SPORTS: NFL becomes laughing stock after replacement referees cause controversy, p. 5
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Wednesday, September 26, 2012 • Volume 117, Issue 23
Paint
the Town
ACADEMICS
Alternate grading scale may be passed Joshua Bergeron and Wilborn Nobles III Staff Writer and Senior Contributing Writer
After a year of debate, Faculty Senate will decide if professors should have the option to tack a plus or minus sign on the ends of their students’ grades. It all comes to a head next Tuesday. Introduced into the Faculty Senate nearly 10 months ago, the resolution calls for a grading system that would change the way students grade point averages are calculated. The senate will vote on the resolution Tuesday after several delays and an Ad Hoc Committee report on the matter. The report looked into several matters, beginning with examining at how peer institutions evaluate students. Out of the 18 schools that the committee deemed to be peer institutions, 13 use a plus-minus grading system. GRADING SCALE, see page 11 photos by BENJAMIN OLIVER HICKS / The Daily Reveille
The BR Walls Project completed its first wall on McGlynn, Glisson and Mouton Legal Firms Louisiana, 340 Florida St. in downtown Baton Rouge. [Above left] New Orleans-based artist Joseph Konert works on the project’s second wall Tuesday afternoon on Harrington’s Cafe in downtown Baton Rouge.
Are you in favor of the plus-minus grading scale? Vote at lsureveille.com.
BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY
Eleven Dunkin’ Donuts locations to open in BR by 2018 Ben Wallace Senior Contributing Writer
For Baton Rouge donut lovers, life got a little bit sweeter Tuesday. Dunkin’ Donuts opened the first of 11 planned locations for the city’s capital area just south of Interstate 12 on Sherwood Forest Boulevard. Another location will open sometime this fall on the corner of Burbank Drive and Bluebonnet Blvd., a company spokeswoman said. The Massachusetts-based company famous for its donuts and coffee plans to open at least nine more locations by 2018, according to a news release from
Dunkin’ Brands, Inc.’s vice president of franchising and market planning, Grant Benson. “They have a good product, and they have a good franchise, but the more business the area does, the better for all of us,” said W.I. Dunlap Jr., vice president of Chef Products, Inc. franchisor of Mary Lee Donuts, which has eight Baton Rouge locations and 17 spread across south Louisiana. Dunlap Jr. said the franchise has no plans to expand, but that it’s always looking for new spots. Criminology senior Randyl Bouley has grown up in Louisiana, and although she’s never been inside a Dunkin’ Donuts, she regularly buys their packaged coffee from the grocery store.
“I would be so happy,” she said about the future opening of Dunkin’s Burbank location. Psychology senior Tan Vu said there should be more donut options in walking distance of campus, but is still looking forward to the new Dunkin’ stores. “I am hella excited,” Vu said. “Dunkin’ has the best sprinkled donuts.” The company did not confirm whether any locations would open closer to campus than the Burbank location.
CATHERINE THRELKELD / The Daily Reveille
Contact Ben Wallace at bwallace@lsureveille.com
Dunkin’ Donuts on Sherwood Forest Boulevard serves donuts filled with jelly, adorned with sprinkles and even glazed with LSU’s colors.
The Daily Reveille
page 2
INTERNATIONAL
Nation & World NATIONAL
STATE/LOCAL
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Iconic Israeli newspaper on the verge of collapse, new media types to blame
Party over for Somali pirates? Amount of attacks on cargo ships way down
NYC schools dispense morning-after pill to girls to lower pregnancy rates
Dead dolphin found in Louisiana was shot in lung, reward offered
JERUSALEM (AP) — Throughout much of Israel’s history, the Maariv daily was known as the “country’s paper,” the newspaper with the highest circulation and a cornerstone of Israeli media. Now it is on its last legs — the victim, some say, of a Jewish-American billionaire who is a close friend of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson launched his free “Israel Hayom” or “Israel Today” daily newspaper five years ago. Uruguay poised to legalize abortion, would be second in Latin America
HOBYO, Somalia (AP) — The empty whiskey bottles and overturned, sand-filled skiffs that litter this oncebustling shoreline are signs that the heyday of Somali piracy may be over. Most of the prostitutes are gone, the luxury cars repossessed. Pirates talk more about catching lobsters than seizing cargo ships. Armed guards aboard cargo ships and an international naval armada complete with aircraft that carry out onshore raids have put a huge dent in Somali piracy and might even spell the end of the scourge.
NEW YORK (AP) — It’s a campaign believed to be unprecedented in its size and aggressiveness: New York City is dispensing the morning-after pill to girls as young as 14 at more than 50 public high schools, sometimes even before they have had sex. The effort to combat teen pregnancy in the nation’s largest city contrasts sharply with the views of politicians and school systems in more conservative parts of the country. Some doctors say more schools should follow New York’s lead. Idaho woman’s prison time extended for stick-figure threat sent from jail
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Someone shot and killed a bottlenose dolphin found over the weekend on Elmer’s Island Wildlife Refuge, and there’s a $1,500 reward for information leading to a conviction, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Tuesday. The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society is offering the reward, said NOAA Fisheries spokeswoman Kim Amendola.
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Uruguay’s congress appeared ready on Tuesday to legalize abortion, a groundbreaking move in Latin America, where no country save Cuba has made abortions accessible to all women during the first trimester of pregnancy. Compromises made to secure votes disappointed both sides of the abortion divide, which gathered in protest. Once it gets through Uruguay’s lower house, the measure would go back to the Senate for approval of changes, but President Jose Mujica has said he will allow it to become law.
MATILDE CAMPODONICO / The Associated Press
A pro-choice activist demonstrates in front of the Uruguayan congress in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Tuesday. The sign reads in Spanish “legal abortion.”
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A woman who was about to be released from an Idaho prison will stay behind bars a while longer because federal prosecutors say she mailed a threatening stick figure drawing to a relative. Linda Joyce Lakes was serving time at the Pocatello Women’s Correctional Center on probation violations stemming from a 2007 grand theft sentence, and she was scheduled to be released last Friday. But earlier this month, the U.S. attorney’s office charged her with mailing threatening communications, which is a felony.
Corps off the hook for Katrina levee break, New Orleans residents upset NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A surprise ruling by a federal appeals court that lets the Army Corps of Engineers off the hook for paying compensation for Hurricane Katrina’s catastrophic flooding isn’t going over well on the streets of New Orleans. People in southern Louisiana have long taken for granted that the flooding in the wake of the 2005 storm was a manmade disaster — one caused specifically by the corps — and they have wanted the agency to pay up for lost homes and property. But on Monday, a three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed its earlier opinion and shot down the only argument that had succeeded so far in holding the corps accountable.
A bottlenose dolphin was found dead over the weekend on Elmerís Island in Jefferson Parish. A reward is being offered for information on those responsible.
Broussard pleads guilty in corruption case, could receive 15 years in prison NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Former Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal corruption charges, admitting he cheated taxpayers in a payroll fraud scheme and took payoffs from a parish contractor. Broussard, a populist Democrat who may be best known outside Louisiana for sobbing during a nationally televised interview during Hurricane Katrina’s chaotic aftermath, kept his composure as he pleaded guilty to conspiracy and theft charges and answered questions from the judge who will sentence him.
Weather
PHOTO OF THE DAY
Nothing says
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“I’m Going Places”
TODAY Partly Cloudy
like a senior photo.
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Dr. Patrick Kolniak demonstrates emission spectrum with Copper (II) Chloride in his chemistry class Tuesday. Submit your photo of the day to photo@lsureveille.com.
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS The Daily Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards. This space is reserved to recognize and correct any mistakes which may have been printed in The Daily Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified please contact the editor at (225) 578-4811 or email editor@lsureveille.com.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
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The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
FILM
page 3
University screens ‘Pitch Perfect’ in Union Theater Two showings held to accomodate students Megan Dunbar Staff Writer
A line of excited students wrapped around the Student Union on Tuesday evening as they waited for the doors to open for the free screening of “Pitch Perfect.” In the vein of the popular TV show “Glee,” Jason Moore’s “Pitch Perfect” follows an a cappella group, the Bellas, through its ups and downs on the way to a national competition. So many students waited in line that the Union showed the movie twice in order to let students who were turned away have another opportunity to see the film. Math junior and Union Theater usher Chas Nichols said as soon as the cutoff of 1,200 people was reached, the Union ushers had to stop allowing guests inside. Bioengineering sophomore Rheagan Chambers said she was excited to see the film. “I pretended to be an extra
Crime Briefs Student cries wolf, gets arrested Biological engineering student William Connor Sinclair was arrested Sept. 21 after he admitted to lying to police about being robbed on Tower Drive near Williams Hall. Sinclair, 20, of 3735 Brightside Drive, claimed he had been struck from behind by an unknown assailant while walking from the Parade Ground early Sept. 16 after the Idaho game the night before, according to LSU Police Department spokesman Capt. Cory Lalonde. He claimed his wallet and cell phone were taken during the attack. LSUPD officers followed up
and walked into a bunch of takes. If I’m in the movie, it’s going to be great,” Chambers said. Half the theater erupted into song 10 minutes before the film began to join the soundtrack as it played Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the U.S.A.” Executive Producer Scott Niemeyer told students before the showing that they were among the first to see the movie, which garnered a loud “Go Tigers” from somewhere in the crowd. That excitement continued into the screening. Students screamed after recognizing locations on campus, including the Pentagon, the Quad and the Horseshoe. “Pitch Perfect” was filmed partially on the University campus, featuring a party in the Greek Amphitheater, an a cappella “riffoff” in the empty swimming pool behind the Huey P. Long Fieldhouse, and a student activity fair in the Quad. Camera PA for the film and former University student DJ Phillips said his favorite place of filming was in the pool. “As students, you’re not supposed to be there,” Phillips said. “It was cool to not be
sneaking around.” Camera Assistant Jeff Taylor said the pool was the most difficult scene to film. “You had to move the cameras up and down the stairs — it was the only way to get them in there,” Taylor said. Phillips said he was excited to see the whole movie. “After working on something for three or four months, it’s always great to see it put together on screen,” Phillips said. In general, students said they enjoyed the film. “There was a diverse group in there, and everyone seemed to enjoy it,” said mass communication freshman Jillian Terrio. She said the movie was unexpectedly entertaining. “If it wasn’t for Fat Amy, it wouldn’t have been as amusing,” said mass communication freshman Zach Heathman. “Pitch Perfect” will show in certain theaters starting Sept. 28, and everywhere Oct. 5.
with Sinclair on Sept. 17 because he was intoxicated when he reported the incident, Lalonde said. On Sept. 21, officers spoke with Sinclair again, at which time his story changed, Lalonde said. After further questioning, Sinclair admitted his injuries were sustained and his cell phone and wallet were lost during a fight outside of the Serranos Salsa Company restaurant on Highland Road. Sinclair was arrested for criminal mischief and issued a misdemeanor summons. Man arrested for fugitive warrant
Around noon, LSUPD officers responded to a suspicious person in the Edward Gay Apartments’ parking lot, Lalonde said. Upon arrival, officers located Hobbley and found he had an outstanding warrant for access device fraud, forgery and theft. Hobbley, of 4500 Sherwood Common Blvd., Apt. 104, was arrested and booked in EBR Parish Prison.
Liffort Wayne Hobbley II, 24, was arrested Sept. 18 for having a fugitive warrant with Baton Rouge Police Department.
MORGAN SEARLES / The Daily Reveille
Students gather in the Union Theater on Tuesday night to watch a screening of “Pitch Perfect,” opening in theaters everywhere Oct. 5.
Contact Megan Dunbar at mdunbar@lsureveille.com
Contact The Daily Reveille news staff at news@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @TDR_news
Tonight on Tiger TV Newsbeat 6PM Sports Showtime 6:15PM The Ramen 6:30 PM Campus Channel 75 SENIORS Time to take portraits for the LSU Gumbo Yearbook! Sign up today at www.ouryear.com School code: 497 DEADLINE: September 27 Sign up for your LSU Gumbo Yearbook! Free Speech Plaza 10:30-2:30 TODAY HOT OFF THE PRESS! Pick up your copy of The Legacy Magazine today DO YOU HAVE AN OCCURRENCE? Call Joe at the Student Media Office 578-6090, 9AM- 5PM or E-mail: oncampus@lsureveille.com
The Daily Reveille
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POLITICS
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Jindal to join Freedom bus tour Megan Dunbar Staff Writer
Gov. Bobby Jindal will join the Iowans for Freedom bus tour Wednesday in Mason City, Iowa to campaign against a judge who ruled in favor of same-sex marriage. The bus tour opposes the retention of Justice David Wiggins. Electors already voted out three other judges in Dec. 2010 who ruled in favor of same-sex marriage. Former presidential hopeful Rick Santorum, who won the Iowa caucuses, will also speak during the tour. Some are concerned about why Jindal is focusing his time out-ofstate. “If he’s the governor of this state, he should be down here running it,” said Young Americans for Liberty president and political science and communication studies
senior Kyle Aycock. “Louisiana has quite a few problems we could be focusing on.” Spectrum member and petroleum engineering junior Clay Curry said equal marriage rights are not a political issue. “I think it’s kind of irrelevant to him being governor of Louisiana,” Curry said. Recent legislation in Louisiana concerning equal marriage rights includes a 2004 Amendment, approved by 78 percent of the voting population, that made it unconstitutional for the state to recognize same-sex marriage or civil union. Associate professor of political science Robert Hogan said he doesn’t find Jindal’s move unusual. “He’s doing it to burnish his conservative credentials in a state that is extraordinarily important in the current presidential election. It’s a place where he’d want to become
well acquainted if he has aspirations to president one day,” Hogan said. Jindal stated in a news release that “the election in November may be the most important in our lifetimes.” “It’s critical we do everything we can to encourage conservatives to go to the polls and vote to uphold our values, freedoms, and rights,” Jindal said. The 2010 election marked the first time since 1962 a judge in Iowa was not retained. Instead of staying out of the conflict as it did in 2010, the Iowa State Bar Association is sponsoring a bus to follow the No Wiggins campaign.
Contact Megan Dunbar at mdunbar@lsureveille.com
CAMPUS LIFE
Fair shows Study Abroad resources Alyson Gaharan Contributing Writer
The Study Abroad Fair, held in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom in the Student Union on Tuesday, highlighted the University’s vast study abroad resources, which Academic Programs Abroad Director Harald Leder says are increasingly valuable as students build their marketable skills. The fair continues Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. “It’s becoming increasingly important for students to have a study abroad experience,” Leder said. “It’s a very smart investment in a student’s future.” Although information about Academic Programs Abroad can be obtained online year-round and in the Academic Programs Abroad office in Hatcher Hall, the Study Abroad Fair allows guests to compare the programs in one location.
“Students should know that study abroad is possible, affordable and a smart investment. Also, you don’t need to know a foreign language to go,” Leder said. “Thinking you can’t afford it is a common misconception. Plan ahead and know what you’re doing.” Speaking about how to navigate the Study Abroad Fair, Leder suggested students focus on opportunities that best fit their schedule and curriculum. Communication disorders and literature sophomore Alexis Caletka said she plans to study abroad this spring. “It will help my career, but also, I’m just interested,” Caletka said. International trade and finance freshman Luke Lowery attended the fair to learn more about study abroad opportunities in France. Lowery said he wants to study abroad to become more well-rounded.
“Study abroad is important for all students. Study abroad is available even for pre-med and engineering students — not just international studies,” Leder said. The study abroad experience is close to Leder’s heart because he traveled overseas while in college. Born in Germany, Leder came to the University to earn his master’s and doctorate degrees. Like Leder, environmental sciences sophomore Ellen Shailes said studying abroad is a valuable experience in terms of both her career and personal interests. Shailes moved to Baton Rouge from Manchester, England, in August to study at the University. “It’s important to get a world view of your subject,” Shailes said.
Contact Alyson Gaharan at agaharan@lsureveille.com
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TIGER BITES
LSU UREC| October 17 | 5pm - 8pm
Sports
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
‘FREAK’ OF NATURE Defensive Tackle Anthony Johnson making noise in sophomore season
Spencer Hutchinson
K
Sports Contributor
‘He’s a young man with a grown man’s body. He’s a silverback. He’s a gorilla. I can’t explain it.’
nown more for his nickname “Freak” than his real name, LSU sophomore defensive tackle Anthony Johnson had a lot to live up to before he ever played a snap for the Tigers. It isn’t hard to understand the reasoning behind the nickname. At 6-foot-3-inches and more than 300 pounds, Johnson is one of the biggest players on the LSU team, and that’s before his play on the field is taken into account. Coming out of high school as a consensus five-star prospect and the No. 1 defensive tackle in the 2011 recruiting class, the expectations for Johnson were anything but small. The moniker was bestowed upon Johnson by legendary coach Monte Kiffin, who was Tennessee’s defensive coordinator at the time. As a sophomore in high school, Johnson participated in a football camp with Kiffin in attendance. Despite his imposing frame, Johnson blazed a 4.8 second 40-yard dash, leading Kiffin to call him “Freak.” The name stuck. Johnson now embraces the epithet. He even included it in his Twitter handle, @freaklsu. Leaner, lighter and in what Johnson said is the best shape of his life, the former O.P. Walker High School star is starting to stand out among the Tigers’ plethora of elite defensive linemen. Through four games this season, Johnson leads all LSU defensive linemen in total tackles (14), is second on the team in tackles for loss (4.5) and tied for
Sam Montgomery junior defensive end
page 5
NFL
Goodell’s turning the NFL into a punch line MIC’D UP MICAH BEDARD Sports Columnist In three weeks, the National Football League has become the laughing stock of America. From a federal judge lifting the suspensions of the four participants in the Saints’ bounty scandal to fining players for making legal hits that didn’t draw penalty flags, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has seen the most prominent league in all of sports become a fiasco nobody takes seriously. The debacle that unfolded on Monday Night Football between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks only added fuel to NFL critics’ fire. I’ve been hoping NFL replacement referees’ days of attempting to discern what was happening on the field would soon come to an end. It was only a matter of time before a mistake by the officials would change the outcome of a game. As Goodell sat back in his recliner with a cold beverage and the end of Week 3 mere seconds away, he, along with the rest of the ESPN GOODELL, see page 7
JOHNSON, see page 7
CONNOR TARTER / The Daily Reveille
Have the replacement referees done irrevocable damage to the NFL’s image? Vote at lsureveille.com.
FOOTBALL
Hairston, coverage teams adjust to new rules Kickoffs come with new consequences Chris Abshire Sports Writer
LSU sophomore kicker James Hairston has one goal for every kickoff. “Put the ball in the first row [of the stands],” he said. “I want to give the fans a souvenir.” Rule changes implemented during the offseason may make Hairston’s individual goal easier, but it has changed the nature of kickoffs this year. The NCAA moved the spot for kickoffs up to the 35-yard line from
the 30, limited the coverage team to a five-yard running start and took the ball from the 20-yard line to the 25 on kickoff touchbacks. Hairston said the new rules haven’t changed his approach to kicks. “I can’t say I’m trying to do anything but hit a touchback, since a return is always dangerous,” he said. “But we have the fastest athletes in the country, just in case.” That coverage unit has been less necessary than usual this season. Hairston has booted 14 touchbacks on 29 kicks in 2012, already nearing the 16 he posted on 70 kickoffs last year. “We joke about it with him,” said sophomore wideout Jarvis
Landry, who is a gunner on the kickoff coverage team. “He’s not giving us many chances to tackle people. We don’t call him a specialist for nothing.” While Hairston said coaches haven’t explicitly told him to angle kicks or loft them to entice a return, LSU coach Les Miles said some strategy is still necessary. The severity of a 25-yard touchback has required more communication with the coverage unit, Miles said. “We try to let them know when we’re going to kick it deep and when we’re going to kick it shallow so we can cover,” Miles said. “But it’s the unexpected there that’s an KICKOFF, see page 7
RICHARD REDMANN / The Daily Reveille
LSU sophomore kicker James Hairston points to the student section during the Tigers’ Sept. 1 game against North Texas in Tiger Stadium.
The Daily Reveille
page 6
SOCCER
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Strength program helps players transition to next level Bria Turner Sports Contributor
TAYLOR BALKOM / The Daily Reveille
LSU freshman forward Fernanda Piña (7) moves past a Kentucky defender Sunday during the Tigers’ 2-1 loss to Kentucky in the LSU Soccer Stadium.
Being pushed, shoved and tackled for the soccer ball is something high school athletes must get used to when they make the transition from high school to big-time college soccer. “You have to play physically to get a good result, especially in the Southeastern Conference,” said freshman forward Colby Maffei. “The SEC is a really competitive and physical league.” In high school, most players make the team, and there are usually a few standout athletes. Once athletes make it to the next level, the game gets serious and intense. “A lot of college soccer is getting up in the air,” said freshman midfielder Heather Magee. “[We’re] winning headers and putting your body in the way, so that together makes it more physical.” The transition is an uphill battle. With a game loaded with standout freshmen, some Tigers admitted the game took some getting used to. “Sometimes you get pushed off a ball a little bit and you’re just
like, ‘next one you gotta get big and protect myself,’” Magee said. “[College soccer] is a lot faster pace than I thought, a lot more running than I was used to. But I bounced back pretty well, and [I’m] still going at it.” Players credit their ability to successfully transition from high school to college soccer to the strength and conditioning improvements that were made once they came to LSU. Coaches implement Olympic training techniques to prepare the women for the rigors they will face in the game. While in season, three days a week are dedicated to full-body workouts that include cleans, overhead lifts and a variation of squats. The other two days focus on speed, acceleration and agilities. “Everybody wants it,” Magee said. “Everybody wants to get better. It motivates you to want to get bigger and stronger.” Using the same workout plan as Alex Morgan and Hope Solo can help when running up, down and across a 75 by 120-yard field for 90 and sometimes 110 minutes. Strength and conditioning coach
Ryan Filo said although he helps with the training of the athletes, the motivation to get better and stronger comes directly from the womens’ attitude and work ethic. The team uses the philosophy “mind over matter.” “When we run I’m constantly working on technique with them, no bending over, being mentally tough,” Filo said. “That’ll go a long way with them, especially going two overtimes like we have done already [five] times this year.” Early success by many of the freshman players can be credited to the player’s motivation. Many freshman athletes were in Baton Rouge the entire summer, which pushed them ahead of the rest of the newcomers who didn’t arrive until the end of the summer. The players say the dedication to becoming a faster and stronger player comes from the increasing role soccer now plays in their lives. “Soccer here is your life,” Maffei said. “You go to school for soccer.” Contact Bria Turner at bturner@lsureveille.com
GOLF
Tigers, sophomores win Shoal Creek Intercollegiate
Lawrence Barreca Sports Contributor
Two golfers led the way for the Tigers at the Shoal Creek Intercollegiate tournament that ended Tuesday as they tied for individual honors and launched LSU to a team title after an impressive performance on the course. Sophomores Stewart Jolly and Curtis Thompson each fired 6-under par for the tournament, propelling the Tigers past Houston for an evenpar 864 first-place finish. “Stewart and Curtis both had career performances today,” said LSU coach Chuck Winstead. “I wouldn’t say [their performances are] very
surprising. They’ve both been playing well for the last month or so, and they were able to come here after a couple of good practices and perform well on the course.” Jolly and Thompson were the first Tigers to finish No. 1 since Austin Gutgsell in the LSU National Invitational in March . The Tigers sent six golfers to the course. Juniors Andrew Presley and Smylie Kaufman, sophomores Thompson and Jolly and freshman Zach Wright competed for the team score, while sophomore Myles Lewis competed as an individual. LSU came out firing on all cylinders in the first round of play Monday, as the sophomore
class put on a show. Thompson finished the first round at 3-under 69, Jolly shot 2-under 70 and Lewis shot 2-over 74. The sophomores swung with precision again as they teed up in round two. Thompson followed up his 3-under performance with a 2-under 70 later in the day. Jolly maintained consistency on the green for the Tigers, shooting a 3-under 69. Lewis capped off the stellar sophomore show with a 4-under 68. Meanwhile, Presley faltered as day one came to a close, shooting a 4-over 76. When the sun set on the course after the first round of competitive
play, the Tigers were sitting content in second place at even-par 576. As round three commenced on Tuesday, LSU found itself in striking distance of a first-place finish. The team had its sights set on victory, and the likes of Jolly, Thompson and Presley kept the team in contention. Jolly shot a 1-under 71, leaving him at 6-under for the tournament. Thompson finished at 6-under after a 1-under 71 final round. Presley
finished strong with an even-par performance in the third round, finishing 2-over. The squad will compete next in the David Toms Intercollegiate at the University Golf Club in Baton Rouge starting Oct. 6.
Contact Lawrence Barreca at lbarreca@lsureveille.com
Wednesday, September 26, 2012 JOHNSON, from page 5
third in sacks (1). Those numbers already surpass his 2011 totals. In 2011, Johnson never started for the Tigers, but played 14 games in a role limited to particular, in-game situations. He totaled 12 tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack. “Last year it was a disappointing freshman year for me even though I had a lot of accolades,” Johnson said. “I took it upon myself in the offseason to be the best we can be, and right now I’m just trying to keep that up and show my teammates that I’m ready to play for them.” Johnson received his first start against a Southeastern Conference opponent on Saturday against Auburn, and given his recent play, it probably won’t be his last. On Saturday, Johnson had three tackles, two of which were tackles for loss and the other a sack. Johnson said he feels this season is his first opportunity to accomplish his goals, and he said those goals only come by leaving everything on the field. “I don’t care if I’m chasing after Keke Mingo; I’m ‘ I’m not going to be a going to close second,” change. I’m not Johnson said. going to stop “I’m not gohaving the best ing to change. not going technique, and I’m to stop having I’m going to go the best tech100 mph every nique, and I’m going to go play.’ 100 mph every Anthony Johnson play.” sophomore defensive Junior detackle fensive end Sam Montgomery said the attention Johnson received coming into LSU was well-deserved. Montgomery also said he thinks Johnson will exceed the hype because of his humility, hard work on the practice field and natural physical ability. “He’s a young man with a grown man’s body,” Montgomery said. “He’s a silverback. He’s a gorilla. I can’t explain it.” Johnson said no one has higher expectations for himself than he does. He knows he has to go out and earn the attention he received as a recruit, but that’s not his only goal. “I just want to be a legend,” Johnson said. “I just want to be remembered for the great things I do, even if it’s off the field. Everyone wants those accolades. They want to be a first round draft pick. They want to be an All-American. I’m just trying to be the best teammate and player I can be for this university.”
Contact Spencer Hutchinson at shutchinson@lsureveille.com
GOODELL, from page 5 audience, saw exactly what would happen when such a call was made. Forget about “The Music City Miracle” or the “Immaculate Reception;” the newest legendary football moment is “The Fail Mary.” I don’t need to explain the details of the play. You’ve probably already seen it on ESPN, Deadspin and the Disney Channel. A baffled pair of referees simultaneously made different rulings on the play. One signaled touchdown, the other an interception. How can two officials standing a grand total of two feet apart have such a different interpretation of the play? How can the head official, Wayne Elliott, watch a replay and still make the wrong call? More importantly, how can the NFL continue to allow this mockery to go on? I still can’t believe it. A person not watching the game would have thought an atomic bomb went off with the way the Twitterverse exploded. The blame shouldn’t be put on the replacement officials. It should be put on Goodell and the NFL owners who won’t open their checkbooks to pay the real NFL referees.
KICKOFF, from page 5
issue. They’re supposed to go down 100 percent on each one, so I think there’s some of that that gives a return team some advantages.” Though Hairston is averaging 63.5 net yards per kick, down 2.2 yards from his 2011 mark — which earned him an All-Southeastern Conference Freshman selection — the opposition hasn’t benefitted from the regression. LSU opponents are starting drives at the 22-yard line on average this season, as opposed to
The Daily Reveille
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JOHN LOK / The Associated Press
Officials signal after Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate pulled in a pass from quarterback Russell Wilson on Monday to defeat the Green Bay Packers 14-12.
Unlike the NFL players’ lockout last year, the difference between the NFL and its referee association is millions, not billions. You’re telling me 32 NFL owners can’t spare a few bucks to restore order to the chaos on the field? If you would have told me a referees’ strike would have more of an impact on the game than a players’ lockout, I would have laughed you out of the room. But that’s exactly what’s going on. If what happened Monday
night doesn’t create a sense of urgency for Goodell to get officials back on the field, I don’t know what will. It’s not like the officiating faux pas occurred during an early Sunday afternoon kickoff, where multiple games are going on and you can only watch the play on NFL RedZone. Viewers watched during primetime as victory was literally snatched from the Packers’ hands. I wouldn’t be as fed up with the NFL if it would have owned up and
the 25 in 2011. Hairston offers a simple explanation. “I have the best coverage unit out there,” he said. “More guys are trying to bring it back from deep in the endzone with the new rules, I feel. They’re taking their future into their hands with our guys heading at them full speed.” Indeed, opposing returners have tallied only 18 yards per return through four games, down two yards from the average against the 2011 Tigers. Landry said LSU’s special
teams coaches have counteracted the five-yard limit by implementing new techniques, such as having gunners run diagonally to maximize a running start. “We’re lining up tighter to one side, running tighter and then fanning out as we get down the field,” Landry said. “You still pick up speed, and sometimes you stay more disciplined in your lanes.” It’s not all positive on kickoffs, though. On Saturday, Auburn posted the longest kickoff return on LSU this season with a 43-yarder and Hairston netted just one
admitted its substitute officials took a win from one team and gave it to another. But of course, it didn’t. In a statement released Tuesday, the NFL took the blame for the offensive pass interference call by Tate that should have ended the game. In the next paragraph it supported the game-changing ruling made by the referees, saying Tate and Jennings had “simultaneous possession” of the football, awarding the ball to the offense. For the NFL to back up the call isn’t surprising. It has to try and save face after such a tumultuous start to the season. The only way for Goodell to quiet fans, players, coaches and commentators is to pay the NFL officials sitting at home whatever they want or fire himself. Until then, the game’s legitimacy will continue to suffer. Your move, Goodell. Micah Bedard is a 22-year-old history senior from Houma.
Contact Micah Bedard at mbedard@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @DardDog touchback on three kicks. That performance echoed Hairston’s message to his elite coverage team and most especially, himself. “There’s so much room to improve,” he said. “It’s practice, practice, practice, especially with these new rules. The first row is still waiting.”
Contact Chris Abshire at cabshire@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @AbshireTDR
The Daily Reveille
Opinion
The
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Peanut
Gallery
LSU is playing Towson University on Saturday. Where do you think Towson is located? Compiled by CHET HEBERT
Rachel Respess
‘Ohio? Somebody told me where it was, but I forgot.’
English senior
‘I wanna say it’s in Arkansas.’ Joe Familia
biology freshman
‘I have no idea. Can I call a friend?’ Corinne Rapier psychology senior
‘I’m gonna go with Kansas.’ Daniel Bonnett English senior
‘I think it’s in Louisiana.’
Fight speech with speech THE NEW FRONTIERSMAN CLAYTON CROCKETT Opinion Editor Like magnets, the front lines of freedom of speech and religious tolerance continually smash together before drawing apart once more. But while commentators across the world are heaving for highly incongruent solutions to insensitive religious speech — as though there were one — there is one point the Western World seems to be dodging: It is not insensitive speech that needs to be addressed, but rather hypersensitive reactions. It’s a tough stand to take in such turbulent times, but it’s lamentable that as soon as the wrong camp is offended we can forget that satire and criticism are Western institutions to be held in the highest regard. It’s lazy to say there should simply be less offensive speech, because our religious freedoms arose from offensive speech. So if violent reactions persist in response to Western media, who needs to change: us, or a painfully vague them? Thankfully, President Obama addressed these points yesterday in a speech to the U.N. “We [protect free speech] not because we support hateful speech, but because our Founders understood that without such protections, the capacity of each individual to express their own views and protect their own faith may be threatened,” Obama said. “We do so because in a diverse society, efforts to restrict speech can become a tool to silence critics or oppress minorities.”
WEB COMMENTS The Daily Reveille wants to hear your reactions to our content. Go to lsureveille.com, our Facebook page and our Twitter account to let us know what you think. Check out what other readers had to say in our comments section: In response to the news story, “Many students refuse to vote,” readers had this to say:
De’Andra Roberts mass communication freshman
The Daily Reveille Editorial Board
Andrea Gallo Emily Herrington Bryan Stewart Brian Sibille Clayton Crockett
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Managing Editor, External Media News Editor Opinion Editor
MARY ALTAFFER / The Associated Press
President Barack Obama addresses the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters Tuesday in New York City.
We reached the conclusion that freedom of speech is paramount to a free society, and we reached that conclusion through the mixture of many cultures and ideas, not the hegemony of one. Diplomacy should come with that same understanding — we should have faith that the remaining firebrands will be extinguished by the cool head of the common man and woman. And this certainly is not to call out only the Muslims of the Middle East — or of the world — whose splinter sects and minority groups have rioted against the West’s insensitivity. Anyone who passed by the Student Union Tuesday saw the long dresses, bonnets and beards of our beloved campus proselytizers, shouting the obscene
accusations we’ve all come to know and love. Students of any stripe would be offended by being told they’ve got an eternity of torture awaiting them if they spend too much time studying and too little time hating themselves, but we take the offense and get McDonald’s in the Union regardless. Hell, even the Amish can’t seem to keep their cool these days, with seven recent arrests for what appears to be gang-like violence this week. But they had the luxury of escaping the world almost entirely — though not if a reality television producer on TLC has anything to say about it, of course. That luxury is becoming more and more of an impossibility, however. And whether
“A political science sophomore who doesn’t understand the importance of voting? That actually disgusts me. If you want to make hardly any impact while still taking advantage of your civic duty, vote for a third party candidate. In any case, it doesn’t matter if both candidates ‘suck.’ We have to have a president and it actually does make a difference who it is for some of us. In this country right now, political apathy is just not acceptable.
Political decisions affect our lives. Political decisions affect whether or not you or your classmates get to go to this great state school, or whether you get a scholarship or not, or whether you get financial aid. Like it or not, politics affects your life even though you may not realize it. Throwing away the chance to make decisions for yourself, in a way, is just pathetic. I understand our system isn’t perfect and there are many,
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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.
you agree with his policies or not, Obama must be praised for standing up for our right to speak freely, even in the face of death threats and destruction. “If we are serious about those ideals, we must speak honestly about the deeper causes of this crisis,” he said. In short, the president told the U.N. that America will stand by its freedom of expression and expect the world to recognize that no speech warrants violence. Individual liberties will come with cultural and technological modernization, i.e. globalization. And with this in mind, we must not apologize for our offensive speech — for our Terry Jones’, our Free Speech Plaza preachers or our insensitive critics and satirists. “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.” No more relevant or crucial character could have said this than Voltaire, and this ideal is an American one at its core. We have enjoyed an atypical brand of freedom in the United States. We should not alter our behavior for our neighbors, and, just like the moderate Muslim majority, we need not apologize for our outliers. Clayton Crockett is a 20-yearold international studies junior from Lafayette.
Contact Clayton Crockett at ccrockett@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @TDR_ccrockett many flaws - I get that. BUT YOU NEED TO VOTE. And that goes to every LSU student who is of age.” - Heidi
Contact The Daily Reveille’s opinion staff at opinion@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @TDR_opinion
Quote of the Day
“I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”
Voltaire French writer, historian and philosopher Nov. 21, 1694 — May 30, 1778
The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Opinion
page 9
HEAD to HEAD
A University professor says LSU must change its grading system to “catch up” to other schools.
Should LSU adopt a plus-or-minus grading scale? Yes. The plus-minus system allows more accurate grading. No. The grading system in place doesn’t need to be fixed. LA SEULE FEMME KATE MABRY Columnist The first day of each semester is always regarded as the “syllabus day,” where professors read the semester’s agenda and define their expectations. And while the day may seem lax and even boring, one issue continues to make students cringe: the rounding of final grades. I’ve encountered a number of professors who refuse to round borderline grades, and like many students, I’ve set up post-final exam meetings with professors to beg them for a better grade. Some familiar lines include, “But I never missed one of your lectures,” or “I need this grade to keep my scholarship!” While these student-teacher conferences may be humiliating, that one grade is completely reliant on a few decimal points, and it can make or break your GPA. However, the inclusion of the plusminus grading system — which would allow for grades of A, A minus, B plus, B, B minus, C-plus, C, C minus, D plus, D, D minus and F — will end many students’ anxiety following the most stressful week of the semester. On Oct. 2, the Faculty Senate will vote on whether to accept the contested grading system, and many members of the faculty appear to be in favor of the system. Don Chance, finance professor, said the plus-minus grading system offers students additional opportunities to improve grades. “It provides better resolution and more accurate grading,” he said. “Psychological studies show that more than five categories are required to accurately measure student performance. Fewer quality points are at stake for borderline students who might wish to appeal, and missing the next highest grade would not be as costly as under the current system.” Many students have expressed concerns that the plus-minus grading system will negatively affect their GPAs, but in reality, it only offers more flexibility in grading. Students with borderline grades can be assured they will receive fair scores if they don’t obtain the higher grade. But Chance said no dramatic changes in student grades have been noted following the inclusion of the plus-minus grading system elsewhere. “Studies published in educational journals show no significant difference in grade point average before and after adoption of the plus-minus system,” he said. Some will argue that the A will no longer hold the same weight under the plusminus system, which divides the grade into A and A minus but under the current system, more than 95 percent of the student body falls below a perfect 4.0 GPA. With the plus-minus system, students can earn the chance to receive credit for a B plus at
3.3, instead of the standard B at 3.0. A number of schools – from New York University and Tulane to Mississippi and Florida State universities – have embraced the plus-minus system, and it’s time that LSU joins in as well. Chance agreed. “We need to catch up with the times,” he said. “Some universities have been using this system since the ‘70s.” While the plus-minus system will continue to be a hot topic among faculty and students if implemented, the grading system will not affect today’s seniors or even juniors, Chance said. So before you get swept away in the Student Government anti-plus-minus movement, think about how the grading system could prevent those awkward – and usually ineffective – meetings with your professor about rounding your final grade. Kate Mabry is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from New Orleans.
Contact Kate Mabry at kmabry@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @KateMabry1
THE TRADITIONALIST CHRIS ORTTE Columnist Didn’t your father ever tell you, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”? Faculty Senate Resolution 11-20 was proposed last January by Professor Don Chance. It has received its deliberation — the good, the bad and the ugly — and it’s due for its last round of debating and voting Oct. 2. Chance looks at our dinosaur grading system as behind the curve. One of his two reasons for the proposal he offers is that we must not “lag” behind our peers, and we should “catch up.” Is this really a question of having to catch up? Is the University so far behind its peers because of its style of grading? The new plus or minus system proposes the grades A, A minus, B plus, B, B minus, C plus, C, C minus, D plus, D, D plus and F. I guess unlike the A, an F is an F, and there’s no difference between failing with a plus and failing with a minus. Like HDTV, the high-resolution scale shows the real nit and gritty. It allows those Cs to separate themselves from the slow-thinking C-minuses. And interestingly enough, there is no A plus, but certainly an A minus. What a black eye that minus is on such pretty, blue-eyed grade.
The new system’s resolution will create a higher tier of cream-of-the-crop. Those who make only A minuses will not only not receive the notoriety that their A-making competitors will, but they also won’t receive the same GPA. A student who makes all As — but maybe some of their As were 90s or 91s — would not actually get that elusive 4.0 GPA. An all A minus student would receive a much more satisfying 3.7 GPA. So much for making all As. Discrediting hard-line efforts students lay into their work to reach the ultimate goal in academia — the A — sure is a wretched way of rewarding the studious. What if, in time, we realize that most of the student body tends to make grades on the lower side of the 10-point range? The school’s overall GPA would drop. Then we’d really be caught up. What is apparent, though, is the lack of support students show for such a shift in grading systems. Since this institution is in existence by the being of the student, shouldn’t there be more catering to the student? The lack of parking and the triggerhappiness of the ticket-crickets are plenty enough headache. Suffixing our C or D with a minus is just throwing salt on an open wound. As per Chance’s reasons of flexibility for professors — is this just rhetoric for making grading easier for professors and teacher assistants? Flexibility translates into subjectivity. When giving those who grade a more subjective system, you allow more external factors play into the grades of students. I once approached a professor about a grade I thought was disagreeable, and I received the response, “Look, I have to grade 160 of these — it really depends on what mood I’m in.” This problem of mood-swing grading will be exacerbated by a system that enables a greater amount of subjectivity. No inherent problem with the current grading system has been pointed out, only non-substantive reasons to change it. Thus leaving one conclusion: the system isn’t broken, so it doesn’t need to be fixed. Chris Ortte is a 21-year-old political science senior from Lafayette.
Contact Chris Ortte at cortte@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @TDR_chrisortte
ROLAND PARKER / The Daily Reveille
Which columnist echoes your beliefs? Vote at lsureveille.com/opinion.
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Wednesday, September 26, 2012 GRADING SCALE, from page 1
The committee also looked at the change in GPAs after the grading system was implemented. The GPAs are virtually identical. According to the Ad Hoc Committee’s report, under the University’s current system, the average GPA is 3.05. The committee found the average GPA for a school using a plus-minus system to be 3.03. Don Chance, finance professor and author of the resolution, has taught under both systems and collected his own data. His findings also show little to no difference in GPA on both undergraduate and graduate levels. “When I initially went to a school that had the system, I was a little slow at first to adopt the system,” Chance said. “Then I tried it, and I found that it worked well.” Chance taught at Virginia Tech, which began using the plus-minus grading system in 1979. Other peer institutions that use the plus-minus grading system include Vanderbilt, the University of Georgia and the University of Missouri. But not all faculty members are united in their opinion. Some
feel that the resolution will cause unnecessary work and more frequent grade grievances, according to Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope. Because there are more divisions, some faculty think that students will complain about their grades more often, Cope said. For example, a B minus will be worth 2.7 grade points. A grade of B plus will be worth 3.3 grade points, according to the resolution. There will be no A plus grade. “I’m just not a fan of people having GPAs higher than 4.0,” Chance said. The Faculty Senate could be rushing into this decision without thinking about the implications, said Student Government President Taylor Cox. He said Faculty Senate is trying to make the University as challenging and respectable as other higher education institutions through suffix grading. “People say we’re trying to be more like our peer institutions. Well, no. We’re LSU. People should be trying to be more like us,” Cox said. On Tuesday, SG announced it was against the bill. Despite student opposition to the bill, Mandi Lopez, veterinary
The Daily Reveille medicine professor and chair of the Ad Hoc Committee, said the Faculty Senate should approve the bill. “I’m not convinced that it will have a significant effect,” Lopez said. “There seems to be a little bit of confusion. No professor will be required to implement it.” She said because the current system fits within the suffix system, the current system is still an option. Chance also advocated for the bill. “This is the perfect time,” he said. “We are moving to a new [PAWS] system. It is best to implement plus-minus grading right as we put in the new system. Students always think they are better than their GPA, here is their chance to prove it.”
Read a Head to Head on the plus-minus grading system in the opinion section of The Daily Reveille. Contact The Daily Reveille’s news staff at news@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @TDR_news
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The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, September 26, 2012