The Reveille 4-20-26

TO THE VERY END

Gymnastics championship decided by final routine, dashing LSU’s title hopes.

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Gymnastics praised by coach despite loss

BY DELANEY POTTHAST Staff Writer

After a second place finish in the NCAA championship final, the No. 2 LSU gymnastics team may have lost a shot at taking back the title, but won the recognition of being a team that, according to head coach Jay Clark, “is just different.”

Thursday’s semifinal competition had already shown the Tiger’s ability to comeback no matter how late in the meet. Saturday’s final competition only solidified that as the team closed off a historic season.

Even before the championship weekend began, Clark spoke about what the team was bringing to the table.

“It’s a different group led by different individuals, with a group of freshmen that have come in and contributed in great ways, and transfers that have come in and brought into that their personality and their contributions,” Clark said. “It’s a completely different team with a completely different set of circumstances. I look at this team and think, man, we’ve done a great job.”

Clark was not far off, as both Thursday and Saturday’s competition saw many obstacles for the Tigers. Even so, it’s not something that was exactly unfamiliar to the team.

As they’ve done all year long, the Tigers refused to let adversity dictate their performance. Saturday afternoon saw Konnor McClain fight through a bothersome elbow on three events while Kaliya Lincoln worked past calf discomfort from Thursday.

“We almost scratched Kaliya tonight because of what happened with her calf two days ago,” Clark said. “There was nothing for these kids to be hanging their heads about. They just did everything a coach could ask them to do.”

As a whole, the teams performance on the uneven bars in the final had also transformed into the second-highest scoring bar rotation this season come Saturday afternoon, and the night and day difference from Thursday’s bar set was largely accredited to the last rotation momentum the Tigers found on vault.

“You know, we haven’t had [it the] easy way for any meet,” Kailin Chio said. “Each meet we’ve had to fight. There’s a few meets in there that we just went through it. But a lot of the meets we had, we just fought to the very end, and we just left it all out there.”

The sophomore, who played a large role in igniting the meet for

SILVER LINING

Gymnastics season ends with tight runner-up finish

BY GABBY GRAY Staff Writer

Fifteen meets and countless hours of practice led No. 2 LSU gymnastics to one destination, the national championship stage in Fort Worth, Texas.

After sliding past the national semifinal round by the skin of its teeth, LSU entered the championship competition alongside No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 3 Florida and No. 13 Minnesota, where it clinched second place with a 198.0750.

While LSU packed a punch going into the fourth rotation in first place, it ultimately fell short of the championship title after a series of 9.8000s on the balance beam.

“Bottom line is we put ourselves in a position to win,” LSU head coach Jay Clark said. “That’s all you can expect as a coach, and sometimes at the end, things just got to line up for you. There’s nothing that I’m not proud of.”

The Tigers began the afternoon on the floor exercise, where senior Emily Innes filled her regular leadoff spot and delivered her final collegiate routine, earning a 9.8250.

Junior Amari Drayton followed suit with the first score above 9.9000 and above score, as she landed a 9.9375 in the fourth spot, which was quickly added to by sophomore Kailin Chio, who secured a 9.9000 on the floor.

As Chio earned a round of applause from Fort Worth’s Tiger fans, Florida’s junior Alyssa Arana fell from the balance beam, which led to the Gator’s third place ranking at the end of the first rotation.

Before LSU wrapped up the floor with its 49.5125 score and second-place ranking, it rallied around sophomore Kaliya Lincoln, who anchored the event in her team’s favor with a 9.9375.

The Tigers harnessed that energy as they moved to their No. 2 event for the second rotation, the vault.

After sophomore Lexi Zeiss led off LSU’s vault lineup with a 9.8375, hops and steps littered its routines, until Chio arrived on the runway.

The gymnast took her time before saluting the judges, appearing to feel the pressure as she knew what she needed to do for her team. Delivering a stick on vault isn’t something new to the 2025 NCAA Vault Champion, so it’s no surprise that she not only stuck her routine, but earned yet another perfect 10.

“I was kind of shocked about the score, to be honest,” Chio said. “But, just doing it for this team, getting us back on track, and to just in the hopes of getting where we need to go. And I’m so proud of myself and for this team to light that fire and get us going.”

Chio’s perfect score was the only of the championship competition and marked her fifth 10 on the event this season. Not only that, but she also received a perfect score from all six NCAA vault judges, leaving no room for doubt in her performance.

Her performance allowed LSU to remain in second place as it entered the third rotation with a 98.9875, exactly 0.1000 behind the Oklahoma Sooners.

As Zeiss led off with a stuck dismount, the gymnast earned a 9.9250, matching her career high, which was immediately duplicated by senior Ashley Cowan, who delivered her final routine for LSU.

While Tiger fans rallied around their team, Oklahoma’s junior Kiera Wells fell from the balance beam mid-routine, just before Chio took to the uneven bars, where she secured a 9.9000.

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ney Blackson earned yet another score over 9.9000, a 9.9125, Florida’s junior Danie Ferris failed to stick her vault as she stepped back and out of bounds on her landing, which was later added by another failed stick for senior Selena Harris-Miranda on vault.

LSU, however, wasn’t matching with the mistakes of its competitors as it celebrated junior Konnor McClain, who stuck a 9.9500 for her team.

This would go on to put the Tigers in first place at the end of the third rotation with a 148.6000, ahead of Oklahoma’s 148.5250, Florida’s 148.1000 and Minnesota’s 148.0875.

“That’s the bars I see every day in the gym,” Clark said. “So I’m not surprised. It’s not like it was lightning struck. We were ranked in the top three on that event all year long, so it wasn’t a surprise to do well over there.”

If this matchup felt familiar, it’s because the Tigers had yet another back-and-forth meet with the Sooners earlier this year at the Sprouts Market Collegiate Quad. As the two teams entered the fourth rotation with only a 0.0750 difference from first place, the stakes were high for the SEC competitors.

Junior Kylie Coen opened the rotation with a 9.9125 stick. Zeiss came after, but she fell from the balance beam and had to restart her routine.

Nonetheless, the sophomore’s 9.2375 was dropped as junior Amari Drayton mounted the balance beam, earning a 9.8750, followed by a 9.8375 from Lincoln.

“This takes five out of six on every event,” Clark said. “It doesn’t take six out of six, and she’s wearing it. She shouldn’t, but that’s the kind of competitor she is, and we wouldn’t even been in a spot to even think

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CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS

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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

Academic reflects on his MLK interview

BY MADDY SNYDER Staff Writer

Andrew King, the last living academic to interview the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., recounted the experience on Wednesday evening at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge, La.

Originally from Illinois, King received his doctorate in rhetoric and public address from the University of Minnesota in 1968. He taught at State University of New York at Buffalo and University of Arizona before transferring to LSU in 1985.

In 1991, he became the chair of the LSU communication studies program, where he served for 13 years before retiring in 2017.

While working on his doctorate in 1968, King was placed in charge of the speakers program at the University of Minnesota. He needed an impressive speaker — someone who would draw an audience. He reached out to Martin Luther King Jr., not expecting to hear back. To King’s surprise, MLK agreed.

On April 25, 1968, MLK visited, planning to give a speech on civil rights. But when he stepped behind the podium and looked out into the crowd, he saw how many young people were there to listen to him – particularly young men, who were worried about the war in Vietnam. He made a last minute decision to talk about the Vietnam War instead.

In his speech, MLK stressed his opposition to the war and reiterated his belief that nonviolence was the key to addressing injustice.

“If someone hits you, and you hit back, that’s the whole story of civilization. It never ends. War never ends,” King said, recalling MLK’s philosophy. “But if you don’t hit them back, they will feel guilt, and they will stop hitting you. They will begin to talk to you, and it breaks the endless cycle of violence.”

But later in a private interview with King, MLK opened up about some of the doubts he was having about his nonviolent approach to progress.

The Vietnam War changed MLK’s opinions on integration in the U.S., according to King. Before the war, MLK had strongly opposed the Black Power movement, which aimed to create a separate Black economic, social and political power, rather than integrating into white society.

MLK believed the movement was rooted in materialism.

‘BREAKTHROUGHS’

LSU opens new science building after years of preparation

BY ALAYNA FORD Staff Writer

LSU held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Our Lady of the Lake Health Interdisciplinary Science Building on Friday, marking a major expansion of the university’s science and research capabilities.

The four-story, $148 million facility is designed to serve as a central hub for collaboration, housing teaching labs, research spaces and student resources across multiple disciplines. University leaders say the building represents a shift toward more hands-on, interdisciplinary learning as LSU works to grow its STEM programs and meet workforce demands across Louisiana.

“This building is a powerful example of how LSU can change the way we educate Louisiana through excellence and accessibility,” LSU

President Wade Rousse said. “We’re celebrating the questions that will be asked, the breakthroughs that will be achieved and the students whose careers will begin here.”

The building comes at a time when demand for science, technology and healthcare professionals continues to rise, both nationally and within the state. Leaders say updated facilities are critical not only for educating students but also for retaining talent in Louisiana.

Space for collaboration

The approximately 140,000square-foot building includes 18 teaching labs for introductory biology and chemistry courses, 16 research labs and space for nearly 100 graduate students. It also features a 250-seat auditorium, student collaboration areas and specialized research facilities.

Morgan Kelly, associate dean for research and administration

in the College of Science, said the building’s design is what makes it stand out.

“This building was designed with interdisciplinary collaboration in mind,” Kelly said. “We have spaces on every floor where people can work together — even internationally.”

Kelly, who is also a biological sciences researcher, recently moved her own lab into the building. She said the project has been years in the making, with planning efforts beginning as early as 2019.

“We are so excited to open this building,” Kelly said. “It creates an environment where researchers and students can really work together across disciplines.”

The building includes state-ofthe-art meeting rooms that allow real-time collaboration with researchers around the world, as well as modern lab spaces designed

to support both teaching and advanced research.

New experience for students

For students that have already been using the building, the difference is already being felt.

When asked about his favorite part of the building, Cristian Perez, a senior pursuing a doctorate in biological sciences, said, “Honestly, everything is amazing.”

Perez said his previous lab space lacked natural light and opportunities for interaction with other researchers. The new building, by contrast, is designed with open layouts and windows throughout.

“Before, our lab was in the middle of a building, so it was dark all the time,” Perez said. “Now we have windows everywhere, and I think that really improves your mood.”

LSU community empowers sexual assault victims

BY MADELYN LONG Staff Writer

LSU’s Feminists in Action held its fourth annual ‘Take Back the Night’ event on Thursday, promoting the support and empowerment of sexual violence survivors.

Campus groups, local organizations, students and the LSU community gathered at the Memorial Tower to show their commitment to standing against sexual violence.

Lilli Sims, FIA’s president, shared that the event’s mission has been to prevent sexual violence before it occurs.

“It is an event meant to foster an environment where students

can receive sexual violence prevention resources, where survivors may share their stories among students and community members who uplift them, and where it is made clear that sexual violence is not tolerated on LSU’s campus,” said Sims, a psychology senior.

FIA’s Director of Sexual Health and Education Carly Minor said that sexual violence on LSU’s campus was something she heard about frequently as a Louisiana native.

She believes Take Back the Night holds extreme importance to the campus, as it addresses sexual violence that takes place in the community.

“Sexual assault prevention be -

gins with outreach and supporting survivors, which is what the Take Back the Night event aims to do,” said Minor, a biological sciences junior.

The night began with LSU and community organizations tabling and distributing their resources.

Student Government Sen. Joshua Jones shared how SG partners with organizations like FIA to support sexual violence survivors and make changes to advocate for them.

“I do not take this lightly, and I hope that the future Student Government leaders know how important this is and that this work matters; it starts now,” Jones said.

“Later down the line, I hope there’s big impacts and big changes to

protect the future cohorts of LSU students.”

Community organizations, such as the Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault, Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response, the Iris Domestic Violence Center and the Baton Rouge National Organization of Women, supplied students with information on how to access support outside of campus.

LSU confidential supporters were also sharing their initiatives with students at the event. Confidential supporters are faculty and staff members who serve as nonmandated reporters for students to

Student team hosts campaign for organ donation awareness

BY MADDY SNYDER Staff Writer

A student-led public relations firm partnered with the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency to host a week-long organ donation awareness event.

The event was split into three segments: a tabling event in Free Speech Alley, a guided Walk for Life along sorority row and an afterparty at Zee Zees.

For the last three months students in professor Sadie Wilks’ public relations class have been working as part of the Magnolia Media team, a student-led PR firm that works with organizations to create campaigns target-

KING, from page 3

“The Black Power movement was only about getting things, getting jobs, getting political power,” King said, recalling his interview with MLK. “He said, ‘I always wanted a moral change. I wanted to change people’s hearts.’”

But the immorality of the war in Vietnam altered MLK’s view. The military had integrated in 1948, so Black and white soldiers were fighting together in the Vietnam War, committing atrocious war crimes side-by-side. MLK began to fear that integration into a corrupt white society would corrupt Black Americans as well.

“‘Here are Black and white soldiers, who would never live next to each other at home. Here they are in brutal solidarity burning a poor Vietnamese village,’” said King, quoting MLK, “‘I began to think that maybe integration with a sick white society is like joining a burning house.’”

Another thing that shocked King was MLK’s socialist views. Publicly, MLK was a democratic socialist because anything more

, from page 3

of the labs have improved efficiency due to the equipment being in a more centralized space.

“It makes everything more efficient,” Perez said. “The space is designed to be optimized, and it makes you feel more motivated — especially when you’re working long hours.”

The building is set to host introductory biology, chemistry and physics labs, allowing students to gain hands-on experience early in their academic careers. Glasswalled labs also give prospective students the opportunity to see classes in action during campus tours.

Beyond improving student experience, university officials say the building will play a major role in expanding LSU’s research capabilities.

The facility includes advanced research labs, such as the Harrison Trace Metals Lab, which will support specialized scientific work not previously possible at

ing college students.

Over the course of the semester, the team creates one campaign as their PR capstone project. The students each take on a different position in the firm, from event director to research director to account executive.

“We’re operating like a real PR firm to try and get insight as to how the real world is going to be after graduation,” said Madeline Erickson, the media relations director of the project and a mass communications senior.

Erickson and her team spent months researching and planning their campaign with LOPA.

Community educator and media specialist for LOPA Lori

Steele said the organization’s primary goal is to spread awareness and educate about organ donation.

“We’ve been working with LSU for over a decade,” Steele said. “Students come in with new ideas, they learn about organ donation, they teach their friends and they create events that bring people to the table.”

Many Americans believe that being an organ donor reduces the quality of healthcare an individual may receive, which dissuades many from registering.

“Our number one myth is that if you have a heart on your license, doctors won’t work as hard to save your life — but

would have been extremely unpopular for the time, when Americans were fearful of the spread of communism.

But in his interview with King, MLK revealed his views aligned more closely with those of a hard socialist. King said his beliefs on capitalism were even more ex-

LSU.

LSU’s science programs already contribute more than $100 million annually to Louisiana’s economy, and leaders say the new building will further strengthen that impact.

Partnership focused on Louisiana’s future

The project was made possible through a combination of state funding and private investment, including support from healthcare partners.

E.J. Kuiper, president and CEO of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, said the building reflects LSU’s ongoing partnership with his organization.

“We’re very excited — this is another example of our championship partnership with LSU,” Kuiper said. “We’re going to train the next generation of scientists, healthcare leaders and researchers.”

Kuiper emphasized the importance of investing in education to address workforce challenges in Louisiana, particularly in health-

that’s not true,” Steele said.

The Magnolia Media team spent three months conducting research to find the best way to present this information to students.

The tabling event at Free Speech Alley included games and prizes for students, as well as a chance to pie a professor for donations to LOPA.

They also created a banner competition for students to vote on banners designed by LSU sororities for the event. The banners were displayed during the Walk for Life, where students could vote for the best one.

The Walk for Life also had four interactive stations along

access. Cassandra Glaspie, a marine ecology professor, explained how her role as a confidential supporter assists students in less conventional ways.

“We have context about people in departments, the classes there, the types of activities students may be doing,” Glaspie said. “So, I think it is really good to have a variety of advice and we can provide a unique perspective.”

After tabling ended, two speakers from LSU’s Wellness Center and LaFASA spoke to attendees on how important interpersonal violence prevention and awareness are.

treme than Bernie Sanders’ are today.

“He said, ‘Essentially, I’m a Social Democrat,’ but when he described what he wanted, redistributing the nation’s wealth, I mean, he was a hard socialist,” King said. “What he described was very much to the left of Bernie Sanders.”

care and science fields.

“We know there’s a lot of talent in Louisiana, but we also see some talent leaving the state,” he said. “That’s why it was so important to be part of this state-of-theart facility.”

He said the building will help prepare students for careers in fields such as nursing, medical technology and other health professions while strengthening the state’s workforce.

Looking ahead

As students begin using the space for classes this fall, the Our Lady of the Lake Health Interdisciplinary Science Building is expected to become a central part of LSU’s academic and research landscape.

From advanced research labs to collaborative learning spaces, the building represents a longterm investment in both student success and scientific innovation.

For students like Perez, the impact is already clear.

“It’s just a better environment to work in,” he said. “Everything is designed to help you succeed.”

sorority row. The first one displayed common misconceptions about organ donation, the next two provided information about registering and the last was the banner voting station.

The night ended with an afterparty at Zee Zees complete with karaoke, trivia and mocktails. Alpha Delta Pi was announced as the winner of the banner competition.

“We’re trying to get rid of all the myths that surround organ donation and just start positive conversation around organ donation,” said Isabella Pesson, event director of the campaign and a senior mass communications major.

in need. These include providing care, assessing needs and getting survivors connected to resources.

“We believe you, we support you and we are here for you,” Ellis said in her speech.

The night ended with a moment of silence, followed by a march throughout the quad to show support for survivors and demand a campus free of sexual violence.

This event means so much to its attendees and partners, including Emily Bergeron, who has been attending since her freshman year.

Bergeron, a cognitive neuroscience and creative writing junior, said she has fallen in love with the community.

Kreslyn Kelley-Ellis, director of wellness and student support at the Wellness Center homed in on what resources the LSU Lighthouse program can provide to students

“It is important that we have this space on campus, not just today but every day, for anyone who needs these resources because we can all use the support,” Bergeron said.

ENTERTAINMENT

These classic dishes prove that not all food trends are worth the hype

BY CHARLOTTE TRENTALANGE Staff Writer

It sometimes seems restaurants are constantly chasing the next big thing. With complicated dishes that either hit or miss hard, the trend of trying expensive, new food had me wondering: is it any better than the basics?

When I’m hungry, I don’t crave Dubai chocolate-covered strawberries or an over-the-top fusion dish. I’m looking for the classics, the staples that have been feeding hungry college students and Louisiana residents for decades with no weird twists or turns. If you are like me and think we need to take a step back, try these menu items from the restaurants you probably already frequent.

Burgersmith: cheeseburger

Despite its name, Burgersmith offers much more than just burgers. The menu lists dishes like avocado crab toast, Cajun bratwurst and even a Ragged Branch bourbon burger. And how about the basics? They have a classic hotdog, burger and grilled cheese. I decided — for its namesake — to try a classic cheeseburger.

Made simply with a white bun, burger patty and American cheese, this burger quickly became an instant favorite of mine. It was perfectly juicy, cooked well and hit the spot without trying too hard or adding any unnecessary toppings.

The Chimes: gumbo

It doesn’t get more Louisiana than gumbo. At The Chimes on Highland Road, even that small cup delivers familiar comfort. It is rich, warm and intensely flavorful — exactly what you want from a classic gumbo. While the menu offers crawfish mac and cheese, po’boys and other Louisiana staples, this traditional dish holds its own and is a perfect side.

If the environment of Red Zeppelin Pizza doesn’t immediately draw you in, the ‘80s rock playing in the background, posters of Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith and aroma of freshly made pizza will. While its menu is filled with pizzas like The Mothership and AlFreddie Mercury, each with over six toppings, I opted for a plain cheese pizza.

The crust was thin and perfectly crisp, and there was a lot of cheese, evident by the stretch when pulling the slices. If you have enough patience to not burn your tongue when it’s served, it melts perfectly in your mouth.

Torchy’s Tacos: chips and queso

One of my favorite spots by campus simply for the view of Tiger Stadium also serves up some innovative — and sometimes absurd — TexMex taco combinations. On Torchy’s menu right now, The Shuggie’s Burger is packed with American cheese, bacon, lettuce, pickled onions, Maria’s Pickle Pico and chipotle

sauce. The taco menu alone has 17 different varieties, but I tried the chips and queso.

While it may be the most basic thing on the menu, it doesn’t feel like it. The presentation makes the dish seem like an exciting meal. Topped with guacamole, cheese, cilantro and diablo sauce, these chips and queso are already more impressive than most Mexican places in the area. The punchy flavor of the cheese dip and spices makes it a memorable starter I often return for.

Umami: California roll

Sushi may be the one category where I usually think more is better. The more fish and sauces, the yummier I find it. That said, I tried Umami’s California roll, a classic gateway into a long, expensive sushi addiction. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and flavor of this California roll, with fresh ingredients and clean, cohesive flavors, but it felt a bit underwhelming compared to more elaborate rolls.

If you’re new to sushi, this is a great starting point. If you’re looking for something more flavorful, the Tiger Roll or a specialty option might be the better move.

Coffee Call: beignets

For dessert, there is nothing better than the soft, fluffy dough of a beignet dunked in pounds of powdered sugar from Coffee Call. Even if you visit for their savory and comforting soups, or maybe their coffee, the beignets are still a must. Offered in classic squares and finger-shaped pieces, they are simple and comforting, making for the best end to a meal.

Simple doesn’t have to mean boring. These dishes are classic for a reason, and without them, the elaborate creations would not exist. The most basic dishes at these Baton Rouge restaurants delivered consistently satisfying meals perfect for late nights or lazy days.

FINAL FIGHT

LSU Gymnastics wins silver at the national championship in Fort Worth, Texas on April 18.

LEADERSHIP LSU 2026

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2026!

A TRADITION OVER 30 YEARS STRONG. Leadership LSU is one of the university’s most distinctive honors conferred to the university’s top scholar-leaders. Nineteen upperclassmen completed several sessions and a retreat including tours, panel discussions, and speaker presentations covering community issues. It is the premier opportunity for students preparing for roles as emerging leaders in their communities.

SWEEP CITY

Baseball and softball were on opposing ends of sweeps this weekend.

Baseball drops Game 3 to Aggies for second straight sweep

BY TRIPP BUHLER Staff Writer

LSU looked uncompetitive for the third straight game, falling to Texas A&M 5-2 on Sunday. It made the Tigers the victim of a sweep for the second straight weekend.

Like many times this year, pitcher Deven Sheerin was the lone bright spot of an otherwise ugly showcase. The team doesn’t have the confidence it did earlier in the year.

“I think it’s just [we need to] be able to reset and just find that excitement for the game of baseball,” Sheerin said. “We didn’t know the record of our travel teams when we were 12 years old. So that’s what I’m trying to preach to everybody.”

But even for Sheerin it wasn’t all smooth sailing. He took a concerning amount of time to get up after going down while covering first in the sixth inning, but he got back in the game in the seventh after every set of eyes in the dugout was fixed on him to make sure he was OK.

He went one more inning but had ice on his knee after his

day finished. Sheerin said after the game that he’s fine and just bumped it hard on the ground.

His final stat line included nine strikeouts over 4.1 innings where he also did not walk any. Those numbers, as well as his 61 pitches thrown were all season highs.

“The ‘compete’ factor’s really gonna take over, and [I] just want to do whatever I can to help us win games,” Sheerin said.

When LSU needed a change of energy, he brought it. He came in to finish the third and found himself in a jam in the fourth. He was able to get out of it with two key strikeouts after allowing a run to limit the damage. He then had LSU’s first three up, three down of the day in the fifth.

The offense took that energy and turned it into two base hits to lead off that fifth inning. However, two strikeouts and a pop fly followed to squash any buzz the offense was starting to drum up.

Texas A&M took a shutout into the eighth inning, and then Aggies pitcher Clayton Freshcorn, who threw 34 pitches Saturday, came into the game and allowed a solo

Softball earns first conference sweep of the season vs. Ole Miss

BY MARISSA REISS Staff Writer

Go-ahead sixth innings and sophomore Tori Edwards led No. 17 LSU’s effort to sweep Ole Miss this weekend, making for its first sweep of the SEC slate.

In the series finale, the Tigers defeated the Rebels in an 8-5 ballgame that was tied until the sixth inning. The sixth had been a crucial inning for LSU across the entire weekend, giving the Tigers the go-ahead in all three games.

Edwards, the sophomore captain, was a nightmare for the rebels all weekend and came up clutch in that sixth inning. In the series opener Friday, Edwards recorded an inside the park grand slam to hand the Tigers a 6-4 victory. Saturday, Edwards drew a walk with the bases loaded to win it 7-6. And in the finale, she recorded a solo home run to advance the Tigers’ lead.

“Our offense was incredible,” head coach Beth Torina said. “Their fight was incredible. The way the offense controlled the strike zone all weekend was incredible. We were able to use so many different people. I was really proud of the effort all weekend long.”

Paytn Monticelli was crucial to closing out the final two games of the weekend. In Game 2, she won the ballgame, relieving Jayden Heavener. In Game 3, she won it once more, relieving Cece Cellura this time around.

Every single Ole Miss run in the finale being scored on a two-run home run in the first inning and three solo shots in the fourth, but the Tigers’ offense didn’t back down to the challenge that the defense faced.

The two-run home run came off the bat of Rebels’ right fielder Madi George with a deep ball to right field. It marked George’s second home run of the weekend.

Heavener’s day ended Sunday after throwing a single inning, allowing two runs on two hits, two errors and four walks.

But for LSU, a two-run double from Jalia Lassiter tied the game for the Tigers in the very next inning.

Sophomore Jada Phillips started the game behind the plate at catcher after having to relieve Char Lorenz in the very last inning of Game 2. Phillips recorded her first career base hit in the second inning.

The scoring in the second continued. A wild pitch from senior Emilee Boyer allowed LSU to plate one and take the lead, and a throwing error to first base quickly advanced its lead to 4-2.

All weekend, LSU and Ole Miss were in a dog fight as both teams consistently traded leads. The rest of the series finale was no different.

Kennedy Bunker led off the fourth inning with a solo shot to right field that brought the Rebels back within one.

Two at-bats later, George hit her second home run of the game to make the score

even once more.

The next at-bat, Cassie Reasner also hit a solo home run to give Ole Miss the lead back and end Cellura’s day. Monticelli entered the game, getting out of the fourth and recording a crucial quick three outs in the fifth inning to shut down the bottom of the Rebels’ order.

Tori Edwards, who had come up in clutch moments during the first two games of the series, tied it up for the Tigers once more in the fifth with a solo home run. Edwards went on to clobber her second solo shot of the game the next inning.

To begin the sixth, Alix Franklin continued her successful weekend with a go-ahead triple, driving in two runs to give the Tigers a 7-5 lead. Then, Edwards stretched that lead to three.

All Monticelli had to do in the seventh was record three outs with a comfortable lead after the three-run sixth inning. Despite allowing a base hit and hitting a batter after two groundouts, another groundout would end the threat.

“I was pumped up for the last batter,” Monticelli said after the final inning of Game 2, which played out the exact same way.

LSU now moves to 32-14 on the season and sits at an even 9-9 in conference play. The Tigers boast a four-game win streak and advance to 24-5 at home.

The Tigers will get to rest before heading to Starkville, Mississippi, to take on Mississippi State for their series beginning Friday.

Mulkey and women’s basketball are rebuilding backcourt after transfers

BY TRE ALLEN Staff Writer

Help is on the way for LSU women’s basketball.

After a disappointing end to the season with the Tigers falling to Duke in the Sweet 16, it was time to look ahead and prepare for next season.

Obviously, heading into the offseason, the Tigers will be losing two major players from this past season in decorated guard Flau’jae Johnson and center Amiya Joyner, who, even in one year with LSU, played a significant role in the Tigers’ success.

In addition to losing Johnson and Joyner, four guards decided to enter the transfer portal, with two of them being unexpected for head coach Kim Mulkey.

Senior Kailyn Gilbert and freshman Divine Bourrage are making their exits from the program. Gilbert only appeared in five games this season, and Bourrage played in 24, averaging roughly 10 minutes and two points.

Given the production, it made sense for both players to test the waters and find a new home, which Bourrage has already done in committing to Illinois.

However, two other guards who saw significant playing time also decided to seek a change of scenery in Jada Richard and Bella Hines.

As a freshman, Hines made the most of her opportunities, playing in 33 games, averaging 13 minutes, 4.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game while shooting 37.3%.

Her identity was formed by her tenacious defense and willingness to put her body on the line by taking charges and making hustle plays.

Soon after entering the portal, Hines committed to TCU, where she will join the Horned Frogs, who are coming off back-to-back Elite Eight appearances.

Richard’s announcement was the more shocking revelation as the sophomore guard had a breakout season after averaging 2.8 points in her freshman season.

She finished her second season with the Tigers, averaging 9.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 40.8% from three.

She took the point guard position by the horns and proved that

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the Tigers, earned the only perfect 10 of the championship with her Yurchenko one-and-ahalf on vault. Her score was not only the first perfect 10 earned in the NCAA championship since 2023, but the first ever earned by an LSU gymnast at the event.

Chio’s salvaging of the second rotation, followed by the record-setting performance seen on the bars, was what truly set the team apart from

she was the one for the job.

While Richard has not committed anywhere yet, she entered the portal with a “do-not-contact” tag and with a destination in mind. Now that her departure has occurred, along with Hines, it leaves a massive hole at the guard position.

But fear not, Tigers fans, as Mulkey and her staff have already found a few replacements to fill the void.

The first player LSU brought in was guard Laila Reynolds from Florida.

Reynolds had her best season with the Gators this season, being the team’s third leading scorer and averaging 12.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to coach Laila,” Mulkey said. “Our goals for next season align, making it the perfect fit. Her skill set, paired with three years of SEC experience, will be a huge asset to our team.”

Her size at 6-foot-1 gives her the length to be versatile on both ends of the court. A player who can score inside and from the midrange on offense while also having the length to match up with different positions as an on-ball defender.

Next it was the most crucial piece of Mulkey’s game plan: adding point guard Jada Williams from Iowa State.

After spending two seasons with Arizona, Williams transferred to Iowa State, where in her junior

its competitors like Florida and Minnesota.

Even after a fall on balance beam and only one stuck landing on vault, the gritty performance LSU gave throughout the meet kept them just 0.0875 points behind the Sooners by the end of the night.

While the Tigers have reason to be disappointed as the runner-ups of a championship title, there is no doubt that they put up an exceptional final. The scores and results are what usually define the meet; however,

COMMENTARY

Column: Posed changes to eligibility add hurdles

BY BROOKE BENEDICT Columnist

The NCAA is set to discuss changes to the eligibility rule. The new proposed rule is that athletes will have five years of eligibility from the day they graduate high school or their 19th birthday, whichever comes first.

ing years of development and success, they are also causing a traffic jam.

Let me put it this way: the longer we see a player in a Tigers jersey, the less we see others.

When a veteran stays to play, transfers and recruits watch from the sidelines. In a program like LSU, talent is always coming through the doors, usually taking the place of talent that had just left.

season, she averaged 15.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game.

The Cyclone’s second leading scorer finished the season with a spot on the All-Big 12 first team, making her the No. 10-ranked player in the transfer portal.

What makes her so important to this LSU team is that while she has no issues with scoring the ball, as she scored a career-high 44 points against Cincinnati in January, her ability as a playmaker will help bring out the best from her teammates.

Williams led the Big 12 in assists per game and knows how to find the open teammate.

Even when she’s attacking the basket, she’s not necessarily looking to score; she’s looking for the extra pass that leads to a better shot attempt.

LSU has two of the best scorers in the SEC with Mikaylah Williams, who scored 22 points against Duke, and MiLaysia Fulwiley, who scored 28 points.

With two dominant scorers, it’s going to be Jada Williams’ responsibility to get them the ball and initiate the offense. That’s nothing new for Williams and is exactly why the Tigers wanted her.

“Jada is a veteran point guard who is more than ready to run the show here in Baton Rouge,” Mulkey said. “She has the ability to create opportunities for teammates but also score at all three levels. Jada plays with an infectious energy that Tiger fans will love.”

it was how LSU responded in the face of adversity that made it stand out.

The refusal of backing down from what is arguably the most dominant dynasty in NCAA gymnastics during Saturday’s final competition only proves that the LSU program belongs on the same stage.

“That team [Oklahoma] that’s won eight of the last twelve, they’re the gold standard,” Clark said. “But, they also know who we are. And we’re not going away.”

The rule says that this eligibility would have limited exceptions, with injuries and an athlete’s participation not being one of them. The rule change would serve as a response to the multitude of athletes asking for an extension of eligibility because of injuries or limited time at a certain school. In recent years, some athletes have obtained sixth, seventh or eighth years of eligibility.

The new rule’s simplicity seems promising. No more lawsuits. No more questions.

But after it is off the desk of the NCAA, the problem moves to the athletic staff at each university. Then, it’s all up to them.

On the bright side, this can fix the problem of loyalty to a school. I could be the only one left passionate about this, but ever since NIL deals and the transfer portal became the most popular thing in town, players see multiple different jerseys before a cap and gown, or a professional jersey.

With a larger allowance of eligibility, players can stay at one school and be great. They will have the time to build a legacy, one that they are proud to leave on just one campus.

Their extended time at a school doesn’t just allow them to grow as an athlete, but also in their role on the team. Alabama football has long been recognized and praised for how the leaders of its team don’t just wear a headset, but shoulder pads and cleats.

Not only will athletes be able to walk away from campus as a legend to fans and students, but they’ll leave shoes to fill in their program as a leader and veteran. Shoes that will get filled. It could start a cycle that could see no end.

While this all sounds great, it is a little more complicated than that. While the athletes are see -

NATIONALS, from page 2

about winning if she hadn’t done what she did on the first two events.”

It was up to McClain to fill that fifth spot with a decent score as LSU sat in fourth place with a 187.4625, and that’s exactly what she did as she stuck a 9.9500.

Then, just like usual, all eyes were on Chio to close off the event. McClain pulled her team out of fourth-place territory and into the third spot behind Florida, and Chio’s routine had the potential to win the meet if it

But with an extra year or two on their hands, recruits would have to wait. Development is important, and so is seniority. It’s rare that your first day on campus is also the first time you start a game.

But there’s a difference between a recruit learning behind a veteran and being stuck behind a veteran.

While the experienced player is replaced by another experienced player in a starting role, the underclassmen are not only getting bored on the bench, but also frustrated, and for good reason. In some cases, they were told their skill set would be used early on in their career.

It’s a common tactic for recruiting. When similar schools are all chasing the same recruit, coaches shift into salesman mode. Their pitch is focused on urgency, guaranteeing immediate playing time in a limited-time offer deal.

So if this rule gets passed, coaches and recruiting staff will have to add a new skill to their job description. Not only will they need to encourage veterans to stay and not leave LSU at its peak, but they’ll still make room for recruits.

Managing rosters will look different, but so will the mentality of the players. Just because they have extended eligibility doesn’t mean they will take it. Multiple sports already offer developmental or minor leagues that take the place of that fifth year, so staying at their university would only be likely if an injury limited playing time over multiple seasons.

The NCAA doesn’t want any more players requesting that extra year. The proposed rule tells the players no more extensions. And to the athletic staff, good luck managing it.

came in above 9.9875.

Chio’s 9.9000 raised LSU to a 198.0750, and the Tigers secured the runner-up spot in the 2026 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championship behind Oklahoma’s winning score.

This concludes the Tigers’ 2026 season, where they appeared in yet another hardfought national championship.

“We’re not going anywhere,” Clark said. “We got a great group coming back, and we fully expect to be right back in the mix and take another swing at this thing next year.”

OPINION

There is a cultural obsession with thinness. It isn’t new

MICHAIAH’S MINUTES

MICHAIAH STEPHENS Columnist

Ozempic shots, protein supplements supplements and skin-tightlow-rise jeans — oh my. It seems 2000s trends are making a comeback, diet culture included. The early 2000s were saturated with fad diets and restrictive eating practices, made viral by big brands that framed them not just as beauty standards, but as markers of moral worth.

In the 2020s, we are seeing these same habits being aesthetically repackaged to resemble self-care.

“Pilates princesses” and “that girls” have flooded social media platforms in droves, promoting an over-exercised and underfed lifestyle. These 2000s habits may have changed names, but not foundations.

Body image and the consistent objectification of women’s bodies are deeply rooted in racism and sexism.

In the U.S., the feminine beauty ideal has historically been defined by Eurocentric characteristics, such as pale skin, long straight hair and thin figures. This standard inherently excludes Black women and other minorities with physical characteristics such as melanated skin, textured hair and curvaceous bodies.

These standards continue to oppress and are perpetuated through social media algorithms.

According to objectification theory, girls are taught to view themselves from an external perspective. This leads to constant body monitoring, which often results in shame, insecurities, anxiety, disordered eating and depression.

Through this lens, a woman’s experience of her body is dictated by constant self-evaluation and com-

parison to others. Consequently, women come to believe that they can — and should — change their appearance in order to attain this ideal, which is often defined by being “sexy” in ways that cater to the male gaze, like being thin.

We are seeing a cultural shift toward a more conservative mindset. Thinness is also being aligned with morality and health — skinny is best. This is the mindset that started the 2000s diet culture.

In Glamour magazine, writer Michelle Konstantinovsky recalls that skinniness wasn’t just the standard of beauty but also a physical manifestation of discipline, dedication and effort. Women were told that weight was somehow correlated with “morality and value.”

And what are women expected to do? They are expected to follow fashion trends that often, if not always, require thinness to participate.

It is demanded of women to have a lean abdomen that never protrudes, while wearing low-rise jeans.

As access to media expanded, so did the influence of these ideas. In the 2000s, the media reinforced the idea that skinny bodies were happier and that bodies above a size zero were miserable and lonely.

Nowadays, the rise of photo-editing apps exacerbates this issue and creates another set of unattainable ideals. Thanks to airbrushing and body-editing, “Instagram-perfect” size quadruple zero, digitally-edited bodies surround us.

As for dieting, what was once coffee, cigarettes and low-carb got rebranded into matcha, protein and GLP-1s. Low-carb diets are gaining significant popularity in the U.S. as a response to rising concerns about weight and metabolic disorders.

GLP-1s, initially a drug to help treat Type 2 diabetes, became a getskinny-quick aid that propelled the

medication far beyond its original intent. The obsession with protein stems from the perception that more protein equals better health — if only it were that simple.

All of these trends and changes suggest that women should alter their shape or size because the media has deemed a certain look “trendy.” It only reinforces the narrative that to be accepted and worthy girls must be thin. It’s damaging and unrealistic.

But, you can make changes to stop the push of these systemic toxic beauty and body standards. Unfollow celebrities or influencers pushing toxic beauty and body standards. Call out dangerous rhetoric and media.

Celebrate your body for what it can do for you, not just what it looks like

Michaiah Stephens is a 22-year-old English major from Durham, N.C.

Coachella has become the world’s worst popularity contest

JOHNSON’S JOURNAL

LAUREN JOHNSON Columnist

What once was an alternative rock festival intending to rebel against mainstream, corporate festivals has turned into a mainstream, commercial breeding ground for judgment and insecurity.

Coachella is an annual spring music and arts festival held in the desert of California. It started as a fan-friendly, socially-conscious event, positioning itself as an “anti-Woodstock.” With the first Coachella being held three months after Woodstock ‘99, Coachella aimed for an organized and comfortable environment rather than a hostile and chaotic one.

Woodstock ‘99 is infamous for its sexual assault, extreme heat, overpricing, poor sanitation, water scarcity and destructive riots, which included looting, arson and violence.

While Coachella hasn’t reached these extremities, it has certainly lost the anti-commercial quality it once had. Nowadays, Coachella has become a billion-dollar phenomenon that shakes culture and media every year. The music has expanded from indie rock into a diverse setlist of high-end performers, with artists so popular tickets sell out in only a matter of days.

And yet, the focus has shifted

elsewhere.

Many have dubbed Coachella the “influencer Olympics,” which is exactly what it has evolved into. Social media influencers are paid by corporate brands simply to attend the festival. They have to endure strenuous hardships such as posting TikToks and attending parties as compensation for the amenities they receive. Just try being an influencer for a day, you know?

Obviously, anyone would agree to post on Instagram for a weekend if it meant they could see their favorite musician for free, but it’s not just “anyone” who gets the opportunity to.

Influencers are out of touch with reality. They have the easiest jobs in the world, yet they make it seem like such a difficulty. No wonder they’re miserable — they spend whole days

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Jason Willis Editor in Chief

Managing Editor Courtney Bell

Kaley Melancon News Editor

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Garrett McEntee Opinion Editor

Laura Allen Entertainment Editor

in the desert heat just to prove they’re popular, jealous of other influencers receiving better opportunities than they do. Meanwhile, we stalk what they’re doing from our rooms, jealous that they get to receive any opportunities at all.

Regular people would have to save up months of money just to afford Coachella. Influencers don’t even have to lift a finger. They have the liberty of going all out, above and beyond, without a care for the financial choices they’re making. They don’t seem to care for the social choices they’re making either.

Is it their fault they have success we don’t? No. But who gave them that success?

We did, and they still handle their privilege with carelessness.

We all know how it is watch-

ing Coachella content. We are those people. We obsess over the outfits influencers are wearing or what they post on Instagram, and then we have weekend-long discussions about it.

It’s never that deep, but we do it anyway. If influencers don’t do enough with their outfits, we give them hate; if they do too much, we also complain. If they don’t give us enough content, we leave hate; if they’re too annoying about their experience, we’re annoyed.

No matter what, we give them attention — arguably, attention they don’t deserve.

On the side of the content producers, things are just as scrutinized.

“Everyone’s vibe is really, really bad,” said TikTok user @lottiestarrs.

“A lot of people were pretty mean. Everyone’s just there to say that they were there and to be like, ‘Oh, I’m at Coachella.’ It’s less about the music and more about showing off.”

“Leah Kateb cut the entire bathroom line of the artists’ area,” said user @daphneblunt_. “She had her security flashing lights at everybody to cut the entire line with her group of friends and push to the front when we were all waiting. We all have the same pass. It was obnoxious, really off-putting.”

“So many people were just walking through, eyeing everyone and trying to figure out who was who,” Blunt continued, in reference to influencers searching for other people of status.

“It was really on another level. The

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energy was not good.”

User @daydreamindiaries posted a clip of attendees at Coachella arguing left and right, with the caption, “Everyone found something to complain about. It was annoying.” Influencers don’t seem to be having fun at Coachella. They’re stressed and exhausted. They mistreat their fans and the brands who got them there. It all dwindles down to the same thing we experience: FOMO. These social media stars are feeling the pressure of the influencer Olympics. They are the epitome of insecurity, knowing there’s always someone who is having a better experience than they are. There’s always someone further up on the hierarchy of social status. It makes them scared they’re being left out of better connections, better post engagement, better everything.

What would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us is a once-ayear experience for them, yet they still waste what they’re given rather than appreciate what they have. No one ever wins.

Once upon a time, it was guaranteed that Coachella was a festival of enjoying intimate crowds, affordable ticket prices and in-the-moment experiences. Now, it’s guaranteed that Coachella is a festival of bringing out the worst in people.

Lauren Johnson is a 19-year-old mass communication major from New Orleans.

“Where there is love there is