hicular manslaughter.
Joking aside, we cannot pretend that this problem isn’t causing real harm. In my day job, I work as a graduate assistant studying transportation safety data. I see scooter-involved crashes happening at LSU far more often than people talk about them.
These aren’t just happy little accidents; these are real people with real injuries paying real costs. If there’s no proactive action on this to be taken, we could very realistically be faced with an entirely preventable tragedy someday.
While I know e-scooters won’t be zooming off campus any time soon, our situation is far from helpless. We can make this campus safe for all travelers if we treat the problem for what it is. So please, e-scooter owners (if you’ve made it this far), please be mindful of your fellow students. And LSU, please take action to improve the walkability and rideability of this campus. Your community is depending on it.
Thomas Bergeron is a 25-yearold graduate student from Baton Rouge.
Does BR’s Elsie’s Plate and Pie deserve its Michelin honor?
CRAWFORD’S CORNER
GORDON
CRAWFORD
Columnist
Elsie’s Plate & Pie was recently recognized by the Michelin Guide, the first Baton Rouge restaurant to receive such a distinction. Despite Elsie’s being a long-time Baton Rouge staple and directly across from my old school, I’d never been. However, I just had to see if the hype was deserved.
Entering the restaurant, I was fortunate enough to arrive just early enough to miss the dinner rush, and I watched behind me as the wait gradually went from five minutes to 30. The floor space is somewhat limited, and Elsie’s has pushed it to its greatest extent. However, the low-lighting, fun graphics and industrial vibe made the space feel cozy.
For appetizers, I tried the Cajun crawfish queso, smoked wings and the seafood Lafourche bisque.
The seafood bisque was solid, although I wasn’t able to taste the
EDITORIAL BOARD
Jason Willis Editor in Chief
Managing Editor Olivia Tomlinson
Courtney Bell News Editor
Chloe Richmond
Sports Editor
Garrett McEntee Opinion Editor
smoked gouda as prominently as I’d hoped. One thing that was consistent through every dish, however, was good portioning, with both the bisque and the queso containing sizable amounts of seafood.
The smoked wings were a bit firm, but they remained juicy, and the dry rub paired well with the very sweet barbecue sauce provided.
My attention was primarily drawn however, to the Cajun crawfish queso, served with pork rinds. Frequently shown in photos and listed in the menu as a fan favorite, I have to admit I was somewhat skeptical as to just how good a bowl of queso could be — especially at the $14 price point.
However, this dish was absolutely phenomenal. The pork rinds were all fried to consistent perfection, dense yet airy, crispy but not hard. They were a great complement to the cheese, undercutting some of the saltiness with their light savory flavor.
If you go to Elsie’s, this item is an absolute must-order.
For my entree, I had the sea-
food pot pie. I had debated whether to get this pie or the crawfish hand pie, but my waitress nudged me toward the pot pie. I wondered if that may have been because the pot pie was slightly more expensive, but it truly did not disappoint.
The crust was perfectly cooked, flaky but tender. The pie was chock-full of seafood. I worried that putting shrimp, crawfish, and crab all together would end up muddling the individual flavors of each, but the chunks of crustaceous goodness were large and richly flavorful. The cream sauce was also well seasoned, but incredibly rich, and I was ultimately only able to eat half.
Also, I must note the pleasantly surprising side salad that came with my entree. I figured the side salad was just going to be a stock-standard lettuce, grape tomato and shredded carrots medley you see in many casual restaurants. However, this side salad came dressed in a lovely pepper jelly vinaigrette, sweet and tart, and in a good enough amount to thoroughly coat the entire salad. I
definitely considered getting a jar of the pepper jelly to take home.
And, of course, what visit to a pie restaurant would be complete without some delectable desserts?
I tried the coconut cream pie, the pie shop apple pie and the eye of the tiger pie.
The coconut cream pie was light, very sweet, and had a very strong coconut flavor. The crust was flaky, but a bit dry. If you’re a big coconut fan, you’ll love it, but I mostly left it to my roommate and focused on the other two pies.
The apple pies are baked fresh to order, and you can certainly tell. I nearly burnt my tongue when, in my excitement, I tried to dive in right away. The seasoning was perfectly balanced, and the apples were crisp to the bite but still melted in your mouth. It’s a no-frills, perfect rendition of an American classic.
However, the dessert which really stole the entire night was the eye of the tiger pie, which is their lemon icebox pie topped with blueberry whipped cream. Now, I cannot emphasize just how much
I love lemon ice box pie. It evokes fond memories of summertime fun and after-church lunches with my grandfather.
I am not exaggerating when I say that this lemon icebox pie is the best I’ve ever eaten. Its silky smooth, with a sharp but not overly sour lemon flavor. The blueberry whipped cream was generously dolloped on, and the ratio of pie to cream was just right. Its sweetness complemented the tart lemon exceptionally.
Overall, I would say Elsie’s absolutely lives up to the hype. While there were a few menu items that didn’t blow me away, everything tasted great and a few items really surprised me with just how good they were.
I would give it a nine out of ten overall. The prices are a bit on the higher end but are very good for the amount of food you get. If you haven’t made your way to Elsie’s yet, it’s an absolute must-visit in Baton Rouge.
Gordon Crawford is a 19-yearold political science major from Gonzales, La.
Editorial Policies and Procedures Quote of the Week
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.
“I don’t have to agree with you to like you or respect you.”