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ROSTER REBOOT
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LSU men’s basketball head coach Will Wade outlines roster ahead of first season back at the helm.
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WADE’S WORLD
Will Wade discusses the LSU men’s basketball 2026-2027 roster construction
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BY TRIPP BUHLER Staff Writer LSU men’s basketball famously has only four players listed on its online roster. On Wednesday, head coach Will Wade’s first words to the media since his reintroductory press conference were a joke about how the team has been practicing two-on-two for the last couple of months. From that point on, it was clear how big the difference in energy was from this LSU team to the last. Wade, known for his upbeat, humorous personality, talked seriously and comically about his unorthodox roster, which he said is full with 15 players. Wade sounded like he could hold himself accountable as well as any legendary coach could. “What we’re doing is unconventional. I understand that,” Wade said. “But, you know, 20 years ago, Airbnb was unconventional. Everybody stayed in a hotel. Fifteen years ago, you rode in a taxi everywhere. Now you take Uber. “Just because it’s unconventional, [it] doesn’t mean it’s not going to work,” he continued. The combination of former international pros, fifth-year transfers who recently gained another year of eligibility and former NBA G-League players has thrown Wade into the fire for how he is building his team. He and his team welcome the flack, unapologetic about their pursuit for success. “When you do stuff that’s unconventional, they’re waiting for you to fail,” Wade said. “Everybody’s waiting for us to fail. That’s fine. If we fail, I own it.” The diverse basketball and personal backgrounds the players come from is something that will serve the group well, Wade said. A team retreat took place about two and a half weeks ago, where everyone shared sto-
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LSU men’s basketball head coach Will Wade speaks during a press conference March 30 at the PMAC. ries and created stronger team bonds. “We’ve got really good people. You win with good people,” Wade said. Wade said that the team has been set and practicing since Sept. 2, but will not yet release the full roster. He said that “three or four” players are battling eligibility issues. Here is what’s known about the roster as of now. The backcourt LSU’s guard and small forward spots are loaded with talent. The Tigers’ depth at the guard position will have them able to light up the scoreboard against almost any opponent, and Wade said the offense is looking great. Donovan Dent will likely be the starting point guard after averaging 13.3 points and 7.6 assists per game last year at UCLA. Wade compared him to former Tiger Tremont Waters and called Dent an unselfish player.
EVAN TOUCHET / The Reveille
Mike the Tiger poses for a photo before LSU women’s basketball team’s 108-55 win against University of Missouri on Feb. 22 at the PMAC.
Dent’s Bruin teammate Skyy Clark also transferred to LSU, and will fight for a starting spot after logging 11.5 points per game last season. “Skyy can shoot the ball, shoots it really, really well from three,” Wade said. “Skyy’s got great leadership. He’s got great command for what we’re doing. He’s just got a really good way about him.” RJ Luis Jr. will be the starter at either shooting guard or small forward, if he is eligible to play. He won the Big East Player of the Year award at St. John’s in the 2024-25 season. He was the one player who Wade made sure to not name at his press conference, because of his eligibility status. Luis played multiple games in the NBA G League after signing NBA contracts. “The SEC, they hold everybody’s words against them, so I want to be careful about not doing anything with that,” Wade said with a smirk. “We’re going to abide by what the SEC tells us to abide by.” Kentucky transfer Mo Dioubate and Italian commit Saliou Niang are able to play in the frontcourt and backcourt. The two will probably split time between small forward and power forward, with Dioubate having experience at every position against SEC competition. UTSA transfer Austin Nunez, Michigan State transfer Divine Ugochukwu and Kansas State transfer Abdi Bashir Jr. all add to the depth at the guard spots with experience playing collegiate basketball. “Divine’s really coming on,” Wade said. “He’s been coming back from an injury, but I feel like Divine’s somebody that’s going to be a very good player for us as well at the guard
position.” The frontcourt LSU’s power forwards and centers almost entirely come from an international background. Gilad Levy played professionally in Israel, Brice Dessert played in Turkey and France and Michael RužiĆ is coming from Spain. Dessert is likely going to be LSU’s starting center. “They all bring something different,” Wade said. “They bring some much-needed height, some much-needed physicality. Ruzic’s more skilled, Brice is much more around the basket … They’re all three really good players, and will be guys that help us quite a bit this year.” Dioubate may play just as much time at power forward as he does at small forward, offering some domestic experience to help the international players in practice. It will be needed as Wade said defensive rebounding is the biggest issue for the team right now. That leaves Levy, RužiĆ and Jordan Bender to be the terms depth pieces. Bender is LSU’s only high school commit in this class, and will provide some depth once he gets up to speed with the college game. Márcio Santos, a Brazilian with professional experience overseas, was supposed to join the team, but Wade said that is not the case anymore. LSU’s first time on the court — an exhibition at McNeese on Oct. 8 — might not even feature its final roster. The Tigers don’t officially open the season until Nov. 3, at home against LSU New Orleans. “We’re here to build a winner for LSU and Louisiana,” Wade said. “That’s who my responsibilities are to. [I] really don’t give a damn about anybody else.”
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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. If you would like something corrected or clarified, please contact the editor at (225) 578-4811 or email editor@lsu.edu.
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 STEPS TO SAFETY
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LSU Light and Safety Walk allows students to observe, share concerns on campus safety
BY VIVIAN SARHAN Staff Writer LSU Student Government hosted its annual Light and Safety Walk on Tuesday in an effort to promote a safer, more accessible campus for students, staff and Baton Rouge residents. SG collaborated with LSU Administration, Facility Services, Parking & Transportation, the Office of Emergency Preparedness and LSU Police Department. Ben Barousse, student body president, said that safety and accessibility are an integral part of his administration “We ran on LSU feeling like home for every student, and the goal is to feel safe at home,” he said. Students met at the Student Union then dispersed to survey the campus. Attendees went in one of four directions — southeast toward University Recreation Center, southwest toward the South Quad Drive area, northeast toward Dalrymple Drive and northwest campus toward Nicholson Drive and Aster Street. After the walk, students answered a survey provided by SG on their observations. LSU Chancellor Jim Dalton attended and walked with students around the campus so they could bring issues of light and safety directly to his attention. “Safety is of prime importance to everything we do,” Dalton said. “If you’re going to have a great educational environment, you’ve got to have a safe campus environment.”
ALEXIS PERSICKE / The Reveille
LSU Chancellor Jim Dalton speaks to Light and Safety Walk attendees Sept. 22 outside the LSU Student Union. Chief of LSUPD Marshall Walters noted that while LSU has improved lighting through a master campus light improvement plan, it is important to the department to hear and address these concerns on campus. “We’re entering that time of year where the sun starts setting a little bit earlier, overlapping with our class schedules in the evening,” Walters said. “Ensuring the campus is well lit for everyone is vital to improving campus safety.” LSU Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Safety, Emergency Preparedness & Emergency Response Michael Antoine said that while finances are potentially a challenge when enacting new infrastructure
projects, the university allocates funding annually for safety enhancements. While lighting along Nicholson Drive to the north part of LSU is adequate, along West Chimes Street, students noticed there is a significant lack of lighting. Antoine said that LSU has a partnership on projects with both city and parish officials, especially in areas not on campus, but on the precipice of the university. “Lighting is a safety factor,” Antoine said. “It’s also a deterrent for crime and other nuisant-type behaviors that could happen in the dark.” Antoine said that some lighting improvement projects come
from student feedback from past safety walks and surveys, such as new lighting in the Quad, Parade Ground and parking lots. “We definitely take [student] information and put it into practice,” Antoine said. “That way we could plan the type of projects that will address the concerns and issues that are identified during this walk.” Areas of northwest campus, including the intersection of Alaska Street and West Chimes Street by the Ion apartment complex, were recognized as an area that needs improvement in the amount of lights. According to Walters, these parts of campus were not part of the improvement plan, and An-
toine said that he plans on addressing this area of campus in the near future. Lighting improves substantially at the Alaska Street vehicle gate along the side of the Huey P. Long Field House, but lighting gets worse along Dalrymple Drive, a problem mentioned by both students and LSUPD Patrol Officer Axel Cruz. Kennedy Means, SG director of strategic initiatives, said that she has personally experienced problems with lighting on campus. “I know I’ve come from exams sometimes from Himes my freshman year,” Means said. “I lived at the Pentagon, so that’s a little bit of a walk. But walking through the Quad and then navigating Dalrymple, I believe it does get a little shaky over there. A lot of cars are speeding at night too, so that’s something we’re going to look for.” The group noted the Enchanted Forest and the stairs outside Cypress Hall as an area with low light levels. Antoine said that hearing concerns like these from students who deal with it daily help administration address the issues on campus to mitigate hazards. “Part of our safety initiative is educating our students, making sure that they’re aware of how they could be safe and helping us help them stay safe,” Antoine said. “I have the overall responsibility [so] I created a whole community approach. My goal is to continue to do that and enhance safety beyond what we’ve already done.”
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
LSU Black Caucus hosts town hall-style meeting for students BY MADDY SNYDER Staff Writer The Black Caucus of LSU Student Government hosted a town hall-style meeting on Tuesday evening for Black students to discuss their experiences on LSU’s campus. Louisiana State Representative Ed Larvadain was a special guest at the meeting, and he spoke to students and answered questions. Analycea Garrett, a junior political science major, organized the event and opened the discussion by talking about how Black students need to change their mindsets to be more positive and uplifting. According to Garrett, many Black students on campus can be judgmental toward one another. In order to strengthen the Black community on campus, Garrett encourages students to treat others with kindness and acceptance. “Do we support one another? Do we celebrate each other without feeling threatened? Do we allow
Black people to be different without questioning if they’re Black enough?” Garrett asked. “Changing the Black mindset begins with changing how we see each other and how we treat one another.” Garrett emphasized individuality. “There is no single correct way to be Black. Black people can enjoy different music. Speak differently, dress differently, have different interests and choose different career paths,” Garrett said. “Someone shouldn’t have to perform a stereotype to say that they’re Black enough.” In addition to being more accepting of others, Garrett said there is a need for Black students to take care of their mental health. “We also need to change the idea that struggle is a proof of strength. Sometimes we glorify being exhausted,” Garrett said. “We may tell people to toughen up when they’re experiencing anxiety, depression, grief or even burnout.
Asking for help does not make someone weak.” After Garrett, N’Khia Zachery, a senior political science major, spoke about relationships, community and how Black students can stay connected. She began by backing up some of Garrett’s earlier points about how Black students can be judgmental toward one another. Zachery believes that by being more outgoing and making connections with people they might otherwise ignore, Black students can create a more united community. “I feel like we make judgements a lot towards each other before even speaking to each other. So many times I’ve been called whitewashed,” Zachery said. “I would like for us to just be more accepting of each other. Go extend that outward reach. Talk to them.” Another way Black students can connect, according to Zachery, is through collaboration. By discussing topics that affect everyone
in the Black community, students can relate to one another and work together to find solutions. “I think we should invite each other to more [meetings like this one]. They give us a space to collaborate with each other and touch hard topics,” Zachery said. “We don’t like to hear hard conversations, but that’s the only thing that’s going to get us to the root of the issue, honestly.” Following Zachery, Larvadain spoke to students about the importance of staying in school. Larvadain is the Alexandria representative and a member of the Black Caucus in the Louisiana House of Representatives. “The way to be successful is that you have to educate yourself. You can’t survive without an education,” Larvadain said. “We want the young men to stay in school and graduate because they’re going to be our fathers. The ladies will be our mothers. Ultimately, you all have to graduate and be
successful.” Larvadain also took questions and concerns from students at the meeting about their experiences at LSU. Students at the meeting discussed a variety of subjects with him, including the closing of two cultural centers, Confederate flags on cars around campus, racism in local bars, the closure of Unity Field, the handling of sexual assault cases and an overall lack of communication between LSU and Black student organizations. Larvadain promised to work closely with the Black Caucus and LSU President Wade Rousse to come up with solutions to as many of these issues as possible. “I’m going to talk to the president, and we’re going to see if we can find [a solution]. We want you all to be successful,” Larvadain said. “You can only graduate if you’re in a good, safe environment, meaning that you feel comfortable.”
Thursday, September 24, 2026
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LSU students, faculty research suicide prevention methods BY ABIGAIL ANDERSON Staff Writer LSU undergraduate students, graduate students, and professors work to put together the care necessary to help people of all ages struggling with suicide. This effort, located in Audubon Hall, is called the Consortium for the Advancement of Suicide Prevention. Professors Raymond Tucker, Dan Capron and Ryan Hill lead this consortium, and individually they oversee labs dedicated to understanding different methods of how to best enact suicide prevention techniques. “We know that a lot of people don’t always go seek treatment when they’re suicidal, so part of our work is how can we help increase that help-seeking,” said Tucker, associate professor of psychology. “What else could they do, if they’re not going to go to treatment?” CASP is made up of three research groups that frequently interact. Tucker runs the Mitigation of Suicidal Behavior Laboratory, which deals with the quantitative side of the research, focusing on risk assessments and theories involving suicide. The Suicide Prevention Research Team works on developing brief interventions for people considering suicide. Hill, also an asso-
ciate professor of psychology, leads this team. Capron, associate professor and associate chair in the psychology department, runs the other sector of CASP, the Anxiety and Trauma Research Program. It focuses on anxiety, trauma, cognitive and behavioral risk factors and developing technology-based approaches. Tucker said these teams could help students who are not benefiting from regular therapy sessions. “We have less volume. We can see people longer,” Tucker said. “When someone’s mental health problems or suicidality does not respond after a couple of sessions, we are probably a really good alternative.” Not only do these teams conduct research, but they also apply their findings to help individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts. CASP can help students implement intervention strategies. While the LSU Student Health Center provides mental health resources and therapy to LSU students, the high volume of needs can cause drought periods for students looking to meet regularly. Thus, the psychology department is another option. Tucker has also trained clinicians at the Student Health Center in a therapy intervention technique called Collaborative Assessment in
Management of Suicidality-Brief Intervention, or CAMS-BI. Tucker said CASP also partners with Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center to work on suicide prevention programming in their off campus facilities. Tucker said the partnership is the first team in the world to implement this strategy into a hospital center. CAMS techniques are now being used worldwide. This past summer, Tucker went to Singapore to implement the intervention into their crisis calling system. “They now have been working as an entire country so that within a day of people calling 988, they can get that intervention at a hospital,” Tucker said. Capron’s story with this line of work started when he saw reports that more military service members were dying by suicide than in combat. This led him to begin work with military populations in ATRP, the trauma program. “My immediate reaction was basically ‘That’s not right. I want to do something about it.’ That was what first pulled me to suicide prevention, and it has shaped a lot of my career since then,” Capron said. However, it is not only the professors who make CASP what it is. Undergraduate students and graduate students alike participate in coursework, research and clinical
PHOTO COURTESY OF RAYMOND TUCKER
Emma O’Brien and Abbie Pleiman share resources at the Rain Will Bring Flowers suicide prevention event on Feb. 24 in the PMAC. work. According to Nick Brdar, a clinical psychology graduate student, some days the work is just click-clacking on a keyboard imprinting data, others it’s working with patients. “It’s busy and ever-changing, but that is part of what I love about this work. There are so many different ways to make an impact, and the experience and training I get in one area can strengthen in all other parts of the work too,” Brdar said. Because he is pursuing his doctorate degree, Brdar is considered a “lighthouse.” Tucker describes lighthouses as individuals trained in suicide intervention, so if anyone does not have accessible resources in their community or at the state
level there is someone able to care for them. “But that’s what I think we do at suicide prevention every day. We are just shining lights to our patients on where safer water is,” Tucker said. “And if you can have a 40 year career in which 20, 30,40 more lighthouses exist throughout the country, I think that’s pretty cool.” Through CASP, the LSU Psychology Department does provide services to students struggling with mental health issues and suicidal thoughts. While it is not covered by the student fee bill, students can visit the Psychological Services Center located in Johnston Hall for more information.
ENTERTAINMENT These student organizations foster community by empowering women PUZZLES
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KADENCE HALL Staff Writer
Finding your community on a campus as large as LSU can be difficult, especially with so many club meetings, causes and interests to indulge. Here are a few organizations dedicated to supporting women in their work and daily life. Feminists In Action Feminists In Action promotes community by raising awareness of concerns through the lens of intersectional feminism. Gabriella La Perna is a fifth year biological engineering student and president of Feminists In Action. She joined as a sophomore after meeting two members while riding the bus. “I loved meeting a bunch of like-minded people, intersectional feminists and women who are angry about the same problems on campus. It really gave me a place where I can grow my own identity as a feminist,” La Perna said. Looking to contribute more to Baton Rouge’s community, FIA plans to bring a larger presence to its volunteer efforts such as working at the IRIS Domestic Violence Center, collecting donations for the community pantry and crafting period kits to distribute among the community. “Within our community, working with each other looks like promoting resources. How can we tell each other where to find Plan B, condoms and access to people willing to listen? That’s our kind of stuff,” La Perna said. Girls Club Girls Club is a women-empowerment group for women pursuing careers in sports or who are otherwise interested in sports. Senior Morris Lloyd, 20, serves as Girls Club’s vice president this year. She’s excited for the club’s upcoming events, which will give members experience in professional development, networking and community volunteer opportunities. Through Girls Club, Lloyd has shown young professionals and sports fans an often unseen side of sports. “We toured the football operations building. We got to show them the inside and outside practice field and the training facilities, which is something not easily available so it was nice to be able to provide that opportunity for the girls,” Lloyd said. Girls Club helps students become better professionals and community members. Through preparing first aid kits for races in downtown Baton Rouge and
playing in a powderpuff game held at the LSU University Recreation later this semester, Girls Club provides ample opportunities for students to be part of a community. “We are very much a family, especially this year. I know we’re just starting out, but I can just see the connection, the bond that we have, especially with our turnout that we had at our interest meeting,” Lloyd said. Lloyd wants Girls Club to be a home for any women interested in sports, professionally or not, and interested parties can join the club at any point throughout the year. Girls Club is always a phone call or email away for any LSU student who might need an outlet or support. For more information on Girls Club, visit its Instagram. Women in Business Women in Business is an organization dedicated to supporting women through workplace challenges faced by women everywhere. Alongside general guidance, WIB provides members with professional development workshops and access to speaker panels with insight on different careers. Senior Eden Vann, now vice president of outreach and recruitment for WIB, majors in finance and was grateful to join a community of driven women during her sophomore year. “Nobody talks about finance where I’m from, let alone being a woman in finance,” Vann said. Joining Women In Business provided Vann a support system for students who had already fought the upward battle that comes with being a woman in a male-dominated space. Now as an executive member, Vann can be the woman to take others under her wing, which is what WIB is all about to her.
For Senior Olivia Redivo,the joy of being a club member lives i the great selection of speakers and the community formed smong members. Redivo seved as the presidet of WIB this year and is looking forward to the speakers the club will meet with this semester. “Our speakers are able to provide such unique perspectives about challenges that women face in the workplace, even in industries I don’t want to be in, because we’re all going to face the same challenges even if we’re in different industries,” Redivo said. Community members can expect more speakers from diverse markets like medical sales and construction. A speaker panel with vice president of the LSU Foundation, Krista Raney, and the CFO of Tiger Athletic Foundation, Alicia Vidrine, will also occur later in the semester. “Just show up to the meeting and you’re going to walk out of there with friends and with mentors who want to help you. Nothing can go wrong by just showing up,” Vann advises future members. The executive board knows that joining clubs can be intimidating because you don’t know anyone, so WIB has set up a buddy system of sorts to combat that fear. Each official member of the club will be assigned to an executive member who will message reminders and checkins, as well as advise you personally. “We’re hoping that with these WIB communities, we’ll be able to host mini study sessions or send invites to pilates classes, to just create that sense of comm unity on a deeper level with our group members,” Redivo said. For more information on Women in Business, visit its Instagram.
COURTESY OF WOMEN IN BUSINESS
Members of LSU’s Women in Business
FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 24, 2026
THE Daily Commuter Puzzle by Stella Zawistowski ACROSS 1 Sound of summoning 5 Mine passage 10 Skilled cook 14 Second-year student, for short 15 Blended paste 16 Stop, drop, and __ 17 “Are you __ out?”: 2 wds. 18 Jordan’s capital 19 Actress Rossum 20 Fluffy white dog breed: 2 wds. 23 Audiocassette 24 __-Atlantic region 25 Fritter away 27 Pacifying 33 “Let __ ourselves!”: 2 wds. 34 Remove dirt from 35 End of a boot 36 Bridge measurement 37 Send to office 38 Despise 39 Pronoun for a boat 40 Church sections 41 World Cup cheers 42 Not harmed at all 45 June celebration 46 Need to repay 47 San Fran neighborhood, for short 48 Words like “Wow!” and “Oops!” 54 Took pictures of 55 Small movie role 56 River of Egypt 58 Taboo action 59 Organized labor group 60 MBA subject: Abbr. 61 Tennis tournament type 62 Very concise 63 Bit in a bird feeder
9/24/26
Created by Stella Zawistowski
DOWN 1 Tire measurement: Abbr. 2 Vocal piece 3 Places to watch games: 2 wds. 4 Menace 5 Sudden rush 6 Camel’s feature 7 “You and what __?” 8 Dread 9 Apartment buildings 10 Sets of beliefs 11 “__ on the Range” 12 Stately trees 13 Spider’s prey 21 Tailless primate 22 Actress Vardalos 25 Martial arts style 26 Colorado town 27 God of Islam 28 Annoyance 29 Walked back and forth 30 Fat-free frozen treat: 2 wds.
Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved
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31 “Duly __” 32 V-formation birds 34 Pork chop type: 2 wds. 38 Estrogen et al. 43 Fiber from plants 44 Shock and __ 45 Luau food 47 Rock’s makeup
9/24/26
48 Blue-roofed eatery 49 All or __ 50 Actress Fonda 51 Mideastern ruler 52 Biz bigwigs: abbr. 53 __ gin fizz 54 __-Caps 57 Wrap up
Thursday, September 24, 2026
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Thursday, September 24, 2026
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Design by Emily Boudreaux
Photos by Tucker Manning
STUDENTS ON THE MOVE Slow shutter is used to capture students walking around campus on Sept. 15.
An LSU student speaks on the phone.
An LSU student walks by Himes Hall.
LSU students stroll in front of Memorial Tower.
LSU students cross the sidewalk near Victory Hill.
LSU students and workers walk in the Quad.
LSU students leave the bus stop.
Thursday, September 24, 2026
page 8 STUDENT LIFE
The Birding Club at LSU flocks together to learn about birds PAIGE CHERAMIE Staff Writer Students interested in learning about birds and getting outdoors can join the Birding Club at LSU, a student organization dedicated to studying birds in their natural habitats. President Libby Brennan, a senior natural resource ecology and management major, said the organization is more than just education. “What I’m passionate about in terms of Birding Club is giving people a community to get them to go outside, and also get them involved with fieldwork, have them make friends, see new birds and just have fun experiences outside of the classroom that relate to natural resources,” Brennan said. The organization has monthly meetings, consisting of guest speakers such as LSU professors, birding photo quizzes, watching bird-centered movies and other bird-focused activities. Additionally, the organization members get together throughout the academic year for trips both local and beyond Baton Rouge. This semester,
the organization will visit the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge, according to Treasurer Finley May, a junior natural resource ecology and management major. Secretary Breya Dry, a senior mass communication major, shared that the Birding Club at LSU does an annual trip to Grand Isle in the spring semester. At that time, spring migration is happening, so attendees get to see many different species of birds that are flying through. During birding walks and trips, attendees are encouraged to bring cameras and binoculars, but the officers of the organization recognize this equipment can be expensive. “We have binoculars for anyone that wants to attend our events,” May said. “That should never be a barrier.” Both May and Brennan pointed out the distinction between birding and bird-watching. Although at its core the activities are similar, birding is the active pursuit of new bird species and education, while bird watching is more passive and incidental discoveries. For Dry, the organization is
COURTESY OF THE BIRDING CLUB AT LSU
a way for her to become more aware of her everyday surroundings. “When you go outside, you see all these animals,” Dry said. “I want to be able to see an animal and be able to identify it and know fact after fact about it.” The organization is in a transformation phase, with many new efforts in progress, said May, who is set to take over the position of president in the coming weeks. Brennan
is choosing to step down to allow the organization a smooth transition for her graduation in December. One of these efforts is a proposal for a grant from the student sustainability fund to place hummingbird feeders around campus, said May. Another effort she said they are working toward is becoming a collegiate chapter of the National Audubon Society. Students looking to join the Birding Club at LSU can join the
organization GroupMe, or follow the organization on Instagram. Members do not have to go to meetings to attend birding trips, said Brennan. “We will teach you the birds,” Brennan said. “If you aren’t good at learning them, it’s fine. Just be there. And if you are really good at birding around here, also join. It doesn’t matter your experience level. We just want everyone to have a community to hang out and look at birds.”
CAMPUS LIFE
Study Abroad Fair allows students to explore global programs MACI WILEY Staff Writer Students gained knowledge of the various study abroad programs that LSU offers at the Study Abroad Fair on Tuesday in the Student Union. With over 30 booths, students were able to voice concerns, learn about financial aid and connect with facultyled programs. LSU Study Abroad prides itself on offering students the tools needed to succeed. The fair consisted of many resources such as LSU Financial Aid & Scholarships, the Olinde Career Center, the LSU Department of veteran affairs, the career center, veteran affairs and advisors to help with scholarships, along with affiliate pro-
viders to tell students about the year-long abroad opportunities that they offer. “We offer drop-in hours where we can discuss the scholarships that we have,” said Heidi Parsons, study abroad advisor for STEM majors. ”We also have opportunities like the Study Abroad Fair, where each of the scholarships have their own table. So just come to information sessions if you’re unsure what opportunities are there for you financially.” At LSU, students have many different opportunities to learn about the financial options offered for study abroad programs. “We also have events around campus that we do,” Parsons said. “Sometimes we go out to specific colleges. For example, I am in the
TUCKER MANNING / The Reveille
LSU students listen to a study abroad staff member Sept. 22 during LSU’s Study Abroad Fest in the Student Union.
engineering building every Monday; students can come by and talk about scholarships there. We have peer advisors who also have walk-ins who can help with scholarships, and we also do presentations.” Junior Xavier Wagner, a Gilman Program scholarship recipient, recommends that students interested in study abroad apply for as many scholarships as possible. “The scholarship is for any LSU student interested in studying abroad who is Pell Grant-eligible,” said Wagner, a renewable natural resources major. “I absolutely encourage you to apply if eligible, because most Pell Grant students who apply for that scholarship do get some sort of funding. Definitely apply for as many scholarships as possible.” With the program growing every year, so does the list of places offered. Now, LSU students can study at destinations ranging from countries across Europe and Asia. “We have a couple of new ones this semester,” director of Study Abroad, Shelley RoyerFremaux, said. “In the summer we have South Korea; you could do K-pop and K-entertainment. We have programs in Morocco, Egypt, and we have several in the U.K. with really cool themes. We have a new program that will be in Tahiti and Japan.” Although it offers many networking opportunities and resume experience, there is still more to gain from learning abroad than just academic credit
TUCKER MANNNG / The Reveille
Mike the Tiger stands with Kaitlyn Hearty Sept. 22 during the LSU Study Abroad Fest in the Student Union. and work experience. “Students gain a really awesome worldview to be able to connect to other nations and cross the boundary between borders,” Mason Barto, instructor of classics, said. “I think it’s really awesome to connect to people that speak a different language. Even if you don’t learn the language, I’m all about teaching languages and learning to cross that boundary between both national borders and language barriers.” Many prospective students deal with anxiety before the experience. For junior Joelle Williams, her worries mostly lie in the transition to being abroad for the first time. “I’ve never been out of the country before, so I’m kind of nervous about how it’s all going
to play out — how my life will be like living there for over a month,” said Williams, a biological sciences and women, gender and sexuality studies major. Taking action and voicing any concerns is one of the many steps students are suggested to take if they are unsure whether study abroad is for them. For students who may be hesitant to look into study abroad programs, Wagner recommends simply reaching out. “Take the leap and ask some questions; reach out to someone in the Study Abroad department. Just get some information,” Wagner said. “I was someone just a year ago who thought they may want to study abroad but wasn’t sure. I just decided to say, why not, and it was the best experience I’ve had in school.”
SPORTS GEAUX VS. GIG’EM
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LSU football’s history against Texas A&M sets the stage for Saturday’s battle
BY MARISSA REISS Staff Writer Number 10 LSU football seeks to redeem its reputation as it takes on No. 23 Texas A&M in Week 4 of college football. The two teams have met 64 times, and LSU holds a 36-25-3 all-time advantage over the Aggies. The history of the once final-week opponents runs deep, and although they are no longer in each other’s rivalry fixture, the tension between these conference opponents hasn’t died down. As the Aggies head into Death Valley this year, the historical hostility will only continue given the stakes. The Tigers’ reign in Death Valley When the lights brighten for a Saturday night matchup in Death Valley, LSU reigns with sole possession over its home territory. LSU and Texas A&M have faced each other at Tiger Stadium 40 times out of the 64 contests. The Tigers have a 28-11-1 record over the Aggies in Baton Rouge and hold a six-game win streak from 2013 up until 2023. The biggest, longest upsets In 2018 No. 7 LSU and No. 23 Texas A&M at the time competed in one of the longest games in college football history. A 3131 tie after four quarters soon turned into seven overtimes later in what became the highestscoring college football game in modern history: 74-72 Texas A&M.
HINESLEY BRYANT / The Reveille
LSU football sophomore tight end Trey’Dez Green (14) runs the ball during their 49-25 loss against Texas A&M on Oct. 25 at Tiger Stadium. In 2022, the Aggies only fueled the resentment from Tiger fans. A 38-23 upset in College Station, Texas, eliminated the hopes for then No. 5 LSU to make the playoffs. Texas A&M had simply returned the favor from the year prior. In 2021, LSU did the opposite. The Tigers secured an upset win over the Aggies, 27-25, in former head coach Ed Orgeron’s last game as head coach at LSU. 2024 marked the most recent upset, and the Tigers found themselves trapped once more. LSU faced Texas A&M in a drama-filled game at College Station. Although the Tigers led 17-7
heading into halftime, a lackluster second-half performance from then-quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and the LSU defense handed the Aggies a win. The Aggies’ backup quarterback at the time, Marcel Reed, became the talk of the 2024 matchup. When Texas A&M benched starter Conner Weigmen, Reed was given the chance to prove himself and find an answer to LSU’s 10-point lead coming out of the half. He did exactly that. Reed and the newfound life of Aggies’ offense outscored the Tigers 31-6 in the second half, upsetting No. 8 LSU 38-23. Reed completed both of his pass attempts and rushed for three
touchdowns on 62 yards. The 2025 catastrophe The significant third-quarter exit on Oct. 25, 2025, changed everything for LSU in the span of 24 hours. A 35-point third-quarter run by the Aggies left Tiger fans no choice but to leave Tiger Stadium before the fourth quarter even started. The disastrous 49-25 defeat marked the end of the Brian Kelly era, with the former head coach being fired the next morning. In addition, the Tigers’ loss became the first time in over three decades that A&M had secured a win at Tiger Stadium. Reed was the Tigers’ worst nightmare once again. The
now-starting mobile quarterback had found every gap that he could in LSU’s defense. Not even 5 minutes into the game, Reed ran straight into the end zone for a 41-yard touchdown. Reed continued to put up numbers throughout the historic night, passing for 202 yards and adding 2 touchdowns with 102 yards himself. LSU’s pine for redemption 2026’s matchup will be the Tigers’ chance at revenge from the previous season’s loss, but it will also serve as a redemption game from LSU’s recent loss on the road to Ole Miss. This matchup is not only a chance for LSU to come back from its first loss of the season, but to show Texas A&M the sheer difference of the program this year as opposed to the last time the two teams faced off. On the other side of the ball, the Aggies possess a two-game win streak over the Tigers and aren’t looking to snap that as they travel to Death Valley for the second consecutive year. Texas A&M also looks to regroup from a Week 3 loss. The Aggies suffered a 31-21 loss to Kentucky after allowing the Wildcats to post a 28-point third quarter. That made the Aggies’ attempt to make a fourth-quarter comeback futile. LSU and Texas A&M are both 2-1 and 0-1 in SEC play. Only one can come away with a 3-1 record, and given the two rivals’ intense history, it won’t be easy from either side of the 50-yard line.
How LSU football can solve its mobile quarterback problem BY TRIPP BUHLER Staff Writer The last time LSU faced Texas A&M, LSU students were surrounded by enemies in their own stadium. But there was no danger or threat of violence. Instead, they were met with consolation and empathy. Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed and his team’s dismantling of LSU in 2025 was too ugly for trash talk. Many Aggie fans felt bad for LSU fans as Texas A&M supporters took over Tiger Stadium and wildly outnumbered LSU students in their own section. Tiger fans, those who left and those who stayed, knew why they were beaten by Reed. LSU once again fell victim to a mobile quarterback with a good arm, an archetype that has sliced through defensive coordinator Blake Bak-
er’s otherwise impassable squad and scheme. LSU is approaching Sept. 19 off of a loss to Ole Miss and Heisman frontrunner quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, whom LSU head coach Lane Kiffin called the most dynamic player in college football. While Reed might not be at that level now, he has shown he can take down LSU nearly on his own. But he and the Aggies haven’t had a great start to 2026. Texas A&M lost to Kentucky by two scores on Saturday, and Reed in particular has seen his struggles. “You can see him pressing, you can see the stress in him when he’s trying to throw because he’s trying to be perfect,” Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko said following the game. “I’ve got to get him mentally to a place where he can really cut it loose and feel free.”
LSU’s defense can’t give Reed much room to breathe. Outside of the first half against Ole Miss, the Bayou Bandits have been suffocating. The biggest asset for LSU’s defense has been speed. Edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen leads the country in sacks with 5, helping LSU top the SEC sack leaderboard with 14. He will be matched against Aggie right tackle Wilkin Formby, who has been one of the better tackles in the SEC so far this year. Their battles will be the most crucial in the trenches for the Tigers. Fellow edge rushers Jordan Ross and Dylan Carpenter have also been solid in Baker’s defense. Even if they don’t have Umanmielen’s speed, they possess the power to win battles and get into the backfield. Since LSU has to get to Reed early, linebackers TJ Dottery and
Whit Weeks will once again be utilized in blitzes. Baker’s scheme for them has put them in positions to overpower offensive lines and blow up plays before routes can develop. Assignments can’t be missed like they were before against Ole Miss. “I think we lead the country in rush defense, but that hasn’t been worked against a ton of quarterback-schemed runs,” Kiffin said Monday at his weekly press conference. “So that’s a different set of challenges. Really takes a lot of discipline and a lot of guys doing really well.” If Reed sees pressure in his face before his receivers can get their routes underway, bad throws can fall right into the hands of LSU’s defensive backs. The Tiger secondary is one of the best in the country, but is helped immensely by Baker’s
blitzes. Against both Clemson and Ole Miss, LSU had plays where pressure from a linebacker or safety forced a bad throw and interception. LSU has to win the turnover battle against Reed. Texas A&M’s receiving core took a hit on Monday when it was announced that Terry Bussey would miss the rest of the season with injury, but Mario Craver and Isaiah Horton still pose a threat. The two combined for 180 yards on 16 receptions. “[They’re] very explosive, fast,” Kiffin said. “They’re really hard to deal with coming in and out of breaks… so we’re going to have our hands full.” With LSU’s defense looking even sharper than last year, Tiger fans that stay until the end Saturday have a better chance of being surrounded by friends, not enemies.
Thursday, September 24, 2026
page 10 FOOTBALL
Lane Kiffin’s Oxford performance similar to prior matchup BY ADAM KIRSCHMAN Staff Writer LSU fans experienced a moment of deja vu on Sept. 19. A top-10 LSU squad was defeated, for the second straight year, by a lower-ranked Ole Miss team in Oxford, only this time with the Tigers led by head coach Lane Kiffin. Kiffin looked like the perfect candidate to bring the Tigers back to SEC glory at the start of the season, but didn’t prove himself in his first major matchup. With a long season still ahead, the vibe around Baton Rouge has shifted from ex-
cited to nervous, as fans hope this game was just a bump in the road rather than a preview of how the team will look for the rest of the year. Last year, when former head coach Brian Kelly took his first loss of the season in a 24-19 loss at Ole Miss, many fans started pushing for his exit as his poor record in ranked matchups mounted. As Kelly’s replacement, Kiffin now must prove himself to a fanbase that has patiently waited for its next championship coach and paid $90 million to get that in Kiffin. Despite LSU’s fanbase still backing Kiffin after Saturday’s
32-24 loss, the similarities in Kelly and Kiffin’s losses to Ole Miss show that not enough has changed between then and now. The largest issue in the past two matchups with Ole Miss has been LSU’s inability to produce in the first half on offense. In this year’s matchup, LSU went into the half down 24-7, similar to the year before where they were forced to fight back from 17-7 at the break. Kiffin could not scheme up easy plays for quarterback Sam Leavitt to break through the Rebels’ defense in the first quarter, leading to Leavitt scrambling. The LSU quarterback finished
ALEXIS PERSICKE / The Reveille
LSU football head coach Lane Kiffin adjusts his headset Sept. 19 during the 32-24 loss to Ole Miss at VaughtHemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss.
the first half with 51 passing yards and 28 rushing yards and finished the game with far lower totals than Ole Miss Trinidad Chambliss. For a good bit of the first half, everything LSU tried on Ole Miss looked hopeless. Fans used to ridicule Kelly last year for conservative play calling, but that became a theme on Saturday. Kiffin repeatedly called quick option plays, which the Rebels easily contained to short gains. The Tigers also struggled on third down, finishing the night 9-for-17 on conversions while only avoiding punting on one drive in the first half. The next few weeks will be big tests for Kiffin to revive this offense and work with it in more aggressive ways. LSU cannot play as conservatively as it did against Ole Miss in future SEC matchups. Otherwise, more strong defenses will demolish this run-heavy system. Kiffin can learn from Kelly’s mistake of not changing his system when reacting to a tough loss, and instead turn the offense around for another possible duel with Texas A&M next week. Another thing LSU needs to improve for next week’s matchup with Texas A&M is how it performs against top quarterbacks. In the past two matchups versus Ole Miss, LSU’s defense has failed to hold Chambliss under 300 passing yards, despite
having one of the nation’s top defenses. This year, LSU went into Oxford with the top scoring defense and second-best rushing defense in the nation, but failed to get key stops on multiple occasions. Both of Chambliss’s passing touchdowns came at the mercy of LSU’s defensive backs, the weakest part of its defense, as he found pay dirt on both from over 20 yards out. Last year, key players like Mansoor Delane and AJ Haulcy made things a lot harder for the Ole Miss passing attack, but LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker still somewhat shut down the passing game in the second half this go around. Baker had success stalling Chambliss in the second half, holding the Rebels to only 8 points this year, but it still was not enough. Despite the loss, LSU’s defense was able to record 2 sacks, something it was unable to do last year. Even after last year’s loss to the Rebels, LSU’s defense continued to be a bright spot for the rest of the year. It’s likely LSU’s defense won’t fizzle out from just one poor performance, as many of the nation’s best have struggled against this Ole Miss offense. Kiffin will have plenty more opportunities to prove himself to LSU, and with Texas A&M and Kentucky coming up, fans might get a glimpse of how strong this LSU team can end up being.
SOCCER
LSU soccer’s lineup of Icelandic athletes bridges talent gap BY ADDISON HERNANDEZ Staff Writer Moving far from home is a quintessential college experience for many LSU students. Since the arrival of LSU soccer head coach Sian Hudson, some soccer players have taken it another step further, going international. The Welsh coach looked north to the northernmost capital city in the world, Reykjavík, Iceland, to find some of the Tigers’ star players. Little did she know her recruitment of Ida Hermannsdóttir to play for LSU during the 2022-2025 seasons would be the jumpstart the program needed. Hermannsdóttir was pivotal to the team as an offensive powerhouse in each game she played, and helped in Hudson’s Icelandic reach to recruit nowsenior goalkeeper Audur Scheving. Scheving arrived in Baton Rouge and walked straight onto the pitch for the Tigers, leaving behind the 2 seasons and 25 games she played at the highest professional level in Iceland for Stjarnan Football Club. Bringing her experience from professional play in Eu-
rope, the Reykjavík native has anchored the team with her appearances in 31 games and tallied 100 saves for the Tigers before starting her senior season. “[I’m] really proud,” Scheving told the Reveille during the 2024 season about her accomplishments as a goalkeeper. “I had no idea what I was getting into when I came here, but I’m finding a passion for it again.” Coming into the 2026 season, Hudson was aware of the changes that would be happening to the lineup. Starting players graduated, meaning new talent had to take over. Once again, Hudson looked north to keep finding her standout players. She returned to campus with two Icelandic freshmen ready to take on the SEC. Rakel Sigurðardóttir and Berglind Hlynsdóttir both arrived in Baton Rouge after getting Hudson’s attention by skipping over milestones in the Icelandic professional soccer world. Going straight to Besta deild kvenna teams, the same professional league where Hudson found Hermannsdóttir and Scheving. Sigurðardóttir instantly found her fit at LSU was instant,
being considered a classic fullback and easy to place right in front of fellow Nordic teammate Scheving. The defensive player has given her all to the team in the short time since she arrived by being a dominating force in aerial defense as well as regaining possession of the ball. Complementing Sigurðardóttir’s stability, Hlynsdóttir wasted no time making her own mark on the opposite side of the pitch. Right when Hlynsdóttir arrived to play her first game, she decided to prove exactly why Hudson had put her in, earning her first goal in the Tigers’ non-conference 3-2 victory over Miami (Ohio). Shelater bagged her second during a 3-1 loss against No. 16 South Carolina. As Sigurðardóttir and Hlynsdóttir further establish their impact on SEC soccer, they are also solidifying the changes Hudson has made to the LSU soccer program. What began with the arrival of a one-off recruit became Hudson building a bridge between European experience and composure to bring these girls to Baton Rouge. Now, with Scheving taking the veteran role
in guiding the newest additions to the Tigers, Hudson has a full set of Icelandic stars at each po-
sition to ensure that the team continues its upward momentum.
TUCKER MANNING/ The Reveille
LSU women’s soccer freshman forward Berglind Hlynsdóttir (10) concentrates on the play Sept. 11 during LSU’s 3-1 loss against Tennessee at LSU soccer stadium.
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OPINION
page 12
Trump’s attacks on media are an attack on freedom of the press MONTGOMERY’S MONOLOGUE KELSI MONTGOMERY Columnist What is the purpose of a free press? What did our Founding Fathers intend when they penned the First Amendment? The American Civil Liberties Union offers a clear answer: “The freedom of the press, protected by the First Amendment, is critical to a democracy in which the government is accountable to the people. A free media functions as a watchdog that can investigate and report on government wrongdoing.” Free press is for the people, not for the government to create statesponsored narratives meant to be fed to the masses. A free press is not to be manipulated by elected representatives to alter reality until it suits a specific platform. The free press is meant to provide citizens with the raw and honest truth; so, what are we to do with an administration that intends to repurpose this vital right
into a weapon of propaganda and manipulation? On Sept. 18, President Donald Trump banned CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House press room, citing concerns of “fake news” according to a post from Trump’s own social media platform, Truth Social. My personal translation of this decision? Donald Trump is angered by his portrayal in the media. Can I provide a further observation? The portrayal is of his own making. CNN reports that “Trump announced he was barring the three outlets from the White House because he didn’t like their coverage,” and that following the ban, “reporters’ press passes to access the White House grounds were deactivated.” They further reported that Trump didn’t like “negative stories” and didn’t have to let the outlets “into the people’s house.” The aforementioned media outlets filed a joint emergency request to present the issue before a federal judge in the D.C. District Court, which could yield results in the coming days. There’s clear bias in Trump’s
motivations: Negative coverage is not synonymous with defamation. Kicking media outlets out of a press room as a form of punishment for unsavory reporting is eerily contradictory to the principles of a free press. Can we argue that the president can be offended by the reaction of the public or even the way certain things are worded in the media? Absolutely. However, there’s a specific beauty within the First Amendment. The First Amendment was not created to defend a person’s feelings or what they may want their perception to be despite their documented words. In fact, the First Amendment was crafted for the exact opposite purpose: To protect the American public’s access to information in spite of political interests that would otherwise bury the truth beneath vanity. Following criticism of the ban, the official White House website released a statement defending President Trump, arguing, “No President is required to host a hostile operation on the grounds. Access has always been a privilege —
and President Trump is applying that rule.” Sure, President Trump and those around him have every right to revoke public access to certain parts of the White House. That said, there is a stark difference between revoking access to a building and revoking access to transparency. While this incident within itself was upsetting for many civilians and those in media spaces, an announcement by President Trump shortly after the announcement of the bans also created discourse, specifically around the concerns of state-run media. On Sept. 21, President Trump launched the outlet Trump TV, which was described by NPR as “a 24/7 Youtube channel promising to put its “biggest moments all in one place.”’ which has further “drawn criticism from press-freedom advocates and Democratic lawmakers.” Despite President Trump denying any allegations of state-run media, there are many who have taken a historical perspective and are aware of the consequences of
any media that is solely controlled by any government official. And in my opinion, state run media outlets are catalysts for larger instances in which a free press is no longer the standard. In conjunction with his ban on certain media outlets in the press room, it is very concerning from a civilian view and raises the question of what is President Trump trying to hide and what narrative is he going to try and spin next. During New York Times Co. v. United States in 1971, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black said, “The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.” Time has not buried the weight of that quote. If anything, time has cemented it. The press is not for any government official, agency or committee that desperately wants the world to view them in some sacred light. The press is not for Trump. The press is for the people and will always be for the people. Kelsi Montgomery is a 19-yearold journalism major from Baton Rouge.
The future is female ambition, not some misogynistic fantasy WARREN’S WAY JEANNE WARREN Columnist American women have only been able to vote for about a century. The 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920, and even then, many Black women, Native American women and other women of color were shut out by discrimination that lasted well into the 1960s. In other parts of the world, the gap is far wider. In Afghanistan, the Taliban has barred girls from secondary schools and universities, and in 2024, it issued rules prohibiting women’s voices from being heard in public. Next to that, my frustrations feel small, and I know how fortunate I am. However, being better off from someone else still doesn’t make the standard fair. Progress is real, but it is not the same as being finished. There is still work to be done. I have lost count of the number of times I’ve told someone that I want to be a corporate attorney and eventually have my own firm. Each time, I’ve
received the same response: “Don’t you want to have kids?” Yes, I do. That being said, even if I didn’t, why is that the first thing that comes to mind? The fact that a question like that is a reflex says something bigger than just one awkward conversation. Growing up, I was told I could be anything, whether that was an engineer, a CEO or a president. As a child, I wanted to work at McDonald’s to eat free fries all day. I got a little older, realized that was a bit unrealistic and settled on neurosurgery. Once I realized I absolutely could not deal with blood or anything of the sort, I found passion in advocacy and understood my true calling was to be an attorney. I was told the sky was the limit, so I began to reach for the stars. After all, women on college campuses across the country are running organizations, chasing internships and applying to prestigious programs. All of these things are absolutely fantastic, but there is still a fine print that men are not subjected to. Women are allowed to have careers, as long as we still measure up to the outdated expectations attached to being a woman. The double stan-
dard is brighter than the sun and easy to spot once you spend five seconds looking for it. A man who is focused on his career is called driven, ambitious and a go-getter. No one questions his character, his priorities or his future family. A woman with the same schedule and the same goals is described differently: She is selfish, intimidating, not soft enough, not submissive enough and not fit to be a good mother. I often imagine how much more my choices would be celebrated rather than disparaged if I were a man aspiring to the same goals. Male ambition is virtue, and somehow, female ambition is fallacy. Even when a woman earns her career, another job is waiting at home. The critique is harsh but clear. Society wants women to work like men, contribute financially like men and pursue careers like men, only to come home and still fulfill the traditional role of a woman by cleaning, cooking, raising children and maintaining the household. The logic is ridiculous. A misogynistic man may want a traditional woman but will conveniently ignore the part where a traditional man
took care of all finances, housework and never asked a woman what she brought to the table. After all, she’d be setting it. Sociologists have a name for this ideological premise and call it the “second shift,” and research continues to show that in households where both partners work full-time, women still do more of the housework and childcare. Equality was meant to imply sharing the load, but for many women it has meant adding a new load on top of the old and then being told to be grateful for the opportunity. For women in college like myself, this pressure comes early. We are chasing all of the things the average man in college would while still being expected to have a plan for a family that doesn’t exist. Male classmates plan their futures around careers while many women are expected to plan their futures around a hypothetical husband and children. An ambitious woman may be asked to settle down as if ambition is just a passing phase. The constant second-guessing is frustrating, and I often feel I need to work twice as hard to be accepted. Despite this, wanting more will never be some-
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thing I apologize for. This does not mean motherhood is the root of all evil or something to look down upon. Many women do want children and look forward to it. The issue is that people view motherhood as the default by which a woman’s worth is evaluated. A woman should be able to want a career and a family, or one or the other, without being treated as selfish or incomplete. The question goes both ways, and if we’re going to ask women how they’ll manage children and a career, we need to be asking the same of men. Until this shift occurs, I’ll keep answering the dreaded “what about kids?” question — just on my own terms. I will not give the socially acceptable answer anymore. Yes, maybe I’ll have kids. I’ll also have my own career, voice and goals that don’t require anyone else’s permission. It is my life and body, and if I wish to be “selfish” in the eyes of society, I will do so. I’ll sleep well at night knowing that I am a woman on my own terms. Jeanne Warren is a 20-year-old political comunication major from Baton Rouge.
Quote of the Week “Equality is the soul of liberty; there is, in fact, no liberty without it.” Frances Wright
Scottish-American writer and abolitionist 1795 — 1852