DEATH VALLEY’S
LSU football fans are hearing a new announcer for the first time in 40 years.
PASSING THE MIC
Tiger Stadium’s new PA announcer is finding his voice
BY AINSLEY FLOOD Deputy Sports Editor
For almost 40 years, LSU heard the same voice in Tiger Stadium every Saturday night.
Just before the start of the 2024 season, the longtime PA announcer Dan Borné took a step back from the mic to address health concerns. LSU filled the position temporarily, but Borné announced earlier this year that the decision would become permanent.
“We have eight grandchildren, four children,” Borné said. “There’s a point in time in life when, at 79 years old, you want to look back and say that was a really, really fun part of my life, but I’ve got a few more years to look forward to, and I’d like to spend more of that time with my family.”
Now local politician Dixon McMakin is five games in as Death Valley’s new PA announcer.
“It’s about the pride of the university,” McMakin said. “Three-time grad that I am. I was here eight years, and the opportunity to serve in this role is incredible.”
According to McMakin, he’s “a Baton Rouge boy” through and through.
He’s the product of an LSU love story. His father, Wally McMakin, played baseball for the Tigers in the ‘70s and met Dixon’s mother while they were both students. Dixon grew up in Alex Box Stadium as his family remained in Baton Rouge, and he has been attending LSU football games since before he can remember.
His journey behind the microphone began in third grade as the narrator of his church play. His natural gift was clear — a loud, booming voice.
McMakin got his first gig announcing for baseball and basketball at his high school
and continued to emcee events around town from there.
Outside of this, he’s a financial advisor, lawyer, insurance broker and a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives.
He didn’t venture into LSU sports until long after his time at the university. In 2021, he was asked to do softball, which eventually inserted him into a five-man announcer rotation. McMakin’s resume includes beach volleyball, indoor volleyball, women’s basketball, soccer and men’s basketball.
Once Borné officially retired, the highly coveted football position opened to applicants. McMakin sent in his resume just like any other job.
The sacrifice of anything that I’m missing out on is gained by the opporunity to serve LSU in this capacity.
Candidates were invited into the Tiger Stadium press box for interviews and to try out the mic. Borné elected to stay away from this process because he didn’t wish to have any influence on the decision.
At 39 years old, McMakin got the call of a lifetime. He’ll be booked and busy for many football seasons to come, but it’s a sacrifice he wouldn’t think twice about making.
“The sacrifice of anything that I’m missing out on is gained by the opportunity to serve LSU in this capacity,” McMakin said.
He just completed his fifth
game and is settling in nicely to his new office.
According to McMakin, the speed of the game has been one of the larger adjustments, and not always speaking when LSU is live on offense. So, if he doesn’t call a down, it’s because he’s tuned in, trying his hardest not to hurt the team in any way possible.
“I’ve always believed in this great line from Shakespeare, ‘the play is the thing,’” Borné said. “And the PA guy, whoever he is, should not get in the way of the play.”
Any new hire has bumps in the road, though, and McMakin is taking them on full steam ahead. He’s no stranger to a public-facing role, which comes along with its critics.
“I read everything, and I know people tell me not to do that,” McMakin said. “It is very hurtful and negative. But at the same time, there are people who make some suggestions about things that I’ve said or done that I enjoy. I enjoy trying to get better.”
He reads every comment under every post, not out of spite, but to improve his performance.
He is his “own worst critic.” He notices mistakes others don’t. When he reads the criticism, he’s probably already thought about it.
“I can handle the heat very much in politics, and with this, I can also handle the heat,” McMakin said.
Luckily, he’s also got a mentor to help. Borné is a friendly face in the tough crowd, offering tips and advice where he can.
“I can hear him through my television set as I watch it on television now, and he’s doing a great job,” Borné said.
The week McMakin replaced him, the two grabbed lunch together. Borné did the same with his predecessor, Sid Crocker, which was an act he’ll always appreciate.
Now, passing the torch over some oysters is tradition.
There, McMakin asked Borné about his iconic catchphrase: “Chance of rain? Never.”
“I encouraged him to use it,” Borné said. “That’s in the treasure chest, so to speak, of LSU football heritage.”
So before kickoff at exactly the 1:30 mark, McMakin gives the weather report, something he hopes to do on Saturdays for years to come.
Game by game, season by season, he’ll build a legacy of his own.
“When I’m finished, I hope people say that he was loud, he was bold and he did his job,” McMakin said.
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.
CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS ABOUT THE REVEILLE
The Reveille is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. 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.
COURTESY OF DIXON MCMAKIN
DIXON MCMAKIN LSU PA announcer
ADMINISTRATION
LSU to select next university president Tuesday
STAFF REPORT
On Tuesday, LSU will name a permanent president, ending an almost six-month long process that began when former President William Tate IV took the same job at Rutgers University in May.
The Board of Supervisors will officially interview finalists and vote to select one president on Tuesday.
The three finalists selected by
the presidential search committee, ending their involvement in the process, are Alabama Provost and Executive Vice President Jim Dalton, former University of Arizona President Robert Robbins and McNeese State University President Wade Rousse.
In his interview, Dalton 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.
Robbins was the president at Arizona, which represents tangible experience working at a tier one research university. He emphasized during his interview the lengths he goes to connect with students.
Under Rousse, McNeese has reversed a 14-year enrollment decline and in September announced its highest enrollment increase in 22 years. Rousse fought off criticism Wednesday that he doesn’t have a
research background or experience at a high-level university and said he knows his biggest challenge as LSU president would be gaining the trust of the faculty.
GREEK LIFE
Third TKE member charged with hazing
As part of the process, each finalist has had to spend a full day on campus holding different public forums and meetings with stakeholder groups. Dalton and Robbins have already gone through the process. Rousse is set to go through the schedule Monday. STAFF REPORT
LIBRARY LEADER
How this award-winning librarian champions student success
BY ALAYNA FORD Staff Writer
LSU librarian Sarah Simms has always worked alongside books.
After earning her master’s degree in library and information science from LSU, Simms felt something was missing from her life: a true passion.
“I really wanted to work in a library,” Simms said. “My first library job was as a serial librarian at Nicholls State University, where I oversaw journal subscriptions. But sometimes I had the opportunity to teach information literacy classes — and that’s when I discovered my true passion.”
It led Simms to the LSU Libraries, where she has worked since 2017 as the undergraduate and student success team lead. The Baltimore native sees the job as more than cataloging or references. It’s all about the connection Simms makes with students.
That’s what made the position at LSU so ideal for Simms. It combined her love for the library and her calling to assist with student
success.
“I was a first-generation student at a large university and honestly, I really struggled my first two years trying to figure out what it meant ‘to college,’” Simms said. “I want to help students who might be feeling that same way, especially when it comes to research and navigating the vast information landscape.”
That large university was Boston University, where Simms graduated in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in international relations. She earned a master’s of library and information science from the Palmer School at Long Island University in 2010.
Simms moved to Louisiana in 2013, where she has served the community since.
Recognized for leadership
Simm’s impact on student leadership was recently recognized statewide. She won the 2025 Louisiana Library Association award for outstanding librarianship in March. The award honored her leadership, collaboration and innovative teaching style.
COURTESY OF LSU LIBRARIES
LSU librarian Sarah Simms, holds commermorative poster.
“Winning this award meant the world to me,” Simms said. “I work with colleagues across this state who are incredible and doing amazing work, so to be recognized alongside folks like that is a huge
professional milestone and point of pride.”
Simms leads a team of instruction librarians whose priority is
see LIBRARIAN, page 4
Another member of LSU’s Tau Kappa Epsilon chapter has been charged as part of an ongoing investigation, WBRZ reported.
The student was charged with a principle to criminal hazing and simple battery, according to WBRZ.
This was the third TKE member charged this week. On Wednesday, two members were arrested with criminal hazing and simple battery charges.
The charges stem from two different instances earlier this month, WBRZ reported, where members allegedly hitt pledges.
TKE responded to the charges against it members in a statement to the Reveille.
“When our local chapter learned about the alleged behavior, they proactively self-reported it to university authorities. Tau Kappa Epsilon does not condone violence of any kind and, as more facts are established, we will take appropriate action through our accountability process. Currently, we are supporting the university and law enforcement’s ability to investigate and encourage our members to fully cooperate without interference. We are happy to make further comment at the conclusion of the investigation.”
LSUPD expects to make more arrests as the investigation continues according to a police report obtained by WBRZ.
Delta Gamma hosts annual fundraiser for visually impaired
BY JORJA ETHRIDGE Staff Writer
The Delta Gamma sorority at LSU hosted its annual Anchor Bowl flag football tournament Sunday at the UREC to raise money for the sorority’s philanthropic effort, Service for Sight.
The Delta Gamma vice president of foundation and animal sciences senior Anya Ferruzzi explained that Service for Sight supports the blind or visually impaired.
Delta Gamma members fundraised through MemberPlanet, an online platform many Greek organizations use. The flag football players, who were mainly fraternity members or friends of
Delta Gammas, each paid a $15 entry fee that was donated to Service for Sight. Additionally, Ferruzzi said that Delta Gamma receives money from businesses that sponsor the Anchor Bowl, like All Star Trophies.
Some of the money that Delta Gamma raised specifically went to providing guide dogs for people who are blind, including those at the Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired, Ferruzzi explained.
The Anchor Bowl was composed of 20 teams, where they each competed in a bracketstyle, single-elimination tournament. Delta Gamma provided the winning team with a trip to
Topgolf.
Ferruzzi said the Delta Gamma members did a great job of recruiting guys to be on the flag football teams, with 20 being the maximum number of teams they could have.
One flag football player, mechanical engineering senior Colin Saucier, said he has played in the Anchor Bowl for the past few years to support his girlfriend in Delta Gamma and her sorority. He said his favorite part of the event is the feeling of community and the competitiveness.
In addition to raising money to support the visually impaired, Delta Gamma members also do
GREEK LIFE
JORJA ETHRIDGE / The Reveille Teams compete in the Delta Gamma Anchor Bowl flag football tournament at the LSU UREC on Nov. 2.
How LASO creates community for Latin students on campus
BY ALAYNA FORD Staff Writer
‘Home away from home’: How LASO creates community for Latin Students at LSU
For the majority of students attending LSU, finding a sense of community can be hard. It can be even harder when students try to form a community with their shared culture.
According to this year’s census only 9.8% of LSU’s campus have a Hispanic or Latinx background.
For the members of the Latin American Student Organization, also known as LASO, that challenge sparked the creation of the club. Its mission is to make every Latin American and Hispanic student feel represented and included.
“We try to create a safe space where we can all come together and enjoy each other’s cultures,” said Britney Tobar, LASO’s president and a senior majoring in psy-
, from page 3
helping first- and second-year students improve their information literacy skills in core classes. She is also in charge of the program in the libraries that explains teaching methods to students and provides a support system for librarians to grow simultaneously.
“As we grow as teachers, we benefit our students through improved instruction methods,” Simms said. “That’s really the goal.”
Helping students experience breakthroughs
Simms’ days are never the same. Whether she is teaching in a classroom or working one-onone with students, Simms said her favorite part of her job is watching students experience breakthroughs in their research.
“The most gratifying thing I find about my job is what I call the ‘A-Ha’ moment,” Simms said. “It’s that instant when the lightbulb goes off — when a student finds the right source, or realizes how to make their topic more manageable. It’s exciting to see them find their voice through the research process.”
Simms’ approach emphasizes creativity and confidence in exploration.
“I work hard to inspire students’ creativity when it comes to research,” Simms said. “I want them to see that research isn’t just about finding facts- it’s about curiosity.”
Hidden gems in LSU Libraries
Simms had a few resources that students often overlook that she says they should take advantage of.
“Our LSU librarians are handsdown the best resource available to students,” Simms said. “You can make appointments with subject librarians to get help with your research, find sources, learn search strategies or understand what makes a source credible.”
Simms also recommended the online research guides which are available 24/7. They are a collec-
chology and French.
LASO recently celebrated the diversity within Latin America through collaborations with LSU’s Global Community Center during Hispanic Heritage Month which ran from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Members showcased traditional food, dances and history from across the region.
“Some events we host are fun, some are educational and others are about giving back,” Tobar said. “But they all bring us together.”
LASO also celebrated Día de Los Muertos Thursday. Beyond social gatherings, LASO engages in advocacy programs such as partnering with the Louisiana Organization for Refugees and Immigrants to raise funds and awareness for families navigating immigration challenges.
“We try to advocate and find resources for both our members and the community,” said Litzu Rodas, LASO’s secretary and junior biological science major.
tion of recommended sources and strategies for specific classes and disciplines. Simms said they are a great way for students to get started with their research.
If students are working with limited time, Simms explained how last-minute help is still possible.
“If you’ve only got 15 minutes before a deadline, use the Discovery Search on the library homepage,” she said. “It searches many of our databases at once and helps you narrow results fast.”
As future conversations of AI and information literacy evolve, Simms believes librarians are more vital than ever.
“Librarians have always helped students evaluate and navigate information,” Simms said. “The addition of AI is just the newest chapter in that work. Our role will continue to be helping students think critically about the tools and sources they use.”
Simms predicts that within the next decade, academic librarianship will evolve into something powerful based on adaptability, collaboration and student-centered service.
“Librarians are very good at adapting to the rapid changes we encounter,” Simms said. “I foresee our role becoming even more important as we continue to provide our services in this rapidly changing information landscape.”
More than anything, Simms stresses that students should know that the library is their partner in success. Her staff and other librarians are always around to help with what students may need.
“LSU Libraries is truly invested in students’ academic success,” Simms said. “That’s reflected in our study spaces, our programs, our workshops and our team of subject-specialist librarians ready to help. We’re here for you every step of your research journey.”
Students can connect with Simms and other LSU Librarians by visiting its website or scheduling a research consultation online.
LASO serves as a place for relaxation amid the tense climate surrounding immigration in the
U.S. They aim to be a sanctuary for students to escape from the world and enjoy being around like-mind-
ed people for light-hearted fun.
“It’s not always about politics,” Tobar said. “We understand there’s so much going on in the world that sometimes it’s nice to step away from that and just relax. We still have our advocacy moments, but we try to strategize our programming within that.”
Despite challenges related to LSU’s shifting diversity and inclusion climate, members say their focus remains on connection growth.
Audrey Zuniga serves as the social media chair for LASO and is a senior sociology major. She said the club is small and often overlooked.
“We want students to know there’s a place for them here. A home away from home, Zuniga said.
LASO membership is open to all LSU students regardless of their ethnicity. Students can visit their Instagram page @laso.lsu or connect with them through TigerLink.
Animal science professor researches female horse reproductive cycles
BY MADELYN LONG Staff Writer
LSU’s School of Animal Science is working against delays in equine breeding by developing a treatment to induce female horses, or mares’ reproductive cycles.
Erin Oberhaus, an associate professor in the School of Animal Sciences, is leading the research for treatment that may bring the country and Louisiana’s horse racing industry to the next level by altering when mares reproduce.
The issue of delays in equine breeding did not originate with mares themselves. The long-lived horse racing industry established a universal birth date of Jan. 1 for each horse born during that year.
Each horse’s birth year determines which class they will race in without taking into account that horses may be 11 months apart in age. Foals born earlier in the year have a distinct competitive advantage against those born later.
However, mares enter a state of reproductive inactivity in late October and do not resume cycles until April. Breeders and racers alike have a high demand for foals born earlier, leading to research on the issue.
Oberhaus, a self-declared farm kid, was studying at the University of Missouri for her bachelor’s de -
ANCHOR BOWL, from page 3
hands-on volunteer work. Ferruzzi said Delta Gammas volunteer every Wednesday at the Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired.
“That’s my favorite thing we do because a lot of those kids live in the facility and don’t get
gree when she first became interested in the issue.
“I enrolled in an equine breeding management class and it just fell into place for me,” Oberhaus said. “I realized that was where my skill and passion was. I realized I wanted to learn more about that field.”
After getting a master’s degree at Southern Illinois University, she came to LSU to pursue her doctorate and ultimately created a pharmaceutical intervention to assist breeders in the issue she was studying.
By injecting a mare with a mix of specific hormones, the mare starts having cycles again around January instead of April. This decreases the span of a mare’s natural reproductive activity season and allows for foals to be bred earlier in the year.
These hormonal treatments are nothing that the mare does not produce herself, but they are given earlier in the year to kickstart the mare’s fertile season.
Oberhaus’ research also includes the effects of the hormonal treatment itself. She says this research will benefit not only mares, but also other species like humans.
This pharmaceutical therapy takes a large burden off breeders, Oberhaus said. There are ways to start mare’s cyclicity being used currently, but they require 60 to 70
to go home every weekend,” Ferruzzi said. “We’re like older sisters to them. For some of them, we’re the one thing throughout their week that stays constant.”
Delta Gamma also has a program called DG Drivers, Ferruzzi said, where some of the sorority’s members drive visually impaired faculty and staff to and from work.
days of light therapy to trick the mare’s mind into thinking summer is near. This is very labor-intensive and does not guarantee that the mare will begin having cycles at the start of the year.
Oberhaus’ therapy takes away these issues while making the process easier for breeders.
LSU’s facilities have provided Oberhaus with the resources needed to pursue this specific kind of research.
“We are very blessed with a research station where we have animals for research,” Oberhaus said. “None of this could happen without all of the resources, from the animal to the lab that we do research in.”
Although some may be concerned about how this hormonal treatment affects the mare’s wellbeing, Oberhaus ensures that the mare’s well-being is left unscathed.
“In terms of animal welfare, she is not being given anything that she does not already make, and as long as her welfare is intact, this to me does not constitute unethical,” Oberhaus said.
Oberhaus, along with other researchers and enthusiasts of the horse racing industry, is looking forward to this therapy being widely available in farms across America and seeing how its impacts the horse racing industry for years to come.
Ferruzzi said she loved seeing everyone come together at the Anchor Bowl to accomplish something good.
“The money we raised through this event really does make such a difference,” Ferruzzi said. “It’s just cool to see what the money is actually going to and how it’s impacting people’s lives.”
COURTESY OF LASO
The leadership board for LASO.
ENTERTAINMENT
Students show off their spooky side, get creative at the Union’s annual Halloween costume contest
BY LAURA ALLEN Staff Writer
Between homemade costumes and fun table events, the annual LSU Costume Contest was a great way for students to take a break from class while expressing themselves in celebration of Halloween.
Many of the costumes seen for the competition had elements that were found in their own closets, tailored to fit the character they were emulating. Catherine Zachariah, the coordinator of marketing, events and special projects, enjoys the creativity this competition brings out of the students.
“I feel like there’s been a lot of students that won’t just go out and buy a costume,” Zachariah said. “They’ll make their costume, they’ll do their makeup and they’ll show up to class and feel confident in it.”
When students choose to upcycle or create a costume from scratch, it shows how they are able to problem solve and think outside of the box. It can also lead to a more sustainable mindset and save money as a result.
Kaymen Hardnett, an international studies student dressed as a zombie, chose to make his costume out of items he already owned.
“I just went into my closet and found some clothes I didn’t really care for,” Hardnett explained. “I gave them some tatters, rips and added some moss to it. My makeup, it took about two hours. I just used some latex, foundation and rice.”
Using items from around the house, such as rice to look like dead, peeling skin, shows the inventor inside everyone. Using this creative side of our brain shows off our artistic talents, which can be found in everyone.
son enjoys this creative touch, but also the confidence it brings out in the students and the way they get to express themselves.
“I think the costume contest gets students excited and it allows them to make their costumes and dress up, but also get to wear things that they probably wouldn’t wear on a regular day at campus,” Wilson said. “So seeing that is a lot of fun and students really do get to express themselves and have a lot of fun with their outfit.”
The costume contest also allowed students to share the special interests dear to their heart.
Jalen Willis, an animal science major, was dressed as the Green Goblin, a favorite character of his.
“I honestly really loved Spiderman growing up, and the Green Goblin has been one of my favorites since I was a kid,” Willis said. “When I found out that Marvel Studios was releasing a Pumpkin Bomb and a helmet, I really wanted to get it. I’m really proud of how well [my costume] came together.”
The students who participated in the contest, or just stopped by to see the tables, were able to take a break from their schoolwork. With the semester quickly nearing the end, this event allowed students to relax and live in the moment.
“We have a lot of students who pass between classes and for lunch, so they can stop by, do all the awesome events that we have at the tables and then keep going.” Wilson said.
When students signed up for the contest or just passed through the Union, they were able to stop at tables and participate in the Halloween themed activities. One table, hosted by Campus Life, was button making, where students could decorate a button and have it pressed, ready to wear for the
Halloween weekend.
LSU Dining hosted two tables, one of which featured a tarot card reading for anyone with a burning question. The other table was a catered cookie decorating shop, where students could decorate and enjoy
delicious cookies.
The contest is voted on by students on the LSU Student Union Instagram. Voting began after the costume contest closed on Halloween, so be sure to stay on the lookout for the winner announcement.
LANA’S LUNCHBOX
I have seen Royal Roastery’s Dubai chocolate platter all over TikTok. As a Dubai chocolate enthusiast, I had to give it a try. I’ve been to Royal Roastery a handful of times before for its signature Dubai chocolate bars, and I would say that this is my favorite Dubai chocolate spot.
Royal Roastery in New Orleans is known for its various sweet treats and specializes in coffee, nuts and desserts. The shop itself is so beautiful on the inside. It’s a fancy bakery on the inside and has a huge selection of desserts like candy, fresh pastries, chocolates and gelato. This place is a go-to sweet treat spot.
The Dubai chocolate platter came with four different components, so you can decide which parts to combine together and make the perfect Dubai chocolate ratio. There was pistachio cream with kataifi filling, fresh strawberries, small pastries and melted chocolate.
The strawberries were cut into bite-sized pieces that were perfectly ripe and delicious. The section with the pastries had some chocolate cookies, waffle cookies coated in chocolate and pieces of fudge.
I enjoyed the cookies with the kataifi filling and melted chocolate, but I didn’t enjoy the pieces of fudge. I thought they were brownies at first, but they had a bit of a weird texture that I was not expecting. Other than that, I would say this platter was perfect.
The chocolate is melted in front of you, so you are able to enjoy warm melted chocolate combined with the chilled strawberries. I think that this is a perfect way to try out Dubai chocolate, because you can decide how much of the filling that you want with the treats.
My favorite part of the whole platter was the kataifi with the pistachio cream. I could eat that whole section on its own. It has a strong pistachio flavor with a bit of added sweetness and crunch from the roasted kataifi.
I would rate this whole platter a nine out of 10. Everything was absolutely delicious, and I definitely see myself going back for another one when I’m back in New Orleans.
If you’re interested in trying an outstanding dessert or sweet treat, Royal Roastery in New Orleans is worth the drive.
Graduate student Jordyn Wil-
COURTESY OF CATHERINE ZACHARIAH
A zombie and Barnacle Boy pose at the Student Union’s Halloween costume contest.
COURTESY OF CATHERINE ZACHARIAH
The Green Goblin poses at the Student Union’s Halloween costume contest.
COURTESY OF CATHERINE ZACHARIAH
The Armorer Mandalorian poses at the Student Union’s Halloween costume contest.
Staff Writer
COURTESY OF CATHERINE ZACHARIAH
A psychic poses in front of her tarot table at the Student Union’s Halloween costume contest.
COURTESY OF CATHERINE ZACHARIAH
A student in costume ices a cookie at the Student Union’s Halloween costume contest.
SPOOKY SOFTBALL
LSU softball wears costumes to Halloween practice Oct. 31 at Tiger Park in Baton Rouge, La.
Fifth year senior pitcher Tatum Clopton (18) fields the ball.
Freshman utility Gradie Appling (4) catches the ball.
Junior infielder Kylee Edwards (67) throws the ball.
Sophomore pitcher/utility Jayden Heavener (00) fields the ball.
Redshirt sophomore utility Tori Edwards (42) fields the ball.
Sophomore pitcher/utility Jayden Heavener (00) wraps a manager in toilet paper.
Sophomore outfielder Destiny Harris (33) gets tagged out by sophomore catcher/utility Jada Phillips (28).
Photos by Alexis Persicke | Design by Jillian Norman
Union Theatre Thespians revive the big screen with ‘Sinners’ showing
BY LAURA ALLEN Staff Writer
The Union Theater, located on the second floor of the LSU Student Union, is the center of student life on campus. Many students are introduced to the space during Bengal Bound, Orientation, Welcome Week and other enrollment events. While here, students can enjoy orchestra performances, choir concerts and conferences, all held in the theater.
“Sinners.”
However, the Union Theater is rarely ever used for the one purpose its name might suggest: as a movie theater. The Union Theatre Thespians are fighting to change that. On Wednesday, Oct. 29, the club put on its first movie night with its showing of “Sinners.”
“We decided to start the Union Theatre Thespians because we wanted to bring more theatrical events into the theatre space,” said Shannon Horvath, club sponsor and manager of the Union Theater.
This free event took place at 7 p.m., welcoming about 400 students to experience the Union Theater as they never had before. Movie-goers came dressed in pajamas, Halloween costumes and even as characters
from the movie itself.
To give students an authentic movie theater experience, the theater made the rare exception of allowing food and drink. LSU Dining donated 300 bags of popcorn and Coca-Cola beverages, and students were also free to bring their own snacks (and even full meals, as many students opted to do). Auxiliary Services ensured that the space was thoroughly cleaned afterward, as this exception to the rules did result in some fallen popcorn kernels and empty candy wrappers in the aisles.
Because this movie night was such a new undertaking, it took many people to get the show on the road and actually convert the space into a movie theater for a night. Before any plans could be set in stone, club treasurer Talon Cotton had to apply for a grant from Student Government to purchase licensing for the movie. After that, Gilana Warren, another UTT officer, advertised the event via social media.
Theater staff also had to figure out the logistics of projecting the movie onto the big screen.
“This is not a movie theater, per se,” said Horvath, “so sound qualities and lighting are really important.”
Before the event, sound technician Donald Moore and lighting technician Kory Jenkins had to work out how loud the volume had to be, what settings made for the clearest picture and more. But Horvath and everyone else involved were determined to make movie night a success.
“Sinners” itself was chosen for many reasons. For one, the movie was filmed exclusively in Louisiana despite being set in the neighboring state of Mississippi. Additionally, the movie, only recently released in April of this year, was perfect for the Halloween season, said Horvath, as it mixes vampiric legends with Southern myth to create a horror movie perfect for LSU.
Horvath’s movie selection
paid off. Students sat on the edge of their seats as the dark plot unfolded. Each kiss, kill and song was met with roaring applause, infectious laughter or audible gasps from the audience. The audience even sang along to parts of the Irish vampire Remmick’s folk song “Rocky Road to Dublin.”
“What I loved most about my experience was the unison audience reactions when quoting lines from the movie, laughter or the oohs and ahs from the scenes,” said Ashari Harper, a junior theatre performance major.
UTT hopes to host more movie nights in the future, and after the success of “Sinners,” it is safe to say that students want to see more. At the end of the day, UTT is hoping to give students a space to enjoy cinema right here on campus, in a theater that, up until now, showcased very little theatre.
“We would really like to make this a monthly thing for students to have on campus that they can go to and relax and watch a movie,” Horvath said. “Maybe really just to have a place to go that’s different than what is offered right now on LSU campus.”
SARAH WALTON / The Reveille
A promotional poster for Union Theatre Thespian’s showing of
COURTESY OF UTT
Students in pajamas pose in front of the poster for Union Theatre Thespian’s showing of “Sinners.”
COURTESY OF UTT
Students in costume pose in front of the poster for Union Theatre Thespian’s showing of “Sinners.”
SPORTS MARKETING MASTERMINDS
How LSU Athletics’ marketing team is boosting attendance across all sports
BY TRIPP BUHLER Staff Writer
At LSU, students and fans wait in line for hours before games just for the chance to get their hands on unique merchandise for a small price — attendance.
The giveaways come from the minds of the marketing team. Everything is planned months before it’s brought to stadiums on game day for fans to take home and enjoy.
This exchange between fan and product is personal for the marketing staff at LSU.
“When [the giveaway] is in high demand and you see fans really going after something that was your brainchild, it’s really cool and rewarding to see,” said Assistant Director of Marketing Grace Ghee.
It’s a sentiment shared by many in the same position. Rhett LeBlanc, a former marketing graduate assistant at LSU who became a marketing coordinator at the University of Florida, said that seeing the shirts and hats around campus, which he helped create as part of these giveaways, felt fulfilling.
LSU football fan cheers after catching a T-shirt Sept. 20 during LSU’s 56-10 win against Southeastern Louisiana at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
He is now back at LSU, serving as the assistant director of live events.
With a variety of athletic events to account for, LeBlanc, Ghee and the rest of the marketing staff have to get creative long in advance. For football, plans for t-shirt tosses and other gameday promotions are finalized in
May. Plans for basketball season are set in stone before the fall semester begins in August, Associate AD of Marketing Dave Haskin said.
Team members work throughout the year on ideas and send them through to production once approved.
“It’s one of those fun parts of
the job, getting to be completely creative and come up with some really cool stuff,” said Director of Marketing Julia Fecke.
The never-ending creative cycle asks the staff to dig deep into its bag of knowledge of current trends in fashion and draw inspiration from other sports teams’ giveaways.
LSU softball turns preseason into a costume party with annual Halloween practice
BY RAMI BURKS Staff Writer
Halloween is the most exciting part of LSU softball’s preseason.
Each year, everyone from players to coaches dresses up for practice, and that doesn’t mean they just put together normal clothes to make a costume. These Tigers go all out, dressing up in the most outlandish costumes.
Head coach Beth Torina said the tradition has become a good opportunity to take some of the pressure off the preseason. Fall ball can become repetitive, so something as small as a practice in costume is a nice change of pace.
“I think it’s just a cool thing,” Torina said. “We’ve seen a lot of baseball and softball teams around the country do fun practices. And I think the fall for us being the offseason kind of gets to be a grind, so it’s a nice kind of midpoint for us, just something fun, break up the monotony and just enjoy the day with your team.”
Even though the players were dressed up, practice went on as usual.
They started practice by stretching and throwing, then practiced throws to each base before ending the field portion with a one-pitch scrimmage. Torina divided the team in half to simulate a real game. To save time during practice, the players saw only one strike and had to swing.
This practice might be a mix of fun and development, but it also helps the team gel. Players pulled out all the stops with their costumes, even showing off some of the off-field friendships.
Infielders Kylee Edwards, Ci’ella Pickett and pitcher Cece Cellura dressed as the main characters from “SpongeBob,” which made for a fun dynamic in the scrimmage.
It was a friendly competition, with nothing taken over the top since everyone was in costume.
It wasn’t just the players in on the fun, though; the coaching staff and the graduate assistants were participating as well.
The coaching staff did a group costume: Torina was a sun, assistant coach Sandra Moton was a snowflake and assistant coach Bryce Neal was a storm cloud. Several of the GAs were dressed up as characters from “The Incredibles.”
“It’s just fun having events like this,” Torina said. “Some team building opportunities just get people to smile and laugh and had a beautiful day for it. So it’s always nice to see them smiling and laughing when they’re playing softball.”
“For any sport we’ve done giveaways for, I try to do something that I would want … If it’s something that I don’t think I would want to wear, or [have] in my office or at my house, then why do it?” Kelsey Dulinski, director of fan experience, said. “As far as the design goes, I look at what’s trending and what people are wearing.”
General fashion trends that are picked up from TikTok or X play a large part in the merchandise designs for giveaways, she said. Some of the most popular items from last year were from men’s basketball games, such as the cream vintage sweatshirt, which can still easily be spotted on students.
Like this giveaway, the best and most drawing items are typically reserved for the biggest events.
“With the SEC games later in the year, we want a competitive advantage from our fans, being there and cheering loud,” Assistant Director of Marketing Matt Westman said.
Enticing promotions and larger quantities of the items are key
see GIVEAWAYS, page 10
FOOTBALL
Perkins, Dr Pepper host fan meet
BY TRIPP BUHLER Staff Writer
LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. met fans and signed autographs Thursday evening in collaboration with Dr Pepper and his tuition program. Perkins, Dr Pepper and Baller Bites teamed up last month to announce a giveaway of $5,000 in tuition to two senior high school football players in Louisiana, one in Baton Rouge and one in New Orleans. Thursday’s event was at the Rouses in Arlington Creek Centre, where Perkins met fans while he promoted his program.
Even though Perkins grew up in Texas, he was born in New Orleans. He and 16 other family members were displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
FAN MEET, page 10
LUKE RAY / The Reveille
ALEXIS PERSICKE / The Reveille
LSU softball sophomore outfielder Destiny Harris (33) hits the ball Oct. 31 at Tiger Park in Baton Rouge, La.
SOFTBALL
GIVEAWAYS, from page 9 to getting more people in the stadium. Students are the main target for the marketing team, with many giveaways available exclusively to them.
“I think our student fan base is one of the best in the country,” Haskin said. “They love LSU. They love coming to support their fellow colleagues and student-athletes on campus.”
The goal is to get students to games of a sport they previously wouldn’t have considered attending. Haskin said that freshmen and transfer students, in particular, are heavily encouraged to attend games and get in-
page 9
“When I was a kid, I used to always want people who were in my shoes [now] to give back to the community,” Perkins said.
Because of his notoriety on the football team, Perkins knows what he means to this community, and he doesn’t take it lightly. He sees it as an opportunity to give back the love he receives for being who he is.
“I got a big heart for real,” Perkins said. “I love seeing other people smile.”
One fan who was just at the store to do some grocery shop -
volved on campus with athletics.
LSU helps market its smaller sports with mid-event competitions for students as well. The smaller budget for less-funded sports means the marketing team gets extra creative.
Last year, LSU hosted a cannonball competition for students during a swim and dive meet against No. 2-ranked Texas. The competition had raving reviews from LSU and Texas fans alike, as well as from the winning student, John Trapp, who received an LSU swim and dive backpack for his splash.
Marketing graduate assistant Michael Paust said the team will build on the well-received com-
ping noticed the pop-up and got in line for an autograph — on his LSU-themed prosthetic leg.
One young boy was so overcome with excitement that he ran around the parking lot in circles, screaming about getting Perkins’ autograph.
A star that sticks with his school for four years is hard to come by in today’s college athletic landscape, and fans see the loyalty that Perkins has to LSU and greater Louisiana.
He said that Dr Pepper reached out to him about teaming up for an NIL deal, and he started the tuition program as a
petition from 2024. On Oct. 24, LSU hosted a Student Splash Dash Race where students raced on kickboards through the pool.
Track and field also hosted a student event in April — a 50-meter dash to crown the “fastest Tiger on campus.”
“I remember specifically a couple of students were like, ‘Oh man, this is awesome,’” Haskin said. “‘I’ve never been to a track meet before.’ Then I saw them come back for another one later in the year.”
He said that the most important aspect of these giveaways and events is getting the students and fan base excited.
Some other giveaways this
way to help his state.
“Just both parties being consistent and real, genuine love,” Perkins said is his favorite part of the partnership.
This collaboration has also allowed Perkins to grow his Baller Bites partnership, in which he has his own signature chip: LA BBQ Cheese Curls.
Dr Pepper has been known for its tuition giveaways, most famously during halftime of various conference championship games. Two students throw footballs in a Dr Pepper can, and whoever makes the most wins $100,000 in tuition.
In collaboration with Per-
year include a senior night shirt at the soccer team’s final home game on Oct. 26 and many tshirt giveaways throughout the upcoming men’s and women’s basketball seasons. The PMAC often offers free food to the first few hundred students through the door.
The purple cowboy hat giveaway at the Oct. 10 soccer game helped make it the fifth-highest attended game in program history. The first 500 fans received a voucher to get their hat at halftime, and they returned to the bleachers, inspecting and proudly wearing their new accessory.
kins, members of the media in Baton Rouge and across Louisiana will choose the winner from the entries, making the initiative local.
“Dr Pepper has been a part of college football for decades, and being able to team up with them to help students chase their dreams is special,” Perkins told On3 when the program launched.
Perkins is embodying what it means to be an LSU Tiger in this day and age. The event showed his commitment to community service, love for the fans and loyalty to the university and state.
“You want to reward the people who are in line and are waiting,” Dulinski said. “Rewarding those students or fans that are coming in first and spending that pre-game time [in the stadium].”
Having fans arrive early for the giveaways helps boost the energy before the event begins. It also brings them closer to LSU Athletics and the university itself.
“That’s what we do, we create memories that last a lifetime,” Haskin said. “That’s kind of our mantra, and that’s our why, because this place is very special.”
Some giveaways have fans lining up for hours, like the Mardi Gras jerseys handed out for the men’s basketball game against Tennessee last year.
FAN MEET, from
TRIPP BUHLER / The Reveille Harold Perkins Jr. at his Dr. Pepper fan meet.
Turning Point’s Super Bowl halftime show is un-American
RILEY’S REVIEW
RILEY
SANDERS
Columnist
On Sept. 28, Apple Music, in partnership with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, announced that Puerto Rican superstar Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio (better known as Bad Bunny) would be the headliner for the Super Bowl LX halftime show. Bad Bunny has become increasingly popular not only within America but also globally. He was Spotify’s most-streamed artist globally on the 2020 year-end chart, the first time a non-English language artist has ever achieved that feat.
Between then and now, he has released four albums, won two Grammys, completed one residency in Latin America and three world tours — the last being his Most Wanted tour, which included 31 dates in North America. More recently, he announced his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour in support of his new album of the same name.
When the announcement came, every room I entered for the rest of the day was filled with excitement. Friends, professors and more were ecstatic about the news. Over the last few years, there has been growing interest in Latin music, in a multitude of cultural and genre infusions that have only just reached the mainstream — a merging of reggaeton, R&B, salsa, pop, hip-hop, house, all styles Bad Bunny has seamlessly blended into one uniquely his own.
People have taken notice of his artistry, and now Bad Bunny will be able to display his talents on one of the biggest stages in the world, the likes of which legendary artists like Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga and Beyoncé have performed on.
Unfortunately, not everyone is on board with Bad Bunny’s halftime show. In the three weeks since the announcement, far-right corners of the country have begun to heavily criticize the halftime show choice.
For as much excitement as I witnessed in real life, I saw tenfold the hatred online.
People are criticizing the choice for his race, his nationality, his political views. As soon as President Trump declared the decision for Bad Bunny to perform “absolutely ridiculous” and that he had “never heard of him,” the hate reached full
force.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson called it a “terrible decision” and even asserted that the Super Bowl deserved a “more American-style act” like Lee Greenwood, an artist whose discography consists of mostly Christmas music, though he did record “God Bless the U.S.A.”
Fox News host and conservative commentator Tomi Lahren insisted during her podcast that “[Bad Bunny] is not an American artist,” to which her podcast guest corrected her. Bad Bunny is an American citizen, born in Puerto Rico, which is an American territory. Conservative YouTuber Benny Johnson insisted Bad Bunny was chosen for the sole purpose of putting someone onstage who “hates Trump and MAGA.”
The truth here is that it’s not entirely off-base to assume his dislike of Trump or MAGA. Bad Bunny designed his recently announced tour so that it would skip America’s mainland with the sole intention of avoiding ICE agents who would come to arrest Latino fans in bad faith, a choice that upset many. Back when Biden was campaigning for president, Bad Bunny offered the use of his song “Pero ya no” in promotional material.
He has poked fun at his detractors multiple times, including during his “Saturday Night Live” performance when he joked that “everyone is happy, even Fox News,” in reference to his Super Bowl slot. He even mused in a post following after his “SNL” performance, “after speaking with my team, I think I’ll do just one show in the United States.”
The hate has coalesced into quite the movement, and what better vehicle for such a movement than an organization that has lost its leader and its major attraction — Turning Point USA.
On Oct. 9, TPUSA announced in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) that they would be running their own “All-American Halftime Show” programming in opposition to Bad Bunny’s halftime show. Upon first glance, there is already glaringly obvious racial rhetoric here — an implication that the actual Super Bowl halftime show, an American institution for almost six decades, has somehow suddenly become anything but, all because the performer, an American citizen, is Latino.
If this is somehow the marker for what is and is not American, there are approximately 68 million
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Bad Bunny performs during the final concert of his summer residency in his homeland at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico Jose Miguel Agrelot, in San Juan, Puerto Rico Sept. 20.
people in the United States that should not be considered American citizens. Surely this can’t be the reason TPUSA’s show is being promoted as All-American, right?
On the grounds of political ideology, there are not many descriptors that are classified as antiAmerican, save for socialism, fascism, Nazism, etc., Bad Bunny is none of these. While he is certainly anti-ICE and less than a fan of the MAGA movement, he is one of many, many Americans who share similar sentiments. Moreover, it is absolutely anti-American to suggest that someone is anti-American because they hold political views such as these.
America is not a purely conservative nation, nor is it a purely liberal nation — we are very much in between, and we are not without nuance. To equate the quality of “Americanness” with conservative, right-wing ideology is reprehensible and a very slippery slope.
In reference to faith, it is very much a misnomer that America is a purely Christian nation, though TPUSA’s halftime show has been marketed as a celebration of “faith, family, and freedom.” While a large percentage of Americans identify as Christians, around 40% of Americans identify as affiliated with other religions or as unaffiliated.
As a devout Catholic myself, a subsect of Christianity which Bad Bunny also belongs to, I think it is disingenuous to suggest that TPUSA’s halftime show is somehow more American and that Bad Bunny’s is not on the basis of faith.
The Super Bowl halftime show has always been a secular affair
which Americans of all faiths or none have enjoyed together. The association of faith with America as an end-all, be-all defining trait reveals something very akin to Christian nationalism, and it is a worrying thing to tie religion so directly into a political movement.
The only other grounds on which I could see Bad Bunny’s performance being somehow anti-American is on the basis of his music itself, which is the least of the ongoing discourse — that is, if you somehow believe that Spanish music is inherently anti-American in nature. Bad Bunny’s catalogue is largely in Spanish, though he also includes English in his music and blends many American styles with Puerto Rican tradition. Additionally, 13% of Americans speak Spanish, and the US did not have an official language declared until March 1 of this year — to suggest that Spanish is irregular in America is blatantly ignorant.
Regardless of the primary language of his music, he has received critical and public acclaim in America for almost a decade now, and the demand for his artistry is only growing among Americans. This is also not the first time that the Super Bowl has had Latino and Spanish music as the main halftime attraction — Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, J Balvin, Emme Muñiz and Bad Bunny performed at the Super Bowl in 2020 to much critical and public acclaim.
If the issue is in the content of the music, perhaps it can be said that TPUSA’s halftime show will be a more suitable option for children watching the Super Bowl; that said,
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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.
the Super Bowl has always made its best effort to censor expletives as well as any overly sexual themes in the show.
Admittedly, the quality control is not always there, though the themes in Bad Bunny’s music are not any different from the likes of past Super Bowl performers: love, loss, heartbreak, betrayal, sex, sensuality, friendship, culture, identity. That said, this has certainly been the least of the discourse — the “family” aspect of TPUSA’s halftime show is not something that has been absent from the Super Bowl in the past, and it is a small, forgiving trait in a largely undeserving and frankly propagandist attempt at rewriting what it means to be American one step at a time.
Overall, there is something extremely suspect about the running of TPUSA’s show in opposition to Bad Bunny’s halftime performance. For an organization once helmed by Charlie Kirk, a man that believed in the backing of all of his beliefs by logic before anything else, there is a serious lack of logical backing for the “All-American Halftime Show” and a lot of right-wing virtue-signaling occurring instead.
The subtext (is it even subtext?) is right under our noses — racism, Christian nationalism, the facade of “family values” and more all unite in the All-American Halftime Show as means of rewriting the narrative of America as a country that does not contain multitudes or nuance. It is deeply anti-American.
Riley Sanders is an 18-yearold biology major from Denham Springs, La.
ALEJANDRO GRANADILLO / AP Photo
Workday: The ‘upgrade’ is a downgrade
BODACIOUS BLAIR
BLAIR BERNARD
Columnist
Workday is single-handedly giving me an ulcer. I’m graduating soon, so scheduling on time and getting the rest of my required classes is crucial. A week ago, I had my appointment to schedule, and my dreaded registration time arrived. Unfortunately, I had no choice but to crack open my laptop and begrudgingly boot up Workday; otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to graduate.
A little context for those unfamiliar: Workday is a software specifically designed for employees, with tools that allow users to log their time, view their tax documents and even apply for jobs.
Last spring, LSU decided to make a massive transition where all students were mandated to schedule classes and accept financial aid awards on Workday moving forward.
Advisers and professors are instructed to redirect students with questions to online tutorials — videos that don’t really work for me, as I retain information best face to face. Meeting in-person is critical for me, as it is for many of my peers.
Honestly, I just don’t feel it’s my responsibility to relearn a new website with unhelpful techniques, especially when I never asked for an “upgrade.” The resources designed to assist students with the transition are flawed, and the academic advisers are equally as frustrated and unhelpful. After all, I was so used to MyLSU, as I had used it for years of my college career.
If Workday were actually easier than the old MyLSU extension, I would have no issues, since I never had issues with MyLSU. I am not a needy student; I can find answers for myself. However, working with Workday is no smooth sailing. Currently, I’m not even registered as a full-time student for the spring, because Workday has a number of errors that won’t allow me to add the classes I need, and which I am qualified to take.
Recently, I had the most useless Zoom meeting with my adviser, which left me emotional and frustrated. I don’t know what’s worse: having to deal with Workday or dealing with academic advisers talking down to me and being entirely unpleasant. I think the transition has been difficult for everyone, but I draw the line when advisors get frustrated with students — almost as if they applied for the job, interviewed, got hired and now, all of the sudden, are irritated when
they have to work with students, which is their job.
I’ve heard a refreshing amount of chatter from peers and co-workers who are experiencing the same grief with Workday. If it were total user error, I would acknowledge personally being technologically challenged. I would do what I needed to do in order to make my time easier using the platform. But the issue is: it’s not user error.
Why would I want to make scheduling — an already very stressful endeavor — any harder on myself by struggling with Workday? Why would I make it harder on myself by asking what feel like dumb questions to my advisers and the LSU staff?
My concerns are similar to everyone else’s, which says much more about Workday than it does about the students who are struggling with using it.
I’m completely done with the Workday shift LSU has made. You would think our school would listen to its students, but let’s be real: all LSU seems to care about lately is managing contraflow. I can only hold on to the joy of graduating in May — if I can actually schedule and register for the semester. Fingers crossed.
Blair Bernard is a 21-year-old theatre major from Lafayette, La.
It’s not terminator, but it may be WALL-E
THOMAS BERGERON
Columnist
The Agricultural Revolution replaced our drive to survive with steady crops. The Industrial Revolution replaced our muscles with machines. The Digital Revolution replaced our minds with algorithm. Will the coming Artificial Intelligence Revolution replace…us?
If the picture that comes to your mind is one of menacing, red-eyed “The Terminator” robots marching humanity to a violent end — sorry to burst your apocalyptic bubble. However, I do think that the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) still warrants an intentional, cautionary approach. So, tell your leather-clad end-of-the-world fantasies “hasta la vista, baby” and strap in for another robotic post-apocalypse often overlooked by the prepper types: Disney’s “WALL-E.”
“WALL-E” takes us to Earth (or rather what’s left of it) in 2805, now experiencing total environmental collapse due to rampant consumerism, unbridled corporate greed and utter disregard for preserving the natural resources of our blue marble. These circumstances forced humanity to migrate to the stars, leaving behind our hero, a friendly labor bot designated WALL-E, to perform the Sisyphean task of cleaning the wasteland left behind.
The story and animation make for a compelling call to action for humanity to be good stewards of our planet, but there was an un-
dertone that stuck with me.Other than the docile, sedentary humans aboard the starliner “Axiom” (cared entirely for by machines, mind you), where did the rest of humanity go? When it was time to leave Earth, who got to leave?
Back in 2025, we exist on the precipice of the AI revolution, with some similar problems budding here as in the world of “WALL-E.”
Talk of AI dominates modern conversation in almost every facet of life. While most college students may be aware of AI affecting the way we learn or how the large data centers tax our natural resources, there seems to be a downplay of how AI may impact the workforce; specifically, the very same kinds of jobs many of us attend school for.
Organizations like Microsoft and the World Economic Forum have produced reports indicating that jobs most likely to be impacted by automation tend to be brain-heavy, data-processing jobs. Automated sales representatives can now interface with customers to reduce sales staff, large language models (LLMs) can double the capabilities of a single researcher and ChatGPT can write code for software faster than a team of developers can even identify a bug. For years, occupations like these were marketed to young people as a way to “succeed” in life, who now already face a narrow job market, all for companies that adopt AI to cut human costs.
Though the question isn’t just what jobs AI will replace, but who could be replaced. As raised in my
Feeling down? Take a dose of nostalgia
The world is currently in its flop era, and it has been for some time.
Ever since COVID-19, I’ve noticed a shift taking place. The side effects from the pandemic are evident — you can still feel the remnants of 2020 in the air.
While there have been good times these last few years, that doesn’t mean certain areas of life are what they once were. For starters, communication is a lost art form, and definitely something society as a whole needs to work on.
After spending time in isolation, many forgot how to interact with anyone other than their pets and the people they were quarantined with. Obviously, a sizable portion of the population is still relearning how to be active members of society.
I’ve found myself focusing on time periods when the world felt a little lighter and we collectively valued community, empathy and respect.
once again, and I think a dose of good ol’ nostalgia can brighten our days. Nostalgia obviously isn’t the cure to world peace, but it’s a start toward protecting our personal peace.
Creating our own time machines can be great coping mechanisms for the days we feel low on hope. It’s important to know how to travel down memory lane without dissociating. Let’s pick our favorite periods in life; perhaps a year where the music hit different, when fashion was more about individuality and less about cloning influencer style, when social media wasn’t as prevalent and we can embrace that time.
For me, 2012 to 2018 are years I love to revisit — before the unsettling shift to 2020 took place.
Watching my archived pop culture footage forces me to sit back and wonder, “What happened to all the fun?” Oh, how I miss simpler times.
Maybe we need to bring back neon clothing, putting mustaches on everything and collecting Silly Bandz. I know this is majorly unserious, but maybe that’s what we need. Or we can start by just saying hello to each other in passing.
previous question, not everyone gets a seat on the “Axiom.” People of significant means and strong networks will benefit most from the AI revolution, while those left behind by the cutting edge of tech may be pushed to the margins.
The Agricultural Revolution killed the hunter-gatherer, the Industrial Revolution split the owner from the worker and the AI revolution risks splitting society into those with command over digital gods versus “unfortunate eaters” who cannot ever dream of beating the machine.
This possible reality is why AI deserves more than apocalyptic doomerisms or blind optimism.
The danger may not be killer robots hunting down the last holdouts of humanity, but rather a slow crawl toward removing opportunity and human purpose; all for the prospect of replacing a team of humans just to increase shareholder value.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not anti-AI. I personally love the prospect of advancing the human race with digital companions wherever our ambitions may take us. However, if we are not careful about our implementation of AI into our modern life, we might find ourselves creating an economy, a society, that no longer has room for all of humanity. The enemy will not be a T-800 Terminator, but rather the reflection in the chrome.
To end, I leave you with this, dear reader: How did the horse feel when the car was invented?
Thomas Bergeron is a 25-year-old geography graduate student from Baton Rouge.
There was a time when people used to engage in deep conversations when meeting at a bar or would dance with strangers on a night out. Now, the closest thing you can do to relive those communal experiences is to attend concerts where the only thing you may have in common with thousands of strangers is your love for the act on stage.
Let’s rewind, shall we?
I’m craving a time when life didn’t feel like we were constantly looking over our shoulders, pop culture was at its peak and life didn’t feel like a doomsday loop.
The media is our looking glass into what’s happening near and far. It’s 2025, and the events taking place are scarier than a Stephen King film. Having an awareness of these events is important, but we can’t let them consume our thoughts and well-being.
My mom says it feels as if we’re living in the Dark Ages
Pop culture figures like the Jonas Brothers have been going down memory lane for their “Jonas20: Greetings from Your Hometown” tour, celebrating 20 years together as a band. I guess a trip back to 2008 was the pick-me-up I needed, and it might be what you need, too. I recently saw the JoBros live in Houston, and it was everything my younger and current self needed. Definitely one of my favorite concerts of all time. If you’re in need of a blast from the past, you can still catch the trio on tour or check to see who on your playlist is coming to a city near you.
If I’m not attending a concert, I listen to a playlist of 2000s and 2010s hits or attend an anniversary screening of a throwback film like “Twilight”.
Nostalgia is indeed the answer to brightening our dark days.
Ava Francis is a 22-year-old journalism major from New Orleans.
CARMEN RANDOLPH / The Reveille
THOMAS’ TAKE