PERRY GOOD
CRIME Two students steal alcohol from tailgaters, page 3.
Perry Riley proves to be consistent force at linebacker, page 5.
THE DAILY REVEILLE
VERY SUPERSTITIOUS WWW.LSUREVEILLE.COM
Volume 114, Issue 45
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Several Baton Rouge sites said to be haunted
Law school may reduce hours needed to graduate
By Adam Duvernay
By Olga Kourilova Contributing Writer
Senior Staff Writer
lsureveille.com
It’s often only a puff of smoke or the sound of footsteps in a supposedly empty building. To many, these signs are nothing more than an old structure settling on its foundation, but for others, they are evidence of something more difficult to explain. Baton Rouge is a city with rich history — and some of that history still haunts some of the town’s oldest sites. During the first state legislative session in 1852, Marksville congressman Pierre Couvil- Log on to lion took the floor of the see photos Old State Capitol cham- and a video of the bers downtown. Enraged by the treat- haunted ment of his constituents buildings by local bankers, an im- and a map passioned debate led to of their him having a fatal heart locations. attack. Though Couvillion’s body was removed, some at the Old State Capitol say he never really left. “There are a lot of things that happen in the building from time to time that we can’t explain,” said Mary Louise Prudhomme, executive director of the Old State Capitol. “He wants us to know what happened to him. He put things in place for us to find out who Pierre Couvillion was.” Employees have reported heavy doors opening and closing without human aid, and ghostly shadows have often appeared in the HAUNTED, see page 12
ALEX BOND / The Daily Reveille
The Old State Capitol is said to be haunted by a former state congressman, Pierre Couvillion, who had a fatal heart attack on the floor of the chambers after a heated debate in a legislative session in 1852.
A student and faculty collaboration has led to several proposed changes to LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center curriculum. Proposed amendments include lowering the graduation requirement from 97 to 94 hours, standardizing the grading system and merging two upper class “basket” requirements into a single 15-hour requirement. The Long Range Planning Committee, the faculty committee conducting a self-study this year before the school undergoes reaccreditation by the American Bar Association, also plans to propose lowering the credit-hour length from 60 to 50 minutes, making anonymous grading of exams mandatory, offering a twoyear plan of courses and modifying the current attendance policy. Law Center Chancellor Jack Weiss said he hopes to get the changes approved at the Board of Supervisors meeting in December. “It takes a while to interest people in change,” Weiss said Scott Sternberg, Student Bar Association president, said his organization has pushed for these reforms “for years.” The SBA submitted a “White Paper” to the committee detailing many of the needs being addressed, he said. Lowering the required amount of hours will effectively eliminate the summer school requirement for law REFORMS, see page 12
BUDGET CUTS
Possible flagship fee may be instituted next semester By Xerxes A. Wilson Staff Writer
There is a 50 percent chance students will pay $1,000 more to attend the University next year, Chancellor Michael Martin told The Daily Reveille Tuesday afternoon. Martin said because of a dire economic outlook for higher education next year, the University may be forced to institute a flagship fee of $500 per semester to keep from cutting University programs.
Because of a $1.9 billion shortfall in state funds for the next two years, higher education is looking to take about $150 million in cuts during the next fiscal year. Martin said the Baton Rouge campus will likely take a cut of about $22 million next year. Martin said if this situation becomes reality as Gov. Bobby Jindal sets his budget, a flagship fee would be the best way for the University to protect its academic core. “Would I rather have the state
at least maintain or increase that funding? Absolutely,” Martin said. “I would rather not have to increase tuition or fees.” Robert Kuhn, associate vice chancellor of budget and planning, said the still-hypothetical flagship fee would be able raise approximately $26 million in funding to offset cuts. Passing such a fee takes a twothirds vote by the legislature, which could be problematic, Kuhn said. “It would be harder to pass
it through the legislature if you had greater cost to the students and greater cost to the legislature through the TOPS account,” Martin said. “Fighting the legislature over the TOPS issue right now is probably a losing proposition, so I suggested a fee to at least neutralize that argument.” Martin said although the hypothetical flagship fee would not be covered by TOPS, administrators would try to exempt students considered in financial hardship from
the new fee. Kuhn said the University considers a student in a financial hardship if a student qualifies for a full Pell Grant. Currently, students who are considered in financial hardship are exempt from the academic excellence fee and operational fee among other smaller fees. Although it is almost certain the University will face a budget cut FEE, see page 12
THE DAILY REVEILLE
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2009
Nation & World
INTERNATIONAL
NATIONAL
China to hunt remains at 1950 US bomber crash site
Obama putting $3.4B toward ‘smart’ power grid
BEIJING (AP) — China will search for the remains of U.S. victims from an Air Force bomber that crashed nearly 60 years ago, state media said Tuesday, a likely gesture of goodwill just weeks ahead of U.S. President Obama’s first visit to the country.
ARCADIA, Fla. (AP) — President Obama made a pitch for renewable energy Tuesday, announcing $3.4 billion in government support for 100 projects aimed at modernizing the nation’s power grid. Touring a field of solar energy panels in west-central Florida, the president urged greater use of several technologies to make America’s power transmission system more efficient and better suited to the digital age. The projects include installing “smart” electric meters in homes, automating utility substations, and installing thousands of new digital transformers and grid sensors. Ex-frat members plead guilty in N.Y. hazing death
Militants killed in anti-Taliban push ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan pressed an offensive deeper into Taliban territory along the Afghan border Tuesday, claiming to have killed 42 militants in the latest stage of an assault seen as crucial in defeating extremism in the nuclear-armed country. The assault into South Waziristan’s unforgiving mountains has triggered a bloody backlash from militants, who are determined to bring the war out of the remote, northwestern region and into the country’s cities in hopes of eroding public and political support.
GENESEO, N.Y. (AP) — Two former members of a banned college fraternity at a western New York campus admitted Tuesday they plied a student with so much
beer, champagne and vodka during a three-day hazing that the young man died of alcohol poisoning. Arman Partamian, 19, a biology sophomore from New York City, was found dead March 1 after drinking excessively to gain membership in the off-campus fraternity at State University of New York in Geneseo. His bloodalcohol level was 0.55 percent, nearly seven times the legal limit for driving. D.C. sniper Muhammad set to die by lethal injection RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The mastermind of the 2002 Washington, D.C.-area sniper attacks will die by lethal injection next month, Virginia officials said Tuesday. John Allen Muhammad declined to choose between lethal injection and electrocution, so under state law the method defaults to lethal injection, Virginia Department of Corrections spokesman Larry Traylor said.
PAGE 2
STATE/LOCAL
Comission pushes increased admission standards (AP) — A commission charged with revamping Louisiana’s higher education systems is recommending tougher admission standards at four-year universities, as a way to try to boost graduation rates. The Postsecondary Education Review Commission made its first set of recommendations Tuesday. Those recommendations include raising admission standards for incoming freshmen at the fouryear schools, beginning in 2012, and setting new target graduation rates for each school. The schools that meet those graduation targets in 2018 and beyond would get some sort of reward. The Board of Regents, which governs public higher education in Louisiana, would be charged with developing the policy for the new standards — and what types of rewards would be given
TODAY ON
lsureveille com
to schools that meet their graduation goals. La. delegation pushes Census on illegal immigrants NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu is under pressure from most of Louisiana’s congressional delegation to support Republican Sen. David Vitter’s proposal requiring that next year’s census forms ask about the status of a person’s citizenship. FDA to ban sale of raw oysters from Gulf of Mexico NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Federal officials plan to ban sales of raw oysters harvested from the Gulf of Mexico unless the shellfish are treated to destroy potentially deadly bacteria — a requirement that opponents say could deprive diners of a delicacy cherished for generations.
Find The Daily Reveille on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lsureveille.
7:20 a.m. 8:20 a.m. Noon 3:20 p.m.
Tigers After Ten Presents the Blackout Series Festival of Chill & Thrills Friday Oct. 30 Student Union Cotillion Ballroom 8:30-11pm For More Information contact Alice Womble @ awombl1@tigers.lsu.edu POETRY NIGHT Friday, October 30th 2009 @ 7:30pm Come to the African American Cultural Center
TODAY
UPCOMING IN OCTOBER
Weather 76 63
Follow The Daily Reveille on Twitter @TDR_news, @TDR_sports and @lsureveille.
4:20 p.m. 5:20 p.m.
BALLIN’ ON
Partly Cloudy
THURSDAY 83 72 SATURDAY 76 55
FRIDAY 77 57 SUNDAY 80 55
MAGGIE BOWLES / The Daily Reveille
Log on to lsureveille.com to see a slideshow of views from the Country Club of Louisiana golf course.
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS
The Daily Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards.This space is reserved to recognize and correct any mistakes which may have been printed in The Daily Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified please contact the editor at (225) 5784811 or e-mail editor@lsureveille.com.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The Daily Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Daily Reveille is an independent entity within the Manship School of Mass Communication. A single issue of The Daily Reveille is free. To purchase additional copies for 25 cents, please contact the Office of Student Media in B-34 Hodges Hall. The Daily Reveille is published daily during the fall and spring semesters and semi-weekly during the summer semester, except during holidays and final exams. Secondclass copies postage paid at Baton Rouge, La., 70803. Annual weekly mailed subscriptions are $125, semester weekly mailed subscriptions are $75. Non-mailed student rates are $4 each regular semester, $2 during the summer; one copy per person, additional copies 25 cents each. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Daily Reveille, B-39 Hodges Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, La.,70803.
THE DAILY REVEILLE B-16 Hodges Hall • Baton Rouge, La. 70803
NICHOLAS PERSAC JERIT ROSER GERRI SAX ELLEN ZIELINSKI J.J ALCANTARA KATIE KENNEDY LESLIE PRESNALL ROBERT STEWART CASEY GISCLAIR MATTHEW ALBRIGHT MEGAN WILLIAMS JAMES HARALSON LAUREN ROBERTS
Editor Managing Editor, Content Managing Editor, External Media Managing Editor, Production Production Editor News Editor Deputy News Editor Sports Editor Deputy Sports Editor Opinion Editor Photo Editor Reveille Radio Director Advertising Sales Manager
Newsroom (225)578-4810 • Advertising (225)578-6090
THE DAILY REVEILLE
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2009
Campus Crime Briefs
UNDERAGE STUDENTS seats, Rogé said. Rogé said Darensbourgh LOOT TAILGATERS FOR handed the bag, which contained BOOZE Two University students about 1.3 grams of marijuana, to were arrested at about 5:20 a.m. the officers when he stepped out Oct. 25 following the LSU-Au- the car. After Darensbourgh was arburn game for allegedly stealing alcohol from ice chests left near rested, officers found a red plastic campers in the Nicholson-Exten- pipe under his seats, Rogé said. Darensbourgh was released sion area. Campus police responded after being issued a misdemeanor to a call from Facility Services summons. cleanup crews in the X174 parking lot on Nicolson Extension MIPS ISSUED AT PARTY While patrolling around the about suspicious people and stopped Daniel Lowe, an 18-year- Lambda Chi Alpha house during old University student of 1003 a party Oct. 24 at about 2 a.m., Cuervo Court, Chesapeake, Va., LSUPD officers discovered two and Rankin Fetzer, an 18-year- students who looked underage, Rogé said. old UniverNicholas Fitzgerald, sity student a 20-year-old student of of 12915 12086 Ellerbe Road in Hansel Ln., Log on to see the Shreveport, and James Houston, Campus Crime Briefs Williamson, a 19-yearoutside the map. old student of 301 Bridge lot. Point Circle in Bossier AccordCity, were found outside ing to Capt. Russel Rogé, LSU Police De- with a Bud Light and a margarita partment spokesman, Lowe and respectively, Rogé said. Rogé said both students were Fetzer were found with two backpacks filled with beer and various reprimanded and were going to containers of alcohol with broken be referred to the Dean of Students as punishment. seals. But the students were again Rogé said the students admitted to stealing the alcohol from found by police, only this time ice chests at least 10 different both were inside the party and in line to buy alcohol, Rogé said. campers in the area. Rogé said the students said Both students were charged with misdemeanor summons for they found the wristbands, which theft and minors in possession of would have allowed them to drink, on the ground outside the alcohol and were released. Fetzer resisted being hand- party. Both were issued MIPs and cuffed and was additionally released. charged with resisting arrest.
lsureveille.com
GUY HAS GRASS IN AG LOT Chad Darensbourgh, a 25-year-old unaffiliated with the University of 1874 Gamwich Rd., was issued a misdemeanor summons for simple possession of marijuana and paraphernalia at about 2:35 a.m Oct. 24. After spotting a parked car with its engine running in the North AgCenter parking lot, officers approached the vehicle to find Darensbourgh trying to hide a bag of marijuana between his
Log on to read additional crime briefs at lsureveille.com Contact The Daily Reveille’s news staff at news@lsureveille.com
PAGE 3
ATHLETICS
Students run long distances Triathlon Club interest increases this year By Sarah Lawson Contributing Writer
Experts say distance running takes patience, motivation and dedication. If that’s the case, David Lane proved he has what it takes when he ran the last three-mile leg of a triathlon barefoot three years ago. Southern University nursing student, LSU Airforce ROTC cadet and former president of the Triathlon Club at LSU said it’s a mistake he’ll never make again as he trains for more triathlons to add to his list of three half-Ironman triathlons and a half-marathon. “I really do enjoy the run at the end of a long triathlon ... it’s really more mental at that point,” Lane said. He said he takes six- to 10mile nightly runs along the levee or around the lakes in addition to required running in ROTC training. But Lane said the running leg of a triathlon is his least favorite part — he prefers cycling because there’s less room for injury. And the distance-running Lane enjoys is catching on at LSU — Jonathan Maurin, chemical engineering freshman said freshmen interest in the Triathlon Club at LSU has increased this year. Maurin trained six months for the Ochsner 70.3 Ironman in New Orleans in April with his father by running on the Lake Ponchartrain lakefront and biking and running along the Tammany Trace. After swimming 1.2 miles, biking 56 miles and running 13 miles, he said the best part was seeing the finish line. “There’s no way you could have stopped me ... It was in the French Quarter, so all of New Orleans was cheering you on,” Maurin said. He runs to stay in shape now — about five miles every afternoon
BENJAMIN OLIVER HICKS / The Daily Reveille
Chemical engineering freshman Jonathan Maurin runs the University lakes Monday. Maurin runs about five miles every afternoon to stay in shape.
around the lakes, which he said was one of the most beautiful places he’s ever run. Mark Elliott, cross country assistant coach, said long-distance running requires dedication. Elliott started running about 30 years ago, and his illustrious career has included running professionally in Europe for shoe companies such as Nike. The Jamaica native said he ran mostly 5K and 10K races. “Long-distance running ... you have to exercise a lot of patience,” Elliott said. “If you’re running that disciplined, you run 70 to 80 miles a week.” Elliott said long-distance running also means self-motivation. He said running provides time for him to think and clear his mind. “Most of the time, you’re out there alone,” Elliott said. Lane said he also enjoys being alone when he runs because he has time to reflect. He downloads podcasts of the radio program “This American Life” before he goes for
a run. “As long as I have a new podcast to listen to, I can run indefinitely,” he said. “Having no cell phone for a couple of hours — that is really nice.” And free technology makes it possible for anyone to self-motivate and train for distance running. Web sites like USA Track and Field and Mapmyrun.com allow users to map running routes, track distances and log exercise progress, and NIKEiD allows users to customize their own running shoes. Thad Broussard, Baton Rouge orthopedic surgeon, runs every day. “I run in the morning and the afternoon, and my wife thinks I’m crazy,” Broussard said. He said running benefits the cardiovascular system and bone deposition, reducing the risk of osteoporosis. Contact Sarah Lawson at slawson@lsureveille.com
Mellow Mushroom Team Trivia @ 8PM. Karaoke @ 10PM 3-10PM $5 Bud & Bud Light Pitchers Plucker’s Wing Bar Monday: $14.99 All you can eat wings and $3 Plucker’s Lemonades Tuesday: $2.50 Mexican Beers and Margaritas Wednesday: Trivia at 8PM. $4 Mother Plucker Mugs Thursday: $15.99 All you can eat wings. $4 Mother Plucker Mugs. $3 Margaritas and Plucker’s Lemonades
9-10:30 AM 12-1:30 PM 3:00-3:30PM 4:00-5:30 PM
Friday the 13th Saw Manship Show Texas Chainsaw Massacre
8:00- 9:30 PM A Nightmare on Elm St. 1:00-2:30AM Friday the 13th
PAGE 4
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
HEALTH
Nation’s big brewers battle it out in calorie cutting Consumers swap beer guts for six-pack abs By Emily Fredrix The Associated Press
MILWAUKEE (AP) — How low can beer makers go? Having conquered the beer-belly set, some of the nation’s biggest brewers are trying to win over the six-packab crowd with ultra-low-calorie suds. The question is: Are drinkers willing to sacrifice flavor and a bit of the buzz? And how long before beer gets turned back into water? Most regular American beers, such as Budweiser, have about 150 calories and 5 percent alcohol, while most light beers contain around 100 calories and 4 percent alcohol. The new brews, MillerCoors’ Miller Genuine Draft 64 and Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Select 55, are well below that. Their calorie counts are in their names, and they both contain less than 3 percent alcohol. Guzzling a whole MGD 64 or Select 55 is like taking a few swigs of a Bud. Mindy Rotellini, a 25-yearold graphic designer from St. Louis who watches her calories, reaches for MGD 64 from time to time, even though the brew is “kind of watery” and it’s tough to
CHARLIE NEIBERGALL / The Associated Press
Bottles of Miller Genuine Draft 64 are seen at a grocery store on Oct. 27 in Des Moines, Iowa. The nation’s top brewers are trying to win over drinkers who want to swap beer guts for six-pack abs by putting new beers on a diet.
feel the alcohol. “I just have to drink more, and then it’s going to equal the amount of calories in a regular beer, so why not just drink a regular beer?” she said. Chris Bethel switched to Select 55 because it is low-cal. He says he likes the light taste and doesn’t mind the reduced alcohol. “I’m not a college kid trying to get wasted,” said the 36-year-old network engineer in the Columbus, Ohio, area. Both drinkers speak to an unavoidable tradeoff: To cut
calories, beer companies reduce the amount of malted barley and other grains that are fermented during the brewing process. That, in turn, reduces the amount of alcohol in the brew. The result is a beer more like its main ingredient, water. “You start producing something that could taste very, very thin,” said Thomas Shellhammer, professor of fermentation science at Oregon State University. “That would be the challenge for the brewer, to produce something that still tastes like beer.”
As for nonalcoholic beers, some have more flavor than others, but overall they tend to have more calories than the super-lowcal brews. The top-selling brand, O’Doul’s, made by AnheuserBusch, has about 70 calories and is thin-tasting. Light beers account for about half of the $99 billion-a-year beer market in the U.S., according to the Beverage Information Group, a market research firm. But the market for super-low-calorie is probably small, said Eric Schmidt, manager of information services.
MillerCoors says MGD 64 has sold twice as much in its first year as Miller Genuine Draft Light, which it replaced a year ago. It would not release specific figures. After a few weeks of testing Select 55 in 15 markets, Anheuser-Busch decided to expand into a dozen more starting this month. The company isn’t sure yet whether demand for the beer is big enough for it to go national. MGD 64 is 2.8 percent alcohol. Select 55 is 2.4 percent. David Mitchell has been drinking MGD 64 since its release and says he prefers its taste to that of Coors Light, his previous beer of choice. “It’s almost like drinking a glass of water, but it has the beer taste,” said the 41-year-old from Gilbert, Ariz. But some hardcore dieters aren’t interested. Beer connoisseur John LeMasney used to review craft beers on his site Beercritic.wordpress. com but gave that up after gaining 50 pounds in a year. He has cut back on his drinking to lose weight. But he refuses to try the new low-cal beers. “I’d rather spend 200 calories and get something I really enjoy,” he said. Contact The Daily Reveille’s news staff at news@lsureveille.com
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Sports
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2009
PAGE 5
GETTING ALL RILED UP Riley developing as quiet leader; shares close bond with linebackers By Rachel Whittaker Chief Sports Writer
His dad calls him “a father’s dream, on and off the field.” Fellow linebacker Jacob Cutrera calls him a vulture, and childhood teammate Kelvin Sheppard says he is “like my brother.” LSU senior linebacker Perry Riley has left his mark on the LSU linebacking corps, consistently ranking at the top statistically in tackles and emerging as a quiet leader for the defensive unit. Cutrera said Riley is one of his closest friends at LSU. “He’s kind of quiet sometimes, but he can be loud if he gets riled up,”
Cutrera said. “I can trust him on the field and off the field. We love each other.” Sheppard said he has known Riley since they were about 8, going all the way back to youth football and high school, where Riley also played running back. “It’s a great opportunity on Saturdays that he’s out there next to me,” Sheppard said. “We’ve been playing linebacker for so long together. He knows my personality, and he knows when I need a pat on the head and he’ll tell me ‘Let’s go.’ I’ll do the same for him.” Riley said his ties with Sheppard extend even to the rest of their families. “Our dads are best friends, and we’re best friends,” Riley said. “Our family tree goes back a long way ... We have two brothers who are the same age, and they grew up together. The generation keeps going.” Riley’s father, Perry Riley Sr., said LSU was the first school his son visited as the recruiting process began
in high school. Riley Jr. was ranked in the top three linebackers in Georgia as a senior. “He was sold on LSU from day one,” Riley Sr. said. “I had to make him take his other visits [to Georgia, Virginia Tech and Auburn]. He didn’t want to visit any other schools after LSU.” Riley Sr. said former LSU co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Bradley Dale Peveto helped recruit his son. When Riley Jr. got to LSU as a freshman, his father said he knew it would take some time before he earned a major role at linebacker. “I would ask [Peveto] every day, ‘When is Perry going to start?’” Riley Sr. said. “And he would tell me, ‘Mr. Riley, give him time. He’s going to be a good one and have his day.’ At a program like LSU, you have to wait your turn and be ready for when it comes.” Riley Jr. did not have to wait long for his turn to come. He played in seven games as a true freshman and recorded his first tackle in LSU’s second game against Arizona. RILEY, see page 11
“We’ve been playing linebacker for so long together. He knows my personality, and he knows when I need a pat on the head and he’ll tell me ‘Let’s go.’” Kelvin Sheppard, LSU junior linebacker
GRANT GUTIERREZ / The Daily Reveille
LSU senior linebacker Perry Riley (56) wraps Auburn senior running back Ben Tate (44) for a tackle Saturday during the Tigers’ 31-10 win against Auburn in Tiger Stadium.
MEN’S GOLF
Tigers win tourney at home
By Luke Johnson Sports Contributor
The LSU men’s golf team kept its foot on the gas long enough to take home the David Toms Intercollegiate team championship Tuesday in their own backyard at the Country Club of Louisiana in Baton Rouge. Junior All-American John Peterson led the Tigers to the title by shooting an 8-under par 205 for the tournament, which was good for second place overall ‘I’ve in the individual championship. got to P e t e r s o n eliminate posted 12 birda few ies through the first 36 holes of mistakes I the tournament and led the field made, but by two strokes it’s great to following the get a team first day. But he victory.’ couldn’t hang on to claim the in- Andrew Loupe dividual title for LSU junior the tournament. Peterson shot a 2-over 73 the final day, which put him one stroke behind Rice freshman Jade Scott, who won the individual title. Scott shot a tournament-low 65 the final round. LSU dealt with rainy conditions for the final round that were more reminiscent of the American Northwest than Louisiana. The team used its knowledge of the course to its advantage when dealing with the poor golfing conditions. The Tigers held a three-stroke lead on Kent State before the final round began Tuesday. LSU didn’t pull away from the field, but they played well enough to hold off Kent State and a surging North Florida team the final day, sealing victory by one stroke. INVITATIONAL, see page 11
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Spencer looks to boost Tiger offense Guard: Wrist injury won’t affect playing By Chris Branch Sports Contributor
At 6 feet 4 inches, Marcus Thornton probably wears about a size 12 or 13 shoe. His metaphorical “shoes,” however, after graduating and taking his 21.1 points per game with him, seem Shaq-
‘‘
‘... We’re going to still have to find our own identity.’ Trent Johnson
LSU basketball coach
sized. Tiger senior forward Tasmin Mitchell seems the logical heir filling a significant portion of Thornton’s void. But beyond that lies uncertainty.
LSU’s next best option is junior point guard Bo Spencer, who scored 11.4 points per game and shot 40 percent from behind the 3-point line last season. “It’s going to be tough,” Spencer said of replacing Thornton’s scoring ability. “Marcus was a great scorer. Hopefully the offense coach [Trent Johnson] has put in will help. Me and Tasmin are going to be the primary scorers.” SPENCER, see page 11
Daily Reveille file photo
LSU junior guard Bo Spencer, right, said despite a wrist injury he suffered last season, he will be able to fill any role needed.
PAGE 6
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
VOLLEYBALL
Season-old NCAA scoring change intensifies matches Rule revisions not uncommon By Andy Schwehm Sports Writer
With the LSU volleyball team down, 20-16, in the fourth set of its 3-1 victory Monday night against Tennessee, LSU coach Fran Flory called a timeout to get her team composed. “I said, ‘We need nine points to win the match. That’s all we need,’” Flory said. “Tennessee still made their run, but we never let them get a two-point run.” Just two seasons ago, that nine points would have been 14, but a rule change implemented by the NCAA after the 2007 season took the first four sets from 30 points down to 25 points and kept the “if necessary” fifth set at 15 points. “It affects every match because 25 points gets on you very fast,” Flory said. “It’s unforgiving. There’s not as big of an opportunity to come back because one play after 20, if you make one or two crucial plays and the other team gives you one, then you are going to win.” LSU senior setter Sam Dabbs said she has seen a change in the way the game is played, especially in the Tennessee match, because of the rule changes. She said she prefers the 25-point sets. “In the game of volleyball, you try to score in increments of three to five points,” Dabbs said. “After two errors made on your side, you want to come back harder and
break the momentum of two points in a row given away, so those five points are huge.” The rule change also dramatically changed the length of matches. Through 20 matches in 2007, LSU’s matches averaged one hour, 59 minutes, while through 20 matches this season, the average time has been just shy of one hour,
44 minutes. But rule changes are nothing new in collegiate volleyball. In 2001, the first rule change occurred, which took the scoring from 15 in each set with points only coming off the serve (also called “sideout serving”) to rally scoring and 30 points in the first four sets and 15 in the final set. The
MEGAN J. WILLIAMS / The Daily Reveille
LSU senior setter Sam Dabbs (8) sets the ball for a spike as senior middle blocker Lauren DeGirolamo (4) and sophomore middle blocker Michele Williams (23) look on Oct. 16 during the Tigers’ 3-0 win against Arkansas in the PMAC.
current scoring format was adopted in 2008. One program the newest rule change may have hit the hardest is Florida, the 18-time defending Southeastern Conference champion. The Gators have already fallen from the conference lead this year with a pair of conference losses (one to Kentucky and one to LSU), and it took them until the last match of last season to win the conference crown in 2008, the longest time since their streak began. The shorter matches give the underdog a better opportunity to beat a better team, said Florida volleyball coach Mary Wise in an Oct. 5 news conference. “That’s why you are seeing matches with wins and losses that you would not see in the olden days,” said Wise, who arrived at Florida in 1991. “The 30 points
kept the separation, but now at 25, one error is magnified.” However, not all coaches feel the same way as Flory and Wise. Georgia coach Joel McCartney said there may be more of a sense of urgency to not make mistakes with the rule change but doesn’t think it has had a dramatic impact on how the game is played. “I don’t think it’s transitioned into anything that’s changed the game too significantly,” McCartney said. “As coaches, we are probably all training the same way. We may change some of the scoring mechanisms of our competitive drills in practice, but outside of that, it’s not much of a change.”
Contact Andy Schwehm at aschwehm@lsureveille.com
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
THE DAILY REVEILLE
PAGE 7
FOOTBALL
Two elite recruits remain on LSU’s radar for 2010 Seastrunk, Reed still undecided By Michael Lambert Sports Contributor
LSU’s 2010 football recruiting class totaled 23 players Monday after Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, Calif., and Scout. com four-star defensive tackle Cassius Marsh pledged to LSU coach Les Miles. Only five spots remain for the 2010 class, and two blue-chip recruits are still undecided — running back Lache Seastrunk and wide receiver Trovon Reed. Seastrunk, the Scout.com No. 2 running back from Temple High School in Temple, Texas, has been at the top on the Tigers’ list. The five-star recruit visited Baton Rouge for the LSU-Florida game, but he has remained tightlipped about his commitment. “There is such little information about him, but LSU has got to like where it is,” said Sonny Shipp, recruiting analyst for Scout. “LSU is in a very good spot.” Running back Spencer Ware of Princeton High School in Cincinnati is the only tailback committed to LSU for 2010. Shipp said Seastrunk would be a important pickup for the Tigers. “Anytime you can get one of the best running backs in the country — and it also fills a big need — it’s huge,” Shipp said. Auburn is another University vying for Seastrunk’s services, as well as four West Coast schools. The running back has officially visited UCLA and California and has another Pac-10 school on his list, USC, mainly because of his favorite player — former USC and current Saints running back Reggie Bush. Shipp said Seastrunk’s running style is similar to Bush’s. “Seastrunk’s more of a slasher and speed guy,” Shipp said. “He can run between the tackles, but he’s not your bruiser like [LSU senior running back] Charles Scott.”
The 5-foot-10, 183-pound running back rushed for more than 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior and 1,600 yards and 22 touchdowns his sophomore season. The two-sport standout also stars for the Temple High School basketball team. Seastrunk plans to visit Oregon this weekend to watch the Ducks take on the Trojans. The running back will see Reed, his friend and fellow bluechip recruit, in Eugene, Ore. Reed is the highest-rated instate recruit remaining on Miles’ radar. The Thibodaux High School star plays quarterback and wide receiver in high school but is projected as a wide receiver at the next level. He ranks as the Scout No. 11 wide receiver in the nation. Reed and Seastrunk are friends on the recruiting trail, but Shipp said it would not affect their decisions. “They may end up at the same school, but one’s not going to go there just because of the other one,” Shipp said. Reed’s visit to Oregon comes
after he came to Baton Rouge for the LSU-Florida and LSU-Auburn games. He went to Auburn on Sept. 19 for the Auburn-West Virginia game. Tennessee and Florida are also in the mix for Reed. “It’s a close battle between LSU and Auburn,” Shipp said. “The closer you get to signing day, the more the hometown factor will come into play.” Reed had time to focus on recruiting after he missed four weeks with a knee injury. He is expected to return to the field in two weeks. The four-star recruit led Thibodaux to a 3-1 record while under center before his injury. He recorded seven touchdowns, rushed for 439 yards and passed for 407. Shipp said Reed and Seastrunk’s decisions will not be made anytime soon, but it may be before National Signing Day on Feb. 3.
photo courtesy of SCOTT GAULIN / The Temple Daily Telegram
Contact Michael Lambert at mlambert@lsureveille.com
Temple High School running back Lache Seastrunk scores on a 49-yard touchdown run against Cedar Park on Sept. 4., becoming Temple’s all-time leading rusher.
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Opinion
PAGE 8
OUR VIEW
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Flagship fee shouldn’t be misleading to student body The University needs money. Instead of LSU Cribs-style pools and state-of-the-art video services found in athletic buildings, average students are greeted with old classrooms, broken desks, faulty ventilation, old video equipment and crumbling buildings. It isn’t pretty, but it is the state of the University. Enter the Flagship Agenda. The University introduced the Flagship Agenda in fall 2002 to im-
plement new strategies for LSU to “improve its research and educational enterprise to make it more nationally competitive,” according to the Flagship Web site. Being ranked No. 9 in football is great, but LSU is an institution of higher education first. In the face of looming budget cuts, Chancellor Michael Martin recently proposed a $30 million fund to help the University’s long-term goals of the Flagship Agenda. This
fund brings an increase in fees, possibly charging students an additional “Flagship Fee” of $500 per semester to attend the University despite students already paying an Academic Excellence Fee — the purpose of which is stated only in the General Catalog as “to promote academic excellence by enhancing instructional programs.” This new Flagship Fee would not be covered by TOPS and other scolarships, though Chancellor
Michael Martin said the University would plan to assist students in financial hardship, mainly those students qualifying for a full Pell Grant. The Daily Reveille hopes any new fees will be clearly communicated to the student body, and we hope students will be involved with this situation — cutting funds means either raising tuition and fees or cutting programs. Students should be aware of the University’s budgetary problems, and
we should lobby the state government to more fully fund higher education, an invaluable resource to Louisiana, to avoid both cutting programs and increasing our costs. LSU students are smart enough to realize the Flagship Agenda is an overall great thing for the University. We just don’t want to be shortchanged in the details. Contact the Editorial Board at editor@lsureveille.com
BURNS AFTER READING
Halloween, full moon unleashes true identities
Halloween seemed pretty simple back in the good ole’ days. But All Hallow’s Eve takes on an entirely new meaning in college. You see, for many students, Halloween isn’t just some silly festival. It’s a coming-out party — an annual opportunity for closeted stereotypes to shed their daily disguise and reveal their real persona. It’s not about getting cheap candy anymore. It’s about getting attention and a cheap sense of acceptance. Don’t believe me? Well let’s take a stroll down Carlotta Street and play a little game called “spot the stereotype.” Take King Leonidas over there for instance. For our purposes, we’ll just call him Todd. Todd is king of the douches. Outside this party, he’s Mr. Guido incarnate. If his spiked hair and skin-tight youth-medium T-shirts don’t give it away, his limited vocabulary will. After all, why speak coherent English when you
can substitute rad syllables like “Bro” for virtually anything in the English bro-cabulary. How does Todd keep that muscle-tone bod? Glad you asked, bro-dysseus. Turns out, Todd is at the REC pumping iron eight days a week, five weeks a month, 400 days a year. Numbers don’t add up, you say? “Eat shit!” Because Todd’s superhuman ego allows him to forcefully subdue space, time and improper fractions. Not sold? Go ask him. Todd loves to brag about his power-lifting, ’roid-popping exploits. Legend has it Todd and his two spotters can bench-press 235 pounds. Pretty impressive for a guy who — thanks to cheap Bolivian steroids — only has one functioning testicle. Tough luck, bro-nad. Who knows? With a few more Muscle Milks, Todd might even earn a roster spot on the LSU football team. Sound far-fetched? Evidently you’ve never seen Todd’s
BEST AND WITTIEST
Mother Nature’s efforts victorious
cartoon courtesy of KING FEATURES SYNDICATE
THE DAILY REVEILLE Editorial Board NICHOLAS PERSAC JERIT ROSER ELLEN ZIELINSKI MATTHEW ALBRIGHT
Editor Managing Editor, Content Managing Editor, Production Opinion Editor
ERIC FREEMAN JR.
Columnist
MARK MACMURDO
Columnist
amazing JV highlight reel. Rush Propst would’ve killed for such a stout fourth-string tight end. One thing is certain. Todd is NOT gay. He might spend hours loitering in the men’s locker room. But he’s not looking to schedule an ap- Scott Burns poinment with Columnist an analrapist (see “Arrested Development”). Because he’s NOT a bro-keback bro-mosexual. And he’ll tell you — emphatically. He’s definitely not “queer,” Bro-seph Addai. Sure, he’s converted his tight end to a wide receiver a few times. But, bro, he was totally plastered from Malibu shots. Totally, totally not gay. Oh, and before you leave, make sure you compliment young Leonidas on his radiant spray tan and his “killer” beard. Just don’t ask if
According to Mary Walker Baus’ article “Tailgating festivities overshadow ECO’s goal” in Monday’s issue of The Daily Reveille, Mother Nature lost to the LSU tailgating community. As a tailgater this past Saturday, I beg to differ. The article states that the defeat came when the volunteers of the Environmental Conservation Organization, ECO, collected only 20 to 25 of 200 distributed blue recycling bags. Retrieving all 200 bags was never ECO’s goal, which Baus acknowledged in Friday’s issue of the Daily Reveille when she reported, “Claire Ohlsen, ECO at LSU media
he got gorilla-masked with erratic patches of wet pubic hair. Sadly, Todd isn’t the only pathetic stereotype roaming on Carlotta Street tonight. Case in point: take the slutty she-devils like “Susan.” Susan is a whore. You’d never guess it any other day of the year. But, trust me, everyone has had his share of her sloppy exponents. Frat boys. Entire offensive lines. Her stepfather. You name it. Sure, on the surface Susan seems like a good, wholesome girl with a heartwarming southern accent. She even goes to mass twice a week, where she’s occasionally been caught bobbing for apples under Father Johnson’s tunic. But that’s not all. Every Halloween, Susan’s menstrual cycle magically aligns with the full October moon and the Trojan expiration date to procreate with some runaway demon seed. From what I hear, this low-
budget whore thriller always ends happily. And luckily for this particular bro, Susan’s already reached the “Buy 10, get one free” mark on her customer appreciation card at the Brightside a-bro-tion clinic. Everywhere you turn, you’re bound to run into these closet stereotypes. So just do yourself a favor — laugh at their insecurity. They’ve earned it. Then again, who knows? Maybe you’re one of these people. Maybe your real costume is the one you see in the mirror 364 days a year. If so, here’s to you, bro. You might be wearing a “costume” this weekend. But, trust me, you’re not fooling anyone.
coordinator, said ECO’s goal is to ‘educate tailgaters about what to recycle, why to recycle and how to recycle.”’ And educate is what we did. With solar-powered music, recycling, composting, and locally grown food at ECO’s tailgate, we showed how something as traditional as tailgating can be more environmentally friendly. We concentrated on recycling because it is the easiest way for people to do their part in conserving resources. Facility Services provides the bins and bags and collects them later. All one has to do is choose where they throw their garbage. Contrary to the title of the article, ECO’s efforts were not overshadowed, and the final score between Mother Nature and tailgaters was not 25 of 200 bags collected. It was 10.41 tons of recycling retrieved
from 70.48 tons of total waste. That’s 17 percent of all of the rubbish gathered over the weekend conserved, or, to give you a better idea, the approximate weight of one killer whale, fifty tigers, or two Hummer H3s. Victorious? Definitely. Yet, the most vital point to be made is that the planet was not just in the minds of a few student volunteers on Saturday. Across the world, people of all cultures, ages, ethnicities, and religions came together on October 24th to show their concern for their home planet, their only Earth. If you would like proof, look at some of the 19,000 photos from 181 countries submitted to 350.org. You’d be surprised at exactly how victorious Mother Nature was this weekend.
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.
Scott Burns is a 20-year-old economics and history junior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_sburns. Contact Scott Burns at sburns@lsureveille.com
Matt Wyatt ECO@LSU Co-VP
QUOTE OF THE DAY “The best way to get approval is not to need it.”
Hugh Macleod American cartoonist, author 1965 — present
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE
Opinion
PAGE 9
On health, don’t just do something, stand there A long time ago, in a metaphor far, far away, there was a country named Ruritania. Ruritania was much like the U.S., except instead of spending more than 60 years trying to lower the cost of health insurance, their government focused its political energy on attempts to lower the cost of fire insurance. During the largest war in Ruritanian history, the government imposed price controls to stave off inflation. Changing wages was a punishable offense. As a way around the ruling, Ruritanian employers competed for workers by paying for their fire insurance. Employees didn’t report their new earnings to the taxmen at the Ruritanian Revenue Service at first, but the RRS agents soon demanded their slice of the fire insurance pie. Ruritanians howled in outrage, and Ruritanian politicians decreed fire insurance provided by an employer exempt from income tax. As a result, fire insurance companies marketed to companies instead of consumers, negotiated for bulk dis-
counts from firemen and put individuals who tried to individually purchase insurance at a disadvantage. Many Ruritanians were unsatisfied with their fire coverage, so they lobbied their local politicians to mandate “better” insurance. Leaders of Ruritanias’ 50 regions forced insurers to cover things they wouldn’t normally cover. Instead of only paying for catastrophes, fire insurance kicked in for everyday expenses. Striking a match, igniting a stove and turning on the heater resulted in a bill fire insurance companies had to pay. Ruritanians were isolated from their own heat care expenses — and they lived like it — but they paid for the increased heat care costs of others through increased premiums. Heat care costs as a percentage of GDP skyrocketed, prices went higher and the mandates burned the Ruritanians it was allegedly intended to help. To avoid high costs, Ruritanians in regions with the highest fire insurance premiums switched to fire insurers from less regulated regions of Ruritania. Local politicians, upset to see their policies rejected, made
it illegal to buy fire insurance from companies in a different region. So the mandates were enforced, competition was stifled, monopolies became prevalent and prices rose even higher. And every time prices rose, it fueled the flames of even higher price increases. The higher the price of heat Daniel Morgan care, the more Columnist people gambled by being uninsured. But the first to drop insurance were those who needed it less. The average cost per person increased as the less expensive customers quit. Prices rose yet again, and the cycle repeated. Geeks call this process adverse selection. Ruritanians called it unjust and complained to their politicians who decided to treat the symptoms of this regulatory mess with — wait for it — more regulations.
To address the adverse selection problem, they proposed mandating all Ruritanians have fire insurance. Another proposed reform would make insurers ignore preexisting conditions. Insurers would have to charge the same rate to a warehouse full of fire extinguishers as to a house in the process of burning down. They would also make it illegal for companies to develop contractual limits on heat prices. The result would be higher prices and a wealth transfer from the low-risk to the high-risk insured. Others even called for a public fire insurance option. These reformers believed the Ruritanian government could contain costs despite its debt of over ten trillion rurs. As you probably guessed, this isn’t a story about fire insurance, heat care and Ruritanians. This is a story about medical insurance, health care and you. President Barack Obama’s proposed reform will be a wealth transfer from relatively healthy youth to our more sickly, richer elders. As a college student, you’re the target of
the “redistribution.” If your state had stayed out of health care, you would purchase health insurance from companies competing across state lines, waste would be avoided and you would be financially safe from any catastrophic medical disasters. As economist Arnold Kling put it, “Claims would be rare and large, as in fire insurance. Premiums would be low, as in fire insurance.” But instead we chose one failed reform after another. The moral of the Ruritanian tragedy is clear: government action — violence and the threat of violence — doesn’t solve social problems. Until we learn that, we won’t be living happily ever after. Daniel Morgan is a 21-year-old economics senior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_dmorgan.
Contact Daniel Morgan at dmorgan@lsureveille.com
NIETZSCHE IS DEAD
Comedians should learn from Pythons’ absurdity
And now, for something completely different... Earlier this month, legendary British comedy troupe Monty Python celebrated its 40th anniversary. The milestone was, of course, heralded with a flurry of accolades, tributes and awards, including honors from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Many Americans know the Pythons almost exclusively in the context of their movie “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” But the fiveman funny band’s primary body of work is actually their long-running, award-winning TV show, “Monty Python’s Flying Circus.” In some ways, it’s ironic that the Pythons now celebrate such widespread acclaim. The group’s original aim was to create a subversive brand of humor that defied classification — as Python Terry Jones said, “the fact that Pythonesque is now a word in the Oxford English Dictionary shows the extent to which we failed.” The reason is simple. The wit and wackiness of Flying Circus served to do more than just elicit laughs. Through their absurd sketches, they pointed out and tore down what is absurd about the world they lived in. “Ministry of Silly Walks,” for example, is funny without examination of a deeper meaning — the mere sight of the towering Cleese scraping the floor with his knees is enough to make virtually anyone giggle. But the subversive social criticism is even funnier — the Pythons were ridiculing the beauracracies of Britain, mocking their stringent observance of formality and
their colossal inefficiencies. On a less subtle note, the sketch “Upper-class twit of the year,” displays a competition of upper-class Brits on a race-track, competing (ineptly) to complete simple everyday tasks like jumping over matchsticks and unhooking a lady’s bra, and racing to comMatthew plete feats of Albirght annoyance, such Opinion Editor as waking the neighbors by slamming a car door. The sketch is some of the most biting satire in the broadcast medium — as John Cleese laments in an interview “It was probably that sketch that prevented me from getting knighted.” Such is the persuasive power of humor — by ridiculing the status quo, they exposed flaws in the social structure in a unique and powerful way. Sadly, there is little American comedy today that can accomplish this feat. Currently, most comedy we see is rooted in, at best, everyday trivia and, at worst, cheap sophomoric sex jokes. Even political comedians, while ocasionally funny, are hardly cunningly satrical. The average ones just one make easy cracks about how stupid George W. Bush or Sarah Palin are. The best, such as Jon Stewart and his team, occasionally land perfectly aimed criticism, but the humor is usually more a result of the truth of their observations, rather than the cleverness of the delivery. If any American show comes
close to the Python ideal, it’s South Park. That’s right — think of Cartman as our John Cleese. The creators of South Park have repeatedly pointed to the Pythons as a huge influence in their work — from their comedic style to even their most basic animation techniques, which closely resemble Terry Gilliam’s surreal segue cartoons. Sometimes South Park rises up and reaches Pythonesque levels of creativity. But these episodes are sadly not the norm. Like most modern American comics, their writers rely too often on the crutches of
obscenity, vulgarity (although their criticism of censorship sometimes legitimzes this) toilet humor and shock value, with no more aim than to get cheap laughs out of the less socially-minded demographics. It’s hard to blame anyone for not being as good as the Pythons — to do so would be like criticizing modern artists because we don’t have a Da Vinci. But it isn’t too much to ask our comedians to try. Instead of telling just another sex joke, instead of making fart noises and doing stuff while drunk or high, our comedians should aim a little higher. There’s nothing wrong with
laughing just to laugh. But using humor for laughs alone is like using a calculator just to spell out words. And if that’s the case, then the Pythons were using their calculators to teach advanced calculus — and every comedian today is sitting in their classroom. Matthew Albright is a 20-year-old mass communication sophomore from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_malbright.
Contact Matthew Albright at malbright@lsureveille.com
BEST AND WITTIEST
cartoon courtesy of KING FEATURES SYNDICATE
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Classifieds
PAGE 10
Help Wanted 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 Sales Associates needed for local gift and home interiors store. Must be able to work during the Christmas holidays. Apply in person at The Royal Standard, 2877 Perkins Rd., or email trs2877@yahoo.com p/t sales associates Ladies shoe boutique needs outgoing, dependable sales people. No nights and no Sundays. 12728 Perkins Rd. 225.767.9043 Earn Extra Money Students needed ASAP. Earn up to $150 per day being a mystery shopper. No Experience Required Call 1-800722-4791 Notes & Note Takers Wanted Freshman & Sophomores in Demand. We pay top dollar for Notes & Note Takers. email:notes@thetigernotes.com preschool teacher needed Small learning center near LSU needs part-time afternoon teacher who loves to work with young children. 2:30 - 5:30 M-F; 225.766.1159 HOLIDAY HELP NOW! ** $15 BASE/appt ** Flex-day/wknd schedule Part-time and can be permanent. Customer sales/svc-conditions apply All ages 17+ 225-279-1691 Looking for Part Time Brand Ambassadors for a Night Life Program in Baton Rouge! Candidates must be available Thursday - Saturday evenings. Looking for outgoing and energetic candidates that enjoy the nightlife! Hired staff will be required to attend mandatory day time training. Program will run through the end of January 2010. Rate of pay: $8/ hr. Email resume to cgramza@gmrmarketing. com. EEO www.louiescafe.com Busy veterinary clinic needs afternoon and weekend receptionist. Please apply in person at 7807 Greenwell Springs Rd. new & trendy coffee shop “THE BARE BEAN” (LOCATED IN THE CATERIE PARKING LOT) ** TAKING APPLICATIONS FROM 1PM-3PM MON - FRI** 225.936.5682 Part Time Sales Person wanted for womens boutique in Mall of Louisiana. FUN ENVIORNMENT and GREAT PAY. Call Lacey @ 225 907 2883
ISDS Graduates We are searching for a HelpDesk Analyst to fill a full-time, permanent position. Great opportunity in the Baton Rouge area for December Graduates. Geaux Tigers! Email resumes to hr@bankers-bank.com STUDENTPAYOUTS. COM Paid Survey Takers Needed In Baton Rogue. 100% Free To Join! Click On Surveys. F/T Gymnastics Director Salary & benefits Exp and good comm skills a must. Leaps & Bounds Sports Center in Denham Springs Contact: gmmlavergne@aol. com 225.665.7200 Survey Takers Needed: Make $5-$25 per survey. GetPaidToThink.com.
Nice, spacious, 1 bdrm, 1 bath condo 1 mile from Campus on Lee Dr. Washer/ Dryer in condo, fenced yard, 1 year lease, $600 225-284-6440
would make the perfect s’more. Together, we can slay any problem. If you let me, I’ll be your cowboy any day... Love, lone_ranger1228@yahoo.com
WalK To Campus 1Br, 2Br, and Townhomes. Starting as low as $400.00. www.lsuwestchimesplace.com 225.346.4789
LOOKING FOR FRIENDS 19-year-old music addict (especially loves Tool and classical music) in search of someone to hang out; must LOVE music and books and be open-minded with regard to religion, music, sexuality and gender issues. Email phoenixmoth@gmail.com.
LSU, TIGER PARK APT, 1&2BR Townhouse & flat, woodfloor, pool, busline, move-in special, $450-625/mo., 225.615.8521
Roommate Wanted
BARTENDING UP TO NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. TRAINING PROVIDED. AGE 18+ OK 1-800-965-6520 ext127
Reliable roommate needed 2BR/2BA condo near LSU campus. Call for pricing. 225.573.6181
Parkview Baptist Preschool Preschool Teachers needed flex days no degree required 293-9447
Female roomate needed for house 4 blocks from LSU. $375/mo plus 1/3 utilities. Available ASAP. Email cwils45@lsu.edu
For Sale Tiger Manor Condominiums. UNITS READY FOR SPRING 2009!! 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 Tiger Manor Condominiums. UNITS READY FOR SPRING 2009! Reserve Now! Brand new 1, 2, & 3 bedrooms available. Reserve your unit today! Walk to class! 3000 July St. 225-3465055. www.tigermanor.com Location. Location. Location... Start Living. Spacious 2 BR/2BA $945 MOST UTILITIES FREE www.tigerplazaliving.com 225.709.7000 Chateau du Cour in tigerland Large 2 BR 1 B in gated complex..772-2429 mckproperties.com 1-bed APT & 2-BED Townhouse, W / D included, near LSU, $450-$650 / month, Call Wang at 225.278.6622 3BR/2BA, 2BR/2BA, & 1BR/1BA apt. minutes from campus, AvailableDec. 1. for more information 225.939.6766 3BD/2BA HOME OFF BRIGHTSIDE @ 5037 AMBERALYNN DR $1750.00/ MONTH 5 MIN TO CAMPUS 225.276.0393 2BR/1BA. 398 Jennifer Jean, Close to LSU. Central AC/ Heat. Water/sewage paid. $650/ mo w/$650 deposit. 10 to 12 mo lease. 225678-2093
all utilities included!!! $398 / mth. Spacious 2BA/1BR Stadium Square Apt in Tigerland. Female Roommate. roomdemi@ gmail.com or 832.398.5429 Looking for Roommate Condo to share, 3BR/2BA, utilities and WiFi included, gated parking, Tigerland, near bus line, pool, washer/ dryer, $490 per roommate, 504-905-4782 master&reg. room. No lease pvt bath $395. Reg. room $295. W&D., alarm, Cox. $250 deposit. 225.921.1209
Personals Big Country here looking for a southern belle to keep me company fishing in the dark. I like 4 wheeling, horseback riding and horseplayin. Give me a holler down on the farm. (225) 235-8926 FEMALE Searching for a gentleman to sweep my BFF off her feet! She’s a 5.7 newly single white 20 yr. old cutie looking for bigger and better things. Must be a hopeless romantic and enjoy movie dates. Email:gazin4devotion@ gmail.com or forever hold your peace. Missing: WOMBO KING I’m looking for the Wombo King. He had $12, a set of car keys, and a stick of gum in his pocket. Last seen wearing a JCPenny shirt. May answer to “Hektacular.” If found, email me at darthlibby@ yahoo.com MUST MEET GOOGLY EYE PERSON If you are the person putting up the googly eyes around LSU, I must meet you! contact fgarrett@gmail.com OBAMA... Attractive red headed non-freckled conservative sophomore male, looking for an equally attractive, preferably non-obese conservative female to get drunk and talk politics with...and nothing else Mr. Smoochie@yahoo.com PARAS, your graham cracker and my chocolate
CHALLENGE: l’m looking for an attractive GENTLEMAN (20-24) to sweep my cousin off her feet from her “tool” of a boyfriend. She is a hottie with a body. So guys if your up for the challenge, please contact: cousin_in_need@ yahoo.com Not Your Average Gay: Tall, strong, goal driven guy, seeks intelligent, creative, athletic man for a school year fling. Ages 21-29 All bets are off after May 21. (texts only:) 757.581.4777 A young girl student needed! A honest nice mature man at LSU is looking for a pretty, smart, lovely, nice and intelligent girl student over coffee, dinner or dance or more! Reach me at robertwillaims2008@yahoo.ca. Looking 4 Ms Right! East Indian LSU Senior looking to meet a smart, sensitive, and intelligent girl over coffee! Reach me at arienrocks1@gmail.com TEST SUBJECT NEEDED!!! Tall, dark, chiseled male looking for a same-sex playmate to help discover my new lifestyle. Needs to be open for experimentation, physically and emotion-
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
ally. 8 pack preferred but 6 pack acceptable. Come let me make your dreams come true. sjdude112189@yahoo.com looking for my match to fill the little opening in the jumbeled sock drawer of my heart. White female who is into snake charming, chainsaws & sealing envelopes with hot wax. Seeking male companion with high ACT score, high cheekbones and high self esteem. No Weirdos PLEASE! allthegoodonesweretaken666@yahoo.com girl needed for laundry and creation of tasty ice cream treats hungrymandirtylaundry@yahoo.com SEARCHING 4 SOULMATE 20yo Asian guy seeking masculine guy 18-23 to date. Races open. I’m a sweetheart! tigerboy1988@gmail.com
Miscellaneous Don’t Settle For B’s Make Your Next Paper an A. Visit www.mmwritingconsultants.com to see how. Blastoff Homepage (Free) consolidate internet media and social networks into ONE Cool, Free Homepage. Earn Cashback for shopping through your Blastoff site at over 400 participating retailers www. LABLASTOFF.com
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2009
THE DAILY REVEILLE
the most part on the par 5s,” said Loupe. “I think I had three or four “Today the course played hard,” eagle putts, and that’s what led to said LSU coach Chuck Winstead. it. I could’ve done better. I’ve got to “The harder it would play, the more eliminate a few mistakes I made, but our guys would have the advantage it’s great to get a team victory.” of playing the course in different The Tigers have a week to enconditions. This is the only event joy their victory before they take on where we would have that advantage another David Toms-inspired course. in those regards.” The Tigers will stay Junior Andrew in-state to play the Loupe enjoyed his Carter Plantation best round of golf Intercollegiate next for the tournament week in Springfield during the crucial for their last tournafinal round of the ment this fall. tournament. Loupe “ O b v i o u s l y, shot a 5-under 66 you can’t win and Chuck Winstead on the final day to be doing things LSU men’s golf coach rocket himself up bad,” Winstead the leaderboard. He said about his team. started the day in a tie for 18th place “We are not a finished product. We and finished the tournament in sole need to get better, and I think the possession of fourth place. guys want to do that. The thing about Loupe was 8-under on par 5s our guys is that they set the bar high. throughout the tournament. He aver- They want to be the best.” aged 4.33 strokes on par-5 holes to lead the field in par-5 performance Contact Luke Johnson at for the tournament. ljohnson@lsureveille.com “I drove it into the fairway for
INVITATIONAL, from page 5
‘‘
‘The thing about our guys is they set the bar high. They want to be the best.’
RILEY, from page 5
He got opportunities for even more playing time as his career went on, starting nine games as a junior in 2008 and earning Defensive Most Valuable Player honors when LSU beat Georgia Tech, 38-3, in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on Dec. 31. He has recorded 135 total tackles as an LSU linebacker. Riley Jr. was also a finalist for the 2008 Dick Butkus Award, given to the best linebacker in college football, and he is the only LSU player nominated for the award again this year. “Any kind of award your kids receive, you’re happy about it,” Riley Sr. said. “We’re hoping this year he can win [the Butkus Award].” Riley Jr. said he and Sheppard did not make a conscious effort to attend the same college. “[Sheppard and I] didn’t plan to come here together,” Riley Jr. said. “We both said we liked it here, but it just kind of happened that way. I’m glad it did.”
Contact Rachel Whittaker at rwhittaker@lsureveille.com
PAGE 11
Johnson said Spencer should be fine for the season opener. Spencer’s ascension to the “He’s good,” Johnson said. team’s No. 2 scorer last season hit “He’s got a level of toughness a snag when he nicked his wrist and a level of competitiveness. in a win at Kentucky Feb. 28. He’ll be fine. When [trainer] Spencer’s wrist ended up needing Shawn [Eddy] says they can play surgery during the summer. and go full speed, that’s what I go “Bo hasn’t had as productive off of.” a spring or sumSpencer, mer as he would though not at 100 have liked,” Johnpercent, is conson said. “A lot fident about his of that has to do ability to fill any with the injury to role needed. his wrist.” “I feel like Shortly after I can step up to recovery, Spencer it,” Spencer said. Trent Johnson again suffered a “It’ll be pretty LSU men’s basketball coach setback. Spencer fun, but it’ll be was walking up hard at the same the steps to his apartment with time.” pizza and iPhone in hand when The 6-foot-2-inch, 186he slipped. pounder came to LSU from Trying to save both was a Glen Oaks High School in Baton bad idea. Rouge. Spencer was ranked as a The fall refractured Spen- Scout.com three-star recruit. He cer’s wrist. But Spencer said his played for legendary coach Harstumble only resulted in an avul- vey Adger. sion fracture, which is similar to Johnson said Spencer’s pera sprain. formance this season will be vital “It was just like a sprained to the team’s chances of contendankle, so it wasn’t as bad as any- ing in the Southeastern Conferone thought it was,” Spencer said. ence. “I’m back playing now.” “We’re going to have to do a lot of things differently than what we did offensively,” Johnson said. “He does understand that he’s going to have to be a lot better than he was last year in terms of running this basketball team and in terms of scoring, too.” Along with Thornton, LSU lost occasional scorers Chris Johnson and Garrett Temple. Both were known less for scoring and more for defense, but each averaged a little more than seven points per game. “We’re going to try to look at last year as a whole different team,” Spencer said. “We’re going to use that to boost our confidence, but we’re going to still have to find our own identity. We can’t live off last year’s identity. We’re working hard to find our own identity as a team.” The Tigers open the season Nov. 13 against Louisiana-Monroe in the PMAC.
SPENCER, from page 5
‘‘
‘[Bo Spencer] has a level of toughness and a level of competitiveness.’
Contact Chris Branch at cbranch@lsureveille.com
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 FEE, from page 1
of some amount for the next fiscal year, it is not certain that legislators would pass the flagship fee to offset cuts, Kuhn said. It is also likely the University will be facing similar cuts even the following year, said Bob Keaton, supervisor of internal audit for the
REFORMS, from page 1
students, Weiss said. Though summer programs will still be available, students will no longer be required to take a seventh semester, he said. Not having to take summer classes will allow students to begin interning earlier, Sternberg said. The low median GPA at the Law Center was a top concern in the
HAUNTED, from page 1
windows of the building, Prudhomme said. Old State Capitol employees consider Couvillion’s ghost a friendly spirit, according to Prudhomme. Jennifer Broussard, director of the paranormal investigations team, Louisiana Spirits, said she was impressed by the level of other-worldly activity at the Old State Capitol several months ago. “I believe there are several spirits who do roam the halls there,” Broussard said. “So much has taken place there, and it’s such a beautiful building, who would want to leave?” Broussard said most of the building is an electronic dead zone, and her electromagnetic spectrum equipment reacted strongly while Louisiana Spirits investigated the building. Willie’s On the River, located at 140 Main St., was named for the specter of one of the building’s original construction workers. Wanda Calkins, general manager of Willie’s, said the bar’s namesake was crushed to death when a wall fell on him in the 1800s. She said she’s recognized his presence since she took over. “In the very beginning, it was a little unsettling,” Calkins said. “But now he and I are good friends. He’s just a spirit in limbo. He just never left.” Calkins said when the bar was still called The Thirsty Tiger, Willie use to play on the billiard tables every night. She said she used to see the balls move seemingly by themselves. After the televisions began flickering on and off, Calkins hired a repairman to check the building’s wiring. She said the electrician wasn’t able to find anything wrong, but the televisions still switch on and off occasionally. Employees and customers of The Spanish Moon on Highland Road claim the establishment houses spirits from at least 100 years ago. “If there are any ghosts here, it could be anyone from a little girl to hundreds of bodies from the floods,” said J. Bourgeois, a Spanish Moon bartender. Bourgeois said when the building was still a feed and grain storage, a young girl was trampled to death by horses. After the 1920s, Catfish Floods washed away much of the city, and the building was transformed into a makeshift morgue.
THE DAILY REVEILLE
PAGE 12
LSU System. “If we have serious budget shortfall this year, and we cover it by putting it on the backs of students and it happens again, then I believe we are going to have to take that cold, unfortunate look at some program eliminations,” Martin said. Program cuts and eliminations are the worst-case scenario, Martin
said. “I’m hoping that I don’t have to exercise fully the prospect of fundamentally reducing the scope and size of LSU, and I hope the people out there who pay attention know it’s a real possibility and keep us from having to do it,” Martin said. Kuhn said the only other option aside from cutting program-
ming and increasing the revenue of the University — by increasing fees — would be to make the University operate more efficiently. But Martin said the University already runs a very efficient operation. Kuhn said cutting University faculty and staff salaries are not an efficient method for recouping
funds. Kuhn said the University would have to cut all University employees’ salaries by more than 10 percent to raise the $26 million that could be raised by a flagship fee.
White Paper, he said. “All we really did was level the playing field,” Sternberg said. At LSU, a third-year student in the top 10 percent has an average GPA of 3.268, while at comparable law schools, the median GPA is between 3.6 and 3.7. Though class ranks are also important, some companies have a minimum cut-off GPA before they
will interview a potential applicant, Sternberg said. “It’s a good thing to have us on par with other schools,” said Dennis Harper, first-year law student. Employers who aren’t familiar with the school may ignore LSU applicants because of their comparatively lower GPAs, he said. “I became aware during my first year that our grading system was
out of sync with the rest of the law school world,” said Weiss, who has been chancellor since 2007. Because grades measure relative performance, it’s important they are comparable to other law institutions, Weiss said. Merging the two basket requirements will give students more flexibility to specialize in either civil or international law, rather than requiring them to take a set amount of
hours in each, Sternberg said. Professors have been very supportive of the changes, said Jonathan Brehm, first-year law student.
Though other employees and customers tell of their experiences, Bourgeois said he is skeptical. “A lot of people who come here say they see things and feel things, but I have literally stayed here for three days and never seen anything,” Bourgeois said. Still, he said he never goes downstairs when he is at the bar alone late at night. He said “it just
doesn’t feel right.” Morgan Goff, agriculture freshman, said she believes in ghosts and is convinced her old home in Donaldsonville is haunted. “It was just an eerie feeling, kind of like someone is always watching you,” Goff said. She said she has seen objects move seemingly by themselves and lights turning on and off in her
home. Two former plantations outside the city limits, the Myrtles and Houmas House, have also been historic hotbeds of ghostly activity. Visitors come from all corners of Louisiana to catch a glimpse of Chloe, the mysterious figure who appears across the Myrtles plantation, or of the eight mysterious “gentlemen” who haunt Houmas House.
Kiersten Bazdera, agriculture sophomore, said she has visited the Myrtles almost 15 times. She said she used to believe in spirits haunting the grounds there, but now thinks she was only trying to convince herself of the otherworldly.
Contact Xerxes A. Wilson at xwilson@lsureveille.com
Contact Olga Kourilova at okourilova@lsureveille.com
Contact Adam Duvernay at aduvernay@lsureveille.com