The Daily Reveille - March 27, 2015

COMMUNITY St. Alban’s offers internships to students page 3

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FOOTBALL Receivers seek improvement during spring practice page 6

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Volume 119 · No. 118

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ENDOWMENTS

Acacia Fraternity expelled from campus

BY ROSE VELAZQUEZ rvelazquez@lsureveille.com The Acacia Fraternity national office released a statement Thursday announcing the closure of the University chapter after reported violations of the fraternity’s standards and policies related to the treatment of its members.

The chapter’s campus registration has been revoked, effective immediately` and continuing through June 30, 2018, according to a statement from assistant vice chancellor of communications

Kristine Calongne Sanders. University officials’ decision came after hazing allegations surfaced during fall 2014.

University Media Relations director Ernie Ballard confirmed Monday that Acacia’s interim suspension of activities after announcing the investigation into the chapter for allegations of “behavioral misconduct.”

“The findings of an internal investigation raised serious concern regarding congruence with Acacia’s values, membership education programs, and Ritual,”

according to a statement issued by Acacia Fraternity executive director Patrick McGovern.

McGovern visited the University chapter on March 17, determined chapter rehabilitation was not a likely possibility and recommended its removal from campus, according to the statement.

According to the charge letter from the Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability, the University confirmed that activities occurred violating Policy Statements 78 and 108 of the Code of Student Conduct. Those activities include

forced alcohol consumption, personal servitude, meal restrictions during Initiation Week, a road trip to Auburn University in which various thefts occurred and hazing as outlined by Policy Statement 78.

“I hope this sends a very strong message to all of our students who participate in Greek Life activities.

This behavior is absolutely unacceptable,” said LSU President F. King Alexander in a statement.

Acacia accepted all penalties, according to Ballard’s statement.

see ACACIA, page 15

Chemistry program tops diversity survey

BY JOSE ALEJANDRO BASTIDAS jbastidas@lsureveille.com Chemistry is hard, but a recent study shows underrepresented minorities at the University may be up for the challenge.

“Trends in Ph.D. Productivity and Diversity in Top-50 U.S. Chemistry Departments: An Institutional Analysis,” a study published in the Journal of Chemical Education in June 2014, ranks the University’s chemistry department as the top producer of African American and female doctoral graduates.

The University’s chemistry graduate program currently comprises 132 students, 57 of which are female while the other 75 are male. Of those, 69 are U.S. citizens — 13 African American, four Latino, seven Asian-American and 45 white — and 63 are international students.

When chemistry doctoral candidate Ciera Duronslet talks about her field of study with others, she said, more often than not people admire her intelligence.

“I hear a lot of students say they like chemistry, but they’re afraid to keep going with it,” Duronslet said. “I would tell them that if they really enjoy it … lock out that outside influence that tells [them] chemistry is hard. If

CLAIM Y O U R SPACE

you really like it and see yourself doing it, go with it.”

In recent years, universities across the U.S. experienced a decrease in the number of college students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields — like chemistry, said chemistry department chair Luigi Marzilli.

Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives Isiah Warner said the University produces the largest percentage of women doctoral graduates in chemistry, but not the highest number, while producing the highest percentage and highest number of African American chemistry doctoral graduates in the nation.

Warner said the diversification of the department’s faculty over the years and word of mouth explain the increase in minority students.

“It has a lot to do with our faculty,” Warner said. “Ten years ago, we had no women in the faculty. ... [Now] we have at least half a dozen. Not as many as we should have, but the numbers are beginning to increase.

Diversity is a process that feeds off of each other. As the student

see CHEMISTRY, page 4

EMILY BRAUNER / The Daily Reveille

Chemistry doctoral candidate Ciera Duronslet stands in a Choppin Hall lab on Thursday.

OTHER 13%

KENYA 2% NIGERIA 2%

chemistry graduate students by nationality

NEPAL 3% IRAN 3%

U.S. 52%

SRI LANKA 9%

CHINA 15%

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LSU endowments among SEC’s lowest

BY ROSE VELAZQUEZ rvelazquez@lsureveille.com From football to gymnastics, there is a long-standing tradition of athletic rivalry among SEC schools. Off the field, these academic institutions are competing in a different way.

In a year when the University faces some of the largest potential budget cuts in its history, the race for academic excellence and financial superiority has never had higher stakes.

For higher education, an endowment is the gift that keeps on giving. An endowment is a donor’s commitment to a fundraising entity that then invests the principal amount and makes a portion of the return on that investment available each year, creating a source of perpetual funding.

When it comes to the business of fundraising, the University is one of the newer players in the game, and the LSU System’s relative youth shows in the value of its endowments.

“LSU in general is new to fundraising in comparison to a lot of our peers,” said Sara Crow, LSU Foundation director of communications and donor relations. “[Other universities] have just been kind of in that arena longer.”

She said endowments provide continuous funding for scholarships, professorships, chairs and other special projects or purposes designated by the donor.

There are 16 fundraising foundations throughout the LSU System, and three of those are on the University’s main campus: the LSU Alumni Association, the LSU Foundation and the Tiger Athletic Foundation.

“Unfortunately, we have not raised the funds that we need to raise as a flagship university,” said LSU President F. King Alexander

see ENDOWMENTS, page 15 1, 2, 3 & 4 BEDROOMS + TOWNHOMES

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Middleton Library closed for about two hours Thursday afternoon, as students were evacuated from the building around 3 p.m., with the building reopening at about 5 p.m.

The library closed after the Office of Facility Services notified library staff of a power outage caused by rolling blackouts about 20 minutes before Middleton lost power, said Director of Library Communications Sigrid Kelsey.

“We appreciate all the students being polite and going along with it,” Kelsey said.

“We’re sorry this happened.”

A student worker confirmed people were stuck in the employee elevator due to the power outage.

The library began its regular closing procedure after the notification, Kelsey said. Voices announced the evacuation over a megaphone, said psychology junior Stephanie Saltzmann.

“I was at the computer, and they just started walking around with a megaphone and saying that the power was going out,” Saltzmann said. “They just started to move people.”

Saltzmann was supposed

to conduct her time-sensitive research for a psychology class in the library at 3:30 p.m.

She was relocated to another room.

“We’re moving to another room, but nothing was ever told to me,” Saltzmann said. “It was unexpected. No prior knowledge of this.”

Library staff did not tell students a reason for the power outage, said freshman business major Drew Landry.

He said he asked a female staff member why he needed to leave, but she did not explain the situation to him.

“We asked why we needed to leave, and she told us she was just doing her job,” Landry said.

“She wouldn’t give us any more information.”

Shortly after closing the facility, the staff placed signs on the doors explaining the library would reopen at 5:30 p.m.

Petroleum engineering junior Ashley Beneke tried to go to the library for the two hour break between her lab and her next class, but she was turned away by the signs.

“I’m sure they have a good reason for closing it,” Beneke said. “There’s no reason to be mad about it. I just have to find somewhere else to study.”

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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 e-mail editor@lsureveille.com.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES The Daily Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University.

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Second-class copies postage paid at Baton Rouge, La., 70803. Annual weekly mailed subscriptions are $125, semester weekly mailed subscriptions are $75. Non-mailed student rates are $4 each regular semester, $2 during the summer; one copy per person, additional copies 25 cents each.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Daily Reveille, B-39 Hodges Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, La., 70803.

The Daily Reveille

Friday, March 27, 2015

page 3 [Left] Reverend Andrew S. Rollins (left) and LSU biology graduate Maria Weller (right), a ministry intern, have available internships at St. Alban’s Chapel for students. [Right] LSU biology graduate Maria Weller is a ministry intern at St. Alban’s Chapel.

photos by EMILY BRAUNER

The Daily Reveille

BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY

St. Alban’s offers paid internships to University students

BY HAYLEY FRANKLIN hfranklin@lsureveille.com For University alumna Maria Weller, an internship with St. Alban’s Chapel and Episcopal University Center on campus presented opportunities not allotted in a traditional internship.

Weller, who has interned since her junior year, remained an intern after graduation and expanded the church’s programs.

As an intern, Weller reached out to University students, inviting them to events and services.

Through paid internships, St. Alban’s Chapel allows some University students to explore different areas of their faith.

Rev. Andrew Rollins said students may believe ministry work is done by priests or religious ministers on campus, but in reality many campus churches have student interns who aid in ministry.

“I think all of the ministries that are doing well on campus have student interns in some capacity and they recognize that you need to have students really

forming the ministry,” Rollins said.

St. Alban’s internship program began in 2008 with University alumnus Stephen Crawford.

Crawford was an intern at St. Alban’s for three years before attending the seminary at Duke Divinity School. After seminary, Crawford returned to St. Alban’s, where he was ordained a deacon, and later married a fellow intern.

Soon, Crawford was ordained a priest at Trinity Episcopal Church, just down the street from St. Alban’s. He was the only intern to become an Episcopalian priest.

Rollins said the purpose of the internship is not to create a pathway to the priesthood, but “to prepare students who want to take their Christian faith into whatever field they are pursuing.”

The internships also lend the church more creativity in organizing St. Alban’s ministry and events. Rollins said interns’ ideas help him to better understand what college students want.

“When the ideas come from the students, they are of course

much more in touch with what students want,” Rollins said. “I’m thinking about what they wanted 30 years ago, back when I was a student. It’s very different.”

Some interns are not Episcopalian, but they attend the services as part of their internship.

Weller said working as an intern helped her grow in her faith, because she had to understand and believe the religion before she could introduce others to the faith.

Student interns lead services, Bible studies and prayer meetings and some create their own plans for the meetings.

Mathematics senior and ministry intern George Flynn, who is involved with the music ministry at St. Alban’s, created a weekly evening prayer group which draws a small continuous group.

Every fall, interns are given a list of incoming freshmen from other Episcopal churches in the diocese. They invite students to visit St. Alban’s Chapel and oftentimes students are introduced to the church.

Biological engineering senior

Senior Portraits Professional Headshots

Whitney Tidwell is the children’s ministry intern, so her responsibilities include scheduling Sunday school teachers and creating lesson plans for kindergarten through fifth grade.

Tidwell also leads St. Alban’s teen group, an important task to head she said. Through her years of teaching Tidwell said she has learned students often just need someone to talk to and she enjoys being there for them.

“They’re the ones who inspired me to get where I am today with teaching and so if anything, it has been very special to me,” Tidwell said. “I’ve never been more thankful for anything throughout my college experience.”

MARCH

EVENT CALENDAR

27

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 5:00 PM 5:30 PM 6:30 PM

LSU Men's Tennis - W. T. "Dub" Robinson Stadium

7:00 PM

Louisiana State Baseball - Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field - LSU

7:30 PM

Oklahoma! - Baton Rouge Little Theater

Art After Hours - Louisiana Art and Science Museum and Planetarium 48 Rouge - Superior Grill

Showtunes Sing Along - Des Amis Dining & Catering

An American in Venice: James McNeill Whistler and His Legacy LSU Museum of Art

ALL DAY

GUMBO YEARBOOK

walkins welcome or sign up at lsureveille.com/Gumbo

Camille Young said she was first introduced to St. Alban’s Chapel when another intern told her about the “Growing in Grace” Bible study.

“Eventually I probably would have figured out that they have church services here and probably would have come on my own but it would have been a few years before I found out about this wonderful place, so we definitely need the interns to get the word out,” Young said.

Interns also teach the church community. Out of the three interns, two interns are dedicated to college ministry, and one intern is in charge of children’s ministry.

Education graduate student

Brush With Burden Art Exhibition - LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden Margaret Evangeline: On War - LSU Museum of Art

For more information on LSU events or to place your own event you can visit www.lsureveille.com/calendar

The Daily Reveille

page 4 ALUMNI

Friday, March 27, 2015 STATE

Alumnus finishes ‘The Voice’ in top 32 House bill may abolish

higher education boards

BY EMILIE HEBERT ehebert@lsureveille.com He may have not won “The Voice,” but 24-year-old University alumnus Travis Ewing won the hearts and support of fans across the country.

Ewing ended his journey on season 8 of “The Voice” during last Monday’s episode. He began among about 50,000 other hopefuls and made it to the top 32.

Show producers found Ewing, who graduated in fall 2013, through his Facebook music page and invited him to a private audition in New Orleans about a year ago. He almost didn’t go because he didn’t want to drive from Baton Rouge, he said, but his friends encouraged him.

Soon after, he moved to Charleston, South Carolina, nearly forgetting about his audition. Ewing said he had a few job interviews in marketing lined up, but his heart was set on pursuing music.

Three days after his move, “The Voice” invited Ewing to Los Angeles for an executive audition for season 8.

In November, Ewing sang his version of “Say My Name” by Destiny’s Child during his blind audition, which aired on NBC March 2.

Christina Aguilera was the first coach to turn her chair for Ewing.

“That kind of gave me the confidence to just really let loose and go for it, because once she turned ... I had done what I came to do,” Ewing said. “After that, it was all kind of a blur. I kind of blacked out a little bit. It was just like, ‘Okay, let’s rip it.’”

He soon caught the attention of coaches Pharrell Williams and Blake Shelton. Ewing then had to choose between Team Christina, Team Pharrell and Team Blake.

Shelton tried to win over the Lafayette native with a “Geaux Cajuns! Ragin’ Cajuns!” chant, but Ewing, who began playing guitar in 7th grade, said he felt connected to Williams, a singer, songwriter and producer.

“I’ve never really considered myself just a singer, or even a singer at all,” Ewing said. “I was firstly a musician, and the singing kind of came with that. I think the guidance of a producer who can give me direction and can kind of tell me where I fit,

CHEMISTRY, from page 1 body gets more diverse, the faculty gets more diverse, and so on.”

Marzilli said to increase diversity in departments across the University, the first step is to hire a more diverse faculty.

“Once you start getting some faculty who are in those categories of gender and ethnicity, that tends to make it easier to attract [students and other faculty],” Marzilli said.

Duronslet said the chemistry

BY CARRIE GRACE HENDERSON chenderson@lsureveille.com

where my niche should be ... that knockout round, but he said his was more important to me than experience on “The Voice” gave someone like Christina Aguilera him the confidence to pursue muwho can teach me how to do a sic as a full-time career, not just bunch of runs or Blake Shelton a hobby.

“I was kind of giving up on who can make you laugh a lot. [music] and I think Pharrell was where I ‘[“The Voice”] happened at thinking about needed to be.” the most perfect time for me, just doing it on Ewing said he and I met people who are the weekends uses Ed Sheeran giving me the encouragement instead of putting all my focus and soul musito keep playing.’ on it,” he said. cian Allen Stone “[‘The Voice’] as inspirations TRAVIS EWING, happened at the when he covers University alumnus and most perfect songs or writes ‘The Voice’ contestant time for me, and his own.

I met people who He said his soulful performance of “Say My are giving me the encourageName” was his favorite because ment to keep playing.”

Ewing said his main focus he showcased his own style.

Ewing’s next performance in now is saving money to record an the battle round was intimidat- EP. He plans to continue booking ing, he said, because he strug- gigs, some with “The Voice” congled with the song, “Get Ready,” testants across the country.

Living in Louisiana — Baton but one comment from Williams Rouge specifically — shaped him stuck with him.

“There was a moment in the into the artist he is today, Ewing battle round that ... I was having said.

“Growing up in Louisiana a little bit of a confidence issue, and Pharrell came up to me dur- helped me because I got a lot of ing one of our rehearsals after culture, I got a lot of soul, I got we finished and he said, ‘What a lot of Cajun in me ... I was foryou have is great,’” Ewing said. tunate in that I was able to play “That kind of hit me really hard, enough shows to gather a solid and I think that that made my following and not be just a face battle round performance a lot in the crowd like I would be in better. ... That’s something I’ll Nashville or New York or something,” Ewing said. “My time in definitely always remember.”

He lost the battle to Team Baton Rouge was awesome.”

Ewing will return to BaPharrell member Anthony Riley, but Blake Shelton stole Ewing, ton Rouge for a show at Bogie’s on Wednesday before he plays advancing him to the top 32.

Ewing was eliminated in the shows in Lafayette and Dallas.

positions and functions.”

In the current system, the Board of Regents functions as Five governing boards over- a policy board, making recomsee public higher education in mendations to the system boards Louisiana, each with 15 to 16 below it. The system boards can governor-appointed members, then accept or refuse the proposone or two student representaals, Carmody said. tives and countless paid staffThe Board of Regents has ers. no constitutional authoriThese 75 people dity to enforce policy, and rect almost 30 public there is no penalty to colleges and universystems that do not sities, but House Bill follow its recommen60, to be presented dation. in the upcoming Even if the bill legislative session, passes in the Loui2015 LEGISLATIVE WATCH would cut their siana State House numbers to 15. of RepresentaIntroduced by state Rep. tives, there is still a long road Thomas Carmody, R-Shreve- ahead before the bill becomes an port, the constitutional amend- amendment. ment would abolish the Board of After passing in the House, Regents and all system boards it would move to the Louisiana of supervisors to create a single State Senate. If successful there, Louisiana Postsecondary Educa- the bill would still need to be aption Board of Trustees. proved by voters.

The same bill was introduced Meeting all those condiin 2011 as HB 588. According tions, the current boards would to legiscan.com, the bill died in be eliminated and the new one committee. would be put in place on Jan. 1, Carmody said he hopes the 2017. bill will fare better in the 2015 But Carmody knows the bill session because of increasing will not pass unopposed. budgetary concerns.

“Most of the other three sys“This year, because we are tems have felt like LSU would be facing such a catastrophic bud- overbearing on a single board,” get deficit ... everybody is look- Carmody said. “I’ve also heard ing to see what we can do to try other people say ... it would end to bring down the cost of higher up being the Louisiana College education across the board,” and Technical System because Carmody said. they now would be receiving the Carmody introduced a bill lion’s share of the money.” after a 2010 governance commitCarmody said ensuring tee report, requested by Carmo- fairness falls to the executive dy and state Rep. John Schroder, branch. The governor will apR-Covington. point members to the Board of The governance committee Trustees, subject to Senate apasked the Board of Regents and proval, for staggering six-year the system boards to evaluate terms. if the current higher education The Daily Reveille previousleadership was practical or uni- ly reported that Ann Duplessis versal. was the only member of the LSU After a review of other states’ Board of Supervisors who did higher education governance, not financially contribute to Gov. the report found the Louisiana Bobby Jindal’s campaign. system atypical and redundant, “Your executive branch will Carmody said. have to be sensitive as to the ap“It just said that Louisiana pointments so that there would was very unique in the way that it be a cross section of those perwas set up,” Carmody said. “One sons who have the interest of of the things the governance the different boards at heart,” commission report showed was Carmody said. “They would be that we had redundancies of po- there to advocate on behalf of sitions and that each one of the the schools that are presently losystems basically has reciprocal cated in those systems.”

department’s diverse population encouraged her to enroll at the University because she wouldn’t have to worry about being looked down upon or discriminated against because of her race.

She said being exposed to people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds makes her a more well-rounded person.

“When I came for my [prospective student] visit, I met students of a wide range of different races and ethnic backgrounds here,” Duronslet said. “To me, it makes a student feel more

industrial company.

She said once she has experienced the industry and is ready to settle down, she would consider becoming a chemistry professor in the future.

“There’s a lot of data … that demonstrate that institutions that have the most diversity are the most successful in terms of their education and research mission,” said College of Science Dean Cynthia Peterson. “[The University is] moving in the right direction, and there’ll be great outcomes across the board.”

courtesy of NBC UNIVERSAL

University alumnus Travis Ewing sings ‘I Don’t Wanna Be’ on Monday’s episode of ‘The Voice.’ Ewing left the show among the final 32 contestants.

welcome. ... [Both faculty and students in other departments] should be more open to different types of ethnic backgrounds and different walks of life.”

Other universities ranked in the study include Yale University, Johns Hopkins University, Texas A&M University, California Institute of Technology, Harvard University and others, showing diversity is increasing across the U.S. Duronslet — who expects to complete her Ph.D. in December 2015 or May 2016 — said she hopes to work for an

EMILY BRAUNER / The Daily Reveille

Chemistry doctoral candidate Ciera Duronslet works in a Choppin Hall lab on Thursday.

Sports

Friday, March 27, 2015

page 5 BASEBALL

Inseparable

Streaking Tigers face Kentucky

BY JACK CHASCIN jchascin@lsureveille.com

The competition was held in Baton Rouge and could’ve been Parker’s final one as a Tiger, but she wasn’t ready to end her collegiate career on that note.

“I didn’t want to go out like that, so I talked to my parents and got them to pay for another year,” Parker said.

She took only one class as a fifth-year senior and was able to focus on powerlifting. The free time paid dividends — Parker went on to win her second individual and team national championships in 2013.

She went back to the world powerlifting championships in Killeen, Texas, and this time she won the silver medal for her squat, bench press and deadlift combined total.

The No. 1 LSU baseball team continues to roll into its weekend series against Southeastern Conference opponent Kentucky, with Game 1 set for 7 p.m. tonight at Alex Box Stadium.

The Tigers (22-3, 4-2 SEC) are on a tear, dropping only two of their last nine games while outscoring opponents, 75-36, during that span. The Wildcats (16-9, 2-4 SEC) have received an opposite fate, winning three of its last nine while being outscored 54-28.

Although the programs may be heading in opposite directions, LSU coach Paul Mainieri said Kentucky isn’t a team to overlook.

“Kentucky’s got good players,” Mainieri said. “They’ve got some really good athletes in their lineup.

Kentucky as recently as two years ago was the No. 1 team in the country in a poll and they’ve done amazing things in their program over their. They have our utmost respect.”

The Wildcats’ weakness lies in its pitching. The team is ranked second to last in the SEC with a 4.29 ERA along with being ranked 10th in the SEC with a .246 opposing batting average. Kentucky pitcher Kyle Cody, who will pitch Sunday, comes into the weekend with a 4.88 ERA, which is worst among starters.

Cody’s struggles come as a surprise after being named the 19thbest prospect available in the 2015 MLB Draft by Baseball America in the preseason and being the starting pitcher in the 2014 Cape Cod League All-Star Game.

LSU junior right fielder Mark Laird said the Wildcats’ rough start on the mound is a surprise to him after playing some of their pitchers over the summer.

“I faced some of their guys from the summer,” Laird said.

“They have a talented pitching staff. They have three righty starters and they’re going to be tough to hit, so we got to prepare and take it one game at a time this weekend.”

The Tigers have proved so far this season they’re capable of hitting any rotation. LSU currently leads the nation with a .332 batting average and lead the SEC with a .491 slugging percentage, good enough for third in the nation.

LSU is the most efficient offensive team in the SEC with only 108 strikeouts this season, which is 29 less than Florida. Both Laird and junior shortstop Alex Bregman tied for the team lead for least strikeouts with three apiece this season.

Bregman said the team’s attitude at the plate has helped it

see PARKER, page 11

see BASEBALL, page 11

RONNI BOURGEOIS / The Daily Reveille

LSU seniors utilities Dylan Supak (11) and Kailey McCasland (33) talk in the dugout on Wednesday at Tiger Park.

Supak, McCasland cling to friendship, scout pitchers from dugout

BY MORGAN PREWITT mprewitt@lsureveille.com For senior designated players Kailey McCasland and Dylan Supak, the top step of LSU’s dugout at Tiger Park has became their home away from home during the last four years.

It’s a spot reserved just for the two of them, who’ve been there for each other through all morning practices, tough workouts and late game heroics.

A lot has changed for McCasland and Supak during their LSU softball careers, but their friendship has remained the one constant. After rooming together in their fresh-

man year, McCasland and Supak have been inseparable.

“Everyone on the team is like sisters,” Supak said. “But it’s kind of like we are twins because we’ve had the same role.

We’re by each other every day … It’s so

see SENIORS, page 11

CLUB SPORTS

Parker transitions from powerlifter to coach

BY MARIO JEREZ mjerez@lsureveille.com

Ariel Parker came to LSU with dreams of donning a purple and gold jersey at the PMAC. A series of concussions in high school ultimately forced her to give up basketball, but she became a world-class athlete with LSU’s powerlifting team and now leads the team as its head coach.

Parker’s family relocated from New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, and she attended West Brook High School in Beaumont, Texas, where she excelled on the hardwood. Although she never received an offer from LSU, Parker planned to walk on to the team her freshman season before she got lifechanging news.

Shortly before her freshman year at LSU, doctors told Parker, who suffered two concussions, that a third could be lifethreatening. She attended LSU but didn’t play sports during her freshman and sophomore years.

“The first two years I didn’t do too much and I just got fat like most college students,” Parker said jokingly. “I just wanted to have good grades and keep my GPA up.”

Everything changed one day at the UREC during Parker’s junior year. She attended an open powerlifting team practice and immediately fell in love with the sport, causing her to join.

Parker stood out from her arrival, winning an individual national championship and leading LSU’s women to a team national title during her junior season.

She even attended the International Powerlifting Federation’s Junior World Championships in Moose Jaw, Canada, where she won sixth place.

“It was great to represent the U.S,” Parker said “[In America] you only compete against other colleges, but going out of the country lets you see how much more competitive the rest of the world is.”

Parker became one of the best powerlifters in LSU history during her collegiate career.

She holds the women’s squat, bench press and deadlift school records in her weight class despite no prior powerlifting experience.

At the 2012 Collegiate National Powerlifting Championships, Parker failed on her lifts three times and did not finish.

The Daily Reveille

page 6 FOOTBALL

Friday, March 27, 2015

Wide receivers hope to better complement running game Dupre said the receivers are taking it upon themselves to improve this spring so LSU After major losses to the can have a more efficient offense, LSU’s passing attack offense.

“With guys like Leonard suffered a large dip in productivity in 2014. Early this spring, Fournette and [sophomore runit looks to form a competent ning back] Darel Williams in passing game to complement the backfield, [an improved sophomore running back Leon- passing game] can give other ard Fournette and his fellow teams more to account for,” Dupre said. “Last year we didn’t rushers.

Last season, the Tigers do a good job of passing the gained just 2,118 passing yards ball, and teams game-planned compared with 2,919 on the more towards stopping the run.

This year and ground.

They brought ‘Last year we didn’t do a moving forward, in new wide good job of passing the we’ll be more receivers and ball, and teams game- balanced.”

Sophomore Coach Tony Ball planned more towards q u a r t e r b a c k to make LSU capable of put- stopping the run. This year Brandon Harris ting big numbers and moving forward, we’ll has noticed the receivers’ progbe more balanced.’ through the air ress. After strugagain. The receivgling to stay on ers are beginning MALACHI DUPRE, the field last year, to embrace their LSU sophomore wide receiver Harris said he new coach and feels more comsaid they are cafortable with his pable of being a receivers and is thriving in the bigger force this season.

“Some coaches aren’t as offense this spring.

“It was a really good day for confident going in [to their first spring], but he’s tackled it head us throwing the football,” Harfirst, and he’s helped us improve ris said after practice Thursday. mentally and physically,” said “I’ve been really pleased with sophomore wide receiver Mala- how we’ve been moving the ball through the air so far. We’re exchi Dupre.

BY MARIO JEREZ mjerez@lsureveille.com

L S U

T I G E R

M A R C H I N G

cited about finally being able to compliment our running backs by being able to throw the ball.”

Harris said he sees serious potential in offensive coordinator Cam Cameron’s offense this season with all the receiving weapons at his disposal.

“As a quarterback, it’s like a kid in the candy store with our guys at wide receiver,” Harris said. “If we can just distribute the ball and not have turnovers, the sky’s the limit.”

Another shakeup on LSU’s coaching staff was the addition of Ed Orgeron as the new defensive line coach. Orgeron is famous for his upbeat coaching style, and his players are also responding to him in his first spring with the team.

“He’s that guy that that’s gonna lift you up when you walk in to the locker room,” said sophomore defensive lineman Devon Godchaux. “He’s that high-spirit guy who always makes sure we’re ready to work.”

But perhaps the biggest change to LSU’s coaching staff this spring is the addition of Kevin Steele, who replaced long-time defensive coordinator John Chavis.

“He brings a new energy we didn’t have with Coach Cha-

MARIA FERNANDA PIÑA / The Daily Reveille

LSU sophomore wide receiver John Diarse (9) and junior wide receiver Travin Dural (83) run drills on March 7 during the first spring practice at the Football Operations practice field. vis,” said junior cornerback Tre’Davious White. “I love the energy he brings to the team, and he gets us pumped up for practice.”

LSU was No. 1 in total defense in the Southeastern Conference last season. LSU’s secondary played a big part in that,

and White said the unit is even deeper this year.

“Everybody could play.”

White said. “If any guy goes down, the next guy up is just as talented.”

You can reach Mario Jerez on Twitter @MJerez111_TDR.

B A N D

COLORGUARD

St. Patrick’s Day Parade—Dublin, Ireland

AUDITIONS April 25, 2015

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. • Tiger Band Hall

FREE Audition Clinics: Tiger band hall March 1 & March 29: 1-3 p.m.

for more information, visit www.bands.lsu.edu/colorguard or call 225-578-2384.

The Daily Reveille

Friday, March 27, 2015 SOFTBALL

page 7

Top-ranked LSU travels to Lexington for series with Kentucky

BY JACK WOODS jwoods@lsureveille.com The No. 1 LSU softball team hits the road for its second road series in league play against No. 16 Kentucky, beginning today at 5:00 p.m.

Auburn swept the Wildcats (21-8, 1-5 Southeastern Conference) last weekend, but the Tigers (31-1, 5-1 SEC) are not taking their opponent lightly.

“Kentucky is always very well coached and very well prepared, and we have no doubt they will be this time,” said LSU coach Beth Torina. “They’re coming off a tough weekend against Auburn. They always rebound really well, too, in the history of their program, so it’s something we all need to be concerned about — that we need to be ready for — and we need to be prepared to give them our best game no matter what their record is.”

Junior pitcher Kelsey Nunley leads Kentucky’s pitching staff with a 9-4 record, a 1.89 ERA and 71 strikeouts this spring.

Her 30-11 record, 1.88 ERA and 219 strikeouts last season earned her a Second Team AllSEC honors distinction.

The Wildcats knocked the Tigers out of the SEC Tournament

during the only game in which the teams played against each other last season.

Nunley was instrumental in Kentucky’s 4-3, extra-inning triumph. She pitched all nine innings, allowing six hits and three runs on 138 pitches.

“Kentucky has a very good pitcher in Kelsey Nunley, and they have some new pitchers that we haven’t seen yet,” said junior catcher Kellsi Kloss.

“They’re going to be a very good team. They are similar to us offensively, too, and they’re very scrappy, too. They’re not going to give it easy to us at all. We’ve got to earn every single thing we get over there.”

Kentucky is hitting .286 as a team and possesses some dangerous hitters throughout its lineup.

The Wildcats have four starters hitting better than .300 and five players with at least four home runs.

Junior infielder Christian Stokes leads the way with a .374 average, six home runs and 62 total bases.

LSU enters the weekend riding a six-game win streak. Since dropping their first game of the season to Florida on March 13, the Tigers have responded by winning the final two games of

the series against the Gators, defeating in-state foe Nicholls State, sweeping No. 6 Oklahoma and easing by No. 24 South Alabama.

LSU will have to win away from Tiger Park, where it is 24-0 this season.

However, LSU has proven it can play away from home and still find success.

The Tigers won all five of their games at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, California, and took two of three games against then-No. 1 Florida at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

LSU’s lineup has been explosive, scoring 251 runs in 32 games.

The Tigers are hitting .365 as a team to go with a .596 slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .453.

Despite playing on the road, LSU will approach the game in the same manner as usual.

“Everyone is gunning for us, [so] we know we have a target on our back,” Kloss said. “But at the same time, we have to keep playing LSU softball. That doesn’t mean we get out of our element at all.”

You can reach Jack Woods on Twitter @Jack_TDR.

photos by EMILY BRAUNER / The Daily Reveille

[Top] LSU sophomore catcher Sahvanna Jaquish (2) rounds the bases after hitting a homerun during the Tigers’ 10-2 victory against Oklahoma on Saturday in Tiger Park. [Bottom] LSU junior infielder Sandra Simmons (3) waits for the throw.

MEN’S TENNIS

Tigers look to stay undefeated at home versus No. 13 Ole Miss

BY JAMES BEWERS jbewers@lsureveille.com For the No. 24 LSU men’s tennis team, home is not only where the heart is but also where the dominance lies.

The Tigers (14-3, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) are a perfect 13-0 at home and have a 70-7 record between completed doubles and singles points at W.T. “Dub” Robinson Stadium.

Following its first true road win of the season against Alabama last weekend, LSU will once again test its unblemished record at home this weekend as it hosts No. 13 Ole Miss at 5:00 p.m. Friday and Arkansas at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

After last Friday’s thrilling 4-3 victory against the Tide, during which LSU lost the doubles point for the third time this year, the weekend trip ended prematurely.

The Tigers’ match against Mississippi State scheduled for Sunday was postponed until April 12 due to inclement weather.

Because the Tigers were unable to practice Saturday in between matches, LSU coach Jeff Brown is glad his team will meet Mississippi State later on, even if the weather derailed its momentum.

“It would have been nice if the weather was a normal weekend,” Brown said. “As it turned out, we hadn’t re-

ally been able to get on [Mississippi State’s] courts at all on Saturday. It turned out we wouldn’t have been able to hit until an hour before the match, so it was going to be an advantage...The way it turned out, I was just as happy to go back and try again on a time when we go in and have our normal routine.”

In a back-and-forth affair, it took a clutch performance from senior Chris Simpson to capture the match victory against the Tide.

Alabama junior Becker O’Shaughnessy had Simpson on the ropes, tying the final singles match at 5 in the third set.

Simpson’s tight matches are nothing new to his teammates and Brown.

“It’s never without tension, but usually at the end of the day we’ve had a good feeling more times than not when he’s been out there,” Brown said.

Simpson proved Brown right once again, winning the next two games to complete a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 victory and exact revenge on the Tide.

Simpson’s jubilant teammates rushed him once the final return from O’Shaughnessy went beyond the back line.

“We all really wanted it because last year they won, 4-3, here,” said junior Boris Arias.

“They did the same thing [winning in the third set of the

JAVIER FERNÁNDEZ / The Daily Reveille

[Left] LSU senior Chris Simpson hits the ball during the Tiger’s 4-1 victory against Vanderbilt on March 15 at W.T ‘Dub’ Robinson Stadium. [Right] LSU senior Chris Simpson serves. last singles match]. We really wanted to win the match, especially against Alabama.”

But even with a challenging match against the Rebels (125, 4-2 SEC) on Friday, nothing changes for the Tigers, Brown said.

Ole Miss touts the No. 15 singles players in the nation, senior Nik Scholtz, but LSU holds a commanding 46-17 se-

ries lead with a 4-1 win last season in Oxford, Mississippi.

“We tend to match up pretty well with [Ole Miss] in the past style-wise,” Brown said.

“We’ve won some, and we’ve lost some. But it will just be another great match if the guys can play with the energy and use the crowd to give them that little extra push. If everyone on all six courts is fighting

in singles and doubles, we’ll give ourselves a chance in both matches.

“If somehow, at the end of the weekend, we get both of those, we’ll be in a little higher place than we’ve been in a long time.”

You can reach James Bewers on Twitter @JamesBewers_TDR.

The Daily Reveille

page 10 VOLLEYBALL

Friday, March 27, 2015

WOMEN’S GOLF

GYMNASTICS

Surging Tigers travel Tigers compete in regular LSU wins to Blazer Beach Duals season finale at home SEC yearly tourney this weekend awards

BY CHRISTIAN BOUTWELL cboutwell@lsureveille.com

BY MALCOLM POREE mporee@lsureveille.com The LSU sand volleyball team will travel to Birmingham, Alabama, this weekend to participate in the Blazer Beach Duals Tournament. The team will try to build on its momentum after winning three of four matches last weekend at home.

The Duals Tournament will begin at 8 a.m. tomorrow when the Tigers (6-7) play UAB, followed by a 12 p.m. match against ULM. The meet will wrap up Sunday with rematches against Spring Hill and the University of New Orleans, also at 8 a.m. and 12 p.m.

“All these teams are solid programs,” said LSU coach Russell Brock. “UAB and ULM are schools we’ve never seen before, and they haven’t seen us, so it’ll be new. Spring Hill and UNO are schools we’ve seen before, so we know what to expect from them.”

The Tigers went 3-1 at last weekend’s Tiger Sand Invitational, losing only to FIU, a top10 program.

LSU beat UNO, North Florida and Spring Hill, each by a score of 5-0.

LSU swept three opponents for the first time in program history, which built up the team’s confidence.

“We’re a very confident bunch going into this week,” Brock said.

“Obviously, we still have things we need to work on and improve, but last weekend really help our team’s confidence.”

After an impressive weekend at home last week, the Tigers look to bring their record above .500 for the first time this season.

Brock said he expects LSU to win every match this weekend if they play up to their potential.

Going back on the road this weekend will be a tough task for the Tigers, who won’t have the comfort of the fans or playing on familiar sand to help them this weekend.

LSU has struggled away from Mango Beach Volleyball Club this year, winning only three of nine games, and the Tigers are 0-2 in true away games.

“It certainly won’t be like last week playing at home when we travel to Alabama this weekend,” Brock said. “We’ll have to bring our best efforts if we want to come out on top. We’ll need consistent play from all our pairs, a true team effort.”

He said the Tigers will have to bring their “A” game physically and mentally to be victorious against good teams on the road.

“Its not something you can train, but one thing that I hope the teams learn is to play with confidence,” Brock said. “It’s hard to stop really good teams in our sport. When they are inside-out, they do it most of the time. Opportunities are limited in a set to take advantage of a good team, so we’ll have to play with confidence the whole time through.”

You can reach Malcolm Poree on Twitter @MalcolmP_TDR.

JAVIER FERNÁNDEZ / The Daily Reveille

LSU sophomore Katarina Raicevic (11) hits the ball during the Tigers’ 4-1 loss to Florida International on Saturday at Mango’s Beach Volleyball Club.

If the trend continues, the No. 7 LSU women’s golf team is set for a first-place finish this weekend in the LSU Tiger Golf Classic at the University Club, which begins today at 8:30 a.m.

The Lady Tigers finished in first place at The Alamo Invitational on Oct. 28, 2014, second in the Lady Puerto Rico Classic on Feb. 4, first at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate on Feb. 24 and second in the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate on March 8.

If LSU continues the same progression, then it is due for a first-place finish this week in its only home tournament this season.

LSU is optimistic about its tournament at home, but in some cases, that adds unnecessary pressure to the team.

“We try to treat it as every other tournament, but obviously it is at home,” said LSU coach Karen Bahnsen. “We only have one of these every year. We try to keep our minds on what we are doing and not get distracted by everything else. I tell them, ‘Relax, guys. Go play golf. This is the same course we play every day.’”

The Tigers will compete against a talented field this weekend, including Kentucky, Mississippi State, Missouri and in-state foe Tulane.

This will be LSU’s last competition before the Southeastern

Conference Championship tournament April 17 through 19. The Lady Tigers are excited to have their “tune-up” tournament at home because their knowledge of the course layout gives them confidence.

“Experience here is helpful,” Bahnsen said. “There are certain holes out here that I want them to be 100 percent confident about how they are going to play it.

We are focusing more on course strategy than anything.”

The Lady Tigers came in second place in their most recent tournament on March 8, which featured strong performances from most of their lineup.

Senior Madelene Sagstrom (No. 3 in individual rankings, according to Golfweek) finished her weekend at 6-under par, 207, concluding with a playoff for the tournament’s individual title.

Sophomore Caroline Nistrup (No. 15) finished the tournament in a tie for seventh place. Sophomore Carly Goldstein and junior Nadine Dreher each finished in the top-30 standings at the end of the competition.

Bahnsen was proud of the way her team played, applauding its fight for first place throughout the duration of tournament. It marked as the third tournament away from home in a row for the Tigers.

LSU gymnastics coach D-D Breaux was named Southeastern Conference Co-Coach of the Year, and senior all-arounder Lloimincia Hall earned SEC Specialist of the Year, the league announced Tuesday.

Breaux earned her seventh Coach of the Year title this season, leading the Tigers (19-2, 7-0 SEC) to their best regular season in school history. She shared the title with Auburn coach Jeff Graba.

Hall, a two-time winner of SEC Specialist of the Week this season, has seized the nation with her unconventional floor routine.

She received two perfect tens this season on the event, bringing her career total to seven, which is the most on floor in LSU history.

Hall and fellow senior allarounders Rheagan Courville and Jessie Jordan earned a spot on the All-SEC team, along with freshman all-arounder Myia Hambrick.

Hambrick was also named as part of the SEC All-Freshman team.

You can reach Christian Boutwell on Twitter @CBoutwell_TDR.

You can reach Christian Boutwell on Twitter @CBoutwell_TDR.

BY CHRISTIAN BOUTWELL cboutwell@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

Friday, March 27, 2015 SENIORS, from page 5 awesome because without softball, I never would have met this random girl from California. It’s definitely brought me one of my closest and life-long friends.”

Although the pair started 62 games their freshman year, Supak and McCasland’s playing time dwindled to no starts and only 25 appearances in 2014.

In her freshman season in 2012, Supak hit .202 on the season and posted a .977 fielding percentage in her 47 appearances.

After starting 35 games at first base in 2012, Supak lost her starting spot to then-freshman first baseman Sandra Simmons in her sophomore year. Simmons has made all but one start at first for LSU in the past three years.

McCasland split her 30 starts in her first two seasons between third base, designated player and right field. Through her first two

seasons, McCasland hit one home run and nine RBIs. Despite losing her starting spot, Supak helped McCasland see the silver lining in their situation — being able to provide energy and leadership from the dugout.

“She’s super positive,” McCasland said. “In the worst situation, she’ll find the one positive thing about it. Not that I’m super negative, but she’s always finding the positive things. We’re very different.”

The duo has made 14 starts in the designated player spot through the Tigers’ first 32 games in 2015.

Supak leads LSU’s non-everyday starters with a .240 average.

Five of her six hits this season have been doubles.

In her first at-bat of the season against Central Arkansas on Feb. 13, McCasland hit a walk-off ,inside-the-park home run that secured a 8-0 victory by mercy rule.

Although they don’t start every

game, McCasland and Supak must remain completely focused on the game in case they are called on to pinch hit. To keep themselves in the game and help their teammates, they stand on the top step in the dugout and scout the opposing pitcher.

Before any batter steps up to the plate for the Tigers, McCasland and Supak give her a quick scouting report of what they have seen from the opposing pitcher during the game.

“It helps them out and helps them be successful,” Supak said.

“To know that you are doing everything you can, even though you don’t have a bat in your hands at that time, you’ve got to accept your role and go forward with that. We really pride ourselves in being able to contribute in that way.”

The pair doesn’t enjoy the same name recognition as the Tigers’ other senior center fielder A.J. Andrews, but their

JAVIER FERNÁNDEZ / The Daily Reveille

Junior infielder Alex Bregman (8) stands between plays during the Tigers’ 9-8 victory against Southeastern on Feb. 26 at Alex Box Stadium.

BASEBALL, from page 5 become an efficient team in the batters’ box.

“Just being aggressive in the zone,” Bregman said. “I’m just trying to attack the pitches I’m trying to hit. That’s our whole team’s mindset. Just being aggressive on

PARKER, from page 5 Following her collegiate career, Parker still remained close to her former teammates who were still on the team. After finding herself at the UREC to help on a regular basis, Parker took an official position as the club’s head coach in 2014.

Senior Tim Johnson, who owns LSU’s squat, press and deadlift records in his weight class, said Parker has been helpful to him as a coach.

“At practice, I always go to her,” Johnson said. “I always ask her what I can change so I can stay at this level.”

Parker is entering her second season as head coach after

pitches we can impact to all fields, and if we do that, we can be very successful against this team.”

While on paper it may seem the Tigers should do away with the Wildcats with relative ease, in an SEC series, nothing comes guaranteed.

“It’s just going to be like every leading the women’s team to a fifth place finish in 2014. LSU has won nine total national championships, and it won either a men’s team title, women’s team title or a combined team title every year from 2007 to 2013.

Parker said it’s important for her to uphold the winning tradition as a coach, just like she did as a lifter.

“I would love to help the team continue winning,” Parker said. “The more we win, the more LSU sees how competitive this sport is in Louisiana and in other schools.”

You can reach Mario Jerez on Twitter @MJerezIII_TDR.

other SEC weekend,” Bregman said. “It’s a continuous fight and battle through nine hard innings of baseball and we’re going to have to go out there and play like we’ve played all year.”

You can reach Jack Chascin on Twitter @Chascin_TDR.

page 11 leadership and determination to help the team in any way has established a selfless culture within the program.

Despite not playing night in and night out, McCasland and Supak inspire their teammates and their coaches with their dedication to the team and the game. “[McCasland and Supak] help our kids understand what it takes to be a Tiger,” said LSU coach

Beth Torina. “They hold them accountable. They’re so selfless …

Our younger kids can view them doing that and those two people still contributing and doing all they can do. It sets the tone for a team with a really great idea of what a team is. They really magnify the team concept.”

You can reach Morgan Prewitt on Twitter @kmprewitt_TDR

Opinion

page 12

Friday, March 27, 2015 JAVIER FERNÁNDEZ / The Daily Reveille

Alumni need to grow endowment to save university

THE CERULEAN CONCILIATOR JUSTIN DICHARIA Columnist While the LSU football team consistently ranks in the top 50 percent of SEC football programs, the University’s endowment programs don’t come near the top 50 percent of SEC endowment funding.

The Aggies, Commodores, Gators, Tigers (the Missouri species), Wildcats, Volunteers, Bulldogs, Razorbacks and yes — even the hated Crimson Tide — rank above the LSU Tigers monetarily in funding for endowments.

Endowments are donations invested in the market to produce income, which in turn pays for student scholarships, professorships and program chairs.

The LSU System has 16 nonprofit organizations that invest endowment funds that add up to over $788 million, three of which are dedicated to LSU in Baton Rouge: the LSU Foundation, the Tiger Athletic Foundation and the LSU Alumni Association.

Vanderbilt University collects LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Legislature needs to address budget cuts Dear Editor: On March 24, I attended a Press Club Meeting in New Or-

over four times and the Texas A&M University System collects over eleven times as much as the entire LSU System.

If SEC school endowment funds are a competition, LSU is losing badly.

With such low comparable endowment funds, LSU alumni seem as capricious toward supporting the University as our football fans are capricious toward Les Miles.

According to LSU’s report on affordability, University graduates earn 15 percent more than their competitors, and the University’s alumni mid-career average earnings rank 34th out of 167 public research universities surveyed.

Many University graduates do well post-graduation but forget the institution that cultivated the skills and knowledge they utilize in their careers. The alma mater’s words “Forever LSU” are not a call for never-ending support for our sports programs, but for the University as a whole.

A good portion of the $788 million is part of TAF’s endowment funds. Some of that money goes to providing scholarships for nonathlete students, but most of it goes to athletic facilities and the other needs of the athletic department,

which receives no state funding.

The academic side of LSU needs more funding and TAF cannot simply move over additional funds to help, because of the athletic department’s self-sufficiency and dependency on private donations that go through TAF. In the face of budget cuts that will gut state funding to the University by 82 percent if — Gov. Bobby Jindal’s executive budget fails to pass the legislature — LSU alumni need to remember the institution they love so dearly. Alumni can help current students have the same career opportunities as graduates in the past by donating to an endowment fund.

If matching an endowment fund’s minimum donation is financially impossible, look for other LSU alumni and pool money together to meet the requirement.

Endowments are a gift that never stops giving, unlike one-time donations.

With budget cuts, instructors at the University are in danger, and as I have previously written, instructors are the bane of a student’s education.

Because of state law, roughly 50 percent of LSU’s budget con-

sists of restricted funds that the Board of Supervisors cannot cut. That leaves education and student support centers up on the executioner’s block, which prompts the board to cut LSU’s instructors.

For the most part, they have no choice. They cannot target tenured professors and student support centers are not popular areas to cut. What the LSU Board of Supervisors can do, however, is fundraise.

With the Board of Supervisors leading the charge, the LSU Foundation, TAF and the Alumni Association need to band together and begin a fundraising effort to create an endowment fund focused on protecting instructors in times of budget cuts.

A large enough endowment with millions of dollars from extensive fundraising could produce revenues capable of saving a considerable portion of the faculty in jeopardy of losing their jobs. The foundations would only use the income from the fund during times of budgetary crisis.

In times where the budget is not in crisis, a small percentage of the income from the endowments could go toward funding additional

teacher training and classroom supplies.

Endowments cannot replace the money lost from the state, but they can help the University retain a good portion of its faculty and other important student resources.

According to LSU Director of External Affairs Jason Droddy, the original estimate of cutting 27 percent of LSU faculty positions and 1,400 classes derived from an assumed 35 percent cut to state funding.

Using the Board of Supervisor’s previous ratio for job cuts, an 82 percent cut to LSU’s state funding results in an approximate cut of 63 percent of LSU faculty members.

The University would never allow an 82 percent cut resulting in such a large percentage of teachers losing their jobs.

However, the numbers offer a startling wake up call. The future is not looking so bright, and if the 82 percent cut becomes reality, LSU will need its alumni more than ever.

leans at which time LSU President King Alexander warned that proposed state budget cuts would hurt Louisiana’s business climate. The doomsday proposed budget scenario would be a potential 82 percent state budget cut for LSU. Dr. Alexander stated that this would lead to faculty layoffs, tuition increases and 2000 class cancellations. He also warned “That’s the

largest single budget reduction in the history of higher education.”

As a 15 year member of the LSU Board of Supervisors who understand the significance of these draconian cuts, I feel like I am standing on the Titanic and the LSU that I graduated from and love so much is about to go under academically.

Unless we can identify a

steam of income dedicated to higher education, I feel that the above will happen. This would not only have implications for LSU and the LSU System, but also for every higher education and community college in our state.

As a board member, I fully support Dr. Alexander and his efforts to address these problems head on.

In my opinion, the Governor and the Legislature need to identify a stream of income that can be dedicated to higher education. This needs to be addressed in this upcoming legislative session to prevent Dr. King’s projections from actually taking place.

The Daily Reveille Editorial Board

Chandler Rome Erin Hebert Rebecca Docter Fernanda Zamudio-Suarez Quint Forgey SidneyRose Reynen

Editor in Chief Co-Managing Editor Co-Managing Editor News Editor Deputy News Editor Opinion Editor

Editorial Policies & Procedures

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-39 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 Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.

Justin DiCharia is a 20-year-old mass communication junior from Slidell, Louisiana. You can reach him on Twitter @JDiCharia.

Stanley J. Jacobs LSU Board of Supervisors

Quote of the Day ‘Racism is man’s gravest threat to man — the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason.’

Abraham Joshua Heschel American rabbi and theologian Jan. 11, 1907 — Dec. 23, 1972

Friday, March 27, 2015

Opinion

page 13

Work conditions in food industry need more regulation COLLEGE CANDY JEN BLATE Columnist We’ve all been to McDonald’s and enjoyed a Big Mac and fries, and we all know what a Big Mac tastes like.

That’s because McDonald’s is the leading worldwide food service retailer with more than 36,000 local restaurants serving approximately 69 million people in more than 100 countries each day, and around 1.9 million people work for McDonald’s.

But that is only one side of the story — what about the unhealthy work conditions for those millions of employees?

These unhealthy conditions exist because the food service industry doesn’t make their employees a priority when they are faced with rigorous work conditions.

On March 16, an article in USA Today said there were 28 burn complaints filed by McDonald’s employees in 19 cities.

Did you ever think ketchup could be used to treat burns and other wounds? I know I didn’t think so. But the management at McDonald’s seems to

MARK LENNIHAN / The Associated Press

Protesters stand outside of a McDonald’s in New York City protesting work conditions.

Complaints have been filed about lack of protective equipment and hazards. think otherwise.

According to USA Today, all too often, management would use the phrase “just put some mustard on it,” as a first aid solution. And when it comes to the working conditions at McDonald’s, they are about as helpful as a dead iPhone with no charger.

It is shocking to me that food industry workers are treated with no sense of respect. How can they value their self-worth

when they are consistently belittled?

Food service workers in the fast-food industry are not given adequate resources to use when they are injured on the job, and their injuries are not taken seriously by any means.

According to the Occupational Safety & Health Act, employers are required to provide a safe and healthful workplace. But empty first aid kits are all too familiar to many

service employees.

Food service workers, especially in the fast food industry, deserve the same respect as any individual with a different job. And the often times young, inexperienced employees are seen as disposable and unimportant to many fast food companies.

I know that I would definitely have a problem with being treated as something disposable, and I’m not the only one either.

But as OSHA states, there are specific rules and regulations that employers must use to protect their employees from any hazardous situations.

OSHA posters that describe the employer’s responsibilities to their employees should be displayed behind the counter in all fast food restaurants.

Some of these responsibilities include keeping accurate records of work-related injuries and even performing tests on the air to check for mold.

But using condiments to treat burns sure doesn’t sound like a provision of OSHA. Nevertheless, the amount of injuries that go undocumented in the fast food work industry are far too many.

About 79 percent of fastfood workers in the U.S. have

been burned on the job over the past year, many more than once, according to a survey conducted by Hart Research Associates.

The survey also noted that 36 percent of workers report that first aid kits are missing, inaccessible or empty.

Although these conditions demonstrate a rather unsettling future for employees in the fast food service industry, there are still some options available that allow these employees to have a voice.

Some of the most beneficial ways are filing a complaint with OSHA or asking OSHA to inspect their workplace.

But as food service workers continue to struggle daily with the unsettling conditions in the workplace, management is standing by calmly without any concerns.

So the next time you walk into a fast food restaurant with a long line ahead to order yourself a Big Mac, before getting angry that they only gave you two ketchup packets, just remember that they may have been using it as burn cream.

Jen Blate is a 24-year-old sociology junior from Miami, Florida. You can reach her on Twitter @Jblate_TDR.

America’s obsession with race promotes inequality GREEN CARD APPLICANT MARKUS HÜFNER Columnist My first impression of race relations at LSU could not have been worse when I came here in August. It looked like everybody only had friends of their own skin color, and when the long-awaited football season started, it was even more obvious.

The Parade Ground was white, and the black fraternity houses were black. Instead of having moved to Louisiana, I thought I had gone back in time.

Coming from a country with an immigrant population of only 15.6 percent, according to Norway’s statistic website ssb.no, the majority of my nonwhite friends are Asian or Muslim, but there actually are more black people than most think. I like to say that racism does not really exist in Norway because I have never heard of anybody being seriously insulted or treated differently because of his or her skin color. It was more like a joke that mainly Muslim teenagers started to use every

time they would receive a bad grade and wanted to be funny.

But I had not experienced the serious use of the “n-word” to describe a black person until I came here.

You cannot really joke about racism here at LSU because it’s simply not funny. People are so focused on race that when I tell some black friends of mine that I am going to a fraternity party, they give me a weird look. And when I then hang out with other friends and happen to be the only white guy, people stare at me.

What is it about a multicultural campus we do not accept?

The reason why you see friend groups in Norway of only one ethnicity is mainly because they are not the best Norwegian speakers. Most immigrants take the easy way out and avoid the struggle of communicating in a new country by only having friends who speak their native language because they are afraid of being looked down upon for not being able to perfectly speak the nation’s language.

Although we all speak English here in America, the slang used by the majority of black people seems to be different enough for some people to trig-

ger a kind of racism. It has even gone so far that when a black person speaks standard English, they get asked why they “talk white.”

I was not aware that “white” is a language now, too. It seems like stereotypes have shaped the mindset of people in such a strong way that everybody puts characteristics into a black and white section. Suddenly, people are not black anymore just because they do not sag their pants, they wear Sperrys or they listen to Taylor Swift. I understand that it is all about culture, but isn’t an American still an American even though he or she does not match the stereotypical description of one?

In Norway, there is something about the society that makes everybody pretty much look the same. Everybody wears the same clothes and shoes and only some Muslims speak a different dialect of Norwegian, but it really is the exact same language with a few Arabic words added.

Although people have a hard time embracing diversity, racism is not a big topic in Norway because there aren’t many major differences among its citizens. Immigrants adapt to the culture, but they still preserve

ERNST VIKNE / The Nordic Page

America’s constant obsession with race and ethnicity perpetuates negative stereotypes and promotes inequality and hostility among citizens. their major characteristics.

Then, to make immigrants feel a little bit more like home, society listens to their most important needs and ends up building things such as mosques or other centers important to the minority population.

The result is a diverse society with mutual respect, but because America’s history is full of racism already, to get rid of it, people on both sides have no other choice than to

deal with the differences. The U.S. is the most diverse country in the world, but if we do not start to equally accept each other, this country is nothing more than pretending to be the melting pot it claims it to be.

Markus Hüfner is a 19-yearold mass communication freshman from Kristiansand, Norway. You can follow him on Twitter @MHufner_TDR.

page 14

Employment

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Help Wanted Louie’s Cafe: Hiring cooks, servers and dish staff. Apply in person, online, or via email. louiescafe.com 3322 Lake Street __________________________

1st month free rent Blox at Brightside Condos! Call 225-246-2274 for information about leasing. _________________________ LSU Library Apartments. 1&2 bedroom flats & townhouses.

Gated, crown molding, wood floors, some have w/d, laundry on site, swimming pool. On site manager $475.00-$675.00. Call (225) 615-8521 _________________________ RESERVE YOUR 4BED/4BATH TOWNHOUSE in BRIGHTSIDE Spacious living and kitchen Full size laundry Private fenced yard $1,800/month Call 225.802.6898 _________________________ walk to LSU, 2/1 wood floors, wyoming street,$625 pets OK. McDaniel Properties owner /agent 388-9858 _________________________ $1050,. 3BR 2BA. PERFECT FOR COUPLES & GRAD STUDENTS. 225-931-4250. _________________________

Spacious condo with w/d, fireplace, security. Gated complex, pool. Behind Caliente, on bus line.

Earn $1000-$3000 and more a month to drive our company cars. www.VehicleJob.com _________________________ PLUCKERS is now hiring Servers and Cooks for both locations. Apply in person or at pluckers.com _________________________ Afternoon teachers needed for a preschool near LSU. We are looking for a responsible worker who is available Monday-Friday from 2:30-5:30. Please send you resume to cdshighland@gmail.com or call 225-766-1159 and ask for Lisa or Emily. We look forward to hearing from you! _________________________

Store Manager - Smoothie King Start Your Management Career Today or Make Some Extra Money While You Are In School. Now Hiring ALL Management and Team Member Positions For Several Locations in Baton Rouge and Gonzales. Send Resumes to Jon@

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Obviously, this has nothing to do with my being tired of drinking beer and staring at your ass, it has to do with the fact that I’m getting too old and drunk to get anyone to come home with me anymore. I’ve also realized that peeling a girl off the bar where she’s passed out is not the best way to meet one with Marriage Material. ____________________________ Do you like Rockets?! Do you like Space?! ME TOO!!! COME TALK WITH ME! Frank Walk Room (corner of Ceba Ln./Nicholson Ext.) Wednesday, April 1st - 7:00pm Ask for Kris ;D

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SELA Aquatics hiring LIFEGUARDS for country club pools in BR, NOLA, Lafayette. Certification available. Apply at www.selaaquatics.com. _____________________________ Hiring now. Students who are looking for a spring and summer job. Job can continue into the fall semester.

You would be working one on one with an individual who has a developmental disability. We have a large number of medical, COMD, physical therapy majors who work for us now. Various hours. Apply in person at: 622 Shadows Lane Suite A Baton Rouge, LA 70806 or email resume to olograce@gmail.com _____________________________ Gino’s Restaurant is seeking part time evening hostesses. Please apply, in person, Monday - Friday between 2-4pm at 4542 Bennington Avenue. _____________________________

LSU Reveille Wake up in the know!

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Lease Today, Move in August 1st. Luxury Multi-Story Condo 3 Bedroom/3.5 Bath @ $1650/ month Includes: Optional Monthly Maid Service, Pool, Club House, Gated Parking & Appliances Arlington Trace & Summer Grove Condos 2405 & 2403 Brightside Lane On LSU Bus Route hollisleech@yahoo.com __________________________

Behavioral Intervention Group (BIG) is a team of dedicated therapists focused on providing the skills, teaching environments and learning opportunities BIG provides children with a highly individualized Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program that is continually modified to meet the child’s needs as they progress.

BIG is looking for ABA line therapist to join our team. This is a full time position starting with an hourly rate of $14.00/hr plus benefits. _________________________

ACT Tutor paying $300 apiece for 2014-2015 and 2013-2014 high school student directories. For New Orleans, I need Ursuline, Holy Cross, Hannan, Cabrini, Rummel, Scholastica, Mary’s Dominican, St. Paul’s Catholic, Chapelle, Ben Franklin, Lusher, De La Salle. For Baton Rouge, I need Baton Rouge Magnet. For Lafayette, I need Grand Coteau. E-mail John at john.burford@magnoliaprep.com ____________________________

Min 35 hours/week. Please email resume, cover letter, student status, and availability to lpcboard@eatel. net. www.lpcboard.org ____________________________

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If your looking to make some extra money as a student on the side, my business is expanding in the Baton Rouge area. I am an LSU student who works with several pro-athletes endorsing sports nutrition as well as working with makeup artist that sponsor Mrs. America-USA. I’m only looking for a few motivated individuals to work 5-10 hours a week. Call or email me at 985-255-6872 SDInc. info@gmail.com. -Katelyn _________________________

skmanagers.com or apply in-store at 6556 Siegen Lane. _________________________

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Boil&Roux Restaurant NOW HIRING-Cooks, Fry Cooks, Prep Cooks, Bartenders, Wait Staff, and Hostesses. Apply in person MonTues 2pm-5pm 11777 Coursey Blvd, near Sherwood behind CVS _____________________________

LA LPC Board of Examiners is hiring for a part-time position. Expected start date 04/06/2015. Position requires a professional, organized, detail-oriented team player & self-starter with a passion to protect the public. Tasks Include: Answer calls, draft letters, manage supplies, organize mail outs; Full Time Student Strongly Preferred, $15/hour;

Sign up to receive The Daily Reveille newsletter at www.lsureveille.com

Friday, March 27, 2015 ENDOWMENTS, from page 1 during his presentation Monday to the Baton Rouge Press Club. “Our endowment per student is among one of the lowest in the country, and one of the problems that we have had is that we haven’t been coordinated.”

During the September 2014 Board of Supervisors meeting, members discussed the idea of creating a new vice president of institutional advancement to oversee the coordination of the LSU System’s fundraising organizations, according to a report by NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune.

The position has yet to be created.

Alexander said University fundraising should produce about $100 million to $150 million each year. While that bar will likely be met during the current fiscal year, he said fundraising efforts in the past have produced only $30 million a year on average.

Of the 853 U.S. and Canadian institutions ranked by the National Association of College and University Business Officers for their fiscal year 2014 endowment market values and the change in their endowment market values between fiscal years 2013 and 2014, the LSU System is No. 120.

But with approximately $788.02 million in investment assets as of June 30, 2014, the LSU System is No. 11 among the 15 values reported by SEC schools and their fundraising entities, according to a list provided by the LSU Foundation. The list’s figures are based on endowment assets as of the end of fiscal year 2014.

The Texas A&M University System is at the top of the list, with total investment assets valued at roughly $11 billion.

Crow emphasized that looking

at endowments among universities is often an “apples-to-oranges comparison” because some institutions report numbers that incorporate all of their fundraising entities, such as their athletic and alumni foundations, while others report those numbers independently. Other institutions also support medical schools, which the University main campus does not, she said.

Also included on the list of SEC endowments provided by the LSU Foundation is the University of Georgia Foundation. With about $939 million in endowment assets, the University of Georgia Foundation takes the No. 9 spot, two places above the LSU System.

Of the LSU System’s $788.02 million in endowment assets, $395 million comes from the LSU Foundation. This is roughly $544 million less than the number reported by the University of Georgia Foundation.

Both the University of Georgia Foundation and the LSU Foundation serve as the core academic fundraising foundations for their respective universities.

According to the University’s 14th day enrollment report for spring 2015, there are 28,565 students enrolled at the University, and as of fall 2014, there are about 35,197 students enrolled at the University of Georgia, according to UGA By The Numbers.

The University of Georgia Foundation was established in 1937 and merged its fundraising efforts with the Arch Foundation for the University of Georgia in 2011, while the LSU Foundation was established in 1960.

Besides being relatively new to fundraising when compared to other universities and their fundraising organizations, the LSU

The Daily Reveille Foundation also recognizes a need to educate its donors about the importance of endowments, Crow said.

When a donor provides a nonendowment gift of $40,000 for a scholarship, the money gets expended once. However, when the LSU Foundation receives a $40,000 endowment for scholarships, it aims to make four percent of the earnings generated by that money available each year.

Even though a donor will only see roughly $1,600 expended each year, the earnings provide by the endowment will affect the University for years to come.

Crow said 99 percent of the gifts the LSU Foundation receives are restricted funds that are used based on the donors’ designations, and that’s another reason why education is significant.

“That’s why that element of education and articulating to donors the importance of endowed funds is important, because fundraising is not such that we raise a bunch of money and then we decide what it’s going to go to,” Crow said. “Donors decide what they want their money to support.”

Any time the University faces budget reductions, private philanthropy is helpful because it provides stable perpetual funding, she said.

She said one of the ways to make the idea of giving an endowment more appealing is through matching programs, such as the Board of Regents’ four endowment matching programs and subprograms, which supplement private donations for endowed scholarships, department chairs and professorships.

“They allow the donor to maximize their gift and to have a greater impact than they would with

page 15 just the monies that they’re putting in,” Crow said.

TAF also offers a points system to entice University athletics supporters to endow athletic scholarships through its Foundation of Champions program, which allows donors to earn priority points based on the amount of money they give. Those priority points allow donors to get certain tickets and parking passes for athletic events.

ACACIA, from page 1 After June 30, 2018, the fraternity may return to campus, but the chapter must operate under the direction of an alumni council that does not include 2012 to 2015 undergraduate chapter members.

Prior to its return, it must meet with the Dean of Students to create an enhancement plan. The national organization also must be in compliance with Greek Life policies.

FOR RELEASE MARCH 27, 2015

THE Daily Commuter Puzzle 1 6 10 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 24 25 26 29 30 31 33 37 39 41 42 44 46 47 49 51 54 55 56 60 61 63 64 65 66 67 68 69

ACROSS Alter to make fit Close noisily Skin irritation Actress Berry Tiny bit Man or boy Pipe __; church instrument Is dishonest Incite by poking Piece of silverware “See ya!”

Farrow & Sara Ardent fan Responses to corny jokes High-powered surgical beam Goal; objective Tendon Gingrich’s namesakes Recipe verb Leo, Virgo, Pisces, etc.

Critically urgent __ four; fancy pastry Throws Reasonable bedtime Cuba’s Castro Went quickly Not as large Arrived Free-for-alls Live together no longer West of “Batman” Singer __ James Leg bone Give a hoot Sorority letters Marsh grasses J-O connection Sort; variety Valuable thing

DOWN 1 On __ streak; experiencing win after win 2 Issue a challenge to

3 Seaweed 4 Fluid part of the blood 5 Bowling 6 Fodder towers 7 Cut of pork 8 Dined 9 Tumors 10 Beseeched 11 Fortune-teller’s deck of cards 12 Exact duplicate 13 Row of shrubs 21 Desert refuge 23 Microwave, e.g.

25 Early mornings 26 Inhale suddenly 27 Ceremony 28 Leave out 29 Not forbidden 32 More pleasant 34 __-it; hip 35 Pine or palm 36 Transmit 38 Infantry 40 Purse handle 43 Scrabble piece 45 Large island of Indonesia

by Jacqueline E. Mathews

Thursday’s Puzzle Solved

©2015 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

48 Gobi or Mojave 50 World __; baseball season finale 51 Noisy kiss 52 Military decoration 53 Bedside awakener

54 Discontinue 56 Word in a red octagon 57 Burrows and Beame 58 Laundry soap 59 Orient 62 “...Hallowed be __ name...”

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