The Reveille 9-22-25

LSU’s performative male contest crowned a winner in Free Speech Alley.

PARKING PROBLEMS

Students express frustration over parking changes.

CRAMPED CAMPUS

Students speak on parking, plans for “pedestrian-friendly campus”

BY ALAYNA FORD Staff Writer

As LSU students and faculty arrived in Baton Rouge to begin the semester, they quickly had to grapple with a cramped parking experience.

With all the changes implemented by Parking & Transportation, campus has had mixed reactions to their parking experience this semester and students are weighing in.

“Pedestrian-friendly campus”

At the Faculty Senate meeting on Tuesday, LSU announced it has no plans to add more parking spots despite growing concerns from students and staff.

Parking & Transportation communications specialist Broty Stelly explained there’s an ongoing “battle for land” as the university constructs more academic and residential buildings. He also pointed out that LSU’s population of 50,000-52,000 people is the equivalent size of a small metropolitan city.

Stelly said LSU expects the Campus Mobility Plan that’s been in motion since 2019 will be completed in the next 10-15 years. This includes transitioning to a car-free core campus.

Students have strong opinions on this news and how it will affect their futures.

“I personally live on-campus and what got me nervous is that they’re taking away the teachers’ lots for the library,” said Kyla Moore, a junior broadcast journalism student. “Am I next? How are they deciding who gets to have a car on-campus and who doesn’t?”

The Campus Mobility Plan may put into effect what public relations junior Amaris Birmingham said some students have already experienced — forced off-campus parking.

“My friend had to park near where Chimes is at, and I just think that is ridiculous,” Birmingham said. “I don’t think that students should have to park offcampus just to go to class.”

Another concern of Birmingham was the heat students would endure while going to and from classes.

“Having a pedestrian-friendly place, I mean, come on,” Birmingham said. “The weather is like 90 degrees all the time. “Who wants to be like, ‘Yeah I love being a pedestrian and walking in 90-degree heat everyday.’”

Baton Rouge has had an average high of just over 91 degrees from the first day of classes to Sept. 19, according to data from AccuWeather.

Park & Geaux

Students received an email on Aug. 19 announcing that commuter passes were no longer available. Students who still needed a permit were highly encouraged to obtain a Park & Geaux parking pass.

Rouge, La.

Park & Geaux permits allow students to park in the Tiger Park East Lot on Skip Bertman Drive, the UREC North X Lot and the Skip Bertman West Lot and shuttle to campus. Shuttles arrive on average every 5-10 minutes and drop students off at the Student Union, Patrick F. Taylor Hall or in front of Lockett Hall near the Gymnasium Auditorium.

However, students have had mixed experiences with the pass.

“From what I’ve experienced, I feel like the Park & Geaux wouldn’t be such an inconvenience if the bus schedules were kept on track,” Taylor Lemon, a junior majoring in history, said.

Lemon’s opinion is not an unusual one.

“I’ve heard so many people say that they were late because of that bus,” Lemon said.

Kinesiology junior Michael Hunter was in disbelief that there were not enough commuter passes to meet student demand.

“I was late to the party on parking passes,” Hunter said, after the passes were announced to be sold out. “Which is new because I’ve never heard of parking passes selling out before, so I was just out of luck.”

Many students were shocked at the lack of commuter passes available this year, as they sold out earlier than is typical. Because of this, students like Hunter have to rely on either the Tiger Trails buses, the Park & Geaux shuttles or walking by foot.

But these haven’t proved to be reliable for all students.

“I looked to rely on the bus system to get to class considering that I have no parking pass,” Hunter said, “but I guess every person who missed out is thinking the same way because every time I’ve tried to get on the bus, I was turned away because it was at capacity. So since then, I haven’t

even thought of the bus. I just walk every day now.”

It takes Hunter an average 2025 minutes to walk to campus. Add in the heat, and it’s a tough trek.

Parking garages

Options for parking passes that give students more assurance they’ll have a guaranteed parking spot, like the Union Square Garage, are expensive. That pass is valued at $363 and is sold out for the academic year.

Carmelo Wyre, a junior studying sports administration was one of the students who got this pass.

“Parking in the Union has been fairly easy,” Wyre said. “When I arrive in them I find a spot instantly on the third floor. If I get there a little later than I would have to go to the fourth floor but I have never had to go beyond that so far.”

The USG pass was the most expensive option for commuters. The garage is located across from LSU Student Union and the Parade Ground.

Some students have wondered why LSU hasn’t constructed more parking garages. University officials say it’s a matter of cost.

“There’s not an easy way to just start adding parking spaces,” Interim President Matt Lee told the Reveille in June. “It would be nice if we could start going vertically, but that’s super expensive to do that.”

According to Stelly, a threefloor garage would cost $30 million and a five-floor garage would cost $50 million. The average cost per space within a parking garage is $25,000.

Student concerns

LSU students have responded negatively to the changes Parking & Transportation made. While the pressure on the department to fix so many different concerns is overwhelming, students have some complaints they want the

B-16 Hodges Hall

university to know.

“I believe the parking situation at LSU has gotten out of hand,” said Kaleigh Thomas, a political science senior. “Instead of focusing on ways to increase attendance, LSU needs to focus on ways to accommodate the students already enrolled as we’re more affected by this issue than the incoming freshman as most of them are guaranteed parking since LSU makes them live on campus their first year anyway.”

The main takeaway from the majority of the student body is a shared disappointment in the student-to-parking ratio. Many have identified the student body, which has grown consistently larger in recent years, as the main cause of this.

Some understood it would be difficult to accommodate every student, especially with the growing number of freshmen admitted.

“I don’t really think Parking & Transportation can do much, so I don’t really blame them,” Hunter said. “I think that a lot of the commuter spaces are taken up by freshmen because their parking lots are so small themselves. I think everything goes back on the 8,000 freshmen they accepted.”

Other students are frustrated with the situation as a whole.

“Having paid for my own pass, I should be guaranteed a spot,” said Rayna Smith, a psychology sophomore. “Finding parking wastes time in the morning when I’ve already paid for a pass.”

Some feel the move represents an issue with the university’s priorities.

“It’s very clear they don’t care about current students, just how much money they can get and breaking records,” Sa’naiya Williams, an accounting junior, said.

Parking & Transportation did not respond to repeated requests for interviews and comments.

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NEWS FIGHT HUNGER

LSU students and families pack over 100,000 meals for local food banks

BY JORJA ETHRIDGE Staff Writer

LSU Campus Life kicked off Family Weekend Friday with Tigers Tackle Hunger, an event where students, their families and other volunteers worked together to pack meals for the community.

Campus Life partnered with Kids Around the World to organize the event. Daniel Torres, the event manager for Kids Around the World, said the organization’s mission is to impact kid’s lives by showing them God’s love.

“We do that through food, story and play,” Torres said.

Kids Around the World provides nourishment for children with food, teaches them with Bible stories and enhances play by refurbishing or building playgrounds, Torres explained.

Leadership and Civic Engagement Coordinator and Volunteer LSU adviser Ifágbémisólá Bámigbálà-Arèsà said about 450 people worked together at the event and exceeded their goal of 100,000 meals.

Bámigbálà-Arèsà emphasized the importance of students serving and being leaders.

“I think an essential part of leadership is serving others and being a part of the community, and LSU offers so much in terms of leadership or internship opportunities or even studying abroad,” Bámigbálà-Arèsà said.

Tigers Tackle Hunger volunteer positions included box runners, ingredient runners, table captains, food packers and even a spirit squad. Each position had a role in making this event hap -

pen.

When the tables ran out of ingredients, ingredient runners like Brady Davis, an economics junior, supplied more. Davis decided to volunteer to help those less fortunate.

“I’m lucky enough to have any kind of food I want, whereas some people are just lucky to have any food they can get,” Davis said.

This event called for more than just volunteers to pack the food. The spirit squad’s job was to keep up morale and ensure that volunteers were having a good time. Psychology junior Makayla Phelps was an ingredient runner at Tigers Tackle Hunger last year and noticed the spirit squad having fun, so she decided to join them this year.

“It feels good to give back to

the community, and I think everybody should have that experience of helping others,” Phelps said.

Students’ family members joined in to help as well. Tiffany Carter, the cousin of an LSU freshman, helped pack meals into the boxes. Her favorite part was seeing how people came together to do something good.

“It’s a Friday morning. You could be anywhere or doing something for the weekend, but you’re here trying to help,” Carter said.

Some of the meals packed at the event went to the Global Community Center and the LSU Student Food Pantry, but the Tigers also tackled hunger outside of Baton Rouge. Meals also went to the Second Harvest Food Bank in Lafayette and New Orleans.

Get to know Roxanne Dill, a fixture of Manship

BY DREW SARHAN Staff Writer

Freshman year of college is a tumultuous time for students; adjusting to college life can be difficult, especially being away from friends and family.

LSU professor and Rector of the Mass Communication Residential College, Roxanne Dill, is there to provide support in the transition for freshmen. Her office is in South Hall, so students can come in during the day for guidance. She also teaches MCRC exclusive sections of media writing and intro to mass media.

“I really like what I do,” Dill said. “I think students are amazing people.”

Dill graduated from LSU in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. After she graduated, she worked as a photographer for a bit.

Dill then worked briefly as a reporter, covering police and local government. Of the stories she wrote, her favorites were the feature stories. Eventually, Dill became the managing editor at The Daily Comet, a small, former New York Times affiliate newspaper based in Thibodeaux, Louisiana.

Then, life took a turn. Dill married one of her co-workers, and they moved when they had kids. He died in a car accident when their kids were young, so Dill stopped working in media, instead opting to work part-time jobs, like teach-

ing grammar at schools and public relations consulting, so she could spend more time with her kids.

Once her kids were older, she returned to LSU to get her master’s degree. While in school, she worked with the communications department of LSU’s Center for Community Engagement, Learning, and Leadership.

Dill graduated in 2006 with a master’s degree in mass communication, concentrating in public relations. Afterwards, the Manship School asked her to be an adjunct professor while she still worked for CCELL.

“I was working full-time and being an adjunct,” Dill said. “So a lot is going on there, but even that, I was like, I could do this all the time.”

The previous media writing professor retired, and someone from Manship called her, encouraging her to apply.

“I was, literally, fell on the floor just shocked,” Dill said. “Because all the holes in my job [history] and the things that had happened, like surely they need to rethink this. But I applied anyway and got the job.”

Dill has now been the rector for over a decade. She said being a rector is a lot like spinning plates on sticks: chaotic and intense. Dill has to have her day planned in a notebook, or something may slip her mind, metaphorically breaking

What to know about deadly oyster bacteria

BY EMILY BRACHER Staff Writer

Five people have died in Louisiana after eating raw oysters that were contaminated with the flesheating bacteria Vibrio vulnificus.

The bacteria is present during warmer months and can affect people through exposure to an open wound in the water and consumption.

The most challenging part is that there are no obvious signs the bacteria is present in the oyster.

Associate professor of the school of nutrition and food sciences Evelyn Watts said that seafood consumers should avoid eating raw oysters during the summer months because that’s when the bacteria are more prevalent. Instead of discouraging the consumption of oysters, seafood lovers need to know when the right time is to eat raw oysters and how to properly prepare them.

She debunked the saying “only eat raw oysters when the month

has the letter ‘R’.” There is always a risk in any raw or undercooked food, but people should try to avoid raw oysters specifically in the warmer months.

“Consuming oysters is not an issue, the important part is that we know where these oysters are coming from and if we are cooking them properly to the recommended temperature by the United States Department of Agriculture,” Watts said.

The recommended temperature to cook oysters is 145 degrees. This heat eliminates the pathogens from the bacteria.

Watts said that the Louisiana Department of Health has the Molluscan Shellfish Program, which regulates oyster harvesting waters along the Louisiana Gulf Coast. They oversee the approval and closure of harvesting areas. Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries is in charge of contacting the people who have oyster harvesting licens -

see OYSTERS, page 4

DILL, from page 3

a plate.

Like many in the education field, her days are longer than the typical 9 a.m.-5 p.m. job, as she has to take her work home with her to grade papers, make homework and write lesson plans.

Things rapidly change in the world of mass communication, so Dill has had to keep up to date with the newest AP style rules, something her journalism students know she takes seriously. Her media writing class has changed several times throughout her tenure.

Networking is vital to the field of mass communication, and the MCRC helps connect students. The smaller residential college makes college life feel less isolating.

“I’m here because I knew somebody, right?” said Dill, “The dean at the time was on my master’s thesis committee.”

One of the most rewarding parts of being the rector of the MCRC is observing the growth of students through college and even post-graduate and like she says in class, seeing them make more money than her and being able to buy nice things.

“It’s fun to see students get excited that they’re doing things,” Dill said.

Dill believes that everyone is a student. She hopes the students in her class are going there with an open mind, the same way that professionals will go to conferences to learn. As much as Dill loves her job, she does not want to waste students’ time, as she knows they have more classes than just hers.

Nicholas Edmonson, a mass communication sophomore, took

OYSTERS, from page 3

es if specific areas are closed to avoid harvesting infected oysters.

Harvesters have special requirements during the summer months for how fast oysters need to be put into refrigeration from the moment they are pulled out of the water.

For consumers intending on purchasing shellstock oysters for raw consumption, white tags on oysters mean that they comply with the refrigeration rules. Green tags mean that they do not comply with the times of refrigeration and need to go through further processing and cooking.

Watts said that consumers need to be aware that if their oysters do not have a white tag, they should not be eating them. She also said it is very important that fishermen are aware of the requirements to guarantee the safety of the consumer.

“I love oysters and I always encourage people to consume them, but just to do it in a safe way,” Watts said.

Jared Tees, the Executive Chef of L’Auberge Baton Rouge, takes all of the necessary precautions to make sure not only their oysters, but all their food is safe to eat.

L’Auberge is mandated by the state to purchase oysters only from an approved vendor. These vendors are approved for how they harvest their oysters and check

Dill’s media writing and intro to mass media classes. He remembers her kindness to be familial.

“I’d describe her as an extra grandma to all students in mass comm, but especially in media writing,” Edmonson said. “It was just like what, 15 of us? And she treated us all the same, all with love. She would have snacks and a candy bucket in class. She would bake cookies for us. She even brought king cake for us to try.”

Religion is paramount to Dill’s view of people. As a Christian, she believes that God created everybody separately and that no two humans are the same. Her faith helps guide her to assist each of her students individually in their mass communication journey.

“At the end of the day,” Dill said, “everybody has unique value; nobody else is going to be like that person.”

New student organization seeks to eliminate dining hall food waste

BY AIDAN ANTHAUME Staff Writer

College hunger rates have risen across the U.S., with more than a third of students experiencing food insecurity. At LSU, dining halls produce thousands of pounds of leftovers each week. Previously this food went to waste, but now it is being collected and redirected to those in need by a new student organization.

The Food Recovery Network, a non-profit with chapters on college campuses across the country, recently launched at LSU. The group collects surplus food on campus, repackages it safely and distributes it to help fight hunger among students and employees.

“We knew we had to bring FRN to LSU,” said Madelyn Phillips, an officer for the organization and a senior nutrition major. “Food is a human right. The rates of food insecurity among college students are astronomical, and if we can do something to make sure at least one student does not go hungry, then we have done our job.”

LSU’s dining halls generate more than 1,200 tons of food waste annually, according to a 2020 university sustainability report. That figure makes up a large portion of the 3,000 tons of waste produced campus-wide each year.

the water they harvest from.

Oyster grounds are tagged by area so they can be pinpointed exactly where they come from. If there is any sign of contamination, these tags make it easier to find which areas need to be shut down.

“It’s very highly regulated in the sense that they test all the waters, they know exactly where the oysters are coming from and they’re able to respond to any issues that are reported,” Tees said.

The order process includes the restaurant calling their seafood house who will deliver the oysters. The oysters arrive in a tagged sack that details its location, time of harvest and what packing house they came from. The Louisiana Department of Health can come in anytime to ask to see the tags on the oyster, Tees said.

Tees called this process “keeping customers out of the red.”

While Tees said that even with the precautions they take to serve safe oysters, there are always disclaimers. For customers with health concerns, they discourage eating oysters unless they are fully cooked. By always checking their process, Tees said this how they make sure all the guests are safe.

“There is just tons of great things that the fishermen do to try to keep us safe and keep the product quality as high as possible,” Tees said.

Baton Rouge community.

With help from its former president, Emily Demps, the organization secured $7,000 in funding to help with the repackaging of food or distribution.

How it works

Every Tuesday and Thursday the chapter retrieves surplus food from the 459 Commons, The 5 Dining Hall and the Student Union. Tyhlar Holliway, the president of the LSU chapter, said this recovers around 75 meals per pick-up.

From here, the organization takes the food to the Animal Food and Science test kitchen, where volunteers repackage and label it.

The meals are then delivered to the LSU Food Pantry, the African American Cultural Center and Facilities Services.

“These locations allow us to get food directly to students and staff who need it most,” Holliway said. “Looking ahead, we plan to expand into additional sites like the Women’s Center and the Honors College, so that access to meals is even broader across campus.”

To ensure the food is safe to eat, FRN volunteers complete fridge checks three times per week. During these checks, volunteers confirm fridge temperatures and expiration dates and organize the fridge.

With no commercial composting facilities available in Baton Rouge, most of the waste ends up in landfills rather than being repurposed or reused.

“The main goals of this organization are to increase food security among LSU students and employees,” Phillips said. “The other is to decrease the amount of food waste LSU creates. We want to decrease our environmental impact while increasing our community impact.”

The effort grew out of earlier work from the food security branch of Project 225, an Honors College organization that helps fulfill the needs of the Greater

“Each fridge is capped at a three-day shelf life, so the cycle is constant and reliable,” Holliway said.

The group’s food recovery and distribution started last week.

The Food Recovery Network was founded in 2011 at the University of Maryland. Over the years, it has expanded to nearly 200 college campuses in 46 states and Washington, D.C. As of mid-2025, FRN had recovered 23.8 million pounds of surplus food, enough for nearly 20 million meals.

“Our work is about sustainability and fairness, making sure LSU lives up to its responsibility to both people and the planet,” Holliway said. “Every pound of

food we recover — often hundreds of pounds in a single week — makes sure that someone in our community is cared for, and it also means less environmental waste.”

This is not LSU’s first attempt to reckon with food waste. In 2011, Project Clean Plate launched in the 459 Commons dining hall, encouraging students to take smaller portions and return for seconds. The effort resulted in a noticeable drop in dining hall waste.

In addition, programs like Swipe Out Hunger by LSU Auxiliary Services and LSU Dining allowed students with meal plans to donate unused meal swipes to peers in need.

Programs like FRN on campuses are increasingly recognized in policy discussions. Many foodinsecure students are eligible for SNAP, but due to restrictive rules for students, lack of awareness or administrative complexity, only a small fraction apply or receive benefits.

By recovering food onsite and making it accessible, FRN may help mitigate food insecurity without requiring recipients to navigate external aid systems, while also reducing food waste and carbon emissions.

A short food safety training is required before volunteering, after which members can assist with repackaging, deliveries or fridge checks.

“LSU Dining staff have been excited to see their food make a bigger impact, and students who pick up meals have shared how grateful they are,” Holliway said. “We’ve heard stories of students depending on these meals to stretch their budgets, and at the same time, it creates pride knowing this is a student-led initiative. It shows that LSU cares and that students can lead meaningful change.”

Students interested in helping can sign up through TigerLink or the group’s Flare, with both links available on Instagram at @frnlsu.

ENTERTAINMENT

LSU’s performative male contest has matcha, tote bags and more

BY LEXIE WARE Entertainment Editor

On Wednesday, Sept. 17, a chattering crowd formed a circle around the plaza in Free Speech Alley. A Clairo song played faintly as people sipped matcha, read feminist literature and strummed guitars. What had they gathered for? It was a contest to determine the most performative male on LSU’s campus.

The term has been trending on social media for some time, but what exactly defines a performative male? Freshman Ella LeBlanc, one of the judges for the contest, has the answer.

“A performative male is someone that caters to the female gaze and experience,” LeBlanc said. “They do not truly love what they do, but they love the attention that they get from it.”

According to event organizer Anderson Krupala, a true performative male must have specific as -

pects of their character.

“Gotta have matcha,” Krupala said. “I find that’s a baseline requirement, like a GPA to get into a school. Second, some form of baggy clothing. Then a Labubu. That just screams commitment. They got the jorts, they got the Labubu, they got the matcha, they got the book in the hand, they got the wired earphones.”

Krupula was inspired to host the contest by the viral lookalike competitions on TikTok. The trend has taken college campuses across the country by storm, and LSU was no exception.

“I think that it’s just a really good way to bring people together, and I would hate to see LSU miss out on this trend before it dies. So I had to take initiative with it,” Krupula said.

Joining LeBlanc and Krupala as judges for the competition were freshmen Alexis Kelley, Wesley Hau, Hannah Garcia and Isabella Ortega. The six judges used a unique rating system based on popular albums that are commonly regarded as “performative” for a man to listen to. Albums ranged from Clairo’s “Charm” (a score of 5) to Taylor Swift’s “1989” (a score of 2).

The 25 contestants strutted through Free Speech Alley as the sun set over the Parade Ground. Each participant received 60 seconds to show off their ensembles and convince the audience that they are the ultimate performative male.

The contenders, armed with CDs and thrifted clothes, did not disappoint. Each person had their own performative flair to garner applause from the audience, from an “I hate periods” sign to a Ruth

Bader Ginsburg finger puppet. Other gimmicks included throwing menstrual products into the crowd and playing “Sparks” by Coldplay on guitar, with one contestant even reciting a self-written poem.

“Amen and A-Woman!” one competitor cheered at the end of their showcase.

For competitor Queban Lee’s allotted 60 seconds, he chose to condemn performative males, stating that their sole existence is to manipulate women. Lee then proceeded to pull a “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” vinyl from his tote bag and skateboard away. The irony was not lost on the cheering crowd, as his actions were perhaps the most performative of the afternoon’s contestants.

Eventually, four finalists were chosen based on the judges’ scores, including Lee. These finalists had to then compete against each other in another unique challenge: name three songs from a randomly selected musical artist deemed as “performative.” Artists ranged from Deftones to PinkPantheress to Faye Webster.

“I think that actually knowing those songs makes you even more performative,” Krupala said about the tiebreaker. “It’s a beautiful thing.”

Lee was the only competitor able to name three Nirvana songs, crowning him the winner of the performative male contest. As his first place prize, he was given a Victrola suitcase record player.

“Men take a lot of wins in life, but I think women deserve to win way more than men ever could,” Lee said after his victory.

As the competition concluded and night fell over Free Speech Alley, the crowd slowly dispersed.

The only remnants of the evening may be a forgotten Jeff Buckley CD or an errant Sonny Angel figurine,

but those who attended will undoubtedly remember its events for the rest of their time at LSU.

Chess Club is checkmating Free Speech Alley. It’s your move

BY LAURA ALLEN Staff Writer

Free Speech Alley is the epicenter of campus life at LSU. From student clubs to small businesses to political protests, this corner of campus is always buzzing with excitement. Frequently in the middle of all the hustle and bustle is one club that has become a familiar sight for all students passing through: Chess Club.

The LSU Chess Club is a student organization with two simple goals: to play chess and to share the game with everyone, even those who have never played a game in their lives. The club is best known for its tables in Free Speech Alley where any student can stop by for a quick game of chess.

“The main reason we’re out here is because it’s easy to recruit

for the club,” said Ethan DeLaughter, a senior chemistry major and president of Chess Club. “People see it, they’ll come up. We invite them with open arms, obviously, and maybe teach them a couple things if they have the time.”

The group usually meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday in Free Speech Alley and Tuesday and Thursday in the library. Hosting meetings in Free Speech Alley has both its pros and cons. On one hand, meeting in a public, heavily-trafficked place allows the club to reach as many students as possible; on the other hand, students are usually in a rush to get to and from class, leaving little time to actually stop by the tables.

DeLaughter believes people’s hesitation to join in on the chess games is most likely due to social anxiety around talking to strangers, but also because people as -

sume they have to be exceptionally smart or have a lot of experience with the game in order to participate.

“We just want people to come out,” DeLaughter said. “We do not mind if you’ve never played a game. You could be the best player at the club — it does not matter to us.”

Ben Levy, a recent LSU graduate and former club president, also suggested that there may be a gendered aspect to students’ hesitation. He said that chess is often thought of as a masculine pastime, which can discourage women from putting themselves in these spaces. Like DeLaughter, Levy hopes that Chess Club can serve as a welcoming community for anyone interested in playing chess.

“Don’t need to be a man, don’t need to be nerdy, don’t need to be smart,” said Levy. “You just need

to have fun and play chess.”

Because of its acceptance of everyone regardless of skill level or previous experience, Chess Club has cultivated a positive, supportive environment where anyone can come to make new friends and enjoy a fun game.

DeLaughter pointed to his own experiences as examples of how positive the community is. He recalled a time last year when he was up against a player with a 2100 ELO, 400 points above DeLaughter’s 1700 rating. Statistically speaking, the other player should have had the game in the bag, but as the two players contended, DeLaughter realized he had a shot.

“I remember that everybody that was playing realized that I had a chance, and they all crowded around the same board,” he said.

After a quick back-and-forth tournament, DeLaughter ended

up winning the game despite the odds.

“It was cool to see everybody stop what they were doing, right, and then start to watch as one of their newer members had a chance to beat someone that was better than them.”

Ultimately, the most rewarding part is seeing people who may not know much about chess grow in both confidence and skill over time, DeLaughter said. With a little practice and a lot of enthusiasm, anyone has the chance to be great, and the Chess Club is the perfect place to step out of one’s comfort zone and try something new.

“It’s not really about the chess,” said DeLaughter. “It’s really more about the community. Chess is more like the cracker for the queso, right? It’s all about the queso. That’s what we’re here for, but the chess is just a vehicle.”

WIN STREAK

LSU routs Southeastern in a 56-10 win on Sept. 20 in Tiger Stadium.

Rev Rank: Horror film ‘Him’ portrays football obsession and toxicity

BY SAVANNAH BOYNES Staff Writer

Paired with football fanaticism, the inevitability of aging and religious metaphors, “Him” is a nightmarish commentary on the toxic masculinity present within the sports world that places pressure on male players to strive to be the “chosen one.”

In Justin Tipping’s psychological horror, Cameron Cade, played by Tyriq Withers, is set to seal his fate in football fame until he is attacked by a crazed fan, thrusting him into an uncertain future hindered by his head trauma. In the midst of his grief over the looming end of his quarterback career, he receives a call that the San Antonio Saviors quarterback Isaiah White wishes to train with him in his remote compound.

The film opens with a scene all too familiar to LSU Tiger fans: a family in their living room yelling at the television screen for their favorite team’s victory. In the center of the passionate cries for glory sits Cade as a child, excitedly watching White bring the Saviors’ victory home.

The obsessiveness over football culture leans heavily on the neurotic behaviors of characters in the film, like when Cade is attacked by a fan exclusively loyal to White. The football obsession is proven even more so in the natural competitiveness among men to be the best of the best.

“Scary Movie” star Marlon Wayans portrays White cleanly in his reluctance in passing down the mantle to a younger, more suited player on the field. His performance highlights the anger and jealousy within the theme of older versus younger. As “The Substance” depicted the female experience in being pushed aside due to age, “Him” depicts the masculine side of this dilemma through football.

While Wayans’ performance leans into the aging theme, Withers’ performance as Cade zones in on the pressure that is

placed on him to be the best in the league, or as described in the film, the G.O.A.T. His looks of distress and awkward demeanor strip the character raw of his supposed confidence; instead, it conveys the underlying weight on his shoulders.

With the repetition of his late father’s saying of ‘no guts, no glory,’ and his desire for a family of his own, Cade’s characterization is based around the notion of family meaning everything. His motivation in not letting his father down coupled with the possibility of his injury restraining his talent forever posits the view that he is only in a cycle of toxic masculinity.

Metaphorically, the cycle is also shown with the transfer of White’s blood to Cade, where it is eventually revealed the blood is passed down from previous quarterback to quarterback. This cycle of aggression and blood is fitting for the sport that is notoriously known for men running straight into one another.

Amidst the depictions of violence and gore, there is some humor packed into the horror flick. In describing Cade as ‘him’, his brother jokingly comments how he is ‘Him-othee Chalamet’ or even, ‘Him Kardashian.’ The concept of saying ‘I’m him’ has been a common phrase in internet slang, typically meaning you’re ‘the best.’

There are numerous religious metaphors scattered throughout the film, such as the obvious being the team name as the Saviors. There are also many mentions of the concept of the chosen one; however, the implications of a Satanic ritual at play contradicts the notion of a savior; rather he is representative of the opposite.

The main themes, along with their corresponding metaphors, hold up strongly. Although, my main critique of the motion picture is that it tends to be too on

the nose visually.

In the final act, it is revealed how Cade was chosen when he was a child to be successor of White, as shown in a photograph including him, his father and the owner of the San Antonio Saviors. Yet, in the same scene, his agent states, as if speaking to the audience, how they had “groomed him” from an early age.

This critique falls under the umbrella of telling, instead of simply showing the viewers an important piece of information. This artistic choice treats the audience members as if they have not been paying attention to the movie at all. It is best to show, not to tell.

However, the visuals of skeletal X-rays and infrared vision shown in various scenes are not ones I have seen before. They worked well with the storyline and contributed to the brutality of football in a horror-themed way.

The film maintains a stable baseline for the commentary on football’s culture, but the marketing is also where the team behind the film slipped up. Attaching Jordan Peele’s credit as a producer for the film would only lead people to believe it is a Peele film, such as the likes of “Get Out” and “Us.”

Contrary to the belief people will go into when watching this film, it is a movie directed by Tipping. That is not to say one director is better than the other, but to rather set the correct expectations for the intended filmmaker.

The movie premiered across theaters nationwide Sept. 18, so there is plenty of time to buy your ticket and a bucket of popcorn. I believe any Tiger fan will understand the craziness embedded in the film, whether you’re a typical horror fan or not.

SPORTS

LION DOWN

LSU offense comes alive to score season-high in Southeastern win

BY BRETT KEMPER Staff Writer

LSU football started fast in its Week 4 game against the Southeastern Louisiana Lions, after going three-and-out on its first possession, that is.

Southeastern won the toss and deferred to the second half, putting the ball in the hands of Joe Sloan and the LSU offense. After a very underwhelming opening script for Sloan, the drive ended in a 53-yard Grant Chadwick punt.

However, Blake Baker’s defense answered the call again, as they have all season. It was able to disrupt the entire Southeastern squad, leading to a three-and-out drive that ended in an 18-yard punt for the Lions, which would help set up the Tigers’ first score.

“More than anything else for our defense, they want to play to a standard,” LSU Head Coach Brian Kelly said.

When the Tigers got the ball back, a pair of drops by Barion Brown and Aaron Anderson made it seem as though LSU fans were in for another week of underwhelming offense.

Garrett Nussmeier forged through the early mistakes and took a one-yard quarterback sneak to make the lead 7-0; seemingly, that was all the offense needed to get started.

Following the Nussmeier score, a long drive for the offense spanning the end of the first quarter was capped off by a 2-yard Ju’Juan Johnson rushing touchdown, making the score 14-0 Tigers.

After that, they never looked back.

Johnson would earn another rushing touchdown, Brown would record his first touchdown of the year, Nussmeier would

gain a career-high 26-yard rush on a scramble to extend a scoring drive and Zavion Thomas would score to make it 35-0 heading into halftime.

While it most definitely wasn’t a perfect first half, with three drops and three penalties for 25 yards, LSU’s offense was able to stand confidently on its own two feet for the first time this season.

In the second half, the Tigers continued that momentum out of the gate, with Nussmeier extending the LSU lead 42-0, before giving up the first score of the game to Southeastern, which cut the lead 42-7.

Midway through the third quarter, LSU backup quarterback and Mississippi State transfer Michael Van Buren entered the game for the Tigers for the first time this season.

After a time-chewing sequence of events, including a third and fourth down conversion, a missed field goal and the end of the third quarter, Van Bu-

ren recorded his first touchdown as a Tiger and extended LSU’s lead 49-7.

As the fourth quarter clock continued to burn down, so did LSU’s patience, drawing three false start penalties and two of them in a row. Van Buren settled his team down and fed Kyle Parker a 27-yard receiving touchdown over the middle for his first of the year.

“It’s easy to line up. You shouldn’t jump offsides, you need to stay locked in,” Kelly said of the penalties.

Parker’s touchdown would be the final score for the Tigers on this Saturday evening.

Southeastern would tack on a field goal, but the Tigers had a truly dominant evening on both sides of the ball.

However, the highlight of the night was the final score, 56-10. LSU had only scored a combined 66 points all season prior to tonight.

Nussmeier and Van Buren

combined for 530 total yards of offense, and spread the ball out to 13 different Tigers, with four of them earning their first trip to the end zone on the season.

Overall, the Tigers, for the first time this season, put together a truly complete body of work. Offense, defense and special teams all contributed to the domineering victory, but there is still much to work on.

“They came and were mature about the way they practiced this week and you can see it on the field,” Kelly said.

LSU got into penalty trouble late in the game, totaling seven for 50 yards tonight; however, that is something that LSU has direct control over, and Kelly expects them to be non-issues.

Next Saturday, the Bayou Bengals will hit the road for the first time in almost a month when they travel to Oxford, Mississippi, to challenge the 4-0 Ole Miss Rebels in their second SEC game of the year.

LSU’s Ana Tevdoradze makes history as the first D1 volleyball player from country of Georgia

BY MARISSA REISS Staff Writer

It’s a common childhood dream to be the first person from your hometown to achieve something outstanding, whatever that may be.

For Ana Tevdoradze, that childhood aspiration became her reality.

Tevdoradze, a senior pin hitter for LSU volleyball, made history as the program’s first international player to join the team.

Alongside that, she also rep -

resents something a little bigger.

At 22 years old, Tevdoradze became the first athlete from the country of Georgia to play Division I volleyball in the United States.

Her journey throughout her collegiate career hasn’t been a straightforward one, yet she’s remained hardworking and resilient to represent her country.

Tevdoradze grew up in Tbilisi, Georgia, finding her passion for volleyball at 12 years old. She played with multiple Georgian national teams when she turned

15, up until the end of her high school years.

Once Tevdoradze graduated, she moved to Florida with her parents after the COVID-19 pandemic in hopes of playing volleyball at a higher level. She had a few Division I offers prior to her move, but ultimately ended up at Miami Dade College to start her career.

MDC volleyball, coached by Origenes “Kiko” Benoit, is a program Tevdoradze continues to express her gratitude for.

Under Kiko’s leadership, Te -

Who are the Weeks brothers?

BY GABBY GRAY Staff Writer

On a roster stacked with skill, No. 3 LSU has many great names competing for the Tigers this season, and if you’ve been keeping up with the team for the past few years then the last name “Weeks” should definitely ring a bell.

From Watkinsville and Oconee County, Georgia, the Weeks brothers have grown to be a staple of LSU football in recent years, so here’s everything you need to know about this trio of Tiger siblings.

Graduate linebacker West, junior linebacker Whit and freshman linebacker Zach Weeks — yes, they’re all linebackers — are part of a family where football runs deep.

They were raised and coached by their father, David Weeks, who played for the Georgia Bulldogs from 1991 to 1995. The Weeks brothers have known the game for their entire lives.

“He was my football coach every year besides my eighth grade year,” Whit said about his dad in the Netflix series “SEC Football: Any Given Saturday.”

“He’d always hold me and my brothers to the highest standard,” he added.

Despite the three of them growing up in Georgia, they carried the family’s football legacy to LSU after West played his freshman season at the University of Virginia.

West finished his Cavalier career with 31 tackles and secures his transfer to LSU in January 2022. Before his official transfer to the bayou, he broke his leg while competing against Virginia Tech.

However, that setback only made him stronger as he’s played four straight seasons with LSU, recording 87 total tackles and two sacks in the purple and gold No. 33.

vdoradze and the team were runner-ups for the NJCAA Championship. She was named an AllAmerican during her second and final year, as well as an All-Academic athlete.

After two years of playing for the Sharks, she received offers from a few schools to play at the Division I level. One of those offers was from none other than LSU.

Tevdoradze committed to the Tigers in 2023 with much excite -

Given West’s record as a strong defensive asset, Tiger fans were more than thrilled when his younger brother Whit announced his commitment to the university in July 2022.

Featured in eight out of 12 regular season games during his freshman year, Whit capped off his first season with 50 total tackles, 16 of which were solo while the other 34 were assisted.

During his sophomore year, Whit nearly tripled his tackle count, securing 120 total tackles with 61 solos, 59 assisted and 3.5 sacks.

Wearing the No. 40, he’s onto his junior year, and if you tuned

BY TRE ALLEN Staff Writer

3TAKEAWAYS

It was an in-state matchup on Saturday night, where LSU defeated Southeastern Louisiana 56-10, improving to 4-0 on the season.

In a game where the Tigers were largely favored, it was the perfect opportunity for them to work out any kinks before they enter the teeth of SEC play.

Mental errors showed early

The game was already out of reach in the first half as the Tigers led 35-0, but there were many mental errors and mistakes.

Multiple drops in the first half from receivers on catchable passes. Nic Anderson had a drop on a wide-open touchdown, and Barion Brown dropped a short pass early in the first quarter as well.

Aaron Anderson had an opportunity to complete a pass, but it was jarred loose by a Southeastern defender, making the pass incomplete. It was a good play by Blayne Delahoussaye, but it’s a catch that one of the best receivers on the team should make.

The other mental errors we saw from the Tigers were penalties. Safety Dashawn Spears ran into the punter, giving the Lions an automatic first down on fourth down.

The next play came from defensive tackle Dominick McKinley, who got flagged for unnecessary roughness, taking a player’s helmet off during the play.

The Tigers accumulated a total of seven penalties in the game for 50 yards.

With the large victory that the Tigers had, the penalties weren’t costly. For a team that was known for doing the same thing last year, it can’t become a habit for LSU.

VOLLEYBALL, from page 9

ment for the journey ahead. LSU as a school is amazing by itself, she said, but her decision was made because of other reasons.

“I chose LSU because of the team culture they had [and] the coaches — amazing coaches,” Tevdoradze said. “That’s how I am right here today.”

As is the case for many international students, there was an adjustment period. The culture of the state alone was something Tevdoradze had never experienced before, which she thought was really cool.

In terms of volleyball, the rules of NCAA volleyball differ from international, and it took her a while to fully grasp that.

“It was difficult because even volleyball rules here are a little different than ours over there,” Tevdoradze said. “For example, liberos serving. We don’t have that.”

The most prominent obstacle in Tevdoradze’s transition to playing volleyball in the U.S. was the language barrier, as English is her second language. Four years ago, she couldn’t even speak English, she said.

“Understanding volleyball in a different language was difficult,” Tevdoradze said. “Whenever coach gives us a combination or some drill to do, it’s in English.”

With time, Tevdoradze has been able to overcome these challenges, along with the other

Ju’Juan Johnson is a playmaker LSU won short-yardage situations

When Ju’Juan Johnson committed to LSU, he was known for being a great athlete and playmaker.

He played quarterback and cornerback in high school, but last season he had to switch to running back due to the lack of depth at the position.

Head coach Brian Kelly told reporters that he was going to see the field and have an impact this season, and we saw it against the Lions.

On eight rushing attempts, Johnson had a total of 43 yards and found the end zone twice. Johnson led the running backs in yards and yards per carry while also adding a reception that went for 14 yards.

“I just think he sees the game really well,” Kelly said. “I think his natural instincts took over at that position, and I think we all saw the same things. Very impressed with the way he played, the way he ran, catches the football — he does a lot of really good things for us.”

For a guy who was recruited for multiple positions, it’s not easy to find a specific role, but he has found one now.

mental and physical needs necessary to play volleyball at such a high level. From community service to marketing events in efforts to promote match attendance, it’s been a huge time commitment that she wasn’t used to back home.

“D1 is not easy,” Tevdoradze said. “It requires really good time management. You have to be on top of academics, volleyball, do extra reps, eat and sleep well. It’s a job, literally.”

In addition, Tevdoradze said that homesickness is something a lot of international athletes struggle with. Her teammates, coaches and staff understood that from the jump and constantly check in to see how she’s doing.

Despite all of the initial struggles Tevdoradze was met with in her transition to playing college volleyball, the positive outcomes outweigh all of the bad from her point of view.

The family-like team culture surrounding her at LSU has made her adjustment easier over the last two years. Not only do Tevdoradze’s teammates comfort her when she’s feeling homesick, they also continuously celebrate and praise her achievements, knowing that this opportunity means something special to her.

“Since I was the first Georgian athlete at LSU, they put the flag of Georgia at the Cox Center and that was the biggest thing they have done for me,” Tevdoradze

said. “I, of course, shared those posts all over my social media, and other people from Georgia were like, ‘You’re so cool.’”

Tevdoradze is proud to have the opportunity to represent her country on such a big stage internationally. The community she has back in Georgia has heard her story over and over, and she’s inspired many athletes to achieve their dreams.

“I’m trying my best to show my country that there is an opportunity to get a degree while playing the highest level of volleyball in the USA,” Tevdoradze said. “If you really want to go D1, you have to work hard, be a good player and stay open minded. You have to let the coaches know that I’m here and I’m open to improve and learn your way of volleyball and teaching.”

Once her senior season concludes, she intends to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in sports administration. The goal is to play professional volleyball overseas following her time in Louisiana, and she wants to highlight the next results of her accomplishment, rather than just the process it took her to get here.

“Georgia is a tiny community,” Tevdoradze said. “There’s not even four million people over there. The meaning of my impact, it’s really big, and I have big plans for [Georgia] volleyball. We’ll see how it goes.”

In obvious short-yardage situations, the offense has to convert. It allows the offense to sustain drives, create momentum and prove that it can be physical when necessary.

On LSU’s first scoring drive, the Tigers went under center three times, with two of them coming on third-and-2 and another on the goalline as quarterback Garrett Nussmeier snuck his way to the endzone.

“It’s just a whole different threat,” Nussmeier said. “I think we can do a lot of different things out of that. I thought coach Sloan did an awesome job tonight putting us in different packages and different situations.”

Although Southeastern doesn’t have the most talent on its roster, it’s exactly what you want to see from your offensive line and running game.

For the defense, it’s a similar situation.

The Lions were one for nine on third-down situations, and while not all of them were in short-yardage situations, there were times when the Tigers overpowered them and eliminated the drive early.

As unusual as it may sound for LSU in recent years, the defense has not been a problem. They play with physicality, speed and aggression. It’s a hungry defense that has been making plays and continues to be the strength of the team.

WEEKS, from page 9

into LSU’s 20-10 win over Florida, last weekend, you’ll recall that Whit was ejected from the SEC-opening game during the first quarter for targeting.

As a fan favorite and captain of LSU’s defensive line, Tiger fans were shaken with anger from the referee’s call, and their night wasn’t going to get any better as West would later go on to suffer a calf-related injury during the third quarter of play.

While West was escorted off the field by staff, Whit rushed to his side to support his older brother.

LSU head coach Brian Kelly has since commented on West’s injury, assuring fans that the struggle isn’t long-term.

Despite the long night for the elder Weeks brothers, the youngest of the trio, Zach, was brought into the Florida game following his brother’s injury.

“Our next man in mantra was on display,” Kelly said. “I’d always wanted to get all the Weeks boys in the game, I just didn’t get them all at the same time.”

Sporting No. 35 on the field, Zach came to LSU from Oconee County High School — just like his brothers — where he racked up 112 tackles during his junior year.

Zach got the opportunity to join his brothers in the matching Tiger stripes after reclassifying and committing to LSU despite

offers from various other schools like Florida, Ole Miss, Tennessee and even Ohio State, as reported by nola.com.

The reclassification and two year age difference makes sense as to how Whit and Zach are able to play together this year, so how does West enter the picture?

Well, following an injury, West was able to redshirt his senior year, making him eligible to return for one more year of play, just in time to welcome Zach to the Tiger family.

The Weeks brothers aren’t just fan favorites. LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker has publicly praised their respective characters.

“They do everything the right way,” he told WBRZ in August. “They’re the type of guys you want your daughter to marry, and I don’t say that lightly, and I think those three guys are phenomenal young men.”

While we can’t be sure if we’ll see all the Weeks brothers on the field together in the next few weeks, Tiger fans can keep their fingers crossed that the brotherly trio will storm the field together this season, given the talent that lies within each one of them.

This year marks West’s final season of eligibility and captures one of the very heartwarming moments where LSU football becomes more than just a game, but a matter of family.

The viral LSU Leaker brings some much-needed whimsy to our campus

From Himes to Highland, the Quad to Tiger Stadium, the LSU Leaker is on the loose.

Widely recognized by students as a whimsical chaos agent, the LSU Leaker’s game is simple: he (or she, or they… probably he) travels around campus, and pees — or, one hopes, pretends to pee.

Operating under the aptly named TikTok alias @the.lsu. pisser, the social media sensation is shrouded in mystery: we don’t know who he is, we don’t know what he wants and we don’t know where he’ll strike next. But we do know that he’s not alone.

“Pissers” are taking over college campuses across the country, and so far only a few have been brought to justice. This past weekend, the San Antonio Police Department forced the viral “UTSA Pisser” to suspend his TikTok account and publicly apologize for his piddle peddling.

Regional commentators haven’t been much kinder.

Lori Crofford, a broadcaster for Amarillo’s 91.1 The Bull, commented, “What the heck is going on in the world today?” Crofford lambasted the trend as a symptom of America’s deteriorating moral fabric. “It’s gross, and it is uncivilized,” she said.

Well, Crofford, that may be. Sure, the LSU Leaker might be a little gross, and fine, maybe it’s not “civilized” to urinate on public

property. But quite frankly, I don’t care.

Consider me the LSU Leaker’s first public ally.

In what remains of this editorial, I’ll outline a cogent defense of the LSU Leaker’s quasi-vandalism. In my view, the LSU Leaker isn’t some aimless anarchist. He’s an undergraduate vigilante, a Robin Hood figure whose whimsical antics should leave us wanting more.

First, though, I’ll respond to a few of Crofford’s most salient objections.

‘Multiple laws are being broken. This involves public urination and indecent exposure.’

No they aren’t. According to Louisiana Revised Statute 14:106, the law prohibits “Exposure of the genitals, pubic hair, anus, vulva, or female breast nipples in any… place open to the public view.”

As evidenced by the fact that he hasn’t been caught, no LSU student has seen the LSU Leaker in action. He operates in secret. Therefore, his genitalia are not “open to the public view.” All we see is a stream of urine, which — surprising as it may seem — isn’t illegal.

More likely, though, the LSU Pisser isn’t actually peeing on campus grounds. The fluid is incredibly clear. Either he’s faking it, or he’s more hydrated than a fish in a flash flood. For his sake, I’m hoping it’s just water.

‘Real or implied, the world will take it as real.’

Who is “the world”? I certainly don’t take it as real. I don’t think the student body does either. We attend Louisiana’s flagship univer-

sity, after all. Our standardized test scores are higher than ever. Surely our inference skills are strong enough to avoid being duped by the LSU Pisser.

Perhaps she’s referring to young children, who might be inspired by college “leakers” to actually start urinating in public. My response is simple: if your child is stupid enough to pee on his math textbook because of a TikTok trend, you should reevaluate your parenting skills. Social media is the least of your problems.

‘Anything that’s illegal and borderline crazy is not funny.’

Says who? I think it’s pee-yourpants funny.

So, to those of you who are pissed off about the LSU Pisser: calm down. Take a deep breath, count to 10 or drink a beer.

Unless the LSU Leaker has peed on your leg (which I suspect he hasn’t… yet), you have no cause for outrage. It was never that serious.

To the LSU Leaker, thank you. In these trying times, we could all use a laugh every once in a while. Please don’t pee in any of my classrooms though. That would be gross.

But also, if you’re looking for tips: if you want to lean into the Robin Hood bit, consider targeting people who deserve it — like Garrett Nussmeier or my least favorite professor.

I’m not asking you to pee on their doors, but I wouldn’t be mad if you did.

Cade Savoy is a political science and philosophy major from Breaux Bridge, La.

EDITORIAL BOARD

Jason Willis Editor in Chief

Olivia Tomlinson

Managing Editor

Courtney Bell News Editor

Chloe Richmond

Sports Editor

Garrett McEntee Opinion Editor

Sensitivity isn’t a flaw;

it’s a way through it

RILEY’S

RILEY

If you’re anything like me (that is, an introverted extrovert), you pick up on even the slightest changes not only inside of yourself but also in the world around you. As a kid, I always felt and was always told that this was a sensitivity that needed to be snuffed out — a sensitivity to the harsh realities of the world that would only leave me weak and miserable.

Now a young adult, I find myself straying further and further away from the scrutiny of those voices and instead allowing this sensitivity to guide me through life. I’ve learned that this awareness and connection to yourself in relation to the world around you is a gift, a power even, that is otherwise unobtainable unless you truly sit with yourself. It is a gift gradually earned through blood, sweat and many, many tears.

As an adolescent, I found the dichotomy of introverted extroversion to be one that left me wide open to what at the time felt like the big, bad world. I always felt as though I was waiting for the other shoe to drop, for a test or a moment that would stunt me for once. You feel invincible when you are young, and at the time, I really didn’t know what it was like for the world to stop spinning, and I with it. I only really knew the fluid motion of my awareness. When the other shoe finally did drop, I was stopped in my tracks for the first time in my life.

In April of 2023, after the passing of a very dear friend, I was devastated. I was only a sophomore in high school, 16 at the time, and had never dealt with loss in a capacity that I was old enough to understand. Around the same time, another close friend was diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a devastating diagnosis. I could not make sense of the way that I was feeling, nor could I make sense of a world in which loved ones could suffer so greatly or pass away so suddenly. My grief and sadness consumed me, and even more so, guilt consumed me over the thought that I could be so devastated when their families were struggling more than I was.

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. Editorial Policies and Procedures

all

I forced myself to internalize my feelings for the sake of remaining strong and fair to those around me; as a result of my refusal to acknowledge my own feelings, I developed worsened anxiety, a heavy depression and a severe eating disorder. For months, I was running every day after meals, sometimes multiple times a day, and living off fewer than 800 calories a day.

I listened to the same rotation of sad songs about loss, disillusionment and heartbreak until I almost made myself sick. I stopped indulging in the hobbies I’d once loved like reading, writing and even stopped praying, which was devastating as my faith was and always has been a huge part of my life. I didn’t sleep, and when I did, I had nightmares — I was an allaround mess.

In the midst of the deepest rut of my life, I woke up one day and realized I was allowing myself to perpetuate a cycle of misery that was only destroying me from the inside out. I suddenly understood that my habits that once seemed like outlets for my grief, were now as roadblocks to my health. I knew that I needed to change before I lost myself entirely, and at that time began learning to reinvent and rebuild my life and perspective.

Up until this point in my life, I never recognized overhauling my life as a means of renewing my mental health. Over the course of a year, however, I inadvertently found myself doing just that — listening to joyful music despite a lack of joy (shoutout to ‘The Age of Worry’ by John Mayer), sleeping in spite of my fear of dreaming, writing when I felt I could not find the words, eating even when I did not feel worthy of it and confiding in loved ones — all things my grief had stolen from me.

Through this journey, I learned that my sensitivity to the world was nothing without adaptability, without the ability to observe and reinvent my struggles as strongholds. I urge you, when you stumble, to take a step back and redirect yourself. Find a way to live alongside your pain until you outlive it — it is the most important thing you can do for yourself.

Riley Sanders is an 18-year-old biology major from Denham Springs, La.

“What’s