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TECHNOLOGY
days since oil spill began. Read the latest oil spill briefs, page 2.
New iPhone 4 released today, page 3.
MEN’S BASKETBALL Tasmin Mitchell prepares for tonight’s NBA draft, page 5.
The Daily Reveille
Volume 114, Issue 148 – Thursday, June 24, 2010
Summer Edition – see www.lsureveille.com for more
Baton Rouge homicide rates reach all-time high numbers in 2009 75 30 homicides committed in Baton Rouge in 2009,
an all-time high
12
percent increase in Baton Rouge homicides since 2008
In February 2009, a 34-year- according to the FBI’s Preliminary old Baton Rouge defense attorney Annual Uniform Crime Report. was stabbed to But BRPD Matthew Jacobs death in her office. saw a spike in hoA month later, a micides committed Senior Staff Writer 44-year-old man last year, up 12 perwas shot in the neck while watching cent from 2008’s 67 slayings. TV in his bedroom. In September, a Baton Rouge’s homicide rate 27-year-old was stabbed by her ex- has soared over the last decade, boyfriend while preparing to serve while major cities like Los Angelunch at a local retirement home. les, Seattle and New Orleans — ofThese crimes are just a few of ten called the “murder capital” of the 75 that round out Baton RougeÕ s the United Sates — have all seen list of convicted homicides in 2009 steadily decreasing statistics. and bring the capital city’s murder A 42-percent spike was seen in rates to an all-time high, according 2009, as compared to the 53 conto annual crime statistics published victed homicides in 1999, according by Baton Rouge Police Department. to BRPD’s website. Cpl. L’Jean McKneely, public Matthew Lee, sociology proinformation officer for BRPD, said fessor, said people should be careful several factors may have influenced when reading crime statistics. the swell in killings, including ecoDespite increased statistics, the nomic issues and an estimated in- threat posed to the average person crease in population. has not amplified, according to Lee. The number of murders com“People read this and think mitted across the country in 2009 dropped 7.2 percent from 2008, MURDER RATES, see page 7
“People read this and think everyone needs to stay in their house and get under their beds. That’s crazy talk.” Matthew Lee, LSU sociology professor
ADMISSIONS
Summer enrollment sees slight decrease from previous year Staff Writer
The total number of students enrolled at the University this summer is down slightly from last year. With 9,403 students enrolled for summer courses in 2010, there was a 3 percent decrease compared to 2009, when 9,701 students were enrolled, according to data released by the Office of Budget and Planning. The decrease is in keeping with the trend of summer enrollment numbers. Data available on the Bud-
42
percent spike in homicides since 1999
Catherine Threlkeld Staff Writer
The new Student Government president and vice president are getting started early on their initiatives by taking on progressive ideas this summer. President J Hudson supplied the Communication Across the Curriculum — or CxC — lab with $4,000 to purchase software. Hudson said the donation is a part of SG’s push for more service learning opportunities. The Communication Across Curriculum program focuses on four areas — visual, technological, written and spoken — and students who complete the program receive a medal at graduation and recognition on their transcript. Hudson and Vice President Dani Borel are also donating new power strips, clicker batteries and 10 camera tripods to the library. Classes use clickers to take short quizzes electronically. Students will be able to rent a power strip for 12 hours and tripods in conjunction with the camera and camcorder rentals. “The power strips are going to be most beneficial,” Borel said. SG FUNDS, see page 7
graphic by MATTHEW JACOBS / The Daily Reveille
Daily Reveille file photos
Ryan Buxton
homicides committed per 100,000 residents — six times the national averge
SG to make donations to library and CxC
get and Planning website, which goes back to 2002, shows summer enrollment has declined each year since then except for 2005. But Stacie Haynie, vice provost of Academic Affairs, said the gradual decrease in summer enrollment each year has been in keeping with the smaller size of total University enrollment during fall semesters. “When the University was in its [enrollment] peak, summer enrollment was reflecting that,” Haynie said. “Total enrollment has declined over time, so summer school has been affected.”
In 2002, when summer enrollment was 12,048, enrollment for the fall was at 31,582. In 2009, total fall enrollment was 27,992, while summer enrollment was 9,701, according to Budget and Planning data. Total summer enrollment in 2010 was less than in 2009, but there was an increase this year in some categories of students. For example, 43 more full-time undergraduates and 69 more full-time graduate students enrolled this ENROLLMENT, see page 7
LAST GASP
ELISE AMENDOLA / The Associated Press
United States’ Landon Donovan (left) and Edson Buddle (right) react after Donovan’s last minute game-winning goal against Algeria. The 1-0 win sends the U.S. to the World Cup’s second round.