FASHION: Restyling the ‘Walk of Shame,’ p. 11
OLYMPICS: LSU swimmers rep the U.S. in London, p. 7
Reveille The Daily
www.lsureveille.com
Thursday, August 23, 2012 • Volume 117, Issue 4
‘FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, Interstate shutdown IT’S ALL ABOUT THE gridlocks city, campus STUDENTS.’ Section of I-10 TRAFFIC
Executive vice closed indefinitely chancellor and Ben Wallace provost wants to Senior Contributing Writer Cancelled classes, closed continue growth roadways and citywide bumper-
Chris Grillot Staff Writer
Editor’s note: This is the second in a two-part profile of the University’s newest leaders. From engines to education, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Stuart Bell likes to build things. The 55-year-old keeps engine pistons on top of his bookcase and extensive engineering degrees on his walls. Like his counterpart, Interim System President and Chancellor William “Bill” Jenkins, Bell did not intend to become an administrator. Growing up in Abilene, Texas, Bell discovered an early interest in science. “I just had really great science teachers,” he said, crediting a few teachers for spurring his interest. He applied his curiosity and built projects out of Popular Science, a monthly CATHERINE THRELKELD / The Daily Reveille
to-bumper traffic. It wasn’t a hurricane evacuation, but a cyclone of mayhem swept through the city Wednesday after law enforcement officials indefinitely shut down Interstate 10 in both directions from the junction at Interstate 12 to Siegen Lane. At 3:45 a.m., a passenger vehicle overturned on I-10 eastbound near Essen Lane, forcing a tanker behind it filled with nearly 9,000 gallons of isobutane to abruptly stop. A semi truck transporting beer then rear-ended the tanker, causing its valve system
to burst and begin leaking the flammable, propane-like vapor, said Curt Monte, assistant public information officer for Baton Rouge Fire Department. All lanes of I-10 will remain closed until hazardous material removal crews can figure out how to either remove or transport whatever remains of the 8,700 gallons of isobutane that were still leaking out of the wrecked tanker as of Wednesday afternoon, said Trooper Russell Graham of LSP. The driver of the beer truck and the passenger were taken to a hospital for nonlife-threatening injuries, said Cpl. L’ Jean McKneely of Baton Rouge Police Department. Traffic overflowed onto Nicholson Drive, Highland Road and Burbank Drive, stranding drivers for hours as students and TRAFFIC, see page 6
BELL, see page 6
CRIME
Police seek art student imposter Suspect approached victim for photos Brian Sibille News Editor
The LSU Police Department is looking for a man who allegedly posed as a University art student and attempted to take inappropriate photos of a female student in Patrick F. Taylor Hall on Tuesday. The woman was approached
by a man who claimed to be an art student and wanted to take pictures of the woman, LSUPD said. He asked the woman to pose in different ways, but when the requests made the woman feel uncomfortable, she refused. The victim claimed that she was pushed by the suspect during the incident. The woman was able to escape and contact police. The man was wearing a white T-shirt with red writing and khaki shorts and was described as caucasian, about 18 to 22 years old, slim,
standing at 5 feet 7 inches with short brown hair. LSUPD Spokesman Capt. Cory Lalonde said it is not known where the suspect fled, and the investigation will remain active. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information on the suspect is encouraged to contact LSUPD at (225) 578-3231. Contact Brian Sibille at bsibille@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @TDR_news
CATHERINE THRELKELD / The Daily Reveille
I-10 from Siegen Lane to the I-10/I-12 split remains closed in both directions after a tanker carrying flammable gas crashed on the Interstate.