Question of the Week Log on to lsureveille.com to see what students are listening to around campus.
NEWS UREC and Ath. Dept. encourage breast cancer awareness, page 4.
THE DAILY REVEILLE Vision of the Past
Volume 114, Issue 29
WWW.LSUREVEILLE.COM
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
LSU beats Georgia in food drive
Statue of black man has history of controversy
By Xerxes A. Wilson Staff Writer
LSU beat Georgia twice last weekend — on the football field and in a food drive between the schools. The University’s Student Athletic Trainers Association blew out Georgia’s Sports Medicine Club in its two-week “Can the Bulldogs” food drive competition. The SATA gathered more than 7,000 pounds in dry food donations, eclipsing Georgia’s Sports Medicine donations, which totaled about 800 pounds, said Erin Greenwich, kinesiology senior and SATA president. The Athletic Training Student Association partnered with CHAMPS Life Skills program in the Academic Center for Student Athletes to gather food donations at athletic events and inside the Cox Communications Academic Center, Greenwich said. The association also recruited local high schools to gather donations. The high schools gathered more than 5,000 pounds in donations for the competition, Greenwich said. The food gathered will be donated to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. Greenwich said she wants to hold the competition on a yearly basis incorporating other sporting events to announce the winner because LSU doesn’t play Georgia on a yearly basis.
By Adam Duvernay Senior Staff Writer
lsureveille.com
In 83 years, both whites and blacks have rejected it. It has been protested against, relocated and vandalized. It has also transformed from an artistic pariah into one of the most important relics of Louisiana history. The first statue of a Log on black man in America, known as Uncle Jack, to see has welcomed visitors to photos pf the LSU Rural Life Mu- Uncle Jack seum since 1974 and has and sights drawn national attention from since it was first erected. the LSU The statue was Rural Life ranked No. 46 in a list of the “100 Most Notorious Museum. National Monuments” in the 1999 book “Lies Across America.” Since 1999, the Rural Life Museum has changed the layout of its facilities, making the statue a central exhibit. But the museum plans to move the sculpture 60 feet from its current location within a few months. The move will take Uncle Jack from the center of an inaccesSTATUE, see page 15
KRISTEN M’LISSA ROWLETT / The Daily Reveille
The controversial statue Uncle Jack stands in LSU’s Rural Life Museum on Monday. The statue, commissioned in 1926, was the first in the nation of a black man.
Contact Xerxes A. Wilson at xwilson@lsureveille.com
ENVIRONMENT
University recycling doubles in past five years By Xerxes A. Wilson Staff Writer
Coupled with the University’s flagship agenda, the University has more than doubled its recycling efforts during the last five years. The University recycled 346 tons more paper, cardboard, aluminum cans and plastic bottles in 2008 than 2007 said Andres Harris, University solid waste recycling manager. Recycling of those solid waste materials has grown from 316 tons in 2005 to 931 tons so far this calendar year, Harris said.
“It’s a change of [student] minds, along with bumping into more recycling bins in front of them so they know they have the option,” Harris said. Harris said the University added 985 indoor recycling bins this year, bringing the total number of indoor bins to 3,622 from 2,637 last year. Harris said he couldn’t determine the exact cost of recycling against the costs of disposing all the University refuse because much more material is thrown away. “If you have the opportunity to recycle for the same price, that’s a no-brainer to me,” Tammy Cheatham, vice president of the Recycling Foundation of Baton
Rouge. “The University is a major consumer, and recycling is a component of being sustainable.” Student workers collect the materials from outdoor recycling containers and deposit them into one of 80 recycling dumpsters located on campus. Items deposited into indoor bins are collected by Facility Services workers separately from material which will be taken to a landfill and deposited the recycling dumpsters. Harris said he received complaints the recycling from indoor bins were not RECYCLING, see page 15
KRISTEN M’LISSA ROWLETT / The Daily Reveille
A full recycling bin sits on the Parade Ground on Sept. 19 during tailgating before the LSU football game against ULL.
THE DAILY REVEILLE
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2009
Nation & World
INTERNATIONAL
NATIONAL
Honduras government revokes rights-limiting decree
One in custody after gunman reported on Florida campus
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — The interim Honduran government on Monday revoked an emergency decree that prohibited large street protests and limited other civil liberties following the return of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya. The decree, which resulted in dozens of arrests and the closing of two pro-Zelaya media outlets, “has been completely revoked,” Interim President Roberto Micheletti said at a news conference with U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Florida Republican. Indonesia calls off search for missing survivors
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The University of South Florida was locked down for a time Monday after someone reported a man with a gun and a bomb near the library, and police had one person in custody. No one reported shots being fired or injuries. It was not immediately clear whether the person in custody was tied to the original report and whether it was real or a hoax. Students were told to return to their normal routine three hours later. White House says Obama won’t pull U.S. out of Afghanistan
PADANG, Indonesia (AP) — Helicopters dropped instant noodles and other aid to cutoff hillside communities that were without food for five days, as rescue workers gave up their search Monday for survivors from last week’s massive Indonesian earthquake.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama won’t walk away from the flagging war in Afghanistan, the White House declared Monday as Obama faced tough decisions — and intense administration debate — over choices that could help define his presidency in his first year as commander in chief. The Taliban attack that killed
eight American soldiers over the weekend added to the pressure. The assault overwhelmed a remote U.S. outpost where American forces have been stretched thin in battling insurgents, underscoring an appeal from Obama’s top Afghanistan commander for as many as 40,000 additional forces — and reminding the nation of the costs of war. Kansas official: illegal sex problem for all prisons TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Illegal sex is a problem in Kansas prisons, but it’s not as widespread as inmates and staff suggest, the state’s top prisons official said Monday. Corrections Secretary Roger Werholtz responded to an investigation by the Topeka Capital-Journal, which reviewed hundreds of documents on the Topeka Correctional Facility and interviewed inmates and prison employees. The investigation concluded as many as a third of the prison’s 250 staff members have been involved in an illegal black market.
STATE/LOCAL
Treasurer, LSU System chief at odds
Rains hamper harvest pace in La., Miss.
(AP) — State Treasurer John Kennedy believes the state’s public four-year universities should be governed by one board to help cut costs. But he disagrees with any suggestions to limit spending under the state’s free college tuition program, known as TOPS. Those ideas put Kennedy at odds with the leader of the higher education system that includes the state’s flagship university. LSU System President John Lombardi has said a single governing board won’t solve the budget woes of campuses, and he thinks TOPS scholarships should be capped rather than cover the entire cost of tuition. Kennedy spoke Monday to the Press Club of Baton Rouge about his cost-cutting ideas as a member of the Commission on Streamlining Government, which is looking at ways to shrink state spending amid years of projected budget shortfalls.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana’s corn crop is finally in but continued rains in the region have slowed the harvest of other crops. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, in its weekly crop report, said 17 percent of Louisiana’s cotton and 1 percent of Mississippi’s was in as of Sunday — a pace well off the five-year average of more than 40 percent harvested. High court won’t review death penalty in Louisiana
TODAY ON
Come here from someone who has. Gianna Jessen, survivor of an attempted saline abortion will speak at LSU in Dodson Hall; Tuesday Oct. 6. 7-8:30pm Free Admission, Open to the Public For more information, contact lsustudentsforlife@gmail.com
ONGOING IN SEPTEMBER DO YOU HAVE AN OCCURRENCE? Call Andrew at the Student Media Office 578-6090, 9AM- 5PM or E-mail: officemanager@lsureveille.com
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court declined a challenge to the way the death penalty is imposed in Louisiana, rejecting an appeal by a woman convicted for her role in a brutal New Year’s Day attack on a retired minister. The justices on Monday passed up an opportunity to examine the death sentence in Louisiana. 7:20 a.m. 8:20 a.m.
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TODAY
Have You Ever Survived an Abortion?
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BRACE YOURSELF
Partly Cloudy
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
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Log on to lsureveille.com to see photos of bracelets around campus.
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.
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THE DAILY REVEILLE
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
PAGE 3
VET SCHOOL
Racehorse drug-testing contract extended three years Lab using $4 M for instruments, hiring By Sarah Eddington Contributing Writer
Progress in the field of research is under way at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine’s Equine Medication Surveillance Lab because of a recent contract extension with the Louisiana State Racing Commission. After receiving a three-year, $4 million contract extension with
the LSRC on July 1 to provide drug testing for racehorses in the state, the lab is using the money to fund the purchasing of new instrumentation, hiring new employees and increasing the capabilities of the lab, said Steven Barker, founder and director of EMSL. “We are buying around $1 million in new equipment and hiring five to six new people,” Barker said. Lindsey Williams, a research associate, was one of the new employees hired after the extension. Williams said the work done in the lab is also beneficial to human research.
ERIN ARLEDGE / The Daily Reveille
Lindsey Williams, Vet School research associate, uses nitrogen to dry samples Monday in a process for drug testing of racehorses.
“The interesting thing is that it shows what happens when certain drugs are combined,” Williams said. “It broadens your horizons.” The lab, housed on the second floor of the vet school, is one of only 18 labs of its kind in the country. No industry does more drug testing than horse racing, Barker said. University faculty, researchers and student workers are directly involved in testing Louisiana racehorses for a list of illegal drugs. The EMSL, established in 1987, serves as the official drug-testing laboratory for racehorses in Louisiana. The lab tests about 8,000 samples a year, Barker said. The contract was both extended and increased from $681,000 a year to $1.32 million a year, Barker said. Barker said the increased funding was necessary after national rules were implemented in Louisiana requiring increased drug testing. The lab’s machinery can cost as much as $300,000 a piece and are used to test samples for a long list of illegal drugs in the database, Barker said. The LSRC added anabolic steroids to the list of prohibited drugs on Jan. 1, in addition to therapeutic agents like amphetamines and analgesics. Barker said analgesics mask the horse’s pain, allowing it to run in a race despite having an injury. These
TRANSPORTATION
Newly designed buses arrive By Brianna Paciorka Contributing Writer
The start of Tiger Trails’ third month of service to the University brings the arrival of new buses, a unique design to set the bus system apart from others and the opportunity for student organizations to use the service for its transportation needs. New, smaller buses began to arrive last week to replace the current buses and to be used on the system’s routes or for training, said Gary Graham, Office of Parking, Traffic and Transportation director. The new buses will continue to serve the routes until the bus design bid is finalized, Graham said. The buses will then be taken offline one by one to be painted with the system’s new design. Parking, Traffic and Transportation sent out a bid for the design, and it will cost somewhere between $7,000 to $10,000 to paint the buses, Graham said. Student fees will help cover the price of painting the buses. “[Painting the buses] will be done as soon as possible,” Graham said. “First Transit doesn’t want to rent the other buses any longer than they have to, and we don’t want to use the ... old ones any longer than we need to, either.” The buses will be painted entirely in purple and gold in a design similar to the current Tiger Trails’ emblem, said Noah Miller, Student Government transportation director. The design also contains subtle tiger
stripes. Miller said he and SG president Stuart Watkins went to several students with the prospective designs before choosing the final design. Students were able to choose from a design with tiger stripes and one with a swirl pattern. “The option that kept sticking out in the students’ minds were the tiger stripes,” Miller said. “It plays well into the University’s theme with the LSU Fighting Tigers but also with the Tiger Trails’ name.” First Transit, the company providing Tiger Trails’ service, is also offering a competitively priced charter service for student organization travel, Miller said. “We’re in the process of getting some type of form worked out
to where a student organization can go to the Office of Student Life, get the proper paper work and fill it out,” Miller said. “It’s another service we want to provide for student organizations.” Watkins said the opportunity for student to use First Transit for their transportation needs could help many organizations facing tight budgets this year. “If we could give [student organizations] any sort of break for travel, then that would definitely have a large impact on a big part of our campus,” Watkins said.
Contact Brianna Paciorka at bpaciorka@lsureveille.com
circumstances can lead to the horse breaking down during the race and having to be euthanized. The lab doesn’t have direct hands-on contact with the horses, but it does receive blood from euthanized horses to ensure there weren’t any drug violations which may have caused the initial injury. Barker said performance-enhancing drugs like amphetamines give horses a pharmacological advantage. “We are protecting the betting public to make sure someone’s not winning all their races because they have a better chemist than the next guy,” Barker said. Ethan McIlhenny, a graduate student who works in the lab, said horse racing would be impossible without routine drug testing. The extension allows McIlhenny to work on his graduate student research and use some of the same equipment in the lab. The frequency of positive results
is about 0.25 percent of all samples tested in a year, Barker said. The EMSL also screens “referee samples,” which are positives from other states sent to other labs for second opinions to ensure accuracy. Barker said the lab performs 250 referee sample analyses a year, which generate about $100,000 a year in additional income. “We also get a lot more experience in doing drug testing by analyzing referee samples,” Barker said. Pamela Casas, EMSL manager, said the extension is a good opportunity to expand what the lab has done for 22 years. “It’s important to monitor that people are not abusing medications on horses,” Casas said. “Both for the health of the horse and the fairness of the industry.”
Contact Sarah Eddington at seddington@lsureveille.com
PAGE 4
HEALTH
THE DAILY REVEILLE
University hosts events to raise money for breast cancer research UREC, Ath. Dept., Zeta participate By Mary Walker Baus Staff Writer
October is the month for costumes, candy and scary monsters. But it’s also the month to be aware of something more serious – breast cancer. October is the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the NBCAM organization will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year. The University’s Athletic Department and University Recreation have partnered to host Breast Cancer Awareness events on campus this month. The “Pink Ribbon Run” ceremony at the University Student Recreational Complex on Tuesday, Sept. 29, kicked off Breast Cancer Awareness month by premiering the CYBEX pink treadmill. CYBEX will donate 10 cents to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation for every mile logged on the pink treadmill this month. The UREC is the only recreational center in Louisiana with the pink CYBEX treadmill. K.C. White, dean of students and interim vice chancellor of Student Life was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2009, was the first to run on the treadmill. “I’m very humbled by the number of people who’ve been supportive of my diagnosis,” White said. “I want to bring awareness to it, but it’s not about me, it’s a bigger picture.” As of this Friday, White will undergo the final round of chemotherapy after 24 weeks. She will start radiation in four to six weeks for the cancer which spread to her lymph nodes and sternum. White said it’s important to spread breast cancer awareness to younger generations in order to promote healthy lifestyles. “If you’re healthy enough, cancer doesn’t need to stop you from doing what you need to do,” she said. White will also lead the 1-mile “Victory Walk” on Oct. 16, which will be part of the “Dig for the Cure” volleyball match against the University of Arkansas. Participants will donate a minimum of $10 to participate in the “Victory Walk” where they will walk from the UREC, down Victory Hill and to the PMAC for the volleyball game. All proceeds will go to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization’s Baton Rouge affiliate.
Photo courtesy of LSU Sports Information
Associate Director of University Auxillary Service Jeffrey Scott Campbell, Mike the Tiger, Dean of Students K. C. White and Head Volleyball Coach Fran Flory pose on the CYBEX pink treadmill.
LSU volleyball coach Fran Flory said this is the third year the volleyball team has participated in the “Dig for the Cure,” which is part of the Side-Out Foundation founded by retired and active volleyball coaches dedicated to fighting cancer. Flory said the volleyball team wants to raise $3,000 through donations, and so far they have only raised $150. “It’s an effort to bring awareness and certainly to try to help generate funding so that in the future we aren’t fighting this battle,” Flory said. Leah Stevens, Zeta Tau Alpha president and psychology senior, said Zeta members handed out pink ribbons at the Saints game Sunday and will hand out pink ribbons and breast exam shower cards in Free Speech Alley this week for their breast cancer awareness philanthropy. Stevens said Zeta will also host Pinktoberfest, a yogurt-eating contest to collect Yoplait Yogurt
lids to help with Yoplait’s breast cancer campaign, at the Zeta house Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. She said they will collect Yoplait lids through December. An estimated 192,370 women are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. this year, and an estimated 40,170 women are expected to die from the disease in 2009, according to the American Cancer Society’s “Cancer Facts and Figures 2009.” Kathy Saichuk, Wellness Education coordinator, said spreading breast cancer awareness on college campuses is important to educate students about the breast exams and early detection, which increase the chance of breast cancer survival. Saichuk said the behaviors of today’s college-aged female generation, such as smoking and drinking, could increase the chance of developing breast cancer. Contact Mary Walker Baus at mwbaus@lsureveille.com
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
THE DAILY REVEILLE
PAGE 5
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Resolution addresses Moodle participation controversy Access of site affects some grades By Xerxes Wilson Staff Writer
Student Government Senate officials will consider a resolution addressing controversy about Moodle and student participation on Wednesday. Resolution No. 5 — authored by Senators Aaron Caffarel and Meghan Spell — requests Moodle access or participation not affect any graded participation in courses.
“Professors are telling students that Moodle is a graded part of the course in participation evaluated in two ways,” said SG Director of Academics Jonathan Walker. “Generally how often you log on to Moodle ... and more particularly it is possible to see which students have accessed various features or items on a Moodle page.” Walker said the problem is some students have complained professors use this information to determine some of their class participation grade. Caffarel, University Center for Freshman Year senator, said students are already penalized for not
POLITICS
Democrats question Vitter contributions By The Associated Press NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana Democrats have accused GOP Sen. David Vitter of accepting campaign money illegally funneled to him by a former Mississippi congressman through a political action committee of that state’s governor. The Democrats said they will bring their complaint to the Federal Elections Commission, citing a $5,000 donation Gov. Haley Barbour’s PAC made to Vitter in August. That donation was followed by a $5,000 contribution to Barbour’s PAC from the Commerce Hope Innovation and Progress PAC. CHIP PAC is affiliated with former GOP Rep. Chip Pickering, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. “Federal law prohibits anyone from offering a contribution on behalf of another, and Sen. Vitter’s campaign doesn’t operate that way,” Vitter spokesman Joel DiGrado said in a statement Monday. “Sen. Vitter appreciates Haley’s past support as well as his most recent contribution.” Pickering could have legally made the donation directly. However, Democrats claim the former congressman — whose wife is divorcing him amid claims he had an extramarital affair — did not want to be shown publicly donating to Vitter, who was linked to a Washington, D.C., prostitution ring in 2007. “The conclusion is obvious, that Mr. Pickering wanted to make a contribution to Mr. Vitter, but that would create another news story,” Louisiana Democratic Party Chairman Chris Whittington said during a telephone briefing.
Barbour’s nephew, Henry Barbour, has worked on his uncle’s campaigns and works with Pickering in a Jackson, Miss.-based lobbying firm. “All I can say is the Louisiana Democratic Party must be desperate and looking for a campaign issue,” Henry Barbour said in a telephone interview Monday. “There’s no truth in it. Haley has given money to many different Republican candidates and is supportive of David Vitter. That’s the beginning and end of this.” Pickering’s office said he was out of the country and unavailable for comment Monday. Haley Barbour is on a 13-day business trip to Asia. Whittington said a circumstantial case can be made that a violation occurred. He cited the lack of other contributions or donations reported in August on Haley Barbour’s report, and Pickering’s ties to the governor. Contact The Daily Reveille’s news staff at news@lsureveille.com
accessing Moodle and students who don’t use Moodle on a regular basis are going to be punished by not learning as much for the test. “Students who choose not to take advantage of the features available to them ... are going to penalized by not learning as much,” Walker said. “They are going to be penalized in various ways that will show up on the test. It is redundant and irresponsible ... for professors to take it upon themselves to determine which students are not being the best they can be.”
Walker said this method of determining a student’s participation is not ideal because a student can do the assigned activities without accessing Moodle by obtaining a reading from another student who printed it on their account. “We are not cyborgs,” Julia Terese, creative writing sophomore, said. “Moodle use doesn’t necessarily judge your intellectual investment in a class. Participation should be for class discussion.” Saundra McGuire, assistant vice chancellor for learning and
teaching, said she does not know of any instructors who use this method in grading, but she said she can understand the reasoning behind it. “I think the motivation on the part of the faculty is getting students the information needed in order to do well in the class,” McGuire said. “So if assigning some points to accessing the Moodle site is a way to do that, then that’s what I think teachers would opt for.” Contact Xerxes Wilson at xwilson@lsureveille.com
PAGE 6
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Sports
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
PAGE 7
Charles in CHARGE
Scott’s big day against Georgia helps boost offense’s confidence By Amos Morale Sports Contributor
lsureveille.com
Georgia senior quarterback Joe Cox completed a 16-yard pass to sophomore wide receiver A.J. Green to take a 13-12 lead with just more than a minute remaining against LSU on Saturday. On the ensuing drive, the Tigers needed to improve their field position for a chance at a game-winning field goal. Sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson knew to whom he wanted to give the ball. “He pretty much said give the ball to Charles,” said senior running back Charles Scott. “‘He’s hot right now, and I don’t think they can handle us up front.’” The call turned out to be a good one. Scott carried the ball 33 yards to the end zone on the drive’s second play to secure a victory with 46 seconds left to play. “That play had been working all game,” Jefferson said. “I just persuaded Coach to run it again, and it worked once again.” The touchdown run was the Log on to Tigers’ longest run of the seasee a video son, and aside from giving the of football Tigers a victory, it gave them a players much needed boost in confidence discussing in their running game — a boost this week’s Scott and his teammates want to matchup carry over as they face No. 1 Floragainst ida this weekend. Florida. The Tigers entered Saturday’s contest with the 10th best rushing attack in the Southeastern Conference, averaging just 3.8 yards a carry. No LSU running back had rushed for more than 80 yards until Saturday when Scott picked up 95 yards on 19 carries. “It feels good to get it going,” said senior offensive lineman Lyle Hitt. “We knew we could do it. We just kind of had to find a rhythm so it does feel like a little bit of weight is lifted off.” Scott picked up his first two touchdowns of the season in the game — the second being the long
JOHN BAZEMORE / The Associated Press
LSU running back Charles Scott reacts on Saturday after scoring the game-winning touchdown on a 33-yard run in the last minute of the fourth quarter against Georgia in Athens, Ga.
SCOTT, see page 11
BABBLING BROOKS
Ugly wins look the same as pretty ones Apparently somewhere along the line, winning became not good enough. Or at least that’s the impression I was getting from some people before last weekend. LSU is undefeated and ranked No. 4 in the nation, and they’ve just started to gain the respect of critics in the college football world — including myself. Prior to this week, the had Johanathan Brooks Tigers Sports Columnist been doubted and ridiculed by fans and media alike for their performances on the field. The team opened up on the road against Washington and let the Huskies move the ball with relative ease but still escaped with a victory. The complaints started shortly thereafter. The next week LSU looked pretty bad against Vanderbilt and won by only 14 points, causing the rumblings to grow louder. In week three the Tigers were only able to put 31 points on the board against Louisiana-Lafayette, and the complaints grew more voluminous. Junior safety Chad Jones placed LSU squarely on his back and carried the Tigers to victory in week four as LSU barely edged out an overmatched Mississippi State team. In the aftermath of that contest, the complaints came to a head, and WIN, see page 10
FOOTBALL
Miles: Florida still a formidable force without Tebow Scott SEC Offensive Player of the Week By Rachel Whittaker Chief Sports Writer
LSU football coach Les Miles feels a little sorry for Tim Tebow. Miles said Monday he is “saddened” the Florida senior quarterback suffered a concussion Sept. 26, and he said the No. 1 Gators will be a formidable offense regardless of who is the starting quarterback Saturday at 7 p.m. in Tiger Stadium. “That’s the worst thing about college football — you don’t want
injury for your opponent or yourself,” Miles said. “I’m certain they’ll do the right things with [Tebow].” Florida coach Urban Meyer said at his weekly press conference Monday Log on to see a that Tebow’s post- video of coach concussion headache Les Miles’ press “has been gone for conference. several days now,” but he has not been cleared to practice yet, making Tebow’s status against No. 4 LSU uncertain. Tebow’s backup is redshirt sophomore John Brantley, who is 22-for-30 for 232 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions on the season. Brantley leads the
Southeastern Conference in passing efficiency with a 73 percent completion rate. “I’m told Brantley has good feet, can move and run the football, as well,” Miles said. “I want [Florida] to do whatever they need to do for that week. Tim Tebow is great for football ... If he’s healthy and capable, we’d love to compete against him.” On LSU’s offensive side, senior running back Charles Scott was named the SEC Offensive Player
lsureveille.com
MILES, see page 11
MAGGIE BOWLES / The Daily Reveille
LSU coach Les Miles paces the sideline during the Tigers’ 30-26 victory Sept. 26 against Mississippi State. Miles said Florida will still be formidable without Tim Tebow on Saturday.
THE DAILY REVEILLE
PAGE 8
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2009
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Johnson gets a sharpshooter as third recruit for the 2010 class Turner compared to Celtic’s Ray Allen By Chris Branch Sports Contributor
A visit to Baton Rouge was all Ralston Turner needed to make his college decision. Turner, a 6-foot-5-inch, 190-pound shooting guard from Muscle Shoals, Ala., committed to LSU coach Trent Johnson during a visit Sept. 11-12, becoming the third pledge in the 2010 class. Turner joins Metairie Park Country Day School’s Matt Derenbecker and Jackson, Miss., native Jalen Courtney in the class. “It didn’t really hit me until I got home,” Turner said. “I was always high on LSU, but my visit sealed the deal.” Turner’s high school coach, Dennis Conner, said Johnson will not be disappointed in his most recent recruit. “He’s a coach’s dream,” Conner said. “He is probably the hardest worker I’ve ever been around.” Turner chose LSU from a host of suitors after considering offers from Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, Butler and Notre Dame. Conner said Johnson and assistant Donny Guerinoni were a constant presence throughout Turner’s recruitment. “They got on Ralston pretty early,” Conner said. “I think it really is all about the relationship Ralston has developed with Coach Johnson. He never said it, but I had an idea when he came back ‘He’s a from down coach’s there it might be one of those, dream,he is ‘All right, probably Coach, I’m done. I know the hardest where I want worker I’ve to go.’ And sure enough, ever been that Monday, around.’ he was quickly Dennis Conner finding a way Muscle Shoals coach to talk to me to make a decision.” Turner has built a relationship with both LSU coaches, and some of the players. Derenbecker, who committed to LSU in July, hit it off with Turner on their visit. But that wasn’t what triggered his commitment. “It wasn’t a big factor, but it was nice to get to know him,” Turner said. “He never really told me to come to LSU. He was just himself, and I was myself.” Turner’s skills leave no mystery as to why college coaches fantasized about adding him to their team. Conner compared Turner, a sharpshooter with good size, to current Boston Celtic and ninetime NBA All-Star Ray Allen. “You see that quite a bit on
some of his evaluations,” Conner said of the comparison. “He’s that type of player. I’m not trying to say he’s Ray Allen, but he has that kind of potential. He’s just a pure shooter.” Ralston Turner TurnLSU commitment er doesn’t like to confine himself within the mold of another player, but he doesn’t mind the Allen comparisons. “I really try to make a name for myself,” Turner said. “I heard that I have some similarities to Ray Allen, but I just do me.” Turner’s scoring ability is not limited to beyond the arc. A lethal mid-range game and
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a quick first step improves his offensive credentials. “He can get to the rack now,” Conner said. “Obviously, he’ll have a little bigger bodies when he gets to the [Southeastern Conference]. He just wants to get open and if he can — he just needs a little bit of space — he can knock it down.” Aside from his shooting stroke, Turner’s secret weapon may be his oncourt demeanor. “He’s never too high, and he’s never too low,” Conner said. “He’s a fierce competitor. He does not like the ‘L’ word.”
‘I really try to make a name for myself. I just do me.’
Photo courtesy of Daniel Giles
Contact Chris Branch at cbranch@lsureveille.com
Muscle Shoals’ Ralston Turner puts up a three-point attempt against Deshler during a tournament. Turner is a 2010 class commitment.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
THE DAILY REVEILLE
PAGE 9
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
STADIUM
2010 recruit daughter of Nicholls coach
honors old contracts
In-state player center of class Restored scoreboard Revenue from ads on board ‘indispensable’
By Michael Lambert Sports Contributor
The ride home after a tough loss is more of an extension of the game than a reassuring moment for Vandebilt Catholic senior center Theresa Plaisance. After all, the LSU commitment has to answer to her mom and Nicholls State women’s basketball coach Mary “DoBee” Plaisance. “I don’t get the ‘you tried hard, it’s going to be OK,’” Theresa Plaisance said. “I get the ‘you should have done it this way.’” Plaisance added a third coach besides her mom and Vandebilt Catholic coach Kathy Luke on July 3 when she committed to LSU coach Van Chancellor. Plaisance joins her Amateur Athletic Union teammate and high school rival Jeanne Kenney, point guard for St. Michael the Archangel High School in Baton Rouge, in the Lady Tigers’ 2010 recruiting class. Plaisance has had to make adjustments throughout her career being the daughter of a college coach. The 6-foot-5-inch recruit moved from Ursuline Academy in New Orleans to Vandebilt Catholic in Houma when her mom got the job at Nicholls State.
By David Helman Sports Writer
photo courtesy of THE COURIER
Vandebilt Catholic High School center Theresa Plaisance committed to play basketball at LSU on July 3. She is the second commitment in the Lady Tigers’ 2010 class.
Plaisance, the No. 40 player on the ESPN HoopGurlz 100, began her high school career at Ursuline and was The Times Picayune’s Female Athlete of the Year her sophomore season. But she had to start from scratch at Vandebilt, meeting new teammates and friends as well as learning a new position. “At Ursuline she played a little bit a guard, a little bit of forward,” Luke said. “We put her under the goal. No one can stop her inside.” Plaisance made the adjustment with ease and averaged 17.5 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks her
junior season, earning All-State honors as the Terriers finished second in state behind Kenney’s St. Michael team. Plaisance said her chemistry with Kenney should transfer to LSU. “We’ve been best friends since we were 12,” Plaisance said. “We work really well together and feed off each other.” Plaisance said Chancellor told her she would play small forward at LSU to utilize her knack for the RECRUIT, see page 10
LSU fans have undoubtedly noticed some immense advertising to go along with Tiger Stadium’s high definition scoreboard this season. A large portion of Death Valley’s new 27-foot by 80-foot Daktronics HD video board is bordered by video advertisements for sponsors of LSU Athletics such as Coca-Cola, Capital One Bank and McDonald’s. The reason lies in the renovation of LSU’s existing north end zone scoreboard, which featured many of the same advertisements. “We can contemplate what’s going to happen in the future, but we had existing contracts providing for static advertising that we had to honor,” said Herb Vincent, senior associate athletic director. Vincent said the advertising provides indispensable revenue for LSU athletics and the Tiger Athletic Foundation, which spent $7.2 million to update video displays at the University’s various athletic facilities. “The video boards were paid for by TAF,” Vincent said. “Some of that ad revenue goes into their general
fund, so, in a very roundabout way, the ads help pay for the renovation.” Vincent said the price tag for the Tiger Stadium scoreboard renovation only was $3.1 million. Students don’t seem bothered by the extra advertising, as sponsors litter the stadium’s expanse. “It’s pretty much the same ads, so I just kind of overlook them and look at whatever’s on the scoreboard,” said Angelica Gibbs, marketing sophomore. “It gives me extra details, which is good because sometimes I get confused on players. It might have been a little bit too much money, but then again they spend everything on LSU football here.” One criticism was the board’s TigerVision advertisement, which has been situated in the middle of the board during replays in the first two games of the season. “I went to the Vanderbilt game, and there was a nice-sized chunk blackened out,” said Ryan Morvant, civil engineering junior. “As much as we spent on that, we should get that thing fixed and working completely.” Morvant isn’t bothered by the advertisements flanking the screen, however. “I could kind of see how that would be distracting, but I didn’t ADVERTISEMENTS, see page 10
PAGE 10 WIN, from page 7
many LSU supporters threw in the proverbial towel on the season. After being dogged all week, the Tigers used a last-minute touchdown run by senior running back Charles Scott to take the lead and victory against then-No. 18 Georgia in a pretty ugly contest which saw two LSU possessions stall in the red zone. But the rumblings have ceased following the game. Now LSU is being praised for its fortitude and determination to “scrap out” a win. Which one is it, people? Are the Tigers lucky or are they gritty? Why does it even matter? It doesn’t matter how they look as long as they keep finding ways to
ADVERTISMENTS, from page 9
notice it too bad,” he said. Several students said the new board comes as a marked improvement to the old one, regardless of advertisements. “We have to turn around to see it, so I wish they had another one on
RECRUIT, from page 9 three-point shot. “She’s going to cause a lot of mismatches in college,” Luke said. “She has a quick first step and can handle the basketball and shoot the three.” LSU was not always a slam dunk to land the recruit. Plaisance visited DePaul, Purdue, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Auburn, but she decided to stay in the Pelican State. “All the schools were incredible, but nothing could compare to LSU,” Plaisance said. Plaisance said she formed a bond with her future teammates and was impressed with the coaching staff. Luke said Plaisance is more of a quiet leader in the locker room, but her teammates listen when she does speak. “She wasn’t vocal in the locker room early on,” Luke said. “In the playoffs she stood up in the locker room and spoke to the team. That was a special moment.” Plaisance said she is naturally a shy person and prefers to lead by example, but she is working to become more vocal. Glenn Nelson, recruiting analyst for Hoopgurlz, said Plaisance needs to work on her physical tools before joining the Lady Tigers. “I want to get stronger and quicker,” Plaisance said. “I just want to go in and try to make a difference in the program. I’m going to work my hardest to get on the court as a freshman.” Plaisance said it is her dream to win a title and put a championship ring on her finger while in Baton Rouge. Plaisance and Kenney are the lone players in Chancellor’s 2010 class. Nelson said the two in-state products will probably complete the class. The early signing period for women’s basketball recruits begins Nov. 11. Contact Michael Lambert at mlambert@lsureveille.com
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
have more points on the scoreboard than their opponents. Every team would like to win convincingly every time they step on the field, but that’s unlikely. The reality of it is there will be games in which teams come out flat and allow less-talented teams compete with them, and that’s dangerous. With the way this season is going, it seems like teams are lucky if they win at all. With the exception of last weekend, every weekend of the young season featured a top-five team being knocked off by a lowerranked opponent. I’m sure those teams would have preferred an “ugly” win instead of their eventual fates. I used to be one of those guys
who put a lot of stock into “pretty” wins and “ugly” wins. “Style points” are something a lot of people look into when judging teams, and in cases like the 2004 season when multiple teams went undefeated, things like margin of victory came into play and left Auburn out of the national championship game. But on the flip side, disastrous things can happen in pursuit of style points. Ask Florida senior quarterback Tim Tebow, who suffered a concussion in the second half in Florida’s win against Kentucky while his team led, 31-7. Florida coach Urban Meyer probably would have traded that 41-7 victory for an ugly win and a healthy quarterback two weeks
before the Gators’ toughest road test of the season. LSU has been playing ugly all season, but the Tigers have found ways to win. And when it’s all said and done, that’s what is most important in the long run. The team just knocked off a ranked opponent on the road, is one win away from bowl eligibility and is still in a good position after all those “ugly” wins. A loss against Georgia would have relegated LSU to the second tier in the Southeastern Conference’s Western Division, as both Alabama and Auburn remain undefeated within the conference. But since it won, LSU is tied for first in the division, still controls its own destiny and has a much easier road to winning any sort of championship than if it had
lost.
the other side so [students] could see it,” said Ivan Greenlee, civil engineering sophomore. “I didn’t think [the advertisements] were a big deal. It’s big enough.” Tiger fans who made the trip to Mississippi State also noted the Bulldogs’ 111-by-47-foot HD display at Davis Wade Stadium, which
is mostly free of the advertisements that clutter the LSU board. “Mississippi State didn’t have an existing board there when they built that,” Vincent said. “They didn’t have to honor contracts with any existing sponsors.” Vincent also said Mississippi State had to resort to tactics of its
own to help with the $6.1 million price tag. “They had to run 30-second commercials during timeouts and breaks in play, which is something we’ve never had to do,” Vincent said. Vincent said the Athletic Department will discuss changes with
sponsors in the future, but he said the different contracts have varying lengths, leaving future advertisement possibilities uncertain.
College football isn’t a stat race. Gaudy numbers and pizzazz can only take a team so far. At the end of the day, having a high-powered offense or iron-strong defense helps, but what’s most important is the end result. And if the end result is an ugly win, then so be it. It’s still a win, and it’s better than a loss in which your team puts up great numbers. Just win by any means necessary, and it’ll all be fine. Johanathan Brooks is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from Powder Springs, La. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_jbrooks. Contact Johanathan Brooks at jbrooks@lsureveille.com
Contact David Helman at dhelman@lsureveille.com
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 MILES, from page 7
of the Week for the second time in his career. But sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson was sacked six times against Georgia, and Miles said it is imperative for the team to increase its red zone production. “There were some times there were some open guys we needed to get to, and there were some times where there was pressure, and [Jefferson] had to move his feet,” Miles said. “We need to be not so ambitious in our first trip down the field.” Freshman wide receiver Rueben Randle caught two passes for 28 yards, and Miles said Randle “came of age” on the road Saturday. “He’ll get more opportunities,” Miles said. “As we go forward in his career, the key is when called upon and irrespective of what team we’re playing, he makes those plays.” Defensively, the Tigers have five sacks in five games this season
and none in the past three weeks. “If the defense plays like they did [against Georgia], I’ll accept the inability to get to the passer,” Miles said. “That first half was maybe the best defensive half I’ve been around.” Both LSU and Georgia were penalized for excessive celebration after fourth-quarter touchdowns, causing them to kick off from the 15-yard line. Miles said he understands the league’s ruling on such infractions. “It’s our responsibility to get our team back, and there is a point in time when there is a legitimate celebration with our teammates,” Miles said. “I will teach it better and hope we don’t have that penalty happen to us again.”
Contact Rachel Whittaker at rwhittaker@lsureveille.com
Mellow Mushroom Pint Night...Free Glass with Draft. 10Till. $2 Jager. $2 SoCo. $4 Bombs. Open Mic Night...Interested Players Call Brian (803-3190) 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
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SCOTT, from page 7
33-yard run. LSU sophomore center TBob Hebert said the run was a big boost for the team’s confidence. He said he was personally excited by the play. Hebert was blocking Georgia senior linebacker Rennie Curran when the play took place. “Next thing I know I looked up to my right, and I saw Chuck just free running,” Hebert said. “I started looking back to see if there was a penalty. When I saw there was no penalty, I went crazy.” Scott said he and the rest of the offense played more aggressively Saturday. “You could see it in the play
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PAGE 11
by the offensive needed that,” line,” Scott said. Miles said. “I can “They just had a “He pretty much said tell you that his whole different give the ball to Charles team needed him attitude, and it reto have that day.” ally showed in the ... ‘I don’t think they can LSU hosts running game.” Florida this weekhandle us up front.’” end, and Scott Scott said Jefferson had somesaid the Tigers Charles Scott thing to say to him will need to consenior running back after the play. tinue the success “I told him they found on the that I called the play for him,” ground. Jefferson said. “I had faith him. I “We are going to have to trusted him, and he came through come out and turn it up a notch or to the fullest.” two,” Scott said. LSU coach Les Miles said he also noticed the boost in confidence Scott’s running provided on Contact Amos Morale at Saturday. “I don’t know that Charles amorale@lsureveille.com
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Opinion
PAGE 12
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
FREEMAN OF SPEECH
No, Bobby Jindal, the health care debate is not over “Washington is the only place in the country that doesn’t realize that this debate is over.” Gov. Bobby Jindal has apparently joined my opinion editor in a boycott of cable news, because the debate couldn’t be further from finished. In an Op-Ed for the Washington Post yesterday, Jindal attempted to pitch conservative ideas on how best to accomplish health care reform. In the big picture, he’s absolutely correct in trying to reach out to Democrats to get a bill passed for the American people. The tone in Washington on health care went from a tepid murmur to a high-pitched whine last summer, best exemplified by Joe “You Lie” Wilson’s disgusting outburst at the president’s joint session of Congress. But Jindal’s foray into national politics leaves much to be desired and much more about which to complain. “The debate on health care
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Student section needs to change a few things I am writing to you today to hopefully right some wrongs I have witnessed taking place in our haven that is Tiger Stadium over the past few years. Now I want to preface this letter by saying I know it’s not everyone; I know it’s not ONLY freshmen. We are all guilty of something, and hopefully, with this letter, we can amend these issues. 1. Saving seats, surprisingly, IS allowed in Tiger Stadium. When I get to the stadium almost three hours early, sit there for almost three hours, and miss out on tailgating for almost three hours to save seats in the lower part of the student section, I earn that right. Do NOT come in ten minutes before the game starts and think that there are magically enough seats for you and your friends in the lower section when the rest of the student section is packed. Those seats aren’t for you, and don’t whine to me when I tell you to leave. Go to the top — you only have yourself to blame. 2. We sound like morons when we can’t clap to a beat. Simple as
has moved on,” Jindal wrote. “Democratic plans for a government takeover are passé. The people don’t want it. Believe the polls, the town halls, the voters.” A few key points: Democratic plans for a government takeover never existed. The government isn’t trying to push HMO’s out of business. If they did, the health care bill would mandate single-payer, “Medicarefor-all” style reform, instead of the choice of a public option to compete with private insurance companies. If you fear government intruding in the private sector in terms of competition, good luck trying to FedEx a letter. The people do want reform. I, for one, believe the polls, especially the most recent CBS News/ Washington Post poll citing 65 percent of those surveyed favor the choice of a government-administered health insurance plan. “Hope for meaningful reform need not be lost,” he continued.
“Only two things need to happen. First, Democrats have to give up on their grand experiment and get serious about bipartisan solutions. Second, Republicans have to join the battle of ideas.” Mr. Governor, you’re a governor. You’re not in the Congress. You’re not a legislative member of the “Party of No.” Congressional Republicans are only trying to kill health Eric Freeman Jr. reform to make Obama look Columnist bad. So much for what’s best for the country. Republicans can’t “join the battle of ideas” if they don’t have any. Tax cuts aren’t an idea, they’re a brain-dead mantra of the richest 1 percent. Jindal proceeds to offer 10 ideas to “increase the affordability and quality of health care.” Eight of these ideas are already included
in the Democratic health care bill, including refundable tax credits for the uninsured. President Obama campaigned on digitizing medical records, requiring coverage of pre-existing conditions, transparency, covering young adults, portability and voluntary purchasing pools. The last one is the public option, which many Americans don’t realize is an option, not a mandate. One of his ideas, rewarding healthy lifestyle choices with premium rebates, amounts to discrimination based on health, not entirely unlike current industry practices of barring or dropping coverage for pre-existing conditions. Eliminating discrimination based on pre-existing conditions has broad bipartisan support — although it wouldn’t show from Republicans in Congress, who simply seek to make the president and Democrats look foolish by making up lies about health care reform.
The level of hypocrisy shown by Jindal in presenting “Republican” ideas for health reform is mind-boggling. No, it’s not. That’s too nice. For now, we’ll call it “Jindalian.” Nowhere does he address the near-crime of more than 46 million uninsured Americans, or even mention local efforts to improve health care for Louisianians. As the governor of Louisiana, Jindal needs to stop pretending he cares about the issues his constituents face. He already knows he has Louisiana locked up in his inevitable run for the White House.
that. We LOOK like morons when we can’t clap to a beat, when someone is showing us HOW to clap. I understand that it can be difficult to hear the beat of the bass drum as the band is taking the field for pregame, I do! But that doesn’t change the fact that the cheerleaders are on the field showing us exactly WHEN to clap. Start slow student body, stay slow, and sloooowly speed up. Watch the cheerleaders if you can’t hear — seriously, what else are they good for? If the band has taken two steps on the field and you’re already applauding like you just saw Tebow get sacked, you’re going too fast. 3. I think poppers are a great tradition for us during the National Anthem. But people, explain to me why would you pop them during, “And the rocket’s red glare,” when the very next line is, “The bombs bursting in air!” I’m almost positive that a popping firework is more appropriate for the sound of a bomb instead of the sight of a red glare. So please, steady your trigger finger, wait one more line, and burst your bombs at the appropriate moment. 4. The band doesn’t mess around. We know this. They can and will take away songs that we love. No matter how dumb we think it is, and how overly politically correct the band and University are being just because we say the word
“suck,” they obviously back up their talk. So please, let’s keep “Oh-weeOh!” Many of your fellow students have worked hard to get that song back at our games, so as much as Florida does suck, let’s drown them out with an “Oh-Wee-Oh TIGERS” and keep our song! 5. This weekend is the biggest weekend of our season, of our school year, and of your life (you know it’s true). The Florida
Gators and their golden-boy Tebow are coming to town with a No. 1 ranking. Please, student section, be the mass of angry, loud, belligerent, overbearing students that I know we can be. I can’t wait for a Tebow sack and to do the Gator chomp at the end of the game screaming “It sucks to be a FLORIDA GATOR!” So let’s make it happen. So, my beloved student body, I think with these changes, we can have a cohesive, smart and
dashingly good-looking student section that knows how to clap, when to pop fireworks and will make Florida wish that they had never entered Baton Rouge.
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
Eric Freeman Jr. is a 22-year-old political science senior from New Orleans. Follow him on Twitter @ TDR_efreeman.
Contact Eric Freeman Jr. at efreeman@lsureveille.com
Jake Berman Kinesiology Senior
Contact The Daily Reveille’s opinion staff at opinion@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 “A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.”
Niccolo Machiavelli Italian political philosopher May 3, 1469 - June 21, 1527
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
JUXTAPOSED NOTIONS
Opinion
PAGE 13
We must split the ‘all-or-nothing’ bond or kill it
I’m quite willing to pay taxes if it means getting rid of our city’s drainage problem. Shelling out $45 million to fix our sporadic traffic lights isn’t something I take issue with, either. These essential provisions, as well as other beneficial initiatives, are part of East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Kip Holden’s bond proposal. But I still refuse to vote the bond through. The reason is simple. The aforementioned essentials have been soldered together with expensive nonessentials, creating a shoddy chunk of all-or-nothing legislation. What results is an aggravating quandary. We must choose between funding nonessential projects such as the Alive river front development, or we can allow our drainage and traffic issues to persist and worsen. This isn’t the first time we’ve
seen this bond — it was rejected last November by a margin of 3,000 votes. One would think our public officials would’ve taken the year which has lapsed to learn from their mistake, but this repeat performance, absence of wisdom and responsible modification suggests otherwise. Not only is the unaltered bond being proposed again, but a special taxing district, which excluded the cities of Baker, Central and Zachary, was initially implemented. However, the ensuing outcry later caused the tax district to dissolve a week later. Evidently our public officials are excellent at splitting the parish. One must then wonder why they have such difficulty splitting the bond between their wants and our needs. It would be quite a hefty separation. The most controversial item in the bond is Alive, which is a $225 million attraction consist-
ing of a museum, zoo and aquarium. The suggested funds for Alive account for 25 percent of the total bond funds. This is the issue which may kill the proposal, not only because of money, but because many believe the details for the Alive project haven’t been adequately planned. Critics Linnie Leavines have pointed Columnist out the state doesn’t even own the land slated to be used for the Alive project. The land in question, which is situated near the Hollywood Casino in downtown Baton Rouge, is partly owned by the Illinois Central Railroad Company. In the past, this has stopped construction by the railroad. Currently, the verdict is still out as to
who can lay claim to the land, but parish leaders do not consider this to be a problem for some reason. They have stated they will not pursue resolving this issue until Nov. 15th — the day after the bond will be put to vote. If Alive cannot be built on the land, then it will have to be built elsewhere, but no one knows where that will be or how much more it may cost. But even without the land ownership issue at play, many, like myself, oppose Alive simply because we do not need it. “Why should we be spending money to do for the private sector what the private sector should do for itself?” said Fred Dent, spokesperson for Tax Busters, an organization which met with other anti-bond groups last Wednesday. He was referring to the fact 81 percent of Alive will be paid for by taxpayers, then run by Audubon Nature Institute.
All of these objections have not been without effect. There are rumors the bond may be removed from the November ballot and pushed back to be voted on next spring, but a concrete decision will not be made until October 12th. Perhaps our leaders will have ample time to split the bond properly if voting is pushed back to the spring. Otherwise, parish officials will be stuck in a stalemate with voters because of their unwillingness to compromise for the sake of progress. And it’s a stalemate we can no longer afford. Linnie Leavines is a 19-year-old mass communication sophomore from Central City. Follow her on Twitter @TRD_lleavines.
Contact Linnie Leavines at lleavines@lsureveille.com
THE GRUMBLING HIVE
Why bother buying books from the Bookstore? I sat in my accounting class two years ago, amazed other students hadn’t made any effort to buy their textbook well ahead of the beginning of the semester. OK, I may be a little obsessive compulsive, but I don’t have any desire for my GPA to suffer because the bookstore isn’t willing to accommodate its customers (that would be us, the students) by providing a product which should be guaranteed. If a class is offered at the University, all material for that class should be made available at the Union Bookstore. I felt no pity for those students in my accounting class without textbooks. But, as they say, when you walk a mile in another’s shoes your perspective is bound to change. I am dealing with this issue for the first time this year. As usual, I ordered my books several weeks before the start of the semester. Three weeks into the semester — in one of the hardest classes I’ve taken so far — the bookstore apologized and said the books required for the class would not be made available. We would have to find them online. This was after repeated assurances the books should be received and available for pick up one day soon. It seemed at the time it would be better to wait for the books to show up, rather than order it online. It seemed logical my bookstore order was sure to be available by the time an online order was shipped. The entire class is now about nine chapters behind and strug-
gling to catch up to where the professor is lecturing. The subject matter is somewhat complex, and the ability to pre-read the material would have greatly facilitated understanding during lectures. But it seems Murphy’s Law wasn’t through with me. After breaking down and ordering my books online (at a price much cheaper than the bookNathan Shull store’s) they were lost en Columnist route when shipped. This fact is irrelevant to my point — but I feel better after venting. To be fair, this is the first semester these particular textbooks have been used for this class, and I like them as much as anyone can like a textbook. The books were a good choice for the course. But the fact they would not be available through the bookstore should have been determined well before the beginning of the semester. Students could have been informed earlier they would need to purchase the material online. When comparing prices charged by the bookstore to prices for books purchased online, the savings far outweigh any potential convenience realized by shopping at the Bookstore. The only advantage to purchasing your textbook at the bookstore is the ease with which you can return it when they give you the wrong book or inform you
you need a book you don’t actually need. That is, of course, if you return it in time. If you wait one day too long, you’ll have to trade it in at a much-reduced price. For your information, don’t trade the book in at the bookstore. You will receive much more for your “used” textbook at Amazon.com. In the end, I learned a valuable lesson — which, after all, is
what school is all about. I have learned from this time forward to make every effort to avoid purchasing textbooks at the bookstore. Much better resources are available where the same product can be purchased at a cheaper price with a higher probability of receiving the item for which you paid. I did eventually receive my books from FedEx, which
is more than I can say about the bookstore. Nathan Shull is a 35-year-old finance junior from Seattle. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_nshull
Contact Nathan Shull at nshull@lsureveille.com
BEST AND WITTIEST
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Classifieds
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www.louiescafe.com
Help Wanted Growing Medium Size Lawn/lLandscape Company is looking for Partime to Fulltime employees. No experience required, will train on job. Great starting pay, better pay with previous experience. Call Kyle @ 225.978.8658 or Email @ Kfournet_klc@yahoo.com The University Club Golf Course is now hiring servers and beverage cart attendants. Monday, Wednesday, Friday availability. Come fill out an application today! 225.819.0311 STUDENTPAYOUTS. COM Paid Survey Takers Needed In Baton Rogue. 100% Free To Join! Click On Surveys. Parkview Baptist Preschool Preschool Teachers needed flex days no degree required 293-9447 E-commerce Assistant: Flexible 15-25hr wk, relaxed atmosphere, training provided. Basic knowledge of Excel and graphic design required. Send resumes to Jobs@varsityvests. com. Include Job E-com within subject line www. VarsityVests.com - www. FanTheFire.com 225.753.7299 Survey Takers Needed: Make $5-$25 per survey. GetPaidToThink.com. Waiters & Bartenders Needed for catered events, private parties, good pay, flexible hours, serving/ catering experience preferred, but not required, email at_your_service_staffing@yahoo.com Earn Extra Money Students needed ASAP. Earn up to $150 per day being a mystery shopper. No Experience Required Call 1-800722-4791 Apparel/E-Commerce Co: Order processing/ Customer Service, Flexible 15-25hr wk, relaxed atmosphere, training provided. Send resumes to Jobs@varsityvests.com. Include CS in subject line. www. VarsityVests.com - www. FanTheFire. com 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 GMR Marketing is 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! Interviews: Monday, October 12th. Hired staff will be required to attend mandatory day time training at the end of October. Program will run through the end of January 2010. Rate of pay: $8/hr. Email resume to cgramza@ gmrmarketing.com. EEO
Student Sitter Needed Seeking responsible female college student to care for 8 y/ o girl and 5 y/ o boy M-F from 12 PM-4or 5 PM. to start ASAP. Resume’ with references requested. Please call 225-3249129 or 225.293.3617 P/T Bookkeeper at local gift/interiors store. Flexible hrs, @15 hrs/wk, Quickbooks knowledge a plus, $8-10 DOE. 225.754.7400 Child Care Helper / Nanny needed on Tuesday and Thursday to assist full time nanny with 2 infants and 1 toddler. Nursery/babysitting experience required. Call Celia at 225-3442311 or email trs2877@yahoo.com Cyclone Laundry PT position avail. Customer service oriented. Flexible hours. 623 E. Boyd Apply today! 225.767.5720 attention ladies! Do you have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)? If so, you may qualify to particpate in a new study at PBRC. The purpose of this study is to determine if cinnamon extract will lower blood sugar levels in women diagnosed with PCOS. You may qualify based on age (20-40 years old), weight and must be diagnosed with PCOS. Earn up to $600. Call TODAY 225.763.3000 Engineering Co. seeking PT Fin/Acct major for administartive and accounting position. Submit resumse to info@ferrisinc.com 7th Gr Boys Basketball Coach Parkview Baptist School needs a 7th grade boys basketball coach. Contact Kevin McCabe (ext. 121) or kmccabe@parkviewbaptist.com 225.291.2500 Parrain’s Seafood Now hiring servers, hostess, and bar backs with oyster shucking experience 225.381.9922 ►►BARTENDING UP TO NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. TRAINING PROVIDED. AGE 18+ OK 1-800-965-6520 ext127 Interviewing in NOLA for Katrina Recovery. Join our LSU Sociology Research Team to conduct interviews of residents in New Orleans neighborhoods. Saturday trips to New Orleans, with full day of work. $9/ hr with free round-trip transportation. Interesting, meaningful teamwork on community recovery. Contact David Maddox, dmaddo1@tigers.lsu.edu Church child care center close to LSU needs PT teachers M-F 2:30-5:30. Email resume to ubccdc@ubc-br.org or call 766-9524 for info.
For Sale For Sale: MinI Cooper S Loaded, perfect car for campus. Great deal, great gas mileage and fun to drive. $20k. Please leave a message. 225.205.0369 Gated Gorgeous Condo Remodeled 2bd/2ba in Park Place w/ pool & wk out rm! 1.3 mi to LSU! $159K RE/MAX Classic 6673131 call Dottie 936-3682 House For Sale 3dbrm/2bath. 1400sq ft.
Near LSU in high student population area. 9251 Pecan Tree Dr. $140,000. Move in for Spring semester! 225-718-1807
For Rent 3br/2ba house 5min from campus in MeadowBend with office. 1300/ mo 1300dep. pet friendly 225.931.8107 MID-SEMESTER SPECIAL 2BD-1BATH Free one month rent geauxluxury. com 225.715.4003 Like New 1BR Condo -Ideal location off of Bluebonnet- $899/mo plus deposit. 985.872.4813 WalK To Campus 1Br, 2Br, and Townhomes. Starting as low as $400.00. www.lsuwestchimesplace.com 225.346.4789 2 bedroom apartment for rent Located in Oakbrook- October free- Great location 985-517-4216 or 985.517.6824 NICE NEIGHBORHOOD-2 Story House-3BR/2BA--W/ D and D/ W--367 Stoney Creek-$1300--Call Rusty 225.892.8702 More space for your $$! 1-br (650 sq ft), $500; 2-br townhouse (1170 sq ft), $700. No pool, no weight room, no pets. Just plenty of space and quiet for serious students. Walk, cycle or catch the LSU bus to school. Local ownership, on-site manager. Video security surveillence. 757-8175, 924-1934. Apply on-line at http://riverroadapartments.tripod.com. MID-SEM SPECIALS 2 LOCATIONS BRIGHTSIDE MANOR* (1) 2 BR 1.5B with W/ D in 4PLX $695 CHATEAU DU COUR* 4707 TIGERLAND AVE (2) Roomy 1BR 1B. POOL, CTYards $450 (1) Large 2 BR 1B. $595 Gated. *All redecorated, ceramic floors, new appliances, on site mngt. 772-2429 767-3935 Brad Pictures and more mckproperties.com RENOVATED 2BD/1BA DUPLEX FENCED IN BACK YARD, WALKING DISTANCE TO LSU (ON JENNIFER JEAN). DEPOSIT SPECIAL $400, RENT $780 PER MONTH, MOVE IN NOW FOR ONLY $1180 SOME SMALL PETS WELCOME 225-955-1126 OR 225.955.0740 FOR RENT 3 BR 1 1/2 BA house next to campus. Fenced yard. Range, refrig., washer & dryer. Central heat, window A/ C. $960 per month. Pets OK. Deposit and lease. Available now. 225.766.2963
Roommate Wanted
SEEKING FEMALE ROOMMATE to share 2BR/1BA w/wash/dryer near LSU. $375/mo plus 1/2 utilities. Call or e-mail: gojanie1119@ bellsouth.net 225.921.1175
Personals 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 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!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
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Tickets Wanted
LSU Tickets Wanted Top dollar paid for Premium seats to all LSU home games! Please contact Scot or Kevin. 800.678.8499
Miscellaneous Waiting to Adopt a Baby! We are a happy, financially secure, christian couple. If you are pregnant and considering placing your baby for adoption, please contact us! All expenses paid! View our profile! julesg1018@gmail.com 225.235.4088 Adoption is an Option! Loving, stable family waiting to be blessed with a baby. Visit www. bradandjennaadoption.com or call 225-3055482 PREGNANT? NEED HELP? kat.myra@gmail.com or 225-200-8003
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
THE DAILY REVEILLE RECYCLING, from page 1
being properly disposed of as student workers distributed additional bins during the summer. “I assured them that these are very isolated cases, and every time that happens, we fix the problem right away,” Harris said. “We just need to know when it is not being handled properly so we can fix it.” The recyclable material is collected once the dumpsters are filled and taken to the Recycling Foundation of Baton Rouge. The material is then dumped and run through a series of screens,
STATUE, from page 1
sible car path into the main complex of buildings. David Floyd, director of the Rural Life Museum, said moving the controversial statue into the center of the complex will give visitors a chance to reflect on the significance of the statue. “It’s relic, an artifact of our past,” Floyd said. “It’s not something we would create today. It’s not a pretty part of our history, but
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conveyor belts and hand-sorting systems to separate the different commodities, Cheatham said. The separated material is then bailed and goes to the different markets which reuse the materials for different purposes, Cheatham said. The University had more than 6,426 tons of regular refuse in 2008 compared to 963 tons of recycled material. Harris said only about 10 percent of the University’s waste is recyclable by traditional means while more waste is organic so it could eventually be recycled by a composting system.
The University also has processes for recycling other expended resources. Harris said some used cooking oil is collected from University kitchens, made into biodiesel by the University Agricultural Center and eventually used to power the diesel engines used by Facility Services. “The tools are pretty much everywhere, but we have a long way to keep going of course,” Harris said.
it’s important to remember — even if it’s just so we don’t repeat it.” Floyd said the statue, which has been widely interpreted over time, fits in with some of the other dark relics around the museum. Shackles and slave quarters might be difficult to contemplate, but ultimately have historical significance, he said. The Association of African American Museums refused to tour the grounds this summer because of the statue.
Floyd said the AAAM viewed the elderly black man’s gesture as willing acceptance of the subservient role of blacks in Louisiana history. Niya Blair, coordinator for the African American Cultural Center, said she has not heard any complaints from black leaders on campus and no one has brought it to her attention as an issue of concern. The bronze statue was the vision of Jackson Bryant, a successful cotton planter, oil mill owner and banker in Natchitoches. Bryant commissioned the statue in 1926 to remember the service of the African-Americans to the state’s agriculture and atmosphere. The statue drew criticism from the town’s white population from the day it went up. It was the only statue in town, and it wasn’t of a white man, Floyd said. Natchitoches residents even painted the statue white in protest, he added. The statue was dubbed the “Good Darky Statue” in a spread on Louisiana in the October 1930 issue of National Geographic magazine, It became known as “Uncle Jack” sometime in the 1930s when friends of Jack Bryant teased the patron had commissioned a statue of himself. The statue was demonstrated against again in the 1960s — this time by blacks associated with the Civil Rights Movement. People saw nostalgia for the antebellum South and slavery in Uncle Jack’s demeanor, Floyd said. Saw marks on the statue’s right hand show where protestors tried to cut the sculpture apart. Natchitoches removed the statue in 1969 and returned it to Jo Bryant Ducournau, Jackson Bryant’s daughter. The statue was loaned to the Rural Life Museum in 1972 and donated in 1975. The museum received the statue despite bids from eight other institutions, including the Smithsonian Institute. “She thought it was important to keep it in Louisiana,” Floyd said. “She liked the idea of the museum interpreting rural life in Louisiana.” Floyd said Nachitoches requested to have the statue returned since early 1973. Former Chancellor Sean O’Keefe was the most recent University official to deny the town its request. Floyd said the University has no intention of returning the statue.
Contact Xerxes A. Wilson at xwilson@lsureveille.com
Contact Adam Duvernay at aduvernay@lsureveille.com
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
THE DAILY REVEILLE
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