Rebecca Markway
Junior, Print Journalism
This kind of thing is not my cup of tea. I’ve already objected to having my picture in the paper next to my column. But, that’s enough information for me.
Although I’d rather not, I get myself involved in political discussions frequently. This comes from having a sister who lives and breathes politics. It’s almost impossible to get into a political conversation with her without her nostrils flaring and her voice elevating into an extremely scary sight.
Her beliefs and mine, consequently, stem from having a mother and father who have never just gone along with what the mainstream was doing. Flower children or hippies, maybe, but they weren’t the dirty hippies everyone talks about from that era.
Needless to say, I am grateful for the ideas about social responsibility and the artistic talents my parents have bestowed on me. While playing music for a profession, my dad also is an accomplished writer and my mom used to write poetry and short stories . I’ve inherited my dad’s natural political sense and writing style that urges its readers to have a sense of social responsibility and awareness of the deteriorating world around them.
Not to sound like too much of a downer, I have a mild sense of humor that some people get and others just don’t understand. So read up, it should yield an interesting semester.
J. Colin Trisler
Grad Student, Mass Comm
I suppose as a columnist I should be saying words like conservative or liberal, phrases like pro-life or pro-choice, or names like Bush or Clinton. I could use this space to discuss my political ideologies, but the purpose of this all-too-short bio is to give you, the reader, a little insight into my mindset as a person.
You’ll have plenty of opportunities over the next semester to hear about my political views and ideas.
But for now, just get to know me not as the right- or left-winged guy who puts out a column every Wednesday, but as Colin-the guy who loves the Boston Celtics, the guy who can’t watch enough Cameron Crowe movies and the guy who knows a little too much about Axl Rose.
I have strong views, opinions, convictions and beliefs, and I’m not talking about politics. I’m also talking about life, love and happiness.
Ryan Merryman
Junior, History
I am a true Renaissance man, amateur duelist, and can be found, when not in class, sitting in a cloud of smoke on the patio of East Laville. You also may find me at the Chimes having an ale, also in a cloud of smoke.
I look more and more like a cross between a member of the Taliban and an obscure local punk rocker every day. I excel at trivial pursuit, play a decent hand of Texas Hold ’em, and consider Norm MacDonald the funniest man alive.
More than anything, I value personal liberty and freedom of speech. That and blueberry pie.
Anyway, get ready for another semester of caustic criticism from a man who considers Bono the antichrist, and who once stapled his own hand due to sleep deprivation. And this time, it’s primary season.
Ethan Guagliardo
Sophomore, Philosophy and English
Don’t let the name fool you. Although I am a proud fourth-generation Sicilian American, most of my blood springs from French ancestry.
I was born in Lafayette,near the primordial swamplands of the Atchafalaya Basin. Yet despite my upbringing in Crowley (a town in west Acadiana), far too many years passed before I grew to covet my identity as a Southwest Louisianian.
My intellectual life began as a crusader for social justice in a sea of Cajun ignorance, and transformed into an eager young male whistling “Dixie.”
I consider myself extremely conservative on cultural and moral matters, although I am moderate in my politics and I even tend to side with Democrats on most issues. And by the way, I still whistle “Dixie.”
Jay Melder
Junior, Creative Writing
Off the Cuff Columnist
I’m Jay Melder, and I write Off The Cuff.
I was born to a prostitute in Paris, France.
My mother named me after some American street artist who could or could not be my father.
I lived there with my mother in an apartment with three other “Paris Ladies” until I was 8 years old.
I was sent to live with a friend of my mother’s (a former”Lady’) who had moved to New York City. I was home schooled in Brooklyn by Maria, and needless to say my curriculum stretched far beyond mathematics and grammar.
When I was 14, Maria and I moved to Natchitoches, La were she had a job lined up as an assistant to the tourism director.
I attended Natchitoches Central High School, and from there I rode TOPS here to LSU.
My dream is to one day return to Paris, and open up a small massage parlor (in memorial of my mother).
I am afraid of free range chickens, red heads, and gray 1987 Ford Tempos (don’t ask).
Bradley Aldrich
Senior, Political Science
For the past three semesters, you’ve let me fill up a chunk of each Tuesday Reveille with semi-competent commentary. In that time, I’ve lamented the loss of my beloved flip-flops, recounted a meeting with Sir Charles, and attempted to explain why it’s not necessary to have a bleeding heart to realize that Bush is bad for business. Thanks for listening.
Now, like a term-limited Congressman waltzing in for a last hoorah, I begin this session of columnizing knowing that it will be my last. There will be no comeback, no 2nd retirement, no final re-election campaign.
So, until May arrives and my time here is over, I have only one goal – to bring you — the 27 people who have read this far, the best damn columns you’ve ever read.
I’d also like to dedicate this semester’s work to Ray Liotta and Sly Stone.
Hannah Anderson
Senior, Political Communication
Returning for my third and final semester as a columnist at the Reveille, I am looking forward to reiterating my distaste for our war-mongering president and his idiotic policies.
I am a libertarian; my columns this semester usually will be dedicated to the promotion of civil liberties. I believe in the separation of church and state, the legalization of marijuana, the beauty of laissez faire, and the eradication of the Tiger Athletic Foundation.
In my spare time I enjoy reading, painting, and debating. I am graduating in Mass Communication with a concentration in Political Communication in May.
I am a 2002 graduate of the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts.
I heart hate mail. Horror of horrors, I love it when I get called a liberal.
Tim Basilica
Senior, Print Journalism
Advice Columnist
If you see a guy walking around campus with a sweater around his neck, that’s me.
Granted, my sweater gets a few dirty looks from the more close-minded on campus, but for the most part, it says a lot about me.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, “I’m a little different.”
Not “different bad,” but, “different good.”
Different like “I know more about clothes, food, etiquette, etc. than is naturally possible.”
After taking some advice from our readers, The Reveille started…well…an advice column. That’s where I come in.
Here’s how it works. You write questions. I answer them. Anyway, you get the picture.
After graduation, I hope to move to New York with my beautiful girlfriend, work for a major fashion magazine and eventually wind up producing fashion shows.
Kristin Mancina
Sophomore, Print Journalism
Travel Columnist
Aloha! My name is Kristin Mancina, and I was lucky enough to discover one of the best-kept secrets at LSU.
The National Student Exchange program has given me the opportunity to study at the University of Hawaii at Hilo on my TOPS scholarship.
Mangiaricina was my last name before my Sicilian ancestors arrived in America. I can cook a mean homemade spaghetti and meatballs, and my father still forces us to grate our own parmesan cheese. My family is my number one priority in life.
Music was one of those things that was always around when I was younger, and as I grew older it became a love of mine.
I can never learn enough, and I guess that is why I love to read. Oprah is my favorite TV show, although I can’t watch Dr. Phil for longer than five minutes.
Jessica Pivik
Sophomore, Print Journalism
Relationship Columnist
Hey, Mike’s not the only tiger at LSU.
I figure we college students spend an infinite number of hours thinking about, talking about, writing about, and (if we’re really lucky) actually having sex.
Well, sometimes luck has nothing to do with it.
Why? Because you are young, you are hip, you are beautiful and you are smart, and you are ready to bonk, and bonk a lot — just like everyone else.
I’ll explore the ins and outs of sex and relationships every Thursday — just in time for the weekend.
Guys, you will learn from me. Girls, you will relate to me.
You can call me your Confucious of fornication — let me be your Moses by leading you to the promised land of better relationships and maybe even multiple orgasms.