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Former LSU student turns family dish into full-time business selling hummus.
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
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‘IT’S OUR CULTURE’
This former LSU student honors her Lebanese heritage through hummus BY CHARLOTTE TRENTALANGE Staff Writer While it might seem unassuming for some, hummus is much more than a dip for the Buttross family. Hummus is a family recipe, acting as a connection to their Lebanese heritage and now, a business that has taken Madelyn Buttross from making small batches in her kitchen to selling pints at pop-ups and local businesses. Buttross started Mad Hummus during her freshman year at LSU after spending years watching her family make a recipe passed down from her greatgrandmother, who her family called Teta. During that winter break, she finally decided to give the idea a shot. At first, she made orders at home using a small Cuisinart that could produce about four containers at a time. Orders came through Instagram, Facebook and word of mouth with customers picking up at her house or Buttross delivering it. During her sophomore year at LSU, struggling to balance school, a social life and her business, she began to consider pursuing hummus as a full-time gig. By Christmas, she left LSU to do just that, a decision she said she hasn’t regretted once. “I didn’t have a complete plan, but I was sure of my decision,” Buttross said. Her mother and business partner, Mia Mansour Buttross, understands taking that leap of faith. She had previously started her own hummus business, Mia’s Killer Hummus, using the same family recipe but eventually stepped away as she raised her children. When Buttross decided to revive the business under Mad Hummus, her mother was
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Editor-in-Chief LAURA ALLEN Managing Editor GARRETT MCENTEE Digital Editor SAMANTHA SUNDBERG News Editor JORJA ETHRIDGE Deputy News Editor MADELYN LONG Sports Editor ALEX SHEESLEY Deputy Sports Editor RAMI BURKS Entertainment Editor MIA VIZZI Opinion Editor RILEY SANDERS Multimedia Editor EVAN TOUCHET COURTESY OF MADELYN BUTTROSS
Mad Hummus served at Restaurant Calla in Lake Charles, La. thrilled. “I was really shocked and excited and surprised,” Mansour Buttross said. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t even know if she knows how much we went through.’” Now, Mad Hummus is a full family effort. Buttross makes the hummus, develops new flavors and handles much of the marketing, while her mother brings her previous business experience to the table. Buttross’s four siblings have helped with pop-ups, tastetesting, social media and spreading the word. Mansour Buttross says her 11-year-old son, David, has even become a great marketer for the business. “He brings it to school in his lunches, and people — his little friends — are asking for it,” she
COURTESY OF MADELYN BUTTROSS
Madelyn Buttross tables an event at LSU’s Kappa Delta Epsilon sorority house.
says. Buttross said one of his friends has even talked about investing in the business when he gets older. The recipe itself has also evolved. Buttross switched from canned chickpeas to dry beans and began experimenting with flavors beyond the original. Mad Hummus has offered varieties including roasted garlic, spicy garlic, roasted red pepper and seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice and chocolate. Still, the family wants the product to remain grounded in its Lebanese origins. “It’s really rooted around family, and hummus is supposed to bring people together. It’s our culture,” Buttross said. She also prides herself in the clean ingredients she uses to make the hummus, which does not contain seed oils and is gluten-free, vegan and dairy-free. Mad Hummus has grown through pop-ups and community events, including LSU’s Kappa Delta Epsilon chapter’s annual Shamrock N’ Run. The business also sells at Crave Gourmet, Lake Street Liquor and Restaurant Calla in Lake Charles, with plans to be available soon at Calvin’s Bocage Market in Baton Rouge. Buttross said some of the most rewarding moments have come not from sales numbers, but the relationships the business has created. She often has customers send her photos and messages about the hummus, motivating her to work harder. “I’ve met people through this that I never would have had friendships with if I wasn’t doing it,” she said. Mansour Buttross said those relationships are one of the most
meaningful parts of watching the business grow. “I think most importantly, it’s the relationship and the friendships we form; they stretch so far and wide, and it just means so much to us culturally,” she said. The business is now preparing for its next stage of growth as it undergoes a rebrand and completes its nutrition label testing through the LSU AgCenter. It’s also working through shelflife studies as it looks toward eventually working with a manufacturer. Mansour Buttross said she is proud that her daughter chose to continue the family tradition and pursue a business at such a young age. “I know that these are going to be life lessons that you can’t learn in school. She was very brave to leave LSU to pursue her passion,” she said. Buttross said exiting LSU meant giving up some of the everyday college experiences she loved, but it also gave her more time with her family and the opportunity to build something of her own. For her, working alongside her mother, spending more time with her siblings and turning a family recipe into something that reaches people beyond just their home has been rewarding. “My hope is that every bite brings a little of our family’s table to yours,” Buttross said. For a recipe that has already made its way through four generations of the family, the Buttrosses hope Mad Hummus is only at the beginning of its next chapter. “I feel like I’ve really found what I want to do,” she said. “I would choose this every single time.”
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ABOUT THE REVEILLE The Reveille is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. A single issue of The Reveille is free from multiple sites on campus and about 25 sites off campus. To obtain additional copies, please visit the Office of Student Media in B-39 Hodges Hall or email studentmedia@ lsu.edu. The Reveille is published biweekly during the fall, spring and summer semesters, except during holidays and final exams. The Reveille is funded through LSU students’ payments of the Student Media fee.
NEWS Student body president SEW AND SAVE launches leader council
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STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Geaux Green, Fashion Association promote sustainability
BY HANNAH EVANS Staff Writer
BY KALLIE ROMERO Staff Writer
Ben Barousse, LSU student body president, launched the President’s Council of Student Leaders to help address issues that affect students. The council is meant to inform the student body on the work SG is already doing and give SG a broader student perspective as it develops policy and programming. “Student Government does a lot of good work, but by design, it can’t always capture the full range of perspectives across campus in real time,” Barousse said. “This council exists to close that gap.” The council includes representatives from all four Greek councils, the Student Philanthropy Council, LSU Ambassadors, culturally-based student organizations like the Black Student Union, the Residence Hall Association, Disability Services, LSU Tiger Marching Band, LSU Athletics, ROTC and graduate programs. “Student Body Vice President Anna Katherine Harrell and I talked about this during our campaign,” Barousse said. “We wanted to make sure Student Government was addressing the issues that actually affect students, and creating this council is one concrete way to do that, by bringing student leaders from across campus directly into the conversations where we can make lasting change.” Most representatives have al-
Students gathered in the Human Ecology Building Tuesday evening for a sustainability-focused clothing mending event, where they repaired jeans, bags and shorts with needles and thread. The mending workshop was a collaborative event hosted by LSU Fashion Association and Geaux Green. During the workshop, students learned how to mend clothes so they can keep them for longer periods of time. Fashion Association Vice President Erica Landrum is a junior majoring in apparel design. Landrum said that the two organizations wanted to give students the opportunity to sew and mend clothes, especially those who may not know how. “We’re giving new life to the clothes that we already have so we can keep them for a lot longer than we usually do,” Landrum said. The students brought in the clothing items they wanted to learn to repair. Some had holes in their jeans or shorts, while others wanted to learn to mend bags. Tables in the lobby held supplies such as thread, embroidery needles and fabric scraps to give participants a starting point for the mending. Mending clothes is an important initiative to the Fashion Association. It seeks to incorpo-
CHARLES CHRISTIANSEN / The Reveille
LSU students mend clothes on Sept. 29 during a clothes mending workshop in the Human Ecology Building. rate sustainability into fashion and help students learn how to do the same. The association and Geaux Green started working together last year, building on a shared interest in sustainability. Together, both organizations wanted to create a workshop that would help students learn how to extend their clothes’ lives. The organizations held a similar workshop in the spring and wanted to bring it back. Geaux Green is a sustainability club on campus that does
service work. Most of the organization’s activities are dedicated to promoting environmentalism and responsibility across the campus and the greater Baton Rouge region. Geaux Green President Ian Frick is a senior pursuing a dual degree in coastal environmental science and anthropology. He said that mending clothes is one small way students can actively be sustainable. “People have this misconception that these small, day-to-day
see WORKSHOP, page 4
ready accepted the position, but the SG Executive Branch is still finalizing a Disability Services representative and a second graduate student to hold a position in their respective offices. “The goal from the start was to represent as many distinct parts of student life as possible,” Barousse said. “It gives me direct, regular input from the leaders of organizations across Greek life, cultural groups, athletics and more, so the initiatives and policies we pursue reflect the full breadth of student life at LSU, not just what comes through Student Government’s own channels” The SG Executive Branch is also finalizing the first meeting of this council. For these meetings, Barousse said that he will build the council’s agenda around campus-wide issues, while asking members to bring forward what they’re hearing from the students and communities they interact with Barousse said this ensures they are not simply focusing on the priorities of their individual organizations. This council is one of the many tools Barousse can use to stay connected to students across campus, understand the issues that matter to the students and make sure those perspectives help inform students of the work SG is doing, he said. Barousee said there will also be potential opportunities for other campus organizations or students to come and express
see COUNCIL, page 4
STUDENT LIFE
Student organizations share Asian culture at Mid-Autumn Fest BY VIVIAN SARHAN Staff Writer The Asian Student Union held Mid-Autumn Fest on Tuesday at the United Methodist Church, featuring LSU student organizations and local food and clothing vendors. ASU planned and hosted the event alongside the Pakistani Students Association, Asian Students Art Organization, Asian Business Club, Namaste LSU and the Indian Student Association. In addition to traditional Asian cuisine, such as Korean fried chicken, local vendors included Pop’n Rouge, a dirty soda shop, and It’s So Lao, a familyrun Laotian pop-up shop. A SU has held fall events similar to the festival in previous years, but this is the first time the event has been large enough to require a different venue such as the church’s parking lot, according to Nhu Tran, interior
design senior and president of ASU. Through collaboration on social media, personal connections and family relatives, they were able to build the inaugural Mid-Autumn Fest. “We’re really grateful for the church [letting] us host this, and we’re really grateful for everyone, including the volunteers that came and helped us,” Tran said. “That was a big part of making this event really successful.” Pop’n Rouge served dirty sodas, similar to mixed drinks, but without alcohol. The stand was run by Diana Khaled, the owner of the shop. She said that PSA reached out to her to be a vendor at the event. “So many students came by the table,” Khaled said. “I was just telling one girl that I never came to things like this as a student. I didn’t really know much about them. So I love to see such a big turnout with so many dif-
ferent kinds of students from all the different clubs involved.” BesTeas Sip & Bite also served drinks at the event, including bubble tea and matchabased drinks. ASU reached out to BesTeas, which sometimes vends for LSU Dining, said ASU also reached out to them to vend at the event. Vanessa Le, owner of BesTeas, said that student organizations such as ASU regularly do collaborations with them. It’s So Lao served traditional Laotian cuisine like Lao sausage, chicken and pork skewers, papaya salad and Lao salad. One of the owners, Kynjamin Bhengsimma, said one of his cousins is in ASU, and invited them to be vendors at the festival. “We’re expanding [our] culture, bringing it out to Louisiana, and wanting to have more people know what our food tastes like,” Bhengsimma said. “Food is a way to express people’s feel-
ings and how to spread their culture, and it connects a lot of people across cultural lines.” Consumables weren’t the only vendors, as there were multiple student-owned boutiques, including Market on Mars. Mars Lambie, a digital marketing junior. ASU invited her alongside Thien Ho, an apparel design sophomore, to sell second-hand merchandise. “I feel like fast fashion is so on the rise and is really accessible, so I think it’s really important that people take a moment and go find something that someone has already created,” Lambie said. “[Fast Fashion] does not help our climate. To put it bluntly, it’s also not unique; you can very much walk by someone with the same outfit as you, but thrift is a unique experience.” According to attendees, the event was fun for all and a great way to experience culture on campus.
“It reminds me a little bit of what I get back home,” said Gerald Lê, a computer science senior from Vietnam. “Events like these are a nice distraction to bring everyone together. Among all the exams and academic pressure. It’s just nice to be outside for a moment.” Tran said ASU events like the Mid-Autumn Festival or the Spring Festival next semester are important to have at LSU because it gives students opportunities to learn about other cultures. “Asians are such a small population of the LSU campus,” Tran said. “It’s important that we show LSU that ‘hey, you have a community to go to if you want to learn about Asian culture, if you’re interested in making friends, making connections, learning about Asian food, activities and what we do for Mid-Autumn. When you’re here, you’re like family.”
Thursday, October 1, 2026
page 4 CONSTRUCTION
LSU School of Music opens recital hall for student performances BY ABIGAIL ANDERSON Staff Writer The start of the school year marked the ending of some construction projects on campus, including a new recital hall in the School of Music Building. The John G. Turner & Hango G. Fischer Recital Hall, named after two donors, officially opened its doors for recitals and performances. The new hall features enhanced acoustics, a new recording studio, updated seating and modernized technology. “John and Hango’s generosity through this project gives our students and faculty a world-class environment to hone their craft while sharing enriching performing arts experiences with communities across Louisiana and beyond,” said LSU Chancellor Jim Dalton in a press release. “They and fellow donors to this project understand that excellent spaces attract and retain excellent talent.” Since a $4 million donation from Turner and Fischer in 2018, LSU’s School of Music has supported the construction and opening of the new recital hall. In recognition for their donation, Turner and Fisher were awarded honorary doctorate degrees from the college during LSU’s summer
commencement this year. Before, the recital hall did not capture sound the way it needed to. According to Galante Director of Choral Studies Alissa Rowe, when the LSU Gospel Choir performed with a live band, it was too loud in the room. Without any curtains to absorb the sound waves, it bounced off the walls. “The piece I performed really benefited from the new hall by being able to capture the big sound I needed in the heavier sections, while still capturing the intricacies of the technical passages that are typically covered by halls that support resonance,” said Victor Diaz, a junior percussion performance major. Diaz was one of the first people to perform in the new recital hall at its opening on Sept. 10, where LSU administrators and donors cut an opening ribbon and a performance was held. He was accompanied by doctor of musical arts trumpet candidate Tristan Keaton. The new hall also brings better opportunities for students to prepare. Eric Lau, dean of the Music & Dramatic Arts college, said that this hall is where preparation becomes performance. “Every music student will have a connection to this space, whether they are taking the stage, sup-
ZACH LABBE / The Reveille
LSU administrators and School of Music donors cut opening ribbon for the John G. Turner & Hango G. Fischer Recital Hall on Sept. 6. porting a classmate or learning from our faculty. It gives us an environment equal to the talent of our students and faculty and makes that talent more visible and accessible to the people we serve,” Lau said in a press release. Both Rowe and Diaz are look-
ing forward to what the new renovation could mean for the School of Music, LSU’s undergraduate and graduate music programs. Not only will the changes help with recruitment, but it is also just the beginning of other renovations to the music building
said Rowe. “I think this is basically where we’re starting now, you know, and then we’ll go from there,” Rowe said. “I hope we can redo the choir and orchestra rehearsal rooms, but that’s the next step for me.”
COUNCIL, from page 3
as possible for students to share that input.” Barousse explained that this council will directly shape the conversations he has with university leadership and to create as a bridge between students and administration. He expects the council to surface new perspectives and priorities that inform future conversations as well. “I want students to know
that this council exists to ensure that the decisions we make reflect a broader range of campus perspectives that Student Government couldn’t capture on its own,” Barousse said. “It is not a replacement for Student Government, but rather another channel for listening to students, gathering input and helping shape the priorities and direction of our work.”
their concerns during one of the council meetings. “Many students aren’t in organizations, and the council alone may not be able to reach them all,” Barousse said. “Every student has a perspective and experience that deserves to be heard, and our responsibility is to create as many opportunities
CHARLES CHRISTIANSEN / The Reveille
A pile of clothes sits on Sept. 29 during clothes mending workshop in the Human Ecology Building.
WORKSHOP, from page 3 changes aren’t really sustainable in a way that matters, but they are,” Frick said. He added that sustainability does not always have to mean major environmental changes. “Wearing one shirt for 10 years that you really like is meaningful,” Frick said. Sophomore environmental engineering student Abigail Miller brought a pair of shorts that she needed to mend. She said she already knew how to mend clothes. “I try to fix everything I wear,” Miller said. “I don’t really throw things away because [I] just like to be conscious. I feel like I already have enough stuff.”
Senior biology major Spike Icolano brought a thrifted bag with a damaged handle that needed to be mended. “Sewing’s for everybody,” Icolano said. “It’s a useful skill that everybody should know how to do.” Landrum hopes that students who come to workshops like this can learn more. She said she wants students to know that the Fashion Association welcomes everyone who wants to learn more about fashion, from thread to full outfits. “Even if you’re not a designer or not a part of the [ Department of Textiles, Apparel Design, and Merchandising,] we still want you to come out, and we want you to leave here with a new skill,” Landrum said.
COURTESY OF BEN BAROUSSE / The Reveille
Members of LSU Student Government’s Executive and Legislative Branches stand outside of Mississippi State University during SEC Exchange in July 2026.
ENTERTAINMENT Rev Rank: ‘Primetime’ is a superficial examination of Chris Hansen’s legacy PUZZLES
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FILMS & TV
BY PAUL TIBBETS Staff Writer
While the new film “Primetime” looks at Chris Hansen and his actions under a microscope, so do a few LSU law students. In the nearly 22 years since it first aired, “To Catch a Predator” and its host Hansen have left a substantial mark on popular culture. From parodies and references to memes and viral clips, Hansen and his show have been basically unavoidable, even if one has not watched it. Despite this cultural ubiquity and what many saw as a noble cause, Hansen has not always been viewed in the most positive light. Following legal issues surrounding a death by suicide that occurred while filming an episode, as well as mounting production costs, NBC canceled the show in 2008. Hansen’s investigation that led to the aforementioned suicide of an assistant distict attorney in Texas is laid out and examined in the 2007 Esquire article, “Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die.” In this article, journalist Luke Dittrich highlights the aggressive nature of Hansen’s tactics and how they toe the line between serving justice and trying to make good television. This article inspired the 2026 film “Primetime.” Starring Robert Pattinson as the notorious host, the film follows the rise of “To Catch a Predator” and what Hansen compromised to keep the show getting bigger. First-year law students Eli James and Conor Downs are both familiar with Hansen’s iconography through cultural osmosis and internet clips, despite having never seen the show. James believes that Hansen was often trying to do a good thing and doing it in the right way by working with local law enforcement. This is not always the case though, especially with “To Catch a Predator” copycats that rose to fame in the internet era. “Your risk of erroneous actions
or conduct is a lot higher,” said James. Downs continued, “Or just the evidence is there but you didn’t handle it correctly, and you let these people get away with the crimes that they allegedly committed.” For James, there is a lot more nuance on this topic. While it might not always be handled correctly with a lack of proper training, the project ultimately exposed predators. “You have to weigh that against, well, they are outing predators. It’s kind of a gray area. It’s not so black and white, as it would be easier if all things were,” said James. Both students have seen the rise of these copycats — along with the subsequent praising of people such as Hansen — as a response to the public feeling as if law enforcement is not doing enough. “Whether people are doing it the wrong way or the right way, if they’re doing it for the right reason — which is not for themselves, but for other people and trying to protect others — it’s coming from a good place,” said James Despite the tactics being harmful and not leading to many convictions, the court of public opinion can sometimes seem like the only way for regular citizens to help. “They’re thinking, ‘What else can we do other than just try to lure these predators here and out them, because that’s all we can do because we’re not law enforcement’ when law enforcement refuses to do something,” said James. James points out that citizen’s arrest rules are so strict for a reason. Law enforcement knows that citizens are not equipped to handle many of these situations, which is why in some states they are only allowed to perform one if the crime is a felony. All things considered, citizen interference can often lead to more harm than help. This tug-and-pull between James and Downs is the central premise of “Primetime” — where does altruism
stop and opportunism begin? With a story that centers such a complex debate, you would expect a deep dive into the psyche of Hansen and the people that made “To Catch a Predator.” Unfortunately, this movie falls short. While I appreciate the attempt to look at the infamous show through a more critical lens, it is self-evident that this is an adaptation of the Enquirer piece. As a result, you do not learn anything new about Hansen or his psyche that you couldn’t through the years of exposes and online reappraisal. This is not a problem in and of itself, as even the more surface level exploration and critiques present an interesting look at the creation of the show. Robert Pattinson gives his all in a borderline caricature of Hansen, but all we learn is he is a voyeuristic egomaniac hellbent on doing whatever it takes to make “To Catch a Predator” bigger than “Lost.” The real MVPs here are Merritt Wever and Skyler Gisondo. Their characters add another layer of intrigue to how people bend to the personality that is Hansen and how everyone else on the show is in it for their own personal gain — until it’s too late. Everything technical about this movie is a 10 out of 10. The editing and cinematography work seamlessly to craft this atmosphere of a liminal space; events of the film feel as if they’re happening in this ephemeral world between worlds, lost in the memory of the television. You might be mistaken to think this movie is a fast-paced adventure thanks to the invigorating trailer, but it is a lot more plodding and methodical, which works to its advantage, but ultimately feels like false advertising. Overall, it is a fairly good movie, and I do not regret my time spent in the theater; I just can’t help but feel that it could have been more. Overall: 7/10
VIA A24
Robert Pattinson in “Primetime.”
FOR RELEASE OCTOBER 1, 2026
THE Daily Commuter Puzzle by Stella Zawistowski ACROSS 1 Rock concert venue 6 Hostile incursions 11 “__ what I mean?” 14 Enter your credentials: 2 wds. 15 God of Islam 16 Chopping tool 17 Ribbon-shaped pasta 19 “__ death do us part” 20 TV spots 21 Don’t notice 22 Gymnastic exercises: 2 wds. 24 __ and feather 25 Provide insurance to 27 Cereal holder 29 Leisure hours: 2 wds. 33 Uses a towel 34 Sidewalk edge 35 Sea by Ukraine 36 Garden of __ 37 Skeleton parts 38 Apple’s virtual assistant 39 Ernie’s pal 40 __ in your pants 41 End-of-term exam 42 Immaculate 44 Boundarypushing 45 Sports squads 46 Great anger 47 “Oliver __” (Dickens book) 49 Track down 51 Big fuss 54 __ de Janeiro 55 Filled with zeal 59 Rustic lodge 60 Speak in publish 61 Leave alone: 2 wds. 62 Says yes to 63 Not as hostile 64 Revisions DOWN 1 Utah ski resort 2 “Hit the __ Jack” 3 Bacon and __
10/1/26
Created by Stella Zawistowski
4 Zero, in soccer 5 Bears and barracudas, e.g. 6 Mob informants 7 Pub beers 8 Feeling sick 9 Lentil dish 10 Put away, as books 11 Making a parody of 12 Off-ramp 13 Squiggly fishes 18 Beach ball filler 23 Keep in reserve: 2 wds. 24 Bills with Jackson’s pic 25 Loving touch 26 Spheres 27 Bathroom fixture 28 Surgical procedures 29 Teatime pastries 30 Fourth-down plays 31 Reef predator 32 Wicked 33 Spiders’ creations
Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved
©2026 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.
37 Healing ointment 41 Fruitful 43 Country 46 __ and outs 47 Group of three 48 Eye signal 49 Despise 50 __-friendly
10/1/26
51 Not in favor of 52 Amount owed 53 Poems of praise 56 Medical scan: abbr. 57 __-Man (video game character) 58 U.K. reference: Abbr.
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Photos by Tucker Manning | Design by Alexandra Gerstner
page 6 LUKE STIBRICH Swimming & Diving
ANIYAH BIGAM Track & Field TATUM CLOPTON Softball
NILSU hosts annual Sweats to Suits Professional Dress Fashion Show with LSU athletes on Sept. 28 in Tiger Stadium. KYLIE COEN Gymnastics
KAILIN CHIO Gymnastics
TY BENEFIELD Football LSU student-athlete models perform their final walk.
HOST CJ JIMCOILY Football
A T E S W S TO
SUITS
HUGH CARLSON Track & Field LEXI ZEISS Gymnastics
MAKERIAH HARRIS Track & Field
MIKE THE TIGER & HOST CJ JIMCOILY
SKYLAR MARTIN Beach Volleyball
ZAKIYAH JOHNSON Women’s Basketball
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Thursday, October 1, 2026
page 8 THEATER
The Musical Theatre Club puts on ‘A Night at the Movies’ cabaret BY LILY CENTOLA Staff Writer Do you love musical theater, but can’t choose what show you want to go to? The Musical Theatre Club at LSU has got you covered with its cabaret. On Friday, the club will put on “A Night at the Movies,” a show full of energy and nostalgia. There are 18 numbers in the show from a variety of movies and musicals. Choreographers Jessica Bluain, Lyla BrownCollado and Coy Lyles worked to ensure that the music is connected with the story at large. These songs include “Someone in the Crowd” from “La La Land;” “Alive Forever” from “Death Becomes Her;” “Bend and Snap” from “Legally Blonde;” “The Winner Takes It All” from “Mamma Mia;” and “I’m A Believer” from “Shrek.” Director Dylan Scranton, a sophomore majoring in music education, says to expect a fun nostalgic night with lots of laughter and a little bit of tears. “That’s why this show is special to me, because a lot of these movies that these songs are from are things that are in a more near and dear place — from being young and just loving these movies and now being able to put it into context with art,” Scranton says. “A Night at the Movies” is Scranton’s directorial debut.
Coming into the new experience, casting proved to be his favorite part of the process as he had the opportunity to experience the talent of club members firsthand. Zero Simanoa is a freshman mass communication major, and this is her first LSU production. She loves the community of people in the club and the amount of energy that comes from the show. “It’s been positive and one of my favorite experiences — like in theater — but also just learning how to really hit the ground running with a production that goes so quickly from just auditions to the stage,” Simanoa said. She highlighted how fun it was to run the show all together for the first time; because there are so many different numbers, they rehearsed separately prior to running it all together, which made it special seeing the show come to life for the first time. While most cast members are involved in multiple group numbers, Madison Berg, a fifthyear student studying music education and voice, has one solo number. Berg said that a lot of her practicing has been on her own, and her performance requires a lot of self-interpretation. When rehearsing with the group, she is able to feel connected to the entire cabaret.
CHARLES CHRISTIANSEN / The Reveille
MTC’s “A Night at the Movies” cast rehearse on Sept. 28 at School of Music Building. James New, a senior vocal performance major, is in one duet with Caelyn Blackwell, a sophomore music education major.The two are performing “Anything You Can Do” from “Annie Get Your Gun,” which New mentioned enjoying the back-and-forth nature of. Faalon Tatney, a senior performance major, emphasized how she has grown during this show. “I’ve definitely gotten a better handle on, specifically harmonies.” Tatney said. “Person-
ally, I’ve had issues sticking with my harmony when we’re singing together.” Emily Vennen, a sophomore music major, also highlights the benefits of working on a show all together and how it has brought her new skills. “Having my peers’ opinions on how I sound not only helps me grow, but helps me learn how to help others,” said Vennan. For Vennan, the love that she has received from her peers has been the most impactful
part of the experience. “I was literally shaking. I was so scared because I sing a duet with Kamryn Hecker, ‘Alive Forever,’ and it’s stupid hard,” Vennan said. “After we finished in front of everyone in rehearsal, they started screaming and stood up. The amount of support everyone gives each other is so encouraging, for lack of better words.” To see this lively production, head to the School of Music Reception Hall on Friday. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.
LOCAL BUSINESS
Turn a ruff day around with this shelter’s Date-A-Dog program BY KADENCE HALL Staff Writer Being away from home can be difficult: you miss your friends, your family and, sometimes the worst of all, your pets. Thankfully, there’s a place you can go close to LSU to find some puppy love. The Companion Animal Alliance is an open-intake animal shelter that shares a road with Alex Box Stadium. Not only does this shelter house animals that have yet to find homes, it also provides lifesaving medical services and keeps the public informed of responsible animal care. The CAA has a special program for those unable to adopt a dog of their own but who are in need of some quality time with animals — the Date-A-Dog program. This program allows interested parties to take a dog out on a date to dog-friendly restaurants, local hiking trails or even to their homes for a calm day outside of the shelter. Any participating community members need to be at least 18, have a valid ID and pay the $5 program fee. Then, each volunteer receives a backpack of supplies for their date, which inludes a collar, leash, “adopt me”
bandana, water bowl, waste bag and a resource card. Christina Obidah, marketing and communications manager of CAA, loves this program because of how much it shows a dog’s personality outside the shelter. “After they date a dog, they fill out a dog report card and give us more information about how the dog eats, interacts with cats and helps us fill in their bios to hopefully find a better match for the dog,” Obdiah said. While there are some limitations to where dates can go, such as keeping shelter dogs away from other dogs, the program is the perfect chance to freely spend time with a furry friend while away from home. The Date-A-Dog program not only gathers necessary personality information from dates but also increases the visibility of the dogs in the shelter. Fletcher, a dog who had a longer stay in the shelter than most, was taken on a date through the program earlier this year and ran into someone who visited the shelter shortly after to take him to a loving, permanent home. “Our volunteer program is always accepting new people,” Obidah said. Volunteers can come social-
VIA COMPANION ANIMAL ALLIANCE WEBSITE
A dog is pet by a volunteer at Companion Animal Alliance. ize with the animals, help clean up the facility or simply spend time with any of the cats or dogs at the shelter. There are plenty of roles for every kind of volunteer and any help is appreciated. Some dogs, like Fletcher, have a longer stay in the shelter before they’re adopted. The shelter currently has less than 10 dogs on the lengthy stay list, meaning they’ve been with the
CAA anywhere from 30 to 60 days. There have been over 30 dates in the Date-A-Dog program since August, but there are still dogs being frequently seen yet not adopted. Staff members at CAA call these dogs their familiar favorites. Some of these favorites include Lottie, a 2-year-old puppy who has been at CAA for a month and requires exercise
as she waits to find her forever home; Wilma, a 3-year-old dog who has been with CAA for over 70 days and needs more information for her bio from DateA-Dog volunteers; and Rocco, an 8-year-old senior dog who is house trained, including leash and kennel. For more information, visit CAA’s Instagram and its website to learn about more volunteer opportunities.
SPORTS SEASON SO FAR
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Analyzing Sam Leavitt’s first month as LSU football’s starting quarterback
BY TRIPP BUHLER Staff Writer LSU football is at risk of being torn apart by injuries, but one to quarterback Sam Leavitt helped the team in a backward way on Sept. 26 against Texas A&M. Leavitt “felt a little pull” in his hamstring while running out of bounds in the second quarter. Head coach Lane Kiffin, who has been clearly concerned with the amount of significant injuries across his roster, still made light of Leavitt’s detriment after the game. “Sam obviously was very injured,” Kiffin said, “I joked to him [that] it was the best thing to happen because he had to stay in the pocket for a long time because he knew he couldn’t run.” Leavitt seemed comfortable and in control against the Aggies, despite being hobbled. He finished that game with 312 yards, 2 touchdowns and completing 17 of 23 passes — a season high 73.9% rate. The offensive line’s improvements let Leavitt take more time for his wide receivers to get open. Even without his top weapon, tight end Trey’Dez Green, Leavitt kept making plays with his arm. “I think it was just my pocket presence, being calm, flat-footed, and then just delivering the ball and have nothing but faith when I let go of it,” Leavitt said on Sept. 26. “That was kind of the emphasis of the week going into every single play, and it showed up today.” The senior quarterback’s ground and air success have
ALEXIS PERSICKE / The Reveille
LSU football redshirt junior quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) throws the ball Sept. 19 during the 24-32 loss to Ole Miss at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss. both been present, but typically on separate nights. The pieces for a complete game against a top team are falling into place as he gets more comfortable in offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr.’s system. Kiffin said Monday in his weekly press conference that Leavitt trusting his wide receivers was a big focus. “If they’re not going to make the plays, let them show us that,” Kiffin said. “But let’s give enough opportunities to show us that
before you feel like you’ve got to make more plays with your own feet at quarterback.” Leavitt’s rushing game and play-making ability took center stage in LSU’s deconstruction of Clemson to open the season. The efficiency of his scrambling led to a setback in the following two weeks, with him electing to run before letting routes develop. At Ole Miss, his line’s poor protection saw the pocket breakdown almost instantaneously, and he had trouble finding run-
ning lanes against the Rebel defense. Throughout the first half, he was antsy and unbalanced when trying to make plays. His game-ending interception brought up an issue that he identified after the Louisiana Tech game. Leavitt was trying too hard to force throws and runs that weren’t the optimal choice. “I definitely think that was one thing [that went wrong],” Leavitt said after throwing 3 interceptions to Tech. “Like
one of them, I just think was a misthrow. But I did think that I was trying to force a lot, especially in the red zone.” Red zone issues, particularly interceptions, are still a major crutch hindering LSU’s offense. Leavitt has thrown 6 interceptions in four games, which is tied for the most in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Batted and tipped passes have been of particular concern for Leavitt. The Ole Miss game ended after Leavitt’s fourth-andgoal pass went off a Rebel helmet. He was clean against Texas A&M until his lone interception of the game caromed off the finger of a defensive lineman. The last kink that has to be worked out is slow starts. Kiffin regularly tries to start with the ball, but LSU hasn’t scored on any of its first possessions. LSU’s opening drive against Clemson ended with an interception on the second play, and the other three games began with threes-and-out. Leading the offense to score on its first drive may be the main reason Leavitt sees the field at all on Saturday against McNeese. Due to the amount of significant injuries bugging the team, Kiffin said that he will be extremely cautious with Leavitt, his hamstring and the rest of the starters on Saturday. Kiffin is considering sitting some starters for the entire game. Once LSU can break through and open games with scores, LSU’s offense will be able to reach a new peak. Leavitt, and his ability to stay in the pocket when necessary, are key to that success.
Five Cowboys to know ahead of LSU football’s McNeese matchup BY HANNAH GARCIA Staff Writer LSU football will face its second in-state foe of the season on Saturday versus McNeese. The Cowboys, a Football Championship Subdivision team, are 2-3 to start the season after a 27-24 victory against East Texas A&M on Sept. 26. As the matchup approaches, there are four players to watch from McNeese. Quarterback Jake Strong Jake Strong took over the starting quarterback position after sophomore Devin Lippold suffered a season-ending wrist injury in Week 3 against the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The junior transferred from Texas Tech in 2025 and was the starter in McNeese’s 2025 Week 1
matchup against Stephen F. Austin before exiting with a shoulder injury. Strong started 11 games for the Cowboys in 2025, averaging 225.2 offensive passing yards per game. He threw for 2,008 yards with 11 touchdowns and rushed for 469 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2025. In his first full start in 2026 against East Texas A&M, Strong threw for 202 yards, completing 17 of 27 passes with 1 touchdown. Running Back Omiri Wiggins In his first season as a Cowboy, Omiri Wiggins leads the team and the Southland Conference with 375 total rush yards. The senior averages 6.7 yards per carry, which ranks 13th among FCS running backs. His four
touchdowns are tied for first place in the Southland Conference. Wiggins’ yards per carry have increased by almost 2 yards from a season ago. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry versus in-state foe Louisiana Tech, finishing with 468 yards and 4 touchdowns. Wiggins is on pace to outmatch both of these stats through the first five games of the Cowboys’ season. Wide Receiver Curtis Deville During the 2025 season, Curtis Deville Jr. played in 10 games for the Cowboys, though he only started in one after having transferred from Purdue as a redshirt sophomore. This season, the senior has started four games and caught for 284 yards, which is more than his yardage combined from the pre-
vious two seasons. The wide receiver is tied with Wiggins for first place in the Southland Conference and tied for ninth in the FCS with 4 touchdowns on the season. Deville recorded a reception in McNeese’s matchup against East Texas A&M, leaving him with much to prove against LSU. Cornerback Mason Edwards Prior to McNeese, Mason Edwards appeared in the 2022 NJCAA National Championship game with Hutchinson Community College in Kansas. He then transferred to Utah State, where he recorded 2 tackles in two games. This season, the cornerback is fifth in the nation, first in the Southland Conference, and first for the Cowboys in passes de-
fended with 8. He will look to break up any ball that the Tigers throw up. Linebacker Landon Barrett Landon Barrett is also a product of a Kansas community college, as he’s a transfer from Coffeyville. The senior linebacker leads the team with 31 total tackles through five games. He recorded his first interception of the season against East Texas A&M and will look to make his first sack against the Tigers on Saturday. LSU looks to find its footing against Strong, Wiggins, Deville, Edwards and Barrett before entering a gauntlet of SEC play to end the regular season. The Tigers and the Cowboys will face off at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday in Baton Rouge.
Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Connecting the in-state dots between LSU football and McNeese BY ADAM KIRSCHMAN Staff Writer Despite being only a two-hour drive across Interstate 10 from each other, No. 11 LSU will face McNeese for just the third time ever on Saturday. Though they may not have come across each other much, these two in-state rivals have deep athletic histories filled with overlapping players and coaches. Through these two contests, LSU is undefeated, beating the Cowboys most recently in 2021, 34-7, and 32-10 in 2010. 2021 featured many connections between LSU and McNeese. Most notably, McNeese’s then head coach was championshipwinning running backs coach and head of recruiting, Frank Wilson, who also served as LSU’s interim head coach in 2026 after Brian Kelly’s firing. Wilson became McNeese’s head coach after showing his expertise in Louisiana football as an assistant at LSU, while proving himself as a great leader and mentor for superstar in-state recruits. Although Wilson’s time at McNeese wasn’t anything programchanging, Wilson overcame adversity in the 2020 season after Hurricanes Laura and Delta hit Lake Charles, forcing the head coach to focus on both football and leading the community out of the dark time. Despite some games being canceled, Wilson still managed to lead the Cowboys to 3 wins. Another interesting storyline in 2021’s game is the matchup between then-LSU head coach Ed Orgeron and his son, McNeese
starting quarterback Cody Orgeron. Despite LSU’s blowout win, Wilson seemed pleased with Orgeron’s performance against the 2019 champions, as he threw for 90 yards and a touchdown against a destructive LSU defense. 2010’s contest was another lopsided LSU performance, but one where McNeese surprisingly made an early push. McNeese scored first in this contest after LSU starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson fumbled on his 5-yard line, leading to an easy McNeese State touchdown thrown by Cody Stroud. That would be all McNeese could make for itself in this contest. LSU followed up the touchdown with lockdown defending that opened up its elite rushing game. The Tiger defense forced 2 turnovers in the contest, and they carried the momentum over in the run game, where LSU running backs scored 28 of its 32 points. LSU’s room of Michael Ford, Steven Ridley, Spencer Ware and Russell Shepard combined for 179 yards, deflating McNeese’s hopes for an upset. Although LSU enters Saturday’s contest as the heavy favorite to blow out the Cowboys, this game is a major moment for McNeese and all of Louisiana college football. Both Saturday’s contest and another outing set for 2029 were scheduled in 2023, when LSU paid McNeese $1.53 million to face them twice at Tiger Stadium. This marked a record amount paid by a Football Bowl Subdivision school to face McNeese and also marked a top-five highest sum paid to any Football Cham-
pionship Subdivision school ever. A huge total like this for a smaller athletics program can do wonders for the Cowboys. Especially in the new age of NIL, having money like this to attract some players away from bigger schools is a huge advantage compared to other FCS programs. Not only is the money great, but the matchup also gives McNeese players an opportunity to play at a historic stadium against some of the nation’s best players. Moments like this allow McNeese to get playtime in one of the hardest environments in college football, while also letting many of its Louisiana natives achieve lifelong dreams of playing at Death Valley. “I’m really excited to have LSU on the schedule in ‘26 and ‘29,” said McNeese Director of Athletics Heath Schroyer. “The opportunity to play the Tigers in Tiger Stadium will be an amazing moment for our players, our coaches and our fans. I love playing a game like this every season, especially in this region.” Games like these also help players from the smaller school receive some exposure from a top program. Most recently, sophomore wide receiver Josh Jackson transferred from McNeese to LSU ahead of the 2026 season. Jackson racked up 20 receptions for 258 yards last year for the Cowboys before being picked up by Lane Kiffin in the offseason. Despite not playing for LSU yet this season, moves like this show how solid play for a smaller school can get you attention from larger in-state programs. LSU and McNeese’s most famous overlap comes outside of football, though. LSU men’s bas-
ABBY KIBLER / The Reveille
LSU football freshman running back Corey Kiner (21) runs the ball Sept. 11, 2021, during LSU’s 34-7 win against McNeese at Tiger Stadium. ketball head coach Will Wade has brought both these programs great success on the court. Wade’s first tenure at LSU lasted between 2017 and 2022. In this time, Wade changed the trajectory of the program from struggling to stay relevant in the SEC to winning the 2019 SEC championship, while leading the team to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament. Wade held a 105-51 record through this time in Baton Rouge. Wade was let go by LSU in 2022 for recruitment violations, but despite the controversies, McNeese took a chance on him. In only two seasons there, Wade held a 50-9 record, while helping the Cowboys reach the NCAA tournament in 2023 for the first time in 22 years. Wade
then turned even more heads in 2024 when he led McNeese to its first-ever NCAA tournament win against Clemson. Wade returned to LSU for his second go as head coach ahead of the 2026 season, praising his former team ahead of Saturday’s matchup in his opening press conference. “They’ve built just an incredible program,” Wade said. “The community support there is unparalleled with everybody that’s involved … Whenever we’re not playing, I’m watching McNeese. I mean, I love the place, you know. I love everybody there.” Comments like these show that this contest isn’t just about a victor, but is rather a moment for all of Louisiana football between two beloved programs.
Column: LSU football’s new era calls for an all-black look BY DELANEY POTTHAST Staff Writer LSU football has entered a new era with the arrival of head coach Lane Kiffin for the 2026 season. Becoming rebranded as what some might deem the “villain” of the SEC, it’s only fitting that the team flows right along with it. And what better way to embrace the rebrand than with a new uniform — in all black. Many may argue against an all-black colorway for the Tigers on the field because LSU is known for its gold-white-gold color combination that it wears for the majority of the season, both at home and on the road. But, in recent seasons, the traditional uniform has been more often rotated out for different looks, like gold-purple-gold or even gold-gold-white. An all-black uniform would be a great way to build on themed games like the gold-out in Death Valley when the Tigers hosted Texas A&M or the purple-out against Louisiana Tech. Black-outs in Death Valley would undoubtedly be a spec-
tacle, creating an electric atmosphere perfectly suited for a rivalry matchup. Even if fans argue that LSU doesn’t use black in its primary colors, the Tigers wouldn’t be the first program to embrace an all-black look despite the color not being a part of its traditional palette. If you look toward the Pacific Northwest, Oregon has a recognizable black “Fly Era” uniform that many Ducks fans welcomed in 2024. While it wasn’t the program’s first black uniform, it was a big hit in the Oregon fanbase as the team entered the Big Ten. At Nebraska, a school with primary colors of red and white, an all-black uniform made way for one of the program’s biggest games of the season. Unveiled in 2025, the Cornhuskers’ black alternates feature a black jersey and pants, along with a white helmet that has a black stripe. The announcement of the alternate uniform generated plenty of excitement among Nebraska fans and is now complemented by the school’s blackout game, where the stadium paints the endzones black, and
the crowd’s typical sea of red is transformed to black along with the uniforms. In 2026, Nabraska’s black-out game takes place on Halloween night. Looking at black uniforms in the SEC that don’t contain the color with their primary scheme, the school that sticks out is Tennessee. The Volunteers announced their black alternates in what could be considered a top-five hype video in college football. After announcing the return of the “Dark Mode” alternate, fans rallied in support, excited for the clean look that was unveiled in October of 2021, just in time for Halloween. LSU Athletics hasn’t had an absence of all-black uniforms either. The school’s volleyball and soccer program hosted black-out games in 2026 where they both wore black uniforms and kits. In the spring, LSU gymnastics has regularly performed in bedazzled black leotards for multiple seasons. The LSU Athletics website even offers official black football jerseys that feature gold and
purple stripes on the sleeves. The move is clear to make for the Tigers as they enter a new era under Kiffin and welcome a new generation of fans. Giving the program a blackout game in October would not
only make the spooky season that much more exciting, but add another unforgettable chapter to the atmosphere of Death Valley that has made LSU one of college football’s most iconic programs.
CARMEN RANDOLPH / The Reveille
OPINION
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A ‘bright future’ does not excuse perpetuating sexual violence MONTGOMERY’S MONOLOGUE KELSI MONTGOMERY
Columnist
The act of raping another human being is objectively vile. It’s intentional, often violent and methodical. And most importantly, completely optional. A rapist can pull back or stop the violence they’re inflicting on another person. A victim does not have the same recourse. Abusers should think about the consequences and aftereffects the victim will feel when this is all said and done. Unfortunately, many don’t take a step back to think about these consequences. Rape has always been an unfortunate issue on college campuses. With unsupervised alcohol consumption, illegal substances, sober vileness and a culture of silence, sexual assaults are not always addressed as they should be. Yes, a part of that falls on administrative failures and backlogs. While the appropriate authorities like a campus’ Title IX office should take responsibility for holding the accused responsible, the process is often grueling and more painful for the victim. And ultimately, no matter how much a Title IX representative may try
to defend a victim, justice isn’t always served. We can have criticisms about the administrative portion of this issue, and I’m sure a whole separate column can be filled with those critiques. However, in light of recent polarizing cases, there’s a public discourse under the surface that’s concerning and deeply jarring. This September, an unnamed former Cornell student, known as “Jane Doe,” filed a civil suit against the university, Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity and seven of its individual members. This student alleged in the lawsuit that she was brutally raped and drugged for nearly seven hours by multiple members of this fraternity in October of 2024. While the case was previously closed without charges against the seven, it was reopened by the district attorney shortly after the civil filing. The case will be reconsidered and presented to a grand jury to determine appropriate criminal charges, according to CBS News. Also this past September, an LSU student filed a criminal complaint into an LSU football player whom the office of Civil Rights & Title IX found responsible for her October 2025 rape. The player was issued a one-year suspension by LSU before it was appealed and reversed to two years
of disciplinary probation without restriction, the Reveille reported. Of course, both of these cases represent severe structural inconsistencies. And of course, there are plenty rallying behind the Cornell and LSU students. However, the underlying, more silent discourse defends the accused. In fact, it excuses the accused and suddenly flips the burden onto the brave women who decided to tell their story. The discourse itself? “They had such a bright future.” A mere six words, and yet they are deeply damaging and problematic. The undertone — from my perspective — is that the accused had great professional careers ahead of them, and the victims somehow ruined these futures by telling their truths. In the LSU student’s case, fault recognized by an administrative oversight, yet it is still the LSU student who has the potential to ruin a young man’s bright future. And in the case of the Cornell student, it seems that her allegation of being drugged with ketamine and subject to violent sexual assault for seven hours pales in comparison to a potential career in medicine that one of her alleged rarists sought. To the people who stand with this perspective, where was
EVAN TOUCHET / The Reveille
The Office of Civil Rights & Title IX sits April 1 in Himes Hall. the concern of a “bright future” when these men were allegedly assaulting these young women? Rape is optional, a choice of one’s own skewed mind and inclinations. Therefore, any consequences of that vile action are of that person’s own making. It seems that so many are concerned with the “bright futures” of the accused, but have these same people stopped to think about the bright futures of the women who so bravely told their story? In a perfect world, a woman or any person coming forward about a traumatic experience should receive an outpouring of love and support. However, the reality is that these women are often plagued with horrible comments, allegations and personal
attacks on their character. These women often have to look over their shoulder for the rest of their lives. And we’re not even considering the mental consequences of an incident like this, the scarring that we cannot see. Can we mourn another professional or extraordinary person who may have been able to better our world? Absolutely. But I’m more than happy to mourn that bright future when the person who once had it reduced themselves to such horrific actions — and ultimately ruined that future all by themselves. The world is better off without such evil. Kelsi Montgomery is a 19-yearold journalism major from Baton Rouge.
Movies and TV shows shouldn’t romanticize criminals, murderers BULLION’S BRIEF AVA BULLION Columnist TV is a universal activity for leisure and entertainment. In recent years, many different shows have come out based on true crime events. These shows are dramatized for viewer appeal, which taints judgment on the real murderers and the circumstances surrounding their crimes. “Monster,” a Netflix series about the Menendez brothers and other infamous figures, is a well-known show that has gained traction over the last few years. The show is exaggerated and paints the brothers out to be the real victims, as flashbacks are used to depict the poor treatment received from
their parents, and the Menendez brothers’ lives after murdering them. Many public theories were also written into the show, such as the sexual relations the brothers were rumored to have had with one another alongside rumors surrounding Erik Menendez’s sexuality. The brothers have made statements disapproving of the Netflix show, stating it is unrealistic and that it is “damaging” to their reputation. Not only are the shows exaggerated, but they involve inaccurate representations of the murderers as individuals. Distorting the image of murderers clouds how they are portrayed and can draw more remorse from fans of the show, sometimes converting them to fans of the figures in question. A transformation of emotions surrounding a show that encour-
ages viewers to relate to the real murderers, who have engaged in actual crimes, downplays the crimes they executed. Fans have taken this show and empathized with the real Menendez brothers, who are incarcerated for first-degree murder. Not only are the brothers seen as the victims, but they are also idolized for the abuse and trauma they went through as children. In no way am I stating that abuse or trauma is something anyone deserves to experience, but sensationalizing criminals should not occur. When online edits are being made of murderers like Lyle and Erik Menendez, it is no longer about watching the show; it bleeds into reality. Other mini-series that star Jeffrey Dahmer, Gypsy-Rose Blanchard and Ed Gein have drawn similar attention from
streamers. A pattern is developing where melodramatic murder docuseries turn into dramatized, empathic appeals for the real murderers, despite their crimes. Dahmer’s 15 counts of murder, Blanchard’s second-degree murder, and Gein’s first-degree murder convictions were all more or less thrown out of the window when an interesting TV show or movie was made about them. Blanchard’s show gained so much traction that, after she was released from prison, she turned into a celebrity. Being paraded around by influencers and going on tours to meet and greet fans when she was involved in murder is simply blasphemous. While her situation can be seen as a special circumstance due to the abuse she succumbed to at the hand of her mother, it is still undeniable that she was
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The Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, The Reveille or the university. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to editor@lsu.edu or delivered to B-39 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must provide a contact phone number for verification purposes, which will not be printed. The Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Reveille’s editor in chief, hired every semester by the LSU Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.
sentenced to jail time and declared guilty for murder. The desensitization around murderers is a theme in our modern generation. I believe the education of real trials, and watching accurately portrayed documentaries before watching grandiose shows aimed at gaining viewers, is a good way to remain level-headed. Cinematic literacy for brutal topics that are transformed into lighthearted shows requires resisting manipulation designed to keep the audience interested and entertained. I assert that education of the real topic or citation that shows are based on would reduce the empathy from viewers towards the actual individuals. Ava Bullion is a 19-year-old political science and criminology double major from Baton Rouge.
Quote of the Week “A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman.”
Melinda Gates
American philanthropist 1964 — present