SNAPSHOT
lsureveille com Log on to see photos from Tuesday’s pancake breakfast.
NEWS Fundraiser promotes the arts for Baton Rouge teens, page 3.
AGAINST ALL ODDS
Freshman softball player battles Crohn’s disease while starting for Tigers, page 7.
THE DAILY REVEILLE Volume 113, Issue 135
BR COMMUNITY
Chelsea’s forced to stop selling alcohol
WWW.LSUREVEILLE.COM
TRAUMATIC TIMES
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Many soldiers suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder after serving overseas
By Joy Lukachick Staff Writer
The ban on Chelsea’s Cafe’s liquor license is back in effect, forcing the owner to stop selling alcohol. After a hearing Tuesday, with more than 100 Chelsea’s supporters in the courtroom, Judge Trudy White dissolved the Baton Rouge establishment’s temporary restraining order that blocked the state from prohibiting the sale of alcohol. Chelsea’s owner Dave Remmetter had his restaurant’s liquor license pulled April 21. He said he then filed a complaint for a temporary freezing on the state’s suspension. Tuesday’s hearing was only to discuss the restraining order, Remmetter said. The full-length hearing to decide if the state’s Alcohol and Tobacco Control has a case against Chelsea’s Cafe will be May 4 at 9 a.m., he said. CHELSEA’S, see page 6
By Kyle Bove Chief Staff Writer
LSU System President John Lombardi said his recent appointment to the Board of Directors for Nabors Industries, a Bermudabased oil and gas company, will provide the University with helpful corporate links.
Index
LOMBARDI, see page 6
Sports ........................ 7 Opinion ................... 12 Classifieds ............... 14
from PTSD, and about 12 to 20 percent of Iraq war veterans suffer from it, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans affairs.
By Joy Lukachick Staff Writer Joshua Gibbs reached for his rifle in the dark and stumbled out of his bed onto the floor. He began ripping apart the room, frantically searching for his rifle until his father walked in and asked what he was doing. “Son, you’re not in Iraq anymore,” Gibbs remembers his father saying. “You don’t need a rifle.” Gibbs, U.S. Army officer and political science junior, said he looked around for several seconds before realizing he was safe at his parents’ house in Louisiana and not in the midst of Baghdad near the shores of the Tigris River. Gibbs said his case of post-traumatic stress disorder was
GRANT GUTIERREZ / The Daily Reveille
Capt. Jason Copeland, Marine and University graduate student, stands next to the flag pole Wednesday on the Parade Ground.
mild, and the veteran is willing to discuss his episode dealing with the struggles the anxiety disorder — caused by experiencing a
traumatic event — brings. Ranging from mild to severe, between 6 and 11 percent of Afghanistan war veterans suffer
7:20 a.m. 8:20 a.m. Noon 3:20 p.m. 4:20 p.m. 5:20 p.m.
Weather
University to benefit from Lombardi’s new position
RAFIQ MAQBOOL / The Associated Press
A U.S soldier in the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division prepares for a search operation Sunday in the Tangi valley just west of Kabul, Afghanistan. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans affairs, between 6 and 11 percent of Afghanistan war veterans and 12 to 20 percent of Iraq war vets suffer from PTSD.
Broadcasts
ADMINISTRATION
GIBBS’ STORY Gibbs enlisted in the Army and started basic training in 2001 two weeks after his high school graduation. Months later, after 9/11, Gibbs said the ball game changed, and the training became more intense. Three years later, Gibbs headed to Kuwait for one more month of training before heading to Baghdad. “We crossed the border at night,” Gibbs said. “I can remember I had my night vision on ... I was so nervous.” PTSD, see page 5
TODAY PARTLY CLOUDY
THURSDAY T-STORMS
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THE DAILY REVEILLE
Nation & World
PAGE 2
WORLD NEWS
on the web
LSUREVEILLE.COM
Mexico City swine flu losses at $57M a day
TUESDAY’S POLL RESULTS
Do you make an effort to conserve energy?
US audit reports soaring costs for Iraqi military training
58 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THE POLL.
TODAY’S QUESTION:
Would you eat at Chelsea’s if the café couldn’t serve alcohol?
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2009
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq is falling fall far behind schedule in creating a system to maintain its own military equipment, costing American taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars to fill in the gaps, according to a new U.S. audit. The report highlights some of the fundamental worries among American commanders as they look past the U.S. military exit from Iraq at the end of 2011: Will Iraqi security forces be able to handle tasks as basic as keeping their vehicles on the road?
GO TO LSUREVEILLE.COM TO CAST YOUR VOTE
MEXICO CITY (AP) — A leading business group estimates that canceled events and closure of movie theaters, night clubs, museums and other establishments to prevent the spread of swine flu is costing Mexico City at least 777 million pesos ($57 million) a day. Arturo Mendicuti, president of the city’s Chamber of Trade, Services and Tourism, says the figure represents a 36-percent drop in revenue generated by tourism and services in the Mexican capital. He said Tuesday the estimate was made before the city government expanded the shutdown Tuesday to include restaurants, which now are only allowed to serve takeout.
NATION, STATE AND CITY BRIEFS
Specter becomes Dem; 60-vote majority nears
TODAy
Wednesday, april 29, 2009 Genesis tutoring- free! Monday-Thursday, 5pm- 9pm, 326 A Student Union For more information call 578-4339 Robing Ceremony Are you graduating in 2009? Sign up for the Robing Ceremony and purchase a Kente Cloth at the African American Cultural Center for more information 578-1627
WASHINGTON (AP) — Veteran Republican Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania switched parties Tuesday with a suddenness that seemed to stun the Senate, a moderate’s defection that pushed Democrats to within a vote of the 60 needed to overcome filibusters and enact President Obama’s top legislative priorities. Specter, 79 and seeking a sixth term in 2010, conceded bluntly that his chances of winning a Pennsylvania Republican primary next year were bleak in a party grown increasingly conservative. But he cast his decision as one of principle, rather than one fueled by political ambition as spurned GOP leaders alleged. “I have found myself increasingly at odds with the Republican philosophy and more in line with the philosophy of the Democratic Party,” he said.
JACQUELYN MARTIN / The Associated Press
Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., speaks to the press in Washington on Tuesday. Specter switched parties suddenly, shocking the Senate.
Watchdog group advises Lawmakers start to make budget changes delays on La. tax cuts (AP) — Louisiana lawmakers should consider delaying or repealing planned tax breaks for middle- and upper-income residents that take effect this year, as a way to avoid hefty proposed budget cuts, a nonpartisan government watchdog group said Tuesday. Gov. Bobby Jindal said he would oppose any attempt to slow down the tax breaks as suggested by the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, and Rep. Jim Fannin, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said the idea hasn’t gained traction.
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS
The Daily Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards. This space is reserved to recognize and correct any mistakes which may have been printed in The Daily Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified please contact the editor at (225) 5784811 or e-mail editor@lsureveille.com.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The Daily Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Daily Reveille is an independent entity within the Manship School of Mass Communication. A single issue of The Daily Reveille is free. To purchase additional copies for 25 cents, please contact the Office of Student Media in B-16 Hodges Hall. The Daily Reveille is published daily during the fall and spring semesters and semiweekly during the summer semester, except during holidays and final exams. Second-class copies postage paid at Baton Rouge, La., 70803. Annual mail subscriptions are $115. Non-mailed student rates are $4 each regular semester, $2 during the summer; one copy per person, additional copies 25 cents each. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Daily Reveille, B-16 Hodges Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, La.,70803.
(AP) — Lawmakers have started making changes to Gov. Jindal’s budget plan for next year, stalling pay raises and shifting money to arts programs, parks and health care services. The House Appropriations Committee agreed Tuesday to tap into $43 million from an expired insurance fund used to lure insurance companies to the state. They also voted to stop a planned raise for thousands of state employees. They will use the savings to reverse cuts proposed for arts programs, state historic sites, agriculture extension services at LSU and health care services.
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THE DAILY REVEILLE
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY
Focus organization hosts Art Serving Art fundraiser
PAGE 3
BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S
Money raised used to promote arts to teens By Xerxes A. Wilson Contributing Writer
The fourth floor of the Shaw Center was quiet Tuesday night, but the vibrantly colored paintings hanging from the walls spoke loudly of the need to promote the arts to teens of Baton Rouge. Art Serving Art is the Focus group’s — an Honors College student organization — annual silent art auction to benefit the group’s two-week summer arts program for Baton Rouge high school sophomores. Professional and student artists from various schools around the country donated more than 100 pieces of art to be auctioned off Tuesday night. All proceeds from the art goes directly to fund the Focus group’s summer program. “It’s a good way not only for us to raise money for the program but to get people in the community to be aware of this need we have to get the arts back into our high schools,” said Ashley Lopez, mass communication junior and event organizer for Art Serving Art. The Focus summer program is an Honors College program that takes high school students from under-resourced Baton Rouge high schools and puts them through a two-week, arts-oriented learning program and simulated college experience, Lopez said. The summer program is partially funded by grants and sponsorships, but the group has a goal of raising $2,000 to ensure adequate funding for the program. The summer program is completely planned, implemented and taught by University Honors College students in the Focus group who go through a service learning course during the spring semester to prepare to successfully teach the program, said Mark Dochterman, group adviser for Focus. Giving students experience in various arts and humanities such as creative writing, music, dance, philosophy, studio art and theatre is the central focus of the program. The course also emphasizes some science and journalism skills. “We are trying to help high school students from that particular part of our education system to find ways to get some of the arts and humanities experience they might not be getting initially,” Dochterman said. “We want to let them know that creativity is valued.” Giving the high school students an experience similar to what college is like is also a goal of the summer program. The program is designed to mirror the college experience with high school students going through
JARED P.L. NORMAND/ The Daily Reveille
Patrons survey art and place bids Tuesday evening during the Focus group’s Art Serving Art silent auction in the Shaw Center.
an application process, then living on campus similar to University students, Dochterman said. “We want to give them the opportunity to do artistic things but at the same time, give them information about the college experience,” said Megan Miclette, English and secondary education junior. The high school students get the opportunity to visit various colleges where the deans speak to them about the different opportunities college provides. “Most of [the high school students] have no idea if college is even a viable option for them,” Lopez said. “It is so funny to watch them go to the colleges and speak to the deans about the different degrees they can earn, and when they come back, they would all be talking about what they want to do with college.” Dochterman said the high school students are not the only beneficiaries of the program because the University Honors College students learn leadership skills and intercultural maturity. “How do I deal with people of a different age group, socioeconomic background and different ethnic background?” Dochterman asked. “It is a huge thing as the world becomes a more global market and as America becomes more and more of a melting pot. Different people need to be able to work together to get things done.” Contact Xerxes A. Wilson at xwilson@lsureveille.com
JARED P.L. NORMAND / The Daily Reveille
SG Vice President Martina Scheuermann greets Chancellor Michael Martin during the Chancellor’s Pancake Breakfast on Tuesday night in 459 Commons.
PAGE 4
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
ACADEMICS
Scheduling remains open to students through July 12 Waitlist feature deemed great success
By Lindsey Meaux Staff Writer
As the semester comes to a close, scheduling has opened for students of every priority. Scheduling, which opened March 29, generally went off without a hitch, according to Associate Registrar Patricia Beste. The last tier of priority students
began registering Thursday. Students will have the option to make changes to their schedules until July 12 at 7 p.m. before scheduling closes for billing purposes. Fee bills will be available via PAWS on July 19, and the payments will be due Aug. 6, Beste said. The waitlist feature has proven a success in its second year of use. For the spring semester, nearly 12,000 courses were added to students’ schedules from waitlists, University Registrar Robert
Doolos told The Daily Reveille in March. The waitlist feature allows students to place their names on a waiting list once a class becomes full. Ranking lists are available for students to find out where they fall on the waitlist. Students can opt as to whether they are notified when the course becomes available or the course can be added automatically. Before the waitlisting option was available, students were forced to wait for an opening in the class,
contact their potential professors or wait until the following semester to enroll in the course. “It’s working wonderfully,” Beste said. “Students are using a lot, and it seems to be doing exactly what it was designed for. It’s a huge number of students that put their names on, and the system works, and they get moved into the class.” Individual departments determine if the waitlist feature is available for each course and, further, for each section of each course.
An undetermined number of classes have holds on them because of uncertainty about their availability during the fall semester, Beste said. “At this point in time, there’s just some question about whether it’s going to be offered or if it’s going to be moved or there’s a faculty who’s in question over whether or not they’ll be here,” Beste said. Contact Lindsey Meaux at lmeaux@lsureveille.com
STATE
Natural gas bill proposes tax credits for some residents Support for measure crosses party lines By Joy Lukachick Staff Writer
Louisiana residents interested in purchasing natural gas vehicles or fixing their current vehicles to run on natural resources may receive tax incentives from the state if a proposed bill passes. One of the items on both the House of Representatives and the Senate’s agendas is to discuss tax credits today “for the cost of qualified clean-burning motor vehicle fuel property.” The joint bill crosses party lines as Rep. Jane Smith, R-Bossier City, and Sen. Nick Gautreaux, D-Abbeville, proposed the natural resource legislation. “[We] cannot let this opportunity pass us by,” Smith said. “We’re going to be doing a great service to the state and to America.” The bill proposes giving tax credits and incentives if a resident converts a vehicle to natural resources, buys a new natural gas running vehicle or installs equipment to pump the natural gas, Smith said. The state will cover half the cost of purchasing a natural gas vehicle if the bill goes through, Smith said. The bill aims to create
incentives and encourage people to begin making the transition to cleaner fuel, Smith said. Northwest Louisiana has trillions of cubic feet of natural gas, and the goal is to use Louisiana’s own resources to end some dependence on foreign oil while encouraging
residents to use cleaner burning fuels, Smith said. Both Louisiana Oil and Gas Association and Louisiana MidContinent Oil and Gas Association announced support of the tax credits in a news release. LMOGA is supporting the bill
because Louisiana has a lot of natural gas, but there is no demand for the market, said LMOGA President Chris John. “By creating a market, it promotes a cleaner environment,” John said. The natural resources market
will also create new job opportunities in the state, he said. Louisiana is “the perfect state” for such a program because natural gas is available in large amounts, and the technology is available because some GAS, see page 11
THE DAILY REVEILLE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2009 PTSD, from page 1 His company began patrolling in Baghdad, and less than a week later, they were hit with a road-side bomb. The bomb left a hole in the ground next to one of his friends before it exploded around the men, Gibbs said. “It blew up right in his face … and he didn’t get hit,” Gibbs said. “To this day, [we] don’t know how it happened.” After the first hit, Gibbs said he was scared. But by the third hit, the fear was gone. During his year in Iraq, Gibbs said the stress from the attacks weighed on the soldiers, and they had to fight their biggest fears. “We never had a fear of ourselves dying,” he said. “It was a fear of doing something wrong and getting one of your buddies killed. It’s something you would not want to live with.” When an enemy soldier gets in the line of fire, Gibbs said the soldiers had to shoot and not think about the action. Soldiers are trained to react quickly. If not, someone in the unit will die, he said. “What it comes down to is the individual presented itself as a threat. I neutralized the threat,” he said of having to kill in combat. “I made it home that night; all my buddies made it back that night.” But at the end of the day, Gibbs said the images can be haunting. “You know it’s a human being but … I guess that’s why we call them the target or a threat,” Gibbs said. “Because if you really think about the fact that it’s a human being at that moment.” His voice softened. “You would probably go crazy.” Gibbs said at the end of the day, the men reassured one another there was no other option than to protect their unit, and it was their job as soldiers. He said he tried not to think about that part of the mission after returning to the States but considers himself fortunate no one in his unit died. PTSD AMONG VETERANS The term PTSD was not identified until after the Vietnam War, but when veterans returned from World War I, people began to discover soldiers were traumatized, and the term “shell shocked” was coined, according to psychology professor Thompson Davis. When veterans come back from fighting, they have a hard time adjusting to civilian life and fight depression and anxiety, Davis said. In response, people began to study the effects a war could have on a person and realized PTSD was a real threat for veterans and people who experienced rape, natural disasters and other traumatic situations. PTSD can occur after someone has experienced a situation in which they thought their life was in danger or there was a sense of extreme hopelessness or helplessness, Davis said. “Typically, we find the risk [to develop PTSD] increases for most people depending on how vivid or how violent the experience is,” he said. According to a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs report, 86 percent of soldiers in Iraq reported knowing someone who was seriously injured or killed, and 68 percent reported seeing dead or seriously injured
lsureveille.com
Log on to see Joy Lukachick discuss PTSD.
Americans. Also, 77 percent of soldiers deployed to Iraq reported shooting or directing fire at the enemy, while 48 percent reported being responsible for the “death of an enemy combatant.” When diagnosing a person with PTSD, psychiatrists look for three signs — the person re-experiencing the painful memory, then avoiding anything to remind them of the traumatic events, which then results in a hyper-arousal when reminded of the trauma, Davis said. David said no one knows exactly why only certain people develop PTSD after trauma. “It’s a combination of your past and your present and what happens after your trauma,” he said. American Psychiatrist Association board member Mary Helen Davis said the most common types of PTSD occur after combat, witnessing someone die or doing what they’re trained to do — kill.
Facts about the military and PTSD: According to the U.S. Department of Veterans affairs: •About 30 percent of Vietnam war veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in the military. •As many as 10 percent of Gulf War (Desert Storm) veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in the military. •Between 6 to 11 percent of the Afghanistan War (Enduring Freedom) veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in the military. •Between 12 to 20 percent of Iraq War (Iraqi Freedom) veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in the military. TREATMENTS FOR PTSD Veterans and other sufferers of PTSD can get help, Davis said, and one of the most effective treatments is cognitive behavioral therapy paired with exposure, which allows the person to expose themselves to the traumatic memories in a controlled environment. “You’re going to have the memory, but our goal is going to be … to try and have that memory not be so vivid for you,” Davis said. Capt. Jason Copeland, Marine and University graduate student, said PTSD is a real and normal
consequence after being involved in combat. “Unfortunately, a lot of people that go [to Iraq] are young,” Copeland said. “[About] 90 percent of my platoon were in between the ages of 18 and 22.” Copeland said many of the younger Marines have a difficult time handling the hardships and trauma of war, and one of the best remedies is leaning on other people who have
PAGE 5 similar experiences. As a leader, Copeland said it was crucial for him to be aware of the symptoms and be available to talk with other Marines. He said he spent many hours in Iraq just listening to fellow Marines describe experiences. “For every war, for every battle, everyone has their own piece [of memories],” he said. “It’s different for every person.” Coming back to the States is also difficult for Marines because the sup port group is no longer available, Copeland said. Separating from the people with the same shared experiences sometimes contributes to depression, he said. Julie Buckner, psychology professor, said PTSD left untreated could lead to depression or even suicide. And one factor that could lead to deeper cases of PTSD for veterans is lack of moral support, she said.
Contact Joy Lukachick at jlukachick@lsureveille.com
PAGE 6
THE DAILY REVEILLE
EMMITT BROWN / The Daily Reveille
LSU System President John Lombardi addresses the Louisiana House of Representatives Appropiations Committee on April 21 at the State Capitol.
LOMBARDI, from page 1 “Nabors has offices in Houston [and] is involved worldwide in energy related businesses that are closely related to many of the fields of study in which LSU is especially expert,” Lombardi said in an e-mail to The Daily Reveille. Nabors Board members make about $50,000 a year. Lombardi will serve as the company’s eighth director on the board through its
CHELSEA’S, from page 1 “In the meantime, I need my liquor license,” Remmetter said. “Without the liquor, we’re not the same.” For the next week, the establishment cannot contain any alcohol, and all the bartenders were taken off the schedule, Remmetter said. No live music will be played either. The ATC originally cited Remmetter for two violations after a Jan. 22 raid at Chelsea’s. The restaurant was charged for operating as a bar with a restaurant license. ATC Commissioner Murphy Painter charged the owner with a $2,000 fine and suspended the owner’s liquor license unless the establishment met the state’s conditions to receive a rezoning change. But Remmetter said he complied with all of Painter’s requests. He said he applied to the state to rezone, paid the $2,000 fine, kept the kitchen open all business hours and made sure the restaurant was in compliance with the city. Remmetter said he isn’t sure why the ATC pulled his license last week. He is hopeful more supporters will be present at next week’s hearing, and his Web site, Ilovechelseas. com, encourages Baton Rouge residents to be present at the hearing. A Facebook fan-based page “Save Chelsea’s Cafe,” has already gained more than 1,000 members as of Tuesday evening. Contact Joy Lukachick at jlukachick@lsureveille.com
2010 shareholders’ meeting. Lombardi received the Board of Supervisors’ approval for the venture. “Dr. Lombardi brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our Board,” said Nabors Industries Chairman and CEO Gene Isenberg in a news release Monday. “He has effectively served as the CEO and in other senior management capacities of several major universities.” Lombardi serves on the Advisory Board for the Jay I. Kislak
Foundation, a private, non-profit art collection and research organization, and on the Executive Strategic Council of IMS Global Learning Consortium. He previously served on the Board of Directors of the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts. Lombardi served as an administrator for the universities of Massachusetts and Florida and Johns Hopkins University before becoming LSU System president and history professor in 2007. “That management perspective, combined with his expertise in business in Latin America, complements and augments the already strong and diverse qualifications of our other Board members,” Isenberg said in the release. Lombardi will also serve on Nabors’ Audit, Compensation and Governance and Nominating Committees of the Board. Nabors Industries owns and operates about 530 land drilling rigs and about 760 land workover and well-servicing rigs in North America, according to the news release. Contact Kyle Bove at kbove@lsureveille.com
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
ONLINE: Log on to lsureveille.com for a story on the Hornets’ playoff series against Denver.
Sports
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2009
BASEBALL
Rain postpones Tulane matchup
PAGE 7
Batting Through It “I can’t be mad. I can’t take this away — I’m going to have it the rest of my life.” Juliana Santos, LSU freshman shortstop
By Casey Gisclair Chief Sports Writer
With storms blowing through the Baton Rouge area most of the afternoon and evening, the LSUTulane baseball game scheduled for Tuesday evening was postponed. The teams will meet tonight at 6:30 in Alex Box Stadium. The Green Wave arrived on campus hours before the first pitch was scheduled. But when the rain failed to subside, officials from both schools met and decided it would be best to postpone the game. The first meeting between both teams — also scheduled for a Tuesday night — was postponed one day by rain. Both teams are expected to start their original pitchers tonight. Sophomore Ben Alsup will take the hill for the Tigers. The sophomore right hander is 1-0 on the season with a 4.88 ERA in 24 innings pitched. Tulane will counter with junior lefty Aaron Loup. Loup earned the win in the first meeting between the teams and pitched 6 2/3 innings and allowed six hits and five runs. Left-handed pitchers have been a thorn in LSU’s side all season. LSU is just 11-9 against left-handed starters. The Tigers are 22-3 against right-handed starting pitching. Tuesday’s rainout marks the Tigers’ sixth game this season to be affected by weather. All three games of LSU’s opening Southeastern Conference series against Kentucky were affected by rain. Contact Casey Gisclair at cgisclair@lsureveille.com
Santos takes a swing at her struggle with Crohn’s disease By David Helman Sports Writer
It would be hard to find a tougher environment than LSU for softball freshman shortstop Juliana Santos. As a Crohn’s disease patient, Santos is advised against excessive stress, unhealthy food and extreme heat. But Santos is living her first year away from home, her No. 20 Tigers are battling for Southeastern Conference positioning, final exams are looming and temperatures around Louisiana are steadily rising. “This is a bad place to live,” Santos said. “It’s hard to find a happy medium between everything, especially being on my own.” Many people aren’t exactly sure what Crohn’s disease is. Ana Gross, assistant softball trainer, admitted she had to do some research on the autoimmune disease when Santos committed to LSU. “It’s an inflammation of the colon and the small and large intestines,” Gross said. “There’s no way to prevent it, and it’s pretty much something she’ll have to maintain
POSSIBLE CAUSES OF CROHN’S DISEASE •Immune system problems •Genetics •Environmental factors
SYMPTOMS •Common: abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss •Uncommon: Poor appetite, fever, night sweats
POSSIBLE TREATMENTS •Drugs (including sulfasalazine, mesalamine) •Nutritional supplements •Surgery •Antibiotics No cure exists for Crohn’s disease.
CROHN’S, see page 10
Source: WebMD
photos by ERIN ARLEDGE / The Daily Reveille
[Top] Freshman shortstop Juliana Santos hits a ball March 11 during the Tigers’ 4-3 win against Baylor. [Above] Santos chases a ball Sunday during the Tigers’ 4-0 win against South Carolina.
FOOTBALL
Brooks making shift from cornerback to safety Sophomore didn’t play defense in HS By Rachel Whittaker Sports Writer
MAGGIE BOWLES / The Daily Reveille
LSU sophomore safety Ron Brooks (left) chases down junior running back Richard Murphy during the Tigers’ spring game April 18.
LSU sophomore safety Ron Brooks didn’t think he would play defense in. He played quarterback and wide receiver at MacArthur High School in Irving, Texas, and said colleges that recruited him, including LSU, originally wanted him to work out at receiver. “Some of the teams had the
‘‘
‘Ron has a good nose for the football, and he’s a great competitor.’ Brian Basil
Brooks’ high school coach
intention of bringing me in as a receiver and trying me out at defensive back to see if I was able to do it,” Brooks said. “When I first got down here, they told me I would be playing receiver, but then they started having
me go both ways in the summer and training camp. Eventually, it turned into straight defense, and I’ve been here ever since.” Brooks said he wasn’t keen on the idea of switching to defense at first because he enjoyed the spotlight of playing offense throughout high school, when he was elected team captain as a senior. “I felt like offensive players get all the recognition for what they do — scoring or a gain or a big play,” he said. “I felt like defensive players don’t get as much shine as SWITCH, see page 10
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THE DAILY REVEILLE
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
RECRUITING
Watts twins hope to return to Louisiana, play together Pair evacuated to Texas after Katrina
By Tyler Harvey Sports Contributor
Twins Tyren and Kyren Watts were like any other students at Marrero Middle School almost four years ago — before they had to evacuate from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. But now the juniors at New Waverly High School in New Waverly, Texas, are making names for themselves on the football field in hopes of returning to Louisiana to play football. At 6 feet 1 inch, 180 pounds, Tyren plays running back and defensive back. Kyren, at 6 feet 3 inches, 190 pounds, plays wide receiver and defensive end. Kyren said a number of schools — LSU, Florida State, Oregon, Alabama, Florida, Iowa and Texas Tech — have expressed interest in recruiting the two. But the twins agreed if they had their choice, they would be Tigers. “I’d rather be in Louisiana because of my mom,” Kyren said. “All my family is down there.” Though it’s still very early in the recruiting process for the 2010 class, the twins haven’t received any scholarship offers. But New Waverly coach Ken Craig said he expects
the brothers to receive offers very soon, especially if the interest they have received lately is an indication of things to come. “They’ve gotten interest from just about every Division I university around,” Craig said. “[Kyren’s] got great speed, great hands and jumps well. [Tyren’s] got great vision and great speed. He rushed for
almost 2,000 yards with over 30 touchdowns [last season].” Craig said the brothers have adjusted to life in New Waverly and have been accepted by the community. “They came to New Waverly by way of Katrina,” Craig said. “They kind of hit the end of the line whenever they were coming this way to
get to shelter. Folks from the community just kind of took them in and found a place for them. They just made a home for themselves in New Waverly.” The brothers said they will do all they can to play in college together. “Wherever he wants to go, I’ll follow,” Tyren said. “We’ve
always played on the same team, so we don’t want to be separated from each other. But if we have to go our separate ways, then we have to go our separate ways.”
Contact Tyler Harvey at tharvey@lsureveille.com
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
THE DAILY REVEILLE
RECRUITING
PAGE 9
NFL
Dotson recovering from surgery Saints release veteran Guard will be 100 tackle Brian Young percent by summer By Michael Lambert Sports Contributor
Aaron Dotson’s season-ending knee surgery affected Seattle-based Rainier Beach High School’s chance of winning a state title in 2009. The Vikings were eliminated in the quarterfinals without the Scout. com three-star guard. Rainier Beach coach Mike Bethea said Dotson would have made them a top-10 team in the country, and they “just never really recovered from him being out.” But the 6-foot-4-inch recruit is fully recovered now, and plans to make an immediate impact when he returns to the floor at LSU. “I really want to play in the Final Four,” Dotson said. “I want to be the SEC Freshman of the Year.” Dotson said the surgery will give him a healthy knee going into the 2009 season. “The recovery is going pretty good,” Dotson said. “Right now I’m doing a lot of strength training and trying to get my balance back. I should be back to 100 percent late June, early July.” Dotson was recruited heavily by LSU coach Trent Johnson, Bethea’s childhood friend. Dotson said his assistant coach at Rainier Beach is also best friends with Johnson.
Dotson continues the tradition of great basketball players from Rainier Beach. He is the 12th consecutive player from the school to sign a Division I scholarship. NBA players Doug Christie, Jamaal Crawford and Nate Robinson also played for Rainier Beach. When the Tigers began recruiting Dotson, Johnson made it clear he could have an impact similar to those players’ at LSU. “I always felt when I spoke to LSU coaches that they really needed me,” Dotson said. “I wanted to go to a college that needed me, not just wanted me.” The guard will be needed next season to fill the gap of at least five departing seniors. Dotson and Country Day forward Eddie Ludwig are the only recruits in LSU’s 2009 class. They will be asked to help rebuild a team with only one or two returning starters, depending on what happens to junior forward Tasmin Mitchell in the NBA draft. Dotson said he plans to fill one of the voids in the starting lineup. “I have a pretty good chance to start,” Dotson said. “I’m the only two-guard right now. I want to be a starter.” Dotson narrowed his college choice down to LSU and Louisville before he made his final decision. He would have had time to develop under five rising seniors at
Louisville, but he chose to play at LSU, where he would have an earlier chance to play. Dotson said losing a large crop of seniors has its pros and cons for him. “Some days, I think that’s going to hurt,” Dotson said. “Some days, I think I just have to step up. I’m up for the challenge.” The Seattle native averaged 13.5 points his junior season but only played three games his senior season. Bethea said he was an integral leader for the team. The coach said Dotson will make the adjustment from being a senior at Rainier Beach to a freshman at LSU. “Not only did he lead vocally, but he led by example,” Bethea said. “He held the guys to a higher standard. He has that type of mental makeup that will allow him to make that transition pretty easy.” Sonny Shipp, Louisiana recruiting analyst for Scout.com, said Dotson will be able to recover from the knee injury and be an impact player as a freshman. “The surgery was a success, and he should be ready to go when he gets [to LSU],” Shipp said. “He’s got a good chance to come in and get a lot of playing time, if not start.”
Contact Michael Lambert at mlambert@lsureveille.com
By The Associated Press METAIRIE (AP) — The New Orleans Saints released veteran defensive tackle Brian Young, who played only half of last season because of problems with his left knee that lingered into the current offseason. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said Tuesday the decision was very difficult. He calls Young “one of the hardest working individuals I have ever met.”
The nine-year veteran played the past five seasons for New Orleans after spending his first four seasons in St. Louis. He appeared in eight games in 2008, with 13 tackles, including one sack. In 2006, the last season the Saints went to the playoffs, Young started all 16 regular season games, finishing with 46 tackles, including 5.5 sacks. Contact The Daily Reveille’s sports staff at sports@lsureveille.com
PAGE 10 SWITCH, from page 7 they should unless it was for something bad they did like they got beat.” Now Brooks is making another transition — from cornerback to safety — in his second season in LSU’s secondary. Brooks’ high school coach Brian Basil said his athleticism and passion will make the road smooth. “Safety is a good spot for him,” Basil said. “He’s so fast, and he changes direction quickly. Ron has a good nose for the football, and he’s a great competitor, so I figured it would just be a matter of time before he worked his way into [a starting role].” Basil said when Brooks played
CROHN’S, from page 7 throughout her lifetime.” Santos spent a good chunk of her childhood in and out of hospitals. She took countless gastrointestinal tract X-rays — which involve swallowing barium — and in 2001 she had surgery to remove infected pieces of her intestinal tract. “I missed basically all of my sixth grade year, and still some of my closest friends think I was in Disneyland,” she said. Santos’s disease is in remission for the most part, but her surgery cannot prevent an occasional “flare up,” which Gross described as abdominal cramping — common for most stomach disorders. But none of this has managed to hamper Santos’ first year with LSU softball. She is batting .296 with four home runs and 25 RBI with just three regular season games remaining. She has started 44 of 45 games, missing her only start against Nicholls State. She entered that game against the Colonels in the seventh inning as a pinch hitter and coolly provided the game-tying RBI and the game-winning run. “She’s a fighter, and you can tell that when you look at her,” said LSU coach Yvette Girouard. “That’s why I love everything about her — she’s tough, and she doesn’t give in ... That’s exactly what a coach wants.” Girouard said the team is prepared to hold her out of the lineup should she experience complications, but it hasn’t been necessary to this point. “It is exceptional that she’s gotten through this time pretty pain free and healthy,” Gross said. “If she was a little bit worse off, she might not be able to play ... but it doesn’t seem to affect her softball in any way.” But the game-winning hits aren’t
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
quarterback his senior year, he put one of the most vicious hits on an opposing defender he had ever seen. “[Brooks] threw an interception in one of our games, and when the guy was running it back, Ron’s tackle was probably the hardest hit anyone on our team made the whole year,” Basil said. “He lifted the guy off his feet and put him on his back, and we recovered the ball.” Brooks said he looks to veteran members of the LSU secondary for advice in his shift from cornerback to safety this spring, including junior safety Chad Jones, who has noticed Brooks’ capacity for mastering a different position. “I always thought Brooks would play safety better than corner,” Jones said. “He’s fast and can cover a lot of
field, and he has great vision and ball skills. He could develop into a No. 1-caliber guy.” Defensive coordinator John Chavis said Brooks has the talent to grow and fit into LSU’s new defensive scheme. “Safety is a bit more physical position, and there is more tackling involved,” Chavis said. “Ron has done a good job from that standpoint and also mentally by making adjustments and calls our safeties have to make. He’s a guy who can do more for us, but we’re obviously happy with what he’s done thus far.” In the second spring scrimmage, Brooks had an interception at safety, and he said he is adjusting well. “I prefer to play safety because I get more freedom to go out and
show my ability than I do at corner,” Brooks said. “At corner, you always have somebody to guard, but at safety, you get the freedom to be back in your zone, watch the quarterback and play off what he does.” In the April 18 spring game, Brooks led the team in all-purpose yards with 77 on three kickoff returns. At safety, Brooks drew a penalty for pass interference on a pass to senior wide receiver Brandon LaFell, but Brooks claimed he was just doing his job as a defender. “The ball was very uncatchable,” Brooks quipped. “If a receiver or running back or anyone wants to come in that secondary red box, then they have to expect to get hit.” Brooks said the LSU defense has something to prove this sea-
son with a new coaching staff and a “hungrier” attitude — that its 8-5 performance under co-defensive coordinators Doug Mallory and Bradley Dale Peveto would not repeat itself this year. “I don’t feel like the secondary, or defense for that matter, was weak at all,” Brooks said. “We just didn’t capitalize on plays at times, and we did bad things at the wrong times ... It really doesn’t matter how many defensive coordinators you have; you can have one or even three. It just depends on how you take the information and how we work with the coaches.”
as easy as they look. Santos admits she’s “not thrilled about [her] life every day” but said her parents and her faith have helped her through. “I’ve broken down a few times with my disease ... I’ve let it win me over,” she said. “But my parents have helped me through that mental block. Everything happens for a reason — God gave me this for a reason.” Perhaps that reason is to help those who share her affliction.
Santos plans to double major in kinesiology and biological sciences with a hope of one day working on Crohn’s disease. “If I want to go the sports route, I can. But there’s something in me telling me that I need to help people like me,” she said. At the very least, she hopes to reduce the strain on people with medical issues by helping develop an alternative to barium — the
radioactive agent patients must ingest before taking gastrointestinal X-rays. “It’s the grossest thing ever invented, and I’ve had to drink that like 12 times,” Santos said. “I’d love to help fund or help invent or create something like barium that tastes good and that kids can handle.” And with all that in mind, maybe LSU isn’t such a tough place after all.
“I can’t be mad. I can’t take this away — I’m going to have it the rest of my life,” she said. “Everyone here has been really understanding. My teammates are always around to make sure I’m OK. It’s just a really good atmosphere to be in.”
Contact Rachel Whittaker at rwhittaker@lsureveille.com
Contact David Helman at dhelman@lsureveille.com
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
MUSIC
Rapper Lil Wayne sues song’s producer By The Associated Press Rapper Lil Wayne is suing the producer of a song he performed that allegedly sampled another singer’s work without permission. A lawsuit filed last year against Lil Wayne accuses him of copyright infringement, saying he failed to secure permission to sample folk singer Karma-Ann Swanepoel’s song “Once” on his track “I Feel Like Dying.” A lawsuit filed last week by the rapper’s lawyers says Rebel Rock Productions Inc., of Coconut Creek, Fla., produced “I Feel Like Dying” and was responsible for obtaining any necessary licensing agreements. Rebel Rock hasn’t responded to Lil Wayne’s claims and doesn’t have a lawyer named in court records. A telephone number listed for the
company has been disconnected. Last month, a federal magistrate ordered rapper Lil Wayne to turn over financial records for his Grammy-winning album, “Tha Carter III,” to Urband & Lazar Music Publishing, which published “Once.” “I Feel Like Dying” isn’t a track on “Tha Carter III,” but a lawyer for Urband & Lazar argues that Lil Wayne promoted the album by singing that song in concert and allowing fans to download it for free on his Web site. Lil Wayne is a New Orleans native whose real name is Dwayne Carter Jr. Swanepoel is a native of South Africa now living in Florida. Contact The Daily Reveille’s news staff at news@lsureveille.com
Pluckers wing bar Trivia at 8. $4 34 oz Mother Plucker Mugs. If you don’t like our wings, we’ll give you the bird. Mellow Mushroom pizza Bakers 3pm- 10pm $5 Bud and Bud Light pitchers Trivia at 8pm, Karaoke at 10pm 10pm-till $2.50 Domestic Bottles $3.50 Double Wells and $3 Bacardi and Cokes
9-10:30pm Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist 12:00-1:30pm Wanted 3:00-3:30pm The Manship Show 7-8:30pm Quantum of Solace
GAS, from page 4
Baton Rouge transits already run on natural gas, he said. “This is a win-win situation for both the consumer and individual,” John said. “We are attempting to create a demand for something we have supply for in the state.” Patrick Martin, who teaches contracts, oil and gas law in the Paul M. Hebert Law Center, said the cleaner fuel movement is
growing, but the infrastructure is not yet in place. Martin said he is also concerned about creating the new market that would discourage other uses for natural gas, including home heating and cooking. The country has gone through great natural gas shortage periods, Martin said. Many schools rely on natural gas, and some had to be shut down for a period of time, he said. While diminishing reliance on
PAGE 11 foreign oil would be positive, there is a risk of running out of natural gas, Martin said. Many places in America with natural reserves are protected by environmental laws, he explained. “Some don’t want to make the choice for cleaner air with more drilling,” he said. Contact Joy Lukachick at jlukachick@lsureveille.com
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Opinion
PAGE 12
OUR VIEW
wednesday, april 29, 2009
ATC, Chelsea Cafe’s dispute hurts employees, patrons
It’s safe to say several University students have experienced the unique atmosphere Chelsea’s Cafe offers. The music, the food, the people — Chelsea’s has it all. But a recent dispute between the establishment and the state’s Alcohol and Tobacco Control board could put all that in danger.
Judge Trudy White concluded at a hearing Tuesday that the restaurant could not sell alcohol until the full-length hearing — scheduled for Monday — decides whether the ATC board has a case against Chelsea’s. The restaurant’s liquor license was pulled April 21, and owner Dave Remmetter filed a complaint for a temporary freezing on the state’s
suspension. The ATC initially cited Remmetter in January for operating as a bar with a restaurant license. Details of everything that has happened since are sketchy. But one thing is certain — the ones hurt most by the dispute are employees and patrons. Remmetter said all the
restaurant’s bartenders were taken off the schedule this week. And we all know how much money can be made in bartending. Workers shouldn’t be the ones affected by a few possible mistakes made by others — mistakes those employees couldn’t control. One of the best things about Chelsea’s is the mood the
restaurant provides. It lacks the fever pitch and hectic pace of the Tigerland and downtown areas. And that’s a good thing. The dispute between the state and Chelsea’s needs to be resolved as soon as possible. Contact the Editorial Board at editor@lsureveille.com
FREEMAN OF SPEECH
The planet is warming because fat kids love cake Do you like cheeseburgers? If you do, you’re killing the planet. A new study by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine blames fat people for the increase in global warming, as increased energy costs for food production, increased carbon emissions and a heavier reliance — forgive the pun — on cars contribute more to climate change. The study outlines the differences between the U.S. and slimmer countries like Vietnam, whose population consumes 20 percent less food and produces less greenhouse gases than the U.S., where 40 percent of the population is obese. Food production alone is responsible for about 20 percent of all carbon emissions on the planet and will continue to get worse, considering the average body mass index
continues to increase in America and the United Kingdom, where 25 percent of the population is obese and is set to increase to at least 40 percent in three years. Less energy is required to transport skinny people, as fatter people are more prone to driving cars, increasing carbon emissions and furthering the death of the planet, according to an April 20 article in the International Journal of Health. As one of those obese 40 percent, I cringe at this study. There’s nothing wrong with large quantities of beef. After all, this is America. But now I’m killing the planet. I used to be comfortable with slowly killing myself and increasing a trend of undocumented workers in ungodly conditions to make the Whoppers I so regularly consume. I used to be comfortable with the slow death I inflicted on myself
on a daily basis. Now, I’m being blamed for tsunamis, floods and Hurricane Katrina. It’s no secret America is the fattest nation on the planet. The Daily Reveille also reported Louisiana is the second fattest Eric Freeman Jr. state in the country. But what difColumnist ference can a nation that invented the Big Mac and the Super Size really make? As inclined as I am to side with the Republicans — in that global warming is a myth Al Gore invented to sell movies and books — it’s tough to feel responsible for liking things that are delicious. Message to PETA: Roul’s Deli is delicious. Also, I won’t stop
ordering Mega Shrimp Burgers until they cease to be delicious. In this instance, I’m more than willing to blame America first. After all, our obesity has gotten exponentially worse during the past 40 years. When McDonald’s first opened, the “large” size beverage was 20 ounces. Today, the 20 ounce drink is a “small.” As the standard of living in America got larger, so did our bellies, favoring the convenience of cheap, quick food in favor of locally grown, fresher alternatives. Our own self-indulgence has led to new, thoroughly uninspired artery cloggers as the Triple Whopper, the 24-hour drive thru and, my personal favorite, Baconnaise. Thank you, Jon Stewart. It’s OK to feel bad about killing the planet. It’s OK to indulge in guilty pleasures every once in a while.
But when a wall has to be torn out of your house so paramedics can transport you to the hospital after your heart attack because you can’t fit through your front door, it’s time to change. I wrote a column last month about my ongoing crush on Michelle Obama and her new vegetable garden. I argued, “We can show the world we aren’t a nation of lazy slobs addicted to high fructose corn syrup as if it were crack.” Now, it’s not just for us. It’s time to save the world — one celery stick at a time.
Eric Freeman Jr. is a 22-year-old political science junior from New Orleans. Contact Eric Freeman Jr. at efreeman@lsureveille.com
BURNS AFTER READING
Socialist road Block: real answers for a radical crisis Around campus, bumper-tobumper traffic and continuous roadwork aren’t just daily hassles — they’re ceremonial ways of life. Louisiana spent more than $2.1 billion maintaining roads and highways in 2006, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Baton Rouge recently proposed more than $760 million in “shovel ready” public works projects aimed at ameliorating traffic congestion, according to Stimulus Watch. Even with slews of publicly funded roadwork projects popping up all around, many students have subconsciously accepted that expensive state projects will never actually fix anything. But according to Loyola economics professor Walter Block, we don’t have to tolerate the government’s broken system any longer. In his latest novel, “The Privatization of Roads and Highways,” Block makes a strong case for privately managed
throughways by offering a logical, free-market alternative to the ongoing epidemic of government road ownership and regulation. Speeding up traffic and illuminating government mismanagement was one integral factor that inspired Block’s research. But traffic congestion is a mere triviality compared to the real tragedy Americans often overlook. More than 41,000 Americans died in traffic-related accidents in 2008. There have been more than 375,000 deaths and millions of critical injuries since 2000, according to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. “If the highways were now commercial ventures, as once in our history they were, and upward of 40,000 people were killed on them annually, you can bet your bottom dollar that Ted Kennedy and his ilk would be holding Senate hearings on the matter,” Block wrote on Lewrockwell.
THE DAILY REVEILLE Editorial Board
KYLE WHITFIELD TYLER BATISTE GERRI SAX DANIEL LUMETTA MATTHEW ALBRIGHT TRAVIS ANDREWS ERIC FREEMAN JR.
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com. Under private management, Block projects competition between different road owners would directly reduce the death toll from 40,000 a year to as low as 10,000. Block also explained how privatized roads would utilize the wisdom only offered by the free market to drastiScott Burns cally improve Columnist safety and reduce traffic congestion through more efficient methods like peak load pricing and universal product coding. He also demonstrates how private road owners could successfully manage without excessive tolls or eminent domain simply by allowing the market to operate under the concept of laissez-faire. “Markets are the best regulator,
not government,” Block concluded. “The same logic holds true for shoes, candy and bicycles. Should we nationalize all these things? Have we learned nothing from the economic failure of the Soviets?” For years our transportation system has been stuck sitting bumperto-bumper in innovation-restricting traffic, calling only for more of the same failed central planning. But what our society needs is more seminal thinkers, like Block, who can help pave new avenues of innovation and thought. Science and history clearly show the greatest successes of our society take place under private control, not public regulation. Our nation’s greatest success stories are prime examples of how private minds allocate and direct resources much more effectively than intellectually deprived central authorities. As Block suggested, if we continue allowing central planners to
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.
run our roads, we can expect more of the same failure and disappointment. That is why now is the time to demand the end of the government’s failed monopoly on transportation. Once we dispel the socialistic myth that roads are somehow an exception to economic law, there’s no limit to what the unfettered free market can accomplish for everyone’s benefit. Ultimately, if private corporations can put a satellite into orbit and assimilate thousands of sounds and lectures and podcasts into a tiny, palm-sized electronic device, they can most certainly pour asphalt over sand and determine more efficient ways to manage our roads. Scott Burns is a 19-year-old political science and business sophomore from Baton Rouge. Contact Scott Burns at sburns@lsureveille.com
QUOTE OF THE DAY “Oppressed people cannot
remain oppressed forever.”
Martin Luther King Jr. American civil rights leader Jan. 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968
THE DAILY REVEILLE
wednesday, april 29, 2009
COMMON CENTS
Opinion
PAGE 13
You don’t really believe in God, Jesus and heaven
Last week, one of the University’s nomadic evangelicals offered me a green mini-Bible. I was impressed by his generosity, but I wasn’t interested. In a calm, dismissive voice I told him, “There is no God,” and continued on my way to breakfast. After we got out of earshot, the friend I was walking with confessed he “hated those Christians.” At the risk of coming off as a contrarian, I had to disagree with him. Both the screaming and the smiling evangelicals on campus may be wrong about facts, values and policies, but their consistency is respectable. Extremism is not — in itself — a vice. There is nothing wrong with strongly believing two and two make four, that one should stop on red, go on green and speed
up on yellow or that Lil Wayne is the best rapper alive. One should strongly believe rape, slavery and the Jonas Brothers are grave moral evils. Being an extremist only means you take your ideas seriously. It’s only wrong if your ideas are wrong. I don’t hate the Consuming Fire Fellowship. I am saddened to see their worldview inflicted on their children, but I am not angered by their presence. They make Free Speech Alley live up to its name. If you actually believed, as Jonathan Edwards put it, “the God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked,” you would have an imperative to save as many people as you could. If a cosmic candyland is
awaiting those who spend time in the right buildings, saying the right magic words and eating the right magic crackers, then I should be angered by my Christian friends who do not try to save my soul. S a v i n g Daniel Morgan others from an Columnist eternity of the worst punishment imaginable would be at the top of my to-do list. Because my acquaintances don’t try to convert me, they are either completely indifferent to my suffering or they — at some level — don’t really believe in hell. If anything, the Consuming Fire Fellowship can be criticized for not following the word of their unerring God strongly enough.
Deuteronomy 13 tells the faithful how to deal with people from other religions. “Neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare … But thou shalt surely kill him.” As an occasional advocate of atheism, I am thankful they aren’t fully consistent. If an outspoken critic of WalMart constantly predicted the business’ downfall, we would doubt his sincerity or competence after learning he had invested exclusively in the retail giant. Christians who fear death, accumulate wealth and don’t wage holy wars on others of different faiths must not really believe John 11:25-26, Luke 18:24-25 or 2 Chronicles 15:12-13. And they must also turn their nose up at Jesus’ proclamation “until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means
disappear from the Law.” Some Christians might respond by saying a mature outlook on the Bible appreciates the context in which it was written and rejects some of the more backward moral commandments as a product of a more primitive time. Perhaps, but an even more mature outlook would drop the special pleading. Human sacrifice to atone for another’s sins is a backwards moral ideal. The fear and guilt associated with it are the products of a more primitive time. Those who treat beliefs as a grab bag of comforting thoughts do not take ideas seriously. Daniel Morgan is a 21-year-old economics junior from Baton Rouge. Contact Daniel Morgan at dmorgan@lsureveille.com
NIETZSCHE IS DEAD
Student’s dismissal unfair, violation of rights, beliefs
The issue of gay rights is one of the most complex and heated debates in our country. One of the primary factors responsible for the vehemence with which the issue is raised is religion. The Bible contains numerous passages that speak out against homosexuality as a sin. Consequently, most Christians regard same-sex couples with varying degrees of disapproval, from uneasy guilt to absolute hatred. Unfortunately, tensions between the two groups can sometimes lead to tragic conflicts. Earlier this month, Eastern Michigan University dismissed a counseling studies graduate student because of her beliefs on homosexuality. Julea Ward was thrown out of the school after she enrolled in a class where she provided counseling under faculty supervision. During the process, she was given a client who wanted counseling concerning a homosexual relationship. Because of unease with a same-sex relationship — an unease rooted in her Christian faith — Ward asked if she could either see the patient and refer them if it became necessary or simply refer them outright. The client was referred to another counselor. Later EMU initiated disciplinary procedures against Ward. They issued an ultimatum — either she “affirmed homosexual behavior” as a counselor or face expulsion. Ward refused to compromise her religious beliefs and was dismissed from EMU. Now the conservative legal group Allied Defense Fund is filing a lawsuit on behalf of Ward,
claiming EMU violated Ward’s religious rights. One of the most explosive claims in the lawsuit is the school’s faculty attempted to make Ward undergo a “remediation” program, where she would Matthew “see the error Albright of her ways” Columnist and change her “belief system.” This incident brings to the front a divisive issue — is a Christian belief that homosexuality is immoral a prejudice that merits disciplinary action? The answer isn’t easy. It’s important to realize Christian reactions to homosexuality cover the entire spectrum of vehemence. Few believers ascribe to the Fred Phelps (“God Hates Fags”) school of thought. In fact, the debate among Christians about how to deal with homosexuality rages as strongly in churches as it does in the secular arena. There are churches with gay pastors, and some denominations are close to complete fracturing over this issue alone. Therefore, we must immediately disqualify the common myth that Christians are reactionary homophobes. Though the Allied Defense Fund is notorious for exactly this kind of reactionary conservatism, in this case, it is justified in defending Ward. If Ward and the ADF are giving an accurate account of the events, then EMU’s misconduct is grievous indeed. According to
the lawsuit, Ward was dismissed because of a refusal to “affirm homosexual behavior.” What EMU failed to recognize is a mistake common to many on the far left — there is a huge difference between tolerance and affirmation. Ward was not dismissed for being intolerant. She did not use hate speech concerning the client she was assigned. She didn’t attempt to convert the client, and she didn’t tell that client his relationship was sinful. She didn’t
even outright dismiss the possibility of seeing the client. EMU — a public university — should not have removed Ward because of her beliefs. An employer has the right to control its employees’ behavior — not their beliefs. The only crimes Ward is guilty of is finding a potential conflict of interest with a client, then pointing out the conflict and asking the client to be referred. Her behavior is definitely not grounds for dismissal — in fact,
it’s commendable. EMU cannot have issue with her actions. Instead, they have a problem with her beliefs. And dismissal because of belief is something that should make any student cringe. Matthew Albright is a 20-year old mass communication sophomore from Baton Rouge. Contact Matthew Albright at malbright@lsureveille.com
BEST AND WITTIEST
cartoon courtesy of KING FEATURES SYNDICATE
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Classifieds Age 18+ OK 1-800-965-6520 xt127 HELP WANTED STUDENT WORKERS NEEDED Pennington Biomedical Research Center Clinical Trials Recruiting Services is looking for student workers. Must have good communication skills and be detailed oriented. If interested send resume to ami.parks@pbrc.edu. INTERVIEWING IN NOL A 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 VIETN AMESE SPEAKERS Interviewing in NOLA for Katrina Recovery. Our LSU Sociology Research Team has done 4,500 interviews in GNO. Now we want to include the Vietnamese community. Join our team! Saturday trips to New Orleans, with full day of work & free round-trip transportation - or your own flexible schedule. $12/ hr with language skills. Interesting, meaningful teamwork on community recovery. Pls tell your Vietnamese-speaking friends. Contact David Maddox, dmaddo1@tigers.lsu.edu. DATA ENTRY/ FILE clerk needed. Located off of Essen. Email resume to resume@transfinancialco.com EARN EXTR A MONEY Students needed ASAP Earn up to $150 per day being a mystery shopper No Experience Required Call 1-800-722-4791 MEDICAL Physical Therapy Tech needed for Brusly and Plaquemine. Fax Resume 225-791-3549 FALL 09 PAR T-TIME JOB UUMC After School Program is hiring staff for the Fall 09 semester. Hours are Monday through Friday from 2:00 until 5:30. Pay starts at $7.50 per hour. Contact Kay before May 15th. 225.284.5850 If you love young children and like to sing and play musical instruments, we have the perfect pt job for you. Approx. 4 hrs per week 225.766.1159 AWESOME OPPOR T U N I T Y SU M M E R CAMP INSTRUCTORS NEEDED- Must be Outgoing, Hardworking, and Enthusiastic with children. Please fax resume to (225) 706-1634 or email to info@exerfitbr.com. T YRUS THOMAS INC. NOW HIRING Tyrus Thomas Incorporated Is now hiring researcher’s and summer staff/ counselors for youth program C. A. T. C. H. Please visit www.tyrusthomasinc.org to apply NOW HIRING Immediate Openings at the LSU Bookstore for finals week 225.578.5137 NOW HIRING FOR SUMMER & FALL! Child Care Center near LSU now hiring for Summer and Fall Semesters. Afternoon Teachers needed 2:30-5:30 Mon-Fri. 225.766.1159 NINFA’S IS NOW HIRING SERVERS APPLY IN PERSON AT 4736 CONSTITUTION AVE, BATON ROUGE, LA. **EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER** TJ RIBS IS NOW HIRING SERVERS APPLY IN PERSON AT 2324 S. ACADIAN THRUWAY, BATON ROUGE, LA **EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER** !BAR TENDING! Up to $300/Day. No Experience Necessary. Training Provided.
WORK WITH THE BLUES Coyote Blues is coming to Baton Rouge and is looking for 20 motivated go-getters to fill trainer spots. Great for summer cash and we will work around school schedules. Check us out at coyotebluesrest.com. Call or send resume to coyoteblues2@gmail.com. 225.329.2055 THE CHIMES IS NOW HIRING Come work at one of the funnest restaurants in town. The Chimes at the north gates of campus is now hiring hostesses. Come fill out an application between 2pm and 4pm. 225.383.1754 F / T S U M M E R N ANNY Provide summer childcare for elementary/ middle school age children. Childcare exp. reqd. $9-$10/ hr 225.803.3372 PAR T-TIME RUNNER needed for small law firm. Duties include: filing, answering phones, running errands. Please fax resume to 225-387-0150. LIFEGUARDS LIFEGUARDS needed at Southside YMCA and Paula G. Manship YMCA. Certification classes available. We will train you! Flex schedules & fun atmosphere. Be part of our Y family! Apply in person at any YMCA or contact Justin at (225) 766-2991 or Anthony (225) 767-9622 CER TIFIED SCIENCE TEACHER The Baton Rouge International School is looking for a certified science teacher for upper elementary and middle school for the 2009-2010 school year. Please send your resume at brisla@yahoo.com. CER TIFIED KINDERG AR TEN TEACHER The Baton Rouge International School is looking for a certified Kindergarten Teacher for the school year 2009-2010. Please send your resume at brisla@yahoo.com STUDENTPAY OUT S. COM Paid Survey Takers Needed In Baton Rogue. 100% Free To Join! Click On Surveys. L AWN & L ANDSCAPE company currently interviewing for two openings for lawn crew starting mid -May. Paid weekly. Email mchol@cox.net or call 225-226-0126 now for interview. I N S I D E S ALES - PT Triton Stone Group is currently seeking a part-time, 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) 3030576 or email kmclin@tritonstonela.com. SURVEY TAKERS NEEDED: Make $5-$25 per survey. www. GetPaidToThink.com SUBWAY 4250 BURBANK Sandwich Artists Needed! No Late Nights. Flexible Scheduling. Next to Izzo and Mushroom. TJ RIBS - SIEGEN IS NOW HIRING SERVERS APPLY IN PERSON AT 6330 SIEGEN LANE, BATON ROUGE, LA. **EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER** NEAR L SU- PAR T-TIME ASSIS TANT In the Marketing Sales Department Fill and ship requistion orders for agents and Marketing Organizations. Print & Assemble kits and sales material. Assist with copying scanning, faxes and mail Flexible hours. No stress job. 225.353.0355 G AMES2U - HEAD G A M E C O A C H Games2U is a mobile video game theater for birthday parties and community events. Hours include mostly weekends but some weekdays will be required during the summer. Must be 21 years old and have a valid drivers license and excellent driving record. Must be extremely responsible and love working with kids. Extensive knowledge of X-
Box 360 and Wii game system is required. Send resume to terri.g2u@gmail.com. PLUCKERS WING BAR Now Hiring All positions for Summer and Fall. Make great Money in a fun working enviroment. Apply at 4225 Nicholson MONJUNIS NOW HIRING Monjunis on Jefferson Hwy Now hiring qualified FOH staff. Apply in person 711 Jefferson Highway Monday-Friday, 10am-2pm ACCIDENT INVES T I G ATION TECH Mechanical Engineering Graduate Experience in CAD, problem solving, vehicle components, etc. Some travel. Base, Bonus & Benefits, DOE. Send Resume to NCTILeger@aol.com K O T O N O W H I R I N G F O R R E L O C AT I O N Hiring all positions. Flexible schedule. Apply within. 225.924.1980 PARKVIEW BAPTIS T PRESCHOOL
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2009 Preschool Teachers needed flex days no degree required 293-9447
FOR SALE OUT STANDING INVES T M E N T. Buy now - sell when you graduate. Gated condo on the LSU bus route. 3Br/1.5Ba. Furnished, pool, fitness center. Call Tom at 225.953.8191 TIGER MANOR CONDOMINIUMS. UNIT S R E A D Y F ALL 2009!! Brand new 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units for sale star ting at $124,900. Ask about our Guaranteed Buy Back Program!! 3000 July St. 225-3465 0 5 5 w w w . t i g e r m a n o r. c o m L o c a t i o n . Location. Location... Star t Living. CONDO FOR S ALE $102,500 2 BR, 1 BA. Short walking distance to LSU, Gated community, Beautiful interior, POOL! Call: 225.252.2335 3/3 CONDO AT L SU CAMPUS Gated: 3/3 1700SF $206,000 Almost New. The Gates At Brightside. 1.5 from campus. Income
THE DAILY REVEILLE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2009 producing while your student lives free. 407-353-0564 Susan 2BR/2.5BA L AKE BEAU PRE Townhome. Gated, covered parking, alarm system, appliances incl, lots of ammenities. $192,000 985.447.5790 2BR/2.5BA ARLINGTON PL ANTATION Gated, on bus route, all appliances included. Please call 337-479-0252.
FOR RENT 2 BA HOUSE 2 ba house for rent in Meadowbend Subd. near LSU. 7865 Clover Ridge. Pets Welcome. $1200. mo., $500. deposit. Call 985.688.2757 BEAUTIFUL TOWN HM. 1564 SHARLO 3 br 2 ba hi clgs fp ct yd $1300 mo +dep 225-9266041 NEAR L SU CAMPUS 3BR houses with garages. Washer/dryer and appliances incl. Fenced yards pet ok. $1195-$1295.1BR’s $375-$495 Available June. Call Martha@McDaniel Prop. 225.388.9858 1 B R R E N T AL 1S T M O R E N T $ 4 7 5 $950/mo includes all utilities, electric, cable & internet. All appliances are included! Gated community, across from City Park www.keyfindersbr.com 225.293.3000 PRE-LEASING FOR SUMMER & FALL LSU Tigerland: Studio,1 & 2 Bdr. wood floors, pool, & laundry $465-$695 225-766-7224 ATTN SERIOUS S TUDENT S! Want quiet? Want space? Large 1 and 2 br apts in small complex within walking distance of LSU. No children or pets permitted. 1-br $500. 2-br $700. 757-8175 or 924-1934. http//riverroadapartments.tripod.com L ARGE HOUSE 4 brm/2ba 2200.ft. $1600mo. dep.req.great location 318.573.5102 S T O R E Y OUR S T U F F Student Special - Get 1st Month FREE. Climate Control of LA Self Storage. 3147 College Dr. just past the RR tracks. Enter thru College Creek Shopping Center. Various sizes, covered loading, video recorded surveillance and alarms, 24/7 access. 24/7 service with our Insomniac machine (rent a unit, make a payment, buy a lock) - very cool. We Love Students. We also have Budget Rent-a-Car and Rent-a-Truck. 225.927-8070 HOUSE FOR RENT: L AKE BEAU PRE 3bdr/2bth; 2 car garage; backyard; available July 1 for $1600/mo. 504.309.7595 2BD2BA L A K E B E A U P R E T O W N H O M E $575 per person plus utilities. avail in Aug. leave message 713.248.9107 B R I G H T SIDE PARK TOWNHOMES. Pre-leasing for summer and fall. 2br 2.5 bath pool, w/ d. $900/ mth $500 dep. 955-6480 southlandpropertiesinc.com 1 B R E F F I C I E N C Y. All utilities pd. no kitchen.4339 Highland. $390/ mth. call Eric 379-8653 WALK 2 CAMPUS! 2BA/2.5 BATH Gated Community: 3330 Willard St. 1100/ mo +1000 dep. H20/Wifi incl. No Dogs. Furniture Negotiable. Call 225-638-4517. TIGER MANOR CONDOMINIUMS. UNIT S R E A D Y F O R F ALL 2009! Brand new 1, 2, & 3 bedrooms available. Reserve your unit today! W a l k t o c l a s s ! 3 0 0 0 J u l y S t . 2 2 5 346-5055. www.tigermanor.com Location. Location. Location... Star t Living. WALK TO L SU 1 and 2 BR FLATS and TH, pool, laundry center. University View Apartments on West Parker. Call Hannah 767-2678. NO PETS.
2BR/1BA HIGHL ANDER CONDO North Gates of LSU gated W/D pool $800 225.928.1418 1 BR ON BURBANK -FROM $475 www.lsubr.com for pictures/floorplan. 4065, 4243 Burbank. $300 deposit. No pets, not even visiting. Leave a message. 241-1649
ROOMMATES R O O M M ATES NEEDED Furnished house, 4 BR 2 Bath, garage and yard; Nicholson Lakes, $500/mo + utilities; Females 225.773.7054 FEMALE ROOMMATE NEEDED Edward Gay Apartments: 2-bedroom 1-bathroom, Internet access, cable, laundromat downstairs. $273/month, including utilities. Must be clean!!! ogudkov@yahoo.com F E M A L E R O O M M A TE NEEDED AS AP G a t e d Community in Arlington Trace. $450 + util ities for Summer and $500 + utilities for Fall. Both semester s available! 225.573.1768 FEMALE ROOMATE WANTED 3bd. 2ba. HOUSE 4 blocks from LSU. $333 a month plus utilities. fully furnished. cats ok. avail may15 985.237.9535 3RD ROOMATE needed for 3bed/3bath house in Sharlo $460+utilities 504.338.7984
PERSONALS CALLING ALL COUG ARS! Have you been looking for that dainty little thing in all the wrong places? Well, I’m just a cub looking for some love so come meet me at Louie’s by campus at 5:00pm one day during exam week. It’s a date! (this includes the Red Door girls) STILL SEEKING SUGR A M A M A Sexy 22yo
s/w/m looking for an attractive, adventurous cougar 25-42 years old. Do not be shy! I will make your dreams come true. Tell me about yourself when you take me out for lunch! brokeinbr@gmail.com SEEKING ROOMIE Boy, Girl, & 2 Cats looking for 3rd housemate. $400/month + Shared Utilities. (Highland & Lee) Lush yard, close to LSU, balcony, sun room & nice neighborhood. khowar7@tigers.lsu.edu 225.603.3637 SEXY MAN-BEAS T ON THE PROWL. Newly single bisexual Abercrombie model looking for love in all the wrong places. Must have love handles. (504) 376-5525 LOOKING TO MEET WOMEN. I am a 6’0”, brown haired, brown eyed guy lookin for a petite girl to hang out with and have fun. If interested email cubsornone@hotmail.com LOOKING TO MEET COLLEGE GIRL S 6’3 brown-haired, blue-eyed male looking for girl to have fun and hang out with. Have to love music and getting a bit crazy at times. Email winn_tiger@hotmail.com HEY! You always seem to be walking to your car as I am walking to class. Last week you actually waved at me (I think it was at me!). This has been going on for quite a few weeks, but we both get “surprised” looks on our faces every time we see each other. Say “Hey!” next time we pass. 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 I FR AT HARD ALL DAY AND NIGHT One thing a frat cant get me is love. Unless Love is a passed out sorority chick, i’ll take that too BTW. Come frat hard with me (polo shirt included)...ffazio1@lsu.edu
PAGE 15 LOOKING TO SCORE?!?! Fun, smart, cute blonde babe about to graduate... Looking for involved, soccerplaying male grad-student... Only wanting a quick fling before I move away in the Fall! Come play with me! anchorchelsea@gmail.com I NEED A FRECKLY REDHEAD GIRL I am in love with redheads and their freckles, and I just can’t seem to find any; it’s a problem! I have a great sense of humor, and I’m pretty intelligent and caring. So if there are any freckled redhead girls out there who like to meet a muscular Italian guy, email me at TheGoon6@hotmail.com D E N I M D A N D E S I R E S D ATE Looking for a girl who’s not scared of a little denim. I’ll be at Reggie’s in my jean jacket and dark denims on the stage, sippin on a cranberry vodka. Love it or leave it baby 504.256.7534
L SU GUY Looking for love in all the wrong places. Finally decided to put this up here. I’m 22 going to graduate next May. I need a sweet girl who is content being herself. I like movies, going out to dinner, traveling, and of course LSU Football. Tigerlovin22@gmail.com SEEKING CHARITABLE, outdoor loving individual. Must love animals and the occasional hiking or camping trip. Drop me a message at HighpointingForAmerica.org SEARCHING 4 SOULMATE 20yo Asian guy seeking masculine guy 18-23 to date. Races open. I’m a sweetheart! tigerboy1988@gmail.com
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THE DAILY REVEILLE
Wednesday, April 29, 2009