The Reveille 10-20-25

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PLAGUED BY PAVIA

Vanderbilt quarterback leads offensive spark to doom LSU

BY CHLOE RICHMOND Sports Editor

LSU can’t handle a mobile, dual-threat quarterback.

It’s been a consistent trait of this Tiger defense in recent years, and this year is no different. We saw it against Ole Miss, when Trinidad Chambliss rushed for 71 of Ole Miss’ 166 yards and passed for 314 yards.

LSU’s defense did all it could, giving the offense opportunities to make plays down the stretch. Still, the Tigers found themselves in too many three-and-out situations. Vanderbilt, on the other hand, took advantage of loose coverage from the Tigers and made a statement 31-24 win.

“I just told our team we had opportunities, we didn’t cash in on them,” LSU head coach Brian Kelly said.”

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia set the tone of the match in the first quarter. Like Chambliss, he’s a known dual-threat quarterback. Coming into this LSU game, he had 1,409 passing yards and 352 rushing yards on the season.

Against LSU, Pavia kicked it into high gear and rushed for 86 of Vanderbilt’s 239 yards to lead all players. He also ran in two touchdowns to be the leading spark on offense.

He had an overall standout performance, completing 14 of 22 attempts for 160 yards and a touchdown.

The Vanderbilt offense played aggressive throughout the match, which made LSU play from behind the entire time. Along with Pavia’s two touchdowns, Sedrick Alexander and Cole Spence scored touchdowns.

“We talked today about this is a game of action, a game of responses,” Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea said. “Today was a reminder that this is a team game and it takes all three phases to win games like this.”

Vanderbilt’s high score is a result of beating LSU in the time of possession battle. To win this, a team has got to be able to run the ball and make those hard plays, which Vanderbilt did. Vanderbilt controlled the game for 36:31 compared to LSU’s much lower

23:29.

The Commodores 239 rushing yards also cleared LSU’s by a mile, with only 100 on the board. Throughout the game, it seemed like LSU was able to send pressure to Pavia but was unable to finish it off and get the sack.

There were many plays and a few first downs made off of Pavia scrambling out of the pocket to avoid an LSU defender and somehow finding an open receiver to toss it off to. He showed he could consistently make plays in stressful situations, something LSU has yet to achieve itself.

With less than a minute to go in the third, LSU’s defense parted and Pavia ran up the middle for the 21-yard touchdown to pick up his second of the game. Vanderbilt went up 31-21 to end the quarter.

All of this is not to say the loss is on the defense. Despite letting up the most points it has all season, the defense was able to give the offense many opportunities to tie the one possession game. The contest was closer than it should’ve been, and that’s because this battered and bruised defense that was without some key pieces still battled against Vanderbilt’s tough offense. Still, it was missing leaders on the defensive side of the ball, leading to a much weaker performance.

“When you play an offense

like this, it’s the details,” Kelly said. “Being in the right place and having eye discipline, making the plays when they come their way is paramount to slowing them down. We just didn’t do a good enough job on the details when it came to trying to defend this offense.”

Garrett Nussmeier also had one of his better performances of the season. As he’s dealt with some nagging injuries, he’s been playing more reserved and conservative than Tiger fans are used to.

Against Vanderbilt, he seemed a little more comfortable throwing the ball deep down the field. LSU’s run game fell flat, but Nussmeier still found some strong connections.

He finished the night 19 of 28 with 225 passing yards and two touchdowns. His chemistry with Trey’Dez Green and Caden Durham complemented each other well, as Green led with 74 receiving yards on five catches to haul in one of LSU’s touchdowns. Durham also posted one of his best performances with 59 yards on seven attempts to average 8.4 yards per carry.

Even with that fight, the LSU offense still found itself fighting from behind, giving up costly plays due to penalties called on fundamental mistakes. It’s imbalance like this that keeps LSU from getting over the hump of trying to achieve complementary football.

“We did not play well enough on either side of the ball to be the better team today,” Kelly said. “Vanderbilt was the better team today because they executed at a higher level. When you look at it... defensively, not enough stops, and offensively, when we had an opportunity to score touchdowns we had to kick field goals, and that was the difference in the end.”

At one point in the second half, Nussmeier managed to escape pocket pressure and threw to Barion Brown for what would’ve

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been a first down, but a holding call on DJ Chester put LSU back at 3rd-and-26.

Errors like this were a consistent flaw in LSU’s play in this game. The inconsistencies across the board that led to countless penalties meant scoring opportunities were being taken away from the Tigers and given to the Commodores.

Another prime example of this was seen early in the fourth quarter when LSU was nearing another touchdown at 2nd-and-1. A false start from Donovan Green put LSU back five yards.

Zavion Thomas’ wide-open reception from Nussmeier on the play ended up a nullified touchdown, which would’ve been Thomas’ second touchdown of the night.

The drive ultimately ended in another field goal. With Vanderbilt having scored four touchdowns to LSU’s two, the Tigers needed to be completing these tough plays to stay in the game, but they kept falling short in the mental game.

“That’s the frustrating part about where we are offensively, is not scoring touchdowns but kicking field goals,” Kelly said.

But at the end of the game, it all came down to the weakest part of LSU’s defense that unfortunately couldn’t be counteracted by a push on offense.

LSU’s inability to track and guard a mobile quarterback plagued it once again, from start to finish.

On 3rd-and-7 with the two minute warning approaching, Pavia made one last play to gain 11 yards and reached the LSU 1-yard line, capping off the game and shutting down any chance of LSU making a comeback.

LSU moves to 5-2 on the season and 2-2 in the SEC, something that doesn’t bode well for Kelly or the Tigers’ playoff contention. Going into this game, Pavia’s mobility was a concern, and as many feared, he ran the Tigers off the field.

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CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS ABOUT THE REVEILLE

The Oct. 13 front page graphic depicted a house bearing the letters Phi Kappa Theta. The house was the historic Pi Kappa Phi house, but it currently bears those letters as Phi Kappa Theta is renting the house. The Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure its readers the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards. If you would like something corrected or clarified, please contact the editor at (225) 578-4811 or email editor@lsu.edu.

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.

SG group against Unity Field closure

BY LIV TEES

Deputy News Editor

A group of members of LSU’s Student Government have crafted a letter intended for university officials stating their disapproval of the decision to close Unity Field for the remainder of the football season.

The letter was written by College of Humanities and Social Sciences Sen. Chloe Berry and signed by 22 additional members of the Senate, including the Speaker of the Senate Ethan Elmer.

“The irony isn’t lost on us: a place literally named ‘Unity’ Field was taken away,” the letter reads.

Unity Field is where many of LSU’s Black Greek organizations host their tailgates.

The letter says diversity is a vital element of LSU and inclusivity is being threatened by administrators and the federal government. Berry wrote that the administration has placed “limitations on our curriculum, restricted us from certain resources for our clubs, and diminished our freedom to organize.”

“Diversity is what makes LSU beautiful,” the letter reads. “Our differences are our strength. As tigers, we stand united.”

In February, LSU complied with the federal government’s order to eliminate all Diversity, equity and inclusion references around the university.

Berry wrote in the letter that she could not reserve a table for an event in Free Speech Alley last spring because she was using it for her organization whose “mission is to represent the Black student community” and that was “no longer permitted.”

“We understand the university has to comply with federal mandates to survive,” the letter says. “But we are the students who keep this university alive through our tuition, our energy, our dedication to this institution. Our voices matter too.”

The members advocate for “a more inclusive LSU” for the future generation in the letter.

“We are hopeful that true unity means celebrating our differences, not erasing them,” the letter says. “Unity isn’t uniformity.”

The group sent the letter to university officials, including Interim President Matt Lee, Board of Supervisors Chair Scott Ballard and Vice President of Engagement, Civil Rights & Title IX Todd Manuel. It was also sent to the Student Government president and vice president, Lavar Henderson and Abry Layrisson.

GAME DAY CHANGES

LSU announces measures, including closing Unity Field

BY JASON WILLIS & LIV TEES Editor in Chief & Deputy News Editor

LSU announced a plan intended to enhance game day securityThursday that includes adding additional law enforcement officers, drones and shutting down a tailgating area officials described as “a source of significant problems.”

“Recent events have reminded us that we must always remain vigilant, and it is because of this that we are strengthening our security plan,” Board of Supervisors Chair Scott Ballard said.

A shooting that left two injured during Saturday’s Homecoming football game vs. South Carolina was the second game day shooting since September. Both occurred on Highland Road.

Officials wouldn’t offer specifics on how many additional officers will be added on game day, how many drones will be present or what agency will provide the drones.

Ballard said the university’s law enforcement presence on game days is already one of the highest among the nation’s universities.

Ballard also said the university would be shutting off parts of Highland Road during game day to those without permits and closing the tailgating grounds known as Unity Field, which is at the corner of Highland and South Stadium Drive.

Interim President Matt Lee

said that the university had traced the origins of the two weekend shootings to “a welldefined geographic area”: Unity Field. He said officials felt that closing it off would “eliminate that problem.”

Lee said the group is now being disciplined through student conduct but wouldn’t reveal the group’s name.

Unity Field is traditionally home to many Black Greek organizations and student groups. Many students felt the decision to close it off targeted Black students.

“This isn’t about race. It’s about place,” Lee said during the press conference.

The university said further guidance on parking and contraflow with the new road closures would be out in the coming days.

Lee said Gov. Jeff Landry, who publicly ordered the university to strengthen its game day security last Monday, had been providing “high-level guidance” through the process and had been in regular contact with Ballard.

Ballard also said the university would be cracking down on marijuana use on game days, saying those who were caught smoking it would be detained. In addition, he said LSU would place increased focus on underage drinking and explicit music.

“If your tailgate is interfering with the game day experience of others, law enforcement will be paying you a visit,” Ballard said.

Ballard also said no one other than law enforcement should have a firearm on campus.

“No one should be bringing a gun to campus,” Ballard said. “Going forward we expect these changes will yield not only a safer environment but a better game day experience for our fans and their families.”

Lee said he thinks most people will welcome the increased security, citing that his office has been getting non-stop phone calls from parents who don’t want their kids exposed to firearms or excessive use of drugs.

“They don’t want their children to have to walk through clouds of marijuana smoke; they don’t want their children who

are seven or eight to have to listen to unnecessarily loud music that has explicit lyrics,” Lee said. “It’s just an overall sense of disorder that we have to tamp down on.”

Officials declined to indicate whether the National Guard, if deployed in Louisiana as has been requested by Landry and suggested by U.S. President Donald Trump, would be part of game day security.

LSU said many more specifics will be released in the coming days.

“We’re going to be ready for this because we, the ticket holders, folks at LSU, our children deserve this,” Ballard said. “We will no longer tolerate it.”

Ethan Elmer, Speaker Tyhlar Holliway, Speaker pro tempore

Meet Ethan Elmer, LSU Student Senate’s speaker with plans to encourage positive change around campus.

Elmer is from Alexandria, Louisiana and attended Bolton High School where he immersed himself in activities around his high school. He was a member of Mu Alpha Theta, a math competition club where he served on the board. Elmer was also his class president for three years and student body president his senior year.

Elmer managed to balance all of these extracurriculars on top of being involved with the tennis team.

“Coming to college I wanted to take a step back from everything, but then I learned about Student Government so I got the itch and applied for FLC [Freshman Leadership Council],” Elmer said.

After his involvement with FLC, Elmer was encouraged by the same person who explained SG to him during orientation to apply for a Senate seat. This moment sparked Elmer’s interest in SG where he would eventually become the speaker. Prior to this position, Elmer was also the speaker pro tempore of the Senate.

Being the speaker is a much different role than he originally had. He was very outspoken and tied to many pieces of legislation and bills in the past. Elmer now works on the administration team where he makes agenda and arranges rooms for their meetings.

Though he is busy with his new tasks, he still tries to be involved with as many resolutions and bills as he can manage.

Elmer said past senators like Lailah Williams are a big inspiration for how he wants to lead. He expressed that with his position he aims to make senators feel as comfortable as he once did when creating legislation.

Even though his role has changed, he is constantly thinking of possible solutions to improve the student body’s life on campus. He has a list of around 18 items of things small and large that he feels should be addressed on campus.

An issue Elmer hopes to address are the rules related to football tickets. He said students have shown up to the gate with their tickets and have been denied with a big red “X.”

The Senate is taking a look at this and

MEET THE SENATE SPEAKERS

BY MORGAN VANNOSDALL Staff Writer

how they can improve this issue for students.

Elmer has been working closely with Student Body President Lavar Henderson to bridge the gap between the executive board and Senate. They have had orientations with both branches for members of SG to meet new people outside of their branch.

A goal Elmer has for this upcoming semester is working on new programming and outreach. He said he wants to host more events like the food drive the Senate put on last year which donated over 500 food items to the LSU Food Pantry.

“I think it allows the Senate to be a little bit more immediately present because so much of the stuff we work on have one, two or even five-year timelines behind it,” Elmer said. “I think having the occasional volunteer or food drive is really important to put us present in the moment.”

One of Elmer’s first pieces of legislation has a special place in his heart.

When he first joined the Senate he was part of legislation that a former senator had started to fund recycling bins on campus. They partnered with an organization from New Orleans that collects the bins on campus and break down the glass and silica. It could then be used for construction or coastal restoration projects.

Elmer said that writing this legislation and seeing the effects of his work on campus to this day was what got the ball rolling in his love for the Senate.

For his legacy, Elmer hopes to create a safe space in the Senate, and encourage senators to get involved and get out of their comfort zone. He hopes to emphasize that SG is more than just scheduled meetings. Its adding benches to campus, updating academic guidelines and striving to make students’ lives easier.

Elmer said that if the student body can see this through his leadership he will feel like he accomplished his goals.

“I want a legacy of mentorship and knowing that if one of the current chairs becomes a Student Government leader in the future they will always feel comfortable to reach out to me,” Elmer said.

Meet Tyhlar Holliway, LSU Student Senate’s speaker pro tempore with a passion for Student Government, service and improving the student body’s experience.

Holliway, a double major in English rhetoric and political science, is a junior from Shreveport. She attended Captain Shreve High School where she was also active in the SG program. Once she came to LSU, joining the Senate allowed her to act on her passion for serving others.

She was initially interested in the Freshman Leadership Council, but when she saw the Senate had vacant positions, she knew in her heart she had to apply.

“I have always been interested in a leadership role where you can advocate and basically represent students and their needs and desires,” Holliway said.

Holliway fully engrossed herself in the Senate after she got her seat. After she filled the vacancy spot her first semester at LSU, she ran on a ticket the following semester and has been a senator since then.

While reflecting on her journey, she referred to becoming speaker pro tempore as a huge blessing, as she had long aspired to hold this position. Prior to this, she served on different committees, including as the vice chair of budget appropriations, the vice chair of the rules committee and now, as speaker pro tempore, she is the chair of the rules committee.

This is a full circle moment for her, since she previously had to sit in front of the rules committee to pass legislation. Now she is able to guide senators through the legislative process.

“The most beneficial and beautiful thing to me is being able to help senators navigate through their process of presenting their initiatives,” Holliway said. “Having their initiatives go from just ideas to actual legislation has been a beautiful process so far.”

An initiative Holliway is particularly proud of is her legislation establishing Custodian Appreciation Week. This week of gratitude now occurs annually to honor campus custodial staff. Holliway is already putting pieces into place to prepare for the week this spring.

Another bill she worked on last year increased AI transparency between LSU faculty and students. The bill allowed for students to know how to properly use AI in their course work while also making it possible for professors to be clear with their guidelines on AI. She authored the bill with the ultimate goal of seeing a decrease in the number of students reported to Student Advocacy & Accountability.

She said going through the legislative process with these bills allowed her to fall in love with Senate and SG. Holliway acknowledged her appreciation for the structure of LSU’s SG and how it reflects the same way the U.S. government

is set up, which she sees as a great way to prepare herself for a career once she graduates.

When looking at possible legislation for this year, she acknowledged the issues students on campus face with parking, housing availability and complications with the new Workday system. She hopes the Senate can pass more legislation to help resolve students’ frustrations.

Another point she hopes to address is allowing for more clarity around diversity, equity and inclusion restrictions. Following instructions from the Department of Education earlier this year, LSU removed DEI language from its websites and reviewed programs that distinguished students or employees based on race or sex, among other actions.

This led to confusion in SG as there were no concrete guidelines on how its legislative process would be impacted by DEI rollbacks. Holliway acknowledges the Senate will continue to navigate these impacts this semester.

In her partnership with Speaker Ethan Elmer, the two share the desire to connect the three branches of SG more than in the past.

“We want them to start meeting with execs and forming partnerships there so that Student Government is one accord, one unity and one body,” Holliway said.

She brought up that when she was planning Custodian Appreciation Week she noticed how easy it can be to incorporate the branches to make an idea from the Senate become an SG-wide initiative. She is currently encouraging senators to go through this same experience when possible.

The goal when she finishes her term as speaker pro tempore is to look back and see the work she accomplished and be inspired to step into more leadership roles. She hopes the work she does is continued for years to come like she is continuing the work of previous speaker pro tempores. She also wants the student body to know that if they have any ideas they want senators to work on, reach out and the Senate will do their best to accomplish these goals.

“The Senate is a very serious body, but in this very serious body there is a lot of love, joy and passion that I hope people can see,” Holliway said.

ENTERTAINMENT

How we ranked Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights houses

BY PAUL TIBBETS Staff Writer

Believe it or not, Halloween is less than two weeks away. However, since late September, Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida has been serving up scares with its annual Halloween Horror Nights event.

Amongst crazed men with chainsaws and trick-or-treaters turned cat creatures, this event features 10 brand-new haunted houses. Every year, four of these draw the biggest crowd: the ones that feature licensed characters.

This year, those IP houses are Five Nights At Freddy’s, Terrifier, Fallout and the Jason Universe (also known as Friday the 13th). For its 34th year, here are some of my thoughts on which ones are going to give you the most frights, from worst to best.

2 1 FNAF FALLOUT TERRIFIER JASON UNIVERSE

Unfortunately, while this is the one I was most excited for, it’s also the most disappointing. The set design itself was great; you start outside of the restaurant with the grand neon sign of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza.

As soon as you enter, it’s as if you stepped right into the movie. The amazing animatronics and 1980’s aesthetic are on full display. The first of many animatronic scares is Foxy’s separate station.

Similar moments of that initial Foxy scare happen with the animatronics hiding in the dark but then lighting up. These, combined with the random human actors attempting to scare you as well, were fairly underwhelming.

For fans of the game, this house mostly only follows the Amazon Prime show of the same name.

The house starts out with a doomsday vault being raided by people, much like the show. As you move out of the vault, the scares become much more frequent. The irradiated lands are full of ghouls much like Walton Goggins’ character in the show, and they pop out every other step.

After that, you may think it is time for the house to end, but it surprises you. There’s a portion after the ghouls featuring the power armor. The lights turn out and a gun fight commences while you can barely see anything. Overall this house is a bit more frightening than FNAF, but not by much.

Even though I’m not a huge fan of Art the Clown’s escapades on the silver screen, I greatly enjoyed the haunted house based on him.

One thing I respect the Terrifier house for is its unblinking willingness to have children dying. Constant blood and viscera throughout include kids and people in scenes from the trilogy.

Besides that, Art is a constant presence throughout the house. Most other houses have a new scare every time, but almost every jump scare is Art himself.

I especially love the choice between the wet and dry paths at the very end. Of course, being a good journalist, I decided to choose the wet path to report on the best experience. My opinion: always go with the wet path.

Even though Terrifier was a great house, the one that takes the cake is the Jason house.

As you walk through the Lake Crystal Camp, the scares come at you nonstop. Where the Terrifier house had constant appearances of Art the Clown, the Jason house had him appear at least four times every few steps.

The second half of the house is mostly in darkness. It is here that you get the most scared and rethink visiting the park. While the first section only focused on the camp and the first couple of movies, you move through many more locations here.

Ultimately, you get scared the most in the Jason Universe house, but the rest of the houses are still worth the wait.

Hill Memorial Library’s hidden trove of old vampiric works

BY SARAH WALTON Staff Writer

The month of October is always a great time to enjoy the spooky, morbid or supernatural, and if there is anything about Louisiana, this state loves vampires. From Louisiana folklore on the subject to the many books and films, there is a wealth of vampiric qualities to the state.

Luckily for the vampire fans at LSU, a rather unknown collection belongs to the LSU library. Nestled in the shelves of Hill Memorial Library is a collection of works about vampires that any fan of the gothic and deadly would dream of having.

Hill Memorial Library’s Spe -

cial Collections holds all kinds of old and rare books, manuscripts, artworks and historical documents. There are over 120,000 books in their possession. People all over the world come to LSU to look at the diaries, literature and history housed in those walls.

The collection contains over 300 vampiric works, some hundreds of years old. One of the oldest is titled “Dissertations upon the Apparitions of Angels, Demons and Ghosts, and concerning the Vampires of Hungary, Bohemia, Moravia and Silefia.”

Written by a Benedictine monk from France in the 18th century, the book is a peek into a world that truly believed in the threat of demons and vampires.

In the book, Augustin Calmet writes about the apparition of these creatures and what it meant for people at the time.

The next major book in the collection is known as the firstever vampire novel. “The Vampyre” has an interesting history. John Miles, book curator and head of instruction at the LSU Special Collections, mentioned some believed author Mary Shelley had possibly written it.

For the unwitting person, the authors of “Frankenstein” and “The Vampyre” may seem wildly disconnected, yet the origin of both stories is what connects them. In 1815, a volcano erupted and created what is known as the “Year Without a Summer” due to

the enormous ash cloud. The volcano’s residue had slowly crept through Earth’s atmosphere, spreading darkness and cooling the earth.

One night during this seemingly eternal winter, some of the world’s most well-known romantic poets came together and created art that would be remembered for centuries. Lord Byron gave his friends John Polidori, Mary Shelley and Percy Shelley a challenge. Each person was to write a ghost story of their own to shock the senses of their fellow guests.

Mary Shelley, at only 18 years old, wrote “Frankenstein,” and Polidori wrote “The Vampyre.”

The LSU Special Collections li-

brary has an early copy from 1918, which is considered to be rare. Miles pointed out that the library’s copy has a special feature — in the back of the book, poems seemingly written by Polidori populate the back pages.

Polidori’s story inspired many other vampiric tales, but most famously, Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” which the LSU Special Collections happens to have an original print of. Miles mentioned that the library received the copy a while back. He said the Special Collections staff had to replace the cover and completely rebind the book. In this process, they recreated exactly what the cover

The inside scoop on what LSU’s ‘legen-dairy’ store is churning

BY MIA HATTAWAY Staff Writer

From what ice cream flavors are available to how they come up with events, here’s the inside scoop on how LSU’s famous Dairy Store runs.

The Dairy Store has an assortment of snacks, meats and even beverages. Many of the products in the store are sourced from the LSU AgCenter, where students get in-field experience working with a processing plant and carry out the process of creating dairy products.

“Our team brainstorms flavor ideas based on current trends, seasonal favorites and fun campus happenings,” Dairy Store manager Nick Uzee said. “We work together to translate those ideas into delicious ice cream experiences, focusing on flavor, texture and the overall enjoyment of every scoop.”

The staple ice cream flavors available are vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, chocolate chip, cookies and cream and Tigerbite, a blueberry-vanilla cream that appears gold and purple. If none of these are calling your name, it’s a ‘sherbet’ that the seasonal and pop-up flavors will.

Special drops have included Ole Miss Mud Pie to celebrate

VAMPIRES, from page 6

would have looked like.

“Dracula” is a title that everyone is aware of, but many may not know the actual story. The book is an Epistolary novel, which means the story is created through a collection of letters and diary entries written by the characters in the story. The plot follows Jonathan and Mina Harker, a betrothed couple. Jonathan writes to Mia as he encounters otherworldly beings on a trip abroad, and Mina experiences the same monster as he tries to invade a quaint English town.

Miles said that Special Collections has quite a wide range of vampiric literature, from these

LSU’s 2024 homecoming against the rebels, as well as King Cake for Mardi Gras and Wedding Cake for Taylor Swift’s engagement.

“The LSU Dairy Store is more than just a place to grab a scoop,” Uzee said. “It’s a living classroom, a tie to LSU’s agricultural roots and a hands-on experience where students take the lead in everything from production to marketing.”

With over 95% of customers being LSU students, the shop has become a core part of campus life. To patrons, the Dairy Store is well-known for planning events that keep South Campus Drive exciting. Some, such as petting zoos, frequently occur when the store brings out baby chicks, bunnies and more for visitors to pet.

On Friday, Sept. 26, the store hosted a “Stuff Your Stanley” event, where patrons bought three ice cream scoops for $9.99 if they brought a reusable water bottle as a bowl. Though the event was supposed to run until close, the store sold out of every ice cream flavor before 3:30 p.m.

Noticing other retailers hosting similar events, communications intern Lauren Bascle pitched the idea to run the Stanley event.

genuine historical pieces of literature to more modern books that are seemingly all shaped by the former. Hill Memorial Library has copies of the beloved modern classic “Interview with The Vampire” in both English and French. Other books of Anne Rice’s are also littered about the collection as well, like an illustrated book about Claudia from “Interview with The Vampire.”

The collection also had multiple books related to the series “True Blood,” which is a vampire show set in Louisiana. There were also books on the grittier and more fantastical side of things like “The Fangover,” which follows rockstar vampires who end up having way too much to drink.

One of the stand outs of

“Events like these show how student-led ideas can make a big impact,” Uzee said.

While 13 student workers maintain the sales floor, three students are in charge of crafting the products sold. Through amplifying creative concepts and supporting the production process, the Dairy Store is one of the many places on campus that prioritize career readiness for student workers.

“Every time you visit, you’re not only enjoying great ice cream,” Uzee said. “You’re supporting student innovation, local agriculture and a proud campus tradition.”

At the Dairy Store, you can find an assortment of beef, pork, lamb and goat depending on what they have stocked. Snacks include cereal, candy, chips, Pop-Tarts, oatmeal and sausage. For your caffeine fix, you can grab a coffee, mocha, latte, café au lait and cappuccino. Additional drinks include water, powerade, juice and tea. The store has further seasonal selections, which are cheese and eggnog for autumn.

The storefront, located at 118 S. Campus Drive, is open during the school year on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on the ‘legen-dairy’ shop, visit LSU’s AgCenter.

the collection are the “Dracula Lives!” comics. Miles said these pieces are just comic books to the average person, but are actually pieces of great horror that were classified as magazines to skate around comic censorship laws at the time. These books are filled with mesmerizing and beautifully illustrated tales of the vampire Dracula.

It is a comfort to know that resting in the halls of LSU are hundreds of stories and moments from vampiric history, especially as Halloween fast approaches. Though seemingly insignificant in the wider scheme of things, preserving these stories not only keeps the memory of human art alive, but reminds the present of the minds of the past.

Zawistowski

SPORTS

BY TRE ALLEN Staff Writer

Coming off a win against South Carolina, No. 10 LSU had to buckle up for a top-20 matchup against No. 17 Vanderbilt in Nashville.

Turnovers limited the full potential of the Tigers’ offense last week, but there were expectations for this game to build off some of the positives we saw against the Gamecocks.

While the Tigers made some big plays, kept it to zero turnovers and even scored their second-highest points of the season, LSU failed to come out on top against the Commodores, losing 31-24 and falling to 5-2 on the season.

Here are three takeaways from LSU’s second loss of the season.

Vanderbilt’s offense controlled the game

All season long, we’ve been hearing about how great this LSU defense has been, and rightfully so, as the Tigers were ranked No. 5 in the country on scoring defense, allowing fewer than 12 points a game, ahead of Vanderbilt.

However, it was a different story this game as LSU had no answers on

HOCKEY

TAKE AWAYS 3

how to stop Vanderbilt’s offense. With run-pass options, misdirection and a mobile quarterback, the Commodores gave the Tigers immense problems and allowed the most points and rushing yards on the season.

“When you play an offense like this, it’s the details and being in the right place and having eye discipline,”

head coach Brian Kelly said. “Making the plays when they come your way is paramount to slowing them down, and we just didn’t do a good enough job on the details when it came to trying to defend this offense.”

A big part of that was in correlation to the Commodores’ offensive game plan.

Head coach Clark Lea emphasized earlier this week how the game was going to be determined by controlling the ball and time of possession, and they did exactly that.

Vanderbilt won the time of possession, controlling the ball for 36:31 compared to LSU, which only had the ball for 23:29.

The Commodores established a dominant run game, rushing for 239 yards, averaging 5.3 yards a carry with two players rushing over 80

yards.

The Tigers only forced two punts on the day, with both of them coming in the fourth quarter with under nine minutes to go. A defense that has been the backbone of the team was given its toughest challenge all year and couldn’t do enough to slow down Vanderbilt’s offense.

Offense couldn’t capitalize on many chances

The offense has been all over the place for the Tigers, but after South Carolina, people started to notice some improvement that many hoped would continue into the game against Vanderbilt.

A common theme with the Tigers’ offense in recent years has been the inability to capitalize on opportunities that can haunt them at the end of the game, and this time it was the same situation.

While LSU put up 24 points against Vanderbilt and didn’t turn the ball over, it could’ve been a lot more if the Tigers cashed in on a few possessions. Any time you have to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns, it’s a missed opportunity.

On the first drive of the game, the Tigers were able to move the ball, but

after a sack and two incompletions, they settled for three.

Even after times when the defense forced a stop on fourth and gave the offense the ball in good field position, LSU couldn’t capitalize on it.

“I just told our team we had opportunities, we didn’t cash in on them from an offensive standpoint,”

Kelly said.

He pointed out settling for field goals that could’ve resulted in touchdowns, but no two possessions were more costly than the Tigers’ last two of the game.

The only two times the defense forced a punt, LSU couldn’t execute its offense well enough to give it a chance to win the game.

On those two possessions, the Tigers combined for six plays that went for a loss of 10 yards. Those were the last two chances LSU had, and is something that’ll keep the team up at night.

“The offense had mustered some things offensively that we had been lacking, but when our defense made a couple of stops, we couldn’t turn

LSU club hockey aims to join regional conference

BY GABBY GRAY Staff Writer

If you’re a fan of ice hockey in south Louisiana, then chances are you’ve either heard of the Baton Zydeco or LSU’s club team.

While the Zydeco’s puck drops for the 2025-26 season on Halloween, LSU club hockey got its start back in September and just played its first away game against the Austin Peay Governors, a university in Clarksville, Tennessee.

When looking at LSU club hockey’s schedule, Ice Tiger fans will find games lined up against familiar SEC club teams in the University of Alabama, Ole Miss and even Mississippi

State.

If you’ve recently found yourself down a rabbit hole of ice hockey, then seeing some of these SEC club teams on LSU’s schedule may lead you to another path of ice: College Hockey South.

Established in 2008, CHS is the Southeast’s Collegiate Hockey Conference, part of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) as of July. The conference houses 45 intercollegiate teams across 29 universities and eight southeastern states around the country.

As a men’s D2, D3 and women’s non-varsity conference, CHS opens the doors to the ice rink, creating opportunities to expand the sport and

its culture within the south.

On CHS’ webpage, SEC fans will immediately recognize team names like Alabama, Ole Miss, Florida, South Carolina, Auburn, Georgia and even Oklahoma.

Did you notice something missing on that list?

Perhaps it was the lack of purple and gold. In other words, LSU isn’t a part of College Hockey South.

If over half a dozen SEC nonvarsity ice hockey teams are a part of CHS, why isn’t LSU?

“The plain and simple [answer] is that it costs us money,” LSU club hockey captain and forward Anthony Lanfranchi told the Reveille.

LSU club hockey was founded in

MENS BASKETBALL

Men’s basketball ready to turn heads

BY TRIPP BUHLER Staff Writer

LSU fans got a sneak peek into what head coach Matt McMahon and the men’s basketball team has in store for the 2025-26 season.

Last week’s open practice and SEC Media Days interviews showed that the Tigers are poised to make a difference this year compared to previous ones under McMahon.

“[I] love the construction of our roster. Like many teams in the country, we have 11 new players. I think we were able to be very intentional in how we built our roster,” McMahon said at Media Days.

Heavy roster turnarounds and disappointing conference play have highlighted the first three years of the McMahon era. Robert Miller III and Jalen Reed are the only two players from last year that are on the current roster.

“It was only right for me to run it back,” Miller said.

Miller is gearing up for a big start to his sophomore season after an emphasized role in the final month of last season. He posted his first career double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds against the eventual national champion, Florida.

“A big key for us was the retention of Rob Miller. [He is] someone I expect to have a breakout season this year on the national stage,” McMahon said.

Reed is returning for his senior year after his junior campaign was cut short. He tore his ACL in the eighth game of the year against Florida State.

“I love how Matt [McMahon] has really invested in me all four years and trusted me and welcomed me back every year… I’m going to ride with him,” Reed said.

McMahon returned praise to Reed, saying he’s ahead of schedule from his ACL tear and has grown as a player and leader.

2014 as a member of the ACHA, but it was disbanded in 2018. When it was brought back together in 2023, it did not rejoin the ACHA.

Today, LSU club hockey is completely “team-funded,” meaning the members are personally responsible for all expenses related to travel, ice rink usage, equipment and even jerseys.

In fact, that’s why LSU club hockey plays at Planet Ice in Lafayette, Louisiana, compared to the Raising Cane’s River Center in Baton Rouge — to maximize affordability within the team’s budget.

Before being able to compete for

“[It has] been an inspiration watching how he’s committed to the work to get back not only to the floor, but the growth from a mindset and leadership standpoint. I really think he’ll have a monster year for us. Really proud to have an opportunity to coach him,” McMahon said.

Four freshmen and eight transfers join Reed and Miller for what looks to be a more promising campaign than previous years.

The level of focus and buy-in was palpable at practice on Oct. 13, and Miller confirmed that when he said the team is much more focused this year and is completely trusting McMahon and the coaching staff.

In practice, the offense was flow-

Where do LSU athletes get their bling? Meet Mike the Jeweler

BY ISABELLE CALLAHAN Staff Writer

In Baton Rouge, where LSU athletes make headlines with recordbreaking plays and championship wins, another kind of brilliance dominates the city: Mike the Jeweler.

Known for his custom-designed, one-of-a-kind jewelry, Mike Jamali has become the trusted artisan for athletes seeking to celebrate their success in style.

From iced-out chains and diamond watches to big, chunky medallions that shimmer under stadium lights, Jamali’s creations aren’t just jewelry — they’re symbols of personal flair, ambition and achievement.

Jamali’s journey to the world of high-end custom jewelry started with a simple idea: He wanted to create pieces that spoke to people on a personal level. He got his start working at a traditional jewelry store.

He was motivated to start his own business after one of his customers requested a custom piece that eventually ended up around the neck of his cousin, who plays in the NFL. Jamali saw his jewelry on television when he was watching a game.

“I was like, you know what? If I can do that, I can make more work, more designs,” Jamali said.

Now, his work has transformed into a full-fledged brand, with a clientele list that reads like an A-list reading of LSU Athletics. He’s been

TAKEAWAYS, from page 8

those into positive possessions,” Kelly said.

“We could pick a couple of plays. The bottom line is we didn’t score touchdowns when we kicked field goals, and we didn’t play well enough defensively to give us enough possessions to win the game.”

It showed just how impactful injuries are

Heading into this game, LSU was short-handed on the defensive side of the ball with a few big names, such as linebacker Whit Weeks, defensive lineman Bernard Gooden and defensive end Jimari Butler, being out for the game.

Guys like Weeks and Gooden are two irreplaceable players with the amount of impact they have on

HOCKEY, from page 8

the ACHA, hockey teams must work with the American Collegiate Development Conference (ACDC), which is the governing tier of the ACHA designed to continue the development of new and existing college hockey programs.

“The primary goal of the ACHA is to support the growth of collegiate hockey by establishing standards that unite and guide collegiate programs across the country,” ACHA Executive Director Craig Barrett said in a ACDC press release in July. “As our membership surpasses 500 programs, establishing the ACDC presents us with another opportunity to further our mission.”

In order to join the ACHA, teams

making his own jewelry since 2010, but Jamali’s relationship with LSU players kickstarted after a customer started talking about his son.

“‘You know, my son plays for LSU,” Jamali remembers him saying. “His name is Ashton Stamps.”

The next day, Jamali said he and Stamps were in talks for a custom piece. In addition to a chain, Jamali designed a flashy No. 1 statement piece for him.

“I want my work to stand out. After my first custom piece for LSU, it was just like, wow, that was my work on Ashton Stamps,” he recalled.

Jamali said what sets him apart is the way he connects with his clients.

“I have such good clients, and the LSU players show me so much love, it makes me want to do more and more,” Jamali said.

Out of all the custom pieces he’s made for LSU athletes, Jamali said his favorite has got to be the one for LSU football’s Braelin Moore. He’s also designed pieces for Carius Curne and Bernard Gooden, as well as LSU baseball national champion Luis Hernandez, among others.

For Jamali, the creative process is deeply collaborative. Before a single sketch is drawn or stone is set, he sits down with his clients to discuss their dreams for the piece, the inspiration behind it and the specific diamond settings.

This attention to detail ensures that every piece is not only flashy but meaningful, whether it be big diamond chains or unique emblem

the football field. Weeks is the captain and the heart and soul of the defense. Losing him is going to put your team in a tough spot to execute the game plan.

Gooden has been one of LSU’s best interior defensive linemen, and a motor like his is something you can’t teach.

The Tigers clearly missed their presence on defense with the Commodores’ offense being as successful as it was, but there was another factor that impacted the game on another level.

Starting left tackle Tyree Adams left the first quarter with an ankle injury, forcing back-up offensive lineman DJ Chester to replace him for the majority of the game.

The offensive line was already battling injuries and inconsistent

must pay a seasonal membership of $1,100, intended to cover USA hockey registration, insurance, general membership and oversight from the ACHA, as listed on the ACDC website.

“Another big thing is the teams that we play that are the closest to us, they’re not in the College Hockey South, and all of our travel is out of pocket,” Lanfranchi said. “Next year, if we want to join College Hockey South and play teams like the University of South Carolina or the Florida teams that are in there, those are 10 to 12 hour car rides that would be very taxing.”

However, despite travel expenses, Lanfranchi expressed that LSU club hockey does have hopeful intentions of joining CHS in the future if the

pieces. His goal is to design pieces that tell a story, highlighting the person behind the chain.

To accomplish this, he has a team for just about everything. He and about 20 other people attend to every last detail, from diamond placement to final computer digitizations.

“First, they give me the design, then I computerize it, then I have to make a CAD, which is the size and length and width,” he said. “It’s like a two-to three-week process, it’s not like you give me a piece and it’s ready the next day. That’s why it’s custom.”

play, but when you lose your starting tackle on short notice, it can throw off the entire offense, and there were some notable differences.

During LSU’s second-to-last possession of the game, Chester gave up a sack on first down that put LSU in a terrible spot and ended up ruining the drive.

Regardless of injuries, just like every coach, Kelly wanted to see the next guy step up, but it was the execution that was the problem.

“Everybody’s going to have injuries in this league, everybody’s going to have top guys out,” Kelly said. “Our next man needs to step up and get the job done. We had good enough players in there to win the game, and we just didn’t execute at the highest level necessary against a team that played really well today.”

team is able to raise the funds to do so.

“We’re going to be doing a lot more with jersey sales this year. We’re taking some of that revenue and putting it aside for league dues,” Lanfranchi said. “So we do plan to join one of the divisions of the College Hockey South conference.”

With CHS being responsible for a large part of the hockey’s non-varsity collegiate growth, LSU’s club hockey team would more than likely benefit from competing within CHS in terms of exposure and fostering the sport here in the bayou.

So if you’re an Ice Tiger fan and want to see LSU join CHS, follow the club hockey team’s social media for more updates on how fans can help preserve ice hockey at LSU.

From trying unconventional stone placements to crafting chains that will catch the stadium light in just the right way, Jamali is obsessed with creating the next big thing. His passion doesn’t just stop at the technical side of jewelry-making, though. He genuinely cares about his clients as people, building relationships that go beyond business transactions.

Many athletes return season after season, not just for his skill but for his dedication to making them feel celebrated. Jamali often goes the extra mile for his clients by adding spe-

PREVIEW, from page 8 ing smoothly, playing cohesively and confidently. The eight new transfers helped the offense play together.

“As I look to the future of our program, there’s great excitement in the roster we’ve been able to build. There’s great chemistry and energy amongst our group,” McMahon said.

Transfers PJ Tucker, Mike Nwoko, Dedan Thomas Jr. and Marquel Sutton were making buckets and big plays throughout practice. UC Davis transfer Pablo Tamba was also a noticeable facilitator and scorer.

Tucker, who is at his fourth school in four years, stood out significantly, making a majority of shots and consistently getting open on offense.

Nwoko, the transfer from Mississippi State, made his presence loud and known. The 6-foot-10 junior was consistently getting up with loud dunks and blocks. It seemed as though he was in the air more than on the ground during practice.

“[He’s a] very smart player. Expect him to make a huge impact,” McMahon said.

Thomas, also known as DJ, was one of the most promising transfers for the Tigers this year, coming from UNLV.

The two-time All-Mountain West player looked confident in his offensive abilities, moving quickly, making many of his shots and allowing teammates to do the same under the net.

“I believe it starts at point guard for us. DJ Thomas has been fantastic there. I think he’s a wizard with the ball. Can not only create for his teammates, but shoots it well for three… I think you see his electricity with the

cial engravings or unique details that only he and the player know about.

“I always try my best to get any design [for] any customer,” Jamali said. “Whatever they want, I’ll do my best.”

For LSU athletes, wearing Jamali’s jewelry is more than just a fashion statement; it’s a way of celebrating their journey, accomplishments and individuality. That’s exactly why Jamali continues to innovate and create. Every sketch made, diamond set, chain polished is an expression of his dedication to his artistry and his passion for those he provides for.

basketball,” McMahon said.

Another mid-major standout is Sutton, the 2025 Summit League Player of the Year. He’s set to have a difference-making final year of college after coming to Baton Rouge from Omaha.

“I feel like I fit here. Coach Matt [McMahon] has a vision for me and right now it’s going well,” Sutton said. Sutton was clearly an impact player on both the offensive and defensive sides in practice. The fifth-year senior showed elite movement to get open, utilizing outlet passes and near lights-out shooting to help himself stick out from the pack.

“[He’s a] versatile defender,” McMahon said. “[He] can guard one through five, plays with a relentless motor and energy. Contagious in our program.”

When the conversation about energetic players patrolling the court for LSU comes up, it often involves graduate transfer Tamba.

Tamba’s inclusion on the roster after his last two years at UC Davis is key in adding another layer of depth and experience. His ability to get open made it easy for teammates to find him in practice. His physicality was also on display with tough drives to the basket, fighting off defenders.

Physicality is a strong point that Miller emphasized on SEC Media Days. The team, which he said is more physical than last year, will force opponents to keep more focus on the paint.

“It’s going to be a sight to see,” Miller said. “We’re going to turn some heads.”

The season opens on Nov. 5 against Tarleton State at the PMAC.

Phantom desks: The cure for truancy is mental health services

CRAWFORD’S CORNER

GORDON CRAWFORD Columnist

When COVID-19 struck the United States, millions of desks grew cold as children were forced indoors for months. Five years on, and though life has seemingly returned to normal, many of those desks remain empty.

Recent statistics have found that rates of school truancy spiked during COVID-19 and have remained abnormally high, with truancy rates at around 40% to 45% as opposed to the typical mid-30s range in the pre-pandemic years.

Truancy is an issue that is very close to my heart. My father developed a severe, chronic neurological condition right in the middle of my time in elementary school, requiring my mother to balance working and caring for him. Early on, there were plenty of days I was checked out early in the day to head to the emergency room, and when my mom was for any reason unavailable and my dad was too sick to

Outgrowing

AVA’S POV

AVA FRANCIS Columnist

A wise woman once said, “It’s out with the old, in with the new, goodbye clouds of gray, hello skies of blue.”

That wise woman was none other than the fabulous (pun intended) Sharpay Evans, played by the iconic Ashley Tisdale in the High School Musical film franchise. That quote has been running through my head a lot lately, maybe that’s because the last few days I’ve been thinking about how we can outgrow the things we once enjoyed. This season in life’s motto really is,“It’s out with the old, in with the new.”

Is this just the senioritis talking, or the fact that I’m feeling like I’m too old for certain things? For example, tailgating at the frat tents on game day. To be honest, I wasn’t ever a fan in the past, so it’s no surprise my favorite part about the tailgate experience is frolicking around, bumping into familiar faces and showing off the cute

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drive, I often just stayed home.

Eventually, towards the latter half of middle school, my dad’s condition became progressively more manageable. However, I began suffering from depression and anxiety, and I frequently felt isolated and unsupported at my declining school. I fought with my parents daily about attending, and sometimes, usually when I was at the point of tears, they caved.

Then, we got the letter in the mail. I never read it, but I knew from my mother’s reaction that it was bad. I had approached that critical status, “truant,” and it threatened that if I missed a few more days, they would take further action.

I am all in favor of legally-mandated education, and there must be some kind of active system in place to encourage the chronically truant back into schools, even if that means sometimes taking harsh measures. But holding threats over the heads of parents genuinely trying their best isn’t the way to go.

If Louisiana wants to bring its phantom students back into schools, the state must approach policymaking from a holistic and

humanistic perspective.

One of the main places where attendance policymaking consistently fails is in analyzing the deeper root causes of school truancy. The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) met in August, with attendance policy a major subject of discussion.

Many of the policies discussed are major positive steps in addressing the truancy crisis, such as community engagement events and enhanced data collection. However, no part of the policy mentions mental health, a core driver of school truancy.

Statistics have shown for years a deep and widespread mental health crisis amongst Generation Z, and newer data is showing that mental health struggles are rising at a concerning rate amongst Generation Alpha as well.

However, Louisiana continues to gravely fail when it comes to adequately serving the mental health needs of its students. Recent legislation has provided for mental health screenings in the first semester of each year, but this is effectively a band-aid on a gaping wound.

The state of mental health ser-

vices in our public schools is abysmal. These services are persistently underfunded and understaffed. Counselors simply do not have the resources or time to handle the workload of a generation with much higher-than-average mental health issues, particularly in a state where mental health is significantly poorer than the national average. I can attest to the impact simply having someone to go to at school can make. At my middle school, we had a single counselor serving hundreds of students. When I moved into high school, I was fortunate enough to go to an institution that puts significant resources into addressing student mental health. Each grade had at least two counselors, and those counselors would proactively reach out to struggling students, build connections and meet frequently.

While my mental health wasn’t perfect, it made massive strides. I soon actually wanted to go to school. My counselor pushed me to take risks, participate in my school community and, most of all, helped me love myself more. Without that support system, I can almost guarantee there would’ve been a lot

more arguments with my parents and mental health days off. Louisiana students are not any less capable, intelligent or passionate than any other body of students in this country. However, our schools must provide them with the tools they need for success if we ever want to truly address the truancy crisis in this state.

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

familiar spaces is not a burden but a joy of life

outfit I styled the night before.

Now, my friends and I still had fun amidst the poor music selection provided by each business or finance major who doubles as a DJ on the weekends, but we couldn’t help but feel like we were out of place. One of my friends proceeded to say, “I think we’ve outgrown this.” In conclusion, we went, we saw, we left and ended our tailgate experience at The Revelry. Let’s just say the bar was more our speed.

This is life, you move on.

My focus has truly shifted over the course of my college career. The things that felt so detrimental and “life-threatening” just aren’t anymore. I used to refuse to ask for extensions from professors, because I thought it made me look like a failure, when in actuality, it just makes me human. A human who sometimes needs an extension. Nothing that we deem “deep” is ever really as deep as we think. So you need a moment to just sit, take in the stillness, lie in the grass and call out what objects the clouds look like to you. I think your five assignments and chores will still be there when your mo -

ment of peace is over.

I’m not promoting laziness or the acceptance of defeat, but I am promoting self-care and showing yourself, as well as the people around you, grace.

Outgrowing priorities is real. I used to prioritize due dates over my health. I was on a first-name basis with all nighters. Today, I prioritize time management and sleep. You can’t function at your highest level if you never catch z’s.

Age and maturity have a lot to do with outgrowing old habits.

When considering my time at LSU, specifically freshman year, I already came to college uninterested in some opportunities my peers seemed eager to jump at. This is largely due to my gap year. Entering LSU at 19-years-old with a clear mindset, I was confident in my choices and could not be swayed into participating in anything I didn’t want to partake in.

I think a gap year before college should be a requirement for everyone. One of my professors noted that my transition from high school to college was smooth sailing compared to a lot of my peers.

While I entered college with

a level of maturity after my gap year, I witnessed some counterparts lose themselves and eventually face hard truths and even harder consequences.

Most 18-20 somethings are on a journey, trying to figure out what it actually means to be an adult. When I turned 18, my new age was more about mindset rather than rebellion. I didn’t need to buy a 6-pack and cigarettes to make me feel like an adult. I didn’t need to permanently tattoo my body just to regret it later down the line or pierce a part of my body to feel alive, even though I did bleach my hair — that’s as far as I was willing to go. Actually, my form of rebellion was to avoid sticking to the status quo.

My pause before starting something entirely new was incredibly beneficial to me then and now, but I’m ready for the next chapter. That’s what life is, new chapters.

Take what you’ve outgrown or who you’ve outgrown and leave them in the chapter where they once fit. Take what still works from that same moment in your life and let it stay with you until one day you wake up and realize

you’ve outgrown that too.

It hasn’t been lost on me that while some of my friends have indeed evolved, other school chums are still trying to figure out what to do about their situationships, how to navigate friendship drama and the importance of knowing their drinking limits. You could tell these factors are weighing them down and even stifling their growth, and that’s okay. Everyone is on their own trajectory in life.

As we navigate through this beautiful thing called life, (thank you, Prince), there’s so much that awaits you.

Instead of fearing the future and all of the unknown that comes with it, look forward to all of the new friendships, relationships, career opportunities, travel experiences and more.

While college is said to be “the best four years of your life,” don’t let the fun and/or messiness you’re currently experiencing keep you at a standstill.

Outgrowing spaces is a joy, not a burden.

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

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“There are still many causes worth sacrificing for, so much history yet to be made.”

crowned 2025 LSU Homecoming King and Queen.

and

T’Senre

CROWNED