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GOLDEN GET BACK LSU football claims first SEC win of season with 35-6 victory over Texas A&M. Photo by Aidan Liss
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AGGIES SILENCED
LSU football takes down Texas A&M for first time since 2023 season BY ALEX SHEESLEY Sports Editor The collision between LSU and Texas A&M was destined to be weighty. Both entered Saturday’s game trying to shake losses to open conference play, and LSU still had the bitter taste of the Aggies running LSU fans out of its own building in 2025. When it was all over, LSU got the measure of revenge it’d waited the better part of a year for. LSU defeated Texas A&M in Baton Rouge on Saturday, 35-6. With the win, the Tigers claim their first victory over the Aggies since 2023 and advance to 3-1 on the season. The Tigers started slow once again. After anemic offensive starts against Clemson and Ole Miss, quarterback Sam Leavitt and the offense went three-andout on the game’s first drive. Thankfully for LSU, its defense remained stout in the early going. It shook off a firstplay success on the ground from Texas A&M’s quarterback, Marcel Reed, to get the ball back into the hands of LSU. Then, LSU’s offense found some life. Starting from inside the Aggies’ 20-yard line, the Tigers put together an 8-play touchdown drive, propelled by a 36-yard carry from running back Dilin Jones that was equal parts strong and shifty. Jones got to finish the drive on the ground, punching it into the end zone on second-and-goal from the 1-yard line to get LSU on the board first. The trends began to reverse following the touchdown. LSU’s offense, which hummed on its touchdown drive, went threeand-out in its remaining firstquarter possessions. LSU’s defense was strong, but began to slip. Texas A&M ended the quarter converting on third-and-14 when Aggies’ wide receiver Mario Craver went 15 yards after a screen
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LSU football defensive end senior Princewill Umanmielen (1) tackles an Aggie Sept. 26 during LSU’s 35-6 win against Texas A&M in Tiger Stadium. pass, slicing through defenders to move the sticks. A&M offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins mixed in passes, runs and designed rushes for Reed to keep LSU’s defense off balance, a mix that put the Aggies in a goal-to-go scenario early in the second quarter. Backed against its goal line, LSU stood tall to retain the lead. It clogged a run on first down and generated a pair of incompletions, forcing Texas A&M to settle for a field goal. After exchanging punts, LSU’s 4-minute offense appeared sluggish. A beautiful ball from Leavitt to wide receiver Winston Watkins Jr. changed that, putting LSU into A&M’s territory on a third-down throw. In 2 plays, LSU’s offense found 71 yards and got into the red zone for the 2-minute timeout. Leavitt found a different receiver, Jackson Harris, with a wonderfully placed pass on the first play out of the stoppage for a touchdown. The strike pushed the LSU lead to 14-3 heading into halftime. The second half was where 2024’s and 2025’s contests turned.
AIDAN LISS / The Reveille
LSU football freshman defensive tackle Deuce Geralds (99) celebrates after a sack Sept. 26 during LSU’s game versus Texas A&M in Tiger Stadium.
The Tigers made sure that trend was shaken this season. LSU started the half by forcing a three-and-out, capped by a sack by safety Tamarcus Cooley, who flew in off the edge to rock Reed. Reed was quieted in this year’s contest after being LSU’s kryptonite in the Aggies’ last two matchups against the Tigers. His legs, the biggest catalyst to his success, lost 13 yards on the ground on Saturday. He was constantly under pressure and often failed to escape it, being the victim of 4 sacks. “He’s a really good quarterback, a really good athlete,” safety Ty Benefield said. “It just shows how when you do your job and the little things, you can see how small things just equal big things … [If] you can make somebody just go back there and see ghosts, in coverage it makes it a lot easier. I’m just super proud of that [defensive line].” The shutting down of Reed silenced the narrative surrounding LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s inability to stop a mobile quarterback. “I thought Blake did a really good job,” LSU head coach Lane Kiffin said. “That’s what good coaches do, spend an off-season to gameplan for a specific game like this, which helps you down the road because you’re going to play more of them.” On the drive following the Cooley sack, LSU faced fourth and short in its own territory. The offense came out with the personnel and formation indicating a run. Texas A&M sold out for the run, but it was a pass, leaving a streaking Harris wide open for Leavitt to find for a touchdown. “My heart got caught beating a little bit when they called it, because I knew it was going to work and we’d been repping it all week,” Harris said. “I was just excited that they called it.” The brave play call and resulting touchdown seemed to ignite
something in the LSU offense, as the unit found a new level for the rest of the night. “This is who we are,” Kiffin said. “We take shots in these situations, even though we’re ahead.” Redshirt sophomore Landen Clark came in as the quarterback at the goal line in the next LSU series, a 5-play, 34-yard touchdown drive. He deked two defenders on a designed run to find the end zone from 4 yards out to give LSU a 28-3 lead. With a big lead in hand, LSU’s defense made sure its advantage was more than enough to close out the night. This was done without linebacker Whit Weeks, who exited the game on crutches and wearing a walking boot on his right foot during the third quarter. The team announced Sunday that Weeks fractured his right leg. A tipped Leavitt pass led to an interception, but the quick turnaround was no problem for the LSU defense. The Bayou Bandits allowed only 4 yards and a 53yard field goal from A&M kicker David Olano to get the Aggies back within three scores. The Aggies’ score was answered with a LSU touchdown. Leavitt found Harris for another big gain, this time for 40 yards, getting LSU to the A&M 31-yard line. In plus-territory, LSU turned to Clark under center and got in using his legs, this time on a 2-yard rush. LSU’s defense tallied a pair of interceptions down the stretch to keep A&M off the board. The Tigers used the turnovers to kill the clock and seal a cathartic victory. “It was good payback,” Kiffin said. “Happy for our fans.” With its first conference win of 2026 in the books, LSU looks forward to its final non-conference matchup against McNeese on Oct. 3.
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NEWS CASE OPENED
page 3 GREEK LIFE
Two LSU fraternities Criminal investigation launched into LSU football player who raped student suspended for hazing BY LAURA ALLEN & GARRETT MCENTEE Editor-in-Chief & Managing Editor
A criminal investigation has been opened into an LSU football player who reportedly raped another student on LSU’s campus last year. LSU’s Office of Civil Rights & Title IX found the player responsible for the rape, but reduced his punishment following an appeal, citing the absence of “malice” or “force” and determining that the rape was “an error in judgment,” according to internal documents obtained by The Advocate. The victim, who was a freshman at the time of the rape, has filed a criminal complaint against the student-athlete through the LSU Police Department. She posted a series of public TikTok videos earlier this month alleging the sexual assault, which took place Oct. 18, 2025, after the student met the football player at his on-campus dorm. During their interviews with the Title IX panel, both the student and the player gave differing accounts of the incident, though the panel did determine that the player was responsible for rape as the student had not consented. That same day following the incident, the player called the police, admitting to having had a sexual encounter with the stu-
dent but saying that she was now messaging him, accusing him of raping her. LSU Police took the student to the hospital where a sexual assault kit was administered. The Title IX office did not receive the police report until Dec. 9, 2025, and the student did not file an official Title IX claim until January 2026. The panel found the player to be responsible for the rape, and he was punished with two semesters of suspension from campus; however, the player appealed this decision, saying that he should have had an adviser earlier in the investigation and also that his family had paid the student $1,000, according to The Advocate. After the appeal, the administrative review judge upheld the prior decision of forceable rape, but modified the status of the sanctions to “disciplinary action, without restrictions,” changing the punishment to four semesters of probation instead of two semesters of suspension. The student confirmed in a Sept. 14 TikTok video that she was offered $1,000 in exchange for not filing an official criminal complaint. The student didn’t file the complaint until after learning the player was still on campus. Because the case is under investigation, the student has declined
BY MADELYN LONG Deputy News Editor
EVAN TOUCHET / The Reveille
The Office of Civil Rights & Title IX sits on April 1 in Himes Hall. to comment on whether she accepted the money, according to an interview with WAFB. She also alleges being contacted soon after the incident by the player’s mother who asked her not to press charges that could ruin the student-athlete’s career. The student followed up her first video with another TikTok Sept. 21, in which she discloses that she is proceeding with pressing criminal charges. LSU President Wade Rousse released a statement Sept. 22 saying that the university had followed
all Title IX procedures and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement now that a criminal complaint has been filed. “Let me assure everyone that this incident has been handled professionally and that LSU has strictly followed our policies, procedures and best practices, including the Title IX process, to guide our actions to date,” Rousse said in the statement. The name of the player has not been publicly released. He has also not been arrested or criminally charged.
Two fraternities on LSU’s campus are now on interim suspension of all chapter activities after investigations were opened against them for hazing and other violations of the LSU Code of Student Conduct. Two investigations involving LSU’s Delta Kappa Epsilon and Phi Gamma Delta chapters, also known as FIJI, were opened on Sept. 17 following a letter sent to each chapter’s president from Johnathan Sanders, director of the Student Advocacy & Accountability office. According to documents obtained by Fox 8, a complaint was filed against DKE on Sept. 3, stating that the fraternity waterboarded members while forcing them to do wall sits. DKE’s suspension comes less than one year after the fraternity was reinstated. DKE had been placed on suspension in 2019 for hazing but was reinstated in fall of 2025, four years earlier than the 2029 date that was originally stipulated. FIJI is under investigation for reportedly having pledges chug
see FRAT HAZING, page 4
CAMPUS LIFE
Campus organizations connect with students at Involvement Fest BY KALLIE ROMERO Staff Writer LSU Campus Life hosted its biannual Involvement Fest on Friday to connect students with a range of organizations, from professional groups to cultural clubs and everything in between. Many students, like psychology freshman Teniyah Lee, went to the event to learn more about what activities LSU has to offer. “I just paid my membership for Black Student Union, so I wanted to see them out here,” Lee said. “And I was just interested in joining more clubs.” Since being appointed as president of her residence hall community council, Lee said that she is more interested in how she can serve her fellow LSU students. “I think it’s making me feel more like I’m actually here for a reason,” Lee said. Students at Involvement Fest had many opportunities to explore clubs and organizations that matched their interests. The event featured clubs focused on aca-
demics, professional development, advocacy and activism, faith and spirituality, hobbies and multicultural interests. One organization tabling was LSU’s Society for Human Resource Management, which informed students about the benefits of getting involved. Myles Thomas-White, a junior leadership and human resource development major and the organization’s vice president of recruitment and membership, explained that the group has hosted numerous speakers from the oil and gas, airline and healthcare industries to discuss their respective professions. T homas-White said that having organizations like this at Involvement Fest can help students find what they want to do professionally. “We’re open to any major,” Thomas-White said. “So I think a large part of that is just being here if we can because we’re just open [to whomever].” There were also organizations that offered more than just help
with your professional career at the event. Sophomore mechanical engineering major Nala Cook represented Fierce Felines of Rhythm and Roar. “We offer dance classes such as majorette, hip-hop, heels, jazz and stuff like that,” Cook said. “But we are also very focused on community, so we do a lot of community service.” Cook added that one way the group gets involved in the community is by raising breast cancer awareness and performing around campus. Some students came to Involvement Fest because they wanted to get involved but haven’t found what they were looking for yet. Sophomore pre-nursing student Hailey Vose hoped to find clubs that would allow her to explore a range of hobbies. “I wanted to see everybody come together and show [their] organizations and see who promotes theirs the best and who gets the most people,” Vose said. For Eric Williams, a junior
mass communication major, joining LSU’s Mu Sigma Lambda Upsilon chapter, a business sports fraternity, allowed him to make new friends and learn more about what he wants to do in his professional career. Williams, handles campus relations for the fraternity, and he said the group hosts speakers, networking opportunities and other events for students interested in the sports industry. He joined because of his interest in sports and
the possibility of pursuing a career in sports law. One of the many good things that came out of him joining the organization was getting out of his shell more and experiencing more of LSU than just academics, Williams said. “It’s just been a great way to go from only being a studious person to being a studious person who has friends and who knows how to meet people and just how to put himself out there,” he said.
CHARLES CHRISTIANSEN / The Reveille
LSU students walk around Sept. 25 during Involvement Fest on the Parade Ground.
Monday, September 28, 2026
page 4 GREEK LIFE
Greek Life participates in National Hazing Prevention Week BY GABRIELLA MARIN & KALLIE ROMERO Staff Writers For National Hazing Prevention Week, LSU Greek Life aimed to show students why it is important to understand hazing and how it affects the campus community. Throughout the week, Greek Life raised awareness about hazing through activities and tabling events Steven Gros, assistant director of Interfraternity Council and Risk Prevention, oversaw the activities for the week. Gros said the week allowed Greek Life to educate students on hazing, how to report it and how to support those who report it. Students attended a range of events, including Take a Ride, Take a Stand on Tuesday, which featured an anti-hazing version of “Cash Cab.” Students answered questions about hazing while Greek Life members drove them to class in a golf cart. Students who walked through Free Speech Alley on Wednesday were able to take a survey about hazing on LSU’s campus. The survey asked whether they considered the following actions to be hazing: consuming alcohol or drugs against your will, hitting
BROOKE BAKER / The Reveille
LSU students interact with booths on Sept. 23 for Hazing Prevention Week in Free Speech Alley. or abusing someone, withholding sleep, servitude to others, forced humiliation, forced isolation and forcing someone to do something that is considered against a rule or law. “You see movies and TV shows of excessive drinking or drug use, but it could just be doing a small task,” said Izzy Tran, a senior business analytics major and member of LSU’s Tri Delta chapter. Through LSU Greek Life and
her chapter’s efforts, she came to understand the many forms hazing can take, including not only drinking and drug use but also smaller things and actions that may be done to others. Gros said one of the biggest misconceptions about hazing is the idea that it only occurs in Greek life organizations. However, hazing can also occur in high school, athletic programs, intramurals and other student organizations.
“No group is immune to hazing or hazing culture,” Gros said. “It is our responsibility to educate all students on what hazing is and how to report it properly without fear of retaliation for doing the right thing.” Senior political science major and Zeta Tau Alpha member Tamia Stevens agreed that there are other aspects to hazing that many people do not know about. “Even if it’s not in Greek life, you could be in any extracurricular organization and hazing can occur,” Stevens said. “So just making sure that you know the signs of how to stop it, I feel, is the biggest thing to look out for.” All student members of a registered organization are required to take hazing courses through Prevent Zone every year. Members of fraternities and sororities are required to complete an additional fraternity and sorority life course. “You might have a conception, but when you’re actually in it, it’s totally different,” Stevens said. “And I think just being able to learn about it and, if I see it, how to call it out is something that I’ve been able to learn here at LSU.” The last event of the week was on Thursday. Students spent time with therapy dogs at Put a Paws on Hazing.
Information provided to students during Hazing Prevention Week also outlined common signs of hazing. These can include avoiding friends, hiding information about an organization, falling grades or missing classes, as well as bruises or injuries the person cannot explain. Other signs may include being extremely tired and anxious about an organization. Hazing can be difficult to address when students are uncomfortable talking about it, Gros said. National Hazing Prevention Week gives students the opportunity to have those difficult conversations and learn how to recognize and report hazing. “The more we talk about hazing, the more comfortable our community becomes engaging with the topic, and the more questions we raise, the closer we get to removing hazing from our campus altogether,” Gros said. “But without conversation, we can’t get to the root of the problem.” Gros said that the LSU Police Department should be students’ first contact for reporting hazing incidents. He added that LSU Cares offers reporting methods for any situation, and that students should include as much information as possible when recounting incidents.
CAMPUS LIFE
LSU Red Zone safety tailgate spreads sexual assault awareness BY VIVIAN SARHAN Staff Writer LSU’s Lighthouse Program held its second annual Red Zone Safety Tailgate Friday, promoting student safety during the red zone — the period between the start of the semester and Thanksgiving break wherein sexual assault statistics are highest. The Lighthouse Program is a resource at the Student Health Center that provides support for victims of sexual assault or other violence. Nathalie Walton, associate director of the program, said the statistics are high during this time period due to many new students coming to the campus. It’s an unfamiliar environment for freshmen, and there is increased socialization, including events surrounding alcohol, which increases the sexual assault rate. “I wanted to create a kind of tailgate experience before a major home game at LSU,” Walton said. “We chose Texas A&M because we know a lot of students
FRAT HAZING, from page 3 gallons of chocolate milk, causing many of them to puke, according to Fox 8. Pledges were also told to bring squirrels to the meeting. Both fraternities are alleged to have broken coercive behavior and hazing regulations in the LSU Code of Student Conduct. Coercive behavior is described
are going to be out, so we want to talk about safety tips before they get to tailgating, socialization and other events that are going on.” Walton suggested a few ways to stay safe during tailgating, including developing a buddy system, setting boundaries about physical contact, watching your drinks and utilizing campus safety resources and apps. The event had students go to at least five of seven tables to get their paper signed. Other organizations at the tables included: LSU Cares, Disability Services, LSU Residential Life, LSU Libraries and LSUPD. Once the papers were signed, students were given two to three chicken fingers and a toast from Raising Canes’. LSUPD Sgt. Marlon Hawkins educated students about the LSU Shield App, the university safety app. It offers friend watch, in which students can set timers for their friends and can call proper authorities if their friends are gone for a significant amount of time.
“[The] app has tons of features on there,” Hawkins said. “[There] are safety escorts late at night if students feel unsafe.” Hawkins recommends students sign up for a self-defense class offered by LSUPD, which can be done through the Shield App. He also mentioned that the department patrols campus at all hours of the day, every day of the year. Michele Lott, an LSU Cares employee, was at the event making the program visible to students. “You can’t just be completely concerned about your academics, especially if life unexpectedly impacts you,” Lott said. “Whether it be a death in the family, whether it be a financial issue or what have you, we are here because we are LSU Cares. We care about the student, ensuring their performance is not impacted negatively by the issues of life.” Non-LSU event partners also tabled at the tailgate, like Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response and the Louisiana Foundation
Against Sexual Assault. Megan Cresson, intern for STAR, said that the organization was tabling at the event to advocate for survivors of sexual assault and offer along with free counseling and legal services, professional training and prevention education. “We also provide door stoppers if a survivor needs protection in their own home,” Cresson said. “We provide contraceptives, along with a 24/7 crisis hotline that you can call at any time.” Like STAR, LAFASA tabled at the event to promote awareness and provide services to sexual assault survivors, as well as family members not directly affected but who still need support. Kelli Knight, campus and community development coordinator for LAFASA, said that the organization has a statewide text and chat helpline, along with pro bono attorneys and external support. “A lot of students don’t know there are free services available to them,” Knight said. “The helpline is anonymous and confidential.”
Knight also taught students about setting boundaries. She said that while everyone has different boundaries unique to the person, she said the best way is to say, “don’t do anything unless I verbally say it’s okay.” “That’s a boundary,” Knight said. “If you see your friend struggling with somebody who’s getting handsy, then that boundary is being crossed, and you can help your friend.” According to Rebecca Breaux, nurse practitioner for the Student Health Center, the event went well and has been good for informing all survivors, regardless of gender expression, that they can receive support from LSU. “[The Lighthouse Program] does testing and treatment, all free of charge,” Breaux said. “We also have different programs and services available at the Student Health Center, including the medical clinic and the OB-GYN clinic. So we’re just here spreading awareness and trying to make sure everyone stays safe while having fun.”
in the letters as any action by the chapter that was intended to demean, disgrace, humiliate or degrade a student. Hazing includes any act by the chapter that was required for admission or entry into the group involving endangering someone’s physical or mental health, destructing property, consuming alcohol or drugs, participating in
sexual activity, violating laws or disrupting academic performance. DKE is additionally under investigation for endangerment, misuse of alcohol and failure to comply. FIJI is only facing additional investigations for complicity regulations. “Due to the potential threat the alleged behavior may pose
to the LSU campus community, the organization is placed on interim suspension immediately under Section 7.2, Interim Measures, of the LSU Code of Student Conduct,” both suspension letters said. The suspensions include prohibition of contact between new members and initiated members outside of chapter ritual, social
events hosted by the chapter, intramural activities and chapter meetings unless directed by the university. Both chapters will meet with an LSU dean of students designee no later than seven days after the day the letter was sent out. The hearings may result in a continuance, withdrawal or modification to the interim suspensions.
ENTERTAINMENT LSU’s ‘POTUS’ centers women in witty production satirizing American politics PUZZLES
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BY PAIGE CHERAMIE Staff Writer
From witty comebacks to a White House scandal, the play “POTUS” brings viewers on a fast-paced day-in-the-life of seven women trying to keep the president’s image from falling apart. The LSU School of Theatre & Film is preparing for its first show of the school year with “POTUS,” a satire play featuring only women who are forced to clean up the president’s reputation after he makes a series of poor decisions. When the women are faced with a snowball of events that threaten to put years of hard work at risk, they refuse to let it all come crumbling down. Director Lori Elizabeth Parquet said that the show has a lot to say, especially when it comes to reflecting the reality we are living today. “In 2026, one has to work really hard to make something that is satire appear as satire in a world that already feels highly satirical, given the figures that are in power and the decisions that they are making that affect all of our lives,” Parquet said. Parquet is a professional staff member. Outside of her directing role, she is a professor in the School of Theatre & Film and has worked in various roles in the theater world, from performer to writer. She said that her insight from each of these roles has allowed her to zoom out and see the bigger picture while also being able to work out the fine details of the show. Stage manager Lio Smith, a junior theater technology and design major, said the play is unique in that only women worked on it until their tech week. “I think ‘POTUS’ is a story that is needed right now, and it is one of the few stories that I
have been able to witness where it is all women on stage,” Smith said. “I think that is a very important story to tell, especially when the story that they’re telling has to do with conflicts being caused by a man.” Rehearsals began on the first day of the semester, only giving the students a month to get the show together. Despite the short time frame, everyone involved in the show worked diligently to get the production up and running for the preview, which took place on Thursday. Ashari Harper, a senior theater performance and communication studies double major, plays Margaret, the first lady. Margaret is a Black woman married to a white man, and Harper said that her race leads her to get overlooked at times, despite desperately wanting recognition for her work. For Harper, this role is more than just acting experience. “When being in different productions, you get to work with different directors and professionals who are in the industry, even student workers, and we’re all learning together,” Harper said. “And when it’s a collaborative process like that, it allows not only room for growth and development, but enhances your mind into what you can do.” Liberti Jackson, a senior kinesiology major, plays Harriet in the play. Harriet is the president’s chief of staff, and she is an accomplished woman who makes sure the president has everything he needs. She writes his speeches, manages his schedule and ensures he is prepared for anything. Through playing Harriet, Jackson has found that her perspective, as well as the way she carries herself, has changed. “She had to do so many steps to get to where she is, and I have goals for myself, and so
internally, I’ve just been like, ‘You know what? If I can play this character, I can damn well be this character.’” Senior animal science and theater double major Madison Dumas plays Jean, the press secretary, in “POTUS.” Throughout the play, Jean holds press conferences to try to minimize the damage caused by the president’s scandals. However, with more and more things piling on top of each other and being hidden, her job gets harder as the play progresses. Dumas invites everyone to see the show, as every person involved in the play has put a lot of work into putting the production together. “I’m very proud of the show,” said Dumas. “I’m very proud of the work we’re doing, and I am very excited to show it to my peers as a student.” Vastine Stabler, the managing artistic director for LSU Theatre and Swine Palace, said productions such as “POTUS” are a vital part of the theater program because of the way students transform through their roles. “It’s why I go to every audition,” Stabler said. “I like to see them when they get here and when they leave.” Other actors featured in the show include Sydney Fuqua, Layla Brown-Collado and Priya Hildebrand. Tickets for the show can be purchased on PurplePass, with student tickets costing $11 and general admission costing $24. The show will be performed in the Shaver Theatre on Sept. 25, 27 and 30 and Oct. 1, 2 and 4 at varying times. With the show being a satire, there are instances of vulgar language and scenes of intimate nature. The show has a strobe light warning, and there are realistic weapons seen on stage.
CHARLES CHRISTIANSEN / The Reveille
Madison Dumas holds back LSU theatre performance Priya Hildebrand and Ashari Harper on Sept. 23, during POTUS rehearsal.
FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 28, 2026
THE Daily Commuter Puzzle by Stella Zawistowski ACROSS 1 Parts of basketball nets 5 __ and figures 10 End of a sleeve 14 Dyeing technique 15 Early video game company 16 Mouth-related 17 Widely-used antibiotic 19 Bicycle trip 20 Mariner 21 Not open to entry 23 Constantly changing 25 College official 26 Consumed 28 Architect I.M. 29 Highly inconsistent 33 “Tracker” network 34 Got free 36 “Te __” (Spanish “I love you”) 37 Little kid 38 Old MTV show: Abbr. 39 Bad review 40 __ in a million 41 Inactive substance in a clinical trial 45 What a chicken lays 46 Beef or lamb: 2 wds. 48 Sticky black stuff 49 Manatee’s home 50 Boundary 51 Standing tall 53 Lou of baseball 56 Took a trip 59 Commuting option 60 Awe-inspiring 64 Norway’s capital 65 More pleasant 66 Fruit’s skin 67 Swollen, itchy mark 68 Quick inhalations 69 Antidepressant type: Abbr.
9/28/26
Created by Stella Zawistowski
DOWN 1 Tears 2 Big furniture chain 3 Made evident 4 Not moving 5 Mythical winged creatures 6 Georgia airport: Abbr. 7 MLB’s Raleigh 8 Prefix with “angle” 9 Deceit-free 10 Mexican beer 11 Author Leon 12 Lose color 13 Ran away 18 Two-door car 22 Solid cooking fat 24 Say for transcription 25 Use up 26 Stage performer 27 Steak type 30 Woven artworks 31 Picture 32 Cuban line dance
Saturday’s Puzzle Solved
©2026 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.
35 Curved path 41 Mani-__ 42 Trailing behind 43 Makes a no-cash deal 44 Nabisco cookies 47 Red wine variety 52 Border areas 53 Get bigger
9/28/26
54 Simplicity 55 Place to sled 57 At any time 58 Cold-cut seller 61 Actress Farrow 62 Non-Mac machines: Abbr. 63 Agent, for short
Monday, September 28, 2026
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Monday, September 28, 2026
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Photos by Tucker Manning & Aidan Liss | Design by James Miller
LSU cheerleaders do push-ups after a touchdown. Mike the Tiger puts belt to Texas A&M.
LSU Tiger Girls dancer performs at halftime.
LSU football redshirt junior wide receiver Jackson Harris (4) celebrates his first touchdown.
LSU football players and staff celebrate a touchdown on their sideline.
ROARING ATMOSPHERE Spirits were high during LSU’s 35-6 win against Texas A&M in Tiger Stadium on Sept. 26.
LSU fans hold up “L” hand gesture.
Mike the Tiger plays with the audience.
LSU fans cheer on the team.
Monday, September 28, 2026
page 8 UREC
LSU UREC partners with Nike to launch strength-training classes BY KADENCE HALL Staff Writer On Friday, Nike’s Friday Night Lift Club came to LSU’s University Recreation for a challenging strength-training experience that transformed the UREC into an in-sync, color-coordinated workout class. Nike Lift Club is an eightweek progressive training pro-
gram that will continue through Nov. 20. On opening night, the UREC partnered with Kool DJ Supamike to heighten the experience for the select 50 individuals who signed up. UREC guests may have noticed the Nike swooshes and purple lighting appearing over the free weights section, Studio C and East Courts; this was all part of Nike and the UREC’s
goals to excite and inspire students to join the FNLC. Maya Henderson, a member of Nike’s brand marketing team, has visited a few different universities working on the FNLC experience. “It’s really just a way for our students to build community through strength training and weight lifting. Sometimes when you like to lift, it can be a lonely
CHARLES CHRISTIANSEN / The Reveille
LSU students pose for the camera on Sept. 25 during LSU Nike Lift Club event at the UREC.
endeavor in the gym,” Henderson said. The event began at 6 p.m. with a check-in and swag collection table. Each participant in the event received a Nike duffel bag filled with socks, head-totoe workout gear and their own pair of Nike Metcon 7 shoes. Community members may have been inspired by the “Tigers Geaux Harder” and “Build Different Down South” taglines scattered around the event’s areas, but it was likely the trainers who motivated them so strongly. Nike trainers Annie Kitchen and Salu Gbla joined LSU UREC trainer Rachel Yeatts in leading a warm-up bodyweight circuit to open the class. Kitchen and Gbla are both former athletes who have worked with athletes prior to joining Nike. Three stations of varied workout routines followed the warm-up. Attendees were split into three groups and directed to begin their workout with a specific trainer before rotating after a 12-minute routine. Gbla directed a lower body and power-focused routine, and Kitchen directed an upper body and power-focused routine, while Yeatts focused on core exercises.
The class’s finisher was a group effort to reach a 1400-meter distance on the rowing machine. Each group member gave their all in a 100-meter dash, relay-style. A yoga-inspired cool down session followed to ensure a peaceful transition to a calm night for attendees. Avonia Woods, 20, is a member of the powerlifting team at LSU. A consistent lifter, Woods was looking to change up her workout routine and meet some new people at the class. “Lift Club was so positive and I really loved it. I’m looking forward to the next sign-up sheet dropping,” Woods said. Nike and the UREC also partnered with Liquid Fix Mobile Bartending in Studio C to create a recovery experience for attendees through massage guns and hydrating mocktails. “We’ll drop the sign-up every week on Fridays if someone wants to jump in. It’s all levels. Ideally, students would come every week and see how their strength progresses through the program,” Henderson said. To participate in future Friday Night Lift Clubs, check LSU UREC socials for sign-up links, download the Nike app and wait for the event to go live.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Meet the LSU freshman interviewing students around campus BY MACI WILEY Staff Writer With a campus as large as LSU, there are so many stories to tell, and freshman Dre’lynn Booker is making it her mission to unfold as many as possible. From interviewing organizations to having day-to-day conversations, she captures it all. During the spring of her senior year of high school, Booker began interviewing fellow students with the intention of gaining more experience for
her future mass communication portfolio. She sees this not only as a fun hobby but also as something that can help her in her career. “My concentration is journalism, so I kind of want to do something in broadcast journalism,” Booker said. “I’m definitely going down the route of wanting to have my own TV show and doing things like that because, as much as I love reporting the facts, I’m also very opinionated.” Though social media users
CHANDLER TROTTER/ The Reveille
Mass communication freshman Dre’Lynn Booker interviews Mass communication junior Alyssa Payne on Sept. 17 in the Quad.
watch the edited reels, they don’t see the challenges Booker has faced along the way. At first, confidence proved to be an issue for her, but she now feels more self-assured than ever when conducting interviews. “I feel like when I first started, I was kind of nervous about them answering my questions, because what if they didn’t want to talk to me? So I thought I had to make myself smaller, but something I learned is that I’m on the same level as them,” Booker said. This perspective has shaped Booker’s sense of self-confidence in social settings beyond her interviews. “I’ve just gotten more comfortable with talking to people, facing them when I talk and looking them in the eye. I’ve just learned to be confident,” Booker said. While she is now focusing on man-on-the-street interviews, content creation is nothing new to Booker. In fact, her previous experience on YouTube has provided a foundation for the content she now makes. “This was not my first time trying to make content,” Booker said. “I had a YouTube channel, where I did videos, reels and things like that. I did videos such as ‘wash my car with me,’ ‘come with me to a volleyball tournament.’ I really enjoy making content, but combining that with my career aspirations
CHANDLER TROTTER / The Reveille
Mass communication freshman Dre’Lynn Booker sets up her phone on Sept. 17 in the Quad. is what sealed the deal for me.” Freshman Markeisha Bullie, Booker’s friend, assists with the video production of the interviews. For her, the interviews let her hear different perspectives from her peers. “Helping Dre’lynn is actually pretty cool, besides it being hot outside,” said Bullie, an early childhood education major. “It opens my mind to how other people feel about the campus and about certain things going on.”
For Booker, beginning her interview account has shaped many interactions she’s had around campus. “I was definitely surprised with how many people actually have seen it,” Booker said. “I don’t want to seem like Hollywood or anything, but the way one or two people a day will be like, ‘Aren’t you on TikTok?’ They always tell me to keep going, or, ‘I love your content.’ It’s definitely surprised me the most.”
SPORTS GOT ‘EM
page 9 FOOTBALL
Whit Weeks breaks leg in game against Texas A&M
SARAH BLANCHARD Takeaways from LSU’s bounce-back win over Texas A&M BY Staff Writer
BY TRIPP BUHLER Staff Writer LSU football proved it can fight through adversity. After a loss to Ole Miss in one of the most hostile environments a team can face, the Tigers got back up and delivered a haymaker to Texas A&M. LSU’s 35-6 win pushed through the fire of its fight with injuries and the extension of its offensive issues to open games. Head coach Lane Kiffin had his team ready to come out with short term memory, putting its lone loss behind them. Here are three takeaways from LSU’s uplifting victory back inside Tiger Stadium. Wide receiver committee can fill big-play hole left by Green Kiffin didn’t look confident keeping the offense on the field for fourth downs. But on a fourth-and-1 at the start of the second half up 11 points, LSU lined up for an obvious run. Then, quarterback Sam Leavitt dropped back and delivered a pass to wide receiver Jackson Harris, who had as much green grass around him as a grazing cow. He took it to the house for a 57-yard touchdown. “My heart got caught beating a little bit when they called it because I knew it was going to work, and we were repping it all week,” Harris said. LSU looked like it had lost its most sure third-down and big-play target when Trey’Dez Green went down against Ole Miss on Sept. 19. But Harris, who was supposed to
TUCKER MANNING / The Reveille
LSU football wide reciever redshirt junior Jackson Harris (4) perform’s a stunning catch Sept. 26, during LSU’s 35-6 win against Texas A&M in Tiger Stadium. be LSU’s big-play guy, took the gig against Texas A&M and ran with it. He came into Saturday with 3 receptions of 15-plus yards, and added four more in the first half alone versus Texas A&M. Harris’ 40-yard reception in the third quarter sent Kiffin galloping down the sideline. “A lot of those plays were kind of similar. You know, play action, ‘Trey’Dez’ type of plays,” Kiffin said. His ascension against the Aggies showed that he can be the player on the field that he showed to be in the preseason. Harris also had another fantastic touchdown catch in the back of the end zone from the 16-yard line. He finished
the game with 6 receptions for 163 yards. Winston Watkins Jr. also added his fair-share of help. He came into Saturday with the most receptions on the team, and the only pass-catcher outside of Green to have 200 yards. He had 4 plays of 15 or more yards against Texas A&M, and is becoming one of Leavitt’s most trusted wide receivers. He had 5 receptions and 107 yards Saturday. Watkins was hit hard in the head in the third quarter, but didn’t have to go to the locker room. Even though he didn’t have as big of a night as
see TAKEAWAYS, page 10
LSU football linebacker Whit Weeks will be out for an unknown amount of time after fracturing his right leg during Saturday’s win against Texas A&M. Weeks, a senior linebacker, had a teammate roll onto his leg. He was later escorted from the field in the third quarter by medical staff. Weeks was on crutches and wearing a boot. Head coach Lane Kiffin said after the game that he did not have an update on Weeks’ condition. “It didn’t look good when he walked off,” head coach Lane Kiffin said postgame. The injury adds to a growing list of LSU football players currently benched due to injury. Both tight end Trey’Dez Green and safety Dashawn Spears
were injured in the matchup on Sept. 19 in Oxford versus Ole Miss. LSU fans have cause to grow nervous with another injury to a key player. LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt also received a minor hamstring injury on Saturday but remained in the game. It is unclear if Weeks’ latest injury is a continuation of last year’s injury. He missed five games in 2025 due to a lower leg injury received while playing against Ole Miss his junior year. Weeks is an extremely important part of the Tigers’ defense, serving as captain. Junior linebacker Davhon Keys is expected to step into the starting lineup in Weeks’ place. With no timeline set for Weeks’ return to the field, the Tigers are forced to readjust once again with multiple SEC matchups coming up in the next few weeks.
ALEXIS PERSICKE / The Reveille
LSU football senior linebacker Whit Weeks (7) celebrates Sept. 19, during the 24-32 loss to Ole Miss at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss.
SOCCER
LSU soccer’s Sariyah Bailey returns from international play BY DELANEY POTTHAST Staff Writer After a historic 2025 postseason run, LSU soccer has struggled to get back where point it left off at, with a 2026 record of 2-71 haunting its chances at another shot. Part of the reason could be the absence of standout sophomore forward Sariyah Bailey. Only playing in 3 games of the 2026 season, the SEC Preseason Watchlist feature managed to find 2 assists and 6 shots and carries a shots-on-goal percentage of 0.500. With such an electric start to her short stint of the season, it was clear her call up to Canada’s U-20 FIFA World Cup team would create big shoes for the Tigers to fill. During her time in Poland, Bailey continued to make an impact, showing just how much talent she has with the ball at her feet. “She’s had a terrific World Cup with Canada out in Poland,” head
coach Sian Hudson said during a TV interview against Oklahoma. “She’s one of the best attacking threats in the country.” Starting in four of the five games Canada played throughout the tournament, Bailey logged 292 total minutes on the pitch, seeing chances on goal a total of 5 times. During the group stage, Canada found itself up against England, Brazil and Tanzania. With her most minutes being played during the 6-0 win against Tanzania, it was also Bailey’s most productive game of the tournament. Putting up 2 attempts on goal, Bailey only increased the offensive presence she had throughout the group stage. When playing against France in the Round of 16, Bailey notched her name in the scoreline of the 3-1 win, earning the assist on her teammate Kaylee Hunter’s goal in the second half. Against North Korea in the
quarterfinal, Bailey helped the efforts of her team with a shot on goal, but a 2-0 loss eliminated Canada from the tournament. Though the tournament ended sooner than the Canada native hoped, she made her mark and showed a great performance for the team. Now, Bailey is set to return to Baton Rouge with the hopes of helping the Tigers get back on track. “Sariyah is a versatile and talented forward who is equally dangerous out wide and through the middle,” Hudson said of Bailey ahead of her freshman season. “Her work rate, tenacity and finishing ability causes constant issues for opposition defenses.” In 2025, Bailey was among the top three stat leaders for the program with 9 goals, 7 assists and 24 shots-on-goal. The offensive pressure Bailey puts on every opponent is just what the Tigers
need to mend their 0-2 conference record. In the team’s first road SEC game against Oklahoma, the sophomore already found her way on the scoreline in the 48 minutes she played for the Tigers. Collecting the game’s only goal of the night, Bailey also tallied 6 total shots
and missed just off the crossbar during a penalty kick. Her presence on the pitch could be just what the Tigers need to find their first SEC win, in their game against Georgia. “She’s a difference maker,” Hudson said. “We’re so excited to have her back in the mix.”
ALEXIS PERSICKE / The Reveille
LSU soccer freshman forward Sariyah Bailey (15) runs Nov. 14 during the 4-1 win over Houston Christian at the LSU Soccer Staduim.
Monday, September 28, 2026
page 10 MEN’S BASKETBALL
Men’s basketball head coach Will Wade builds team culture BY NATALIA MCKENZIE-DANCY Staff Writer In his first press conference of the 2026-2027 men’s basketball season, head coach Will Wade shared his excitement for his second stint at LSU. Unlike his LSU teams from 2017 to 2022, Wade is fostering a program centered around transfers and international players. He fully backed this approach, taking ownership of the direction of the team. “What we’re doing is unconventional. [We have to] be unapologetic about it,” Wade said. “If we fail, I own it.” One major difference with this go-around compared to his first term is significant the NCAA rule changes. NIL is a huge contributor to LSU and is enticing for players. The payment of players had to do with his first stint at LSU ending. However, that hasn’t stopped
SAM BECKER / The Reveille
LSU men’s basketball head coach Will Wade speaks during a press conference March 30, at the PMAC. Wade from pushing new boundaries. Wade’s current team bizarrely only has four players listed officially, and being only two weeks out from its first exhibition match makes that even stranger. However, some of the players that aren’t officially listed are fighting for eli-
gibility as they are awaiting court rulings, temporary restraining orders and clearance from the NCAA or SEC. The clock is ticking for Wade to finalize the roster as the Tigers will take on McNeese State for their first exhibition game. While Wade returned to LSU
from NC State, it was McNeese that gave him his first coaching job after being fired from LSU. This return to face the Cowboys in an exhibition match is not without emotion either, as Wade expressed his appreciation for McNeese. “If [McNeese] never took the chance on me, I wouldn’t be here,” Wade said. During his time at McNeese, the team had a 50-9 record and were back-to-back Southland Conference champions. He revitalized their school spirit, something that Tiger fans hope for him to bring back to the program. Previewing the game, Wade explained that it is good for Lake Charles. At McNeese, he said he wanted to build something that would last. The LSU community is unparalleled, and regardless of whether it has a full roster or four players, they will not fret. Wade is going into this sea-
son with a positive outlook, saying that there is an incredible amount of upside with this team and coaching staff. He embraced the legitimacy of his team, stating that criticism will give them an advantage “If we’re so bad, why do so many former players come back to work with us?” Wade said. Wade also said that his team is improving on both sides of the court, but there is a way to go with defensive rebounding. Some practice standouts include Skyy Clark, a fifth-year UCLA transfer and Divine Ugochukwu, a transfer from Michigan State. Each player on the team is bringing something different, and that is what stands out to Wade. The season starts on Nov. 3, and there will be a lot for fans to analyze about Wade’s approach and return to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, when the Tigers face LSU New Orleans.
FOOTBALL
LSU football drops to No. 11 spot in AP Poll BY SARAH BLANCHARD Staff Writer LSU dropped one place in Sunday’s AP Poll after a 35-6 win over Texas A&M. LSU entered Saturday’s game against Texas A&M ranked No. 10, coming off of a loss to Ole Miss on Sept. 19. Despite winning Saturday’s game, the victory was not enough to hold onto a top-10 position. This week proved to be a major shake up in the Top 25. Several teams moved in and out of the top 10, including No. 8 Florida, who climbed 13 places after defeating previously ranked No. 4 Ole Miss. Five of LSU’s next seven conference opponents are ranked within the top 25. With many SEC opponents ranked in the top 10, the Tigers will have an opportunity to move back up in ranking in the next few weeks. LSU’s next two conference
matchups will be against ranked opponents. The Tigers travel to face No. 24 Kentucky on Oct. 11, before returning to Death Valley to play No. 16 Mississippi State on Oct. 17. In November, the Tigers’ schedule will be more challenging. LSU is set to host No.7 Alabama and No. 1 Texas in two consecutive weeks. The new ranking comes after a dominant LSU win against Texas A&M, where LSU redeemed itself from the loss to Ole Miss a week prior. The Tigers limited the Aggies both offensively and defensively, not allowing any Texas A&M touchdowns. Texas A&M, who started the season ranked No. 10, has fallen out of the top 25 completely. The Aggies were one of four teams to fall out of the ranking this week LSU is looking to build on Saturday’s win and regain its place in the top 10 as the Tigers next face McNeese.
TUCKER MANNING / The Reveille
LSU’s football team celebrates after an interception Sept. 26, after LSU’s 35-6 win against Texas A&M at Tiger Stadium.
TUCKER MANNING / The Reveille
LSU football quarterback redshirt sophomore Landen Clark runs for a touchdown Sept. 26 during LSU’s 35-6 win against Texas A&M at Tiger Stadium.
TAKEAWAYS, from page 9 Harris, his reliability will bring LSU’s passing game far. “Jarvis Landry, he came to talk to us [Friday]. He was just like, ‘The season and this offense and this team [are going to] come down to us making plays.’” Harris said. There’s a standard here, and it’s on the wall in the receiver room, like Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, all them, you know. “I think we took that to heart,” he continued. LSU’s use of its safeties is a game-changer Defensive coordinator Blake Baker said that he stayed at LSU through the coaching change to try and win a national championship this year, despite many offers to become a head coach elsewhere. A major part of what makes him such an attractive option as head coach is his ability to use his team’s talent in versatile ways. So far this year, LSU safeties are averaging 1 sack a game. This stayed true against Ole Miss and Texas A&M despite LSU missing its main blitzing safety, Dashawn Spears. Tamarcus Cooley had a sack Saturday that forced a punt and eventual LSU touchdown,
along with a fourth quarter pick. Ty Benefield was moved to the STAR role after Spears’ seasonending injury so that he could play near the front seven while also offering his services to pass coverage in obvious throwing situations. “We made a unique move with Dashawn being out,” Kiffin said. “We moved Ty and played him in that spot the whole game [for] those perimeter runs and quarterback scrambles. That’s a really great tackler right there in rerouting perimeter plays and stuff.” Jhase Thomas had a great fall and nearly earned the starting spot opposite Benefield, and got his first career start against the Aggies at ROVER, a position that puts a safety in pass coverage as well as run support. LSU wasn’t playing a fantastic quarterback in Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed, and he was forced into plenty of issues when he couldn’t decipher where the safeties were going to be. “If you make somebody just go back there and see ghosts in coverage, it makes it a lot easier,” Benefield said. Offensive instability may start wearing on the defense
It’s been a first-half issue over the last two weeks against Ole Miss and Texas A&M — the only two ranked opponents that LSU has played. The only thing consistent with the LSU offensive over those halves was having too many three-and-outs. Ole Miss ran more plays than LSU, and Texas A&M ran more against LSU in the first half. LSU’s defensive pressure thrives on speed, but it can’t have the same force if the offense isn’t giving it much time to catch its breath. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was so effective because the defense couldn’t chase him around, and Reed had a similar benefit early. The Tigers still have many dynamic quarterbacks and offenses left on their schedule, mainly against Auburn, Alabama, Texas and Tennessee. Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell is an up-andcoming star, and is a highlight in the toughest stretch of LSU’s schedule. LSU hasn’t scored on any of its opening drives yet. That trend’s potential continuation could put its elite defense in harm’s way down the stretch, especially if injuries continue to taunt the Tigers.
OPINION
page 11
Executive overreach is whittling away Americans’ civil liberties BULLION’S BRIEF AVA BULLION Columnist Since 1791, when the Bill of Rights was ratified, America has been the country of the free: Built on the very pillars the Founding Fathers had hand-sculpted. With liberties properly protected, American citizens are safe within the bounds of 27 established amendments; this unfortunately all crumbles in the hands of elected officials that find ways to circumvent the law. The most notable amendment in the case of comparing governing styles is the First Amendment: Freedom of speech, press, religion, petition, and assembly. Authoritarian governments suppress many if not all of the protections represented through the First Amendment. If someone were to ask me who the top three most tyrannical leaders were looking back into history, I would say Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler and Mao Zedong. While all leaders used different approaches, they all have one thing in common: They maintained absolute control over their respective states.
There have been many more instances in history where leaders have found ways to abuse power. Some are not nearly as corrupt as others, some within autocracies, democracies, oligarchies, etc. As a political science student, learning about different regime types is extremely relevant. It has become second nature to highlight similarities between different countries and how they rule. Naturally, I am noticing a pattern between authoritarian countries and the U.S. Democracies and authoritarian regimes can most often be seen as opposite sides of a spectrum. Democracies involve consent and freedom of the people, whereas authoritarian regimes rely on the complete control of one leader or a group of elites. When certain authoritarian traits begin to infiltrate the American system, it should be a serious cause for concern. There are a few key indicators of an authoritarian country, which include restricted liberties, statecontrolled media, manipulation of checks and balances and concentrated power within the executive branch. Studying and becoming knowledgeable of these authoritarian cues makes it easier to notice repres-
sive patterns within the government. Looking at the state of our world, it is clear which countries are under authoritarian rule, such as Russia and North Korea. Stalin completely censored every form of art and media during his rule and established his own state sponsored media. Donald Trump just banned media sources from the White House and established his own media outlet, Trump TV, last week. Mao and Hitler both eliminated independent journalism and issued complete censorship and propaganda across the country. Joe Biden attempted to censor social media posts about the 2020 election and information about COVID-19. While the current and past administrations’ state of affairs were not as extreme as the aforementioned authoritarian regime leaders’ administrations, it is still extremely concerning that, within a democratic state, leaders are allowed to rule above the law. The requirement of a warrant in the U.S. protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures. George W. Bush’s Patriot Act in 2001 was passed in order for government agents to eavesdrop on calls and emails with no warrant, effectively
GRAPHIC BY CAROLINE SIMONEAUX
bypassing original warrant requirements. Trump violated the First Amendment by banning journalists from White House grounds, censoring the press. Biden’s attempt at suppressing social media posts targeted at his administration is also considered censorship of freedom of speech. The ability for Americans to express themselves with unique beliefs and opinions is what makes America a democracy. When presidents begin abusing their power within the exec-
utive sector, the bounds of autonomy become unclear. Under no circumstances should the president be allowed to defy court rulings and national precedents. If our government continues to evade constitutional protections, it raises the question of what other constitutional rights will be challenged. Ava Bullion is a 19-year-old political science and criminology double major from Baton Rouge.
Monday, September 28, 2026
page 12
It’s our duty as Louisianans to protect our Sportsman’s Paradise CRAWFORD’S CORNER GORDON CRAWFORD Columnist On Sept. 16, an internal memo from Brian Nesvik, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, suggested that it would reinterpret the Endangered Species Act, or ESA, to only prohibit the intentional killing of an endangered species. The move stands to massively alter how the agency enforces federal hunting and fishing law, potentially opening the door for corporations to recklessly tear through critical habitats to endangered species without any means of accountability. The move is unsurprising for an administration bent on bleeding resources dry from federal lands since the campaign trail. President Donald Trump was so adamant about the issue that he threw a “drill, baby, drill” into his inaugural speech. That mantra was rapidly translated into policy, with the Department of the Interior opening the floodgates to potential drilling leases in national parks across the country. Now, with Iran War prices seriously making the party sweat ahead of the midterms, it seems the administration is laying the ground-
work for a new wave of ruthless Once-ler-esque development akin to the destruction of the Truffula Forests in “The Lorax.” This isn’t new for the Republican party. In Sept. 2011, roughly a year after the disastrous Deepwater Horizon oil spill that left hundreds of animals, including multiple endangered species, dead or injured, future Governor Jeff Landry held up a crude sign simply saying “DRILLING = JOBS” during a speech by President Obama before Congress. Now, the new cause is data centers, with Landry personally involving himself in the development of a massive Meta project in Richland Parish. And yet, these same Republicans champion hunting as a classic American pastime which should be encouraged. Just a day after the memo was reported, Trump signed an executive order with a bevy of policies intended to promote hunting. Our illustrious governor also extensively partakes in hunting. Every year, he hosts a multiday alligator hunt at his St. Martinville camp, typically bringing together dozens of powerful figures and serving as one of his primary fundraising events. The alligator: A classic symbol of the swamps of the South, and a ubiquitous sight to most Louisi-
anans. Who can forget Louis from “Princess and the Frog”? At one time, the alligator nearly disappeared from Louisiana. It’s a story most of us have been taught, and it’s one of the rare stories where almost everyone will agree that regulation and intervention were not only necessary, but the heroes of the tale. Even Landry approved new regulations that, while significantly expanding access to hunting, still recognized the need for government restrictions on the practice. Yet, these people, happy to don their camo and plaster on a big ol’ grin with their latest catch, put on their suits and sign away, approving fleets of drills and data centers that significantly disrupt the natural environments of the animals they purport to protect. You can’t have your fried alligator and eat it too. If you want to enjoy the fruits of a thriving ecosystem, you have to put in the effort to preserve that ecosystem. Anything else is an inevitable tragedy of the commons. Animals are dignified, and as greater, knowing beings we have a responsibility not to abuse our power over their environment. Other lives deserve to be respected and protected within their own homes too.
And even if that sounds like a bunch of hippie-dippie nonsense, strong environmental regulations serve a practical, utilitarian role in everyday life. Our extensive outdoor recreation opportunities bring families together, engage them in the magnificence of our state and nation and educate our youth, creating better citizens. Further, our environment plays a major role in our tourism ventures, with the state extensively branding Louisiana a “Sportsman’s Paradise.” Allowing unfettered expansion of massive industrial projects might, at the expense of our endangered wildlife, have ripple effects across the entire environment and directly harm the well-being of our state.
Louisiana voters: Power over your land ultimately lies in your hands. Federal law may be changing, but the state remains at a crossroads. While the approval for the Richland data center indicates a cavalier attitude toward our environment by the state government, Louisiana has always taken pride in its animal conservation policies. If you care about your local ecosystem — if you hunt, fish or just enjoy a walk by the bayou — remember that experience whenever your local council holds a town hall on the next big industrial development. Gordon Crawford is a 20-year-old political science major from Gonzales.
GRAPHIC BY CAROLINE SIMONEAUX
Sydney Sweeney’s betting ad reduces female athletes to objects JOHNSON’S JOURNAL LAUREN JOHNSON Columnist With Sydney Sweeney’s recent ad for a sports betting app called Novig, women in sports are once again having to work even harder to be taken seriously in their field. Sweeney’s ad featured her treat-
ing a woman’s role in sports as a sexual object. She says the word “sports” while nearly nude, only covering herself with different objects like footballs, a basketball, a tennis racket, hockey gear, a soccer ball, a baseball bat, a golf club and a pool table. While Sweeney’s ad wasn’t specifically an ad for women in sports, she was a woman in a clear athletic context. She sexualized herself in a way that promoted the idea that, in order to get male attention and money, men
GRAPHIC BY CARMEN RANDOLPH
must be fed images of desirable women with sex appeal. Sweeney made it about women in sports the moment she chose to do the ad. While she is free to do whatever she wishes with her body, Sweeney should have taken into consideration the message she would be sending to women in sport. Many women working in sports are disappointed and offended by her ad, and for good reason. It’s a misogynistic narrative they’ve spent their entire lives fighting against, and Sweeney has publicly invalidated their lifetimes’ worth of work. As one of the most famous current actresses, she has made it mainstream to delegitimize female athletes and reinforce the harmful stereotypes they are often regarded with. She has made it seem like being a woman in the sports industry is no more than showcasing a nice body and playing dumb. “Think you know sports? Prove it,” Sweeney said, making a mockery of the women who have to suffer the true impact of her ad. As harmless as she may have thought it was, she was senseless in taking part in Novig’s ad. Women pursuing athletic endeavors are not
a joke, nor are they working for the goal of becoming mere sexual objects. It’s not just about Sweeney. It’s about the harassment women have faced and continue to face for loving a sport. Female athletes have to work their entire lives to be taken as seriously as their male counterparts. Some women become disenchanted with their sport just because they believe they will never be represented in the manner men are. They put in just as much blood, sweat and tears into their passion as men do but often do not receive as much in return for it. Women working in sports have to fight for the same access their male coworkers get. They grow up in a society that has tried to convince them since they were little girls that they can’t work in sports. When they do work in sports, they are often met with surprise, or the assumption that they are in it for the wrong reasons. Women who are fans of sports have to go out of their way to prove they are real fans, while the men right next to them are automatically perceived as such. Their opinions about their favorite teams are dismissed as invalid; after all, how could a woman
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know nearly as much about sports as a man, anyway? The perpetuation of these ideologies is a thriving industry. This is exactly why Sweeney’s ad is not just about sports gambling — it is as meaningful and harmful as women are saying it is. When a brand seeks the male gaze, this Novig ad is proof the default is still sexualizing women to attract men. This time, women in sports are the ones being pushed down, yet again, because of it. It hurts to feel as though, no matter how passionate a woman is about her sport, her greatest value will always be her appearance. Turn off Sweeney’s ad. Watch women’s sports instead. Support female athletes, promote women in directly athletic or athletic-adjacent careers. No misogynistic perspective will change the fact that women — who they are as people and not as objects — belong in these spaces just as much as men do. Women don’t need to prove they know sports, and they shouldn’t have to spend their entire lives doing so. Lauren Johnson is a 20-year-old journalism major from New Orleans.
Quote of the Week “And all at once, summer collapsed into fall.” Oscar Wilde Irish Poet 1854 — 1900