The Daily Reveille - January 31, 2012

Politics: Mitt Romney ahead in polls for Fla. primary, p. 3

Baseball: Katz, Powell shine in Monday scrimmage, p. 7

Reveille The Daily

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Entertainment: Blue Man Group performs tonight in N.O., p. 11 Tuesday, January 31, 2012 • Volume 116, Issue 81

Safety concerns surround Studio Arts Building Renovation approved by Legislature, start date unknown Kevin Thibodeaux Contributing Writer

Painting and drawing senior Ashley LeBlanc has more to worry about when attending class than getting paint on her clothes.

LeBlanc, who left the niversity Read a U this semescolumnist’s ter to take a thoughts on year off, has to endure the run-down had the Studio building, Arts Building, formerly p. 16. known as the Old Engineering Shop, for the past two semesters.

Filled with lopsided bricks, exposed pipes and unpleasant smells, she said the conditions are less than perfect.

LeBlanc said some of

the bricks are loose and not cemented. She said chemical drainage piping gives off a smell of “rotten eggs” and rats occupy the same space as students.

There is no central air and poor ventilation in the building, and LeBlanc said it’s not the ideal environment for toxic chemicals present in art supplies.

Comprised of seven smaller buildings, the area houses the College of Art & Design’s senior studios, the spaces assigned to senior art students to complete their final projects.

“We worked our butts off for three years, and we’re

photos by CATHERINE THRELKELD / The Daily Reveille

[Top] A gaping hole blemishes a dilapidated wall, [left] wires and circuits are exposed in the hallway and [right] sinks are deteriorating and covered with grime in the Old Engineering Shop. See a photo gallery and watch a video about the degradation at lsureveille.com/multimedia.

STUDIO ARTS, see page 6

Tune in to 91.1 KLSU-FM at noon and 5:20 p.m. for more coverage.

GREEK LIFE

Facebook ‘like’ competitions award philanthropy funds Phi Mu sorority receives most votes, earns $500

XERXES A. WILSON / The Daily Reveille

Erica Moffatt [left], Aspen Heights sales and marketing manager, presents a $200 check to the Kappa Delta sorority Monday at their weekly meeting. Kappa Delta came in second place in the Facebook competition.

Erica Moffatt, Aspen Heights sales and marketing manager, said the idea for the competition was a way for the housing community to show support for University Greeks, who make up a large of portion of Aspen Heights’ residents.

Brian Sibille “Everyone’s on Facebook all the time,” Staff Writer Moffatt said. “Why not reward them for inFacebook news feeds have blown up teracting with us online?” recently as thousands of University students Sororities could choose to use the $500 rush to join online competiprize for philanthropies or a tions for Aspen Heights and ‘We expected there to be social event, and each chose other housing communities to support philanthropies, that award winners with a good response, but not she said. cash.

The number of parthat big.’

Aspen Heights began ticipants soared to the thouthe first competition Jan. 23, sands, a reaction Moffatt Erica Moffatt promising a $500 prize to said she did not expect.

Aspen Heights sales and the University sorority that “We expected there to marketing manager garnered the most support. be a good response, but not The Aspen Heights Facebook page made that big,” she said. posts mentioning every sorority, and parPhi Mu won the competition with ticipants were asked to “like” the post that mentioned the sorority they wanted to win.

FACEBOOK, see page 5

The Daily Reveille

page 2

Nation & World

INTERNATIONAL

NATIONAL

STATE/LOCAL

Mexican police catch suspect in 75 Zeta drug cartel killings

Report links pythons to mammal killings in the Everglades

Monkey owners flee Louisiana crackdown by wildlife agents

MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) — Police in northern Mexico have captured an alleged member of the Zetas drug gang who confessed to killing at least 75 people, including many who were pulled off buses, authorities said Monday.

Enrique Elizondo Flores told investigators 36 of his victims were bus passengers traveling through the town of Cerralvo, near the border with Texas, said Nuevo Leon state security spokesman Jorge Domene.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A new study finds that massive pythons in the Everglades appear to be wiping out large numbers of raccoons, opossums, bobcats and other mammals.

The report was published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It finds roadside sightings of certain mammals are down sharply in areas where pythons and other large constrictor snakes are lurking.

The snakes are not native to the Everglades. Many are believed to have been pets that were turned loose once they grew too big.

NEAR THE TEXAS-LOUISIANA LINE (AP) — Even in their Texas hideout, Jim and Donita Clark are terrified that wildlife agents from their home state of Louisiana will descend on their motorhome and seize the four Capuchin monkeys they’ve reared for 10 years.

Exotic animal owners like them say wildlife agents have been cracking down in Louisiana and around the country after highprofile cases of exotic animals getting loose or attacking people. At least six states have also banned the ownership of wild animals since 2005, and Congress is also mulling tighter restrictions.

Wife: former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards out of hospital

Japan’s population to shrink by one-third by the year 2060 TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s population of 128 million will shrink by one-third and seniors will account for 40 percent of people by 2060, placing a greater burden on a smaller working-age population to support the social security and tax systems.

The grim estimate was released Monday by the Health and Welfare Ministry.

In 2060, Japan will have 87 million people. The national work force of people between ages 15 and 65 will shrink to about half of the total population.

Hawaiian-based Marine in hazing case goes to trial, awaits verdict KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii (AP) — A Hawaii-based lance corporal accused of hazing a fellow Marine who committed suicide at their remote Afghanistan outpost was scheduled to appear in military court Monday after agreeing to a plea bargain.

In October, Lance Cpl. Jacob D. Jacoby was referred to a general court-martial on charges that he assaulted, threatened, and humiliated Lance Cpl. Harry Lew, who killed himself on April 3.

(AP) — Trina Edwards says her husband, former governor Edwin Edwards, is back home after a brief hospital stay for pneumonia. She tells The Associated Press they returned home Monday.

She said earlier that Edwards was hospitalized Saturday and in the intensive care unit until Sunday evening.

Edwards is 84. He served four terms as governor, then served nearly eight years in federal prison.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Today on lsureveille.com Read a review of Dr. Dog’s new album “Be the Void” on the LMFAO entertaiment blog.

GERALD HERBERT / The Associated Press

Jim Clark plays with one of his Capuchin monkeys Jan. 24 in his RV in an undisclosed location near the Louisiana-Texas border.

SPCA finds home for most of 27 rabbits in middle school NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Twentyseven rabbits were brought to the New Orleans’ SPCA shelter on Jan. 17. Students at Harriet Tubman Charter School, about 11 blocks from the shelter on New Orleans’ west bank, were taking six of them Monday as classroom pets, the SPCA. said Principal Julie Lause said that that when students heard about the need in their neighborhood, they were excited about helping.

photo courtesy of drdogmusic.com

Blogger Shelby Holloway gives her thoughts about John Green’s “The Fault in our Stars” in the LMFAO blog.

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The Daily Reveille

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

POLITICS

page 3

FACULTY

Romney rises in Florida polls New class times to be

implemented in the fall

Kate Mabry Staff Writer

With Florida voters arriving at polls to cast their votes for the Florida primary today, Mitt Romney is expected to make a comeback after his loss to Newt Gingrich in South Carolina on Jan. 21.

Romney leads Gingrich, with Rick Santorum and Ron Paul following far behind, according to a recent poll from Insider Advantage.

Belinda Davis, political science professor, predicts Romney will win the Florida primary.

“The polls indicate that he already has [made a comeback since the South Carolina primary],” she said. “He has a double-digit lead in most polls.”

Davis said the race has also become increasingly negative since Gingrich’s success in South Carolina.

“Romney realized that he was going to have to go on the offensive despite his front-runner status,” she said.

While Romney’s and Gingrich’s names have dominated the political arena in recent days, Santorum and Paul continue to have a steady and persistent following.

In a recent poll of students belonging to the University of Florida College Republicans, 41 percent favored Romney, while 26 percent of students favored Paul.

Davis said she doesn’t anticipate that Santorum or Paul will drop from the race any time soon.

“I think they will continue to vie for delegates in the states with proportional division of the delegates,” she said. “This gives them some influence at the Republican Convention.”

Although Romney may seem like the inevitable candidate to many, Paul, who kicked off his Youth for Ron Paul tour at the LSU Union Theater in September, has racked up support from college students across the country.

During the CNN Republican debate Thursday in Jacksonville,

Classes to start 10 minutes earlier

BRUCE LIPSKY, MATT ROURKE, JEFF ROBERSON, ROBERT F. BUKATY / The Associated Pressw

Mitt Romney campaigns in Jacksonville, Fla., Monday [top left]. Newt Gingrich gives a campaign speech Monday in Fort Myers, Fla. [top right]. Republican candidate Rick Santorum shakes hands with a supporter Monday [middle]. Ron Paul speaks in Freeport, Maine, Saturday [bottom].

Fla., college students surrounded pundits and shouted their support for Paul.

Phil Langella, sociology freshman, said he agrees with Paul on many issues.

“In his speeches, he talks about going back to the Constitution and getting rid of big government,” he said. “I can’t support him 100 percent because he sometimes changes his opinions, but I like his ideas.”

Andrew Robison, international studies freshman, said he thinks Paul cares less about money and more about the issues concerning the average American.

“I feel like Romney and Gingrich are more concerned about

to work out the kinks of the new plan, but he expects the schedule to be put in place next semester.

Fereydoun Aghazadeh, industrial engineering professor and the resolution’s author, said most Rachel Warren schools in Louisiana begin their Staff Writer classes on the hour and half-hour.

Come fall, students may have “This will cut through the conto wake up 10 minutes fusion and provide the earlier to make it to class ‘This will cut University a system that on time. uniform with most oththrough the is The Daily Reveille ers,” Aghazadeh said. reported in November that confusion and The resolution was provide the amended to only affect the the LSU Faculty Senate approved the resolution University a fall and spring semesters to move up the start and system that is after it was first reviewed end times of classes by 10 by the Senate in October. minutes. For example, an uniform with Aghazadeh said the hour-long class that be- most others.’ summer session and ingins at 1 p.m. would actersession schedules were Fereydoun tually start at 1:00, rather left alone because those Aghazadeh than 1:10, and end at 1:50 industrial engineer- class times tend to vary instead of 2:00. and changing them could ing professor and Despite the approval, cause confusion. resolution’s author the plan hasn’t been implemented yet.

Faculty Senate President KevContact Rachel Warren at in Cope said in an e-mail that the rwarren@lsureveille.com University Registrar needed time

protecting people like them that are wealthy,” he said.

But James DeVaughn, chemistry sophomore, said he thinks college students have another agenda.

“It’s not my personal opinion, but I think a lot of students support Paul because he wants to legalize pot,” he said. “So many students make that their No. 1 issue.”

Contact Kate Mabry at kmabry@lsureveille.com

Career Services Resume Walk-In Hours This Week 8:30 am - 3:30 pm in B-4 Coates Hall careercenter.lsu.edu Black History Month: Blacks in Academia Lecture Series Wednesday, February 1, 2012 French House Grand Salon, 12 Noon DO YOU HAVE AN OCCURRENCE? Call Becky at the Student Media Office 578-6090, 9AM- 5PM or E-mail: oncampus@lsureveille.com

page 4

HEALTH

The Daily Reveille

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Louisiana ranks 48th for child well-being in national index State programs lack funding Kate Mabry Staff Writer

Children have a much harder time thriving when they’re raised in Louisiana, findings from a new study show.

Louisiana ranked 48th in the 2012 State Child Well-Being Index, a report released by the Foundation for Child Development.

While Louisiana, Mississippi and New Mexico ranked last on the index, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire were named the top three states for child well-being.

The index is based on seven domains: family economic well-being, health, safe/risky behavior, education attainment, community engagement, social relationships and emotional/spiritual well-being, according to the FCD’s website.

Pamela Monroe, professor in the School of Social Work, said she was not surprised that Louisiana ranked low in the index, and she attributes the ranking to the large number of children in the state raised in poverty. About 25 percent of children in the state

are reared in poverty, and per- neighborhoods in Baton Rouge,” centages are even higher in delta she said. or rural areas, she said.

But Monroe said life in In single parent households, Louisiana is tremendously difchildren are more than 50 percent ferent for children born into likely to be raised in poverty, she middle-class families. said.

“If you’re a child While Monroe 2012 State Child growing up in a famsaid poverty is the ily with two educated major cause of less Well-Being Index: adults who are emthan desirable child ployed full-time, the well-being in the state, Top 5: community is usually she said “poverty is thriving and crime is complex in its causes 1. New Jersey low,” she said. “For and solutions” and is 2. Massachusetts those kids, Louisia “multifaceted prob- 3. New Hampshire ana is a great place to lem.” grow up. My kids have In many cases, 4. Utah thrived here.” impoverished fami- 5. Connecticut Monroe said many lies are living in areas in the state are growing where infrastructure increasingly concerned and educational oppor- Bottom 5: about the gap between tunities are undevel- 46. Nevada children reared in povoped, and the commu- 47. Arkansas erty and children reared nity can’t bring better in the middle class.

48. Louisiana jobs into the area.

“It’s not perfectly “Kids are grow- 49. Mississippi accurate to say that ing up in families and 50. New Mexico Louisiana is a bad place communities where to raise children, but poverty has characterit is a terrible place to ized their families and communi- raise children in poverty,” she ties for decades,” Monroe said. said.

Another common companStudies by the FCD have ion of poverty is crime. shown that states with higher tax “It’s no coincidence that rates were found to have higher the locations of homicides [on rates of well-being among chilthe annual Baton Rouge ho- dren. micide map released by poWith less than 10 percent lice] tend to be in impoverished of the federal budget utilized

on children’s programs, states the state. are left to provide the majority “A nurse goes into the home of funding for these programs. as soon as the baby is born to Monroe said states ranking high work with the mom and baby and on the index more than likely use to make sure the baby is thrivstate taxes on public education ing while mom is learning good and infrastructure parenting skills,” to attract busisaid. “It’s ‘It’s not perfectly ac- Monroe nesses and quality a national model, curate to say that Loui- and Louisiana’s jobs to the area.

“Minnesota is doing siana is a bad place to program has a long hisa great job with tory for using tax raise children, but it is it.” dollars for eduBut Monroe cation and public a terrible place to raise said the program infrastructure,” children in poverty.’ is not accessible she said. “The to all applicants Pamela Monroe taxes are used for due to underfundSchool of Social Work professor things that benefit ing. children.”

“It’s an exMonroe said Louisiana has pensive program, but national a number of programs aimed data shows that the return on the toward the advancement of chil- investment is tremendous,” she dren, but many of these programs said. are vastly underfunded.

Monroe said the state also Louisiana Children’s Health supports a “hodgepodge of proInsurance Program, or LaCHIP, grams to promote early childhood provides health care to uninsured education,” but many families children until they turn 19 for no cannot access these high quality cost. In order to be eligible to Pre-K programs. enroll in the program, the family “These are great programs, must meet standards including but they aren’t fully funded,” she family size and income. said. “If fully funded, these proLouisiana also participates grams could make Louisiana a in the Nurse-Family Partnership, great place for all children.” a program run by the Louisiana Office of Public Health, and Contact Kate Mabry at provides a home visitation program for low-income families in kmabry@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

ALUMNI

page 5

GET EXCITED !!!

Author’s speech blends La. COME TAKE YOUR environment, economy, history SENIOR YEARBOOK PICTURE! Theriot optimistic about state’s future Gordon Brillon Contributing Writer

Students got a historical perspective on Louisiana’s energy and environmental situation from University alumnus and Harvard Kennedy School fellow Jason Theriot, who spoke Monday to a crowd of about 100 in the Holliday Forum of the Journalism Building.

As part of a promotion for his upcoming book, “Building America’s Energy Corridor: Oil and Gas Development and Louisiana Wetlands,” Theriot recounted the history of the oil industry in the state, from the first oil men in the early 1900s to the contributions of Louisiana Sen. John Breaux near the end of the century.

As a Louisiana native, Theriot underscored the importance of the state’s rich natural resources and the effect they have had on the development of regional culture.

“My great-grandfather managed a shrimp canning factory,” Theriot said. “That allowed him to send my grandfather to college for agriculture, which in turn allowed my father and myself to attend college.”

FACEBOOK, from page 1

nearly 5,000 “likes,” and Kappa Delta narrowly landed in second.

The effort has raised awareness of Aspen Heights among students through word of mouth and visits to their Facebook page, Moffatt said, though that was not the goal of the contest. She said Aspen Heights’ page had more than 2,000 likes before the competition but grew to about 8,000 afterward.

But the popularity of the contest created some negative competition among the Greek community, said Clare Huesing, pre-nursing sophomore and member of Pi Beta Phi sorority.

Huesing said she voted but did not promote the competition as much as others.

“Greeks respond to these competitions,” she said.

Moffatt said the strong reaction and Aspen Heights’ desire to continue to give back has lead to plans for more competitions involving different University organizations. Future possibilities are still in the works, she said, but Aspen Heights has some ideas, including promoting student involvement with Aspen Heights Africa, a project aimed at providing housing for the impoverished.

The Cottages of Baton Rouge has also become involved in Facebook competitions, offering $1,000 to both a University fraternity and sorority who get the most comments and “likes” on The Cottages’ page by Friday.

Claire Langlois, sports

He said he hopes to bring attention to the symbiotic relationship between the state’s livelihood and its natural resources by emphasizing how attitudes toward the environment have changed over time. He said Louisiana’s unique ecosysTheriot tems have become less vital to the state’s survival, but remain its greatest symbol of identity.

“These resources are part of our heritage,” Theriot said. “People came here originally to use the natural resources, through fishing, trapping, logging and so on. They used them for subsistence. What we’re seeing now is people returning to the environment for recreation — to re-create, or reconnect, with that culture.”

According to Theriot, one result of this cultural reawakening is a newfound awareness of environmental issues, both in public policymakers and in upcoming generations. Theriot said he’s optimistic about the future because environmental awareness has already been raised.

“We’re all becoming more informed of the need for balance between the environment and the

economy. There is hope,” Theriot said.

He also praised Louisiana’s 2012 Coastal Master Plan, released by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.

Theriot said one of the driving forces behind this outlook shift was former Sen. John B. Breaux, who introduced pieces of legislation that allocated federal funding to the protection of coastal wetlands. After leaving office in 2005, Breaux donated his complete archives, including press releases, memos, news articles and speeches, to the University. Theriot said these archives were vital to his book research.

“The John B. Breaux Papers” are currently housed in Hill Memorial Library in the Special Collections Department. Tara Laver, interim head of Special Collections, was in charge of archiving and documenting the Breaux papers and making them available to the public.

“This work is really interesting to me because it combines historical, archival research with current issues that are important today,” Laver said.

administration junior, said she noticed the competitions on Facebook because she has many friends in sororities.

Promotions for the competition were frequent on Facebook, Langlois said, but the popularity did not bother her.

“It’s good for philanthropies and good for The Cottages and Aspen Heights,” she said. “It helps build a positive reputation.”

Anna Rodriguez, civil engineering freshman, said constant Facebook posts motivated her to get involved even though she is not in a sorority.

“But they should go beyond Greeks and reach out to other organizations,” Rodriguez said.

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page 6

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Rod Parker, director of the School of Art, said safety issues hyped up about this space,” LeB- arise when students leave the lanc said. “And you get in there building’s doors unlocked. It’s and the teachers are a little apolo- easy for someone to enter a studio because of the number of unlocked getic.”

Despite the poor conditions, entrances into multiple buildings.

Parker said the school uses LeBlanc said she wouldn’t have spoken out about the building if cameras and lighting around the she didn’t think her safety, and area to deter people from breaking in. The school recthat of her peers, ‘We worked our butts ommends students was at risk. stay in the The building off for three years, not buildings alone at is unlocked 24/7, night. according to LeBand we’re hyped are doing lanc. She recalled up about this space. this “We as proactively an incident during finals week last And you get in there as possible, given the state of our semester when she was finishing and the teachers are a building,” Parker said. a project around little apologetic.’

But LeBlanc 1:30 a.m. in the said break-ins and only part of the Ashley LeBlanc robberies also ocbuilding visible painting and drawing senior cur during school from outside.

“I’m just painting and I hear, hours. She said her iPod was sto‘Get on the f---ing ground,’” LeB- len from the building and artwork has been vandalized, including an lanc said.

She then saw a man running incident where a box cutter was past the window with a brick in his used to slice through a completed hand. Police tackled the man and painting.

“That’s heartbreaking,” LeBstunned him with a Taser, accordlanc said. “You spend hours [creing to LeBlanc.

As officers swarmed the sus- ating artwork].”

Lalonde said there were no pect, LeBlanc ran for an exit, fearing for her safety. LeBlanc sus- robberies reported at the Studio pected the man was trying to break Arts Building in 2011.

Parker said even with poor into the studio, and since she was the only person in the building at conditions, the building is still the time, she guessed the man was up to Environmental Protection Agency standards. coming after her.

But, Parker said, he wouldn’t “He was trying to get in [using the brick], not realizing the “advise [students] to eat off the building was already unlocked,” floor.”

The building has been on the LeBlanc said.

Capt. Cory Lalonde, LSU Po- University’s renovation list since lice Department spokesman, said 1992, according to Emmett David, the man was charged with break- Facility Services director of planing into vending machines in the ning, design & construction.

David said the state LegislaHowe-Russell Geoscience Complex and was arrested in the area ture recently approved the renovation project to begin a design near the Studio Arts Building.

STUDIO ARTS, from page 1

phase that will involve bidding on different architects’ plans for the renovation.

The design phase will take about a year, according to David, and the project, estimated to cost about $12 million, will then need to be approved for construction by the Legislature.

David said construction will begin once the Legislature gathers funds for the project. He said he isn’t sure how long that could take.

“If they get [the money] in 12 months, it’ll be 12 months. If they don’t get it for five more years, it’ll be five more years,” David said.

Parker said the project, which has been designated a “high priority” by the University, will be paid for with capital outlay funds. The building is tentatively scheduled to be completely renovated by summer 2014.

Renovations have begun two to three times before, according to Parker. He said plans have never made it through the design phase.

Parker said renovations will probably happen this time because capital outlay funds are relatively dependable.

LeBlanc said she doesn’t know of anyone who has taken their concerns beyond complaints to teachers and casual conversation.

“It’s just kind of understood when you go in the school that it’s something that will be handled one day, but you should just focus on your school work, and it’s not your problem and it’s not really your concern,” LeBlanc said. “That’s how it’s handled, and nobody really releases any information as to why it hasn’t been renovated yet.”

Contact Kevin Thibodeaux at kthibodeaux@lsureveille.com

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Sports

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

FOOTBALL

Henry expected to be new WR coach

LSU’s new pitching coach has early effect

Chris Abshire Sports Writer

Enter Dunn, who LSU coach Paul Mainieri plucked from the Baltimore Orioles minor league LSU sophomore catcher Ty system to provide the guiding Ross doesn’t really know how light for his talented staff.

“Alan has a tremendous it’s done — maybe through some ability to teach,” Mainieri said. supernatural ninja focus.

From his perspective, he sees “It’s really kind of mesmerizing a pitcher struggling to hit the tar- because he’s got a great balance get he provides. Then, from out of being firm with the players of the frame, LSU’s new pitching but also very positive. I think the kids are really reacting to his coach Alan Dunn strides in. coaching.”

“A guy will ‘Just having the The 50-yearthrow a couple Dunn is balls in a row, and opportunity to have the old nearly 30 years [Dunn] will say one thing to him,” quality of pitchers that older than his Ross said. “Bewe have is icing on sophomore trio of weekend starting fore you know the cake .’ pitchers, and he is it, the next three using old-school pitches are right Alan Dunn methods to teach on target. He just LSU pitching coach his players the works really well with the guys, and I think he’s go- finer points of pitching.

Some of Dunn’s methods ing to make a huge impact for us remind Mainieri of a different this season.”

Whatever method it is, LSU time in the sport. For one, Dunn hopes its talented group of pitch- has had the team’s pitchers throw ers reach their potential by taking batting practice for the hitters — notice of LSU’s resident pitching a tactic that has gone the way of the dial-up modem and in-flight sensei’s methods.

LSU struggled at times un- meals.

But its revival by Dunn has der Dunn’s predecessor, David Grewe, leading to prolonged already had an effect.

“What a beautiful thing it slumps. The Tigers posted a 5.56 team ERA in 2010 and a 4.13 was,” Mainieri said. “The hitters never faced that kind of batting ERA last season.

A fresh perspective could practice pitching. And I think mean the world to an LSU squad it helped our hitters. I think it that will be dependent on the performance of its pitchers.

DUNN, see page 19 Luke Johnson

LSU is reportedly in the process of hiring Oakland Raiders tight ends coach Adam Henry as its new wide receivers coach.

LSU sports information director Michael Bonnette said filling the position is a priority, but said the Athletic Department couldn’t comment on coaching hires without a firm offer or agreement.

“The only thing I can say is Henry that [LSU football coach] Les Miles has been talking to several candidates about the position and expects to have someone in place there soon,” Bonnette said.

A source told The Times-Picayune that Henry had agreed to fill the position.

Henry played wide receiver at McNeese State in the early 1990s.

He signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent and made the team’s preseason rosters from 1994 to 1996.

Henry then returned to Lake Charles, where he served as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator and assistant head coach for 10 seasons.

He spent a total of five seasons in Oakland as a quality control assistant and tight ends coach.

Contact Chris Abshire at cabshire@lsureveille.com

Dunn Deal

page 7

Sports Writer

photos by Catherine Threlkeld / The Daily Reveille

LSU baseball pitching coach Alan Dunn watches a baseball scrimmage [top] Monday and speaks to volunteer assistant coach Will Davis [bottom] in Alex Box Stadium during the scrimmage.

BASEBALL

Scrimmage ends in 1-1 tie, players test out new positions Katz starts at first base for the Tigers Luke Johnson Sports Writer

Catherine Threlkeld / The Daily Reveille

LSU junior infielder Mason Katz swings at the ball Monday during a scrimmage in Alex Box Stadium. The scrimmage ended in a 1-1 tie.

LSU had a new look during its four-inning intersquad scrimmage after practice Monday, as the Tigers’ starters tied the Tigers’ reserves, 1-1.

LSU coach Paul Mainieri said at the team’s Media Day on Friday that when junior right fielder Raph Rhymes’ throwing arm had shown enough progress from offseason surgery, junior Mason Katz would be shifted from the outfield to first base.

At practice before the scrimmage and during the scrimmage, Rhymes was in the outfield and

Katz was at first base. for the Tigers.

Katz made every play that McCune was aggressive in came his way in Monday’s scrim- the strike zone, but got touched mage and went 0-for-2 at the for a couple of hits by the LSU plate. reserves who found the holes in “The problem with Mason the LSU infield.

Katz is that he’s so good at first Freshman Jared Foster base and so good yanked a double ‘[Kurt McCune] is a down the line in in right field that you’d like to just first inning strike thrower and he the cut him in half and was knocked and play him at gets ahead of the hitters.’ in by fellow freshboth positions,” man Evan PowMainieri said. ell two batters Paul Mainieri During the later. Powell went LSU baseball coach scrimmage, the 2-for-2 with an projected starters wore gold uni- RBI and two stolen bases in the forms while the rest of the team outing, and played third base for dressed in white. the white squad.

Sophomore pitcher Kurt McUnofficially, McCune went Cune — who Mainieri gave a pre- two innings, recording one strikeliminary tag of Sunday starter at out and allowing one run on two Media Day — got the nod for the SCRIMMAGE, see page 19 gold squad, throwing two innings

The Daily Reveille

page 8

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

It’s must-win time for both LSU basketball teams MIC’D UP

Micah Bedard Sports Columnist The LSU men’s and women’s basketball teams are in trouble.

Kentucky thrashed the Tigers, 74-50, in the PMAC on Saturday.

The Lady Tigers couldn’t put up enough points against Vanderbilt, losing 81-72 on Sunday in Nashville.

Both had lofty hopes — to play in the Big Dance at the end of the year. It’s troubling for LSU basketball fans to watch these teams struggle.

For the men to sit at 2-5 in the Southeastern Conference at this point in the season isn’t what coach Trent Johnson had in mind.

Of course, the Tigers just finished the hardest chunk of their schedule. The team is coming off three straight games against teams ranked in the country’s top 20.

Florida pulled away late, 76-64.

A late turnover prevented LSU from stealing the game from the Bulldogs in Starkville, Miss. The Tigers got within one point of Kentucky in the first half before sophomore forward Terrence Jones exploded in the second half for the Wildcats.

The fact still remains — the Tigers haven’t won any significant games in the SEC this season, especially on the road.

There is no more room for moral victories.

LSU must beat Mississippi State at home and Vanderbilt on the road if they hope to even join the 68-team NCAA Tournament bracket conversation.

The next couple of weeks will likely decide whether Johnson will be seeking employment outside of Baton Rouge next fall.

While the Lady Tigers have a better shot at reaching March Madness than the men, they still have plenty of work to do.

After losing to Vanderbilt on Sunday, the Lady Tigers now sit in a tie for fifth place in the SEC at 4-4.

It’s hard to believe that a few weeks ago, Nikki Caldwell’s team was 4-0 and had its sights set on challenging Tennessee for the conference crown.

As if the defeats didn’t hurt enough, it stung even more when they lost a valuable part of the team.

Senior point guard Destini Hughes tore her ACL in a loss at Tennessee earlier this month.

Hughes’ injury leaves the Lady Tigers without an experienced point guard at the most important time of the season.

An immediate, or possibly long-term, fix for Caldwell is to play sophomore Jeanne Kenney at point guard. Given the chance, she could make a big impact on the team as the new floor general.

The Lady Tigers have three home games in a row to regain some ground in the SEC standings and ease the pain of the team’s recent struggles.

A win Sunday against No. 5 Kentucky would be a huge victory for Caldwell in her first year and could cement LSU in the NCAA Tournament — as long as total collapse doesn’t follow.

It will be interesting to see down the stretch how, if at all, Caldwell’s pregnancy will affect the team. If an assistant has to coach this team in a high stakes game down the road, senior leaders LaSondra Barrett and Courtney Jones will have to take the reins.

At this point, the Lady Tigers have a much better shot at making the NCAA Tournament field than the men’s team.

For the remainder of the season, both teams need to take on the mantra of legendary Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis: Just win, baby.

Micah Bedard is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from Houma.

Follow him on Twitter @DardDog.

Contact Micah Bedard at mbedard@lsureveille.com

XERXES A. WILSON / The Daily Reveille

Senior forward Storm Warren dunks Saturday during LSU’s 74-50 loss to Kentucky.

BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille

Sophomore guard Jeanne Kenney drives past South Carolina defenders Jan. 12 during the Tigers’ 58-48 victory.

The Daily Reveille

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

MEN’S BASKETBALL

page 9

TENNIS

Tigers trudge through tough January slate Men win at

Chris Abshire Sports Writer

A break in the schedule couldn’t come at a better time for the LSU men’s basketball team.

Coming off a lopsided 74-50 loss against No. 1 Kentucky last Saturday, the Tigers have no midweek game, giving them a week to prepare for a crucial home game Saturday against Arkansas.

Saturday’s shellacking was the figurative cherry on top of a disastrous month for LSU. The Tigers (12-9, 2-6 Southeastern Conference) entered the month with a 10-3 record, riding a seven-game winning streak and poised to make a push for the NCAA Tournament.

Four weeks later, even LSU’s National Invitational Tournament hopes are on the ropes.

“We had an up-and-down January,” said Tiger junior center Justin Hamilton, who averaged 16.8 points per game in the month.

“We grew as a team. We knew this would be a tough stretch. Now we just need to focus on being ready for Arkansas.”

That team growth was hindered by the most brutal SEC stretch in recent LSU history.

After falling to No. 23 Virginia in their final non-conference game, the Tigers faced road games at No. 25 Alabama, No. 16 Mississippi State, Arkansas and No. 15 Florida. Only Arkansas was unranked at tip-off, but the Razorbacks are undefeated at home.

“Have you looked at their beginning schedule?” Kentucky coach John Calipari said after

Saturday’s game of LSU’s rigorous month. “They played four games on the road in the SEC and came back at home against us. If I’m [LSU coach] Trent Johnson, I’m asking, ‘Why me?’ That’s as tough as it gets in our league.”

The Tigers only beat Ole Miss and Auburn since the calendar turned to 2012. Both games were at home, and it took LSU overtime to overcome Auburn.

But LSU’s woes stretched beyond simple strength of schedule.

The Tigers’ inability to consistently stretch the floor with perimeter shooting often left Hamilton and senior forward Storm Warren facing double teams in the post.

Sophomore guard Ralston Turner is mired in the longest shooting slump of his career. The reigning SEC All-Freshman selection shot just 28 percent from the field during the month, averaging eight points per game while reaching double digits just once.

Fellow sophomore Andre Stringer wasn’t much better, as the diminutive shooting guard went 9-of-33 behind the arc in January, and he was removed from the starting lineup for the last two games.

Freshman forward Johnny O’Bryant III missed the majority of the month with a fractured left hand, but showed promise with a 12-point outing in his return to action against the Wildcats.

Johnson said he was less concerned with his team’s cold shooting and changing personnel, instead focusing on its competitive desire — or lack thereof.

ITA Kick-Off

Spencer Hutchinson Sports Contributor

XERXES A. WILSON / The Daily Reveille

Freshman Kentucky forward Anthony Davis (23) swats a layup attempt from LSU senior forward Malcolm White (5) on Saturday during LSU’s 74-50 loss at the PMAC.

“[The Kentucky game] was the first time I have seen this team stop fighting and playing hard during a game,” Johnson said following the UK drubbing. “I was disturbed that we stopped competing. It might not have made a difference score-wise, but I would have a better taste in my mouth going forward.”

As the calendar turns to February for the Tigers, they have made at least one believer.

“LSU should go on a run,” Calipari said. “They play a lot of young guys who will only get better, have beat Marquette at home

Want to be a

S.T.R.I.P.E.S. leader?

and will beat more teams [in the PMAC]. That’s a quality team.”

Johnson said he is happy for the year’s first month to be in his rearview.

“It was a hard month to take as a coach,” Johnson said. “What I like about February is the opportunity to bounce back. If we’re as good as we think we are, we’ll get it done over the next month.”

Contact Chris Abshire at cabshire@lsureveille.com Sponsored by the

The LSU men’s tennis team experienced a role reversal in the final day of the ITA Kick-Off in Berkeley, Calif.

The Tigers rebounded from a 4-0 loss to No. 13 California on Sunday with a dominating 4-0 victory over No. 25 Minnesota on Monday.

“It was a good team effort,” said LSU men’s tennis coach Jeff Brown.

The No. 32 Tigers built an early lead against the Gophers by taking a hard-fought doubles point.

LSU’s No. 28 doubles pair, junior Olivier Borsos and freshman Chris Simpson, secured an 8-4 victory over the Gophers’ No. 55 duo of Phillip Arndt and Leandro Toledo.

The Tigers won the doubles point when the duo of senior Neal Skupski and sophomore James Turbervill completed a 9-8 (2) tiebreak victory over the Gophers’ Eric Frueh and Michael Sicora.

Turbervill led in singles play as he secured a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5) double tiebreak defeat of Minnesota’s Mathieu Froment.

Borsos and senior Tom Knights later clinched the 4-0 sweep of the Gophers with straight set victories.

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The Daily Reveille

page 10

RECRUITING

Tigers lasso two new commitments LSU looks to f ill f inal scholarships Ian Fontenot Sports Contributor

THOMPSON ELSTON LSU football fans can now count down the hours until Wednesday’s National Signing late Monday night. The defensive Day, and the Tigers have just two back received an in-home visit spots left open for the 2012 re- last Friday from LSU coaches.

The Missouri City, Texas, cruiting class.

Quarterback Jeremy Lig- safety wrapped up his recruitgins and safety Corey Thompson ment with an official visit to Colpledged their services to LSU on lege Station, Texas, this weekend.

Fellow LSU commit John Monday night.

The LSU staff made its final Thomas was among the recruits efforts last weekend to solidify to visit campus last weekend. the 2012 class with crucial in- Following his visit, the Airline School tight home visits. Ad‘A lot of people think High end said he will ditionally, three prospects spent [Elston] could end up honor his commitment to the Tithe weekend on at either LSU or gers but will not campus for offisign until April, cial visits.

Ole Miss.’ due to academic The Tigers Shea Dixon concerns. were still looking Tiger Sports Digest recruiting analyst The Tigers to sign a quarterback after five-star Gunner Kiel also hosted three-star safety comcommitted to Notre Dame at the mit Jerquinick Sandolph last weekend. start of the school year.

Three-star safety Trae LSU got its wish. Liggins committed Monday night in front Elston, from Oxford, Ala., split of family and a host of Ole Miss the final weekend of recruiting fans in Oxford, Miss. Reports late between visits to Oklahoma State last week had Liggins, a three- and LSU. “Things have been pretty star prospect per both Rivals.com and Scout.com, eliminating LSU mum from [Elston’s] side,” said Shea Dixon of Tiger Sports Difrom contention.

Thompson, originally a Tex- gest. “A lot of people think he as A&M commit, flipped for LSU could end up at either LSU or coach Les Miles and company Ole Miss.”

PATTERSON

LIGGINS

Elston’s high school teammate Kwon Alexander made an unofficial visit to Baton Rouge last weekend. The four-star linebacker has an offer from LSU and took his official visit in October. “[Elston and Alexander] have a lot of pressure to stay in Alabama,” said BayouBengalInsider’s Derek Ponamsky. “Elston has been looking at Oklahoma State and Ole Miss, so he looks more open to leaving the state of Alabama.”

The big-name LSU fans are keeping their eyes on is the Rivals’ No. 4-ranked junior college prospect Cordarrelle Patterson.

The wide receiver received an in-home visit from LSU coaches last Thursday.

The Hutchinson Community College star was scheduled to trim his list of possible schools to three last weekend but has since said he will not cut any names from a list that contains Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss and Tennessee.

Contact Ian Fontenot at ifontenot@lsureveille.com

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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Entertainment

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Blue Man Group to perform in New Orleans on first U.S. tour Haylie Navarre Entertainment Writer

Neon paint, dynamic drumming and Twinkies are just a few elements audience members can expect from the Blue Man Group’s first theatrical tour across the United States.

The group recently began the second year of the tour and will perform at the

Mahalia Jackson Theater in New Orleans today through Feb. 5.

Bhurin Sead, Blue Man Group member since 2008, said this tour is unique because it has taken the group’s renewed sit-down performances and made them portable. Sead said previous tours were similar to rock concerts and were mostly driven by the music.

“This tour is more about the character and the discovery of his space,” Sead said.

Sead said the Blue Man has an innocent quality about him and wants to make a connection with the audience. He said parts of the shows are scripted, but the audience interaction changes the dynamic of the performance on a nightly basis.

“One thing that I take away from the BHURIN SEAD Blue Man show and the charGroup member acter is the ability to be living in the moment and to be able to take risks,” Sead said.

page 11

Sh*t Everyone Says trend growing stale

It’s always good to laugh at yourself, even when the humor comes from someone else exposing the nonsense you say and do. It builds character.

Kyle Humphrey and Graydon Sheppard exposed sad, yet comical truths in their three-part Web series “Sh*t Girls Say.” They have earned more than 13 million views and an enormous following.

Sheppard and Humphrey’s novel idea has created a growing YouTube trend — though not necessarily a good one.

The rising popularity of video parodies and the fact that every YouTube user thinks he or she has something funny to say makes the RAYLEA BARROW Entertainment once-hilarious Writer videos lose their flair. They have actually grown to be quite annoying, and some of the stereotypes played upon in the videos can easily offend sensitive audiences.

In “Sh*t Girls Say,” Sheppard dresses as a preppy young woman and mimics typical sayings and actions that, unfortunately, most women have mirrored.

See The Daily Reveille’s “Sh*t Journalists Say” video at lsureveille.com.

SH*T, see page 15

FOOD

Dragon Cafe an affordable buffet Restaurant offers student discount Haylie Navarre Entertainment Writer

The newly opened Dragon Cafe aims to give customers a taste of Chinese cuisine while keeping American taste buds content.

The restaurant, located at 431 Third St., is open weekdays for lunch

from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and offers nighttime catering.

Owner Pai-Cha Hu and her husband, ShihChang Hu, a former University forestry professor, A Daily Reveille reopened the Restaurant Review downtown restaurant about six weeks ago.

“We get more business every day,” Shih-Chang Hu said.

Food for Thought

Hu and his wife, who taught Chinese cooking for 20 years at LSU Continuing Education, are retired educators. Hu said they moved north of Baton Rouge after retiring, but grew bored and decided to come back.

The restaurant offers an all-youcan-eat, sit-down buffet including tax and a drink for $7.50. Patrons can purchase a small to-go box for $5 or a large to-go box for $6 and fill them with buffet items.

DRAGON, see page 15

BENJAMIN OLIVER HICKS / The Daily Reveille

Steamed chicken in garlic sauce is on display Monday for Dragon Cafe patrons.

Owner Pai-Cha Hu and her husband Shih-Chang Hu are retired University educators.

The Daily Reveille

page 12

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

TELEVISION

VIDEO GAMES

Students addicted to La. proves popular TV destination ‘Skyrim’ video game Josh Naquin

Entertainment Writer

“I could choose to do quests, or I could choose to roam around the beautiful environment,” Matheny said.

Biology sophomore Steve Alvarado thinks those aspects are reasons so many gamers are addicted to “Skyrim.”

“Once you leave the tutorial area, you can go anywhere and do anything you want,” Alvarado said.

Alvarado said players can get lost in the expansive world. “‘Skyrim’ would be considered a virtual reality for some because it’s an adventure with almost unlimited possibilities,” he said.

Hunter Rouillier, chemical engineering sophomore, says the characters are the most fascinating aspect. “[Bethesda] balanced it extremely well so that you have to make multiple characters to really experience everything the game has to offer,” Rouillier said.

He’s got that covered — with four characters, two of which are level 50 out of 81, sporting different play styles.

Even with all of this, he still hasn’t beaten the game’s main story.

“There is simply so much to do,” Rouillier said. “On top of that, each character’s play style makes the game a different experience.”

For Matheny, the endless experience is key.

“There are mysteries to solve, books to read, wars to fight and dragons to vanquish,” Matheny said. “What makes ‘Skyrim’ so addictive is not some specific thing you can do, but a lack of things you can’t.”

Taylor Balkom

Entertainment Writer

A shadowy figure reaches for an arrow and takes aim at a passing deer. The shot is dead on, and the deer drops to the ground.

After skinning the animal and placing it in his pack, he senses something above him.

A dragon roars overhead as he draws his sword.

This is a typical scene from “Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim,” the massively popular role-playing game developed by Bethesda Softworks, released in November.

The game sold 3.4 million copies in two days, not including players who digitally downloaded it, according to gamespy.com.

“Skyrim” is noted for its addictiveness. Comedy website known as cracked.com even featured a piece on the life of a “Skyrim widow” — the significant other of one who is addicted to “Skyrim.”

University students are among those who find it hard to put the game down. Luke Matheny, undeclared freshman, has logged many hours into the game. He plays on a PC Steam, a digital distribution service.

“According to Steam, I have played for 47 hours,” Matheny said. “But that’s not counting the amount of time I have put into tweaking both my PC and the game itself, nor does it account for the time I have spent modding.”

“Modding” means altering the game’s code to fit one’s liking, such as making water look more realistic.

Matheny noted his favorite thing about the game is its freedom to go anywhere or do anything, as well as the beauty of the game itself.

It’s becoming more and more likely that families across America can turn on their televisions at any given time and see Louisiana.

Four new bayou-based programs have premiered this month: “Cajun Pawn Stars,” “Bayou Billionaires,” “Ragin’ Cajuns” and “Caged.” They join other hit series like “Swamp People” and “Sons of Guns” that revolve around life in the Pelican State.

Psychology graduate student Leslie Butler attributes the spike in interest in Cajun culture to the fact that Louisiana has been a big part of the national conversation for several years.

“Louisiana got a lot of attention for Hurricane Katrina, and that attention hasn’t really left the area,” Butler said.

She said she felt the new shows spring from the runaway success of the History Channel’s “Swamp People,” which premiered in August 2010 and has been gaining popularity ever since. Its second-season finale

garnered 5.5 million viewers, people and vibrant atmosphere – making it the most viewed show tax incentives. on cable television that night, acAccording to a report precording to Nielsen ratings. pared by the Louisiana Economic Alecia Long, associate his- Development Office of Entertory professor, tainment Industeaches a class in Development, ‘We have a lot to be try Louisiana history Louisiana has had and credits the proud of in terms of five consecutive state’s newfound years of economculture.’ popularity to its ic growth in the creative and resilfilm and music Alecia Long ient people. industry. associate history professor “We have a The report lot to be proud of also recognizes in terms of culture,” Long said.

Louisiana as ranked third in film Claire LaBarbera, coast and and television production nationenvironmental studies freshman, wide behind only California and said she fears Louisianians are New York. being pigeonholed in a way simiLaBarbera said more bayoular to how New Jerseyans were based television shows are ineviperceived after MTV’s “Jersey table with the success of LouisiShore” achieved national notori- ana-based reality TV. ety.

“I’d like to see a show that “It feeds stereotypes that we follows new generations of peoare all conservative rednecks,” ple in Louisiana,” LaBarbera LaBarbera said. “Those shows said. “And not in po-dunk only present a minority of our rural towns.” people and shouldn’t be seen as representative of Louisiana.”

Louisiana provides another Contact Josh Naquin at important incentive to production companies besides its colorful jnaquin@lsureveille.com

Contact Taylor Balkom at tbalkom@lsureveille.com

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The Daily Reveille

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

ONLINE TRENDS

page 13

LSU student targeted on anonymous gossip website The Dirty criticizes students, celebrities

David Jones Entertainment Writer

Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are flooded with posts about the good, the bad and the ugly — but one website gives users “the dirty.”

The Dirty is a self-proclaimed gossip and satire site where users post pictures, often of drunken women in various states of undress, along with captions containing insults and rumors.

Captions are addressed to the site’s owner, Nik Richie, who responds with criticism such as “Her face actually looks exactly like my foot.” Site visitors, called “The Dirty Army,” then comment on the post, adding more scandalous comments.

The site gained notoriety for its release of nude photos of California beauty queen Carrie Prejean in 2009, but it’s also famous for commentary on noncelebrities, particularly college students.

International studies senior Alexis Blanch fell victim to the site in December, when an anonymous post made fun of her looks and friendships.

“The initial shock was probably the most emotional part for me,” Blanch said. “I may have bawled crying for the first 45 minutes.”

Blanch said her boyfriend notified her of the post and she immediately called her friends in search of the culprit.

A friend of Blanch’s, business senior Mary Elise Schlesinger, denounced “The Dirty Army,” by commenting under the post and declaring her friend’s innocence.

“When she called me crying,

TECHNOLOGY

Cell phones assist in purchasing decisions Austen Krantz Entertainment Writer

Going shopping has gotten a lot easier in the digital age.

With the instant aid of smartphones, buyers run into fewer difficulties comparing prices, finding better products or even receiving opinions from friends. More than half of adult cell-phone owners used their phones over the 2011 holiday season to help make purchasing decisions, according to a survey by Princeton Survey Research Associates International.

The January survey found that 52 percent of all adult cell-phone users used their phones in some way to shop for the holiday season. This included calling friends for advice (38 percent), looking up product reviews (24 percent) and comparing prices online (25 percent), all while in a store shopping. Of these buyers, 33 percent used smartphones to search the Web for online advice on purchases.

According to Bella Bella employee Megan Archey, many shoppers try on dresses and take pictures with their phones to decide on purchases. She explained these buyers often use smartphones to ask for outside advice before buying an item.

“They’ll text pictures of themselves to friends, and if their friends like it, they’ll buy it, and if they don’t, they won’t,” Archey said.

Buyers use this strategy in stores of all kinds. Alex Breaud, Varsity Sports employee, said she sees similar shopping practices in the athletic store.

“Sometimes people say they’re trying on shoes but take a picture and send it to a friend,” she said.

Breaud said employees have

seen customers take pictures of shoes to compare aspects like color.

“It’s a time to see what their friends think of the color they’re choosing,” she explained.

Kinesiology freshman Sasha Armelin said she uses this strategy.

“If I’m buying a new outfit and I try it on, I’ll send [a picture] to a friend,” she said.

Armelin said her phone is useful for organizing her buying habits, as well. She said she often types out checklists or grocery lists before buying items.

Texting pictures isn’t the only strategy for buyers looking for friendly advice.

Undeclared freshman Caitlin Tucker explained that while she doesn’t use the Internet or take pictures to determine what she is buying, she uses her cell phone to help strategize her purchases during the holidays. She calls her friends to better understand the layout of the local market, she said.

“During Christmas season, I’ll call someone to ask about what is in the stores. ‘Did they have this? How much was it?’” she said.

Contact Austen Krantz at akrantz@lsureveille.com

I realized she was really hurt over this,” Schlesinger said. “I would put myself on the line to protect her from something like that.”

Schlesinger said she suspects a former friend of both her and Blanch posted the photo. She said Blanch was an easy target since she frequented bars in Tigerland.

Blanch said she is content not knowing who posted her photo, but said she is frustrated by the lack of factual basis the site requires from its users.

“I really don’t have much of a problem with who wrote [the post],” Blanch said. “The problem is the man who runs it.”

Blanch said she decided not to take legal action against The Dirty. She said she requested her photo be removed, but she received no response from the site.

Site owner Richie, whose real name is Hooman Karamian, has been featured on shows such as “Dr. Phil” and “Anderson,” Anderson Cooper’s daytime talk

show, where he defended his site as a reputable media source.

“I’m waking up the world, because if my site wasn’t around, you would have people saying whatever they want,” Richie said in an interview with Cooper.

Blanch said she despises Richie for misrepresenting the site as a contribution to the greater good.

“It’s slander,” Blanch said.

“Don’t try to pretend you’re doing good.”

Sociology professor Wesley Shrum called the site “modern gossip.” He said people will continue to post on sites like The Dirty as means of confrontation without consequence, but sites like this are unlikely to sustain themselves.

“We exaggerate the impact of these sites. They come up for a little and then they disappear,” Shrum said. “We haven’t seen a website that can be considered the Facebook of gossip.”

Blanch, who said she has accepted the reality of her stint on The Dirty, said she still experiences paranoia.

“I would be fine if someone came and asked me if I was on The Dirty, but it’s the looks that make me wonder if I’m being recognized,” Blanch said.

Katie McGee-Barras, assistant dean of students and associate director of Student Advocacy & Accountability, said the disciplinary implications for using a site like The Dirty may vary. Students who post using University computers or post images of a person without consent could be in violation of the Student Code of Conduct.

“You have to be mindful,” McGee-Barras said. “Think before you post.”

Contact David Jones at djones@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

page 14

TECHNOLOGY

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Apple TV and Roku 2 XS: Same price, different features Streaming devices battle for buyers

In an increasingly Internetbased world, traditional cable boxes are becoming obsolete.

In its 2011 second-quarter earnings results, Time Warner announced it had lost 130,000 customers, or 1 percent of total subscribers.

TAYLOR BALKOM Users may Entertainment have turned to Writer streaming boxes like the Apple TV or Roku 2 XS. For $99, users can get a wealth of content streamed directly to their TV. The only question is: Which is better, Apple TV or Roku 2 XS? SIZE Measuring 3.3-by-3.3-by-0.9 inches to the Apple TV’s 3.9-by-3.9by-0.91 inches, the Roku 2 is technically the smaller box.

But when both can fit in the palm of your hand, tenths of an inch don’t make much of a difference.

Result: Tie. USABILITY The Apple TV’s operating system is based on a version of iOS, the

software on iPhones, iPads and iPod touch devices.

But the similarities end there.

The Apple TV menu runs horizontally across the screen and has selections for music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, photos, Internet (services like Netflix) and settings.

It’s not exactly iOS-like. But the menu is easy to understand and animations are smooth and crisp. No complaints there.

The Roku 2’s menu is similar to the Apple TV’s in that it runs horizontally, but instead of menu options, there are “channels” to watch.

Many channels.

The Roku 2’s menu operations run smoothly, but there is occasional lag.

Result: Apple TV’s interface wins this one.

OUTPUT/INPUT Both the Apple TV and Roku 2 have Wi-Fi capabilities and Ethernet ports to stream movies and music.

For video output, they both use HDMI ports (720p max for Apple TV, 1080p max for Roku), but the Roku has an analog option for standard definition video.

Audio-wise, most will just use the HDMI cable, but there is an option for optical audio out on the Roku 2 if surround sound setup is desired.

For some reason, there’s a tiny microSD card slot on the back of the Roku 2 and a USB port on the back

of the Apple TV — odd additions for streaming-centric devices.

Result: Roku 2. Full 1080p HD video is a must-have these days.

CONTENT Apple TV has access to the iTunes store, Flickr, Netflix, YouTube, NHL GameCenter, MLB.TV, NBA.com and The Wall Street Journal. In addition, it can use Apple’s AirPlay feature to stream movies or music straight from an iOS device to the Apple TV. AirPlay Mirroring also allows the screen of an iPad 2 or iPhone 4S to be displayed on an Apple TV. Some features of iCloud also made it to the streaming device. Photo Stream loads all the pictures you take to the cloud and streams them down to the Apple TV. Overall, it’s got a pretty solid feature set, and AirPlay somewhat makes up for the lack of channels.

But the Roku 2 XS destroys the Apple TV when it comes to content.

With more than 300 channels, including Pandora and Hulu Plus, the Roku 2’s library of free and subscription content is jaw-dropping.

Plus, the XS version of Roku 2 has an included game remote like the Nintendo Wii. Only Angry Birds and a few other games are available as of now, but this is a big feature that the Roku 2 has and Apple TV doesn’t.

Result: Roku 2, without a doubt.

Though it doesn’t have access to

BEST DRESSED AT THE SAG AWARDS

photos courtesy of THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[Left to right] Sofia Vergara, Jim Parsons, Emma Stone and Octavia Spencer attended the SAG Awards this past Sunday.

Geaux Home

Find a new roommate or new place to live at: www.batonrouge-apartments.com

iTunes, the addition of Pandora support and multitude of content makes this an easy victory for the Roku.

OVERALL VALUE The Apple TV and Roku 2 XS are both $99 — well worth the price of admission, as both boxes offer access to streaming content both free and priced.

However, the Roku 2’s massive amount of channels and games overshadow the Apple TV’s wimpy eight.

In a battle between Internet streaming boxes, the winner is the

device with the biggest variety of, well, things to stream. Whether it’s listening to Pandora radio stations or playing Angry Birds, the Roku 2 XS does what the Apple TV can’t.

Could this change? Of course.

A simple firmware upgrade to the Apple TV could give it the same amount of content as the Roku 2. But as of now, the winner has to be the Roku 2 XS.

Contact Taylor Balkom at tbalkom@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

Tuesday, January 31, 2012 DRAGON, from page 11 Hu offers a free drink and 10 percent off a meal for students.

In addition to the buffet, the menu includes dishes like a seafood platter and lettuce wraps. Appetizers include a Cajun egg roll or shrimp toast, both for $4. Items that include seafood are $15 each.

The buffet consists of ChineseAmerican favorites like sesame chicken, lo mein and egg rolls. Hu also offers three authentic Chinese dishes a week. This week’s specials are Szechuan green beans, steamed chicken and a dish of meatballs, tofu and cabbage to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

The food was hot and fresh.

Each item was packed with flavor and spices. All the vegetables were tender and cooked down, but still had a bit of their original crisp.

The gong bao chicken was especially spicy, but it had a bit of sweetness to take away the burn. The fried rice raised the bar for competing restaurants in the area, where it is usually over-fried and loaded with oil.

The authentic steamed chicken was my favorite dish. The meat was spicy and tender enough to pull from the bone with a fork.

Metered parking is available along Third Street and Main Street, making the restaurant easily accessible. The venue is long and narrow.

Customers seat themselves in booths or two- and four-person tables.

Patrons who visited the venue under previous management may notice differences in the decor. Hu said renovations took about three and a half months.

Carpet was ripped out and replaced with bamboo wood floors.

The walls are lined with red-framed mirrors and wooden plaques featuring carvings of trees, birds and the word “happiness” in Chinese. Golden dragon heads with lanterns hanging from their mouths reinforce the restaurant’s namesake.

The staff was extremely nice — Hu himself sat with me and was eager to answer questions.

Several patrons came, ate and went as I dined, but the “lunch rush” seemed to have occurred before noon. With ample seating and the help-yourself-dining, Dragon Cafe is ideal for a quick, hot meal.

SH*T, from page 11

By just searching “sh*t says,” YouTubers will come across pages and pages of video parodies. These videos include stuff Drake says, black girls say, Asian dads say and even stuff nobody says.

In searching through thousands of results, viewers may stumble across some videos that are actually pretty hilarious. The creators of “Sh*t Nobody Says,” poke fun at “Sh*t Girls Say” with lines like, “Can I burn a copy of your Nickelback CD?,” “Twilight deserves an Oscar!” and “I completely understand my taxes.”

These videos are played out like “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas.

page 15 YouTube has become a launching pad that sends unknowns into instant fame when their video views climb to astronomical numbers. Recent YouTube stars include Jenna Mourey, also known as Jenna Marbles; Michelle Phan; Shane Dawson; Tim Chantarangsu, also known as Timothy DeLaGhetto; and Kevin Wu, also known as KevJumba.

These users have harnessed their talents and popularity to jumpstart their professional careers.

Because these YouTube stars and many others have quickly risen to Internet fame, everyone else wants to join the popularity bandwagon.

But the videos they use to do that need to actually be humorous. Who cares what cyclists say? Who cares what hipsters say? Who even cares

about what bears say? (Yes, there’s actually a video on what bears say.)

In order for someone to be successful, he or she has to be unique.

There has to be something different that sets he or she apart from everyone else.

In today’s society, what seems to be original is just a remake of what’s already been done.

Raylea Barrow is a 20-year-old mass communication sophomore from Sugar Land, Texas. Follow her on Twitter @RayleaBarrow.

Contact Raylea Barrow at rbarrow@lsureveille.com

Contact Haylie Navarre at hnavarre@lsureveille.com

monday january 31

Wayne Static of Static X Thursday February 2

Electronic TKVR Presents

photo courtesy of VICKI VOELKER

GLOW SAFARI

Power Hour with 3 Free Kegs before 10pm!

Blue Man Group members play paint drums in one of many percussion skits.

BLUES, from page 11 The touring trio consists of four men who rotate performances. Sead said the fourth actor can take the night off or watch the show to observe how the audience reacts.

Sead said one of his favorite skits is “Gumballs and Marshmallows,” where one member throws gumballs into a second member’s mouth and marshmallows into a third member’s mouth. The stakes are high during the skit because the performers must catch something.

Another skit Sead enjoys is called “Feast.” The group brings an audience member on stage to have dinner with them. Sead said the group tries to select a participant who might be a little shy and nervous but is game for anything.

“The audience totally gets behind them, but they’re still freaked out by being on stage with three bald and blue guys,” Sead said.

Sead said he sees the show as an active conversation between the audience and the Blue Men. He said laughter is a great way to gauge the group’s performance, but awkward moments can also be rewarding.

Despite the group’s humorous antics, they try to stay in character — a feat Sead called challenging.

“There are plenty of moments where I’m biting my lip or biting my tongue to keep from laughing [onstage],” Sead said.

He said the audition process to become a Blue Man consists of multiple parts, including acting and performing in full Blue Man costume.

Since the group is known for its percussion skills, a drumming audition to gauge rhythm and timing is also included.

“A lot of Blue Man acting is with your eyes,” Sead explained.

“There are exercises we do to see if they can bring that to the table.”

Physically becoming a Blue Man is also a long process. Sead said a latex bald cap is attached at the hairline with surgical glue. Body parts visible from underneath the performers’ black pants and turtleneck are then covered in blue paint.

wednesday february 8

thursday february 9

Yonder Mountain String Band

Contact Haylie Navarre at hnavarre@lsureveille.com

Randy Rogers Band February 15

HURT An Acoustic Show February 17

The Daily Reveille

Opinion

page 16

OUR VIEW

IT’S TIME TO FIX THIS, LSU Despite the stately oaks and broad magnolias proclaimed in the University’s alma mater, not all of LSU’s campus is immaculate.

Here are a few spots in need of repair.

Greek Amphitheater benches This once-pristine space may not be brimming with activity at all times, but students find it a peaceful place to study or catch some sun. How can they do that when the benches are cracked and the landscape is becoming dilapidated?

Lockett Hall bathrooms It seems Lockett’s architects were playing a cruel trick on students. With a backpack on, a person can barely squeeze into the minuscule stalls. And don’t get us started on the griminess of the bathrooms themselves.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Lockett Hall class seats

Lockett’s overstuffed classrooms leave students sitting in small, makeshift desks that are relegated to the back of the room. Even if the room lacks comfort, at least those students will be able to escape quickly if there’s a fire.

Old Engineering Shops Need we say more?

photos by CATHERINE THRELKELD / The Daily Reveille

Art & Design students work in unsafe studios Department space needs renovation THE C-SECTION Chris Grillot Columnist Dripping pipes. Exposed electrical wires. Chipping paint. Chemical fumes. Spider webs. Missing floor tiles and missing baseboards.

Loose bricks. Dust, spiders and rats.

Those are just some of the ways to describe the Studio Arts Building, formerly known as the Old Engineering Shop.

Break-ins. Robbery. Vandalism. Destruction. No security system. Open and unlocked doors 24/7.

Those are some others. This isn’t on the University’s campus, right? Wrong. And if my description so far hasn’t convinced you that our fellow students in Art and Design need help, keep reading.

The Studio Arts Building — which comprises seven buildings — is part of the College of Art and Design. It currently serves as a sub-par home for senior painting studios, ceramics workshops, print making studios and sculpture studios.

While the leisure arts studios in the Student Union have recently been beautifully renovated, the Studio Arts Building has found itself in a state of extreme disrepair.

Moreover, the building, erected in the 1920s, has been on

the University’s renovation list for 20 years, said Director of Facility Development Emmett David.

Fortunately, contractors should begin bidding on renovating the building, and the project is slated to be finished and ready for students by summer 2014, said Rod Parker, director of the School of Art. But Parker also said the building has gone through this same process two or three times before.

With the building’s track record, you can be skeptical the renovations will actually be completed on time, and students aren’t happy with the current condition and safety of the building. They’re finally speaking out.

“I pay tuition for that space in [the Studio Arts Building],” said painting and drawing senior Ashley LeBlanc. “And I’m paying for nothing.”

LeBlanc, who has had a studio in the building for a year, said she and other students have been afraid to speak out about the building for fear that being vocal may hurt their grades.

One of her biggest grievances was with the building’s safety.

She described numerous instances where people have broken into the building — an easy task with unlocked doors — and stolen electronics and paintings. She also complained people have destroyed expensive paintings by slicing through them with razor blades.

In one instance, LeBlanc said she was the only person in the building around 1:30 a.m. when she

The Daily Reveille Editorial Board

Matthew Jacobs Chris Branch Ryan Buxton Bryan Stewart Andrea Gallo Clayton Crockett

Editor-in-Chief Associate Managing Editor Associate Managing Editor Managing Editor, External Media News Editor Opinion Editor

TIM MORGAN / The Daily Reveille

heard police yelling, “Get on the f--ing ground,” outside of her window.

Then she saw a man running, brick in hand, suddenly fall to the ground and begin shaking while officers attempted to apprehend the man.

The man had been tasered, and it turns out, he was using bricks to prop doors open, not knowing that the facility is always unlocked.

LeBlanc said she has not painted in the building since that night because she doesn’t feel safe.

Who can blame her? As far as security goes, there is none.

“We discourage people from working alone in the buildings,” Parker said when asked about safety. Sounds like the buddy system.

Health problems were LeBlanc’s other concern.

In a walk through the building, she showed Reveille reporters the terrible conditions.

First, her studio has a PVC pipe that releases chemicals into a drain

below her sink. Across the room, nearly overflowing chemical disposal containers. One read, “Empty every night.” The other, “Waste Flammable.”

No custodians can be found.

We walked through the halls, witnessing the graffiti. We saw pipes sagging. We saw the walls, the paint curled up and chipping. We saw the light switch to the painting studio, which was actually a huge breaker box.

While Parker said the building meets health and safety standards every year, LeBlanc said the inspectors usually walk through “shaking their heads” at the condition.

With a building in such bad shape on campus, action needs to be taken.

Parker said adding health and safety measures now doesn’t make sense financially since renovations are in the future, but students can’t risk their health and safety for at

Editorial Policies & Procedures

The Daily Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University.

The Daily Reveille is an independent entity within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, paper or University. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to opinion@lsureveille.com or delivered to B-26 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must have a contact phone number so the opinion editor can verify the author. The phone number won’t be printed. The Daily Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration without changing the original intent. The Daily Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Daily Reveille’s editor-in-chief, hired every semester by the Louisiana State University Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.

least another two years.

Some sort of security system needs to be installed. A swipe-in system on the doors would be a start, and if that isn’t feasible, an LSU Police Department officer or security guard should patrol the building throughout the night.

As far as cleaning goes, there are plenty of companies to hire for that (See: Hoarders).

Students’ health and safety is paramount, and nearly every college on campus takes this seriously — it’s time for the College of Art and Design to do the same.

Chris Grillot is a 20-year-old English and mass communication senior from New Orleans. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_cgrillot.

Contact Chris Grillot at cgrillot@lsureveille.com

Quote of the Day “You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.”

Harry S. Truman 33rd President of the United States May 8, 1884 - Dec. 26, 1972

The Daily Reveille

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

SCUM OF THE GIRTH

Opinion

page 17

Let’s leave the animals out of political name-calling

The average adult cat weighs between eight and 10 pounds.

This is slightly heavier than a newborn child. Despite this slight difference in size, felines and newborns possess very similar physiological traits.

Both have small, frail bones, relative to a human adult. Both are less intelligent than most adult humans — and I stress most.

Perhaps the most glaring similarity is that Parker Cramer both house cats Columnist and newborns are unable to fend for themselves.

Both rely on an adult for food, shelter and protection.

At least that is what we’re supposed to do.

Recently, a family’s cat was murdered. And like a baby, this cat was unable to defend itself from the very thing tasked with safeguarding it.

A person.

The murdered cat belonged to Arkansas resident Jake Burris, a Democratic campaign manager for Congressional candidate Ken Aden. Aden is the challenger to Republican Congressman Steve Womack.

Burris, who was returning home with his four children, found the family’s mixed-breed Siamese cat beaten to death on

their doorstep with the word “Liberal” spray-painted on its carcass.

No arrests have been made.

This crime is particularly horrid to me, as I imagine it is to many of you. An individual — who I pray is insane — beat the life out of a small animal in cold blood.

And for what? To send a message that liberals aren’t tolerated in Arkansas? I’m sure Burris was well aware, as Congressman Womack’s seat has been held by a Republican since 1966.

A human being took this animal, small and innocent as a newborn baby, and literally beat it until its eyes fell out of its sockets.

The word you’re looking for is “evil.”

If, in 1941, Adolf Hilter’s cat somehow crossed paths with yours truly, I would love all over it. You know why?

Because animals are removed from politics — removed, but sadly not immune.

Crimes against animals are nothing new. Most major cities have crime fighting task forces to deal specifically with animal abuse or neglect.

Television programs such as “Animal Cops: Houston” show individuals who have dedicated their careers to protecting those who cannot protect themselves — newborns not included.

The actions of these individuals should be emulated in our

everyday lives. At some point in our lives, we have all seen an animal abused, either by their owner or a stranger.

I encourage you to intervene.

I advise each and every one of you, especially the fanatics, to keep yourselves in check this upcoming election season.

There will be times when politicians, both local and

national, will anger you. People with differing opinions will anger you. Life in general will piss you off.

These are certainties. And while eventual frustration is set in stone, your reaction is not.

Keep your cool, don’t let differing opinions make you do something stupid to an animal or another person.

Catharsis should not come at the expense of another life.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Opinion section a piece about how a person could learn if they were indeed an Alabama fan. At first glance, I found this article to be quite funny and witty (for the most part). However, as I thought about it more, I realized that I felt offended by the article.

Before I continue any further, I want to state now I am NOT an Alabama fan in the slightest. I am a die-hard Tiger fan, and it is for this reason I write to you today.

The thing that bothered me

the most about this piece was the fact that it makes light of the arrest of the Alabama fan who was seen sexually assaulting an LSU fan. I have no problem with the gentlemen being arrested, as he deserved it. But to make light of a person who’s life is in all likelihood going to be ruined by this event is too low-class for me. I believe he should be punished for his crime, and he made his choices. But for a respectable chronicle like The Reveille

to enter into the fray of juvenile mud-slinging is downright insulting to the reader.

How is it LSU can claim superiority to Alabama when we (or the representatives of the student populace) act just as immaturely as we claim they do?

I respect The Reveille and the work that it does to promote the positive image of LSU, and I would hate to see that image tarnished by stories like this.

Please keep up the good work,

but leave the mud-slinging antics of infants to other universities.

veteran, Military Policeman, Drill Sergeant, individual and unit trainer of more than 10,000 troops (including on urban warfare), and combat trainer at the Army’s National Training Center at Ft Irwin, CA. I have followed the Haditha “massacre” from the start and spent hundreds of hours researching the investigation. You can merely believe Mr. Pierce’s fabrications or learn more here: http:// www.911familiesforamerica. org/?p=5574” - Tim Sumner, SFC, US Army

alleged incident was taking place - indicating an approximately 99.999% probability that the whole thing was a counterintelligence smear operation set up by Al Queada to distract and discredit the U.S. military, and to spread doubt and discord among our troops. And, the way the AlQueada intelligence people had it arranged, Wuterich and the other Marines were, following the setup incident, to be executed, following sham trials in Iraq. Nice thought there Al Queada - too bad it did not work that way. What did the Al-Queada intelligence people really do there? Maybe we will never know for sure, but with a known Al-Queada intel agent there taking pictures as it happened (reported in the press, clearly identified), everyone knows it was some kind of, may

we say ham-fisted Al-Queada counter-intelligence smear operation. Next time you’ll know, we do not take kindly to your making our soldiers pawns in your sadistic little soap operas.

So he’s home, it’s over, and that’ s it. Aloha.”

- Anonymous

Alabama ‘mudslinging’ reflects poorly on Reveille, student body Upon reading The Reveille today, I noticed in the

WEB COMMENTS

As usual, the Opinion section of our website, lsureveille.com, has been absolutely buzzing with reader comments. Check it out today, and let your voice be heard.

In reference to Nicholas Pierce’s column, “Justice not for all: a war criminal walks away easily,” readers had this to say: “When Nicholas Pierce wrote, “I never saw combat,” he should have added, “I went through Army Basic Training after the ROE was changed postHaditha. My research for this commentary was limited to reading opinion pieces from others who made up their assertions from whole cloth.” I am a retired Army

“It is not right to call Sgt. Wuterich a war criminal. He is not. Nor is it right for you to omit a key piece of information from your story which is that a known Al-Queada intelligence agent just happened to be at the location taking pictures as the

“This is just a shame. It just goes to show you what war will bring. No amount of training can completely prevent this from happening in the battlefield, but he should always be treated as seriously as any mass murderer on a shooting spree. Wuterich should be brought to justice, and the fact that he will not be is an indication that we do not value all human life equally, or that somehow because this happened in the battlefield, that it is somehow

TIM MORGAN / The Daily Reveille

Parker Cramer is a 20-yearold political science junior from Houston. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_pcramer.

Contact Parker Cramer at pcramer@lsureveille.com

Andrew Hanson English senior

Contact The Daily Reveille’s opinion staff at opinion@lsureveille.com excusable. It is not. I’m not a strong proponent of militarism in the first place, but this just crosses the line. How can we seriously tell ourselves that we curb misconduct on the battlefield when something like this slips through with a slap on the wrist? It’s inexcusable. I find it disgusting that prosecutors pursued a plea deal that would let anyone, much less a member of the military whom we hold in high regard as a role model get away with murder. Perhaps that culture is what needs to be challenged.”

- DJC

Contact The Daily Reveille’s opinion staff at opinion@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

page 18

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The Daily Reveille

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

page 19

DUNN, from page 7 helped our pitchers as well. … It was almost like a bullpen session.”

While the majority of Dunn’s 20-plus years of coaching experience have come in the professional ranks, he is no stranger to Southeastern Conference baseball.

In the early ’80s, Dunn played for Alabama, pitching in the Crimson Tide’s second College World Series appearance in 1983, when they were the national runners-up.

The SEC also served as Dunn’s launching point for his coaching career, as he served as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt in 1991-92.

After spending the last 19 seasons in the pros, Dunn was intrigued by the prospect of a return to the collegiate level.

“The college game, in general, was appealing to me,” Dunn said. “Just having the opportunity to have the quality of pitchers that we have is icing on the cake. ... I was extremely excited to have the opportunity to get back into college baseball.”

Dunn quickly established a relationship with his pupils — one that was demanding, but also rewarding.

He worked with sophomore hurler Kevin Gausman on a new pitch to offset his electric fastball and came up with a curveball designed to keep hitters off balance.

“We developed more of a 12-6 curve ball,” Gausman said. “That’s been something that he has been working real hard with me about.

Catherine Threlkeld / The Daily Reveille

LSU baseball pitching coach Alan Dunn watches sophomore pitcher Joe Broussard (21) pitch Monday during baseball practice in Alex Box Stadium.

He’s not afraid to get behind the plate and catch either, which is something we all like to see. “ But Dunn has brought more than just a technical approach to coaching.

The pitchers have gone through a rigorous training method to get their bodies in top shape before the grueling season officially begins — much of it under Dunn’s watch.

“He’s been working us hard,” Gausman said. “This is the best shape that all of our pitchers have ever been in. We always joke that we run more than the track team.”

The pitchers understand that through Dunn’s methods, their hard work will pay off — in the win column.

“He has this way about the kids,” Mainieri said. “The way he coaches them, the way he works with them … it’s a lesson every day. He puts on a clinic with those kids.”

Contact Luke Johnson at ljohnson@lsureveille.com

Catherine Threlkeld / The Daily Reveille

LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri supervises practice Monday before a scrimmage in Alex Box Stadium. The scrimmage ended in a 1-1 tie.

SCRIMMAGE, from page 7

hits. Of his 28 pitches, 17 were strikes.

“That’s his forte,” Mainieri said. “He’s a strike thrower and he gets ahead of the hitters. His goal was to try to get the hitters out with the first three or four pitches he threw to each batter.”

Offensively, LSU couldn’t muster much against freshman left-hander Christian Trent, but sophomore left fielder Jackson Slaid looked comfortable in the cleanup slot.

Slaid hammered two balls deep toward the Alex Box bleachers, one of which fell just short of the right field fence for a double.

Senior Tyler Hanover socked a solo home run to left field for the gold squad’s lone run.

Contact Luke Johnson at ljohnson@lsureveille.com

International Culture Center January 31, 2012 6:30 pm Celebrate the far-reaching nature of German art, language, culture,music, and more! Come experience live German-inspired performances!

The Daily Reveille

page 20

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Involvement • Leadership • Service

Watch for this ad every Tuesday!

Facebook: LSU Campus Life Twitter: @LSUCampusLife

Campus Life Student Spotlight: Robert Bostick

Help the students at Highland Elementary learn the value of being a good citizen!

Volunteers will assist the kids in creating Valentine cards for elderly Baton Rouge citizens.

LOVE

See past spotlights at campuslife.lsu.edu Senior in Human Resource Leadership Development from Valrico, Fl. Robert’s proudest achievements his senior year are: 1) Bringing “Be The Match” to LSU and adding 300 people to the bone marrow registry, 2) Co-authoring the bill to expand the UREC, and 3) Being accepted into the Leadership LSU class.

Favorite thing to do: Cook, watch movies, and read Favorite TV show: Anything on the Discovery Channel Other organizations: LSU Ambassadors, Student Government, UREC Employee Advisory Board

Your City, LOVE

Your Neighbor

art Project

M-F Feb. 6 -10 45 minute shifts

Sign up at volunteer.lsu.edu

by Friday, February 3

Campus Life Spotlight showcases the diversity of involved students at LSU. Send nominations to jruck@lsu.edu with name, email and why they should be in the Spotlight.

7-9 pm

open mic night Involvement #Music Roadshow thurs #Poetry

feb 2 #Comedy anything else

Live Oak Lounge,

Union

and

11am -­1pm on

Wed Jan 18 -­The 5

Sign up in advance by tweeting to @sablsu. or at the event from 6-7pm

+ 10 minute maximum time slot + material most be pg-13 + we cannot accommodate drum kits

I NTO P A E L

LEADER SHIP

Learn the basics of leadership in 4 hours!

Focus on individual strengths, goal-setting and building connections in a high energy, low risk enviornment.

Free for LSU students.

Sat Jan 28 1-5 pm

Register at www.lsu.edu/campuslife Deadline: Thursday Jan 26 campuslife.lsu.edu 578-­5160

service leadership

s student org activities

Thurs Jan 19 -­The 459

Tues Jan 24

-­Free Speech Plaza

Find out what treasures are in store for you!

Info meetings:

Wed Feb 8

12:30-1:30pm

T S E G G BI

Help LSU’s plan

Castilian Room (304 Union) 6:30-7:30pm Tchoupitoulas (452 Union)

Leadership Training:

Sun Feb 26

12-5 pm Vieux Carre (325 Union)

y ct t i n u roje m 13 0 m p 2 o , c vice il 20 r r p eA se c a l p

Applications:

campuslife.lsu.edu or Campus Life, Union 350.

Due by Feb 14

G I B ux uge

g

in Tak

a Ge on Ro Bat L

I OU

SI

AN

A

ST

AT

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U

V NI

ER

SI

TY