Football: Former Tiger Michael Clayton heads to Super Bowl sidelines, p. 5
Women’s Basketball: Lady Tigers fall to Florida, 73-64, p. 6
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Groundhog Day: Did Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow? See p. 3 Friday, February 3, 2012 • Volume 116, Issue 84
Life VPto upaimsU.S. Savers graduation EDUCATION
Animal shelter strives for no-kill status Lauren Duhon Staff Writer
Homeless animals are getting a new lease on life through Baton Rouge’s Companion Animal Alliance, which is committed to becoming a no-kill shelter where animals are only adopted and not euthanized. And CAA’s efforts have begun to pay off, according to Director Debbie Pearson. “As of now, we have had a 100-percent adoption rate for the past eight weeks,” Pearson said. “That means no dogs or cats have been euthanized.” When Pearson and CAA took over the city’s old pound, East Baton Rouge Control and Rescue, the euthanasia rate was 80 percent, she said. Euthanizations hit an all-time high in 2007, when 10,851 animals were put down. That number was nearly cut in half by 2010, which saw 6,023 euthanizations. And as the shelter has sustained a 100-percent adoption rate over the last two months, it’s getting closer to Pearson’s vision of a no-kill facility. CAA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare of animals that was formed with the help of other animal photos by BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille
A black-and-white dog sits in a kennel Jan. 25 waiting to be adopted at the Baton Rouge Companion Animal Alliance. [Left inset] An orange tabby cat paws for the camera. [Right inset] A tan hound mix waits to be adopted.
ADOPTION, see page 11
See more photos of Companion Animal Alliance pets at lsureveille.com/multimedia.
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Plan to keep college affordable devised Emily Herrington Staff Writer
Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan elaborated on President Barack Obama’s higher education blueprint in a conference call Thursday with The Daily Reveille and student journalists across the nation. The ultimate goal is to bring America’s rank in graduation rates from 16th place in the world to first by 2020, Biden said. “That’s not for bragging rights. That’s for economic necessity,” Biden said. Biden said the value of higher education is indispensable, which is why he, Obama and Duncan have given it a high priority. “It’s about the national interest, it’s about the basic bargain with the middle class, it’s about the American dream, and it’s about the dignity of your parents and the opportunities for all of you,” Biden said. HIGHER ED, see page 11
PHILANTHROPY
La. partners with Haiti, brings aid Island nation still hurting after quake Joshua Bergeron Contributing Writer
As University students flee on study abroad programs and mission trips, some could be spending a few weeks in Haiti as part of a Louisiana National Guard partnership with the country, which is still ailing following a catastrophic earthquake in 2010. The National Guard first announced the partnership with Haiti on Jan. 18 as a part of the State Partnership Program.
Between LSU and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 30 students are currently contracted with the Louisiana National Guard. University students enrolled in the National Guard may become involved in ongoing and future projects as a part of their two- to threeweek annual training block. The annual training usually occurs during summer breaks, so training should not interfere with schoolwork for the 30 students currently contracted, according to Staff Sgt. Denis Ricou with Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs. Retired Lt. Col. Reginald Brown also said the effect on ROTC students contracted with the National Guard will be minimal because of
the Simultaneous Membership Program, which exempts students from deploying to a foreign country as long as they are full-time students working toward a degree and commission. Ricou believes the program will go a long way toward replenishing Haiti’s severely damaged infrastructure. “The partnership will work to strengthen the capacity of the Haitian government,” Ricou said. “[It will] strengthen the capacity of the Haitian National Police and support the activities of the Haitian Coast Guard.” Although the damage is out of NATIONAL GUARD, see page 11
photo courtesy of SGT. AARON LEBLANC / Louisiana Army National Guard
Major Greg Pieper [right], a nurse practitioner for the medical readiness training exercise, screens a young patient June 14, 2011, as her mother comforts her.