Film: New actor’s studio opening in Baton Rouge, p. 4
Baseball: Grounds crew keeps Alex Box in tip-top shape, p. 7
Reveille The Daily
from the
www.lsureveille.com
Wednesday, April 18, 2012 • Volume 116, Issue 127
STADIUM STAGE to the
LSU athletes showcase skills at Mikie’s talent and award show
LEGISLATURE
Students react to advancing gun bill
SB 303 to be debated in House
Student-athletes proved that from “Best Play” to “Most Swag,” their talents extend beyond the and seven student-athlete talent sports they play acts. at the first annual The show’s Emily Herrington Mikie’s Studentproceeds went Staff Writer Athlete Awards toward the Best and Talent Show on Tuesday night. Buddies program, which esThe event, held in the Cox tablishes friendships between a Communications Academic Cen- role model and a buddy with an ter for Student-Athletes, included MIKIE’S, see page 6 presentations of awards ranging
Brian Sibille Staff Writer
MIKIE’S AWARD WINNERS Outstanding Student-Athlete: Madie Jones, volleyball Best Upset: Men’s basketball win against No. 10 Marquette Best Record-Breaking Performance: Kimberlyn Duncan, track and field, 200-meter dash Best Celebration: Brad Wing, football, after fake punt Best Facial Hair: Joseph Caraway, pole vaulting Best Hair, Male: Smylie Kaufman, golf Best Hair, Female: Cassie Trosclair, softball Mr. Congeniality: Brandon Gordon, track Miss Congeniality: Janelle Garcia, gymnastics
SG: President Cody Wells says his goodbyes, p. 3
Most Involved Team: gymnastics Best Student Trainer: Raymond Champagne, track and field trainer Most Likely to be a Celebrity: Sam Montgomery, football Most likely to win a gold medal: Kimberlyn Duncan, track and field Most Swag, Male: Phil LeBlanc, track and field Most Swag, Female: Natalie Ieyoub, soccer Best Play: Eric Reid vs. No. 2 Alabama Fiercest Competitor, female: Lloimincia Hall, gymnastics Fiercest Competitor, male: Tyrann Mathieu, football
photos by BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille
[Top] The LSU volleyball team performs a skit Tuesday evening during the Mikie’s award and talent show in Cox Auditorium. [Left] LSU senior jumper Brandon Gordon makes an acceptance speech after winning the Mr. Congeniality award. [Above] LSU junior offensive tackle Chris Davenport sings “Amazing Grace.” See a video of the show at lsureveille.com/multimedia.
While campus was empty and docile during spring break, the Louisiana Senate was in session and furthered a bill that could allow guns at the University. The bill, SB 303, makes regulation and prohibition of firearms in Louisiana more difficult in an effort to protect the Second Amendment. It was first approved by a Senate judiciary committee April 3, and after debate on the Senate floor, the bill passed with an overwhelming 31-6 vote on April 9. Gov. Bobby Jindal said he supported the bill at a National Rifle Association meeting on GUN BILL, see page 6
See student opinions on the bill on page 12.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Student-athletes read to first graders Shannon Roberts Contributing Writer
Student-athletes delved into their favorite childhood stories with more than 40 first-graders from Children’s Charter School on Tuesday. The student-athletes were picked to read to the children because they are dedicated to promoting literacy and being community role models, said instructor Gerlinde Grandstaff-Beckers. A small group of the athletes went to the library and chose their favorite picture books from childhood or ones they thought the Children’s Charter students would enjoy. “They get to show that, ‘Yes, we are big, we are athletes, but reading is very important to us,’”
Grandstaff-Beckers said. Basketball player Jalen Courtney and football players Lavar Edwards, Tahj Jones, Kenny Hilliard, Rockey Duplessis, Tharold Simon, Corey White and Craig Loston each read a story to a group of first graders. Sophomore forward Jalen Courtney read “Rumpelstiltskin” and told the first graders the moral of the story was to avoid cheating and breaking promises. He said his favorite part of reading to the students was being able to interact with the children and getting to know them. Courtney said he and his 6-year-old brother were raised in a single-parent household, and many area students face similar situations. He said reading can
change a person’s outlook on the world. “I stress to my brother that a lot of information, a lot of knowledge is in books,” Courtney said. “Over time, it’ll stick in his head that information really is in books.” Junior safety Craig Loston asked questions to students while he was reading “Ten Mice,” and he said he was surprised to hear they were paying attention and could answer correctly. “I do a lot of community service around here, and I always go to see and visit kids in the hospital, but I never got the chance to actually sit down and read with them,” Loston said. READING, see page 6
MARIAH POSTLETHWAITE / The Daily Reveille
LSU senior defensive end Lavar Edwards reads “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” to children in Peabody Hall on Tuesday. See a video of the event at lsureveille.com/multimedia.