The Reveille 1-22-26

STEPPING UP

These two basketball players have emerged as key starters during SEC play.

Read on page 2

UNSUNG HEROES

Pablo Tamba steps up with needed intensity

Jada Richard cements her role as point guard

BY TRE ALLEN Staff Writer

When Jada Richard joined LSU women’s basketball in 2025, she was labeled as the talented young freshman who would occasionally find her way onto the court.

Every time she subbed in, she heard the love from the LSU crowd as one of Louisiana’s own suiting up for the purple and gold. Fans knew that she could play an important role for the Tigers in the future.

top of all that, he’s a really good player.”

The message from Tamba himself is simple.

“I try to just outwork everybody as much as I can,” Tamba said. “In practice, I try to be the loudest guy, the most engaged guy.”

sition on the court, only cares about winning and is a high-energy tone setter for his team.

It shows in his play.

However, you can’t see everything he adds to the team just by watching box scores. Tamba’s defense is one of, if not the best, on the team. It comes from his high energy.

His coach is always quick to praise this part of his game.

“I think that’s the thing coach McMahon likes the most about me,” Tamba said.

Tamba said that energy comes from when he was playing back in Spain in his youth. It’s something that has always been with him as he grew up more athletic than most of his peers, so he had to take advantage of it by playing hard and helping his team win. Hard play and a strong level of buy-in has never left Tamba.

Tamba’s name is visible in most of LSU’s stat sheets, but rebounding has been his biggest strength this year. Through the first 18 games, he’s grabbed the second-most rebounds, averaging 7.4 a game. The only player ahead of him is Marquel Sutton, who has helped push Tamba to be better since he got to LSU.

“[The level of talent on the team] challenged me the most when I first came here,” Tamba said. “I was like ‘Oh ok, I need to gain a spot on the team. I’m going to have to deal with [Sutton].’”

Being pushed to a higher level is a large part of the reason that Tamba ended up at LSU for his final season of collegiate basketball.

“Playing for one of the best, if not the best, conference in the country was the most attractive thing,” Tamba said. “I knew that the level [of competition] was gonna ramp up … It ramped up like two tones.”

LSU was on his radar because of his familiarity with associate head coach David Patrick.

He recruited Tamba while he was the head coach at Sacramento State. Although Tamba didn’t sign with Patrick’s Hornets, he remembered what he liked about him as a coach and still wanted

“[He’s] just really a joy to be around,” McMahon said. “I enjoy getting to coach him every day because he’s all in. He’s going to give you everything he’s got. On see TAMBA, page 10

Playing roughly seven minutes a game and sitting behind veteran guards such as Shayeann DayWilson, Last-Tear Poa and Mjracle Sheppard, Richard waited patiently until her number was called.

Fast forward to her sophomore season, she’s starting to blossom into the player that her coaches, teammates and fans believed she would be.

“She was a very, very competitive defensive player in high school and also quick off the bounce — could shoot the basketball,” assistant coach Bob Starkey said. “It was just a matter of her transferring it to the collegiate level.”

During Sunday’s matchup against the Oklahoma Sooners, the Tigers propelled to a 91-72 victory, adding another ranked win to their resume.

Leading the way was none other than one of LSU’s stars, Flau’jae Johnson, recording a stat line of 23 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocks while also shooting 9-for19 (47.4%) from the field.

While this was nothing new for one of the already known premier players in the SEC, right behind was Richard, who recorded a career game of her own.

Richard scored a career high of 21 points while also add ing five rebounds, three assists and two steals, shooting 8-for-16 (50%) from the field.

Not only was it undoubtedly the best game she’s had since set ting foot onto campus, but she also got it done against one of LSU’s most challenging opponents.

“She’s the type of player right now that we thought she was go ing to be,” Starkey said after the Oklahoma game. “I had somebody ask me on the floor, did we know that No. 30 was going to be this good? We did know No. 30 was go ing to be this good.”

When the season tipped off back in early November, Richard was still adjusting to the role as the starting point guard.

During the non-conference schedule, her numbers didn’t look

the best, averaging seven points on 40.7% shooting, while attempting only 4.8 shots per game.

Despite the slow start, Richard and her team never lost faith that she would pick it up and contribute when the games got tougher down the road.

In the five conference games that the Tigers have played, Richard has been playing more efficiently and confidently. Over the five-game stretch, she’s averaged 12 points on 44.4% shooting while taking nine shots per game.

It’s the exact thing you would want to see from your point guard as you enter conference play, where the games are going to get harder.

Richard’s seen significant improvement not just on the offensive end but also on the defensive end.

Leading Oklahoma in scoring is true freshman guard Aaliyah Chavez, who was a five-star recruit in high school and the No. 3 player according to espnW’s class of 2025 rankings.

Averaging 18.8 points, four rebounds and four steals, the Tigers knew they would have their hands full, but with the help of Richard, was practically eliminated Chavez from Sunday’s game.

Richard got the assignment of

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NEWS

ROAD RAGE RISING

Louisiana ranks No. 1 in the country in road rage incidents

BY MADELYN LONG Staff Writer

With road rage incidents continuing to surge in Louisiana, LSU experts share reasons behind the climb, what to do in an escalating situation and how to avoid it altogether.

According to ConsumerAffairs, Louisiana ranks first in the number of road rage involved incidents. Nearly 60% of all fatal motor wrecks were linked to aggressive or careless driving, which is the highest in the na-

tion.

LSU transportation expert Brian Wolshon shared why these incidents are becoming more popular.

“In this world, we often expect convenience with no troubles. This does not happen in traffic because you are dealing with other drivers and other people have a different plan,” Wolshon said. “People often make mistakes and are not always courteous towards others.”

With increased aggressive driving, it is important to know

what to do if caught in a possibly dangerous situation. LSUPD Chief Marshall Walters advised students to stay calm and stay put.

“If another driver is acting aggressively, students should stay in their vehicle, avoid eye contact and create distance, if possible,” Walters said. “If they feel unsafe, they should call the LSU Police immediately and provide their location and a description of the situation.”

Walters added that LSU police officers receive special train-

ing in de-escalation techniques, conflict management and officer safety to handle road rage incidents as best as possible.

“The goal is always to resolve the situation safely and professionally while protecting everyone involved,” Walters said.

But there are ways that Baton Rouge drivers can avoid these incidents completely.

Walters explained that having patience while traveling and allowing extra time to reach a des -

LSU Lakes project reaches final phase

BY JORJA ETHRIDGE Staff Writer

The University Lakes Restoration Project, which aims to sustain the lakes system and add recreational value, is still underway.

Project manager Mark Goodson said the project phases are concurrent but that the team kicked off the final phase, 2C, last fall. Phase 2C includes raking and dredging a small strip along the western shoreline of University Lake near Sorority Row, Goodson explained.

The restoration project has been in progress since the summer of 2023. A large part of the project’s purpose is to deepen the lakes, which used to be dangerously shallow.

Goodson said that when the team started working on the lakes, they were at an average depth of 2-and-a-half feet. He mentioned that the drought in the summer of 2023 caused even shallower depths. Goodson said that the team is dredging most areas of the lakes to 6 feet and others to 9 or 10 feet.

Edward Laws, LSU environmental science professor, said since the creation of the lakes in the 1930s, there has been an understanding that they would need to be dredged from time to time.

He mentioned that storm sewers discharge into the lakes and material that accumulates on the

Mayor’s office launches ‘Veteran of the Week’ program

BY AIDAN ANTHAUME Staff Writer

The Baton Rouge mayor’s office launched a new ‘Veteran of the Week’ program to recognize local veterans and elevate their stories.

Mayor-President Sid Edwards and the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Veterans Affairs announced the program earlier this month.

“Anything I can do to showcase the veterans that we have here; we’ve got almost 20,000 veterans,” said Elena Branzaru, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and the chair of the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Veterans Affairs. “For me, this was just a no-brainer.”

Each week, a different veteran will be featured on Edwards’ official social media platforms, highlighting their service for the community.

“Sometimes people don’t want

to tell their stories. They’re a little humble,” Branzaru said. “Our goal is for various submissions, different branches of service.”

Veterans and their family members are encouraged to submit photographs, narratives or personal reflections of their military service or life experience.

Branzaru said the program is meant to catch stories before they disappear. She pointed to a recent encounter with Marines veteran Charles Holdeman.

Branzaru said she went to Holdeman’s 99th birthday and learned he was at the Battle of Iwo Jima and saw the raising of the Iwo Jima flag.

“We have literally what I call hidden heroes in Baton Rouge,” Branzaru said. “Nobody in his family understood the incredible significance.”

Grant Schadeberg, program di-

rector of the William A. Brookshire Military & Veterans Student Center at LSU, said the weekly recognition could encourage veterans and their families to share stories more often than major holidays like Veterans Day or Memorial Day.

“Words, in my opinion, are not enough. To really honor our veterans, this needs to be done with actions. I think this is a great way to do it,” Schadeberg said.

All veterans recognized during each quarter will be invited to be honored with a certificate of recognition at a Metropolitan Council meeting.

“Understand that not every veteran had the same experience. Let the veteran determine how they want their information shared,” Schadeberg said.

For additional information or to receive submission details, contact MayorsVeteranAffairs@brla.gov.

AgCenter gets $1 million grant to combat invasive species

BY JORJA ETHRIDGE Staff Writer AGRICULTURE

The LSU AgCenter received $1 million in federal funding to launch a Mississippi River Invasive Species Consortium.

Invasive species threaten natural ecosystems in every U.S. state, but the hot and humid Mississippi River Valley is an ideal climate for them to flourish.

The University of Arkansas and Mississippi State University are collaborating with LSU on this project.

AgCenter Chief Administrative Officer Hampton Grunewald said that invasive, or non-native, species cost Louisiana tens of millions of dollars a year in damages and agricultural profit losses.

This issue has long been on the AgCenter’s radar. Since 2023, the AgCenter’s Center of Research Excellence for the Study of Invasive Species has worked to detect and control invasive species that are damaging to Louisiana and the South. The consortium will elevate this work.

“Bringing together the Center of Excellence and now this consortium is just amazing, especially since it aligns with the new USDA priorities that came out about two weeks ago,” Grunewald said.

The USDA’s priorities for 2026 include preventing, detecting and controlling high-impact invasive species.

Rodrigo Diaz is a professor of entomology and the director of the Center of Research Excellence for the Study of Invasive Species. He said that the Center of Excellence has already at-

LSU changes course drop date for students

LSU announced the last day for students to drop a course without receiving a W grade has been changed.

tempted to combat invasive species like the Roseau cane scale, guava root-knot nematodes and new planthoppers that are attacking rice and cotton.

Of all the invasive species

tination can help loosen tensions on the road.

that the consortium will address, Diaz said that Chinese tallow trees cause the most damage to Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas. He explained that Chinese tallow trees reduce bio -

such as road rage.”

diversity in prairies and forests. Plant communities that used to be diverse now contain only tallow trees.

Invasive species also harm native plants and animals. For example, Diaz said scientists have attributed the decline in frogs to the changes in leaf litter produced by Chinese tallow.

The consortium will have a regional impact, stretching from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes, according to the AgCenter’s press release.

“By showcasing how a new insect pest detected in the Port of New Orleans can become a problem in Tennessee or Illinois, we can increase the geographical impact of our work,” Diaz said. “A lot of emphasis should be on the ability to detect these invasive species early and establish monitoring programs. If we control them early, they will have less of a chance of becoming widespread problems.”

Grunewald said the AgCenter does not yet know what the first projects in the consortium will be; it’s still waiting on the funds to be appropriated through the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. Diaz estimates that it will be several months before projects are underway.

Diaz said that this funding allows planning to become action. He added that prevention is one of the best tools for management because invasive species spread so quickly. Funding will accelerate detection programs and enhance outreach.

driving time. Instead, it creates a possibly dangerous situation for everyone on the roads.

“Students considering a course drop are encouraged to act as soon as possible,” the email reads.

If needed, the email stated students should contact an academic advisor, who can help make decisions involving course schedules.

The deadline is now set for Thursday at 11:59 p.m. LSU said this update is to align with the last day to add courses, which is also Thursday.

UPDATE, from page 3

grounds of parking lots washes into the water.

“They’re bound to fill up,” Laws said.

Laws estimate the lakes will need to be dredged again in 1520 years. However, Goodson explained that the goal is for them to never need dredging again.

The parts of the lake getting dredged to nne or 10 feet are called forebays. Goodson said these will act as underwater pits that trap the sediment entering the lake.

“In 20-25 years those forebays, those traps will have to be cleaned out, but that should prevent the lakes from silting in overall,” Goodson said.

The material dredged from the bottom of the lakes is also being used in the project in various ways. Goodson said that the majority of it is being used to expand the LSU bird sanctuary.

The project team is also using dredged material to construct living shorelines that create habitat and help filter runoff before it enters the lakes.

Additionally, Goodson said a long-term goal is to use the dredged material for new bike and pedestrian paths around the lakes.

Goodson said the most difficult part of the project so far has been working with the soils in the lakes. He said the soil and sediment at the bottom of the lakes is highly organic and difficult to handle, especially when trying to

Paying attention to traffic laws is also important to avoiding road rage. Kinesiology Freshman Ellie Hardie shared what she learned after an angry motorist confronted her during her commute.

“You are the only person you can rely on to drive responsibly on the road,” Hardie said. “So it’s important to make sure that you follow all of the designated traffic laws and not succumb to things

Being aware of what consequences can occur from participating in violent road rage is another reason to practice safe driving.

“Penalties can range from fines and court costs to arrests or jail time depending on the severity of the incident and if anyone was injured,” Walters said.

On top of negative consequences, Wolshon said that driving aggressively or speeding does not save the average commuter more than one minute of

These issues are easily avoidable when remembering that campus is a shared environment with pedestrians, cyclists, buses and drivers all using the same space.

Whether irritated with Friday afternoon traffic or someone forgetting to use a blinker, keeping these tips in mind will help Louisiana bring down road rage incidents and create a safer environment for all of Baton Rouge.

use it for the shorelines or work on May Street.

Nonetheless, the team is work-

ing to make the lakes as sustainable as possible. Goodson said that dredging and improvements to the lakes should be complete by the end of this year, but road work might linger into next year.

ENTERTAINMENT

I tried a UREC Zumba workout class for the first time. Here’s how it went

UREC BY PAIGE CHERAMIE Staff Writer

Recently, I have been on a journey to try new things. Through this journey, I found myself at a Zumba class, which allowed me to dance with a group of people for the first time since I graduated high school.

Although dancing was something I thought I was content to leave behind, the class reminded me of the joy that can be found in letting loose and moving to the beat of music.

Zumba is a dance-based exercise program that features upbeat movement and a range of workout intensity. It targets many parts of the body, working out everything from your arms to your core. It focuses on having fun while building stamina, allowing you to feel more flexible, strong and energetic in the long run.

The Zumba class I attended was on Jan. 16 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. It was a class hosted by GroupX at the LSU UREC, and it was led by Camille Kattan, a sophomore mass communication major with a concentration in journalism.

Kattan started her journey with the UREC early on, attending Zumba and Turn Up Dance classes with GroupX during her first year of college. However, this was not the start of her love of dancing.

“I’ve always liked teaching dance,” Kattan said. “In high school, I was cheerleading captain. There was no dance team, so for me, it was so much fun teaching other people and just seeing them have fun with what I have fun.”

When I first arrived at the class, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Kattan was very helpful, and her energy was incredibly comforting. I knew that even if I found the class to be difficult, I would still have a great time filled with fun and good vibes.

As the class began, I first felt very nervous. For me, dancing was never about letting loose and having fun. I was always in classes or on teams that focused on perfection, leading to an experience that was loved and hated simultaneously. It was rigid, with little room for mistakes or creativity— the exact opposite of this class.

However, as the class progressed, I found myself focusing less on what I looked like and more on feeling the movements and working out. I found that the less I cared about how well I executed the movements, the more fun I was having and the more I felt like I was actually getting in a solid workout.

Kattan kept the class feeling upbeat, calling out words of encouragement throughout different segments. She ensured everyone

understood what her hand signals meant, and she would pause the music to work through difficult dance circuits. Even if you have no dance background, it is a perfect class to get in exercise while learning something new.

“I think Zumba is for anyone,” explained Kattan. “Any type of dance fitness is for anyone. I always try to make it accessible for everybody. Not everyone can move the same way, and that’s completely fine.”

The attendees of the class seemed to enjoy the dancing as much as I did. There were moments where everyone was laughing and others where we were all focused on keeping up with the beat. When Kattan would stop to show moves, some participants would ask her to repeat them, which she happily did each time.

Maria Jose Andino, a sophomore environmental engineering major, is a frequent attendee for Zumba classes. Andino encourages others to attend the classes, as they are a great way to de-stress.

“It helps me for an hour forget that I have anything else to do,” Andino said. “You’re going to enjoy it. You’re going to feel great after, and it’s honestly very fun. Everyone laughs, and you get to meet new people.”

I often found myself experiencing this immersion, losing myself in the music. Kattan is originally from Honduras, and she shared this part of her identity through her song choices. The songs we danced to were Hispanic or Latin, bringing a culture unfamiliar to me into my day.

Although I didn’t understand the lyrics, I could feel the beat and appreciate the songs for their artistry and musicality. I honestly feel that not understanding the lyrics enhanced my experience, because I felt myself leaning into the beat more for guidance.

“Every single move that we do is made with the purpose of fol-

lowing the music’s beat,” Andino said. “It’s great because you start slow, then you go really high intensity and then pretty slow as well for a cool down, so you don’t end up feeling like you are too overwhelmed.”

Not only was this a wonderful opportunity to experience parts of a culture unfamiliar to me, it was a great reminder of the diverse community found at LSU. Without this community, I would not be as knowledgeable about the world, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities that this campus gives me every day to learn something new.

This class was very fun and fulfilling but lacked participants. This experience felt worthy of a class full of people. It’s a great way to let loose and stop caring about what others think of you. If dancing isn’t your thing, Kattan recommends trying out any of the GroupX classes at the UREC for a similar experience.

“We have different things and instructors who are very passionate.” Kattan explained. “For me, it isn’t just about the dancing—it’s about helping other people and just making them feel free, and making this a very safe space for anybody and everybody. I think that’s honestly the whole point of the job.”

I recommend trying out the Zumba classes at the UREC. When class ended, I felt thoroughly exercised and satisfied with the time I put into the class. Kattan is a wonderful instructor who is great at motivating you to feel the music and dance your heart out.

“I work for my students,” said Kattan. “I don’t work for my boss; I work for my students.”

You can attend a Zumba class on Tuesday and Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m., or on Friday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. If you are looking to attend a different GroupX class, you can find the schedule on the UREC website.

CAN’T FAKE INFLUENCE.

Student artist shares work with growing social media following

BY SARAH WALTON Staff Writer SOCIAL MEDIA

Lyn Parks, also known to her nearly 6,000 followers on Instagram as Pebbles, has made a name for herself as a digital artist while also working as a full-time student. As a sophomore theatre major at LSU, Parks still finds time in between class, homework and rehearsal to create all kinds of art from comics to character designs.

“I’ve always kind of been an artist and a creative person, but I started drawing because of an artist called GinjaNinjaOwO,” Parks said. “That’s where my long-term passion continued.”

Parks talked about starting her digital art journey. She started out by using Paint.NET a notoriously out-of-date digital art software.

She talked about how, in the early days, she didn’t know about the line stabilizer tools and how she would use a line manipulation tool to create each line of art. As for all people hoping to improve their art, time spent practicing and getting to know other artists game her experience and introduces new drawing platforms.

All artists have a source of inspiration—Parks gains hers from the anime, cartoons and live action shows she loves. She recently published some art inspired by “Wicked,” “The Hunger Games” and “Nice Life.” Parks recently got into the medical drama “The Pit”

SOCIAL

MEDIA

and she is a long-time fan of the show “The Umbrella Academy.” Shows like these also help Parks as a storyteller.

“It helps me stay with a fresh mind and stay inspired,” said Parks. “I mean, obviously I have days where I don’t have anything that I feel like drawing, and if I try to, it’s going to be hard on me.”

Another inspiration for Parks is other artists. Not only does she learn different techniques and design from observing others’ art, but she also works with other artists to learn from hands-on ex-

perience.

The journey to becoming a great artist is hard work, and oftentimes is much more complicated than it may seem to the average person.

“I was always kind of against fundamentals, which is not a good perspective to go into art with,” she said. “I didn’t like art classes because it would make you branch out into doing the painting or learning the fundamentals. I always kind of pushed against that, but the fastest way that I have seen to grow, which I always grumble at, is learning

fundamentals and trying new things.”

Practicing constantly that is how Parks improved so well.

“I’ve been drawing for over eight years consistently. I doodle in my off time; I draw poses when I’m bored. I draw real life sometimes to practice. I try to diversify what I’m doodling,” said Parks. “Over time, I learned that not everything has to be exactly perfect.”

Parks talked about all the things she does with her art now, including her Etsy shop. In the past year or so, she has made

over 2,700 sales on Etsy selling keychains, stickers and prints of her art. She also is open to art commissions.

Recently, because she is in the LSU School of Theatre for design, she’s gotten into making props, which she finds helps her with drawing her digital art. On the topic of theater, Parks talked about how that has shaped her art and overall creativity.

“When I’m looking at a costume, I’ll sketch it to see how it would look for me in my art style,” she said.

One feature of theatre that has really helped is looking at the tangible and being able to translate it to 2D much easier.

Parks also mentioned her love for storytelling and how she began to work on her storytelling. A while ago, she made a collaborative comic with an artist friend from TikTok. The friend had written a story where characters were sending notes back and forth during class, but Parks brought it a step further—she drew artwork to go with it. The comic is called “Notes.”

“It was received well,” Parks said. “I was blown away by the amount of support that both of us received. It was really incredible.” At the end of the day, art comes from so many places, and there are so many creative things to do. Parks is one person in a long line of talented artists creating work that helps and inspires others.

YouTube channel Louisiana Dread preserves Southern culture

BY PAUL TIBBETS Staff Writer

Bayou-born YouTube channel Louisiana Dread is serving up swamp monsters, gumbo reviews and history lessons in an effort to preserve a dying Southern culture.

From the Rougarou to the Wild Girl of Catahoula, Louisiana has no shortage of horror stories to go around. The scariest thing for Louisiana Dread creator Kyle Crosby, however, is the lack of preservation for a lot of these stories.

“Where I’m from, the culture down here, it’s dying,” Crosby said. “Slowly, you know, but it is dying.”

Crosby was born and raised in Larose, Louisiana. Wanting to work in film and TV, he moved out to Los Angeles in the mid 2010s. After three years of gaining experience, he moved back home when he received some unfortunate news.

“My dad got sick in 2017. He was diagnosed with dementia,” said Crosby. “And so I dropped everything and I moved back home to help my mom take care of him because I’m an only child.”

Despite this, moving back home offered Crosby a new

chance to immerse himself back in Louisiana history and culture. After taking up a history tourism job, he began to read the stories he learned to his father in the hospital. He was taken aback to find that not even his father knew many of these tales.

“I’m like, ‘You’ve never heard of this before?’ And he’d be like, ‘Hell no,’” said Crosby. “He’s a local. Born and raised in Grand Isle his whole life. It’s like, ‘Hey, if you’ve never heard these stories, I wonder if there’s other people obviously who haven’t.’”

This is what ultimately inspired the creation of his YouTube channel, Louisiana Dread. That, and a genuine passion for the preservation of the culture he grew up in.

The channel was started in 2020 and has since amassed a following of over 18,900 subscribers almost 500 videos. Crosby has videos detailing everything, including parish and city history, native tribes, folktales, famous building highlights and even gumbo reviews.

“It’s meant to capture our culture, capture the language we speak, capture the stories that we tell, capture the history that made us who we are today as America’s most unique culture,” he said.

There seems to be no end in sight for Louisiana Dread. This is a large state with many unique people across it. Even over hundreds of videos, Crosby has only covered a small chunk. He believes — and hopes — that he will be doing this for the rest of his life.

“It’s just something that you live or you kill,” Crosby said. “There’s no in-between. So you either actively live out that culture every day — about what you cook, what you say, what you do — or you end up killing it. You assimilate into the typical American culture.”

This is not a task Crosby takes lightly. People are used to having answers instantly in the internet age, but due to the lack of preservation for a lot of his subjects, learning is not as accessible as just a click away.

“I always use the Montague example,” said Crosby. “I tried looking up the history of Montague on Google and it had nothing. Nothing. And so I just went to the Terrebonne Parish Library and, sure enough, they had a bunch of books on the history of Montague.”

Luckily, he is not by himself in this mission. While Crosby does all of the research and the writing, he has always had a

team with him. He doesn’t believe he could do it alone.

His crew has helped him with filming and editing much in the past, but the editing is still the bare of his existence, he says.

“We are always looking for editors. I have about 20 videos that I have filmed already — they’re just in the editing dock waiting to get edited,” he explained.

If a job offer is not enough,

Crosby has your next lunch stop planned for you as well. You can trust the man who has reviewed over 162 gumbos.

“There’s two places that I’d recommend more than any other, and that’s Chris’ Poboys in Lafayette and the Balcony Restaurant in Larose,” suggested Crosby.

If you are interested in interning with Louisiana Dread, or if you just want to see more, you can visit the channel’s website.

SHOWSTOPPER

The LSU Tiger Girls perform their hip-hop routine during UDA finals Jan. 18 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.

Tiger Girls make history at nationals

BY AINSLEY FLOOD Sports Editor

The LSU Tiger Girls are bringing home a pair of silver medals in jazz and hip hop from the 2026 University Dance Association College & Dance Team National Championships over the weekend.

Although they weren’t national champions, it was their highest-

ever program finish in DIA Jazz, which featured a routine to the song “Oops!... I Did It Again” by Britney Spears.

They qualified for the finals in second place, just behind reigning champions Ohio State, who ended up winning back-to-back titles.

In DIA Hip Hop, the Tiger Girls performed another viral routine — this time to a mashup from Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl

Jay Clark acknowledges gym’s growing pains

BY DELANEY POTTHAST Staff Writer

LSU gymnastics recently fell to No. 4 in the national rankings following an unfortunate loss to the now- No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs.

The biggest mistakes for the Tigers were in the floor and vault rotations, events that combined for only two scores of 9.900 or higher. With similar results in the season opener just a week earlier, it’s clear that LSU has struggled to find its footing in these events early on.

Head coach Jay Clark spoke on some of the struggles the Tigers are facing in Tuesday’s press conference.

“Not exactly the way we wanted it to go,” Clark said. “There’s just a lot that goes into it; certainly we don’t want to self-destruct, and that’s what we did.”

Vault has specifically been an area of concern for the team, which usually excels at the event.

“It’s been hit or miss,” Clark said. “We got sloppy, and landings were sloppy. It’s something we’re addressing, making sure that we understand what we do in practice has got to be at a high standard.”

He especially emphasized the idea that showing control was a significant focus for the team ahead of Kentucky. Even if not

halftime show, which also fell just short of the category’s reigning champions, UNLV.

LSU cheer competed at UCA nationals this weekend, bringing a fourth-place finish back to Baton Rouge for DIA Coed Game Day. It just managed to qualify after the semifinals, snagging the sixth and final spot.

It’s the team’s best finish since it earned fourth place in 2023.

Standout Ole Miss edge will follow Kiffin to LSU, bolstering defense

BY ROSS ABBOUD

Deputy Sports Editor

LSU has landed a commitment from former Ole Miss edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen. He’ll officially be following former coach Lane Kiffin to LSU.

Umanmielen had a standout junior season with the Rebels in 2025, posting 44 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and nine sacks.

As an All-SEC third team selection last season, Umanmielen instantly has a path to starting time on the defensive line.

Three of LSU’s top edge rushers — Jack Pyburn, Patrick Payton and Jimari Butler — are out

of eligibility, leaving the team with a need at the position.

Umanmielen joins his former Ole Miss teammate linebacker TJ Dottery as defensive departures from the Rebels to head over to LSU.

The former four-star from Major, Texas, is listed as the No. 5 player in the NCAA transfer portal, according to 247Sports.

He joins former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt and former Colorado offensive tackle Jordan Seaton as top-five players to commit to LSU in the transfer portal this cycle.

Umanmielen started his career at Nebraska, playing two

seasons for the Cornhuskers before transferring to Ole Miss.

Umanmielen’s brothers both played college football as well.

One brother, Princely, played at Ole Miss in college and was a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. He also has another brother, Prince, who played at Tarleton State for two years before finishing his career at East Central University.

Umanmielen makes four former Ole Miss players who have made the move to LSU this offseason, joining Dottery, offensive lineman Devin Harper and wide receiver Winston Watkins.

perfect, they’ve at least got to “be in the ballpark.”

On top of this, it’s been difficult to fill leadership roles following the losses of standouts like Haleigh Bryant and Aleah Finnegan.

“It’s early in the season, and you’re replacing someone who’s been in that role for a long, long time around here, and we’re still trying to find our footing a little bit,” Clark said.

Even more so, starting on the road hasn’t exactly helped to the Tigers’ success either.

It’s expected that the home opener against Kentucky will give LSU that extra backing of fan support, but also the added factor of more practice time, without travel, which plays a large role in finding that team identity.

“We’ve been on the road for two straight weeks, and so going forward, we get to come home now and get in front of our people and feed off of that energy,” Clark said. “This is our first week of a normal cadence for us, and starting on the road, we only got two days [of practice] in between [meets].”

Most of the holdup for the Tigers is just seeing enough consistency in practice that will transfer over to Friday nights.

see CLARK, page 10

Golf poised for big year: which players to know

BY ADAM KIRSCHMAN Staff Writer

Over the course of the fall season, LSU men’s golf solidified itself as one of the best programs in the nation. The team finished its fall season on a hot streak, jumping from the seventh-ranked program to No. 2 nationally.

LSU’s roster is made up of college stars and strong depth pieces who consistently outperformed other top SEC programs before the winter hiatus.

Three of LSU’s stars were named in the top 60 Division I golfers, including No. 15 Gunnlaugur Arni Sveinsson, No. 44 Noah McWilliams and No. 57 Matthew Dodd-Berry. These three were key players in LSU golf’s fall success, helping the Tigers finish in the top three in every tournament they participated in, while also achieving four first-place tournament finishes.

Head coach Jake Amos has been extremely proud of the Tigers’ recent performances and believes this team has the capabil-

ity to continue its success in the upcoming SEC and NCAA tournaments.

“Any individual can win,” Amos said. “We know how talented we are, and it doesn’t matter what gets thrown at us; we’re just going to beat you. We just have a really nice, consistent balance of culture and expectation in the roster.” RANKED

Amos has been a big factor in the Tigers’ success in his first season as head coach, developing young players and recruiting top talent.

Yet the biggest story in LSU golf this year is the emergence of Icelandic rising sophomore Gunnlaugur Arni Sveinsson.

He started his fall season ranked 71st in NCAA Division I, but quickly jumped through the

see PREVIEW, page 10

Men’s basketball falls to Florida despite return of top scorer

BY RAMI BURKS Staff Writer MENS BASKETBALL

LSU men’s basketball missed the mark yet again, falling to Florida 79-61 on Tuesday night, despite its highest scorer being back in the lineup.

Dedan Thomas Jr. found himself back in the rotation tonight after missing several games due to a lower leg injury, which should have turned everything around for the Tigers. Unfortunately, this was not the case. He played decently but was clearly knocking off some of the rust from not playing for almost a month.

Head coach Matt McMahon said his absence was devastating for everyone, and that Thomas was considered day-to-day, which explains his short leash on Tuesday night.

“I’m never going to put anyone out there who’s not fully cleared and shown in practice that they’re ready to play,” McMahon said. “We would never put anyone at risk, regardless of circumstance there. DJ is doing everything in his power. Our medical team’s doing everything in their power. He’s 24/7, around the clock. He wants to be

PREVIEW, from page 9

rankings to No. 15 after finishing in the top three individually in the Jackson T. Stephens Cup and first in the Fallen Oak College Invitational.

Amos has loved Sveinsson’s play this season and claimed he was the best freshman in the nation.

Sveinsson has also cemented himself in LSU golf history after finishing the 2024-25 season with a stroke average of 70.25, the third best in school history.

Sveinsson looks to continue his dominance this spring and will likely be the face of this LSU roster as it makes a postseason push.

Players like Matthew DoddBerry, Noah McWilliams and Jay Mendall all provide veteran presence for this LSU roster. These three came up big in the latter half of last season, helping the Tigers tie for first place at Fallen Oak to finish off their strong fall season.

Dodd-Berry has served as a great leader for the Tigers and was recognized by Amos for playing a large role in the development of freshman stars.

One example of this is freshman Dan Hayes, who drew atten-

CLARK, from page 9

“These kids are going out there giving us all they can, and they’re showing great things in practice,” Clark said. “My message to them yesterday was, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing.’”

Clark circled back to this idea later in the conference.

“There’s several people we’d like to get in on vault, and there’s several people we’d like to get in

out there more than anything, to help his team.”

larger as time passed, despite LSU’s best efforts.

The Tigers’ usually exciting offense was stifled by Florida, and with the hot and cold defense that’s been on display all season, the game was a recipe for disaster.

One question throughout nonconference play was that the defense could step up and pull it all together. After the losing streak to open up SEC play and this loss to Florida, the odds aren’t looking to be in the Tigers’ favor to rewrite the story.

On the defensive side of the ball, LSU found itself struggling to keep the ball in purple, and on the offensive side, missed baskets and communication issues would allow Florida to force a turnover.

LSU has played the comeback game several times throughout the season, but has consistently fallen short in conference play. The Bayou Bengals have tried to do all of the little things right like getting to the free-throw line and making the majority of their shots, but there was one thing that always separated the top from the bottom: defense.

tion after finishing four under par and tying for 14th at Fallen Oak, earning him co-freshman of the week honors alongside Sveinsson.

This combination of efficient and experienced players, along with younger rising stars, provides a strong balance in tournaments, making it hard for the opposition to beat out a majority of these Tigers.

As LSU moves through the spring and towards high-pressure tournaments like the SEC and NCAA championships, veteran presences will help the squad keep composure in this unknown territory for younger teammates.

This being said, younger stars like Sveinsson and Hayes will hopefully keep up the great play this spring and continue developing into some of the nation’s best.

LSU golf fans should be excited to see how far the team can go this spring season. As one of the top teams in the nation, the Tigers will likely be a frontrunner to win the SEC, and after their second-place finish in last year’s conference championship, Amos and company will be out for revenge.

Hopefully, LSU can continue its dominance in its return on Feb. 9, when it participates in the Puerto Rico Classic.

on bars,” Clark mentioned. “Ultimately, it comes down to who’s the hot hand and what gives us the best chance to win in this moment.”

Even with all the stir on what will be next for the Tigers on Friday, he has confidence in both his team and the season that lies ahead.

“I believe in their ability, and I believe in the potential of this group,” Clark said.

It’s been the same story all season, and it was no different on Tuesday night. LSU hasn’t been

RICHARD, from page 2 mainly guarding Chavez and held her to only 11 points on 3-for-14 (21.4%) shooting from the field and four turnovers.

“When you talk about defense, you’ve got to mention Jada Richard,” Johnson said. “Threefor-14, Aaliyah Chavez, that was her main assignment. I would say she did a great job just controlling the tempo on defense — getting back in transition. We had a couple of lapses in transition, but overall, Jada controlled the pace. She really controlled the whole dynamic on defense, so I would say it was hard really dictating what Oklahoma did on those actions.”

The assignment to guard the opposing team’s leading scorer speaks volumes about how much trust this LSU team has in her.

Richard earned that trust because what’s grown the most in her game is her leadership skills.

“She has a voice on the floor now,” Starkey said. “She doesn’t have a problem saying some -

TAMBA, from page 2

play for him.

The stars aligned for Tamba to commit to LSU, and he joined the Tigers at the end of April.

“I think it was a very good opportunity to take a step forward in my game,” Tamba said.

He has played in the Big Sky, the Big West and JUCO ball, meaning SEC play would be a different beast for him. He hasn’t backed down.

“My role on the team is to bring toughness,” Tamba said. “As a veteran guy, try to eliminate mistakes

the team to force turnovers and stifle the opponent, and the Gators quickly snuffed out any flame the Tigers garnered at tipoff.

Before the first 10 minutes left on the play clock, the Gators had already taken the ball back and pulled away. The lead only grew

After nearly half of the season has been played, a historically dominant school like LSU should have solidified its spot on everyone’s radar this season.

Nonetheless, the Tigers buckled under the pressure of the SEC again, falling with an incomplete performance. LSU will look to prevent a streak as it takes on Arkansas in Fayetteville on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

thing to Flau’jae or Mikaylah, or any of our players in terms of getting them in the right place, or telling them something that they need to do, or some area

as much as possible.”

Tamba cuts out his team’s mistakes as much as he causes them for opponents. He’s averaging less than a turnover per game while also leading the team in steals per game.

Outside of his play on the court, he has proven to be a leader off the court as well.

“What you hope is that competitive spirit that he brings is contagious throughout the locker room,” McMahon said.

While the team faced an 0-4 start to conference play, his teammates always kept their heads up

they need to pick up on. So that voice has been, I think, the biggest change, but her ability to play and defend — everything we knew we were going to get.”

and fought back to cut deficits or hold the lead like they did to gain their first SEC win against Missouri.

Him just being on the court helps impact winning, showcased by his team’s +0.36 point differential per minute he’s on the court. That’s second on the team, only behind Dedan Thomas Jr., has just made his return to the court from a foot injury.

Tamba has full belief in his team that they will turn it around and get back on track in the conference. His confidence in his team is unwavering, just like his confidence and fire power on the court.

OPINION

Progress, but not enough: A review of Sid Edwards’ first year

CRAWFORD’S CORNER

Columnist

On Jan. 2, Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sid Edwards marked one year in office, becoming the second Republican administration elected in Baton Rouge since Reconstruction.

It was a year of ups and downs, to say the least.

The mayor-president certainly has a few accomplishments under his belt, but with the future of the city budget questionable and key services potentially on the chopping block, the current trajectory of his administration looks somewhat dubious.

During a recent speech, Edwards highlighted his administration’s success in lowering crime rates, reducing blight and making progress on homelessness.

Crime was the big-ticket item on the accomplishments list. Crime rates are down, with shootings decreasing by 20% and homicides by 15%. It’s not the most spectacular shift, but it is tangible progress in the right direction.

His efforts against blight and homelessness in the community have also had tangible impacts. The city has made real progress towards removing dilapidated properties and, while not par-

ticularly remarkable relative to efforts by previous administrations, continued collaboration with community organizations has proved moderately fruitful.

However, any discussion of the accomplishments of MayorPresident Edwards’ first year naturally dovetails with, and stands in contrast to, the failure of his signature policy, the Thrive plan.

Upon entering office, Edwards’ administration had two immediate budgetary goals: filling the void in the budget left by the loss of St. George and securing a pay raise for Baton Rouge Police officers, whose $40,900 salary placed them amongst the lowest-paid police forces in the state.

Edwards proposed a number of plans, resulting in a back and forth with the council, before finally settling on the Thrive plan. The plan consisted of three separate ballot measures regarding the renewal of dedicated taxes for the Council on Aging, Mosquito Control and, most controversially, the East Baton Rouge Public Library system, an institution which serves as one of the rare examples in the state of effective public administration delivering high-quality results.

The Thrive plan was deeply flawed. Pitched as a renewal of the millages for those city services, it also tacked on a provision allowing the city to pilfer those funds for general purpos -

es. Dedicated funding exists for a very good reason in this state; it is one of our premiere safeguards against not only nakedly corrupt politicians but also to those who seek the most politically expedient solution to a given problem.

Thus, be it out of a belief in the integrity of dedicated funds or just a result of the general confusion the plan left many people in, the Baton Rouge voters struck it down. As a result, the 2026 budget was haphazardly slashed, leading to widespread layoffs.

The issue isn’t inherently with the budget cuts themselves. The city was always going to need to adapt to the new St. George-less reality. However, forcing voters to choose between protecting corruption safeguards and knifing city services is an unfair dilemma in service of a slapdash agenda.

Another area where Edwards has had questionable policy has been his varied response to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement activity. A text exchange revealed that Edwards was potentially open to heightened ICE action, but requested that ICE be delayed due to their presence potentially harming the success of the Thrive initiative. Edwards later clarified that he believed that voters may have been confused by ICE’s presence, and believed the city was funding the agents.

I personally find that excuse dubious. Edwards has been supportive of a potential National Guard deployment to Baton Rouge, and the National Guard has already engaged in efforts to support ICE operations. While he has insisted that he does not believe that ICE should be sent to Baton Rouge, it remains to be seen whether he would actually step up and resist ICE action if push came to shove.

The potential ramifications of heightened ICE activity in Baton Rouge would be devastat-

ing, as they have been in other communities with diverse populations.

Overall, year one of MayorPresident Sid Edwards’ term has been a significantly mixed bag. While statistics may show signs of positive change, the budget crisis remains an ongoing battle with the potential to do longterm damage to precious city institutions.

Gordon Crawford is a 19-yearold political science major from Gonzales, La.

Use your free time for you. Cut out what feels like a chore

Columnist

Sometimes life can feel like one big to-do list. It always seems like there’s something to cross off. From school and work to house chores, errands and endless responsibilities, our moments of downtime should be savored. That time should be spent wisely.

After the hustle and bustle of our day is all said and done, what we do in our free time and who we spend it with shouldn’t feel like a chore or a burden.

Partaking in activities and outings we love should hold space.

EDITORIAL BOARD

Jason Willis Editor in Chief

When we think of our days off, we should relish in knowing we’re in the driver’s seat. We have complete control of how we spend our 24 hours — and whom we spend that time with. Let’s face it, some people are extremely capable of draining our energy.

That’s why it’s important that we only surround ourselves with the ones who make us feel light and supported. This year, stop trying to force bad connections.

The list of filling one’s spare time with stuff they love can be endless. For me, getting cozy with a new novel, bouncing from one coffee shop to another — what can I say? I like a change of scenery — booking a massage, cooking brunch at my apartment, having a double feature on my

couch, viewing my favorite comfort films, grabbing dinner with some pals and partaking in a few FaceTime calls with long-distance friends and family are what I use those moments of free time for.

Everything I mentioned is

headache-free. Life is already challenging enough at times; there’s not enough ibuprofen in the world to cure a never-ending migraine. When we direct our attention and focus on things that boost our serotonin levels, stress and worry are significantly reduced. Doing things you love is just another act of self-care.

If there’s one thing that has stuck with me throughout my 20s, it’s this: life is meant to be lived the way we want to live it. There is no such thing as one “right” way. Instead of trying to mirror other people’s lives, spend time sculpting your personal journey.

Anything you have to talk yourself into is not the vibe. In a past column I wrote, “Why saying no is your superpower.” I

think it’s time we reinforce that statement. Do you love it or were you just invited?

This column is not a promotion to “bring back selfishness in 2026,” but rather to bring back self-respect, self-care and selflove.

In order to be a class act, we must spend time showing kindness to ourselves first.

When we put our energy and focus into things we love, we’re not only pouring positivity into ourselves but into the people around us. There’s an automatic enhancement of serenity and genuine happiness when we eliminate the negative in our lives and hone in on what we love.

Ava Francis is a 22-year-old journalism major from New Orleans.

Trump wants Greenland, but he won’t invade it. Here’s why

BERGERON’S BRIEFINGS

THOMAS BERGERON

Columnist

U.S. President Donald Trump has in recent months escalated rhetoric surrounding his desire to annex Greenland, the semiautonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.

While Trump has sought to acquire the ice-covered island as far back as 2019, European nations are increasingly enhancing Arctic military readiness as transatlantic friction materializes.

While the Trump team has alluded to seizing Greenland by force, seizing the territory would ring in the end of NATO, and by extension, American hegemony. Therefore, it appears unlikely that American troops will move to invade Greenland’s icy ground.

Despite its relative insignificance compared to other North American and European nations, Greenland’s geography is of crucial strategic importance within the Arctic region. Full stop.

This was true during World War II in defeating Nazi Germany’s intelligence-gathering operations and true again during the Cold War as the West and the East vied for strategic posturing of nuclear second-strike capabilities.

Today, Greenland echoes a similar story, remaining an important center column in NATO’s Arctic strategy, connecting

the U.S. and Canada to their European allies in a united front against the Russian Federation.

The strange thing about this, though, is the question of alliances.

Outside of NATO, the U.S. and Denmark maintain the 1951 Defense of Greenland Treaty, which effectively outlines neartotal U.S. military access to Greenland, contingent upon at least some consultation with Copenhagen and the home-rule government in Nuuk.

While the U.S. may have violated the spirit of these terms in the 1959 Project Iceworm nuclear-basing experiment, Denmark and Greenland have generally been amenable to maintaining U.S. airborne early-warning installations at Pituffik Space Base.

So, despite these legal agreements and past precedents, why is Trump now appearing hostile towards long-standing U.S. allies?

Well, first off, it makes for good television. Saying Trump enjoys controversy is a bit of an understatement. The MAGA base appears to enjoy the antagonizing of the “globalist” left-leaning European governments, often portrayed as needing some kind of corrective action.

Trump appearing as a tough, uncompromising strongman appeals to his base greatly — but it also makes America appear more like a bully rather than a trusted battle-buddy. If American allies will bend to its will, does that mean its enemies will do the same?

There remains, though, two divergent reasonings for this bully-ball Trump appears to be playing.

On one hand, one could argue that this move is designed as a coercive yet urgent call to action for NATO to take Arctic security more seriously, especially as Arctic ice continues to thaw as a result of climate change.

This move would be consistent with Trump’s earlier coercive efforts to pressure NATO members into increasing defense spending. While it is very possible there is more to acquiring Greenland than for security alone, such as allowing American companies unfettered access to Greenland’s rare earth and mineral resources, this aggressive posturing may be intended to forcibly persuade European allies to accelerate their own military investments.

On another, more pessimistic side, Trump has long been criticized for appearing less interested in reforming alliances — sometimes appearing that he may prefer to abandon them altogether.

He has repeatedly threatened to withdraw U.S. commitments to NATO previously, alongside withdrawing the U.S. from dozens of international organizations. Some of this NATO divestment strategy may have already materialized, with recent reports suggesting the Pentagon is planning withdrawal from multiple elements within the NATO force structure.

Through this lens, Trump’s

aggressive posturing may function instead as a stress test of the alliance itself. Even if direct conflict never develops, Trump may perceive collective European resistance over Greenland as proof enough of how “dysfunctional” the alliance system is to American interests.

In this outcome, American retrenchment from NATO would not be a bug, but a feature, deliberately eroding confidence in American-European relations.

In this world, perhaps Trump’s America finds Europe too ungrateful for continued cooperation — or perhaps Europe finds America too unhinged to trust.

To reiterate — no, Trump will

likely not invade Greenland. While Arctic security is clearly not the only thing on the president’s mind, any kind of intraNATO conflict would be a zerosum game in which both the U.S. and Europe would emerge far weaker relative to Russia and China’s pursuit of a multipolar world.

As Abraham Lincoln once warned, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

If Western democracy is to survive, so must NATO. Conflict over Greenland is simply not worth that price.

Thomas Bergeron is a 26-yearold graduate student from Baton Rouge, La.

Escape your emotional ruts by looking deeper at your feelings

Look — I’m not a therapist.

I’m not a psychologist or psychiatrist or anything of the like. But I am a human being, and though young, I’ve been through some hard things in my life. I’ve been bullied, I’ve grieved, I’ve loved, I’ve lost, etc. I’ve been in some really deep ruts, and there have been times when I’ve found myself swallowed up in waves of

despair, anger and other feelings.

I used to let myself wallow in these emotions until they worked themselves out of my system, but as I enter this new phase of life, I’ve found this strategy to be less and less useful and perhaps even a detriment to my well-being. Usually, I have a tendency to be sensitive and maybe even a little saccharine at times, but I’m not here to coddle anyone this time.

Sitting in your feelings is killing you.

For the sake of not beating a dead horse, I’ll use this example

CARMEN RANDOLPH

as a cautionary tale one final time. Last semester, I developed clinical insomnia that disrupted my entire life.

I couldn’t sleep for more than two hours a night on average, and when I did fall asleep, it was when my day ought to have started, which led to missing classes, assignments and social gatherings. I was failing one of my classes and falling behind in every area of my life, and there was a moment when I was just lying in bed in the dark asking myself, “What is the point of all of this? Why am I here?”

I was crying almost every day — I’m not afraid to admit that as a man or in general. I was listening to “Folklore,” “American Heartbreak,” “Virgin” and “Born and Raised” on a constant loop. I stopped praying for a while because I didn’t know how to talk to God if I couldn’t even talk to myself.

I didn’t recognize myself, and I didn’t understand why I couldn’t live up to the person I used to be under these uncontrollable circumstances that I swore I could bend to my will.

I was habitually allowing myself to wake up and choose sadness before I even started my

day. It’s not to say that I wasn’t genuinely depressed — I was — rather, I wasn’t giving myself any grace to understand what was making me feel this way or how to stop it. I wanted to feel my feelings until I didn’t anymore, but no one teaches you how to plan for an exit strategy from yourself.

When I finally came out of my spiral, it wasn’t because the sun suddenly started shining or my problems all miraculously resolved — I remember waking up the morning I was moving out of my dorm for the semester and looking at myself thinking, “That’s not me. That’s not Riley.” And I wanted to understand how I’d fallen so far.

In that moment of disgust, I managed to step outside of myself. I realized that I needed to become a student of my emotions — I needed to study myself to fully understand what was happening to me.

I began examining certain patterns I had and started trying to disrupt them. The sad music I was listening to? Tempered with happy and upbeat music, even when it didn’t match my mood. If I felt like I was going to cry, instead of immediately

giving way, I went to write in my journal until I could make some semblance of sense of my feelings, and if I still needed to cry afterward, I did. I practiced giving myself advice as if I were another person to see if I could console myself.

I took a hard look at myself and began learning how to give myself grace, something I used to laugh at my mom for constantly telling me to do because I felt it was out of reach — that I was already giving myself too much grace and should have everything figured out immediately or not at all. Shocker — my mom was right and I was wrong. When you feel overwhelmed, confused or unsure of yourself, it’s okay to feel. It’s not okay to let your feelings destroy you with no recourse. Sometimes the only way out is going through, not going under.

So take a deep breath, and attempt to step outside of yourself. Study yourself. Look in the mirror and ask yourself, “Why?” and don’t stop asking until you have an answer.

Riley Sanders is a 19-year-old biology major from Denham Springs, La.