THE DAILY REVEILLE
Volume 114, Issue 142
Monday, May 10, 2010
Year in Review
THE DAILY REVEILLE
MONDAY, MAY 10, 2010
INTERNATIONAL
Nation & World NATIONAL
STATE/LOCAL
Suspected US missiles kill 10 people in militant-controlled Pakistan area
‘Mountain to climb’ for UK parties to reach a power-sharing deal
Staten Island ferry Barberi idled after accident injures dozens
Baton Rouge teen dies after being accidentally shot in neck by friend
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (AP) — Suspected U.S. missiles killed 10 people in a militant-controlled region close to the Afghan border Sunday, the first such strike since an alleged Pakistani-trained extremist was accused of a failed Times Square attack. Last week’s attempted car bombing in New York City has added pressure on Pakistan to crack down on al-Qaida and Taliban militants who have been safe along the Afghan border. Top U.S. officials said Sunday they believe the Pakistani Taliban directed the plot. Faisal Shahzad, the PakistanAmerican suspect, allegedly told investigators he received explosives training in the lawless Waziristan area. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Washington expects more cooperation from Pakistan in fighting terrorism and warned of “severe consequences.”
LONDON (AP) — The two parties that could form Britain’s next government held hours of closed-door talks Sunday without reaching a power-sharing deal. There are fears that the political uncertainty could stoke market jitters when trading reopens Monday. Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have a “mountain to climb” on issues including electoral reform, a senior member of the Liberal Democrats said. The Liberal Democrats want Britain to shed a system that gave them just 9 percent of the seats in Parliament after they won 23 percent of the popular vote, but if Conservatives give in, it could leave them at the smaller party’s mercy in future elections. The divide could offer an opening for Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s Labour Party to stay in power through a coalition with the Liberal Democrats and some smaller parties.
NEW YORK (AP) — A Staten Island ferry that malfunctioned and smashed into a pier, tossing passengers to the deck and hurting as many as 37, has been idled while federal and local officials investigate the problem. The Andrew J. Barberi, which hit a pier at St. George Ferry Terminal on Saturday, was the same ferry involved in a 2003 wreck that killed 11 people. The ship had a multimillion-dollar rehabilitation before it was put back in service. Capt. James DeSimone, the ferry’s chief operating officer, said it was unlikely the mechanical failure had anything to do with damage suffered by the vessel in 2003 and that the ship had passed all inspections. According to the New York City Department of Transportation, the vessel passed annual inspections in 2009 and a quarterly inspection in April.
(AP) — Baton Rouge Police say a 16-year-old boy has died after being accidentally shot in the neck by a friend. Chris Vaughn and two of his friends were playing with a gun Saturday about 3 p.m. Police say the gun discharged when one of the friends accidentally pulled the trigger, striking Vaughn in the neck. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Advocate reported Sunday that the victim’s uncle, Duke Bradley, said his nephew was a sophomore at McKinley High School, where he played on the football team. The shooter’s identity has not been released and the incident remains under investigation. Partly nude woman’s body found in woods near Golden Meadow GOLDEN MEADOW (AP) — Lafourche Parish authorities say a woman’s partly nude body has been
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found in the woods near Golden Meadow, one day after a severely beaten and partly nude woman was found in a Thibodaux cane field. Sheriff’s spokeswoman Lesley Hill Peters says officials don’t know if the killings are related. She says the dead woman apparently left a Galliano bar with four men, and the 43-year-old beating victim was last seen leaving a truck stop casino in Larose with one man. Peters says the body of 33-year-old Angela Laudun of Cut Off was found Saturday morning. Former New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin faces state ethics charges (AP) — The Louisiana Board of Ethics has charged former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin with two possible violations for receiving gifts from a one-time city vendor and for his involvement with a company that was negotiating tax breaks with the city. Nagin’s lawyer, Harry Rosenberg, didn’t immediately return a call for comment Friday.
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CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS
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LEGISLATURE
University, System plagued by state budget cuts State faces shortfall of more than $2B
The legislature will debate and possibly amend the governor’s proposed budget throughout the summer.
By Xerxes A. Wilson
THE UNIVERSITY’S AGENDA While it’s clear the state faces a shortfall totaling more than $2 billion over the next two fiscal years, most of this crisis is still based in speculation. The speculation has driven Martin to send the notices of non-renewal to legally prepare for University-wide reorganization. Whatever the size of the next cut, Martin said he wants to cut and reorganize programs to save the University $15 million recurring. “We have to reorganize our resources to what we can be truly great in,” Martin said. “That means we are going to offer less, but we have to refocus if we intend to remain at a flagship status.” Martin said a “rightsizing” committee composed of faculty leaders, administration and students will approve the cuts. Martin intended to propose the cuts in this reorganization before the legislative session, but mitigating the impending mid-year cut has taken precedence. System President John Lombardi said the system is waiting until the latest possible date to impose systematic program cuts because of the uncertain nature of state politics. “Do we look for $100 million? Do we look for $200 million?
Senior Staff Writer
It’s been a year characterized by fear and speculation as the magnitude of the budget crisis slowly comes into focus. An ever-threatening state budget deficit has sparked the process of University realignment by choice and necessity. In the most recent cut, the Baton Rouge campus bled $12.6 million through horizontal cuts — cuts to every division, college and department — at the beginning of the semester. Because of this cut, the University parted with 13 employees and eliminated 153 vacant positions. “The cut was $12.6 million that now adds up to an accumulated $43 million over a 12-month period of time,” Chancellor Michael Martin said. “We have largely avoided major pain up to now, but this one was incrementally large enough that pain has come, and that is unfortunate.” While the University had already suffered some attrition, the threat of further job cuts became real to many faculty as the semester progressed. The University sent nonrenewal notices to more than 400 faculty in February ending their employment as of February 2011. Martin said the notices were legal preparations for the “worstcase scenario.” These notices allow the University to downsize as the state appropriations dictate without fearing a lawsuit. “I am very concerned about faculty morale,” Martin said. “I can’t go to every office and say, ‘I love you. Here are some cookies. I promise your life will be just fine. The sun will come up with tomorrow.’”
J.J. ALCANTARA / The Daily Reveille
University Chancellor Michael Martin points to the similarities between the recent school budget cuts on Feb. 11 and cuts that occurred in the late 1980s.
CURRENT CRISIS Because of less-than-predicted state income from tax returns in February and March, the state must trim an additional $319 million from its budget before the end of June, said University economics professor James Richardson. Gov. Bobby Jindal’s plan to cover the mid-year deficit uses funds from a mandated spending freeze ordered in March. “We will continue to do everything we can to mitigate the effects on higher education and health care,” Jindal said about the budget at an April press conference. “Bottom line, though, is we are going to balance our budget both this year and next fiscal year.” Jindal’s plan is being debated in the legislature. The University’s share of mid-year cuts is about $3 million, according to Jindal’s plan.
The administration is projecting to meet the $3 million in required savings by freezing spending on non-academic support expenditures like travel, equipment and supplies, said Robert Kuhn, associate vice chancellor of Budget and Planning. While the next two months could see more cuts, the next fiscal year could “set the University back a generation,” Martin commented earlier in the semester. Jindal has proposed no new cuts for higher education in the coming year. This is a stark contrast from last year’s preliminary budget, which cut higher education by $219 million. Instead of cutting higher education, Jindal’s budget seeks to draw funds from one-time sources like tax amnesty and stimulus funds.
Do we look for $300 million to be reduced in the state budget when the stimulus money goes away?” Lombardi asked state legislators in March at a House Appropriations Committee meeting. These questions regarding the University’s future will be played out at the state Capitol over the next three months. In addition to resource reorganization, the second part of Martin’s plan is coaxing the legislature to approve increases in tuition to generate $15 million recurring funds for the University. Multiple bills in the legislature give the University authority to raise tuition. The highly publicized LA grad Act will give the University the ability to raise tuition and fees until the fees reach the level of the University’s southeast regional peers. The Grad Act passed the House Education Committee on Thursday. The University’s fees currently rank well below its peers, Kuhn said. Combine this with the current trend of increasing tuition nationwide, and the University would be allowed to increase tuition and fees 10 percent for many years. This would mean an increase of about $520 a year for students next semester, Kuhn said.
Contact Xerxes A. Wilson at xwilson@lsureveille.com
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Monday, may 10, 2010
ANNIVERSARY
University hosts yearlong sesquicentennial celebration
More events are scheduled for fall By Ryan Buxton Senior Staff Writer
More than a year of intensive planning came to fruition in 2010 as the University began celebrating its sesquicentennial, and the festivities will continue through the fall semester. The commemoration of the University’s 150th anniversary began with a kick-off event Jan. 19. Celebrations didn’t stop for the remainder of the semester, with events like museum exhibits and the premiere of a new documentary to keep the merriment going. “I think the events have gone pretty well,” said Aaron Looney, editor of University Relations. “They each individually held their own merit but also together were good at showing how LS’s goals of being a part of the community and a leader in education, research and community involvement.” One of the largest sesquicentennial events, LSU Day, was postponed from its original April 24 date because of threats of severe weather. The present plan is to reschedule the festival for fall, but no date has yet been decided, Looney said.
J.J. ALCANTARA / The Daily Reveille
Former SG President Stuart Watkins tells the University community Jan. 19 about the importance of preserving the history and prominence of LSU.
The official decision will depend on several factors, including how to work around the fall football schedule. Looney said the Sesquicentennial Committee is debating whether to tie LSU Day into a home football game or host the festival during an away game or bye week.
Aside from LSU Day’s postponement, most of the sesquicentennial events went ahead as planned. The University’s history has been on display throughout the semester in Hill Memorial Library in the “Campus Chronicle: 150 Years
of LSU” exhibit, which is made almost exclusively of items from the University archives and details the high points of the last 150 years. Librarians set out to choose records from the archives highlighting various parts of the University’s history rather than focusing on only one thread, said Exhibitions Coordinator Leah Wood Jewett. “Sometimes when people think of University history, you might think of a one-dimensional idea of a history of a school,” Jewett said. “But we wanted to get into all the different topics.” The University’s history was also the topic of “Forever LSU,” a documentary that premiered March 10 on LPB. The 53-minute film chronicled various parts of the University since its opening in 1860 and included information on student life, athletics and the University’s military beginnings. “I’ve been here for 28 years, and I thought I knew a good bit, but I learned a whole lot,” said Ed Dodd, co-producer of the film and University Relations director of radio, television and photography. In addition to projects created especially for the sesquicentennial, annual events familiar to the campus community were given an anniversary flavor. The Chancellor’s Day Parade, a yearly review by the chancellor of
the University’s Corps of Cadets, was noted as a sesquicentennial event. At the event, Chancellor Michael Martin honored the cadets and applauded their continuation of a military tradition dating back to the University’s founding. “It gives the chancellor an opportunity to support these guys and help connect them across time to the founding of the University in 1860,” said Col. Frederick Guendel, commandant of the Corps of Cadets. The University community can look forward to another semester’s worth of celebrations in the fall, Looney said. Homecoming and Fall Fest will be given a sesquicentennial flare as will LSU Salutes, an annual ceremony dedicated to the armed forces that takes place in November. A book will also be published in conjunction with the sesquicentennial in the fall called “Treasures of LSU.” The book will include essays and photos of items with a deep connection to the University. “Just because the semester is ending doesn’t mean the celebration is ending,” Looney said. “The celebration is going on all year.”
Contact Ryan Buxton at rbuxton@lsureveille.com
monday, may 10, 2010
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NFL
Saints’ first Super Bowl victory unifies fans across state ‘Who Dat’ lawsuit causes controversy By Sabrina Trahan Contributing Writer
The Who Dat Nation experienced a frenzy of emotions this season when the New Orleans Saints won their first Super Bowl and a lawsuit emerged involving Saints memorabilia. The New Orleans Saints made history, winning Super Bowl XLIV for the first time in franchise history Feb. 7. The victory against the Indianapolis Colts in Miami sparked a spirit of unity, celebration and relief as the dream of Saints fans finally came true. University students sported Saints jerseys, caps and T-shirts throughout the football season. The Saints ranked No. 6 in merchandise sales in the NFL by December 2009, climbing from its No. 10 slot. The 2009-10 season marked the first time the Saints appeared in the top-10 merchandise sales since 1979, when the league began recording sales. Saints merchandise sales increased by more than 60 percent since last season, according to Reebok. Shirts embellished with
J.J. ALCANTARA / The Daily Reveille
Vickie King, LSU School of Social Work director of development, right, and John King, 1985 LSU alumnus, shops for “Who Dat” shirts at Storyville on Jan. 30. The NFL originally filed cease and desist letters to merchants selling “Who Dat” shirts because it claimed ownership of the phrase, but has retracted the letters.
“Who Dat” were among the Saints attire seen on campus this year. The NFL received much criticism for claiming ownership of the phrase “Who Dat.” The controversy arose following the Saints’ NFC championship victory against the Minnesota Vikings, marking the Saints’ first
conference championship and second appearance in the coference title game. The uproar began when the NFL issued cease and desist orders to a number of local businesses selling Who Dat merchandise. The NFL claimed ownership of the phrase before surrendering to the Who Dat
nation. Local T-shirt shop Storyville complied when they first received the order banning the sale of their “Who Dat Nation” shirts. Rusty Verret, Storyville sales associate and general studies senior, said sales spiked with the attention from the media and fans, and the shop was granted permission to continue sales. The NFL issued a letter saying the situation was a misunderstanding and revoked the cease and desist orders. “Contrary to public reports, the NFL has not sought to exclude all uses of the word WHO DAT or the fleur de lis logo,” said Jeffrey Miller, NFL vice president for government relations and public policy, in his letter to Louisiana Sen. David Vitter. “Rather, the NFL has sent out narrowly targeted letters, challenging the sale of products bearing the fleur de lis and Who Dat marks only when these products contain or are advertised using other trademarks or identifiers of the Saints,” Congressman Charlie Melancon started an online petition that accumulated more than 10,000 signatures, Melancon said. “The Who Dat nation is the people of New Orleans, the people of Louisiana and the Saints
fans, not the Saints,” Melancon said. “They shouldn’t be able to do a franchise royalty.” Sen. David Vitter sent a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell saying if the NFL does not change its position, he will have shirts printed with the phrase “Who Dat say we can’t print Who Dat!” and dared the NFL to sue him. He signed the letter, “David Vitter, Junior Senator of Who Dat Nation.” Matters became more confusing when brothers Steve and Sal Monistere, owners of Who Dat Inc., said they trademarked the phrase in 1983. Who Dat Inc. filed a lawsuit against NFL Properties, the New Orleans Saints and the State of Louisiana for misappropriation of Who Dat, on March 4 in Baton Rouge district court. NFL Properties and the Saints filed a reply calling the lawsuit “a transparent and opportunistic effort to capitalize on the equity and popularity of the New Orleans Saints as their fans celebrate the Super Bowl victory.”
Contact Sabrina Trahan at strahan@lsureveille.com
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Monday, may 10, 2010
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Watkins, Scheuermann complete 25 of 34 initiatives Hudson and Borel sworn in April 21 By Catherine Threlkeld Staff Writer
Student Government had its high points and downfalls, cooperation and controversy and opportunities and barriers this year. “MORE FOR LSU” The term of former President Stuart Watkins and Vice President Martina Scheuermann started in April 2009 with the promise of “more for the University.“ By the end of their first semester in office, their administration completed 14 of 34 initiatives. They conceded several initiatives were unfeasible, including a syllabus database on PAWS. Watkins also conceded plans for a lighted Tiger Trail through campus and enabling Universitywide purchasing of recycled paper because of high costs. During the spring semester, Watkins and Scheuermann took on many initiatives not on their original pushcard, including allocating $5,000 for a new bike fleet for the UREC Student Recreation Complex. At the end of their term, they completed 25 of their 34 initiatives. “By no means do I think it’s a mark of unsuccess,” Scheuermann said. “What we did this year breaches far beyond what’s on that pushcard.” Watkins said they took on the idea of small things going a long way. “That was the one key idea that we tackled this year and whether it was the holiday shuttle or providing a safe ride to and back from the bars at night,” Watkins said. Former Arts and Sciences Sen. Andy Palermo lost to Watkins in the Spring 2009 presidential race and said Watkins has been less visible than previous administrations. “Last year’s presidential election, we saw a huge voter turnout and a huge amount of candidates running for president and vice president and I wish they would’ve done everything they promised,” Palermo said. STATE CAPITOL SG has greatly increased its presence at the Louisiana State Capitol this year. They bused more than 60 students to the capitol to speak to legislators about TOPS and the LA Grad Act. The event, “Fund our Future,” was a huge success, according to Watkins. “We started engaging students in conversations with representatives,” Watkins said. “We didnt come to protest. We came with a proposal that outlined solutions instead of emotional rhetoric.” GRADUATE WALK One of the more controversial projects from SG this year was the 2010 Class Gift Project. Senate passed the resolution for the “Graduate Walk,” which
ADAM VACCARELLA / The Daily Reveille
J Hudson, SG President, and Dani Borel, SG Vice-President, argued versus the Election Board for the reinstatement of candidates after a clerical error. The case was heard in the Atchafalaya Room April 12.
includes a mandatory $30 fee for graduating seniors to fund a brick engraved with the graduate’s name to be placed in the sidewalk
around the Parade Ground. The project would ultimately be a tradition for each graduating class and could include classes for
as much as the next 20 years. “We’re trying to establish a tradition,” said Tiffany Compagno, 2010 Class Gift Committee chair. “Freshmen will come in at orientation and say, ‘I can’t wait until I get my name on a brick.’” The graduate walk, like the Dodson Garden project, is one of many campus beautification projects former SG administrations have created. Senate voted to bypass a student vote and have Chancellor Michael Martin approve the project. However, Martin said the project should be a student decision and sent it back to Senate to decide. No further action has been taken this semester. ELECTION SEASON March 3 began the brief but tumultuous four-week election season. Four tickets ran this year: Brooksie Bonvillain and Chris
Sellers of “Leading the Way,” J Hudson and Dani Borel of “StudentsFIRST,” Theo Williams and Millena Williams of “Geauxing the Distance” and Bryan Wooldridge and John Craig of “Two Kings for LSU.” The general election was March 23. “Leading the Way” candidates Brooksie Bonvillain and Chris Sellers won 40.9 percent (2,194 votes) of the student vote, while J Hudson and Dani Borel of “StudentsFIRST” took 27.9 percent (1,493 votes). A candidate must receive a majority vote to win outright. “Leading the Way” and “StudentsFIRST” campaigned for another week until the runoff election on March 30. “StudentsFIRST” received 51.1 percent of the vote (2,150 votes), and “Leading the Way” received 48.9 percent (2,057 votes). ELECTION, see page 27
MONDAY, MAY 10, 2010
Campus Crime Briefs Editor’s note: This is a compilation of crime briefs from the past semester. STUDENT ARRESTED FOR VIDEO VOYEURISM A University student was arrested April 22 for allegedly using a pen camera to spy on females in the shower room at a local gym. Terry Telschow, a kinesiology doctoral student of 279 Marilyn Drive in Baton Rouge, was arrested with the assistance of LSU Police and charged with four counts of video voyeurism.
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Police believe Telschow placed a camera disguised as a pen in the women’s shower room at Anytime Fitness on Government Street where Telschow was employed, Baton Rouge Police Department Spokesperson Sgt. Don Kelly said in a news release. A female customer at the gym noticed the camera in the women’s room and reported the camera to a staff member who police later determined to be Telschow, Kelly said. Telschow told the woman he checked the camera and found no files, so there was no purpose in contacting police. The woman then contacted police and gave the camera to BRPD investigators, Kelly said. BRPD Computer Crimes
investigators recovered deleted video files from the device showing four unidentified women undressing as well as Telschow placing the camera in the shower room, Kelly said. Police apprehended Telschow, and the investigation is ongoing, Kelly said.
STUDENT STARTS FIRE IN DORM LSUPD arrested a 25-yearold student Feb. 26 for aggravated arson and simple criminal damage to property after she started a fire in her on-campus apartment. Officers went to Nicholson Apartments just after 9 p.m. when an RA reported smelling smoke. Both the RA and LSUPD knocked on the apartment door with no
answer. Tabor said LSUPD gained entry into the room by taking down the door and found the suspect, Tamanna Afroze of 3550 Nicholson Drive, Apt. 2079. Afroze had started a fire on the floor with a pile of newspapers and claimed she didn’t know it was illegal to start a fire in her apartment. LSUPD encouraged Afroze to seek medical treatment, but she refused, Tabor said. Afroze was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. SQUIRREL GETS BLAMED FOR DRUNKEN BEHAVIOR Police arrested Tiffany Lynn Gaubert, a 22-year-old unaffiliated with the University of 170 Constant Drive in Thibodaux, for disturbing the peace by intoxica-
PAGE 7 tion after receiving complaints of someone overturning a motorcycle at East Campus Apartments. The owner told police Gaubert tipped the motorcycle. Gaubert denied toppling the motorcycle and blamed it on a squirrel. Gaubert, who police later learned was drinking vodka and Dr Pepper, said she was trying to feed barbecue to the squirrel when it ran off and knocked the bike over, said Sgt. Blake Tabor, LSU Police Department spokesperson. The owner did not press charges, and police were ready to release Gaubert, Tabor said. She then became hostile toward the officers and was arrested and issued a misdeCRIME, see page 27
Campus safety called to question with Quad incident, suicide By Adam Duvernay News Editor
STUDENT, VEHICLE IN QUAD CAUSE UNREST Architecture student Storm Erie was apprehended Feb. 23 after he drove his Mercedes-Benz into the Quad and unloaded an assortment of items — including a gas can, a djembe, a set of blueprints and a bladed-gardening tool. LSU Police Department responded to calls describing “an illegally parked car with a gas can on the top” in the Quad, according to Sgt. Kevin Scott, LSUPD spokes-
man. Students said Erie was speaking and acting irrationally on the scene. “He had music playing, but he wasn’t screaming at anybody or threatening anyone,” said Rebecca Giller, animal sciences graduate student. “He wasn’t saying anything.” Other students were more concerned about their safety. “I really thought he was going to start shooting or something,” said Kandice Tyler, psychology junior, who saw the suspect drive his car into the quad. Scott said Erie was taken into custody and “transported volun-
tarily” by Baton Rouge EMS for medical review. Following the incident, many witnesses felt the police response to the potentially dangerous situation was too slow. LSUPD opened an internal investigation into the response. Following the investigation, LSUPD Spokesperson Blake Tabor said the department was satisfied with the response. Telephone and radio recordings indicate police reached the Quad four minutes and 51 seconds after the first report and took about 17 minutes to apprehend Erie.
No charges have been filed against Erie and his motivation remains a mystery. Erie was never charged with a crime for the incident and has since returned to the University. STUDENT LEAPS FROM LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING Campus stirred from tragedy on the morning of March 15 when passers-by found the body of physics and astronomy graduate student Sarvnipun Chawla on the concrete outside the Life Sciences Building. Though the East Baton Rouge Parish coroner didn’t rule the
incident a suicide until the next day, students and faculty spoke widely about it and mourned his death. “I would like to extend my condolences to Sarvnipun’s family, friends and co-workers, as well as to the entire LSU community,” Chancellor Michael Martin wrote in a March 15 broadcast e-mail. Chawla showed signs of depression in the weeks leading up to his death, said A. Ravi P. Rau, one of his physics professors. “I knew he had been having personal difficulties at home,” Rau DEPRESSION, see page 27
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THE DAILY REVEILLE
Monday, may 10, 2010
CONSTRUCTION
Union renovation continues despite early delays Tiger Lair, theater expected for fall By Rachel Warren Contributing Writer
After dealing with early setbacks in construction, Student Union officials said they expect the Union theater and Tiger Lair food court to resume operations in the fall. The Live Oak Lounge opened in July 2009, and a poll was conducted online in September to let students name the new space. Memorial Oak Grove, the outdoor seating area outside the Lounge, also officially opened in
fall 2009 after being used to contain construction vehicles during the Lounge’s renovation. At the end of the fall 2009 semester, workers began construction on the Tiger Lair food court and the surrounding seating areas and continued work on the Union Theater. Shirley Plakidas, Union director, said construction has gone as planned this semester without any significant setbacks, and she expects both the theater and food court to open in August. The theater is being completely redone, so it’s the most expensive part of the renovation, Plakidas said. It’s receiving a new interior, dressing rooms and lighting systems. The lobby is also being
expanded, she said. The most expensive renovations are the acoustical treatments — materials added to walls and ceilings that insulate the theater and allow the entire audience to hear everything, Plakidas said. Plakidas said the theater will probably still need some behindthe-scenes electrical work in the fall, but the space will be open for events. Ken Bueche, associate director for Union operations, said the theater saw some delays in construction early on but has gotten back on track to be ready for August. “It’s probably about 30 days behind the original schedule, which really isn’t bad for a construction job,” Bueche said.
The newly-renovated food court will offer many of its original vendors like Chick-Fil-A and Louisiana Classics, as well as some new chains like Panda Express and Quiznos. The dining area will receive new tables and chairs similar to those in The 5. High-top bar seating will also be available. The entire project will cost about $83.7 million, Plakidas said. Union officials opened a “Mini-Lair” in March to give students more dining options during construction. The Mini-Lair offers prepared foods like sandwiches, wraps, chips, salads, sushi and Papa John’s pizza. Jason Tolliver, director of Auxiliary Services, said the department will open three new retail outlets in
the fall as well. The three spaces being constructed on the first floor of the Union are a renovated barbershop, an optical shop and a test preparation center, Tolliver said. The optical shop, leased to the company Optical Express, will offer a licensed optometrist on staff, Tolliver said. The test preparation center will offer students preparation for exams like the MCAT, LSAT and others. Tolliver said he’s unsure if the services will be tailored to the University. The newly-renovated spaces will cost about $325,000, Tolliver said in an e-mail to The Daily UNION, see page 26
CENSUS
Survey aims to take ‘snapshot of America’ this year Campaign promotes the count on campus By Grace Montgomery Staff Writer
The U.S. Census Bureau took its 2010 “snapshot of America” this year. The Bureau mailed out Census
forms in March, and many students had their first opportunities to be counted in the national survey. U.S. Census Bureau employees are currently going door-to-door to track down residents who did not submit a Census form by mail, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. College students are considered a “hard-to-reach” population since many students think their parents
will fill the Census out for them. But students are encouraged to fill out the Census where they live and sleep most of the year. The repreCENSUS campaign promoted the Census on campus in the Baton Rouge area throughout February. “College students are the most difficult, hard-to-reach audience for the Census,” said repreCENSUS
member Bridget Cloud. The repreCENSUS campaign was created by five mass communication students as part of the Public Relations Student Society of America’s national Bateman competition. RepreCENSUS, also known as the Bateman Team, designed a Census campaign, implemented it during February and analyzed
its success in March as part of the competition. The repreCENSUS campaign placed as one of 16 honorable mentions among 68 competing schools in the April project judging. “We targeted every aspect of LSU,” said repreCENSUS member Jennie Armstrong.
CENSUS, see page 26
THE DAILY REVEILLE
monday, may 10, 2010
RESIDENTIAL LIFE
PAGE 9
EARTHQUAKE
Progress Haiti still needs support 4 months after disaster made in on-campus housing By Sarah Eddington Staff Writer
By Joanna Zimmerman Contributing Writer
The convenience of living on campus and new renovations have increased the demand for on-campus housing. More than 50 percent of undergraduate rooms are renovated or new, according to Jay High, Residential Life communications manager. “In improving the facilities, we feel we have increased the demand to live on campus,” High said. ResLife began putting students on its standby housing list March 31, a month earlier than spring 2009. The department had received 3,502 applications for housing before the standby list. West Laville Hall, originally scheduled to reopen in fall 2009, will reopen next year. But it won’t add to the number of rooms because East Laville Hall will close for renovations soon after. HOUSING, see page 27
Four months after the 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Port-au-Prince, Haiti, the country struggles to rebuild. The University continues to do what it can to help. The earthquake was the worst to hit the country in the past two centuries, killing more than
300,000 people and destroying schools, neighborhoods, cathedrals, hospitals and the president’s palace. The earthquake couldn’t have happened in a more vulnerable place, according to Jay Edwards, anthropology professor. Haiti is known as one of the poorest and least-developed countries in the world, and the poorly constructed buildings exacerbated
much of the damage, Edwards said. Typical Haitian homes are made of concrete frame posts with plates across the top and bottom, and open spaces are filled with cinder blocks, Edwards said. “There’s nothing holding those cinder blocks in there except gravity,” Edwards said. “Even if the frame doesn’t collapse, it’s very likely the blocks will.”
For some University students, it hit home. Three Haitian citizens were enrolled students at the University during fall 2009. All were eventually accounted for after the quake, according to International Services. Myrtho Joseph, geography graduate student, said he waited HAITI, see page 26
MUSIC AND DRAMATIC ARTS
Department experiences tumultuous year By Mandy Francois Contributing Writer
The College of Music and Dramatic Arts has had a year full of hardships, controversy and milestones. In December 2009, Frank Wickes announced his retirement as Director of Bands, a position he has held for 30 years. Wickes’ retirement starts in June, but the historic roar of Tiger Band won’t be left in incapable hands. Linda Moorhouse has been co-director of Tiger Band since she joined the University faculty in 1985. The College of Music and Dramatic Arts announced Moorhouse as the new Tiger Band director in April.
Moorhouse chose not to apply for Wickes’ position as Director of Bands. Moorhouse felt the program was going in a different direction than what she liked, according to Wickes. “I think in this financial crisis, she chose to stick to her comfort zone,” Wickes said. “Her heart is with the Tiger Band.” As the current semester comes to a close, the position remains vacant. The future for the rest of the bands on campus is still uncertain, and the search for Wickes’ replacement will continue into next semester. “Mr. Wickes has been a powerful leader,” said Rob Dowie, drum major. “Without a director of bands, there is no administrative over-
sight.” Budget cuts also threatened the University’s dance program this year. “How you can have a land grant university without a dance program is beyond me,” theater professor Richard Holben said. However, after a six-year break, the 11th Dance Concert was held in a newly-renovated Shaver Theatre. CMDA also announced its first distinguished visiting artist, Christopher O’Riley, who will hold the title until 2014. The University announced its three-year deal with O’Riley’s show “From the Top,” which will include community programs, live tapings of the show throughout Louisiana
and more broadcast opportunities for college-age musicians. LSU’s A Capella Choir was able to add a new honor to its collection. The choir was invited to perform at the Southern Division American Choral Directors Association Convention. This year marked the choir’s seventh performance at the division level. The choir has also performed twice at the national convention. “The convention isn’t a competition,” said A Capella Choir director Kenneth Fulton. “When you receive the invitation to perform, you have already won.” Contact Mandy Francois at mfrancois@lsureveille.com
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MONDAY, MAY 10, 2010
ENVIRONMENT
Efforts for ‘green,’ sustainable LSU prove effective Organizations help bring eco-initiatives By Mary Walker Baus Contributing Writer
The latest environmentally friendly initiative was the first Spring Greening Day on April 30, organized by Campus Life, Facility Services, Landscape Services, Student Government and the Student Activities Board in support of the Green Tiger Project. More than 200 student volunteers from 23 organizations planted 14,400 flowers, 3,600 pots of groundcover and 200 camellia shrubs in 30 locations on campus. They put down 2,700 square feet of sod and completed 100 cubic yards of mulch work. The volunteers helped Landscape Services accomplish projects in one day that would’ve taken several weeks, said Ryann Denham, Campus Life practicum student, in a May 2 article in The Daily Reveille. The Green Tiger Project is a collaborative force led by Jan Martin, Chancellor Michael Martin’s wife, and the LSU Foundation to coordinate and support campus beautification efforts at the University.
“I’m happy to support the more participation than last year Green Tiger Project because it’s and included several Greek orgareally important,” Jan Martin said. nizations. “We have one of the most beautiful In addition to saving energy, campuses in the country, and we University students participated in can only make it better.” several recycling efforts. Other sustainability events this ECO partnered with SG to year included the second annual host the annual Bike Auction, UNPLUG competition sponsored where abandoned bikes collected by the College of Engineering. by the Office of Parking, Traffic This year, 19 on-campus and Transportation were auctioned dorms and apartments competed to off to the highest-bidding students. reduce energy use. By unplugging This year’s bike auction raised unused electronics, turning laptops $4,050. on sleep mode and taking shorter Recycling efforts reached showers, ResLife saved more than Tiger fans in Death Valley this past $10,000 in energy consumption. season as well. West Campus Apartments Recycling bins were introwon the competition by reducing duced to Tiger Stadium just in its energy usage by 26 percent. time for the massive crowd at the The 2009 Florida game Oct. competition 10. Until last football saved money, season, Tiger Stadibut students um was the only footconserved more ball stadium in the kilowatt hours Southeastern Conferthis year than ence that didn’t have last year, said a gameday recycling Matt Wyatt, coprogram. president of the “We increased Environmental recycling on gameDenise Scribner Conservation days by 77 percent,” campus sustainablity manager Scribner said. Organization, in a March 28 Andres Harris, article in The Daily Reveille. solid waste and recycling manager, Denise Scribner, campus said 48.3 tons of material from the sustainability manager, said this stadium and campus were recycled year’s UNPLUG competition had during the season.
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‘We’re trying to make an impact on campus ... and to conserve our precious resources.’
SARAH HUNT / The Daily Reveille
Lizzy Hingel, natural resource conservation sophomore, and Claire Ohlsen, mass communication and Spanish senior, plant flowers April 30 for Spring Greening Day.
Harris said the next step in stadium recycling is to introduce the blue recycling bins on the suite levels. According to the LSU Recycles Facebook page, 208.4 tons of material were recycled in April. The University recycled 1,311.8 tons of cardboard, mixed paper, aluminum cans and plastic bottles in 2009. Scribner said sustainability
education is especially important among University students. “We’re training students who will become the leaders in the future,” she said. “We’re trying to make an impact on campus and in the surrounding areas and to conserve our precious resources.” Contact Mary Walker Baus at mwbaus@lsureveille.com
Sports
Monday, May 10, 2010
J.J. ALCANTARA / The Daily Reveille
LSU senior wide receiver Brandon LaFell runs for a touchdown Jan. 1 during the Tigers’ 19-17 loss to Penn State at the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla.
Hits & Misses
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MEN’S BASKETBALL
Troubling season ends with 20 losses
By Chris Branch Sports Writer
Russell Shepard made the transition from quarterback to wide receiver, a change the sophomore embraced as a new opportunity to impact the team. “Here at LSU, I can benefit the team more at the receiver position as well as on special teams,” Shepard said after the first practice. “The Florida game [in 2009] really opened my eyes that I needed to make the switch, and I talked to Coach Miles two days later. I don’t want to be in games for just five or 10 plays. I want to play 60 snaps a game.” Another wrinkle in LSU’s spring practices was the introduction of the Big Cat drill. Players and Miles were excited to execute the drill, which involves an offensive player and a defensive player hitting each other one-onone. On the snap of the ball, the players try to drive each other out of the designated area.
In a word, painful. But a plethora of words can be used to describe the 2009-10 campaign for the LSU men’s basketball team. Frustrating. Troubling. Depressing. The Tigers sputtered to their worst record since the 1996-97 1020 effort. The season was legendary coach Dale Brown’s last at LSU. “It’s really obvious that we need to get bigger, stronger, quicker and faster,” LSU coach Trent Johnson said in his postseason press conference. “We need to develop our mental toughness and, quite frankly, that started this morning.” Johnson, in his second season at the helm, seemed to be going places after a 27-8 campaign his first year in Baton Rouge, a season that included a regular-season Southeastern Conference title and a loss in the second round of the NCAA tournament to eventual national champion North Carolina. A mass exodus of key players didn’t help. SEC Player of the Year Marcus Thornton, defensive wizard Garrett Temple and block machine Chris Johnson all completed their eligibility. The Tigers started 2009-10 well. Led by senior forward Tasmin Mitchell, LSU won its first three games of the season competing in the NIT Tip-Off Classic. It wouldn’t get much better from there. The three wins advanced the Tigers to the semifinals of the tournament in Madison Square Garden.
FOOTBALL, see page 25
PAINFUL, see page 25
Daily Reveille file photo
Senior running back Charles Scott falls back with the ball Oct. 31 in the Tigers’ 42-0 win against Tulane in Tiger Stadium.
Tigers endure setbacks on, off field for a 9-4 season By Rachel Whittaker Chief Sports Writer
LSU’s spring football practices began in rainy 40-degree conditions March 1 and finished four weeks later with the National L Club Spring Game. LSU welcomed new running backs coach Frank Wilson, wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator Billy Gonzales and tight ends coach Steve Ensminger to the team and invited the competition of both young players and veterans throughout the month. In April and May, however, a few LSU football players made news for incidents off the field. Senior wide receiver Terrance Toliver was cited March 7 for interfering with a police officer, disturbing the peace and public intoxication after a fight outside Fred’s Bar
& Grill. Toliver was tased when he refused to follow police orders and broke his left hand. Toliver issued a public apology three days later, and LSU coach Les Miles did not let Toliver’s hand injury prevent him from practicing. “It was an embarrassment to the team, the coaching staff, to the players and my family,” Toliver said. “It was also embarrassing to me. I want to tell everybody I’m sorry and tell the fans I’m sorry and forgive me for what happened.” Junior center T-Bob Hebert, who missed the majority of spring practice with a broken ankle, was charged May 1 with driving while intoxicated after hitting a parked car in the South Fraternity lot. Miles has suspended Hebert indefinitely from all football-related activities. But not all the football players garnered negative headlines this spring.
BASEBALL
Tigers have up and down season Team has two conference series left By Johanathan Brooks Sports Writer
The first 49 games of the LSU baseball season have been a proverbial roller coaster ride. The season has been full of winning and losing streaks in rapid succession. The Tigers (34-15, 12-12) started their national title defense with 12 wins — their best start since 1997. They promptly followed the start with a series loss at home to
Kansas. The Jayhawks took two of three games to stun LSU a week before the start of Southeastern Conference play. “It’s a bitter feeling to lose a series at home like this, but there’s no shame because Kansas just outplayed us,” LSU coach Paul Mainieri said following the series-deciding loss. “We just have to take that and see where we need to improve and get better — and we will.” The losses wouldn’t faze the Tigers that much. They bounced back by winning 13 of their next 15 games. In the run, LSU won its first three SEC series.
In their conference-opening series, the Tigers took two games from Arkansas — the team currently leading the SEC West. “I thought this was a very significant win for our team,” Mainieri said after the series. “To come back and win this series against an excellent Arkansas team says a lot about the character of our players. They were challenged this weekend, and they responded in a very positive manner.” The next weekend series featured a matchup against Tennessee. The Volunteers were the only team to win a conference series in BASEBALL, see page 24
J.J. ALCANTARA / The Daily Reveille
LSU senior first baseman Blake Dean takes a swing at the ball Friday during the Tigers’ 16-15 10-inning win against Vanderbilt in Alex Box Stadium.
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Monday, may 10, 2010
MONDAY, MAY 10, 2010
THE DAILY REVEILLE
PAGE 13
RECRUITING
Football, basketball attract strong classes for season Miles pulls in another top-10 class for 2010 By Mark Clements Sports Contributor
The Chinese calendar calls 2010 the “Year of the Tiger.” In terms of recruiting, 2010 has certainly been a successful year for the Tigers. LSU reeled in 27 signees for the 2010 recruiting class, earning top-10 finishes in Rivals.com, Scout.com and ESPN.com class rankings. The class consists of 15 four-star commits along with one five-star prospect, Spencer Ware. Ware is the No. 19 overall prospect according to Rivals.com and is arguably the highlight of LSU’s class. A Cincinnati native, Ware chose LSU over an abundance of offers from across the country and will likely join the Tigers as a running back. Ware is one of the most distant recruits in the 2010 class with 860 miles separating Cincinnati from Baton Rouge. While LSU is known for rounding up in-state talent, more than half of the recruits from the 2010 class come from beyond Louisiana’s borders. Eight states in addition to Louisiana are represented in the 2010 recruiting class, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Scout recruiting analyst Sonny Shipp said the recent success of the football team is the main factor in garnering out-ofstate recruits. “Ever since LSU won two national titles, they are recruiting nationally,” Shipp said. “You are going to see more out-of-state recruiting with it.” Miles has had a reputation of putting together some of the nation’s top recruiting classes throughout his tenure at LSU regardless of where the athletes come from. But with two of Miles’ best recruiters — D.J. McCarthy and Larry Porter — leaving the team,
Miles had to act fast to fill the recruiting holes. LSU hired former Tennessee wide receivers coach Frank Wilson to coach running backs and help lead the recruiting front. A native of New Orleans, Wilson attended Nicholls State University and has coached in the Southeastern Conference four of the last five years, including two years at Ole Miss. Rivals recruiting analyst Mike Scarborough said despite the short time Wilson has had at LSU, he has already made his presence known. “Frank Wilson has had a big impact since he’s arrived at LSU,” Scarborough said. “That’s why they’ve got a lot of these guys committed right now.” Miles also brought in former Florida wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales to help with recruiting along with coaching wide receivers. Gonzales, who has coached at Florida since 2005, was also assigned to be the passing game coordinator for the 2010 season. Shipp said Miles had big shoes to fill with the coaching
losses and that the hires he made rebounds per game. did just that. The 2010 basketball class “Les Miles had to go out and consists of three three-star proshit two home runs as far as guys pects and one four-star prospect. who were just as good recruitMatt Derenbecker, the sole ers,” Shipp four-star prospect, said. “I think is a 6-foot-6-inch he did that in small forward from Frank Wilson Metairie and is listed and Billy Gonin the Rivals Top zales.” 150 recruits for the The 2010 class. recruiting sucTim Miller, cess has not head coach of newly been limited signed point guard to the football K.C. Ross-Miller, field, though. spoke highly of LSU LSU men’s athletics and its sucbasketball cess in sports across coach Trent the board. Johnson has “I like the Sonny Shipp also compiled coaching staff and Scout.com recruiting analyst one of the the tradition of the nation’s top school,” Miller said. recruiting “They reach for exclasses. cellence — not just in basketball Johnson has received five but in every sport.” signees for the 2010 class, along The door has closed on the with transfer Justin Hamilton. 2010 recruiting season, but the The 6-foot-11-inch, 2011 door is still wide open. 260-pound center played in 31 LSU has already received 10 games last season for Iowa State, verbal commitments for the 2011 averaging 6.4 points and 5.4 class. Breaking the trend from
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‘Ever since LSU won two national titles, they are recruiting nationally. You are going to see more out-of-state recruiting with it.’
last year, nine of the 10 recruits are Louisiana natives. Scarborough said Louisiana is full of talent for 2011, and LSU’s class has potential to be one of the best. “I think of the seven, there are probably four or five of them that are Rivals 100-type of guys,” Scarborough said. Scarborough said he sees potential for two or three of LSU’s commits to end with five-star rankings. Shipp attributes LSU’s recruiting success to its ability to produce NFL talent year after year. “At the end of the day, LSU’s reputation for winning and sending players to the NFL is what’s going to get you top recruits,” Shipp said. Rivals recruiting analyst Jamie Newberg said the future of LSU recruiting is a bright one. “In terms of recruiting, LSU will always be fine,” Newberg said. Contact Mark Clements at mclements@lsureveille.com
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Monday, may 10, 2010
MONDAY, MAY 10, 2010
THE DAILY REVEILLE
PAGE 15
MY OPINION
Clock blunder highlights top 10 moments of year
It’s been quite a year for LSU athletics, but the result so far is only one Southeastern Conference title. In sports large and sports small, the Tigers and Lady Tigers have at times celebrated, and they have also faltered — tick tock says the clock. While there could be a best of the year Andy Schwehm and a “not-so Sports Contributor top-10” for the Tigers, it’s more fitting just to have the top 10 biggest moments. Without further hubbub, here’s the 2009-10 top 10 sports moments. 10. COACH ADAM SCHMITT RESIGNS It wasn’t the best year for LSU’s swimming and diving team on both the men’s and women’s sides, as both teams finished 0-4 in conference meets. But when coach Adam Schmitt resigned, it came as a surprise to many. 9. DUKE NIPS LADY TIGERS IN TOURNEY After getting its 13th-straight first-round victory in the NCAA tournament, the Lady Tigers’ basketball team fell to Duke, 60-52, on Duke’s home court, Cameron
Indoor Stadium. LSU senior guard Allison Hightower eclipsed the 1,500 career point mark in the game. 8. SOCCER EARNS HIGHEST TOURNAMENT SEED After a school-record 8-2-1 mark in SEC play, the Tiger soccer team earned its highest-ever national seeding in the NCAA tournament, a No. 4 seed. LSU defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 7-0, in the first round, before faltering to Texas A&M on penalty kicks in the second round. 7. MITCHELL BREAKS HOME RUN RECORD In front of a national audience April 29 on ESPN, the LSU softball team showcased their new ballpark and defeated No. 8 Georgia, 5-1, to achieve win No. 40 of the year. Senior outfielder Rachel Mitchell hit career home run No. 33 to break the school record set back in 2007 by Leslie Klein. It was a big night all around for the Tigers. 6. TASMIN HELPS TIGERS WIN ON SENIOR NIGHT LSU senior forward Tasmin Mitchell decided to come back for his senior season instead of jumping to the NBA after his junior year. The season didn’t go as planned. Heading into the final regular-sea-
son game of his career, the Tigers had notched only one SEC win in 15 tries. Mitchell led the Tigers to a 50-48 upset of Georgia on his senior night, giving LSU its second conference win of the season. 5. FOOTBALL FALTERS TO PENN STATE On a muddy Citrus Bowl Stadium field, the LSU football team fell to No. 11 Penn State, 19-17. The Tigers held a 17-16 lead late in the game, but they allowed the lead to slip away on a late field goal. The slippery loss wasn’t the defining moment of LSU’s season, though, as we shall see. 4. VOLLEYBALL CAPTURES SEC TITLE Only one LSU team has captured an SEC championship so far this season, and it came in the fall when volleyball coach Fran Flory’s team captured its first title since 1991. The Tigers went 18-2 in conference play, including winning nine straight to close the year. 3. BASEBALL LOSES SEVEN STRAIGHT When LSU baseball fans look back on the 2010 season, the seven-game losing streak, which was snapped Tuesday, may be seen as either the defining moment or the turning point. The streak was the
J.J. ALCANTARA / The Daily Reveille
LSU senior wide receiver Brandon LaFell runs past Penn State sophomore cornerback D’Anton Lynn on Jan. 1 during the Tigers’ 19-17 loss in the Capital One Bowl.
longest for any LSU baseball team since 1982. 2. JACKSON WINS TWO NATIONAL TITLES It wasn’t the best year for LSU’s gymnastics team, but senior Susan Jackson capturing the allaround and beam national titles helped salvage the team’s season. Jackson passed former Tigers Ashleigh-Clare Kearney and April Burkholder for the most national championships in a career with three. 1. “THE WANT” – CLOCK BLUNDER IN BOWL It will go down in LSU football fans’ memories forever. The
Tigers were down, 25-17, late in the fourth quarter when sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Rueben Randle with 1:16 left on the clock. Senior wide receiver Brandon LaFell came up with the onside kick, then the rest certainly has a want to become a blur in the minds of many Tiger faithful. There was something about an alleged want for a timeout, an actual timeout with nine seconds, a Hail Mary pass, no field goal unit and an attempted spike, then game Contact Andy Schwehm at aschwehm@lsureveille.com
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THE DAILY REVEILLE
MONDAY, MAY 10, 2010
SOFTBALL
No. 16 Tigers make Tiger Park home during successful season Seniors lead squad throughout 2010 By Jarred LeBlanc Sports Contributor
The No. 16 LSU softball team began its second season in the new Tiger Park in 2010. After posting a 20-8-1 record at home during Tiger Park’s inaugural season, coach Yvette Girouard and the Tigers entered 2010 determined to climb back to the top of the Southeastern Conference. LSU (42-13, 20-8) started its season off against ranked opponents on the road in Austin for the Texas Invitational, but after defeating then-No. 19 North Carolina and then-No. 21 DePaul, the Tigers dropped two games to No. 14 Texas. The Tigers returned home, and after a 2-0 loss to No. 2 Michigan, went on a school record 24game winning streak. LSU crept up the rankings and was ranked as high as No. 12 in the nation. But the Tigers’ rivals, No. 6 Florida and No. 4 Alabama, snapped LSU’s winning streak. “It was a tough week for us,” said LSU freshman pitcher Rachele Fico. “We played two of the best teams in the country.” The Gators handed LSU three consecutive losses in Gainesville, Fla., 4-1, 2-1 and 7-1, respectively. LSU fell further three days later when the Tigers dropped two games to the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Ala., 3-1 and 4-3. But LSU rebounded by sweeping Mississippi State, Arkansas and Kentucky. The Tigers moved back into contention for an SEC West title but had a tough series ahead when No. 8 Georgia came to Baton Rouge. “We’ve swept everyone we’ve played in the SEC, but we’ve been swept twice,” LSU senior center fielder Kirsten Shortridge said prior to the series against Georgia. “The SEC is unpredictable, but we’ve got a home field advantage.”
Nineteen of LSU’s 24 consecutive wins came at home, but the Tigers were able to defend home against the Bulldogs. LSU beat Georgia in the first two games of the series, 5-1 and 5-3, respectively, before dropping a close 3-2 decision in the final game of the series. LSU’s new home was truly an advantage in the 2010 season. Girouard’s crew ended its regular season with a 29-3 home record. The Tigers had three returning seniors whom Girouard predicted would play a major role in the team’s productivity throughout the season. “As all coaches say, the golden word is ‘healthy,’” Girouard said. “If we can keep those three healthy during the season, then that’s a key ingredient for us.” And the three seniors stepped up for the Tigers in ways that possibly even Girouard couldn’t have predicted. Senior right fielder Rachel Mitchell made her biggest mark of the season April 29 during the series opener against Georgia, when the LaPorte, Texas, native towered
a two-run home run over the left field fence for her 33rd home run of her career. The blast moved Mitchell ahead of former Tiger Leslie Klein as the all-time LSU career home run leader. “The thought didn’t occur to me until I was rounding second base, and then as I was coming up to third base, I thought, ‘I broke the record,” Mitchell said. Mitchell leads the 2010 team with 43 RBIs and a .592 slugging percentage. Shortridge ranks No. 7 in the SEC in batting average with a .421 average, No. 3 in the SEC with 77 hits and No. 2 in the SEC with 42 stolen bases. Shortridge is also one of 25 finalists for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. The top 10 finalists will be named May 12. Senior pitcher Cody Trahan has dominated in the circle. Trahan led the pitching staff to the top of the SEC with a team ERA of 1.32. Fico, Trahan and sophomore pitcher Brittany Mack have the lowest individual ERAs in the conference with ERAs of 1.09,
BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille
LSU sophomore shortstop Juliana Santos attempts to get Arkansas’ Layne McGuirt out at second base April 17 during the Tigers’ 3-2 victory against the Razorbacks.
1.12 and 1.59, respectively. Trahan’s 17 earned runs allowed and 15 walked batters are the fewest on the team. “She’s a totally different pitcher right now, and the fact is she starts ahead,” Girouard said. “Never in my career have I had
this many quality arms.” LSU will travel to the SEC tournament May 13.
Contact Jarred LeBlanc at jleblanc@lsureveille.com
monday, may 10, 2010
THE DAILY REVEILLE
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THE DAILY REVEILLE
MONDAY, MAY 10, 2010
TRACK AND FIELD
Tigers, Lady Tigers put finishing touches on solid season
Both teams finished in the top 10 By Luke Johnson Sports Contributor
The LSU men’s and women’s track teams saw a couple of things several people were expecting this season and a couple of breakout performances from athletes who had shown potential before but hadn’t acted on it yet. Junior thrower Walter Henning was the Tigers’ most prolific performer in both the indoor and outdoor campaigns. The Kings Park, N.Y., native was a model of consistency all season, winning every meet he competed in. Henning’s victories included a Southeastern Conference championship and an NCAA Championship in the indoor weight throw along with a performance at the prestigious Penn Relays that was good enough to name him College Men’s Individual Athlete of the Meet. Henning became the first Tiger to win the national championship in a throwing event. Always the team player, Henning was happier to net points for LSU toward the team championship than he was about his
individual achievement. “This is absolutely awesome. I’m just so happy right now, getting this win,” Henning said after his national championship victory. “That’s exactly what it means, 10 points. The team is always more important than the individual.” But Henning wasn’t the only contributor for the Tigers at the national level this season. Sophomore hurdler Barrett Nugent and junior jumper Zedric Thomas had impressive seasons for the Tigers as well. Thomas contributed 13 points toward the Tigers’ national championship hopes at the NCAA Indoor meet. Competing in both the triple jump and the long jump, Thomas earned AllAmerican honors in both events, finishing as the runner up in the triple jump and fourth in the long jump. Nugent also garnered AllAmerican honors for the 60-meter hurdles at the NCAA Indoor meet. After posting a blistering 7.60-second school record in the preliminaries, Nugent finished with a 7.65-second time in the finals to earn fourth place in the event. “Nugent has just made an incredible turnaround from last year’s indoor season, where things didn’t go very well at all
and he was not even a national qualifier, to this year, where he’s a national contender in the 60-meter hurdle race,” said LSU coach Dennis Shaver. “He’s been very consistent all year long.” The Tigers have three other athletes with top-10 performances in their events — freshman Damar Forbes in the long jump, senior Josh Dominguez in the pole vault and senior Richard Jones in the 800-meter run. LSU’s 4x100 relay team and the 4x400 relay team figure to be in the mix for the outdoor championships as well. The 4x100 team owns the No. 8 time in the country with a 39.43-second race at the Texas Relays. The 4x400 team is No. 11 in the country after a 3-minute, 5.8-second race at the LSU Relays. The Lady Tigers capped off an impressive season by finishing the outdoor regular season as the No. 1-ranked team. The Division I performance lists are owned by Lady Tiger sprinters, as they claim a top-5 spot in the 100-meter run, the 200-meter run, the 800-meter run and both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. Senior sprinter and 12-time All-American Samantha Henry is poised to add three more All-American honors to her
HILARY SCHEINUK / The Daily Reveille
LSU junior Tamika Robinson competes in the women’s 100-meter hurdles April 17 during the Alumni Day Track Meet in Bernie Moore Stadium.
impressive resume. On the national performance lists, Henry has the No. 4 100-meter run, the No. 3 200-meter run and is a member of the 4x100 meter relay team that has the No. 2 time. The Lady Tigers own the top three spots in the country in the 800-meter run, with seniors LaTavia Thomas and Kayann Thompson and junior Brittany Hall all running seasonal-best
times at the LSU Alumni Gold meet. “To win the championship it takes all of our athletes,” Shaver said. “There’s a real job for them to do to try and contribute in one way or another to help the team win the championship.” Contact Luke Johnson at ljohnson@lsureveille.com
THE DAILY REVEILLE
MONDAY, MAY 10, 2010
TENNIS
PAGE 19
GYMNASTICS
Jackson takes home national championships Teams Lee, Hubbard also fail to earn accolades make ‘All the hard work postseason has finally paid By Andy Schwehm Sports Contributor
By Sean Isabella Sports Contributor
It’s been quite some time since LSU men’s tennis coach Jeff Brown has had this much free time during the month of May. Brown led the Tigers to the NCAA tournament in each of his 12 seasons at LSU. But after All-American Michael Venus and James Cluskey both used up their eligibility last spring, LSU found itself in a bind. The Tigers failed to make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1994, while finishing with the most losses — 15 — in their 85-year program history. Youth was the biggest program for the Tigers. They had no seniors on the team and regularly played four freshmen and three sophomores in both doubles and singles. The schedule didn’t help either. LSU played 12 top-25 teams, including six matches against top-10 teams. The only win came March 19 against then-No. 21 Wake Forest. The season seemed all but lost in March during a seven-match skid, but the Tigers bounced back to win three of their remaining four matches. “A lot of teams would have went away,” said LSU assistant coach Danny Bryan. “No one really has gone through a stretch like what we went through this year.” Sophomores Neal Skupski and Mark Bowtell anchored LSU for most of the season. Skupski was awarded the team MVP after posting a 17-18 singles record with nine of those wins coming against ranked opponents. Bowtell, who started the season toward the bottom of the lineup, had a team-high 12 dual wins this spring. Despite failing to qualify for the NCAA tournament as a team, STRUGGLE, see page 24
LSU’s gymnastics team went into the 2010 season hoping to have it defined by a thirdstraight trip to the Super Six and a chance for a team national title. The Tigers left the national stage with a lot of hardware, but it was all individual accolades. The two biggest accolades came in the form of a national all-around title and national beam title for senior Susan Jackson, who will leave LSU with the most national championships for a career, as she already won a vault title in her sophomore season. Jackson posted a 39.625 individually in the national semifinals to earn the national allaround championship, and two days later she hit a 9.9625 on the beam to take home the national beam championship. “All the hard work has
finally paid off,” said Jackindividual championships after son, who also took home 2010 posting a career-high 9.90 in the National Gymnast of the Year. national semifinals to earn First“It’s definitely an honor because Team All-American honors with there are so Hubbard and many wonderful Jackson. gymnasts that The former came before me walk-on finished — April Burkninth. holder, Ashleigh “This experiClare-Kearney ence just drives — so it’s a great me and makes feeling to know I me want to work Susan Jackson can contend with harder,” Lee said. LSU senior gymnast those girls.” “Now I know Jackson even I can do it, and took home a national runner-up next year I want to be back. This trophy on the vault and a fourthyear was so rewarding — I want place finish on the uneven bars. to feel those emotions again and Fellow senior Summer Hubbard drive the underclassmen to the placed national runner-up on the same thing.” bars. But gymnastics is a team “I basically hit the best bar sport, and the Tigers fell short routine that I had hit in my entire as a team for most of the season, life, and it so happened to be the failing to score consistently high last one of my career,” Hubbard team scores. said of her routine. “When my LSU placed sixth out of six feet planted on the mat I was teams in the national semifinal kind of in shock, and I had noth- with a 196.025 team score. The ing else to do but jump up with team had solid scores on the excitement and enthusiasm.” vault, floor and bars, but the Sophomore Ashley Lee Tigers faltered on the beam, their joined the seniors in the national final event of the evening.
‘‘
off.’
Falls by Hubbard and sophomore Gloria Johnson forced LSU to count a fall en route to a 48.625 apparatus score. “Beam is what got us here,” said LSU coach D-D Breaux. “We had two falls, and everybody else did really well.” Those falls on beam summed up the team’s regular season. The Tigers struggled on the road, never finding consistency in scores. At home, it was a completely different story. LSU took home a big win against then-No. 1 Alabama, 196.475-196.050, in their fifth meet of the season Feb. 5. The Tigers defeated thenNo. 6 Oregon State exactly one month later in the Etta James Memorial Meet, 196.925195.525. The Tigers kept that momentum going when they faced Iowa a week later, posting their only score above 197 on the season, a 197.150. Contact Andy Schwehm at aschwehm@lsureveille.com
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THE DAILY REVEILLE
Monday, may 10, 2010
PAGE 22
THE DAILY REVEILLE
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Losses in close games prove expensive for Lady Tigers LSU meets downfall in NCAA tourney By Michael Lambert Sports Contributor
Most sports fans in the area were anxiously awaiting the Super Bowl on Feb. 7 around 3:30 p.m. But the New Orleans Saints were the last thing on the mind of the LSU women’s basketball team, who were in the third overtime of a crucial conference game against Ole Miss in the PMAC. The Lady Tigers came up short, 102-101, after 55 minutes and 21 lead changes, and the loss signaled a problem that affected LSU throughout the 2009-10 campaign. LSU suffered losses in seven Southeastern Conference games by single digits, but the Lady Tigers won nine conference games strongly, taking those games by at least 16 points each. “We did some great things during the year,” LSU coach Van Chancellor said at the team’s end of the season press conference. “We just got in some close games and were unable to finish those games. That separated us from having an unbelievable year to a very good year.” The Lady Tigers ended their season with a second-round exit from the NCAA tournament and finished with a 21-10 record. LSU was picked to win the SEC by the media before the season started, but the Lady Tigers concluded conference play tied for third with three other teams. “I’ll never think you can think you had a bad year when you finished tied for third in your league, and you went to the NCAA playoffs,” Chancellor said. LSU had a chance to advance against No. 2-seed Duke in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Lady Tigers led the Blue Devils by one point with four minutes left in the game, but Duke scored six unanswered points and went on to win, 60-52. “We were so close all year long to having an unbelievable season,” Chancellor said. “We were so close to being in the Sweet 16. You have to win some close games.” LSU did gain momentum toward the end of the regular season, winning five of its last six games. But a short stay at the SEC tournament in Duluth, Ga., weakened LSU’s NCAA bid. The Lady Tigers stumbled down the stretch against Vanderbilt, 63-61, in the second round of the conference tournament, which led to a No. 7 seed in the NCAA tournament. The first round matchup against 10th-seeded Hartford proved favorable for LSU. The Lady Tigers destroyed the Hawks, 60-39, but then had to face Duke
BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille
LSU junior guard Katherine Graham drives past Arkansas defenders Feb. 25 in the Tigers’ 70-53 victory against the Razorbacks in the PMAC.
on its home floor of Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. Chancellor said one thing in particular didn’t hold the team back from a better season. “It wasn’t anything big or major,” Chancellor said. “One game it’d be one thing, and another game it’d be another.” Senior guard Allison Hightower ended her career No. 13 on LSU’s all-time scoring list. The Arlington, Texas, native carried the team on her shoulders, averaging 18.2 points per game her senior season. “I feel like I’m leaving on a good note,” Hightower said. “Even though we didn’t make it to the Sweet 16, I feel good where I’m at.” Hightower, the lone senior on the team, was picked No. 15 overall by the Connecticut Sun in April’s WNBA draft. “Now it’s on to the next
level,” Hightower said. “I’m looking forward to that.” LSU now transitions from being one of the younger teams in the SEC to being one of the more experienced teams. “We’re going to have to have somebody to step up,” Chancellor said. “We’ve got the physical attributes here.” The team will have six seniors next season, led by guards Katherine Graham and Latear Eason. Forwards Courtney Jones and LaSondra Barrett will headline a five-member junior class. “We know losing Allison is a major part of our team,” Barrett said. “We have a lot of potential on the bench. This experience we got early will carry us to our junior and senior year.” Contact Michael Lambert at mlambert@lsureveille.com
MONDAY, MAY 10, 2010
THE DAILY REVEILLE
monday, may 10, 2010
GOLF
PAGE 23
SWIMMING AND DIVING
Tigers Teams go winless in SEC, coach resigns Geyer, Doug to attend David Shaffer promoted NCAA regionals By Katherine Terrell Sports Contributor
McChrystal qualifies for women’s NCAAs By Cory Boudreaux Sports Contributor
Golf is a game in which a strong finish can overshadow the blemishes of a sluggish start. The 2010 LSU men’s golf team overcame a slow start to a season filled with lofty expectations only to experience a setback at the end of the semester. The Tigers, No. 23 in the Golfweek/Sagarin collegiate rankings, finished their regular season with a disappointing fifthplace finish at the Southeastern Conference Championships in Seaside, Ga., after earning two tournament victories and two top-five finishes during the spring semester. Leading the Tigers at the SEC Championships was junior Andrew Loupe, who posted a weekend score of 3-under par and finished in a tie for fourth place in the individual standings. “Until you go to a conference championship and beat those teams, then you’re going always going to be the next rung,” said LSU men’s coach Chuck Winstead. The Tigers will return to competition May 20 for the NCAA Regionals at the Capital City Club in Alpharetta, Ga. The NCAA Championships will take place June 1-6 at The Honors Course in Chattanooga, Tenn. Winstead has set other goals for his team that go beyond just victory. “We all want to win each event. That’s part of being competitive,” Winstead said. “But the main thing in the process is seeing some development, seeing each of them improve. If we continue to do that then the finishes will take care of themselves.” Loupe and fellow junior John Peterson have set the pace for the men’s golf team throughout the season. Peterson recorded four top-five finishes during the season, while Loupe recorded six top-five finishes, including a first-place finish at the Louisiana Classics tournament in March. The No. 47-ranked golfer in the Golfweek/Sagarin individual rankings, Loupe earned First-Team All-SEC honors for his consistency throughout the season. Peterson received a First-Team All-SEC selection last season. But Loupe and Peterson SUCCESS, see page 24
It’s been a season of highs and lows for the LSU swimming and diving teams. The season began with the promise of 22 freshmen and ended with the resignation of coach Adam Schmitt. The teams held their annual Purple and Gold Intrasquad meet Sept. 25. The freshmen had their first chance to make an impression before the start of the regular season. Freshmen Sara Haley and Amanda Kendall stood out by winning an event each. The Purple team won the meet and got bragging rights for the rest of the season. The Tigers and Lady Tigers faced Tennessee on Oct. 16-17 to start the regular season. Sophomore transfer Mary Beck broke the Lady Tigers’ program record in the 200-yard backstroke and won three events against the Lady Vols. Both teams came up short against Tennessee, beginning a season of woes against Southeastern Conference opponents. The Tigers and Lady Tigers both went 0-4 against SEC competition during the dual-meet season. Following a loss to Auburn on Oct. 23, the Lady Tigers rebounded to get their first win of the season against Tulane on Oct. 30. Freshman diver Rebecca
St. Germain’s dives placed her in the top 10 in LSU history. The teams then embarked on a whirlwind trip of three states in three days. After leaving Louisiana on Nov. 5, the teams swam against Alabama on Nov. 6 and Florida State on Nov. 7. LSU could not defeat the Crimson Tide or the Seminoles, but fought until the last relay of the weekend. “We are a young team, and I thought we responded well in our first road trip,” Schmitt said at the time. “As we continue to grow and develop, I think we’ll get better and better.” The Tigers and Lady Tigers bounced back against the University of New Orleans on Nov. 13. The Tigers got their first win and the Lady Tigers their second, along with a combined nine pool records at the Lakefront Aquatic Center. After competing as a complete squad in the Cougar Classic Fall Invitational in Houston on Nov 20-22, the divers broke off on their own for the holidays to compete in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Athens, Ga. The teams began the new year with national rankings. The No. 18 Tigers and No. 21 Lady Tigers had a week of training camp and competition in Florida, beating Florida Atlantic on Jan. 8 in Boca Raton, Fla., and losing to Florida in Gainesville, Fla., on Jan. 10. After a loss to Texas A&M on Jan 23, the Lady Tigers beat Rice, Houston and Tulane in Houston. The Tigers beat UNO for the second time to close out
the regular season. The Tigers finished the regular season ranked No. 19 with a record of 3-6. The Lady Tigers finished ranked No. 25 with a 6-6 record. Both squads placed seventh in the SEC championship and qualified five swimmers for the NCAA championship. Freshmen Andrei Tuomola, Craig Hamilton and Kendall made the trip. Ultimately, the Tigers placed 29th and the Lady Tigers placed 30th in the NCAA championship. Schmitt abruptly resigned
April 6 following the NCAA championship. LSU named assistant swimming coach David Geyer and diving coach Doug Shaffer as co-coaches of the team April 12. “It’s a unique scenario that [Athletic Director] Joe Alleva came up with,” Geyer said. “The idea of having two individuals working together on the administrative side of things is really going to make this program better.” Contact Katherine Terrell at kterrell@lsureveille.com
THE DAILY REVEILLE
PAGE 24
not win on Sunday in 11 SEC road series. “We won all five series last year plus Tennessee this year, which we swept, which means we won on
Sunday,” Mainieri said. “In 2008, even in the two series that we lost at Florida and Ole Miss, we lost the first two games, but won on Sunday. This was the first time in
a long time where we had to board transportation back to Baton Rouge without having won on Sunday.” LSU responded to the twogame streak with a six-game winning stretch. In that stretch, the Tigers beat Tulane once, Northwestern State twice and swept Alabama in a threegame series. “No one thought we were going to have a three-game losing streak,” LSU sophomore right fielder Mikie Mahtook said following the contest against Tulane. “We knew we were going to win this game. It was just something we had to do. We knew we had to do it and come out with a win, and we played really well tonight.” The Tigers entered a historical skid after riding high for six games. LSU lost its next seven games — the longest such streak since 1982. In those seven games, LSU was swept in two conferences series. The Tigers’ streak started
The LSU women’s tennis team didn’t fare much better during the spring season. The Lady Tigers (10-15, 4-7) failed to make the NCAA women’s tournament for the first time since 2006. The 15 losses set the singleseason record for most losses in program history and was the worst finish for LSU coach Tony Minnis, who completed his 19th year at LSU.
LSU had a hard time replacing former All-American Megan Falcon, who finished her eligibility last May. Minnis inserted sophomore Whitney Wolf at the top of the singles lineup in hopes of compensating for the loss of Falcon, but the Pride native struggled for the majority of the season. Wolf compiled an 8-15 dual record in singles and a dismal 4-13 record against ranked opponents.
Despite the struggles, two freshmen — Keri Frankenberger and Kaitlin Burns — burst onto the scene, leaving Minnis with hope for the future. Frankenberger posted 19 wins on the year, good enough for second-most on the team to Burns’ 20 victories. Frankenberger also was named to the All-Southeastern Conference Second Team and to the All-Freshman Team.
BASEBALL, from page 11
2009 against the Tigers. LSU exacted its revenge with a sweep on the road in Knoxville, Tenn. “I’m proud of our players for earning three tough wins,” Mainieri said after the streak. “Sweeps in the SEC at home or on the road are rare, and I’m pleased we were able to get the victories. We still have some areas in which we need to improve, but we demonstrated the poise necessary to win the games.” The Tigers swept Georgia at home in their next series. All looked to be going well for the Tigers, but they soon endured their first of two losing streaks this season. The Tigers dropped their next two contests April 10-11 when Auburn beat them 11-7 and 6-5, respectively. It was the first time LSU lost a conference series since April 2009 and the first time the Tigers did
STRUGGLE, from page 19
Skupski received an at-large bid for the singles portion of the tournament. The singles championships begin May 26 in Athens, Ga. “This is a great opportunity for Neal to continue his progress,” Brown said in a news release. “This is the next step in continuing his progress to becoming a top-20 player at the onset of next season.”
SUCCESS, from page 23
aren’t the only golfers responsible for the Tigers’ success this semester. Winstead said sophomores Austin Gutgsell and Sang Yi have also made a significant impact on the team. Gutgsell and Yi finished with season scoring averages of 74.6 and 73.7, respectively. Winstead said Gutgsell has acquired the necessary experience to complement his talent and elevate his ability. “He’s got more in the tank, and he can certainly improve some more,” Winstead said. “But I’m happy with his development so far.” A starting lineup of four underclassmen may spark concerns whether the men’s golf team has the pedigree to compete nationally, but Winstead refuses to accept that argument. “Does [youth] make a difference? Maybe,” Winstead said. “But that’s no reason why we can’t be successful.” MCCHRYSTAL QUALIFIES FOR WOMEN’S NCAAS Junior Megan McChrystal made headlines for the Lady Tigers’ golf team on the women’s side of things. McChrystal qualified for the Women’s NCAA Championships on Saturday, finishing sixth in the individual standings of the NCAA West Regional with a three-round score of 5-over par 218. The Stuart, Fla., native also earned First-Team All-SEC honors this season. But the Lady Tigers came one stroke close to advancing as a team in the postseason.
J.J. ALCANTARA / The Daily Reveille
LSU sophomore third baseman Grant Dozar looks back at home plate as he rounds second base Saturday during the Tigers’ 6-0 loss to Vanderbilt at Alex Box Stadium.
LSU finished ninth as a team in the regional with a score of 52-over 904, one stroke behind eighth-place Texas A&M’s 51-over 903. The top eight teams in each regional qualify for the NCAA championships. “We just didn’t finish strong,” LSU women’s coach Karen Bahnsen said in a news release. “We three-putted ourselves out of it. We basically handed away a qualifying spot on a silver platter. There are no excuses.” Contact Cory Boudreaux at cboudreaux@lsureveille.com
Monday, may 10, 2010 against Ole Miss and culminated with three losses on the road against Florida. LSU stopped its skid Tuesday night with a win against Southeastern Louisiana. “It feels great to get a win. I almost feel like we should have had a dogpile at the end of the game,” Mainieri said after the streak was broken. “I’m so happy for our players. They’ve continued to work hard during this tough stretch, and I thought they gave a great effort tonight. We had several key hits, and we turned a couple of double plays in crucial situations. It was a very important victory for our team.” LSU will head to Kentucky next weekend and finish its regular season at home May 22 against Mississippi State.
“I’m really proud of Keri … she’s had a tremendous year, and I look forward to seeing her progress in the future,” Minnis said in a news release. Burns played primarily in the No. 2 singles spot and notched 13 dual wins this spring.
Contact Johanathan Brooks at jbrooks@lsureveille.com
Contact Sean Isabella at sisabella@lsureveille.com
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MONDAY, MAY 10, 2010 PAINFUL, from page 11
Johnson’s squad ran into a buzzsaw in the form of Connecticut, whose size and speed were more than too much for Johnson’s undersized squad to handle. The Huskies won, 81-55. Arizona State provided a little less of a test, but still trounced the Tigers, 71-52, to close out LSU’s NIT experience. Four straight wins against in-state opponents and a victory against Rice had LSU’s morale back up after getting embarrassed in New York. The Tigers then traveled to Washington State and Xavier, respectively, and came out with two losses. Junior guard Bo Spencer’s lastsecond shot rimmed out in Seattle, giving the Cougars a 72-70 victory. Xavier was a different story. The Musketeers outclassed Mitchell and company, 89-65. After a win against lowly McNeese State, the Tigers embarked on a 12-game losing streak to begin conference play. LSU would finally pick up a conference win against
FOOTBALL, from page 11
“It’s when you lock up, pad under pad. It’s strength and brute force,” Miles said. “If I take your body back, I won. If you take my body back, you won.” Ensminger returned to his hometown of Baton Rouge after he was hired Feb. 25. Ensminger played quarterback at LSU from 1976-79 for legendary coach Charlie McClendon, and he said he couldn’t have pictured a better scenario for him and his family. “I’ve coached for 28 years, and I’ve coached at some great schools,” Ensminger said. “But probably every coach in the country who’s coached on the college level would love to get back to the school they played at, so this is really exciting.” Junior running back Stevan Ridley made a big splash in the spring game, rushing for 104 yards on 13 carries and one touchdown. Redshirt freshman Michael Ford also broke the century mark with 139 yards. The most veteran running back for the Tigers, senior Richard Murphy, returned to the practice field in March, though he did not participate in contact drills after returning from a knee injury he suffered Sept. 12 against Vanderbilt. “I’m doing everything I need to do, taking my time and working to get better at everything — pass protection, running between the tackles,” Murphy said after the first practice. “I’m a little disappointed wearing a green jersey all the time, but I know [the coaches] are looking out for me.” Miles said the quarterback play in the spring game was not one for the highlight reels, but junior Jordan Jefferson is improving his mechanics, including throwing the
7:20 a.m., 8:20 a.m. Noon, 3:20 p.m. 4:20 p.m., 5:20 p.m.
Arkansas on Feb. 24 in a 65-54 win. “It’s been a long time,” Johnson said after the game. “I forgot how it felt, to be honest with you.” The Tigers would go on to lose their next two games against Auburn and Ole Miss on the road. Next was Georgia in the last home game of the season. It was senior night for Mitchell, who left LSU the leader in minutes played, third in scoring (1,989 points) and No. 6 in rebounds (950). Mitchell brought 10 family members and was greeted with a thunderous standing ovation as he walked onto the court. He and Johnson embraced warmly at center court, which left Johnson wiping his eyes. The Tigers and Bulldogs shot a combined 33.5 percent from the field in an ugly game. It wasn’t void of drama, either. Spencer pulled up at the free throw line with 19 seconds left and lofted an off-balance jumper. Swish. “I told Tasmin that I would get him a victory on his way out of here,” Spencer said. “I am proud to
get the win and see it come through and play a good game even though it wasn’t the prettiest or best game. We came out to get the victory, and Tasmin got a win at home, so it is a great feeling.” Johnson echoed those sentiments and lauded Mitchell’s actions during a tough season. “I’ve been doing this a long time, whether as an assistant coach or a player, and sometimes you are fortunate enough to come across a basketball player like Tasmin Mitchell who is very passionate about his school, team and this game and respects his opponents,” Johnson said. “I’m just happy to see him and the team happy.” LSU would go on to lose in the first round of the SEC tournament to Tennessee, 59-49, ending the Tigers’ season. Mitchell came up just 11 points shy of scoring 2,000 for his career. Johnson suspended Spencer indefinitely for academic probelms
ball away under pressure. Redshirt freshman safety Craig Loston also accounted for a momentum-changing play in the game — an interception of junior quarterback Jarrett Lee that he returned for a 22-yard touchdown. Loston was granted a medical redshirt for the 2009-10 year after missing the season with a hand injury. More recent story lines include the 2010 NFL Draft, which featured no LSU players selected in the first round for the first time in six years,. But six former Tigers were drafted. The first player drafted was Chad Jones, LSU’s only underclassman who declared for the draft. Jones was chosen in the third round by the New York Giants as the No. 76 overall pick. Wide receiver
Brandon LaFell followed two picks later to the Carolina Panthers. Linebacker Perry Riley and defensive tackle Al Woods landed in the fourth round to the Washington Redskins and New Orleans Saints, respectively. Wide receiver and return specialist Trindon Holliday was drafted by the Houston Texans in the sixth round, and the Philadelphia Eagles selected running back Charles Scott with the No. 200 overall pick. Eight other Tigers signed free-agent contracts with NFL teams, including former safety and linebacker Harry Coleman with the Saints.
Contact Chris Branch at cbranch@lsureveille.com
Contact Rachel Whittaker at rwhittaker@lsureveille.com
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PAGE 25
PAGE 26 UNION, from page 8
Reveille. Plakidas said the Campus Federal office will move to the Acadian Room on the Union’s third floor while its space is being renovated.
CENSUS, from page 8
In an initial survey by the repreCENSUS campaign, 64.1 percent of students said they knew little to nothing about the Census. In a poll after the campaign was implemented, only 25 percent said they knew nothing about the Census. RepreCENSUS members promoted the Census at events like baseball games and concerts and at bars. College students make up
HAITI, from page 9
two days before hearing his family in Haiti was safe. “It’s a big relief,” Joseph said. “It seems that when you are waiting for news, and you don’t know whether it’s good or bad, you can’t manage. I don’t have to worry anymore.” Immediately following the earthquake, geography graduate student Amy Potter formed Tigers for Haiti, a University response effort. Potter collected more than $1,200 in donations to go toward LifeStraws — portable water filters for prevention of common diarrheal disease. The Department of Residential Life created a campaign called “Geaux the Distance: Hope for
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Monday, may 10, 2010
“We will probably have whatever will be going into the post office space by the end of the fall,” Plakidas said. She also said officials expect permanent furniture for the second floor lobby to be delivered by
November. Plakidas said the Union has seen a significant decline in revenue because of early construction delays, but Tolliver said he believes the Union will rebound in the fall.
He said new spaces will attract customers and drive revenue up, but the University will also receive money from companies paying money to rent the spaces. Tolliver said he believes students will be impressed with the
Union’s new look. “It’s an exciting time to be here right now,” he said.
about 22 percent of the Baton Rouge population, according to the Bateman team. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the government allocates more than $400 billion in federal funding to communities based on Census data. Census data affects area universities and residents. Data can increase public funding to university tuition grants and loans along with transportation and health care.
Census data also determines the number of congressional seats and where district lines are redrawn. Louisiana is predicted to lose a congressional seat, according to Kirby Goidel, associate professor of mass communication and political science. Louisiana’s population is growing, but not at the rate of other states. Unlike other states, Louisiana’s main population growth comes from birth instead of immi-
gration, Goidel said. “With Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana had a late influx of immigrant population compared to other southern states,” said political science assistant professor Laura Moyer. “Also, many families relocated to different places.” The 2010 Census is the shortest in history thus easier to fill out, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. “Ten questions in 10 minutes can affect the next 10 years of your
life,” said Bateman team member Lauren St. Pierre. The first U.S. census took place in 1790 and found about 3.9 million inhabitants, according to the US Census Bureau. Mayor-President Kip Holden proclaimed February “U.S. Census Awareness Month” in Baton Rouge.
Haiti,” which encouraged residence halls to raise $1,437 — $1 for every mile between Baton Rouge and Port-au-Prince. “We met and exceeded our goal,” said Jay High, communications manager of Residential Life. “We made it the distance to Haiti, and we’re on our way back.” The grand total collected so far is $1,576.46, which will be donated to the American Red Cross. In February, Campus Life joined TFH, combining many campus organizations into one group. “Instead of having different organizations competing, we would all be working together under one umbrella,” said Mallory Trochesset, assistant director for Campus Life. Student Government Vice President Martina Scheuermann,
a member of TFH, said she was happy with the student participation. “After the tragedy in Haiti happened, I really wanted to make sure LSU formed some kind of response,” she said. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to see people supporting the cause.” Mimie Laurant, TFH chairperson, said all proceeds raised went to Partners in Health, a non-profit health care organization that’s been working in Haiti for the last 20 years. However, after its merging with Campus Life, TFH only raised a total of $700 this semester — significantly less than the organization’s original goal of $10,000, Laurant said. “In terms of everything that’s been done and all the work that’s
been put into everything, all the events have been really top-notch,” Potter said. “But the campus response overall isn’t what we had hoped for.” Potter said people easily forget about the cause because the Haiti situation isn’t in the forefront of the media. “Some people aren’t interested anymore,” she said. “People’s attention changes, which is disappointing because the situation in Haiti is much like New Orleans
during Hurricane Katrina.” Potter said Haiti, like New Orleans, will require long-term attention, care and fundraising. “Parts of New Orleans are still not fully recovered today — look at the Lower Ninth Ward,” she said. “Louisiana knows better than most other parts of the country how long recovery takes.”
Contact Rachel Warren at rwarren@lsureveille.com
Contact Grace Montgomery at gmontgomery@lsureveille.com
Contact Sarah Eddington at seddington@lsureveille.com
monday, may 10, 2010 ELECTION, from page 6
JUDICIAL PROCESS The runoff election was not the end of the election process. Hudson filed a complaint against the Election Board for reinstatement of all the “StudentsFIRST” candidates. Hudson incorrectly filed their expenditure reports, a minor clerical error according to Borel. Former Speaker of the Senate Tyler Martin filed a complaint against Hudson for failing to properly file accurate expenditure reports as required by the Election Code.
DEPRESSION, from page 7
said. “He talked with me and his other colleagues about it.” Rau said Chawla’s distress was related to his marital problems, which Rau believed to be a divorce. “His mother came in from India
HOUSING, from page 9
Annie Boyd Hall is also scheduled for renovations in 2012, High said. In the last 12 years, ResLife has invested $168 million in the maintenance and upgrade of oncampus buildings, Walker said. There are currently 3,515 beds within the residential halls. In 2008, 265 beds were added with the construction of Blake Hall, and 380 beds were added with the construction of Residential College South and Residential College West. Residential College North is also being constructed, which High said will add about 370 beds. It will be a mixture of live-and-learn students with traditional students.
CRIME, from page 7
meanor summons for disturbing the peace. She was transported by police to a friend’s residence, Tabor said. MAN ARRESTED FOR ILLEGAL CAR LIGHTS A 27-year-old man not affiliated with the University was arrested and charged with impersonating police April 23, said Sgt. Jason Bettencourtt, LSU Police Department spokesperson. Police patrolling on campus at 2:30 a.m. observed a black truck with flashing strobes in the corner lights of the vehicle, Bettencourtt said. He said the lights are illegal unless installed on a public safety vehicle. Police following the truck saw the driver run through a stop sign before driving in the wrong lane, causing multiple vehicles to swerve, Bettencourtt said. When stopped by LSUPD, the driver, Troy Thorton of 143 Pinehill Loop in Bastrop, told the officers he had the lights because he was going to be a firefighter one day, and he was trying to get through traffic. Thorton was also charged with reckless operation and improper lamps, Bettencourtt said. STUDENT SMASHES HIS OWN DOOR On Jan. 19, LSUPD officers arrested William Kline, a 19-year-old University student of 23 Winder-
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Martin noted “clear breaches of the election code of an unaccounted-for $55 on the StudentsFIRST expenditures. Bonvillain also filed a complaint against Hudson for breaches of the election code. The complaint accused “StudentsFIRST” candidates of breaching rules prohibiting candidates from being cross-listed on multiple tickets and operating on an unrecognized ticket. Trial Court Judge Daniel Marsh ruled in favor of Hudson and the reinstatement of “StudentsFIRST” candidates in all three court cases.
All three cases were appealed to University Court, but UCourt ruled to only hear Martin vs. Hudson. During the case, UCourt also ruled in favor of Hudson, and the reinstatement of the candidates by Marsh was not changed. UCourt Chief Justice Sean Horridge swore in Hudson and Borel on April 21 in front of Memorial Tower.
about three weeks [before the incident] because of what he was going through,” Rau said. “We knew he was in distress, but this was a complete surprise.” A memorial service was held March 23 at Resthaven Gardens of Memory.
Staff writers Sarah Eddington and Xerxes A. Wilson contributed to this report.
About 700 places will have been added to on-campus housing by 2012 after the new construction and East Laville’s renovation, High said. More than a quarter of University students currently live on campus in either residential halls or apartments. “Students do academically better on campus,” said Steven Walker, ResLife director. “They become engaged with the University and community.” Many residential halls also host study sessions. The Honors College often holds study sessions in the lobbies of the dormitories. “There are study groups that you can find on campus, which in a big apartment building might be harder,” said Andrew Holley, civil
engineering freshman. “Square footage is the main thing that determines the cost of the buildings,” High said. The current cost for East Campus Apartments and West Campus Apartments can be up to $3,805 per semester for a two-bedroom apartment. They have the largest square footage on campus and are the most expensive. Miller and Highland halls rent three-student rooms for $2,305 per semester, the least expensive on campus.
mere Lane, Houston, at his dorm for criminal damage to property and possession of drug paraphernalia. According to Sgt. Jason Bettencourtt, Kline didn’t have a key to enter his dorm room in Beauregard Hall and used a fire extinguisher to smash the lock on his door — worth $500 — and entered the room after unsuccessfully trying to get a replacement key from the front desk. According to Bettencourtt, at 5:40 p.m. police confronted Kline in
his dorm where they smelled burnt marijuana. After a search of the room, police found a pipe, Bettencourtt said. Kline later admitted to breaking into his room, Bettencourtt said. He was booked in to East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.
Contact Catherine Threlkeld at cthrelkeld@lsureveille.com
Contact Adam Duvernay at aduvernay@lsureveille.com
Sumit Kumar contributed to this report.
Contact Joanna Zimmerman at jzimmerman@lsureveille.com
Contact The Daily Reveille’s news staff at news@lsureveille.com
PAGE 27
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Opinion
PAGE 28
NIETZSCHE IS DEAD
Monday, May 10, 2010
The future is nothing to fear — fear only fear itself It’s the end of the semester, and, for seniors, the headlong rush of finals is tinted in a yellowed hue of nostalgia. Their college careers are coming to a close. For many, it’s the end to a whole lifetime of school — and they stand on the high diving board about to take the plunge into “The Real World.” And, recently, we’ve been hearing a chorus of voices saying the pool is freezing cold. Let’s not tippy-toe around here — the economic crisis brought a swift and terrifying end to easy years of prosperity. As Americans begin to emerge from the devestating recession, we have all learned the hard way the reprecussions of a life of luxury purchased with money beyond our means. And, for all the talk of recovery, we still face a future that seems far dimmer than the prosperous one graduates looked forward to only a few years ago. Unemployment is still in the double digits, and many careers for which students have been training during their entire tenure at
the University are shriveling before our eyes. Many of us here at The Daily Reveille aim for journalism careers. And, like many others, we’re watching with desperation as those careers seem to disappear into a world of apathy, corporate control and insularity. As our graduates receive their diplomas, they walk off into an uncertain future where those diplomas might not mean anything. So what do we do about it? There’s already a great deal of speculation about how our generation will respond to insecurity and uncertainty. Some say we’ll become a “lost generation,” where a fortunate few break into meaningful, fulfilling careers while the rest toil in whatever menial job they can get. They say the trend of apathy and uninvolvement that has so far marked our participation in society will hold, and the great forward progress that is our birthright will remain unfulfilled. Such is the easiest way to respond to crisis — to despair and accept our fate.
But that’s not the way it’s going to happen. There have been times in the not-too-distant past when young people were looking at a world far grimmer than the one we’re looking at today. You need only ask our Matthew grandparents. Albright It was in the Opinion Editor darkest hours of the Great Depression that Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected President. In his now-legendary inauguration speech to the nation, he addressed hurdles that are eerily applicable to today: “Values have shrunk to fantastic levels; taxes have risen; our ability to pay has fallen; government of all kinds is faced by serious curtailment of income ... The withered leaves of industrial enterprise lie on every side; farmers find no markets for their produce; and the savings of many years in thousands of families
are gone. More important, a host of unemployed citizens face the grim problem of existence.” Seem familiar? It should — it sounds exactly like what we’re told daily by politicians and media alike. The generation of our grandparents faced challenges like ours but to a far greater degree. They fought the same paralyzing greed, the same crushing financial insecurity and the same uncertain future. Today, they are called the “Greatest Generation.” “This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly,” continued Roosevelt. “Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great nation will endure, as it has endured, will revive and will prosper.” The future is uncertain, yes — but not necessarily dark. Our prospects are slim, but they have not necessarily vanished. There’s another solution besides apathy, resignation and fear. As Roosevelt famously said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
The “greatest generations” aren’t the ones that come from affluence and easy living. They’re the ones that come out of hardship and hard work. If the failings of our parents teach us one thing, it’s that money isn’t everything. It’s that politics and a society of hate and divisiveness don’t forge progress, but breed failure. It is, as Roosevelt said, that “these dark days, my friends, will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves, to our fellow men.” Don’t give up, class of 2010. Don’t let the future scare you. We have nothing to fear but fear itself. Matthew Albright is a 21-year-old mass communication junior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_malbright. Contact Matthew Albright at malbright@lsureveille.com
CANCEL THE APOCALYPSE
Readers: Keep that hate mail coming - we need it Fellow students, distinguished faculty and devoted Daily Reveille readers, I have been bestowed with the great responsibility of being the opinion editor for next semester. And while the task will indeed be arduous, I am tremendously excited to take on the inevitable turbulence ahead. Looking back through my first semester with The Daily Reveille, it’s been a wild ride. From examining and critiquing the religious doctrines of the afterlife, converting to Islam for a week, calling for the Pope’s arrest and nailing my 23 theses to the proverbial opinion section door — I haven’t held back much. And in all honesty, what made all my cries for liberating thought and immanent justice worthwhile was you, my readers. Your droves of Web comments, e-mails, letters to the editor and conversations in the Quad have continually pushed me further and forced me to improve. Without your criticisms and commentaries, my work would have no significance. And while
we don’t always agree — rarely, in fact — I owe you all a big “thank you.” And I can only hope that you, Reveille readers, will continue to lend your ears and voices to our commentaries and columns in the upcoming semester. Next Andrew Robertson fall, expect Columnist to see many new faces on these pages. I will be proactively seeking out the best of the best to be your opinion columnists for next semester. Don’t expect to see a homogenous conglomerate of like-minded individuals making their collective voice heard in this section — we will be writing from diverse and polemical positions. Look for an array of students with the highest qualifications and authoritative voices from all walks of life on these pages next fall. And rest assured, we will continue to value being your voice in these tumultuous times. After all, we’re
THE DAILY REVEILLE Editorial Board NICHOLAS PERSAC JERIT ROSER GERRI SAX ELLEN ZIELINSKI MATTHEW ALBRIGHT
Editor Managing Editor, Content Managing Editor, External Media Managing Editor, Production Opinion Editor
students who care, just like you. While I can promise that I will work myself and my staff hard for this paper, I will depend on you, Reveille readers, to make us better continually. We need your input — otherwise our work is in vain. Send us letters and Web comments — hold us accountable. With that said, I’ll leave you with a story. D’Artagnan, the great mus-
keteer, observed a French soldier about to be lynched by a mob of starved and belligerent citizens outside the palace gates. Mounting his horse, he valiantly rode out into their midst — his mere presence causing a hush to fall over the crowd. He speaks with them briefly, and demands them to release the soldier, saying, “He serves France — he serves you.”
Similarly, we, The Daily Reveille opinion section, serve LSU, and above all else, we serve you. Andrew Robertson is a 23-yearold religious studies senior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_arobertson. Contact Andrew Robertson at arobertson@lsureveille.com
BEST AND WITTIEST
cartoon courtesy of KING FEATURES SYNDICATE
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.
QUOTE OF THE DAY “Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson American poet, lecturer May 25, 1803 — April 27, 1882
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Monday, May 10, 2010
the devil’s advocate
Opinion
PAGE 29
Economics’ lessons explain human interactions The most important lesson of economics can be distilled into a single sentence: People do things because they’re worth doing. It sounds simple, but most of my columns have been about the surprising implications. When two people choose to interact, they do so because they think it’s worth it. Poor children overseas aren’t forced to work in sweatshops; they choose to because the pay is higher than their other opportunities. We might feel remorse that they have no better options, but outlawing sweatshops inhumanely takes away more options. In other past columns, I’ve defended organ auctions, free trade, Wal-Mart, and post-hurricane “price gouging” for this simple reason: People try to better themselves. Voluntary trade happens when two sides see a win-win opportunity. Increase freedom. Everyone is
better off. Unfortunately, there are two exceptions to this simple formulation. Sometimes, people are wrong about what will make them happy. If people falsely believe antibacterial soap prevents disease, they’ll waste money and time on a useless habit. This is where journalism plays an important role. I hope my columns on political participation, circumcision and organic food changed preferences for the better. Unfortunately, there’s another instance where freedom doesn’t necessarily lead to the best outcome. Sometimes, the costs and benefits of our actions are borne by others. Stand up at a baseball game, and you trade a small amount of comfort for a better view. Unfortunately, you also infringe on the view of those behind you. As a result, often everyone will stand up
and experience the same view they would have while sitting — except now they have to stand. If we follow our self-interests, we’re destined to perform too many of the actions that push costs on others without their permission. Pollution is the classic example. Daniel Morgan Similarly, Columnist we do too little of the actions that have spillover benefits on our neighbors. That’s why your roommates don’t wash the dishes. As I argued last year, earning a degree has career benefits for you, but it hurts everyone else by diluting the value of their diplomas. In a state of nature, too many people would go to college. In a world where the goverment uses scholarships and federal student loans to
push the financial cost on others, far, far too many go to college. Economists call these nonvoluntary costs and benefits externalities, and it often leads to counterintuitive conclusions. An STD-ridden prostitute spreads her disease to others, so the logic of negative externalities says she has too many one-night stands. As economist Steven Landsburg pointed out in “More Sex is Safer Sex,” a quiet, nervous prude who only rarely trolls for tail routinely denies others the pleasure and safety of an STD-free night. Rationally, he doesn’t consider the positive externalities, so he is far less promiscious than he optimally could be. If the shy had sex more often — but not too much — fewer people would contract STDs. I don’t expect the chaste to read this column and put themselves into the sexual line of fire. I also don’t expect companies to
voluntarily cut pollution, fans to remain seated in Death Valley, or politicians to practice fiscal responsibility. Our country is in 14-figure debt because democracy gives no votes to the unborn, but democratically elected politicians can pass liabilities to them. Externalities infect our personal, business and political lives. So, there you have it. My gameplan during the past three semesters has been to encourage you to focus on win-win reactions, bring your preferences closer to what will bring you happiness and show the causes of the world’s problems. I hope it’s been worth doing. Daniel Morgan is a 22-year old economics senior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter@ TDR_dmorgan. Contact Daniel Morgan at dmorgan@lsureveille.com
murda, he wrote
America’s funk attributable to apathy and animosity Looking back on the year — and looking forward into the future — it’s hard not to have a pessimistic view of things. The job outlook is slim pickings, a toxic slime threatens our coast and the kids are fatter than ever. It certainly feels like we’re in a slump — and the people agree. About three out of every five Americans believe the country is heading down the wrong track, depending on which poll you use. Ask them why they hold such a jaded view of American prosperity and you’ll get a variety of answers. Ultimately, however, these complaints share one common thread: It’s someone else’s fault. In the age of 24-hour cable news, it’s unsurprising this sentiment is so pervasive. We have been conditioned to things in terms of black and white, left or right, us and them. People like Glenn Beck and Keith Olbermann gloat about their success in the ratings. They capitalize on extremist views by pitting Americans against one another. No matter your political affiliation, after watching either one of these programs, you’ll walk away an angrier person — either because you agree with their frustrations or you resent their propaganda. This system hardens some while alienating others. Of course, the ideologues are the most vocal. These partisans are the ones that threaten their senators over the phone and seek viewpoints that reinforce their own. They’ve created a system that couldn’t pass jaywalking
legislation without a filibuster and a rider amendment to build a maglev train in North Dakota. All the while, the other half of Americans sit on the sidelines, lamenting the state of discourse in our country. They shrug their shoulders Mark Macmurdo and describe themselves as Columnist “apathetic.” Meanwhile, they continue to complain about how the system is broken. I understand the frustrations that result from the entirely ineffective system, but I believe withdrawing from it is just a convenient excuse. While many would say they are apathetic because of the way things are, I believe the way things are can be traced to our collective apathy. Withdrawing from the system contributes to the problem. It takes the discourse from the levelheaded people in favor of the ideologues. These people are the enemy of the state. Left or right, anyone who blindly subscribes to an ideology threatens the prosperity of our country. Instead, I say to those who are apathetic - stop making excuses for why you aren’t involved and aware. Stop harboring a defeatist attitude. The best treatment for your apathy is being informed. As they say, we get the government we deserve. An informed
public gets a political system that doesn’t appeal to partisanship and political gain. Instead it appeals to results. Not only should you seek out higher quality information — the kind that doesn’t involve a busty woman behind a fiberglass desk and fancy graphics — but you should also seek out alternative viewpoints. When someone tries to make a political point, you are then in a better position to call them out — which you should do. Those who contribute to partisanship are just as guilty as those who refuse to put a stop to it.
Don’t let apathy become an excuse for not doing your civic duty. Any idiot can point to a problem, describe it to people and leave them angry. However, it takes effort to recognize a problem and then — through your own thinking — understand the best way to address it. No one said an effective government is easy to acquire. And it isn’t a duty that is given to some; we all share the burden. I think that on most days I’m with the minority of Americans who continue to be optimistic about where our country is going.
Although there is no denying that we live in frustrating times, America has a spirit that can’t be replicated in a Chinese factory. We’ll be back on the right track when people wake up, shake off their partisan labels and vote based on merits, not on politics. Mark Macmurdo is a 23-year-old history and economics senior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_mmacmurdo.
Contact Mark Macmurdo at mmacmurdo@lsureveille.com
BEST AND WITTIEST
cartoon courtesy of KING FEATURES SYNDICATE
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Classifieds
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To place your ad: Visit www.lsureveille.com and click on classifieds
Announcements
Help Wanted DOWNTOWN YMCA SUMMER HELP The Charles Lamar, Jr. YMCA seeks Membership & Wellness Attendants immediately. Flexible hours & some Saturdays. Apply in person at 521 Third Street. 225.612.9622 NANNY/SITTER NEEDED beginning mid-August for two little boys, two days a week. Must be reliable, fun, caring. 225.266.9058 F/T SUMMER NANNY Provide summer childcare for middle school age children. Childcare exp. reqd. $9-$10/ hr 225.803.3372 ROCKSTARS WANTED - JIMMY JOHNS DO YOU ROCK?!? Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches is looking for KICKASS Sandwich Makers and Delivery Drivers. Apply in person at 3043 Perkins Rd (by the overpass) THE CHIMES ON COURSEY Taking applications for experienced bartenders. Apply in person. 10870 Coursey Boulevard CASA MARIA MEXICAN GRILL now hiring summer waitstaff. Apply in person at 7955 Bluebonnet Blvd. near Perkins CHAUFFEUR Great job for a student. Must be 20 yrs old, have a clean driving record and a class D chauffeurs license. email walter.brock@capital.swagelok.com for a job description including pay rate 225.926.5520 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 SEVERAL OPENINGS Retail Store has positions open in office, store and warehouse. Must have experience and a clean driving record. Full and part time. Send resume to www. rnrcasual@aol.com 225.766.0101 STUDENTPAYOUTS. COM Paid Survey Takers Needed In Baton Rogue. 100% Free To Join! Click On Surveys.
Cost: 35 cents per word a day Personals Free for students
Employment ►►BARTENDING UP TO NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. TRAINING PROVIDED. AGE 18+ OK 1-800-965-6520 ext127 SUMMER CAMP EMPLOYEES River Road Summer Camp is looking for f/t and p/t employees. Must be 18 or older. 15 minutes from LSU. 225.336.9030 PT STUDENT WORKER Excellent student opportunity. Will be responsible for completing company errands and basic clerical work. Must have a clean driving record, excellent communication skills, and basic computer skills. Previous office experience preferred. No nights or weekends. Please e-mail resume and summer and fall class schedules to jobs@ lewis.com. INTERNSHIP Wanted: Poli Sci or International Relations majors to participate in government simulation. 225.910.8861 VET ASSISTANT NEEDED Weekends, nights, experience helpful but not necessary. Apply between 9a -12p and 1-4pm Monday through Friday 225.927.9940 EARN $1000-$3200 A month to drive our brand new cars with ads placed on them. www. YouDriveAds.com $20 FOR ONE HOUR 1 or 2X a month. Clean only one room concrete floor. 225.752.7130 SUMMER CHILD CARE HELP Three active children, ages 11-16 - need supervision at home and transportation to summer activities. Requires safe driving record, references. Call for interview.
Housing
MONDAY, MAY 10, 2010
Deadlines: 12 noon two school days prior to the print publication date
Merchandise
225.768.8846 ATTENTION FRESHMAN Busy Pediatric Cardiology office looking for Hardworking students Criteria: PreMed, Pre- Dent, Pre- Vet or Pre- PA GPA of 3.5 or higher. Required to work summer and continue through fall. Contact Acourville@pcaofbr.com PARKVIEW BAPTIST PRESCHOOL Preschool Afternoon Teachers needed 3-6pm flex days. no degree required. Call Kim 293-9447 FITNESS INSTRUCTORS/FRONT DESK ASSISTANT NEEDED: Great part time afternoon school year job-Full time summer job-Great Pay!Exerfit Family Fitness, Bluebonnet Ave(Crawfish Aquatic’s Sister Program) If you are highly motivated, hard working, we can teach you the rest. Please fax resume to 225-706-1634 or e-mail to mleach@exerfitbr.com website: www.exerfitbr.com N SALES ASSOCIATES NEEDED Massage Envy is looking for enthusiastic Sales Associates for our busy clinic. Must be willing to work nights / weekends. Send resume to Hiring@MassageEnvyBR.com Wages + sales commissions + benefits www.massageenvycareers.com BARTENDERS NEEDED Earn up to $250 per day FT/PT No Exp. Required Will Train Call Now 877-405-1070 x 400
Transportation
For Sale TIGER MANOR CONDOMINIUMS. UNITS READY FOR SPRING and FALL 2010!! Reserve now! 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.
For Rent CAPITAL HEIGHTS Lovely older home with all new appliances including dishwasher and dryer. 4 bedroom plus study, 2.5 bathrooms, large den, large fenced back yard, hardwood floors, No pets, 1 year minimum lease, lawn maintenance included in lease: $2500.00 per month, one month deposit required, absolutely no pets. Credit approval required. Available June 15th 2010. 225.928.9406 3 BDR HOUSE $1200 -all appliancesfenced yard-garage-423 winterhaven 504.780.2583
Services
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THE DAILY REVEILLE
MONDAY, MAY 10, 2010 Duplex $650 @ gates of Nicholson. 841 Iris 2BR/1B House $650. Washer& Dryer included. Pets OK. 1BR Studio $375. McDaniel Prop. 225.388.9858 TIGER MANOR CONDOMINIUMS. UNITS READY FOR SPRING and FALL 2010! Reserve Now! 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. LAKE BEAU PRE’ 3(BR) CONDO LAKE BEAU PRE’ 3(BR) 3(BA) AVAILABLE (JUNE1) CALL 225.335.1491 LARGE 1-BR (650 sq. ft.) $500 and 2-br (1170 sq ft.) $700 in small quiet complex perfect for serious students. Walk, cycle, or take the LSU bus to class, shopping. On-site manager, reserved parking, video surveillence security. 757-8175. Apply online at http://riverroadapartments. tripod.com 3BDR,2.5BTH, 5268 Bright Side View Dr. No.2, $890/mo 225.766.7258 LSU TIGERLAND 1/2 Off 1st Month! 1&2 Bd, Pool, w/ f, Pd Water, Sewer and Gabage $425 to $650 225.615.8521 CHATEAU DU COUR IN TIGERLAND Large 2 BR 1 B in gated complex..772-2429 mckproperties.com CHARMING VINTAGE COTTAGE: Newly refin Hrdwd floors, 2 Bath(Marble/ Ceramic), W/D. Private SunDeck, 3BR, CH/CA, offstreet prkng. Bike to LSU. Tailgate. $990 ap/lease/ deposit. Alarm Monitoring, Yardman incl. Available Now or Fall Semester(8/1/10). Viewing, 225.344.1700 WALK TO LSU 1 BR from $540 and 2 BR from $660, pool, laundry center. University View Apartments on West Parker. Call Hannah 767-2678. NO PETS. HIGHLAND ROAD Houses 3 br 2 ba available Aug 1st $950 - $1200 225.769.1079 HOUSE OFF BURBANK Nice 3br 2bath w/ carport. $1400/mth. 1423 Harwich 9556480 southlandpropertiesinc.com SUMMER GROVE CONODS Gated Community off Brightside Clubhouse with Pool & Work Out Room All Appliances Included 2 & 3 Bedroom Units Available Now, Accepting Deposits for Summer/Fall Move In 225.767.2227 1 BD RM AVAIL SOON. NO PETS. 4065 & 4243 Burbank. 978-1649. $525-550. $300 Deposit. www.lsubr.com for pictures and floor plans. You’ll love Williamsburg and the Willows. 3 BR/2 BA HOUSE NEAR CAMPUS Great house available in quiet neighborhood. Hardwood floors, A/C, dishwasher, disposal, w/d, newly updated, big fenced backyard. Call/text 225-284-0907.
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furnished except for bedrooms. $500 mo/split utilities. Easy access to LSU. 504.430.6278 N ROOMMATE NEEDED!!! 2 Female roommates needed. Partially furnished 2100 sq. ft. condo. 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. 504.722.1372 FEMALE ROOMMATE NEEDED Nice 3 BR / 2 BA in Beau Chene corner of Lee & Nicholson. Close to LSU and located on the LSU bus route. Furnished except for bedrooms. $500 / mo plus utilities. Call 504-756-0966 or 504-4526989 MASTER & REGULAR BEDROOM pvt bath $395 Reg. room $295. Nice house. W&D. Alarm etc. No lease needed. $250 deposit. 225.921.1209
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Personals
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THE DAILY REVEILLE
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