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THE DAILY REVEILLE Volume 114, Issue 23
ACADEMICS
University retention rate below peers’
WWW.LSUREVEILLE.COM
Thursday, September 24, 2009
GREEN STADIUM
By Emily Holden Contributing Writer
Danielle Champagne enrolled in the University in 2006, studied rigorously for years while working fulltime, and last year, she withdrew. Champagne’s story is not uncommon. About 34 percent of students who entered the University in fall 2005 did not return for their senior year, said Robert Kuhn, associate vice chancellor for the Office of Budget and Planning. Kuhn said retention rates have increased steadily since 1988 when the University began implementing stricter admission requirements, but the administration is still working to improve the percentage of graduating students. He said 58.9 percent of the 2002 freshman class graduated within six years — an almost 20 percent increase, from 39.4 percent, since the 1987 freshman class. “We’re not where we want to be as an institution, but we’re a far better institution in terms of the quality of faculty, students and graduates than we were in 1987,” Kuhn said. “We’ve come a long way in a relatively short time.” Many degree plans are based on a four-year schedule, but the national evaluation standard for retention rates allots students six years to graduate. Only 26.2 percent of students who entered the University in 2002 gradRETENTION, see page 14
Death Valley recycling program to begin during Fla. game By Xerxes A. Wilson Staff Writer
lsureveille.com
LSU’s football game against Florida will be the first step in a plan to one day make the purple-andgold masses in Tiger Stadium go green. Until this sea- Log on son, Tiger Stadium to see was the only football photos stadium in the South- of trash eastern Conference in Tiger Stadium not to have a game- after Saturday’s day recycling pro- game. gram for its patrons. That will change Oct. 10 as recycling bins will be introduced into Death Valley for the Florida game in hopes that the estimated 150,000 visitors on campus will utilize them, said Andres Harris, University Solid Waste RECYCLING, see page 14
photos by KRISTEN M’LISSA ROWLETT / The Daily Reveille
[Center] Bryce Bawcom, sociology junior, ties a garbage bag while cleaning in Tiger Stadium on Sept. 20. Trash is currently sent to a landfill, but a recycling program is being implemented.
UNION
Live Oak Lounge ‘clear winner’ Name revealed at grand opening By Steven Powell MEGAN J. WILLIAMS / The Daily Reveille
[From left to right] Chancellor Michael Martin, LSU Student Union Director Shirley Plakidas, Union Board Chair Allen Womble, Student Goverment president Stuart Watkins, associate vice chancellor for Finance and Administrative Services and interim director for Student Life Eric Monday and LSU system President John Lombardi cut the ribbon at the offical grand opening of the Live Oak Lounge Wednesday afternoon.
Contributing Writer
The Student Union held the grand opening ceremony of the first floor lounge Wednesday afternoon, announcing the anticipated final name for the new
first-floor area. “This is officially the Live Oak Lounge,” Chancellor Michael Martin announced to cheers and applause, as University and student representatives cut the ribbon, marking the completion of Phase I renovations of the LSU Student Union. The new lounge opened in July with the then-temporary name Live Oak Lounge. Students had the chance to suggest names
for the new space and vote on the final three choices — Tiger Connection, Tiger Terminal and Live Oak Lounge. “This project has been a long time in the works,” said Shirley Plakidas, LSU Student Union director. “It’s taken three years to get to this point, but here we are celebrating the completion [of Phase I].” LOUNGE, see page 19
THE DAILY REVEILLE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
Nation & World
INTERNATIONAL
NATIONAL
Obama to world: Don’t expect America to fix it all
Ga. residents warned of stagnant water after flood
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — President Barack Obama challenged world leaders Wednesday to shoulder more of the globe’s critical burdens.
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia residents returning Wednesday to homes soaked by days of torrential rains were warned of a hidden danger — disease-causing bacteria and jagged debris harbored by stagnant, murky water. Standing water up to several feet deep was still pooled in some neighborhoods, including parts of Cobb County in the Atlanta area. Anyone venturing into a flooded yard or basement should wear rubber waders and surgical gloves, and items that were submerged should be cleaned with disinfectant, state emergency officials said.
African leaders ally to eradicate deadly malaria UNITED NATIONS (AP) — African states launched a campaign on Wednesday to stop malaria from killing an estimated 1 million people on their continent each year. Palin talks US-China relations in speech in Asia HONG KONG (AP) — Months after abruptly resigning as Alaska’s governor, Sarah Palin resurfaced in Hong Kong on Wednesday more moderate in tone and better versed in international affairs, possibly laying the first brick for a 2012 White House bid.
Obama wants worlwide end of fossil fuel subsidies WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is calling on the world to end massive government subsidies that encourage the use of fossil fuels blamed for global warming. The president, who is set to host the G-20
economic summit opening Thursday in Pittsburgh, will propose a gradual elimination, with the time frame to be determined, according to White House officials.“Later this week, I will work with my colleagues at the G-20 to phase out fossil fuel subsidies so that we can better address our climate challenge,” Obama said Tuesday at the United Nations global warming summit. Grandmother gets 44 months in green-card scam DALLAS (AP) — A Texas grandmother who acknowledged running a scheme in which her family members married scores of foreigners seeking to stay in the United States was sentenced Wednesday to nearly four years in prison. Maria Refugia Camarillo, 72, her graying hair pulled back in a ponytail, used a walker during her court appearance and sat calmly as she was sentenced to 44 months in federal prison.
STATE/LOCAL
Jindal urges expansion of offshore drilling (AP) — Gov. Bobby Jindal is urging the Minerals Management Service to expand offshore drilling, but to also pay Louisiana more to fix the damage offshore drilling has caused to the state’s coast. Jindal staked out his position on offshore drilling in a letter to the MMS, which is considering a Bush-era proposal to expand offshore drilling. In the letter, Jindal said more drilling in federal waters would meet a host of needs the nation has — from creating jobs to reducing its dependency on foreign oil. But he added that MMS has failed to recognize the damage offshore energy production has done on Louisiana. US officials cite climate change threats in South NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Top U.S. wildlife officials said Wednesday they will try to save barrier islands,
TODAY ON
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TODAY
Weather 89 72
ONGOING IN SEPTEMBER Genesis Tutoring Program-FREE! Monday-Thursday 5pm- 9pm in the Office of Multicultural Affairs 326A Student Union DO YOU HAVE AN OCCURRENCE? Call Andrew at the Student Media Office 578-6090, 9AM- 5PM or E-mail: officemanager@lsureveille.com
La. unemployment taxes to rise, benefits to drop (AP) — A rise in the ranks of Louisiana’s unemployed will force business taxes to increase and state benefits for jobless workers to shrink next year, moves designed to keep the state’s unemployment trust fund from being drained. The adjustment to begin Jan. 1 was triggered Wednesday when the Revenue Estimating Conference, which forecasts state income and fund balances, agreed to projections that show a drop in the unemployment fund balance.
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DON’T GO CHASING WATER FOUNTAINS
89 73 SUNDAY 86 70
SATURDAY 86 70 MONDAY 86 68
AACC Meet and Greet Thursday Sept. 24th, 2009 5:30pm-7:00pm LSU African American Cultural Center Tigers After Ten Presents the Blackout Series Video Dance Part Friday Sept. 25 Student Union, Cotillion Ballroom 10pm-1am For more information contact Alice Womble at amombl1@lsu.edu
fight invasive species and work with companies to restore wildlife habitat as they confront the risks posed by climate change across the South. Sam Hamilton, new director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said the South is on the forefront of climate change threats and that coastal wildlife refuges from North Carolina to Louisiana are endangered.
Scattered T-Storms
FRIDAY
Eta Kappa Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. AKA Week: The Reign of an Empir”AKA”l Dynasty September 20-26 Thursday: “Gospel “AKA”pollo” 7:08 Cotillion Ballroom For more info contact Xaviera Leon xleon1@lsu.edu
PAGE 7
BENJAMIN OLIVER HICKS / The Daily Reveille
Log on to lsureveille.com to see pictures of drinking fountains on campus.
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS In the Sept. 23 article entitled “ROTC training 150 future officers,” Braden Bawcom’s name was misspelled. 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. 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
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
THE DAILY REVEILLE
PAGE 3
EVENTS
Cane’s founder speaks at entrepreneurship ceremony Work-study fellows program kicks off By Ryan Buxton Staff Writer
MEGAN J. WILLIAMS / The Daily Reveille
Raising Cane’s founder Todd Graves speaks Wednesday night in the Cox Center at the kick-off event for an entrepreneurship program with his dog, Raising Cane II.
As Todd Graves, founder of Raising Cane’s, strode into the Cox Communications Center for Student Athletes Wednesday with Raising Cane II at his side, he revealed one of the best things about being an entrepreneur — being able to take his dog anywhere. Graves was on campus to speak to about 75 guests at the kick-off event for the Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute’s new fellows program, which will begin in January. “The fellows program is a year-long work-study program designed to connect top students
‘‘
to top companies take prudent and for mentoring, reasonable risks networking and to innovate ... and summer internbe more successship opportuniful,” Martin said. ties,” said Jill Graves told Roshto, director the story of how of development at he began Raising the entrepreneurCane’s against Michael Martin ship institute. all odds based on chancellor Chancellor passion and “livMichael Martin ing the business.” was on hand to introduce Graves, He started the business with who he cited as a great example Craig Silvey, University gradufor ambitious entrepreneurial stu- ate, who submitted the business dents. plan as a school project and got “He knew chickens had fin- the worst grade in the class — B gers long before I even knew they minus. had hands,” Martin said. “People said, ‘You have zero Martin praised the entrepre- money, no multi-year experience neurship institute for its progress in restaurant management, and and said he would look to it for you want to serve only chickadvice to help the University en fingers on the North Gates grow. of LSU? You must be crazy,’” “We need the institute to help ENTREPRENEUR, see page 14 us as an institution learn how to
‘He knew chickens had fingers long before I even knew they had hands.’
TECHNOLOGY
Student-created Web site provides student resources Forum has message boards, ratings By Ryan Buxton Staff Writer
KRISTEN M’LISSA ROWLETT / The Daily Reveille
Joshua Duke, creator of EverythingLSU.com, discusses the Web site he created to share course information on Monday afternoon.
A newly launched, studentcreated Web site is dedicated to becoming the most current, reliable source for University professor ratings, course discussions and reviews of local businesses. Joshua Duke, business management and construction management senior, created and designed the site, appropriately called EverythingLSU.com. His goal is to fill the niche held by other sites like University Tools which he said are no longer frequently updated. “A few years ago, University Tools was useful, but it gets more
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Bus trip to be held this weekend Final PSIF members appointed By Xerxes A. Wilson Staff Writer
Student Government is hosting its annual bus trip to the Mississippi State football game this weekend. About 260 students with 10 chaperones will leave by bus at 3:30 a.m. Saturday for the six-hour trip to Starkville, Miss., said SG Director of Athletics Melissa Hart at the SG meeting Wednesday. Hart said the 11:30 a.m. kickoff caused the early Baton Rouge departure time. Because SG sponsors paid for the majority of the costs, students
only had to pay $75 for tickets and a shirt, Hart said. Hart said the game against Mississippi State was selected for the trip because it was the most financially responsible game to attend. “We had a really heavy interest in the bus trip program this year,” Hart said. “Although it’s an early game, we are really excited about it.” Hart addressed the Senate on Wednesday about complaints regarding the bag check line at Tiger Stadium. Hart said she had received numerous complaints about how slow the bag check lines moved and said she is working with the Athletic Department to figure out a solution before the game against Florida. “I recommend if you don’t need
a bag, that don’t bring them,” Hart said. “It will speed up the process for you and everyone.” The senate enrolled SG Concurrent Resolution 14, 15, 16 which approved the appointments of the three remaining members of the PSIF committee allowing the committee to take full function. As a result, SG Bill 10 — which would have allocated a $2,400 from the Student Senate Contingency Account for Biograds to offset the costs of a Biosymposium — was tabled until the PSIF committee meeting this Tuesday. The Biograds were unable to receive funding last week because of the PSIF committee — that would normally allocate such funds — was SG, see page 19
outdated each year,” Duke said. “I might have five or six professors and only be able to find one or two of them [on University Tools].” EverythingLSU features a message board for every course offered at the University, as well as course and professor ratings, and reviews of local bars, restaurants and boutiques are coming soon. Duke said the message boards are the main focus of the site. “I wanted message boards to be a way for people to connect in their classes,” Duke said. “If they need a tutor, they can get a tutor. If they don’t understand something that is discussed, they can get help on the problem.” Brian Simpson, physics senior, said the site is promising but because it is so new, there aren’t enough users yet to reach the site’s full capacity for use.
“The point is to be able to share and discuss your class, but this won’t work unless other people in your class actually use the Web site,” Simpson said. “Professors have a hard time persuading some students to even come to class, so we’ll see. I plan on checking the site regularly to see if it is catching on.” Duke said the site is growing by the day and had 1,400 visitors within four days of launching. Chemical engineering junior Allison Belgard said she will use the site for the course and professor ratings. She has already read reviews posted to the site and plans to submit some of her own. Belgard said she likes the “organized and comprehensive” quality of the site, but is concerned with one factor of the reviews. WEB SITE, see page 19
PAGE 4
THE DAILY REVEILLE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
OTHER NEWS
LEGISLATION
House passes sweeping student aid bill Fla. cops Act would allow fed. gov. to loan money By Nate Monroe Contributing Writer
A sweeping student aid bill which increases federal grants and changes the way students can borrow money from the federal government passed the U.S. House of Representatives last Thursday. The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 would convert all federal loan lending — currently done through federally subsidized private banks sometimes referred to as “middle men” — to the Direct Lending Program, eliminating the banks in the loan process and allowing students to take out loans directly from the federal government. The bill would also raise the maximum award from the annual Pell Grant scholarship from $5,350 to $5,500 in 2010 and eventually to $6,900 by 2019. “Of course, we are glad any time we can offer any additional aid to students,” said Amy Marix,
associate director of federal aid in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Student Aid. Marix expressed some reservations with the bill, despite supporting much of its substance — primarily how transferring to a new loan program in 2010, a relatively short timeline, will affect “students in the timing we can process financial aid.” “We don’t know exactly what the implications are at this time if we have to transfer,” she said. The bill’s supporters say allowing the federal government to handle student loans is cost-efficient and will protect students from market fluctuations because the federal government would handle the loans, keeping interest rates low. The vote on the Democraticled bill broke down largely along party lines, 253-171 — with few crossovers from either party. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, who is a 2010 Senate candidate challenging incumbent Republican Sen. David Vitter, and Rep. Joseph Cao, R-New Orleans, were the only two in Louisiana’s Congressional delegation to vote for the bill.
‘‘
“This legislation will help many deserving students by ... increasing the amount of scholarship money available.’ Rep. Charlie Melancon D-Napoleanville
“This legislation will help many deserving students in Louisiana achieve [earning an advanced degree] by dramatically increasing the amount of federal scholarship money available for them, while also strengthening the student loan program,” Melancon said in a news release. Supporters claim the bill is a much-needed break for college students in a difficult economic climate and also point to a Congressional Budget Office estimate that the bill will save billions. Conservative critics allege the program is an attempt by President Barack Obama to take over the student loan agency. “We need competition in the private sector,” Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., told ABC News last Thurs-
day. “We don’t need to take over this sector like what we did with the automobile industry. Socialism doesn’t work. Government control doesn’t work.” It’s not difficult to find students who haven’t heard about the bill, but first impressions were generally positive. “It’s a good idea,” said Jacob Miller, theatre sophomore, about the federal government handling loans. “My bank is snooty.” He added his mother would be pleased with a provision in the bill which would simplify the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid forms. “The FAFSA is almost not worth it,” said Corinne Louis, communications studies senior, lamenting the complicated form. Louis said she liked the content of the bill but expressed overall apathy about it. “It doesn’t really matter,” she said. “You have to pay the money back one day anyway.”
Contact Nate Monroe at nmonroe@lsureveille.com
caught playing Wii on job
LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) - It’s game over for some police officers who played video games while they raided a convicted drug dealer’s home in central Florida. Surveillance video obtained by WFLA in Tampa caught the officers playing a Nintendo Wii bowling game, with one furiously jumping up and down in celebration. Officials say some of the officers could be disciplined. Officers with the anti-drug task force had just stormed into the home of the convicted drug dealer, who was already in custody. One Polk County sheriff’s detective can be seen taking several breaks from cataloging evidence so she can bowl frames. Contact The Daily Reveille’s news staff at news@lsureveille.com
POLITICS
Jindal draws attention from Republicans for 2012 election Governor says he’s focusing on 2011 By Adam Duvernay Senior Staff Writer
As the Republican Party struggles to discover a new identity while Democrats hold power, attention is already focused on the potential candidates for the 2012 presidential election. A Sept. 17 straw poll from the 2009 Value Voters Summit in Washington D.C. listed several prominent Republican names for 2012 — including Gov. Bobby Jindal. Jindal only ranked seventh with less than 5 percent of the vote, but the governor has been red flagged by Republicans as a possible fresh national face since the 2008 election. Jindal announced in December 2008 he would not run for president in 2012. He said he would instead focus his attention on his 2011 reelection campaign. But the governor’s announcement left room for him to change his mind. Robert Hogan, associate professor of political science, said Jindal’s posturing suggests national ambitions despite his statements he won’t take the center stage. “To be a viable candidate for president, you need to court the very conservative wing of the Republican Party,” Hogan said. “And that seems to be what he’s doing.” Hogan pointed to several policy stances Jindal has taken since 2008 indicating a play to the socially and fiscally conservative voter base.
Hogan said Jindal refused any possibility to raise taxes in the last legislative session, a possible red flag for Republicans. Jindal’s refusal of $75 million in federal unemployment funds from the stimulus package made him popular among conservative voters, Hogan said. Jindal issued an executive order last week to refuse state money to the controversy-wracked Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. The state’s Division of Administration reported no state agencies have ever had contracts with ACORN. Hogan said these forms of political posturing show Jindal may
still be open to a nomination for president in 2012, or at least a vicepresidential slot. The political action committee “Jindal for President Draft Council, Inc.” was formed earlier this year to raise funds for a future presidential run. Though Jindal is aware of the organization, he claims no connection to it. Jindal even requested the PAC stop its effort, believing the work of the committee might damage his ability to govern the state efficiently. “At that point he was trying to pass legislation, and a lot of people felt he should concentrate on being governor instead of focusing on national politics,” said Dan Kyle,
former treasure for Jindal for President Draft Council, Inc. Kyle resigned from his position when Jindal said a national fund-raiser would conflict with his gubernatorial fund-raisers. Young voters were an important demographic in the 2008 election. Jindal would have to capitalize on the youth vote before he could be considered as a viable candidate, Hogan said. “I like what he’s done in terms of ethics, but I’m not sure if he has the national experience in terms of foreign policy,” said Justin Terracciano, biological chemistry freshman.
Terracciano said he considers himself a Republican, but said Jindal would have to clearly explain his issues before he could support him. Teriana Wilcox, biological engineering freshman, said feels Jindal talks down to his constituents. She said she sees the governor as something of a little kid. “The way he came across publicly to the entire nation didn’t seem like it would make a lasting impact on people,” Wilcox said. Contact Adam Duvernay at aduvernay@lsureveille.com
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Sports
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
PAGE 5
Mullen It Over
FOOTBALL
Dickson to play Bulldogs this week
Three defensive linemen uncertain By Rachel Whittaker Chief Sports Writer
MARK HUMPHREY / The Associated Press
Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen, left, leaves the field with Pernell McPhee (90) after beating Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday.
New coach plans to re-energize Mississippi State team coming off dismal 4-8 season By Rachel Whittaker Chief Sports Writer
On Dec. 10, 2008, Dan Mullen completed a Southeastern Conference shuffle. Mullen moved from offensive coordinator at Florida, — ranked No. 15 in the country and No. 1 in the SEC in total offense last season — to head coach at Mississippi State, nearly 100 spots lower at No. 113 and No. 10 in the conference. The defensive side told a similar story — the Gators were No. 3
in the nation and the conference, his team how to win, something he and the Bulldogs were No. 35 and grew accustomed during four seaNo. 10, respectively. sons at Florida. Mullen left The Gators a 13-1 defending were 44-9 with two national champion national championto coach a Bullships during his tendogs team coming ure in Gainesville, Log on to see The off a 4-8 season at Mississippi Daily Reveille’s Away Fla. the bottom of the State has no national Game Guide. SEC. championships to its But now, three credit and has not games into Mulwon an SEC title len’s first season, Mississippi State since 1941. is 2-1, and his goal remains to teach “Our guys are learning how
lsureveille.com
to win and learning how to build a program,” Mullen said in a teleconference. “We did a lot of competitive drills in the offseason to get them to learn how to win and learn what that’s all about.” Junior linebacker K.J. Wright said not only is Mullen a “good people person,” but he also has what it takes to vault the Bulldogs into championship contention. “Coach Mullen is an up-tempo guy with a huge personality,” BULLDOGS, see page 13
Senior tight end Richard Dickson will play Saturday against Mississippi State after leaving LSU’s game against Louisiana-Lafayette with slight dizziness, LSU football coach Les Miles said Wednesday. “Dickson is 100 percent,” Miles said. “He didn’t miss a beat this practice week.” Miles said Sept. 14 that junior defensive end Lazarius Levingston should return against Mississippi State, but Miles said Wednesday his status for Saturday is uncertain. “[Levingston] is so much better,” Miles said. “It’s hard for me to tell you he’ll play in this one.” Miles said freshman defensive lineman Josh Downs is “doubtful” for Saturday, and junior defensive lineman Akiem Hicks did not practice Wednesday. “There’s still some word out on [Hicks],” Miles said. On the offensive side, Miles said he wants to increase the team’s production in the running game, particularly with seniors OFFENSE, see page 13
SOCCER
Temporary soccer bleachers in place after Gustav Stands behind goals invite misconduct By Rowan Kavner Sports Contributor
Hurricane Gustav still haunts the LSU soccer stadium. A temporary, makeshift set of bleachers is a result of the storm which struck Baton Rouge more than a year ago. “It looked like a tornado came through, and there were bleachers all mangled in the middle of the field,” said team spokesman Will Stafford. Stafford said the current set of stands doesn’t extend as far as the stands in previous years. “In the past, we had stands in
front of the press box immediately to the left and right of the press box, extended all the way down to both sides,” Stafford said. Eddie Nunez, associate athletic director for operations and project development, said reconstructing the bleachers from last year would be unrealistic by the beginning of this season. A brand new set of bleachers should be in place by next season. “The next phase that will happen at the end of the season is replacing the bleachers we have with the new bleachers to mirror what we had last year,” Nunez said. “If we’re fortunate to raise the money this year, we’ll come back and continue the addition and have a whole secondary set of bleachers behind it with a new press box and really dress it up.”
LSU coach Brian Lee said the new seats next season could provide a major change in LSU’s home atmosphere. “This [stadium] kind of makes you chuckle a little bit just because it’s so hodgepodge,” Lee said. “But the staff has done the best job they can given the circumstance.” Nunez said LSU has a unique advantage of fan proximity, which enhances the experience for the athletes. But there is such thing as being too close. Some universities adopted the idea to put stands behind the goals. “At South Florida they had it,” Lee said. “It creates a lot of atmosphere but also opens up to inappropriate action.” SEATING, see page 13
GRANT GUITERREZ / The Daily Reveille
Fans watch the Tigers play Southern Miss. from the temporary soccer stands Aug. 29. A new set of bleachers is expected to be in place by next season.
THE DAILY REVEILLE
PAGE 6
Thursday, September 24, 2009
AROUND THE SEC
Five squads represented in AP Top 25, four in top seven Conference battles highlight week four By Jarred LeBlanc Sports Contributor
The Southeastern Conference is on a roll heading into week four of the college football season. Five teams are ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, including four teams in the top seven. The SEC went 9-3 in week three with the three losses being in conference play. EAST AND WEST COLLIDE For the first time this season, all four teams ranked in the top seven of the national polls are playing conference games in one weekend. The East and West divisions collide in this week’s first key matchup as the East’s South Carolina meets up with the West’s Ole Miss on Thursday night in Columbia, S.C., at Williams-Brice Stadium. The No. 4 Rebels (2-0) are looking to redeem their 31-24 loss against the Gamecocks last season. South Carolina (2-1, 0-1) will be Ole Miss’s first conference opponent of the season. The Rebels come into the game ranked No. 1 in the SEC in scoring offense with 48.5 points per game and ranked No. 2 in the SEC in scoring defense, allowing 10 points per game. The Gamecocks are looking to contain the Ole Miss offense with a defense that has only allowed 249.3 yards per game, which is fourth best in the SEC. INTRADIVISION RIVALRIES A couple West rivalries highlight Saturday’s matchups as No. 7 LSU faces Mississippi State and No. 3 Alabama faces Arkansas. The West is well represented in the AP Top 25, with three teams
ranked in the top seven. “There’s competition in this division week-in and week-out, and you better be ready to play,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “Nationally, I don’t know that there is any conference or division that is as competitive as this one.” LSU (3-0, 1-0) travels to Starkville, Miss., having gone six straight quarters without allowing a touchdown. Mississippi State (2-1, 1-1) is led offensively by senior running back Anthony Dixon, who averages 107.5 rushing yards per game. Alabama (3-0) welcomes Arkansas (1-1, 0-1) into Tuscaloosa, Ala., where the Tide haven’t lost since Nov. 17, 2007, when Louisiana-Monroe beat them, 21-14. The Razorbacks are led offensively by sophomore quarterback Ryan Mallett, who leads all SEC quarterbacks with 358.5 passing yards per game. “He’s deadly accurate, or he was anyway in this last ball game,” said Georgia coach Mark Richt. “I’ve got a feeling they are going to throw for a lot of yards against a lot of people and score a lot of points throughout the year.” No. 1 Florida (3-0, 1-0) travels to Kentucky (2-0) for an SEC East battle Saturday. Kentucky leads the SEC in yards per kick return, averaging 42.3 yards per kickoff return. The Wildcats exploded against Louisville last Saturday with 254 kickoff return yards, including a 100-yard kickoff return by junior running back Derrick Locke. “First time I’ve ever seen a kickoff return where the guy just catches and outruns everybody,” said Florida coach Urban Meyer. “This is the biggest challenge our kickoff team is going to have for the year.” NON-CONFERENCE BATTLE No. 21 Georgia faces its second out-of-conference opponent
DAVE MARTIN / The Associated Press
Alabama tight end Colin Peek (84) drags North Texas defender DaWaylon Cook on Sept. 19 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
from one of the major conferences Saturday when the team welcomes Arizona State (2-0) from the Pacific 10 into Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. Georgia senior quarterback Joe Cox enters the game following his greatest performance as a Bulldog when he threw for a career-high 375 yards and tied a school record with five touchdown passes. Cox leads all-SEC quarterbacks with eight touchdown passes.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER It will be a semi-battle of the birds Saturday when the Auburn nation of War Eagle hosts the Ball State Cardinals in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday. Auburn (3-0, 1-0) is 9-2 against out-of-conference opponents since 2007, whereas Ball State (0-3) is trying to avoid its sixth consecutive loss since last season. The Cardinals won their first 12 games of the 2008 season before dropping the last two. Auburn has allowed 156.7
rushing yards per game, No. 10 in the SEC. Ball State’s offense is led by senior running back MiQuale Lewis, who ran for 1,736 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2008. “I think he’s the key to them moving the ball on offense right now.” said Auburn coach Gene Chizik. “They’re trying to get back on track where they were last year.” Contact Jarred LeBlanc at jleblanc@lsureveille.com
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Thursday, September 24, 2009
PAGE 7
VOLLEYBALL
Williams, Cooper lead Tigers in blocks per set Tigers average 2.55 blocks this season By Andy Schwehm Sports Writer
Imagine having Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell in their prime playing together on your favorite basketball team. At first, the thought sounds great — three of the greatest players in NBA history on one team at arguably the most important position on the court. But then you have to wonder who you should start and how much playing time you should give them. This is the “problem” LSU volleyball coach Fran Flory has this season at middle blocker: three amazingly athletic middle blockers in seniors Brittnee Cooper and Lauren DeGirolamo and sophomore Michele Williams, along with two talented backups in junior Tania Schatow and freshman Ally Judkins. “It’s a luxury to have Lauren DeGirolamo basically coming off the bench as a middle blocker,” Flory said. “We did a great job of moving her around in the middle [Friday night] and letting Cooper block on the right side and let Michele move around ... Having those three on the court at the same time really enhances our options offensively.” The middle blocker on a volleyball team is like a center on a basketball team, putting herself in the middle of the court next to the net. On offense, she awaits any ball set to her to slam it down for a dunk. On defense, she stands poised at the net, moving from side to side following the opponent’s attack to try to get a block. “Middle blockers need to be quick to beat the other team’s block,” Williams said. “We attack, but we also need to pull the other side’s middle blocker away from our outside hitter so our outside has a oneon-one with the other team’s block.” Being an effective blocker is one distinguishable characteristic that separates the outside hitters from middle blockers. Cooper said Flory emphasizes to her team the importance of being a well-disciplined blocking team. They have taken her emphasis seriously, as the Tigers have averaged 2.55 blocks per set this season (No. 2 in Southeastern Conference), which is up from their 2.39 blocks per set average last season (No. 3 in SEC). “She wants us to always have our knees bent and our hands up
high, ready to penetrate over the net,” Cooper said. “She also wants us to stay balanced and not commit to one person.” Cooper is the leader of the pack for the Tigers’ middles. The 6-foot-3-inch senior from Houston was chosen by the SEC coaches as a member of the preseason All-SEC Team, and she has proven herself so far this season. Just four weeks into the season, Cooper has flashed her All-American skills by earning SEC Defensive Player of the Week in week one of the season and SEC Offensive Player of the Week the following week. She also leads the team in two other statistical categories, averaging 3.44 kills per set and 1.23 blocks per set. She was named to all-tournament teams in all three of LSU’s pre-SEC schedule tournaments. “The reality is, everybody is trying to stop her, and nobody can,” said Tennessee coach Rob Patrick. “She’s hitting .400 while everyone is committing [to stop] her.” But the arsenal of four fellow middle blockers is what makes the Tigers a threat at the net. Williams, a member of the SEC All-Freshman squad last season, was the tournament MVP at the Shamrock Invitational and has averaged 2.46 kills per set and 1.00 blocks per set, No. 3 and 2, respectively, behind Cooper on the team. DeGirolamo, a 2007 All-SEC First Team member, has been a solid force this season for the Tigers both at the net and on the back row, averaging 0.98 kills per set, 0.70 blocks per set and 2.05 digs per set. Contact Andy Schwehm at aschwehm@lsureveille.com
photos by BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille
[Top] Sophomore middle blocker Michele Williams (23) and [bottom] senior middle blocker Brittnee Cooper (25) spike the ball against Tennessee in the Tigers’ 3-2 win against the Volunteers on Sept. 18. Williams and Cooper average 2.46 and 3.44 kills per set.
THE DAILY REVEILLE
PAGE 8
Thursday, September 24, 2009
BABBLING BROOKS
The good, the bad and the ugly of LSU football
Jordan Jefferson has yet to pass for more than 200 yards in a game. Vanderbilt is the best defense LSU has faced so far, ranking No. 21 nationally in total defense, but both Washington and ULL rank in the mid-70s. If it’s not the offense that kills the season, it could very well turn out to be the return game. The Tigers average 10.4 yards a carry on kickoff returns, an average that has them last in the SEC. Punt returns are working out better for the Tigers who average 7 yards a return, making them No. 5 in the conference in that category.
The LSU football team has started the season 3-0 and ranked No. 7 in both major polls, but it’s still got some issues. Don’t misinterpret this as onesided bashing. There have been some good things on the field, but there have also been some bad, and there has also been some seriously ugly football on display by the Tigers.
THE GOOD John Chavis’ defensive unit has played pretty well as a whole when it matters most in the Tigers’ first three games this season. LSU hasn’t allowed a touchdown in more than quarters johanathan brooks six and is ranked Columnist No. 14 nationally in scoring defense, but its total defensive numbers aren’t nearly as spectacular. More specifically, LSU boasts the No. 3 red-zone defense in the Southeastern Conference. In the seven times LSU’s back has been to the wall, its opponents have only put numbers on the scoreboard five times. Three of those scores were touchdowns, and two were by field goal. The drives that stalled inside the 20 yard line both ended because of fumbles. The defense isn’t the only group getting it done when it’s necessary. The offense ranks No. 3 in the SEC in third-down conversions. Of their 39 third-down opportunities, the Tigers have converted 21. Another bright spot on the team would be its place kicking. It’s a very important element to many teams’ success, yet many fans take it for granted. Junior kicker Josh Jasper has been perfect on all five of his field goal attempts this season, including a 52-yard boot against LouisianaLafayette Saturday night. He also is 10-for-10 on extra point attempts as well. THE BAD As good as the defense has been in the red zone, it’s been just as bad any other time it’s on the field. LSU ranks No. 46 nationally and No. 9 in the SEC in total defense. The unit has allowed a total of 960 yards on the season, and its opponents average 4.5 yards a play. The defense has only allowed three touchdowns thus far, but the unit’s penchant for allowing a ton of yards a contest could prove disastrous once LSU plays more potent offenses. Quarterback protection has been pretty dismal, as well. The offensive line doesn’t do a terrible job of keeping defenders from harassing sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson, but they don’t do exceptionally well either. LSU is tied at No. 8 in the SEC in sacks allowed on the season with five. As a result of the sacks, the
BENJAMIN OLIVER HICKS / The Daily Reveille
LSU senior linebacker Harry Coleman (24) celebrates as senior linebacker Perry Riley (56) recovers a fumble Sept. 19 against ULL.
offense has lost 35 yards. THE UGLY Complete offensive output could turn out to be the cancer that kills LSU’s season. The Tigers rank No. 90 nationally in total
offense with an average of just less than 330 yards a contest — good enough for dead last in the conference. LSU can’t move the ball effectively on the ground or through the air this season, and the Tigers
rank No. 9 in passing offense and No. 10 in rushing offense in the conference with 162 and 164 yards per game, respectively. No running back has eclipsed even 75 yards in a game this season, and sophomore quarterback
Johanathan Brooks is a 21-yearold mass communication senior from Powder Springs, Ga. Follow him on Twitter @ TDR_jbrooks.
Contact Johanathan Brooks at jbrooks@lsureveille.com
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Entertainment
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
PAGE 9
THE FALL LINEUP SUNDAY Dexter
7 p.m., Showtime Season 4 premiere: Sept. 27
Curb Your Enthusiasm
8 p.m., HBO Season 7 premiere: Sept. 20
MONDAY Gossip Girl
7 p.m., The CW Season 3 premiere: Sept. 14
‘I love ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ because each episode is crazier than the last.’ Jean Paul Caron history senior
Heroes
7 p.m., NBC Season 4 premiere: Sept. 21
House
MEGAN J. WILLIAMS / The Daily Reveille
[From left] Richard Jasbring, Matt Lousteau, Christian Gonzales, Zachary Venable and Aaron Theall watch television Tuesday night at Lousteau’s apartment.
Free Fallin’ Lineup
Advanced technology like DVR, online streaming Web sites help students keep up with TV shows By Ben Bourgeois
lsureveille.com
Entertainment Writer
Noel Marcantel loves to catch his favorite shows like “The Office” and “Burn Notice,” but a full course load and homework assignments make Marcantel one of the many students turning to digital video recording to catch those shows. “With taking 18 hours and having to do military stuff or intramural sports in the afternoon, I always seem to be busy during prime time,” the history junior said. “I don’t have the time to sit around and catch the shows.” Ann Ruble, public affairs manager for Cox Louisiana, said DVR subscriptions have significantly increased during the last four years.
Log on to see most recent episodes of some of TV’s popular shows. INCREASING POPULARITY Cox Communications has 500,000 customers across 17 south Louisiana parishes including the metropolitan areas of Baton Rouge, Lafayette and New Orleans, Ruble said. The percentage of Cox-subscribing households with at least one DVR in Louisiana nearly doubled from 2005 to 2006, DVR, see page 12
7 p.m., FOX Season 6 premiere: Sept. 21
TUESDAY V
7 p.m., ABC Series premiere: Sept. Nov. 3
WEDNESDAY Glee
8 p.m., FOX Season 5 premiere: Sept. 19
‘I try to DVR shows when I can because I’m usually busy during prime time. When I’ve watched House, I’ve enjoyed it. The other comedy shows out right now are so stereotypical.’ Chris Ballay
mass communication senior
THURSDAY The Office
8 p.m., NBC Season 6 premiere: Sept. 17
30 Rock
8:30 p.m., NBC Season 4 premiere: Oct. 15
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia 9 p.m., FX Season 5 premiere: Sept. 17, 2009
FRIDAY
Ugly Betty
8 p.m., ABC Season 4 premiere: Oct. 9
‘‘Ugly Betty’ is a show I try to watch when I can. I’ve been keeping up with it for two years or so ... but I’ll go online if I’m busy with school.’ Deontrea Campbell
computer science senior
DANCE
Students perform in the Quad as part of flashmob By Emily Slack Entertainment Writer
After the daily tolling of the alma mater at noon, the sound of a conch was heard across the Quad, signaling the start of a flashmob dance. About 60 students participated in a flashmob organized by architecture sophomores Jonathan House and Sarah Alleman through a Facebook event. The event had gained 218 confirmed guests by Wednesday. “I think people should have the
lsureveille.com Log on to see students dancing in the Quad. desire to shake things up from time to time,” House said. “People should go out and affect other people’s day in a way they weren’t expecting.” Alleman and House were inspired to create the event after the theater department hosted the freeze
the Quad flashmob last spring. “It’s just a random event that makes people turn heads,” said Alleman. “It’s just for fun.” Participants in the flashmob danced to tracks on their MP3 players for two minutes. “We see people walking around with their iPods all the time,” said House. “For everyone to take that normal action and just start jamming out is pretty hilarious.” The flashmob participants FLASHMOB, see page 12
JASON BORDELON / The Daily Reveille
University students dance in the Quad on Wednesday afternoon. More than 60 students participated in an organized flashmob dance party in the Quad.
PAGE 10
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Thursday, September 24, 2009
DANCE
Stepping combines dance techniques, drill movements Bragging rights top prize in competition By Lindsay Nunez Entertainment Writer
A rhythmic roar of pounding feet and clapping hands can be heard with the proud chanting of brotherhood and sisterhood, and an array of precision movements are executed in complete unison. The University sororities and fraternities of the National PanHellenic Council work diligently to achieve each ideal motion in a step show. “Stepping is like an entire band, but only using your body,” said Terrell Carter, computer science senior and former step master for Phi Beta Sigma. Stepping is an expression of physical motion and sound which combines dance and drill movements. Step interwove the two forms to create its own entity. Skills needed to succeed at stepping include basic dance technique, capability to mirror and repeat beats and hand-eye coordination, Carter said. Stepping is one of the only two dance forms which are completely American, said Christine Chrest, University dance adjunct teacher. Groups like The Temptations
BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille
Members of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority practice their steps Tuesday night.
and The Four Tops inspired students during the ’50s to sing and mimic the steps of their musical idols. Stepping has evolved from those roots into what it is today. Phi Beta Sigma and Omega Psi Phi were the fraternities that created stepping, Carter said. Some moves used in stepping found inspiration through the Welly Dance, a traditional South African dance done by laborers wearing Wellington boots, CBS’s Caitlin Johnson said in a 2007 article. Stepping is not taught in classes like other dances and drills taught in classes, but rather it’s created in a student environment, Chrest said. Songs usually inspire new steps. Foot stomping creates a strong
bass line while hand clapping creates a softer sound. The pattern of stomping and clapping is designed to match the beat of the song, Carter said. “I wish I had rhythm like that,” said Claire Sauls, business sophomore. “It’s so cool to watch. It always gets me really pumped.” The sororities and fraternities use stepping to show pride in their organizations. The groups incorporate chants and varying hand symbols in their routines to show off their Greek letters, he said. Many of the chants and steps are signature for a particular sorority or fraternity and can be seen worldwide. The steps are passed down through the generations and
PHILANTHROPY
Jazz singer helps rebuild home Davenport joined by 50 volunteers By The Associated Press CHALMETTE (AP) — Jazz trumpeter and singer Jeremy Davenport says it’s easy to forget how much rebuilding still needs to be done in south Louisiana. While the French Quarter and the historic Garden District were spared major damage from Hurricane Katrina four years ago and are largely back to normal, many neighborhoods still have a long way to go. “It’s easy to lose track,” Davenport said. “There are certain parts of New Orleans that are like they were before the storm, but there are a lot of places that aren’t.” On Tuesday, Davenport put down his trumpet and picked up some tools to help volunteers rebuild a home in suburban St. Bernard Parish that had been under 14 feet of water. An assessment after the storm showed almost every structure in the largely blue-collar parish, just east of New Orleans, had been damaged by Katrina. Davenport says he was nervous about his lack of skill in construction, but by the end of the day, he had learned to hang and float drywall and felt great knowing that in coming months a
family would be living there. “As bizarre as it is, I really enjoyed today,” he said. “It was very much an enjoyable experience, even though it’s hot ... I can’t wait to come back and knock on the door when a family is living here.” Davenport was joined by 50 volunteers from the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, where he performs as the
headline entertainer. The group tackled three homes working with the St. Bernard Project, which helped rebuild more than 200 homes in the parish since Katrina. Contact The Daily Reveille’s entertainment staff at entertainment@lsureveille.com
are done with great pride, said Samantha White, Delta Sigma Theta president. “Stepping is something that has become a tradition in each of our organizations and something we each hold very dear,” said Aislinn Herrera, member of Gamma Pi. Step teams begin working on their routines daily about a month before a show takes place. After learning the step, the teams spend their time conditioning and perfecting the routines. The steps must flow naturally for all of the performers, Carter said “It’s hard work and dedication, but it’s worth it in the end,” said Jasmine Jackson, general studies senior and Delta Sigma Theta member. The step teams perform at various competitive step shows, where performances last 10 to 15 minutes and at campus yard shows, where performances last four to six minutes. The teams participate in four
to six shows each year. The competitions can reward prizes as large as $2,000, but on-campus shows provide a different type of award. “We step to win, but sometimes there is no prize,” White said. “The winner is chosen by word of mouth and receives bragging rights.” Step shows typically open with dance, which is followed by a skit and then stepping. The shows usually incorporate a theme, costumes and props, White said. But White said participating in step has one drawback. “Some people think that stepping is all we do, but we are capable of so much more.” White said. “We use stepping as a way for exposure, an avenue for people to see the other things we do.”
Contact Lindsay Nunez at lnunez@lsureveille.com
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Reveille Ranks
MUSIC MOVIES BOOKS TELEVISION
Pearl Jam
Deadmau5
Monkeywrench Records
Ultra Records
Unlike its self-titled effort in 2006, Pearl Jam is back to writing its quickest and tightest songs yet. “Backspacer” finishes in an exhilarating 37 minutes, its shortest album ever, and contains its most upbeat, to-the-point songs. Thankfully, Pearl Jam doesn’t equate maturing with slowing down and proves so with driving tracks like “The Fixer” and “Supersonic.” The upbeat vibe may delve too far into pop or new wave for hardcore fans, but this album proves Pearl Jam is still relevant long after its heyday in the early ’90s.
Deadmau5 — pronounced Dead Mouse — solidifies his place at the top of the trance dance music genre with the brilliant “For Lack of a Better Name.” The album’s explosive beginning tracks “FML” and prelude track, “Moar Ghosts ’n‘ Stuff,” lead up to the album’s epic highlight track “Ghosts ’n‘ Stuff,” a captivating track which is instantly addictive and has already become a club classic for the ages. The album is trance at its finest, sucking in the listeners to become one with the music and concluding with the exquisite 10 minute masterpiece “Strobe.”
For a tear-jerking, heart-wrenching, emotional time look no further than the romantic drama “Love Happens.” This movie will leave males running for the door, but from a female point of view, it has all the right ingredients for a touching love story. The movie confronts with honesty and sincerity the emotional trials some face after the death or unfaithfulness of a loved one. Despite the touching plot, Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart have absolutely no chemistry and are both two-dimensional. The only other drawback of the film is the painfully unmistakable product placement.
B. BOURGEOIS
A. WHITE
L. NUNEZ
Porcupine Tree
Mika
The Informant!
Backspacer
For Lack of a Better Name
Love Happens Warner Bros. Pictures
[A-] [B+] [C+]
The Incident Roadrunner Records
The Boy Who Knew Too Much
Warner Bros. Pictures
Casablanca Music
A perfect example of prog-rock lies in Porcupine Tree’s 10th studio album, “The Incident.” Meeting somewhere between the classics of Rush and the new-age visions of Tool, Porcupine Tree creates a true concept album consisting of 14 tracks which form one long song: the “Incident.” While every song can stand alone, the true impact of the CD comes as the listener hears the subtle connections and inter-weavings which play out as the album unfolds. Expansive and melodic, Porcupine Tree’s heavy arrangements are exciting, and each track keeps the listener enthralled as to what can come next and how far out a song can go. If you look up progressive rock in the dictionary, Porcupine Tree’s picture will be there.
After Mika exploded onto the music scene in 2007 with his first album “Life in Cartoon Motion,” the possibility he could make a better album seemed uncertain. “The Boy Who Knew Too Much” doesn’t so much top Mika’s first album as much as it proves he’s capable of refining and improving his signature disco-laden sounds. Mika puts his incredible vocal range to use in “Boy,” producing a bright pop album which is sure to please fans and new listeners. With guest artists like Imogen Heap and Owen Pallett, Mika has hit a pop home run with “The Boy Who Knew Too Much.”
Director Steven Soderbergh does not disappoint in “The Informant!,” a cheery spin on a serious corporate news story. Matt Damon plays Mark Whitacre, a white-collar middle man turned informant for the FBI during an investigation about price fixing by a giant agriculture business. Damon, who gained weight, a mustache and a toupee for the role, doesn’t pull the typical laugh-until-you-cry humor. This film makes viewers laugh, groan and gasp at the same time. Viewers will enjoy the increasingly idiosyncratic and deranged inter-monologue which plays over the movie.
J. CLAPP
E. SLACK
C. VOGELS
[B] [A] [B+]
PAGE 11
PAGE 12
THE DAILY REVEILLE FLASHMOB, from page 9
JASON BORDELON / The Daily Reveille
University students dance in the Quad on Wednesday afternoon as part of a flashmob organized by University students Jonathan House and Sarah Alleman.
DVR, from page 9
increasing from 7 percent to 13 percent, Ruble said. Twenty-five percent of subscribers have at least one DVR, she said. DVR unit sales are also increasing nationally, according to a report by the Consumer Electronics Association. Unit sales increased from 3,225 in 2003 to 16,796 in 2008. Another study by the CEA projects up to 45 percent of households to have a DVR by 2011. DVR units allow users to record live television programs and rewind and fast-forward the content as they choose. And students take advantage of the convenience to catch their favorite shows. “I watch ‘Gossip Girl’ with all my roommates,” said Danielle Wold, environmental engineering sophomore. “We try to make dinner and watch it every week, but when I’m busy with school, I usually just DVR it or catch it on the Internet.” STREAMING CONTENT Students are also watching streaming content on either TV network Web sites or sites like Hulu or YouTube. “I take 18 hours, so it’s tough to catch my shows when they air,” said Shane Broussard, math senior. “I just use it to catch three or four shows like ‘Psych,’ ‘Monk’ and ‘House.’” Dan Rice, marketing professor, said networks generate most of their advertising revenue through prime-time television ads but have no problem supplementing their revenue with online ads. “Presumably, most of the marketing money is made on TV during the first showing, but putting the show on other venues allows more royalties and more viewership numbers to back up your high prices for new episode advertising on TV,” he said. “It’s unlikely that networks lose money with extra postings and likely gain royalties — it’s more of a supplemental profit issue, not an either/or type choice at this point.” Based on the television time slot or the Web site in which an advertisement is featured, it could reach a variety of consumers, Rice said. And it’s unclear which medium reaches its intended demographic better. “The number of viewers that you reach with a prime-time TV ad is undoubtedly many times larger than an Internet ad,” Rice said. “However, the level of
engagement for an ad on the Internet in the middle of streaming video might be higher, and your ability to segment who sees which ads is likely higher as well.” Similar to DVR, students are taking advantage of streaming shows online at their convenience. “I watch news and sitcoms online, but mostly on Hulu,” said Shannon Geoghagan, history senior. “We’ll have people over and stream ‘The Office’ whenever we want. We make a party of it.” LEGAL ISSUES DVR doesn’t violate any copyright laws because DVR only enables users to fast-forward through commercials rather than completely delete them, said Craig Freeman, media law professor in the Manship School of Mass Communication. “As long as you don’t add technology that allows you to slip past commercials, it doesn’t violate copyrights,” Freeman said. “As long as you are keeping the
danced to their favorite music or playlist, said Chelsea Norris, graphic design junior. Alleman and House created another Facebook group to continue to promote flashmobbing and to organize other flashmobs in the future. “I like it because it’s something you wouldn’t expect,” said Anthony Walker, computer science freshman. Flashmobbing has become a popular worldwide trend because of organizations like ImprovEverywhere, an improv group which staged the January 2008 freeze in Grand Central Station in New York City, which became a YouTube sensation. “This was our first attempt at doing a large-scale flashmob,” House said. commercials, it’s tough to say TiVo owes [advertisers] money.” But someone could face copyright violations if he downloaded a show without permission and posted it online, said John Church, a law professor at the Paul M. Hebert Law Center. Networks have two separate rights over their content, Church said. Someone would face two separate violations in court by downloading and broadcasting the content, respectively. “A student, or anyone really, broadcasts shows without permission could be in a lot of trouble,” Church said. “You might see awards [to the cable networks] as low as a few thousand dollars to as hefty as those seen in the file-sharing cases.”
Contact Ben Bourgeois at bbourgeois@lsureveille.com
‘‘
‘I ... tried to participate, but I didn’t really know what they were doing.’ Adam St. Pierre history senior
Many students in the Quad during the flashmob were unaware the event was scheduled or even what was going on, said Emily Bozeman, agricultural business sophomore. “I pulled out my iPod and tried to participate, but I didn’t really know what they were doing,” said Adam St. Pierre, history senior. Several students joined the flashmob group after seeing or participating in the Quad flashmob last
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 spring. “I was in the freeze the Quad,” said Charlotte Raphael, theater sophomore. “I’m in two different improv groups, so I’ll definitely participate in more flashmobs.” House and Alleman said they were satisfied with the turnout of the flashmob and were pleased with the reaction of other students in the Quad. “My favorite part was seeing other people I don’t even know dancing all over the Quad,” House said. “I’d say any event where you can go dance in front of a bunch of strange people is a success.”
Contact Emily Slack at eslack@lsureveille.com
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Thursday, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 BULLDOGS, from page 5
Wright said. “He has won national championships, which is something we don’t have. Coach is a winner, and we are going to learn from him and duplicate what he did at Florida.” Mullen, an alumnus of Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa., has a connection with LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton dating back to Mullen’s high school days in Manchester, N.H. Crowton was offensive coordinator at New Hampshire from 1988-1990. Mullen said he and Crowton crossed paths again when Mullen was quarterbacks coach at Utah from 2003-2004 and Crowton was the head coach at BYU. Mullen’s wife, Megan, was a TV anchor for FOX in Utah whose station covered BYU football. “It was kind of funny. [BYU] was our biggest rival, and she had to cover them,” Mullen said. “She was always a huge fan of Gary, and I always had a lot of respect because I’d watch him from afar with his different spread offenses and the way he would attack.” Crowton also visited Mullen in Florida shortly after Mullen got the job as the Gators offensive coordinator, and Mullen said they had a great time together during the visit. “We spent about three days together just talking football,” Mullen said. “Unfortunately, we’re always on opposing ends of things, so we don’t spend as much time sharing information as we might like.” With 15 years of experience at the collegiate coaching level, Mullen brought a new energized feeling to Mississippi State when he arrived, as the Bulldogs set a new record for attendance at its annual spring game with more than 31,000 fans. Junior offensive tackle Derek Sherrod said Mullen is one of the keys for Mississippi State to become a winning team. “Coach Mullen knows what to do to help us reach the next level, and he’s going to work us until we get to that point,” Wright said. “He is the new face of Mississippi State football. A lot of people are expecting big things from us.” The Mississippi State offense centers on a two-quarterback system with sophomore Chris Relf and senior Tyson Lee both taking snaps. Lee has completed 23-of-38 passes for 216 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Lee also ran for a 22-yard touchdown against Vanderbilt in an eventual 15-3 victory. Relf completed just 2-of-9 passes for 13 yards as a redshirt freshman, and the Montgomery native has thrown 25 passes for Mississippi State this season, completing 14 with two interceptions. Mullen said both players have the ability to shoulder the load at quarterback. “It’s like mixing in two different running backs if you have a fast back and a power back,” Mullen said. “We do the same thing with the quarterback position. Even though we don’t have packages for each one, they both run our system. We’re going to continue to use both of them throughout the season.”
Contact Rachel Whittaker at rwhittaker@lsureveille.com
OFFENSE, from page 5
Charles Scott and Keiland Williams. “We had 175 yards rushing last week,” Miles said. “That’s not a bad number, but we’re striving for better. We want to get Charles Scott and Keiland Williams up and running; we’d like to see them have some 100-yard games.” Mississippi State’s rushing attack is No. 20 in the nation so far this season, averaging 221.67 yards per game behind senior running back Anthony Dixon. Miles said he is “a big, physical back” who will be a formidable force against LSU’s defense, which allows 129.33 rushing yards per game, No. 64 in the nation. “Anthony Dixon is one of the best running backs in the Southeastern Conference,” Miles said. “They run him out of the Iformation occasionally, but more often than not it’s a one-back attack for him.” In the passing game, the Bulldogs employ a two-quarterback system with senior Tyson Lee and sophomore Chris Relf.
Miles said the quarterbacks are a dual threat both running and throwing, and he said Mississippi State appears to “prefer one over the other.” “They’re probably running more of the whole offense with one guy,” Miles said. “The other guy probably can run the offense but doesn’t. Those tendencies seem to be pretty evident, but it’s nothing you can really use.” LSU’s game against Mississippi State will kick off at 11:21 a.m. CT in Starkville, Miss. The last time LSU played an SEC game that early in the morning was at home against Mississippi State in 2006. Miles said the team will be well-rested and prepared to play no matter what time the game begins. “I talked to the sleep doctor again, and he said to get them 8 1/2 to 9 hours [of sleep],” Miles said. “He said ... tell them no mental stimulus and to turn it all off.” Contact Rachel Whittaker at rwhittaker@lsureveille.com
SEATING, from page 5
Inappropriate action reared its ugly head in an incident years ago at Kentucky when George Fotopoulos was LSU’s coach. Fotopoulos said there were benches behind the goals at Kentucky with no security, and a male Kentucky soccer player urinated in an LSU player’s water bottle. “It was one of the worst acts of sportsmanship I’ve ever seen by an individual or an institution,” Fotopoulos said. Fotopoulos found it despicable nobody did anything to stop the act. “It was awful,” he said. “All the Kentucky players were behind the goal, and their coach was at the game, and their administrators were there, and they did nothing. It was very disturbing, very disheartening. We filed a grievance with the SEC, and nothing came of it. It was definitely disappointing. To be able to get that close to a player’s water bottle — that’s pretty disgusting.” Fotopoulos said he is concerned with the safety issues of having fans so close to the field. “The safety of the student
PAGE 13 athletes is now more important than ever with stalkers and crazy fans,” he said. “We’re playing the SEC. We’re not playing in some kind of co-ed rec league.” LSU’s stadium may not be state-of-the-art, but the players and coaches can live with it for the remainder of the season. Senior midfielder Malorie Rutledge said although at times the stadium may not have enough seats spectators, it’s not hurting fan attendance. “Instead of people sitting in the extra set of bleachers, they’re standing in front of the press box,” Rutledge said. “I feel like it’s not limiting the people coming. They’re still coming, and they’re still staying.” Lee said the crowd is rowdy and the games are intense no matter what the setup is. “Our atmosphere is as good as anybody in the country regardless of how the stands are set up,” Lee said.
Contact Rowan Kavner at rkavner@lsureveille.com
THE DAILY REVEILLE
PAGE 14 RECYCLING, from page 1
Recycling manager. What started as a simple poster for architecture senior Melissa Seanard has evolved into a proposal to begin the creation of a system to recycle Tiger Stadium’s trash, which totaled more than 87 tons last season, Harris said. Seanard’s proposal to create a program for recycling in Tiger Stadium began as an assignment in her senior architecture class to determine what could be done on campus to promote an international day of climate change awareness. “I talked with Andres Harris and found out that we don’t recycle inside the football stadium,” Seanard said. “This was supposed to be just a class poster ... but it turned into massive project.” Seanard eventually created a 39-page proposal arguing the benefits and feasibility of recycling in Tiger Stadium. The first step in implementing the plan is putting 25 recycling bins donated by Coca-Cola to the project in the West side upper deck for testing, Harris said. Harris said some of the bins will be monitored by volunteers during the game to make sure only recyclable materials are thrown in the bin. Other bins will be left unsupervised to test whether volunteers manning the bins are necessary to keep the
RETENTION, from page 1
uated within four years, according to Office of Budget and Planning data. COMPARING THE NUMBERS LSU’s 2007 retention rate, 58.4 percent, was the second lowest of 12 peer institutions and beat the lowest retention rate at Kansas State University by only one-tenth percent. The highest retention rate among the peers was 81.9 percent at University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, and the average rate was 70 percent. The Office of Budget and Planning chose to compare LSU with four-year public schools that were very highly active Carnegie Research Universities and members of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. Only one of the peer institutions, University of Tennessee, had a medical school. Kuhn said increasing admission standards like higher ACT scores and GPA requirements are linked directly to increasing retention rates but are not the only contributing factors. He said LSU is focusing on implementing other methods to raise rates to at least the peer average. Paul Ivey, associate dean for the University College, said his office will soon begin using the Comprehensive Academic Tracking System to notify students who are not fulfilling graduation requirements on schedule. LEAVING THE UNIVERSITY LSU loses most of its students after their first or second year, according to Office of Budget and Planning data. Kuhn said LSU’s first-year retention rate for fall 2006, 83 percent, is not far behind peer rates. The average first-year retention rate for the other universities is 87 percent, he said. Kuhn said students often drop
bins uncontaminated by non-recyclable products as the project is expanded. Once preliminary tests present enough data to create a strategic plan outlining how many volunteers will be needed, the University will begin looking for more volunteers and more sponsors to donate the bins and will be able to outline a general cost for the plan, said Todd Jeansonne, assistant director for Athletic Facilities said. Jeansonne said he is confident the University would be able to find sponsors to donate more bins. But he said volunteers will be necessary to assist in the program because the undermanned gameday facilities crew can not hire any more people because of a statewide hiring freeze, Jeansonne said. Seanard said one of the major aspects of implementing such a plan is educating patrons to properly use the bins. “The first step would be having bins inside the stadium and having promotional videos going up on the loud speakers saying, ‘We have recycling bins — please take your trash to them,’” Seanard said. The University of Mississippi has 250 recycling bins inside VaughtHemingway Stadium. “[The recycling program] is a very labor intensive,” said Jim Morrison, director of strategic planning and sustainability at the University out or move to other institutions after failing to complete necessary requirements to enter senior colleges, commonly the E.J. Ourso College of Business or the Manship School of Mass Communication. The standard University resignation form includes only four reasons for withdrawal: to serve in the U.S. armed forces, to serve on an official church mission, to serve in government foreign aid or simply “other.” Ivey said students often do not specify reasons for leaving on the forms, although many students resign from his college because of financial and personal issues. Ivey said UCAC will begin surveying students about their reasons for leaving the University this semester. A draft of UCAC’s survey includes 10 possible reasons why students might resign, including financial hardship, physical or mental health issues and academic challenges. Joyce Wakefield, University Center for Freshman Year counselor, said most students resign because of problems transitioning to college life. “LSU’s not a fit for everyone,” Wakefield said. “But it’s hard to know that until you get here.” Champagne said she will not return to the LSU because of financial aid issues and trouble scheduling classes. Champagne left the University during her third year, but she said she would not have graduated for another three years. “In the end, an art degree just isn’t worth it for me,” Champagne said. Champagne said she tried to re-enroll this semester but had “difficulties with administration” and paperwork. She said she may pursue a degree from a smaller university in a few years. Contact Emily Holden at eholden@lsureveille.com
Thursday, September 24, 2009
graphic by CAITLIN CONDON / The Daily Reveille
of Mississippi. “So it’s very difficult — if not impossible — without all fans taking responsibility and participating in the program.” Morrison said Ole Miss has a team of 100 volunteers, which educates tailgaters before home football games about recycling programs inside and outside the stadium. “A [public address announcer] Dan Borne announcement would get people’s attention,” said Aaron Savoy, business graduate student. “But when you are drunk and worried about a football team winning, where you put your trash is the last of your concerns.” Seanard said the goals for this season are to test different approaches to introducing bins, educate fans about recycling inside the stadium
ENTREPRENEUR, from page 3
Graves said. But Graves and his partner were determined to be businessmen. They bought a couple cheap suits and briefcases and went to nearly every bank in Baton Rouge — only to be rejected. Graves decided they needed to make money own their own. He and Silvey got jobs in Alaska fishing for sockeye salmon. They worked 20-hour days in extremely dangerous conditions, but Graves always knew it was for his passion — chicken fingers. “That’s what kind of passion an entrepreneur has to have for your dream — even risking your life,” Graves said. After their work in Alaska, the partners were able to get funding and open the first Cane’s at the North Gates of campus. They completely renovated
and continue efforts to recycle cardboard used by vendors in the stadium. Jeansonne said since the beginning of the season, stadium cleanup crews have gathered cardboard left by vendors and recycle bins have been placed at the entrance of the stadium for fans to discard their bottles and cans before entering the stadium. He said exact measurements can’t be made, but he believes the University will at best break even financially by incorporating recycling in its stadium cleanup process, which costs the University an estimated $19,000 for labor and supplies on the stadium alone. “You have the benefit of not bringing all those tons of material to the landfill,” Harris said. “The main
thing is energy saving in this industry because it’s easier to make a plastic cup out of another plastic cup than to make it from scratch. If you break even, why not recycle?” Jeansonne said he is confident recycling programs can also be introduced for the PMAC, Alex Box Stadium and Tiger Park at the beginning of next semester. “It could really help the University’s image, said Brennan Colclough, construction management sophomore. “But I doubt people would go out of their way to put something in a recycling bin ... I know I wouldn’t.”
the buildings themselves. Graves even did the plumbing work. “You’re supposed to be a licensed plumber, but that takes money,” he said. “So I learned how to plumb.” Cane’s made its first dollar Aug. 28, 1996. The restaurant took off, and the rest is history. The most important part of being an entrepreneur, Graves said, is never giving up, no matter what obstacles pop up. “You can be scared to death, as I have been several times with this business,” Graves said. “But
courage is going out and doing it anyway.” Applications for the Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute’s fellows program are open now until Oct. 25 and are open to any major.
Contact Xerxes A. Wilson at xwilson@lsureveille.com
Contact Ryan Buxton at rbuxton@lsureveille.com
Thursday, September 24, 2009
THE DAILY REVEILLE
PAGE 15
Mellow Mushroom
2 for 1 Draft and Shroom Tea till 10PM LIVE: Jacob Davis @ 10PM
Plucker’s Wing Bar
Monday: $14.99 All you can eat wings and $3 Plucker’s Lemonades Tuesday: $2.50 Mexican Beers and Margaritas Wednesday: Trivia at 8PM. $4 Mother Plucker Mugs Thursday: $15.99 All you can eat wings. $4 Mother Plucker Mugs. $3 Margaritas and Plucker’s Lemonades
Fred’s Bar
Thursday Sept. 24 Fred’s Annual Fall Invitational 8-10 Anything & Everything is FREE. Must be 21. Our way of saying thanks for making Fred’s your favorite bar!
Bogie’s
$4 Tall Wells Girls: Free Cover until 12
RAVE MOTION PICTURES 09/25 - 09/27 WWW.RAVEMOTIONPICTURES.COM Mall of Louisiana 15 Baton Rouge 16 I-10@ Mall of LA Exit 225-769-5176 I-12@ O’Neal 225-769-5176
**FAME PG 11:00, 12:30, 1:45, 4:30, 7:15, 8:00, 10:00, 10:45 ** CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS (3D) 11:10, 12:00, 1:50, 2:30, 4:15, 4:55, 7:10, 9:55 **CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALL (2D)12:40, 3:00, 5:30, 7:55 PG **JENNIFER’S BODY R 12:15, 2:45, 5:20, 8:10, 10:40 **THE INFORMANT! R 11:35, 2:20, 5:05, 7:50, 10:35 **TYLER PERRY’S I CAN DO ALL BY MYSELF PG1311:20, 12:45, 2:10, 4:00, 5:10, 7:30, 8:05,10:55 **SORORITY ROW R 2:40, 8:30 **9 PG13 11:50, 2:05, 4:40, 7:05, 9:40 **ALL ABOUT STEVE PG13 12:10, 4:10, 7:40, 10:15 **GAMER R 10:20 **FINAL DESTINATION_3D R 7:25, 9:50 **INGLORIOUS BASTERDS R 10:10 **GI JOE PG13 11:45, 5:15 **PANDORUM R 11:15, 2:00, 4:45, 8:15, 11:00 **THE SECRETS OF JONATHAN SPERRY PG 11:05, 1:30, 4:05, 7:20 **SURROGATES PG13 11:30, 1:00, 2:15, 3:45, 5:00, 7:00, 7:45, 9:30, 10:30 **THE TIME TRAVELERS WIFE PG13 4:20, 10:25
9-10:30 AM 12-1:30 PM 3:00- 3:30 PM 7:00-9:30 PM 10:00-10:30 PM 11:00- 12:30 PM
**FAME PG 11:00, 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 5:00, 7:00, 8:00, 10:00 ** CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS (3D) 11:15, 12:15, 1:45, 2:45, 4:30, 5:30, 7:15, 9:45 **CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS (2D) PG 11:50, 5:10, 7:40 **I HOPE THEY SERVE BEER IN HELL R 11:45, 2:30, 5:15, 8:30, 11:15 **JENNIFER’S BODY R 12:05, 4:50, 8:05, 10:50 **LOVE HAPPENS PG13 11:40, 4:55, 7:55, 10:45 **PANDORUM R 12:30, 1:50, 4:15, 7:30, 10:15 **PARANORMAL ACTIVITY R 11:59 **THE INFORMANT! R 12:25, 4:35, 7:50, 11:00 **TYLER PERRY’S I CAN DO ALL BY MYSELF PG13 12:20, 2:20, 4:20, 5:20, 7:20, 8:20, 10:20, 11:20 **WHITEOUT R 11:20 **SORORITY ROW R 2:25, 10:55 **SURROGATE PG13 11:30, 2:15, 4:45, 7:45, 10:30, 11:30 **9 PG13 11:05, 4:05, 6:55, 9:55 **ALL ABOUT STEVE PG13 4:10, 7:05 **FINAL DESTINATION_3D R 8:15, 10:40 **INGLORIOUS BASTERDS R 11:25, 9:50 **GI JOE PG13 1:35PM
How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days Wedding Crashers News Beat Live Big Daddy News Beat Repeat I Am Legend
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Opinion
PAGE 16
PRESS X TO NOT DIE
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Apple is hit and miss with new iPod generation I wonder what Christmas is like for Steve Jobs. As chairman and CEO for the most haughty, yet trendy company in technology – I’d imagine it’d be a splendid, superb time of year. Well, Christmas came early this year for Jobs and the rest of Apple as the new wave of iPods came surfing to consumers about two weeks ago. The new iPod Classic – also known as the device that holds every song you’ve ever heard in your entire life – is loosening its belt, jumping from a 120 gigabyte (GB) model to a 160GB. Apple’s most popular iPod, the Nano, received an even bigger facelift. On top of getting a larger screen, the new Nano was stuffed with a video camera, microphone, pedometer and a radio. Congratulations Apple, your device finally has a built-in radio, something most MP3 players have had for years now.
But enough Apple bashing for now – there’s plenty more coming for our final contestant – I actually applaud the company for what it’s done with the new Nano. By adding a camera to the music player, the iPod Nano can now attempt to take some market away from the popular, pint-sized Flip camcorder. Sure the Nano can’t touch the Flip when it comes to night shots, but it holds its own in the light and even outshines the Flip in filming close-up shots. Now for pure video shooting, would a customer choose an iPod Nano instead of the Flip? Probably not. But the Flip’s main selling point is filming short segments of your friend getting kicked in the nether regions, and then uploading the footage to YouTube for all to enjoy. If you could own a device which can still capture that money
shot while you rock out to your favorite band – why not pick the one that does both? Now, while Apple’s decision on advancing the Nano is commendable, the exact opposite is true for the new iteration of the iPod Touch. Although equipped with the faster processor of the iPhone 3GS, one big feature is absent in the Touch one would assume would’ve been added in the Adam Arinder iPod’s release. Aside from the Columnist obvious “it’s not a phone,” one thing would keep the Touch in parity with the iPhone. The camera. Not present in either the first or second generation of the iPod Touch, a camera would seem like an obvious feature to add to the new iTouch,
especially since it appeared in the new Nano. But to the disappointment of many, the new iPod Touch still remains blind. Jobs’ response to the Touch’s missing camera, “it’s a great game machine.” “A great game machine.” You’re kidding, right? Sure, I enjoy playing my iTouch between classes. But it’s more of a time waster than anything else. No one is going to go buy the new Call of Duty strictly on their iPod and nothing else. Also, how is Nintendo raking in money with its “great game machine,” the DSi, when it has not one but TWO built-in cameras? A couple of months ago, leaked screenshots of new iPod cases manufactured in China showed a camera hole in the case for both the Nano and the Touch. Tech blog Gizmodo took apart
the new iPod Touch and discovered space inside the device for a camera and a radio receiver, also missing from the Touch. So, it appears “great game machine” is a bit of a cover up. It’s obvious the iPod Touch will eventually have a camera and a radio, like the Nano. Instead of rushing it out, Apple should have waited until the device was ready. There aren’t any exterior changes to the new iTouch, but maybe Apple decided to fix that whole exploding thing they seemed have problems with in the past. Adam Arinder is a 20-year-old electrical engineering junior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_aarinder.
Contact Adam Arinder at aarinder@lsureveille.com
THE GRUMBLING HIVE
Paying children to attend school may pay off
What would it take to get you to attend class? Would you get out of bed for $500 a week? Principal Mark Commanducci believes, for his students at Children’s Charter Middle School, this reward works. Commanducci explained students at Children’s Charter Middle School earn a weekly paycheck for attendance and appropriate behavior. Each week, students start with $25 of “middle school money,” which can be increased to $500 per week depending on behavior and performance. This can buy school supplies, free dress passes and pizza parties at the school store. The cost of a free dress pass is equivalent to close to “four perfect weeks of academic and social behavior,” Commanducci said. This is an excellent way to get students into the classroom where, in an atmosphere conducive to learning, the desire to succeed can be cultivated. You might think it’s obvious monetary payment will motivate students to behave and perform. But this is actually a complicated issue which has been extensively researched. In the research paper “Incentives, choice, education and well-being,” Barry Schwartz,
Professor of Psychology at Swarthmore College argues the use of extrinsic incentives to motivate a student can actually undermine intrinsic motivations which had previously directed a person’s thoughts and actions. There is evidence this may ultimately undermine perforNathan Shull mance because “sometimes Columnist motives compete instead of summating.” Schwartz said when an extrinsic incentive is provided for a person to perform, the outcome is often a decrease in performance because the desire to learn is replaced with the desire to gain the extrinsic reward. Data shows the quality of work decreases when performance is later expected without a reward. This brings to mind the time I was first paid to mow my dad’s lawn. The next week he told me to do it for free — my intrinsic motivation to “do a man’s job” was suddenly replaced by the thought “I don’t work for free!” But this argument may not be relevant for the students at Children’s Charter because it’s
THE DAILY REVEILLE Editorial Board NICHOLAS PERSAC JERIT ROSER ELLEN ZIELINSKI MATTHEW ALBRIGHT
Editor Managing Editor, Content Managing Editor, Production Opinion Editor
ERIC FREEMAN JR.
Columnist
MARK MACMURDO
Columnist
impossible to undermine an intrinsic motivation which doesn’t exist. The majority of students have very limited economic means, and many come from a family background which places little value on education. To deal with this lack of support in the home, Children’s Charter also works with the parents to help build a connection between the importance of hard work at a young age and future success. The goal is to “hook [the students] with an extrinsic reward,” Commanducci said, to “build roots of why education is important.” In this way the intrinsic desire to succeed can have the opportunity to develop. The time between the opportunities to redeem rewards at the student store is increasingly lengthened as the year progresses. This is intended to help make the transition from solely extrinsic incentive to increased intrinsic motivation. The cost of this program is negligible. Paychecks are paid in “middle school money” printed by Children’s Charter, and many of the items purchased in the school store are provided by donations from community partners. Cost is actually reduced, because improved behavior leads to less detention. Thus, the cost of
paying staff to supervise detention and Saturday school is reduced. If this incentive program helps to keep students in school and off the streets, I count the strategy a success. The education of all our youth is of utmost importance to our society. This includes those who are personally motivated and those who are not. It is our responsibility as a society to do our best to arrest the fall of those who
cannot see the benefits of education and, at a young age, unveil to them their own potential. Nathan Shull is a 35-year-old finance junior from Seattle. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_ nshull Contact Nathan Shull at nshull@lsureveille.com
BEST AND WITTIEST
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-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.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY “The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet.”
James Oppenheim American novelist, poet and editor May 24, 1882 — Aug. 4, 1932
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Opinion
Thursday, September 24, 2009
OUR VIEW
PAGE 17
Recycling program should be stadium-wide When the Florida Gators come to Baton Rouge on Oct. 10, they will likely bring the season’s largest crowd to Tiger Stadium LSUPD estimates the Southeastern Conference showdown to bring 150,000 people to campus. And fans should use the recycling bins which are only now being placed in Tiger Stadium for the first time, despite the stadium’s 87-ton trash yield last season. The bottom-up movement
pushing Death Valley to be the last Southeastern Conference stadium to have a recycling program came mainly from architecture senior Melissa Seanard’s class project which evolved to a 39-page report and gained the support of University Solid Waste Recycling manager Andres Harris. The trial run during the Florida game will test 25 recycling bins on the West side upper deck, and volunteers will monitor the bins to
make future adjustments. We commend Seanard and Harris for making this project a reality, and we thank the Athletic Department and Student Government for a willingness to help with the project. Though Seanard’s endeavors are impressive and effective in part because of these group’s cooperation, we believe either of the two should have first started this program and kept LSU on par with our SEC peers.
We urge both SG and the Athletic Department to help make this program staidum-wide before the last home game of the season, when LSU faces Arkansas on Nov. 28. Give Seanard and Harris funding or help find the funding to put recycling bins in the entire stadium. Help find volunteers make the program successful. Encourage fans to recycle appropriate materials with pregame videos and announcements.
But most importantly, fans should put all appropriate material in the recycling bins rather than simply leaving recyclables in the seats or tossing them with the trash If the rest of the SEC can recycle in stadiums, you can bet Tigers will do it better.
Contact The Editorial Board at editor@lsureveille.com
AGE OF DELIGHTENMENT
RPG addicts can find hope in new rehab center My roommate and I skipped a week or two of class freshman year because we were playing The Sims. We sat in little papasan chairs with computers in our laps for hours upon hours, furiously building houses and grooming yards for our pretend people to walk around in. It seems pretty unexciting now, thinking back on it, but it was an intense hobby at the time. I’m not sure why it was so hard to tear ourselves away from building a virtual doghouse, but it took a few bad grades and some shy intervention attempts from our other roommate to reintegrate us into RL (that means “real life,” Grandma). But more and more people these days can’t let go so easily. Role playing games (or RPGs, as we nerds like to call them) are more popular than ever, with virtual worlds like Second Life and World of Warcraft boasting
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Leavines uniformed about Vector Marketing Editor’s note: Daniel Lumetta is a former daily Reveille opinion columnist and opinion editor Last Monday, columnist Linnie Leavines offered an uninformed portrait of the hiring practices of Vector Marketing. First, Leavines claimed Vector’s chalkboard advertisements mislead students into believing the company offered $15 an hour for student jobs. I found this hard to believe considering I’m one of the people responsible for posting those chalkboard advertisements. Advertising is left up to management, and taken very seriously. Second, Leavins claimed “jaded students will tell you it’s a scam,” without offering the name or opinion of any “jaded students.” Anyone who’s ever
millions of users across the world. A growing number of those users have a hard time balancing their virtual lives with their real ones. In recent years, rehabilitation centers have begun popping up in other parts of the world for people struggling with technological dependencies, like cell phone or video game addictions. The first such facility in the U.S., called reSTART, opened in July outside Seattle. It’s a 45-day in-patient program where people can come to “detox” from their technological addictions. The program is cold turkey — absolutely no furbolg-slaying warlocks or hot-tubbing Sims allowed. Patients participate in traditional 12-step meetings and one-on-one counseling, as well as adventure outings, nutritional education, community service, and other activities de-
signed to foster a healthy social life as well as a physically healthy body. Experts say the primary reason for a holistic approach to overcoming RPG addiction is many addicts have underlying issues such as depression, social anxiety or even autism. These issues also happen to be the reason Internet addiction is not Sara Boyd recognized as a Columnist separate disorder by the American Psychiatric Association. RPGs are a safe way for these “addicts” to connect with other people. You can interact with other people without having to leave the safety and comfort of your own home, no one can see you or touch you, and
you can do extraordinary things you’d never be able to do in RL. Here lies the essence of the philosophical dilemma regarding technology. Does it keep us connected to people, or does it actually prevent us from forming human relationships? While Facebook or The Sims are markedly different beasts from World of Warcraft or Everquest, they provide similar outlets for social contact. The creatures you’re in contact with may not always be real, but you still develop a very real sense of community and a very distinct identity of your own. That confidence in your identity and sense of belonging is what every human searches for. Finding it in a World of Warcraft guild seems harmless enough, but it’s easy to see how it could still be unfulfilling and thus become an addiction — a hole which can never quite be filled.
The very things which make RPG’s feel “safe” — lack of physical contact or face-to-face interaction — are the very things which make it ultimately unfulfilling as a lifestyle. People need other people. If you feel yourself relying too heavily on your Facebook or your WoW guild, take a shower. Then find me in the newsroom to pick up your free hug — I’m committed to stopping the epidemic. Even if it means joining the Horde.
worked for Vector would tell you otherwise. Vector actually pays much more than most student jobs. In fact, if an entry level employee sets up just six appointments in one day, he or she is likely looking at making between $100 and $500, depending on length of employment. Next, she claimed that her experience with Vector was different than most because the company contacted her, rather than vice versa. The truth is her experience was exactly the same as it is for almost every Vector employee and potential hire. And that only covers the first four sentences of Leavins’ column. Leavins then explained Vector employees sell Cutco cutlery, which is true, but also claimed they participate in door-to-door sales. Her sources were obviously misinformed, as this is patently false. Vector does not participate in any door-to-door sales or telemarketing. They establish contacts and potential clients through networking, an essential skill
required for many occupations, especially business and mass communication professions. I’ve been working for Vector for less than a month, and I’ve already had three promotions and am being trained for an assistant manager position. But more than that, I’ve only worked a total of 8 days for the company (I only work on weekends) and I regularly make more money in one day at Vector than I did in two weeks at my last oncampus job. Anyone with a positive attitude and a strong work ethic is guaranteed to succeed financially, personally and professionally at Vector. I have no prior experience in sales, but I didn’t need any because Vector offers a brief training session that shows employees everything they’ll need to know to be successful. None of this is meant to belittle Leavins. She’s one of my favorite columnists and a more capable writer and thinker than I was at her age. But take it from someone
who fell for the “get rich quick scheme” and is in the process of getting rich quick: There is no better opportunity for students searching for employment. If you can’t find a job anywhere else,
the door will always be open at Vector.
Sara Boyd is a 22-year-old general studies junior from Baton Rouge. Follow her on Twitter @ TDR_sboyd.
Contact Sara Boyd at sboyd@lsureveille.com
Daniel Lumetta Vector Marketing sales representative
BEST AND WITTIEST
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THE DAILY REVEILLE
Classifieds
PAGE 18
getic employees to work M-F 3-6. Port Allen 20 minutes from LSU. 225.336.9030 CASH FOR TAILGATE SETUP/DOWN Need 2 students (w/ truck) to setup/ takedown tailgate for 4-5 games. 2 hours of work - $100/ game. Must be responsible and on time. JasonL@ tracesecurity.com SURVEY TAKERS NEEDED: Make $5-$25 per survey. GetPaidToThink.com. INTERVIEWING IN NOLA for Katrina Recovery. Join our LSU Sociology Research Team to conduct interviews of residents in New Orleans neighborhoods. Saturday trips to New Orleans, with full day of work. $9/ hr with free round-trip transportation. Interesting, meaningful teamwork on community recovery. Contact David Maddox, dmaddo1@tigers.lsu.edu PRESSURE WASHER- Weekends and part-time during week. Great pay! Must have truck with trailer hitch. Call Bill- 225.753.5984 RUNNER NEEDED FOR BR CPA Firm 20-25 hours per week. Hours are flexible. Accounting/Finance major preferred. Fax resume to 927-9075 or email to dcarter@psha.com 225.924.1772 $20 HOUR; FLEX HOURS! Restaurant Delivery Service now hiring drivers. Earn $4-10 per order + 15%-20% tip! Work when you want, no set hours! 225-302-8964 Ext. 9 WWW.LOUIESCAFE.COM STUDENTPAYOUTS. COM Paid Survey Takers Needed In Baton Rogue. 100% Free To Join! Click On Surveys. STUDENT POSITION AVAILABLE State Agency needs student for filing, light accounting work and other misc. duties. Email resume to cindy. bell@la.gov or Fax to 225-342-7624. RESPONSIBLE, CARING NANNY for 5-month old boy. ASAP for Mon-Thurs 7:45am-1:15pm, Fri 7:45am-12:15pm. Non-smokers with 2+ yrs experience. Chesha22@yahoo.com
EARN EXTRA MONEY Students needed ASAP. Earn up to $150 per day being a mystery shopper. No Experience Required Call 1-800-7224791 DILIGENT WORKER NEEDED Attorney needs part time worker to assist secretary. Duties include; answer phone make copies, light typing etc. Offfice located at 7470 Highland Road. 10.00 per hour. We cannot open attachments. Please send a short note about yourself and the hours you are able to work. redsticklaw@aol.com INSIDE SALES - PT Triton Stone Group is currently seeking a parttime, Inside Sales Representative for their Baton Rouge location. Applicant will be responsible for all aspects of customer service and sales. High school education or equivalent required. Please fax qualified resumes to (225) 303-0576 or email jhorn@tritonstonela.com. ►►BARTENDING UP TO NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. TRAINING PROVIDED. AGE 18+ OK 1-800-965-6520 ext127 TUTOR needed for 12 yr old to organize study plan & prepare for tests. 225.767.8020 DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY! Now hiring for all positions at the following locations: JEFFERSON 7615 Jefferson Hwy Baton Rouge 70809 PERKINS ROWE 7707 Bluebonnet Blvd. Baton Rouge 70810 “Flexible schedules & Benefits for Full Time Associates” Please apply in person during regular restaurant hours. Equal Opportunity Employer
RUFFINO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT IS NOW HIRING HOSTS/HOSTESSES. APPLY IN PERSON AT 18811 HIGHLAND RD., BATON ROUGE, LA. **EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER** PARRAIN’S SEAFOOD Now hiring servers, hostess, and bar backs with oyster shucking experience 225.381.9922 THE WINE LOFT DOWNTOWN hiring all positions: waitress, bartender, cook and bar manager. apply at 304 Laurel St. Tuesday-Friday 4:30-7pm PARKVIEW BAPTIST PRESCHOOL Preschool Teachers needed flex days no degree required 293-9447 PRESCHOOL SEEKING INDIVIDUALS Preschool looking for loving, nurturing, Professional individuals! Competitive Pay!!! Please email resumes to Rayner-center@earthlink.net or call 225.924.6772 STORAGE SALES ASSOCIATE Local storage facility looking for part time employee. Great student job. Great pay. Must be able to work weekends. Email resume’s to Nathan@storsafebr.com CARING DAYCARE EMPLOYEES River Road Day Care is looking for smiling, ener-
Live Oaks of Stumberg. $947/month. Refrigerator, washer, dryer. wpatrickhames@yahoo.com 225.485.4517
FOR RENT 3 BR 1 1/2 BA house next to campus. Fenced yard. Range, refrig., washer & dryer. Central heat, window A/ C. $960 per month. Pets OK. Deposit and lease. Available now. 225.766.2963 FIRST MONTH FREE! 3 BED/3 BATH Arington Trace Condo for Rent Great Location! Perfect Condition! Gated Parking, All Appliances 3 Bedroom/3.5 Bath -- $1500/ Month Nice Bedroom Views 2405 Brightside Lane On LSU Bus Route Lease Today, Move Tomorrow! 310 989 4453 hollisleech@yahoo.com TIGER MANOR CONDOMINIUMS. UNITS READY FOR FALL 2009! Brand new 1, 2, & 3 bedrooms available. Reserve your unit today! Walk to class! 3000 July St. 225-346-5055. www.tigermanor. com Location. Location. Location... Start Living. MID-SEM SPECIALS 2 LOCATIONS BRIGHTSIDE MANOR* (1) 2 BR 1.5B with W/ D in 4PLX $695 CHATEAU DU COUR* 4707 TIGERLAND AVE (2) Roomy 1BR 1B. POOL, CTYards $450 (1) Large 2 BR 1B. $595 Gated. *All redecorated, ceramic floors, new appliances, on site mngt. 772-2429 767-3935 Brad Pictures and more mckproperties.com NICE NEIGHBORHOOD-2 Story House--3BR/2BA-W/ D and D/ W--367 Stoney Creek--$1400--Call Rusty 225.892.8702 2BR/2BA TOWNHOUSE SHARLO area, $975, covered parking, private patio, f/p, w/d, no pets 225-648-3115
LOST YOUR RETAINERS? Can’t make it to the ORTHOdontist? Replace ONLINE for half the cost! www.dental-lab-direct.com $148 offers Retainers, Nightguards, Teeth Whitening. TIGER MANOR CONDOMINIUMS. UNITS READY FALL 2009!! Brand new 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units for sale starting at $124,900. Ask about our Guaranteed Buy-Back Program!! 3000 July St. 225-346-5055 www.tigermanor.com Location. Location. Location... Start Living.
2BR/2BA APARTMENT FOR RENT! 980$/month, 1124 square feet, vaulted cielings, 2nd floor. Located in Beau Chene Apts. at Nicholson & Lee behind Am Mart! Available starting Sept. 28th! Email sarahkate5688@gmail.com or call 318.347.1224 $AVE $$ WALK TO LSU! ! LARGE 1 BR APT. ON SITE MGR. 769-7757 / 978-3123 / 767-4128 WALK TO CAMPUS 1Br, 2Br, and Townhomes. Starting as low as $400.00. www.lsuwestchimesplace.com 225.346.4789 2 BR JEFF/BLUEBONNET AREA $525. Ideal for LSU student working near Essen/ Mall of Louisiana. No Pets. $300 deposit. 978-1649. Leave a message.
QUIET STUDIO APARTMENT on Capital Heights Ave. Washer/Dryer included. Close to LSU. $595/month Call Steven 225.252.4481 SUBLEASE UNTIL JULY 2010 - 2 bedroom apt @
robertwillaims2008@yahoo.ca. SINGLE WHITE FEMALE Age 21 that loves a good home cooked meal, karaoke, and dancing! Looking for a tall handsome, hopeless romantic man that can handle a girl with curves in all the right places! Email me a description of yourself if you are interested! lsutigergirl21@yahoo.com
MOVE IN SPECIAL 2BR 2.5 Bath. Brightside Park Townhomes. W/ D, Pool. 937-4849 southlandpropertiesinc.com HOUSE FOR RENT 3 BEDROOMS & 11/2 BATH BY LSU LAKE $995 225.205.7364
2 BED 2 BATH FLAT off South Brightside View on bus line. Ready to move in immediatley. $675mt Call Monica or Ashley 225.930.9996 2 & 3 BEDROOM CONDOS Nice 2br condo in Brightside Manor $950. Half off 1st mths rent. Spacious 3br $1050 at 5252 Brightside View 937-4849
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
ROOMMATE NEEDED 25yr male looking for 1 or 2 roommates.5 Miles from Lsu right off college drive. 4bdr 2bath house. $550 everything included. 225.910.0200
LOOKING 4 MS RIGHT! East Indian LSU Senior looking to meet a smart, sensitive, and intelligent girl over coffee! Reach me at arienrocks1@ gmail.com
ROOMMATE NEEDED 2 share a brand new 3br 2bth house 5 miles from campus. $400/ 1/3 utilities. Alarm and W/D included 225.252.6575 225.252.6575
LOOKING FOR MY MATCH to fill the little opening in the jumbeled sock drawer of my heart. White female who is into snake charming, chainsaws & sealing envelopes with hot wax. Seeking male companion with high ACT score, high cheekbones and high self esteem. No Weirdos PLEASE! allthegoodonesweretaken666@yahoo.com SEARCHING 4 SOULMATE 20yo Asian guy seeking masculine guy 18-23 to date. Races open. I’m a sweetheart! tigerboy1988@gmail.com
LEROY JENKINS!! I want you. I can’t hide my feelings any more. I want to play WOW by your side all day and night. Confess your love to me at Fall Fest. I’ll have a sno cone in one hand and a scone in the other. Until then my brave warrior... FUN, FREE-SPIRITED GAL looking for an intellegent young man to laugh and have some fun with. Let’s get some lunch and see what happens. Email: takeachance1989@gmail.com
LSU TICKETS WANTED Top dollar paid for Premium seats to all LSU home games! Please contact Scot or Kevin. 800.678.8499
LOOKING FOR OPEN MINDED BRAINY female non-student looking for a guy who loves video games and syfy and be skilled at computer work also love of animals required. ages 26 or younger. please email me if you are interested at babygurl_4eva_190016@yahoo.com A YOUNG GIRL STUDENT NEEDED! A honest nice mature man at LSU is looking for a pretty, smart, lovely, nice and intelligent girl student over coffee, dinner or dance or more! Reach me at
PREGNANT? NEED HELP? kat.myra@gmail.com or 225-200-8003
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Thursday, September 24, 2009 SG, from page 3
missing members. SG Concurrent Resolution 5 failed after much debate. The bill would have presented a referendum on the SG fall ballot to change the method in which Senate vacancies are filled. College council has 15 school days to fill vacancies in the Senate. If the spot has not been filled by the 15 days the Speaker of the Senate would
then have power to fill the seat. The bill would have presented student’s with a choice in the fall ballot to take away the power of the Speaker to appoint senators of other academic colleges, but after many amendments, the bill failed.
Contact Xerxes A. Wilson at xwilson@lsureveille.com
ERIN ARLEDGE / The Daily Reveille
LSU Pubic Affairs coordinator Nancy Little, center, talks Wednesday at the student government meeting about proposals for the University’s sesquicentennial anniversary.
WEB SITE, from page 3
“The only problem I see is that you have to log in to leave reviews,” Belgard said. “People might be afraid to leave bad reviews since it isn’t anonymous.” Duke said one way students could use ‘Student- course message boards is generated to exchange notes ... notes with one Sites you can another. created for that post those purpose, like all day N o t e S w a p , have come unlong.’ der fire from Katie McGee professors who don’t want Barrass their class maassistant dean of terials posted students online. But Duke said the way notes would be exchanged distinguishes his site from NoteSwap. Rather than posting notes to the EverythingLSU site, Duke said users should get connected
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using the message boards and exchange notes privately via e-mail. That way, no notes will be hosted by Duke’s site. Katie McGee Barras, assistant dean of students and associate director of student advocacy and accountability, said the primary issue when sharing notes is who created the material. “If you’re talking about notes a faculty member created, you can’t share that,” McGee Barras said. “The intellectual property belongs to the faculty member, not the student. Student-generated notes ... you can post those all day long.” McGee Barras said students should always consult their professor before posting class material online. She also recommended EverythingLSU post a disclaimer about how the site is meant to be used and make visitors aware of academic guidelines. Contact Ryan Buxton at rbuxton@lsureveille.com
LOUNGE, from page 1
The celebration included live music from the LSU School of Music Jazz Band, free food and red carpet, celebrity-style photos. Plakidas said funding for the grand opening ceremony came from the marketing budget — established to keep students and faculty updated on the project and to fund a grand opening ceremony. The grand opening week included a billiards tournament Monday and a video game tournament Tuesday in the new lounge. Martin, LSU System President John Lombardi, Student Government President Stuart Watkins, Union Board Chair Allen Womble and Eric Monday, associate vice chancellor for Finance and Administrative Services and interim director for Student Life, cut the ribbon. “This is not the home, but the heart of student life on campus,” Martin said. “The quality [of the new lounge] makes it worth waiting for the next phase of completion.” Martin said the new lounge gives the campus a home-like feel and makes it a selling point for potential future students. “I really like the name,” he said. “The live oak trees are an important part of campus, and the name really fits the setting.” Plakidas said many of the student-submitted names included the word “tiger,” while others made references to Louisiana culture. “People are partial to the name Live Oak Lounge,” said Ellen John, LSU Student Union assistant marketing director. “It was nominated [as a finalist] and was a clear overall winner.” Trent Newell, international studies senior, said the new lounge is a great improvement, incomparable to the previous first floor area. “It’s money well spent,” he said. “The name is very fitting for the area because of the view of the oak trees outside.” Cailin Kingsbery, biological sciences freshman, said she has always preferred the name Live Oak Lounge because of how well it fits with the University. “There are a lot of oak trees on campus, making the name a good match for the lounge,” said Kingsbery. John said the new lounge has been successful since opening — Union officials ran through a punch list, including audio and visual systems, without finding problems. The first year of the lounge will be trial and error, gauging when students use the area for studying and when it will host live events, Plakidas said. She said she wants students to be proud of the new Union. “I hope that a year from now we’ll be celebrating the grand opening of the overall project,” she said. Contact Steven Powell at spowell@lsureveille.com
Thursday, September 24, 2009
THE DAILY REVEILLE
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