The Reveille 4-14-22

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T hu r s d ay, A p r i l 14 , 2 022

MONUMENTAL MONDAY Read on

Recapping a historic day for LSU’s female athletes NEWS

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Lawmakers criticized LSU administration for neglecting North Louisiana through its funding request.

ENTERTAINMENT

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Loan exhibition “State of the Art: Record” brings a unique experience and artist Kelly Romany to LSU MOA.

SPORTS

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A look at Kiya Johnson’s best performances as she gets ready to compete for a national championship.

OPINION

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“Rape culture infects every corner of the university, fostering an environment that protects abusers and dismisses survivors.”

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

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CAREER GOALS Pointer, Aifuwa drafted, Augustus gets statue

BY DYLAN SANDERS @DillySanders LSU women’s basketball opened this week with history being made.

It started off in the morning when the school announced that they would be honoring Baton Rouge native, LSU star and WNBA star Seimone Augustus with her own statue on campus.

Augustus will be the first female student-athlete to receive her own statue in the school’s history. Other statues of notable athletes on campus include Bob Pettit, Shaquille O’Neal, Billy Cannon and Skip Bertman, and shortly ‘Pistol’ Pete Maravich will be unveiled.

“A Seimone Augustus statue is befitting for a student-athlete whose talents, accomplishments, and impact will forever stand the test of time,” LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward said in a statement. “Seimone came to LSU as one of the most heralded recruits in school history, and she left a legacy on our campus, our state, and the sport of basketball that will never fade.”

While at LSU, Augustus led the Tigers to three straight Final Four appearances while winning both the Wooden Award and the Honda Award, which are each given to the best women’s basketball player in the country. She was also named both SEC Player

all time. Overseas, she won four Olympic gold medals.

It’s clear that she has earned the honor, and fans have been asking for it for years. New Head Coach Kim Mulkey led the efforts for it to happen this year, which ultimately led to the final decision to build the statue.

“Seimone Augustus is one of the greatest players in the history of our game,” Mulkey said. “She has been successful at every level of basketball and what she did for this program and this university deserves to be recognized. I am proud we are able to honor Seimone with a statue where our fans will forever be able to reflect on her impact and greatness.”

On the honor of receiving the statue, Augustus said “Words can’t express the gratitude I feel in my heart. To leave a timeless legacy of inspiration for generations to follow is a lifelong goal, and with this announcement, I am humbly honored. Representing Louisiana has always been and always will be a driving force in my continued pursuit to greatness.”

While that alone has its own historical implications, the celebrations continued for LSU that night during the WNBA draft.

Boh Khayla Pointer and Faustine Aifuwa were drafted to the Las Vegas Aces. This was the first time since 2008 that LSU had two players drafted and they were

CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille

LSU women’s basketball alum Seimone Augustus raises up a “L” for LSU during her honor ceremony Jan. 6. of the Year and National Player of the Year twice. She is one of the most decorated athletes to wear purple and gold, and became the first female student-athlete to have her jersey retired.

Augustus then went on to dominate the WNBA, playing for 15 years. She won the WNBA Finals four times and earned Finals MVP honors in 2011. She was also an eight time All-Star, and is in the league’s top-10 for scoring,

just the 20th and 21st players ever drafted from the school.

While excitement rang out from the LSU community due to the selections, some outside of the program began to complain of nepotism.

The President of the Las Vegas Aces is former LSU head coach and aunt of Khayla Pointer, Nikki Fargas. Many people believe that a number of players deserved a draft selection before

Pointer at the same position of combo guard. People were mainly upset at the team passing up on 2022 National Champion De-

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showed effort and dominance in the paint at times. Should her professional coaches be able to help her stay out of foul trouble,

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LSU women’s basketball graduate student center Faustine Aifuwa (24) shakes hands with Ohio State women’s basketball senior guard Taylor Mikesell (24) March 21. stanni Henderson and UConn’s Christyn Williams.

Before her 10 seasons in Baton Rouge, Fargas led the UCLA Bruins to two NCAA Tournaments and headed to LSU with a 72-26 record. Her 10 seasons with the Tigers was capped off with an overall record of 168-116 and sent 12 players to the WNBA. However, Pointer was the selection, and looks to learn a lot under new Aces Head Coach Becky Hammon.

One thing Mulkey highlighted about Pointer at the start of the year was the importance of her being coached by a former guard. That will continue in the WNBA as Hammon was one of the league’s best guards of all time. She has also spent the last eight years learning how to coach under Spurs Head Coach Gregg Poppovich, who is regarded as one of the best basketball coaches of all time.

LSU forward and teammate Autumn Newby sent her congratulations on Twitter: “My sister’s dream came true tonight [Monday]. She got drafted on her dad’s birthday, 02/13. Nothing but God,” Newby’s post reads.

Under Mulkey’s tutelage, Pointer saw a rise and efficiency in her game that not many saw coming. She showed a tenacity on the floor that her coaches and teammates admired at LSU. It is clear why a team would want a player with her attitude on the team.

Faustine Aifuwa had lower averages in her senior season, due to playing less minutes, but

she could contribute to a WNBA team. While on the Aces, she’ll be able to learn under A’ja Wilson and Dearica Hamby.

The Las Vegas Aces have been stacking up on former LSU talent, as they also signed New Orleans native and former Tiger Theresa Plaisance this off-season. Plaisance has been in the WNBA for eight years and also plays overseas in Spain.

While it does bring excitement to the program, the WNBA draft is far from a guarantee that a player will make the final roster. The Indiana Fever cut ties with the fourth overall selection from the 2021 draft, Kysre Gondrezick, in less than a year from her getting drafted. It does, however, bring hope that they have a spot in the league.

The two selections give some LSU fans shades of the Cincinnati Bengals, who won the hearts of fans drafting former LSU football greats, Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, in consecutive seasons. It creates an inspiring story for fans and gives more momentum to a program that Mulkey has chasing excellence.

The first year under Mulkey, former Baylor Bears coach, the LSU women’s basketball program rebounded to a prominent position on campus.

History was made as Mulkey was named the AP National Coach of the Year. She now holds the record for the largest turnaround by a first year coach in the SEC, which ties her for third with herself in the NCAA for her first year with Baylor.

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CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS 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.

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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.

NEWS LIBRARY BLAME

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RESEARCH

Survey finds grim outlook

BY PIPER HUTCHINSON @PiperHutchBR

7,000 item project list.

LSU has plans to build a new library and tear the current building down. The library is not the university’s top capital outlay priority. Instead, the university is prioritizing a new interdisciplinary sciences building.

Magee said that while the Legislature has consistently granted LSU’s requests for fund-

For the first time since 2016, a majority of Louisiana residents believe the state is heading in the wrong direction.

A survey released Tuesday by the Reilly Center for Media and Public Affairs, part of LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication, showed that two-thirds of Louisiana residents now believe the state is taking a turn for the worst.

The report, the first of a six-part series on the annual Louisiana Survey, paints a negative picture about residents’ views of the state. The survey was based on phone interviews or online responses from 508 residents.

Only 26% of those surveyed say they think the state is going in the right direction. That is the lowest percentage since the Manship School began doing the annual survey in 2004.

The pessimism is widespread across political and demographic backgrounds. Seventy-one percent of Republicans report that they feel the state is headed in the wrong direction and 54% of Democrats agree with them. The numbers are closer among racial identities, with 68% of white and 61% of Black respondents having a pessimistic view, as well as regionally, with 69% of

see BUDGET, page 4

see STUDY, page 4

PIPER HUTCHINSON / The Reveille

LSU President William F. Tate testifies to the Senate Finance Committee on March 8.

Lawmakers grill LSU on library conditions, neglecting North Louisiana

BY PIPER HUTCHINSON @PiperHutchBR Rep. Tanner Magee is tired of the legislature being blamed for the state of the LSU Library. He’s not the only legislator frustrated with LSU. In the initial weeks of the regular legislative session, lawmakers have publicly vented their frustrations with LSU, sometimes directly to university President William Tate IV.

Much of these legislator’s frustration stems from LSU’s request for over $100 million in extra funds and the priorities in Tate’s pentagon plan, which lays out his plans to prioritize five academic areas.

The Library Magee, a Houma Republican, emphasized that he is not anti-LSU. He’s a three-time LSU graduate who said he wished he could’ve been married at LSU.

Magee said that he organized a tour of the library for legislators and the governor in 2017 to highlight the gravity of the problem. Despite the high-profile attention, little has been done to improve the state of the decrepit library.

The LSU Library has been in a poor state for many years. Currently, about $30 million worth of deferred maintenance projects are listed on the university’s

FACILITIES

Curator to look at museum exhibits at new Military Museum

BY MADISON SCOTT @madscottyy Interim provost Matt Lee decided on April 4 to hire a thirdparty curator to look at what LSU College Dems called “incomplete racist exhibits” at the William A. Brookshire Military Museum.

Political Science freshman Landon Zeringue and International Trade and Finance sophomore Cooper Ferguson are officers in College Dems, and met with Lee in early April in response to a statement released

by College Dems on March 11 addressing the exhibits.

The statement said the LSU administration continues to “ignore and suppress student demands” and requests the racist exhibits be temporarily removed.

If demands were not met, the club planned to protest the opening of the museum on Thursday.

College Dems called off Thursday’s protest upon seeing

that the LSU administration is cooperating with the club’s demands.

As part of the plans discussed in the meeting between the administration and College Dems, Lee will compile a list of thirdparty curators for Zeringue and Ferguson to help choose from.

Lee is also committed to releasing all of the curator’s recommendations to the museum while also having a public dialogue with students.

Ferguson said he is expecting to receive the list of curators sometime next week and that he will have continued meetings with Lee to properly address the situation.

Lee delivered a statement Tuesday to The Reveille.

“I appreciate the students bringing their thoughtful perspective on the military museum exhibits to us,” Lee said. “We had

see CURATOR, page 4

MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille

Memorial Tower glows on April 7, during the LSU Memorial Tower Museum ceremony on Tower Drive in Baton Rouge, La.

Thursday, April 14, 2022

page 4 BUDGET, from page 3 ing, the Legislature continues to take the blame for the Library, despite LSU not prioritizing the library in its funding requests.

This year, the university requested $1.5 million for the design phase of the library in its request. The project is anticipated to cost $50 million in total.

Magee was tired of LSU engaging in backroom deals.

That’s why he asked Tate to come to the House Ways and Means Committee on March 22 to discuss the university’s capital outlay requests.

“Because of some students on Twitter, complaining about the library, Rep. Davis and I actually set up a tour for the legislature to go see the library because I thought it was such a pressing need,” Magee said.

“Now five years down the line, we haven’t made any progress on that front.”

“And I wouldn’t really put the blame on the legislature to be honest. We’ve always had priority from LSU that was above the library,” Magee said.

When asked by Magee in committee whether the library was the top priority at LSU, Tate said that the science building is a huge priority as the university has already received initial funding for it, but added that the library was a priority as well.

Magee wrapped up his comments by asking Tate to do a better job of engaging with the

STUDY, from page 3 South Louisiana residents and 64% of those living in North Louisiana having a negative view.

Louisiana residents’ faith in their government also fell to the lowest point since the survey began measuring it.

Only 25% of residents say they are either very confident or somewhat confident in the state government to address important problems effectively. This dropped from 41% in 2021 and is several points lower than its previous record low of 33% in 2006.

Christina Stephens, the spokeswoman for Gov. John Bel Edwards, said the Democratic governor knows that the state has been through difficult times.

“That’s why he is focused on leading Louisiana’s recovery from the economic and health impacts of the pandemic and the damage caused by the major hurricanes, fighting for better education funding and pay for our workers, investing the resources we have wisely to improve our infrastructure and protect our state and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to make our future better and support our coastal communities,” she said.

Tanner Magee, R-Houma and the second-ranking Republican in the House, said residents realize that “it’s been a difficult run the last five to six years. The state has endured a downturn in oil and gas, COVID and hurricanes. The economic picture has been tough in addition to the state’s historic problems of poverty, poor health,

legislature.

“I hate to say it this way, but frankly like a lot of others do a better job of communicating with legislators than LSU for a lot smaller amount of money,” he said.

North vs. South In other conversations with committees, Tate has been asked about his prioritization of funding within the LSU system.

Several legislators have raised concerns about the amount of funding going to the main campus in Baton Rouge and the Health Sciences school in New Orleans, versus what goes toward LSU Shreveport and LSU Health Shreveport.

Others have expressed concerns about LSU’s plans taking away from other North Louisiana institutions.

These concerns started to pop up publicly when Tate spoke to the House Appropriations Committee on March 29.

“I was looking over your plan on cyber,” Rep. Raymond Crews, R-Bossier, said. “And I’m a little bit, I guess I would say, in opposition of that because North Louisiana has been fighting for over a decade now to make sure we had the pieces in play to really grow that environment.”

Crews argued that funding the cyber aspects of Tate’s Pentagon plan would take away from the efforts that North Louisiana has been making in that area.

“I agree with many points.

The problem is it requires sig-

nificant physical infrastructure to realize some of your goals,” Crews said. “Right now up in northern Louisiana we already have top secret facilities and we have facilities that have the highest security standards we have.”

Crews is not the only North Louisiana legislator with con-

and education. We as leaders have failed to change these issues, and it feels like our challenges are too great.”

Survey respondents identified education, infrastructure, and the economy as top issues.

they will be in a better position in a year.

When asked to forecast the economic prospects for the state as a whole, 7% said they expect good business conditions a year from now, and 80% predicted that wide-

MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille

A pair of trees frame the State Capitol on Feb. 6, at 900 North Third Street in Baton Rouge, La. cerns about Tate’s pentagon plan. Those frustrations continued to boil until a group of North Louisiana representatives took to the House floor on April 5 to condemn Tate’s proposal.

“The new president’s scholar-

2022 LOUISIANA SURVEY

The economy topped the list, with 35% of people identifying it as one of the top five most important issues and 14% identifying it as the most important issue.

The report indicates that this may be an undercount of residents who are concerned about the economy, as several issues, including economic inequality, the minimum wage and public assistance programs were not tallied as economic issues alongside jobs, inflation and income.

The survey also found that 41% of residents think they are worse off financially than they were a year ago, with just 21% of residents indicating that they believe that

spread depression and unemployment is more likely in the next five years than a good economy.

The survey indicates that Louisiana residents are largely split over the government’s handling of the pandemic.

Forty-one percent indicate that they approve of how the state handled the COVID-19 pandemic, with 39% disapproving. That is several points lower than last year, when 49% of residents reported approval.

Republicans make up the biggest shift, with those saying they approve of the state’s handling of the crisis falling from 39% to 24% from 2021 to 2022.

The survey also showed major

ship first plan shows, yet again, a lack of commitment to Northwest Louisiana,” Rep. Thomas Pressly, R-Shreveport, said.

Pressly said in an interview that he made the speech after failed discussions with Tate about Northwest Louisiana’s needs.

Pressly said that following an attempt to merge LSU Shreveport and Louisiana Tech in 2012, LSU officials made commitments that they haven’t followed through with.

“If LSU is going to continue to have two schools in the area, we have to have adequate funding and adequate representation in order to move forward as a community,” Pressly said.

Pressly said that he pointed out to Tate that Shreveport is located near two military installations, which he argued made LSUS a prime location for cybersecurity investments.

“The LSUS campus is located less than five miles from the four star commandant Air Force base with a national plan and national goal of being cyber focused,” Pressly said.

While Tate has said that some funds will go to LSUS, he said that the focus has been on the flagship campus because the faculty that the public sector partners want to work with are located in Baton Rouge.

Several legislators in the Shreveport region attended the most recent LSU Board of Supervisors meeting, which was

moved to Shreveport from its original Baton Rouge location.

“Sometimes I feel like LSU... is Baton Rouge University,” Sen. Barrow Peacock R-Bossier City said. “Y’all really need to have a focus greater than just the flagship.”

Tate addressed the legislator’s concerns at the meeting.

“I’m not going to go into an archeological dig of the past,” Tate said. “I don’t really have to own it, I just have to live with it.”

“We’ve got to work really hard to make sure everybody we touch in our family sees us recognizing them and so I will take that as part of my charge,” Tate said.

Board of Supervisors Chair Rémy Starns also made comments affirming his support for the Shreveport campuses.

“Being in Shreveport is not a chore for me,” Starns, who grew up and spent his early career in Northwest Louisiana, said. “I learned a full appreciation for how people in Northwest Louisiana get an idea that they’re not seen as important as other people are in our state. I understand that. It’s not entirely correct.”

Starns said that the concerns about a lack of funding for the Shreveport campuses goes back to a general disinvestment in higher education. He announced that he willl be holding a higher education summit in August for all Louisiana higher education stakeholders to discuss issues that affect all of the systems.

splits in who received the COVID-19 vaccine.

Eighty-four percent of college graduates report being fully vaccinated, while 56% of non-college graduates report the same. Eightysix percent of Democrats report being fully vaccinated, while 63% of Republicans and 56% of independents report being fully vaccinated.

Overall, 65% of respondents reported that they were fully vaccinated.

New Orleans residents are much more likely to be fully vaccinated than those in other parts of the state, with 75% of New Orleanians reporting being fully vaccinated.

Baton Rouge falls behind the state average, with 56% of residents reporting being fully vaccinated.

Additionally, most of those surveyed are opposed to vaccine mandates. Sixty-two percent were opposed to employers mandating the vaccine, with 58% saying they opposed the state government requiring it for public employees.

Sixty-one percent oppose requiring children 12 and older to be vaccinated, and 67% oppose it for children aged 5-11.

The report indicates that political identity plays a major role in these attitudes, with over twothirds of Democrats supporting vaccine mandates for employees and students above the age of 12, and over half of Democrats supporting a mandatory vaccine for students aged 5-11.

In comparison, only 14% to 21% of Republicans support mandating the vaccine in any of these scenarios.

a very productive conversation and Academic Affairs intends to treat this as a learning opportunity for all of us. We will invite an expert on curating sensitive historical artifacts to provide a forum for our community on best practices so we can learn together and provide an environment that is welcoming and educational to all members of our community.”

Ferguson said he wants the entire process to be public, including meetings, decisions and communication. He believes a public process is vital to effective action from the administration.

“We expressed to the provost and the other administrators that attended this meeting that we want this to be a public process, and we want to see tangible action on their end,” Ferguson said.

“In a campus as large as LSU and in an environment where administration is usually so secretive as LSU administration is, I feel very content with this result.”

Zeringue was pleased that the administration was receptive during the meeting. Until the list of curators is created, Zeringue says he will wait for further outreach.

“I know there’s other things that require change on campus,” Zeringue said. “This is just one small issue out of a good bit about things we can do better — things we can change. As much as it is good to see this and hopefully see the process go through, I’m more looking forward to what we can do next.”

CURATOR, from page 3

ENTERTAINMENT

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The Real Life Experience Baton Rouge Gallery This art exhibition features art done by students of Baton Rouge public and private high schools. Get a glimpse of the next local art leaders, showing until April 28.

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State of the Art: Record LSU Museum of Art

COURTESY OF THE SHAW CENTER

LSU Museum of Art’s latest temporary acquisition, “State of the Art: Record,” on loan from the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, is a surprisingly interactive exhibition with multiple pieces that actively encourage viewer contact.

COURTESY OF LSU MUSEUM OF ART

Thursday, April 14, 2022

page 6 BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY

Closure of Highland bike shop marks end of nearby bike stores

BY EDDY HAGE @hage_eddy The Southern Bicycle Company’s Highland Road location near Raising Cane’s permanently closed in March due to flooding in the storefront.

The Southern Bicycle Company, also known as The Bicycle Shop, was the closest cycle shop for anyone who lived on or directly near campus. Its nearby location made it the closest walkable or cyclable shop for patrons buying a new bike or repairing their own.

“The main reason for the move happening was the condition of the building before and after the roof failed,” Southern Bicycle Company owner John Viator said. “About two weeks ago the roof/gutters failed, and it pretty much rained inside for hours. In the process, it damaged goods but, thankfully, no retail or customer bikes were damaged.”

Without The Bicycle Shop, any student on campus without a car in need of a bicycle or repairs no longer has access to something within a rideable distance.

Customers instead would

GIDEON FORTUNE/ The Reveille

The Bicycle Shop on Highland Rd. permanently shuttered its doors after flooding in March. need to drive or bike 2-3 miles to the Southern Bicycle Company’s new location at 4237 Perkins Road or another cycle shop if they want repairs.

“I understand those that are nostalgic about a bike shop being there, but that area has changed drastically,” Viator said.

“A traditional bike shop needs parking and ease of access for the customer base.”

Viator said the new location at Perkins Road checked all the boxes they were looking for.

“I wanted it to be as close as possible to the original location, be able to have group rides from it, be in a space that was easily accessible, have good road frontage, and have good parking,” Viator said. “It’s only a couple miles from the original location.

So the student population can

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This is a great opportunity for the right student to build their portfolio in an ad agency type setting.

Must be accepted into the Graphic Design or Digital Art program at LSU to be considered.

easily ride or drive to get the same great service.”

Cycling infrastructure around LSU and Baton Rouge is already heavily criticized by cyclists and pedestrians. Multiple accidents have happened on campus in the past as cars frequently zoom by dilapidated sidewalks and narrow bike lanes, harming pedestrians and cyclists in the process.

“Bikers went to the shop for

repairs or accessories so I think the closure may dissuade some of the biking population from cycling on campus,” said Human Resource Development junior and cyclist Chandler Courreges.

The loss of The Bicycle Shop, a historic business that has been at its Highland location for more than 30 years, represents another obstacle in the path of cyclists at LSU. “The fact that the bike store closed down means that a lot of the international students that I know who don’t have cars won’t be able to get their bikes fixed,” said Computer Science junior and cyclist Luke LaFleur. “I think that it puts a decent amount of people at a disadvantage if, for example, they break their bike or a tire gets stolen.”

Despite that, Viator said the relocated shop near the South Downs Shopping Center is close and accessible to the same customer base while opening up their business to newer customers.

“We didn’t make this decision lightly and took everything into account,” Viator said. “[The new location] will be bigger and very nice… You can easily drive up, park and grab what you need.”

Thursday, April 14, 2022

page 7 LIFESTYLE

I took three UREC Fitness classes to test beginner-friendliness the smell though.

Would I go back: 4/10 The class is great for core strength and hip flexibility. If you want a workout this class would be great for you. However, I do not want a workout.

BY WILL NICKEL @WilNickel The LSU UREC offers many different fitness classes that are free for students to take. From yoga to Pilates and dance fitness classes, LSU has plenty of options.

But, if you are anything like me, the long list of classes can be intimidating. How easy will it be? Will I be sore tomorrow? How bad will I smell afterward?

So, I chose three classes to take to answer all those questions. I gave the classes a score out of ten in three different categories: Beginner-friendliness: How easy the classes would be for someone with no experience.

Sweatiness: How demanding each class is and how much of a sweat you produce. The higher the score the more you will sweat.

Would I go back: Could I see myself going to these classes on my own time?

Yoga for Relaxation “Find your inner Chi and bring yourself back to reality. This judgement free atmosphere will help lengthen and stretch those tired muscles to recover from

DYLAN BOREL/ The Reveille

Two LSU students wave battle ropes Jan. 26, at the UREC Outdoor Fitness Space. whatever the week threw at you.”

Beginner-friendliness: 8/10 Most poses were easy. The more advanced poses often had easier alternatives. The instructor’s calming voice and directions made the class easy to follow. The end was so peaceful one of my friends fell asleep.

Sweatiness: 4/10 You might build up a small amount of sweat, but nothing more than you would get from walking around campus.

Would I go back: 10/10 I have gone back. My friends and I enjoyed it enough to make it a weekly thing. I want to find my inner Chi. Pilates “This revolutionary series of exercises is based on breathing and muscle control focused particularly on one’s core.”

Beginner-friendliness: 6/10 All the exercises and stretches were simple and easy to do. Easy

to do once, that is. The hard part of Pilates was holding the stretches for the entire time or doing lots of repetitions. My hips were sorer than they had ever been. However, you can take a rest when you feel like you need one.

Sweatiness: 8/10 You are going to sweat in this class. Most of the sweating is done at the beginning before lighter stretching and a cool down, so there is at least time for you to dry. That won’t help with

REFIT Revolution “This cardio-focused dance fitness class combines powerful moves with positive music for a challenging, effective, and fun workout.”

Beginner-friendliness: 4/10 I am as awkward as a cow on roller skates when it comes to dancing. Following along with the instructor was difficult at times. On the bright side, I did not struggle with being too tired or sore. Would be fun for those nimbler.

Sweatiness: 10/10 As Cardi B once said, “bring a bucket and a mop,” because this class is going to make the sweat drip down the side of you. You will need to go home for a shower and a change of clothes after this one.

Would I go back: 2/10 I do not think I would ever go back. Maybe if I forgot my wallet there.

SPORTS NATIONALS BOUND Column: Kiya Johnson best routines of the season

BY HANNAH REHM @hrehm12

While the LSU gymnastics team season may have ended at the Raleigh Regional, junior Kiya Johnson will be competing as an individual on vault at the NCAA Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, on Thursday, April 14.

Johnson finished in the top spot on vault during the second round of the regional and will be competing in Semifinal II at the championships at 5 p.m. Additionally, she has been paired with Auburn and will complete her vault after Auburn’s lineup completes their turn on the event.

Despite dealing with an injury this season, Johnson has been a critical piece of the LSU lineup and has dominated when given the green light to compete.

Since she will be representing LSU this week at nationals, here are five of her best routines from this season to kick off championship week.

5. Vault at Raleigh Regional (9.950) This is the vault that propelled her to compete individually at this year’s National Championships.

Johnson’s Double Twisting Yurchenko scored a 9.95. While she may

have just missed perfection with this score, she was very close.

This gave her one more shot at winning nationals, and she remains a big contender for the title.

was no exception. With the home crowd cheering her on, she put up a 9.95 in the anchor spot to help push LSU to its highest season score that was above a 198.

SAVANNA ORGERON / The Reveille

LSU gymnastics junior all-around Kiya Johnson performs her balance beam routine Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022 during LSU’s 197.975-197.750 win over Auburn in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La. 4. Beam vs. Utah (9.950) Johnson on beam is simply special, and the meet against Utah

Her overall performance against Utah earned her the title of SEC specialist of the week.

3. Vault vs. Utah (9.975) Johnson’s score of 9.975 on the vault against Utah is as close as possible while just missing out on that perfect 10. Nevertheless, this strong score on vault brought up the team and set up teammate Haleigh Bryant for her own perfect vault.

Bryant is the defending national champion on vault.

2. Beam vs. Alabama (10.000) Johnson got the second perfect 10 of her career on the beam and the seventh in her overall career.

There have only been six gymnasts in LSU history to score more than one perfect 10 on the beam.

Johnson’s perfect score pushed LSU significantly above the Tide and helped secure its victory. LSU had a lead of 148.600-147.975 going into the last rotation, and it is worth noting this Alabama team has qualified to the 2022 National Championships.

1. Floor vs. Auburn (10.000) In her season debut on the floor, Kiya Johnson scored a perfect 10 at home against Auburn. In the moments before her routine, it was unclear if LSU Head Coach Jay Clark would put her in, hold her back or let her go. Ultimately, Olympian Sunisa Lee was on the beam and Clark knew anything could happen. He made the decision to let her go, and the result was perfection.

page 8 TRACK & FIELD

Track and field wins big at home

COLE HERNANDEZ @Ct_hernandez The LSU track and field team showed why both the men and women’s teams are ranked in the top-five in the country during Saturday’s Joe May Invitational.

The team won 11 event titles at Bernie Moore Track Stadium against stout competition in nearly perfect weather conditions.

Dorian Camel had a dominant day in the short sprints, as he won gold in the 100-meter and finished second in the 200-meter event.

Camel ran a season best of 10.12 in slightly windy conditions to move up to No. 5 on the national list in the event this season in the NCAA. He also took second in the 200-meter with a personal best time of 20.31 seconds.

He was the top collegiate finisher in the 200 meters behind current world champion Christian Coleman who won with a time of 20.25 seconds.

Da’Marcus Fleming improved his season best time in the 100 meters with an NCAA qualifying time of 10.14 seconds to finish in

see TRACK & FIELD, page 9

SOFTBALL

LSU softball returns to Baton Rouge following a series win

BY NICK OMBRELLARO @NOmbrellaro LSU softball took two of three games and the series win against Texas A&M this past weekend.

This marks the first series win for the Tigers since the opening of SEC play against Alabama, March 11-13.

The nearly month gap between series wins had the Tigers facing off against tough SEC (and soon to be SEC) foes Texas, Arkansas and Kentucky during that span.

The Tigers opened the weekend with a dominant pitching performance by Shelby Wickersham and Ali Kilponen to start the series off with a win. Each faced 13 batters, gave up two hits, a walk and Wickersham was charged with the lone earned run for the game. The pair combined for eight strikeouts against the Aggies.

The bats for the Tigers were nearly non-existent for the game, as only two batters register a hit heading into the final frame of the day. With one out in the seveth, Ali Newland took a 3-1 pitch over the wall to tie this game up, sparking some energy that carried throughout the rest of the inning. Following

the game-tying home-run, Raeleen Gutierrez doubled to right center, and Savannah Stewart entered the game to pinch-run for her. Stewart advanced to third on a wild pitch, and with two outs Jordyn Perkins was called upon to pinch hit. Strok-

bottom half to get the win, improving to 12-4 on the season.

In game two the Tigers were all over the Aggies’ pitchers, plating 11 runs. Taylor Pleasants was the

responsible for five earned runs.

Kilponen entered the game in relief and threw 101 pitches to close the game out over five innings. Kilponen earned the win for this game making her 13th of the season, and was able to have Sunday off from

CHYREN MCGUIRE / The Reveille SAVANNA ORGERON / The Reveille

LSU softball pitcher/utility Shelbi Sunseri (27) pitches Feb. 11, during the Tigers’ 3-0 win against South Alabama in Baton Rouge, La. ing a single down the right-field line, Stewart made it across the plate easily to give the Tigers their first lead of the game. Kilponen shut the door on the Aggies in the

LSU softball shortstop Taylor Pleasants (17) makes contact with the ball May 21, 2021 during LSU’s 10-2 victory in Baton Rouge, La. star of the game going three of four with three doubles and six RBIs. Shelbi Sunseri hit her 11th homerun this season, but struggled in the circle to start the game. Sunseri was pulled after loading the bases to start the third inning and was

CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille

LSU softball redshirt pitcher Ali Kilponen (2) points after getting the strike Feb. 12, during LSU’s 8-1 win against South Alabama in Baton Rouge, La. the circle after throwing 157 total pitches over the two games.

The one loss of the weekend happened on Sunday, as the Tigers got into trouble during the fourth

inning. The Aggies plated four runs, and although some late inning heroics by Pleasants with a two-run home-run pulled the Tigers within one run, they left a runner on to end the game.

The showing by Wickersham this weekend was great to see as the Tigers approach the latter part of the season. The 6.1 innings pitched and three strikeouts while only allowing two runs, five hits and two walks should have her earning a larger role. With some of the pitching struggles this team has seen, it is great to see Wickersham hitting her stride.

Looking ahead the Tigers will host a three-game series with unranked South Carolina starting Thursday, April 14. The Gamecocks are 23-17 overall, with a 2-10 SEC record. The team is also 3-13 against top-25 ranked opponents and have a combined .293 batting average. This will be a key series for the Tigers in hope of getting above .500 in the SEC before a true test against currently ranked No. 14 Georgia the following week.

With 14 games left before the SEC Tournament, the Tigers could use a series to get right for the tough stretch of games ahead.

page 9

Thursday, April 14, 2022 MEN’S GOLF

LSU men’s golf finishes third at Mossy Oak Collegiate Invitational

BY ADAM BURRUSS @AdamNFLDraft LSU’s men’s golf team capitalized on three top-12 finishes in route to a third place finish at the Mossy Oak Collegiate Invitational, which acts as its last regular season tournament for the 20212022 season.

LSU tied for third with Mississippi State and ultimately lost to No. 16 Auburn. Vanderbilt was the one to hoist the team trophy, and also fielded the winning golfer, Gordon Sargent.

Nicholas Arcement finished the highest out of all the golfers with a ninth place finish, while Michael Sanders and Cohen Trolio tied for 12th place. Garrett Barber tied for 37th, and Drew Doyle tied for 41st.

Notably, Arcement moved up 42 spots in the second round with a five-under 67, putting him in a tie for 13th before the third round started. This effort led him to his third top-10 finish of the year, as he led all LSU golfers this game.

On the other hand, Trolio, the West Point, Mississippi native, underperformed. Mossy Oak is his home course, where he previously won the Mississippi Amateur tournament in 2021, which gained him a rare exemption to compete at the PGA Tour stop in Jackson, Mississippi for the

Sanderson Farms. Trolio started a bit slow with a two-over 74, but he rounded out to land himself a 12th place finish. Nonetheless,

he had an advantage here and did not capitalize on it.

Additionally, Barber also started with a three-under 69

in the first round and began at fourth place only to finish tied for 37th with a four-over 76. Had he kept his pace, LSU could have

The Reveille Archives

LSU men’s golf sophomore Nicholas Arcement walks back after he completes the first hole Feb. 26, 2021 during the LSU Invitational hosted at the University Club on Memorial Tower Drive in Baton Rouge, La.

ended with two top-10 finishers.

While a third place finish is commendable, Trolio’s inability to capitalize and Arcement’s slow start, shows LSU’s flaws in this instance. If Trolio took advantage of his home turf and Arcement played consistently instead of having a three-over 75 in round one, LSU may have won.

However, Arcement’s comeback does show a level of resilience. He dug himself out of a hole and put himself in a good position regardless of a rough start. His efforts played a pivotal role in the team’s third place finish.

All in all, three top-12 finishes is a good result, but this tournament also acts as a bit of a what-if, because the team took a bit to find its composure.

Vanderbilt overall played a clean game that put the commodores at a good distance from Auburn, LSU and Mississippi State, but could LSU have challenged that with Trolio taking advantage, Arcement finding his groove earlier and Barber keeping his pace?

Once again, LSU’s men’s golf team flashed its capabilities, but even an overall good finish shows how much they can improve. LSU plays in the SEC Championships on Wednesday, April 20, at Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simons Island, Georgia.

MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille

LSU track and field juniors Favour Ofili (left) and Amber Anning (right) come down the home stretch during the 400-meter final on April 24, 2021 at the LSU Alumni Gold meet at Bernie Moore Track Stadium on North Stadium Dr in Baton Rouge.

MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille

LSU track and field sprints junior Dorian Camel (left) and sprints sophomore Da’Marcus Fleming (right) race down the track on April 2, during the 100m dash at the Battle on the Bayou track meet in Baton Rouge, La.

TRACK & FIELD, from page 8 second behind Camel. That mark ranks him as the ninth fastest in America this season.

Favour Ofili ran a blistering personal best in the 100-meter dash to earn silver in the event.

Her time of 11.00 seconds ranks No. 4 in the NCAA and in the world this year. It also moves her into the No. 7 spot on the LSU list, and is the fifth fastest wind

legal time ever run by a Nigerian in the 100-meter dash.

Amber Hart had herself a day as she registered a pair of personal bests in both the discus and shot put. She started off with a win in the discus after throwing a career best distance 175 feet, three inches. That mark was the fifth best in LSU history. She returned to the shot put ring a few hours later with a throw of 53 feet, one inch to move up to

No. 5 on the LSU list in that event as well. This throw was a personal record and finished third in the shot put.

Amber Anning won her second straight event title in the 400-meter dash as she sprinted to victory with a time of 52.13 seconds. Doria Martingayle won the 1,500-meter run in a personal best time of 4:35.11 to win her first career collegiate title. Freshman Michaela Rose won her LSU

debut in the 400-meter hurdles with an impressive starting time of 57.62 seconds. Rose’s time of 57.62 seconds currently ranks No. 7 in the NCAA. LSU had five other field event titles on the day led by three from the jumps group and two from the throwers. Serena Bolden notched the top spot in the women’s long jump with a career best mark of 20 feet, seven inches.

Abigail O’Donoghue (high jump, 6 feet) and Lisa Gunnarsson (pole vault, 14 feet, 5.5 inches) were the other jumpers to get victories. Tzuriel Pedigo won the men’s javelin with a heave of

232 feet, and Jake Norris won the hammer toss with a season best throw of 230 feet, three inches to earn the No. 6 mark in the NCAA this season.

The women’s 4x400 meter relay was the final event title for the Tigers as the foursome of Ofili, Anning, Michaela Rose and Garriel White ran their race in a time of 3:29.88 for gold and the No. 7 time in the NCAA this year.

Next up for the LSU track and field team is a road trip, as the Tigers will split to two meets on April 15-16, Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, California and Tom Jones Memorial in Gainesville, Florida.

OPINION

page 10

LSU needs more gluten-free options, expand Pure Eats BESKE’S BUZZ KATE BESKE @KateBeske Celiac disease is an immune reaction to eating gluten. Over time, the immune reaction causes inflammation in the small intestine’s lining, which can lead to serious medical conditions.

While the university does have some accommodations for students with dietary restrictions, it should be doing more.

As a frequent visitor of the 459 dining hall, I never noticed how slim the gluten-free food section was, but, when I began paying attention, I realized how few options are given to students with gluten intolerances or allergies.

My roommate was recently diagnosed with celiac disease, and she had to quit eating gluten altogether. Trying to navigate the 459 dining hall with her new dietary restrictions has been difficult, as there are not many options she can eat.

While the 459 may lack choices for my roommate and other students with gluten intolerances, the 5 offers a Pure Eats station, which offers alternatives for common food allergies.

“The daily menu at this station is made avoiding each of the top 8 allergens (milk, soy, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish,

CARTOON BY EMILY TRAN

and eggs) as well as gluten, but at both dining facilities we truly abide by the ‘Don’t Be Shy, Self Identify’ program,” said Catherine Bowie, the university’s campus dietitian.

The Don’t Be Shy, Self Identify program allows “any student with special dietary needs to meet with us one-on-one and allow us to discuss the ways in which

we can accommodate and tailor a plan to fit their individual needs,” said Bowie.

Though this program is available to all students, the Pure Eats station is only in the 5 dining hall.

It is unfair to only offer this valuable food menu to one side of campus. For someone living on the east-side of campus, the walk to the 5 dining hall is too long for

multiple meals a day.

The Don’t Be Shy, Self Identify program is a great alternative for students with allergies, but a program like Pure Eats would be much more valuable to the students with dietary issues living on East campus.

The 459 dining hall should have more gluten-free options readily available and ensure there

is no cross-contamination in the making of those meals.

Different types of milk are constantly provided to students in the 459 dining hall, giving alternatives to students with lactose intolerances or vegan diets. Why do gluten-free students not get the same treatment?

Students with dietary issues living on East campus should have more meals readily accessible to them in order to get a fuller college experience. There is no reason that an on-campus student with dietary issues should have to feel any different than those with none.

Bowie, who is new to LSU dining, offers hope that strides are being made to give students equal quality food no matter their health restrictions.

“It is my goal to continuously improve our program and better communicate everything we have to offer students who have any allergies as well as those with celiac or gluten intolerance,” said Bowie.

While resources are available for gluten-free students, it’s important that the university ensures options are available across campus. Expanding the Pure Eats station to the 459 would be an excellent start.

Kate Beske is a 19-year-old journalism freshman from Destrehan, LA.

While teen sitcom fashion is unrealistic, it is iconic GABBING WITH GABBY GABBY JIMENEZ @gvjimenezz Teen dramas like “Riverdale” and “Euphoria” often feature teenage characters wearing the most extravagant outfits to school. We’re supposed to assume that these schools have no dress code, so characters like Maddie Perez can go to her 7 a.m. class in a crop top and miniskirt.

We know this isn’t reality, but it’s fun to imagine teenagers have the financial means and ability to dress up that much for class every day.

These shows were heavily influenced by teen dramas of the 2010s, specifically “Pretty Little

Liars” and “Gossip Girl.” Characters like Serena Van Der Woodson and Alison DiLaurentis were the fashion blueprint for Veronica Lodge and Cassie Howard.

Every character on “Pretty Little Liars” had their own unique style. My personal favorite liar, Spencer Hastings, was the intelligent, ambitious protagonist who always had a preppy outfit. Fellow overachiever Betty Cooper (“Riverdale”) mirrors Spencer’s style, as they are both often seen wearing blouses, cardigans and collared tops. This type of clothing can also be found in Lexi Howard (“Euphoria”).

And we can’t discuss teen drama fashion without mentioning the most important fashion icon of them all: Blair Waldorf.

All these other characters wish they had Blair Waldorf’s

fashion sense. Blair’s style combined clothes that were preppy, chic and, yes, unrealistic.

Blair’s outfits were iconic, and there’s a reason you can find multiple articles online with titles along the lines of “10 times Veronica Lodge stole Blair Waldorf’s look” and “Veronica Lodge is basically Blair Waldorf 2.0.”

I must give credit to the shows that predated “Gossip Girl” and “Pretty Little Liars,” like “90210” and “One Tree Hill.”

While they certainly were important in terms of setting teen fashion trends, “Gossip Girl” and “Pretty Little Liars” ushered in a new era of very unrealistic high school fashion.

The clothing in “Pretty Little Liars” and “Gossip Girl” didn’t just influence modern teen dramas. It influenced my friends

and me, who were still watching the shows, despite the finales coming out years before.

Yes, I’ll admit it. I went through phases where I actively tried to dress like Spencer Hastings and Blair Waldorf. I had Pinterest boards specifically curated to try to create similar outfits using the items in my own wardrobe.

Looking back, I laugh at how much effort I put into these outfits, when everyone at my public school was wearing jeans and Vans. What was I doing wearing plaid skirts, collared shirts and knee-high socks to algebra class?

Some people can make these dressed up looks work, and I highly applaud those with that fashion sense. But I didn’t have the personally tailored outfits like the actresses did, and I was

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Opinion Editor

The Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University.

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

trying to pass off my Old Navy sweater as something Blair Waldorf would be wearing around the Upper East Side.

As proof of this phase of my life, here are the few pictures that show my embarrassing attempts at being the preppy protagonist: Teens are dressing up more and more for school, and it’s obviously because they’re trying to follow the trends they see on TV. I think it’s great to use these shows as clothing inspiration, and I love seeing the outfits they come up with.

Sure, the outfits on teen dramas are unrealistic. But they’re still iconic, and they serve as the inspiration to many teens today.

Gabby Jimenez is a kinesiology major.

Quote of the Week “What if there were no hypothetical questions?”

George Carlin Comedian 1937 — 2008

Thursday, April 14, 2022

page 11

University should remove French professor from teaching KACEYING THE STORY KACEY BUERCKLIN

@0kacey1

Rape culture infects every corner of the university, fostering an environment that protects abusers and dismisses survivors. This was spotlighted last year by the Athletic Department’s mishandling of Title IX cases, and now by similar failures in the Department of French Studies.

It started back in 2018. A French LSU graduate student, Edouard d’Espalungue d’Arros, was arrested and charged with thirddegree rape against a UL Lafayette student.

Despite this, d’Espalungue was still allowed to work for the university’s French department. Within weeks of his arrest, complaints of sexual harassment started to role in, The Advocate reported in October. He started a French journal with the university’s support and continued to work with undergraduates, giving him access to many students.

Since 2018, d’Espalungue has been involved in at least seven reported sexual assault, harassment and rape cases. D’Espalungue fled the country in 2020 to avoid prosecution and remains a fugitive in France.

Adelaide Russo, the chair of the French department at the time, failed to protect her students. She allowed d’Espalungue to work and have access to students, despite knowledge of the arrest and numerous other complaints.

The Advocate reported that Russo repeatedly defended

CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille

A LSU holds a sign in protest Oct. 18, 2021, during the Feminists in Action protest following reports of LSU mishandling sexual asssault cases on the Parade Ground at LSU’s campus. d’Espalungue, proclaiming his innocence and telling women who he harassed to take his unwanted advances as a compliment. After public revelations of Russo enabling an alleged serial rapist were brought to light, she was removed as chair of the French department.

Russo is listed as a defendant in a civil lawsuit that argues LSU officials failed to take claims against d’Espalungue seriously. Still, she continues to teach at the university.

Russo is currently teaching a 1000-level class and will be teaching a 4000-level class in the fall.

4000-level classes are required for all French majors and minors, and there is only a small selection of these courses available.

This means that some students who were directly affected by d’Espalungue will have no choice but to take Russo’s class.

Feminists in Action has demanded the university immediately remove Russo from teaching.

Myrissa Eisworth, a sociology and anthropology sophomore, is an officer for FIA and has a French minor.

“We are not asking her to be fired, just because there hasn’t been a finding in the court. We want her to be removed from teaching until there is a finding,” said Eisworth. “It worries me that LSU does not take sexual assault victims seriously.”

The fact that the university still allows someone who defended an accused rapist to work and interact with victims is yet another example of how it does not take sexual assault cases seriously. These actions perpetrate rape culture at the university.

It is the responsibility of the university to protect the well-being of students. Unfortunately, the university continually works against that responsibility, making it terrifying to be a female student. It is certain that there have been unreported sexual assault cases on campus because of the university’s failure to act against sexual violence.

The university needs to properly investigate all sexual assault cases and suspend any accused enabler or perpetrator involved until the case is resolved. The university should not take the risk of having someone guilty continue to work with students. The university needs to do better.

Kacey Buercklin is a 21-year-old political communication senior from Murrayville, GA.

Student Government needs to truly advocate for students CHARLIE’S ANGLES

CHARLIE STEPHENS

@charliestephns

Student Government elections are over, and our newly-elected SG president and vice president will soon take power.

First, congratulations to Lizzie Shaw and Nick St. Mary on their new positions as the voices of the student body, to not only the university administration, but the broader community surrounding the university.

Lots of students don’t realize the full scope of SG’s role on campus and in the broader community.

One of the main responsibilities of SG is spending certain fees to accomplish initiatives creating programming for students.

The organization controls nearly $300,000 in student fees, both directly and indirectly, through their annual budget and various, internally-appointed committees.

Students are becoming increasingly aware of the financial power of SG, but this responsibility is dwarfed by another crucial duty: advocating for the university

DYLAN BOREL / The Reveille

LSU Student Government President Lizzie Shaw and Vice President Nick St. Mary react to student government election results April 4 in the Live Oak Lounge on the first floor of the LSU Student Union in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. and the students that call it home.

Recent SG administrations largely abandoned their duty to fight for the interests of students at the administration-level and at the Capitol.

The Louisiana Capitol is an-

other place where the voice of SG leadership can have a real effect on policy.

Legislators are weary of negative headlines that portray them as attacking or going against students, and strong statements

from SG leadership to legislators in committees would surely draw the attention of reporters.

The apathy in SG to stand up to the administration and legislators who craft policies and budgets that hurt their constituents

has materially affected our university and its ability to be the best place it can be for the students here.

The student body president can be a powerful check on the university administration through informal discussions with individual administrators. Even more influential is the SG president’s voting power on the Board of Supervisors, which can be used to introduce and advocate for policy and budgetary changes that help students.

These are just a couple small ways that SG can have a big impact on the students that it serves rather than just serving as a resume line for a select few.

An SG that advocates loudly and consistently to policymakers for the wants and needs of students is one that will advance the university rather than see it retrograde.

I hope the new administration takes note of the failures of those before them and truly advocates for and communicates with students on every level.

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

Thursday, April 14, 2022

page 12

Student Government censored free speech on ballot DRAKE’S TAKES DRAKE BRIGNAC @drakebrignac When Student Government announced election results last week, there was one winner and three losers; however, even before voting began, there was a clear loser—the First Amendment.

In a bold move, one of the tickets vying for victory named itself “F*** Around and Find Out,” with the curse word uncensored. On March 31, the ticket appeared on the ballot as “F*** Around and Find Out” after the Election Commission voted to censor the name, and the judicial branch upheld the decision in the case FAFO v. Election Commission.

While The Reveille may be beholden to AP style, SG is not, and this decision has troubling implications.

With only three letters at the heart of the issue, invoking the First Amendment may sound melodramatic, but censoring the ballot raises genuine questions about SG’s understanding of the First Amendment and its commitment to uphold it.

Alarming issues arise when reviewing the Election Commission’s rationale for censoring the ticket name, such as the notion that a voting consensus could reasonably justify censorship.

The number of asterisks on the ballot was “democratically selected,” Inspector General Riana Shelley testified. “This was not one person deciding she was personally offended.”

It does not matter whether one

person, a commission of five or a group of 5,000 labels something offensive or unpleasant—censorship is censorship. Legitimizing censorship based on numbers is antithetical to the very nature of free speech, which exists to create a vibrant marketplace of ideas where the majority cannot snuff out beliefs it deems undesirable.

Labeling the meaning of expression is also remarkably subjective. In the words of Justice John Marshall II, “one man’s vulgarity is another’s lyric.” The Election Commission seemingly disregarded this reality when describing its authority.

“The public nature of the voting system allows those in charge of its distribution (Election Commission) the legal right to censor potentially inflammatory content to preserve the sanctity of Student Government, which serves all students whether they voted or not,” the Election Commission’s court brief said.

The Election Commission’s assertion of its so-called “legal right” is concerning. Censoring some students in the name of serving “all students” is oxymoronic. Moreover, even though this case revolved around an expletive-laden ticket name, the meaning of “potentially inflammatory content” is so broad that it could be construed to restrain all manner of political speech.

Censoring certain words or expletives would create inconsistencies where tickets or candidates receive unequal treatment. If a student named their ticket “Don’t Be a Dick,” would it be fair to censor it?

If the answer is yes, would we then censor a student who wants to use the nickname “Dick” on the ballot?

It’s the same word after all.

By the same token, the Election Commission references “devout religious individuals” when describing discomfort with profanity. Why then would the commission not censor a ticket name like EVOLVE? It has no expletive, yet it references a theory that some may find blasphemous.

Justifying ballot censorship in the name of SG “sanctity” could also mean the suppression of dis-

speech,” which it alluded to more directly.

“Once the ballots are formed, it is no longer the campaign that is promoting their name directly,” the Election Commission’s brief said, “but rather they are being referred to indirectly by a new authority who controls the ballots and thus receives their own rights of free speech.”

The government speech doctrine immunizes governments from

DYLAN BOREL / The Reveille

LSU student government F*** Around and Find Out presidential candidate Harris Quadir speaks March 24 at the Student Government debate in the Journalism Building on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge, LA. sent. Surely, a ticket name directly criticizing an administrator or a segment of campus like Greek Life or Athletics would displease more people than a simple swear word.

If such a name was uncensored, the commission’s reasoning would fall apart.

By referencing the need to uphold SG’s “sanctity,” it appears that the Election Commission employed the doctrine of “government

First Amendment challenges because they can express their own ideas under certain circumstances.

Historically, this applied to specialty license plates, monuments in public parks and advertisements in public schools.

However, the Election Commission—and the judicial branch— overlooked recent precedent that limits government speech.

In Matal v. Tam (2017) and Ian-

cu v. Brunetti (2019), the Supreme Court ruled that offensive, disparaging or vulgar trademarks were not government speech and could not be rejected.

“Holding that the registration of a trademark converts the mark into government speech would constitute a huge and dangerous extension of the government-speech doctrine,” Justice Samuel Alito wrote in Matal v. Tam (2017), “for other systems of government registration (such as copyright) could easily be characterized in the same way.”

What is a ticket name if not a form of registration with SG? On April 4, the Election Court released its final judgement allowing the censorship vote to stand as part of the Election Commission’s administrative role. The Court also stated that censoring the ticket name was an expression of the Election Commission’s speech.

I’m no legal scholar, but using government speech to censor ballots is a gross misinterpretation.

Censoring a ballot is not the same as using a censored placard or the debate moderator choosing to say “Eff Around and Find Out” on a livestream sponsored by SG. A ballot is a passive conduit, the most basic voting tool—not an expression of the Election Commission’s values or opinions.

Again, it may seem like I’m overreacting, but this case of censorship has uncertain implications for future SG elections. At the very least, it’s a myopic attitude to the First Amendment; at its worst, it’s an open disregard for its nuances.

Drake Brignac is a 21-year-old political communication and political science senior from Baton Rouge.

Leto goes to extreme lengths for “atrocious” movies SERIOUSLY KIDDING FRANK KIDD

@fk446852315 The release of Marvel’s new movie “Morbius” has returned its star, Jared Leto, to popular consciousness. The movie, and Leto’s performance, have been widely criticized, earning a dismal 16% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The poor reception of the film is comical, considering the extreme measures Leto went to prepare for his role.

Leto’s character, Michael Morbius, gets around on crutches, so Leto insisted on doing so on set.

This lengthened the time it took for him to get around, to the point where he had to make a compromise that he would be pushed to the bathroom in a wheelchair.

His commitment may have been irritating for the cast and even caused some concern for him, but it’s ultimately tame considering Leto’s past.

The most famous example of Leto’s method acting came from

his antics to prepare for the role of the Joker on the set of “Suicide Squad,” another poorly received movie.

Leto had a dead pig brought to the first table read for the movie, sent co-star Margot Robbie a live rat and made everyone on set call him “Mister J.” Leto once confirmed rumors that he sent anal beads and used condoms to other actors, though he now denies them.

Regardless of what he has or hasn’t done, it’s clear that Leto considers himself an actor dedicated to the craft. A method actor following in the tradition of Lee Strasberg, Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro.

To his credit, he has had great performances like “Dallas Buyers Club,” “Panic Room” and “Requiem For A Dream.” However, he’s currently perceived as an insane man—who may or may not be a cult leader—that goes to psychopathic lengths to turn in subpar efforts in atrocious movies.

Leto has forced me to watch too many bad movies to be considered one of my favorite actors, but it still hurts to see him tar-

nish his legacy this way. Leto has gone so far to make audiences think he’s crazy that he needs to play the most boring man pos-

for a company that sells paper clips.

The plot of the movie should revolve around Arthur Thomas

COURTESY OF MJ PHOTOS/DEADLINE/SHUTERSTOCK

sible to regain relatability.

I’d like to see him play the role of Arthur Thomas, a 45-yearold, happily married accountant

receiving a new job at a company that sells erasers. Arthur Thomas looks at new houses in the surrounding area, talks to his wife

and kids and decides to stay at his job.

I want to see stories about how Leto bored people to death with incessant small talk at the water cooler to prepare for the role. I want him to go to a dinner party and tell the worst story possible to prepare for this part.

He should do stand-up comedy and tell jokes about how kids are soft now and how women shop for too long to get ready for the character.

The run time should be 4 hours and 56 minutes to match the combined run times of “Morbius” and “Suicide Squad.”

The movie would undoubtedly be the most boring piece of media ever produced, but there’s no way it could be worse than those two awful films I won’t name again.

Leto, it’s time to restore your image. Get in contact with me, and let’s make it happen. You should still have my number from the time I sold you that rat.

Frank Kidd is a 21-year-old mass communication junior from Springfield.