University: LSU student travels to China to study acupuncture, p. 3
Softball: Former pitcher Mack wins game, receives proposal, p. 5
Reveille The Daily
www.lsureveille.com
Food: LSU alum competes in hotdog eating contest, p. 5 Tuesday, July 10, 2012 • Volume 116, Issue 150
Who knows? Who cares?
Healthcare law not a priority for many; only 55 percent knew bill was upheld, says Pew study Despite widespread public- didn’t know the Supreme Court ity, two independent studies show issued a ruling on June 28, and many people don’t know or don’t others didn’t know the ruling’s care about the Suoutcome. Taylor Balkom preme Court’s The Pew recent ruling on survey found 55 Staff Writer President Barack percent of AmeriObama’s Patient Protection and cans knew the law was upheld, 30 Affordable Care Act. percent were unsure and 15 perIndependent studies by Pew cent thought the law was found Research Center and Kaiser HEALTHCARE, see page 11 Health showed many citizens graphic by BRITTANY GAY / The Daily Reveille
NORTHGATE COMMUNITY
Smoothie King marquee entertains
Slogans written by employees, manager Parker Cramer Contributing Writer
The Smoothie King at Highland Road and State Street is known for its intriguing signage, most recently spelling out the message, “Riverside Towing Sucks.” The words resonated in the community, specifically the student body, which has had longstanding grievances with the towing company. An attorney for Riverside Towing asked for the message to be removed, and Smoothie King employees complied to avoid legal
action against them. That particular message was prompted by a stark increase in cars being towed from the College Row parking lot behind Smoothie King. According to Smoothie King employees, Riverside Towing had a “spy” camped out in the parking lot, radioing trucks to tow cars of people seen walking to the newly opened Five Guys or Chipotle, as those customers are not permitted to park in the College Row lot. The schanging marquee has incited both controversy and laughter with some of its past messages, according to store manager E.J. Ryan. The messages are changed on a weekly basis, unless complaints cause them to be prematurely
taken down. “Yo chick, she so thirsty,” lyrics from the song “Mercy” by Kanye West, received complaints from the community because of its sexual connotation. During finals week, the sign read, “Vyvanse has nothing on our extreme caffeine.” Ryan said the messages have been a good marketing tool to attract customers. “We like to be edgy and draw attention, but we don’t want to go too far,” Ryan said. All of the slogans are written by employees and managers, according to Ryan. Employees say it is a common occurrence to see pedestrians stopSIGN, see page 11
MORGAN SEARLES / The Daily Reveille
Smoothie King store manager E.J. Ryan changes the sign Monday to say “Magic Mike drinks our magic smoothies.”