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Baton Rouge retailers’ sales predicted ENTERTAINMENT to decrease on Valentine’s Day Students flock to DJ because of Southerners focusing on Pauly D at Bogie’s Super Bowl and Mardi Gras, page 9. Bar, page 9.
GEAUX TIME
Lady Tigers look to push past recent losses in Florida game, page 5.
THE DAILY REVEILLE WWW.LSUREVEILLE.COM
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VolumeÊ 114,Ê IssueÊ 89
LAW
Former professor sues for retribution
Thursday,Ê FebruaryÊ 11,Ê 2010
RepreCENSUS campaign promotes national census locally
By Xerxes A. Wilson Senior Staff Writer
Former University professor Ivor van Heerden filed a lawsuit against the University claiming his contract was not renewed because of his outspoken criticism of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Van Heerden filed suit yesterday for monetary relief from the University Board of Supervisors; Brooks Keel, former vice chancellor for research and economic development; Robert Twilley, associate vice chancellor for research and economic development; George Voyiadjis, chair of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department; and David Constant, graduate school dean. For reasons not fully disclosed by the University, van Heerden’s contract was not renewed in April 2009. Ò When they terminated my position, they told me it was nothing to do with the economy or my performance and they didnÕ t have to supply a reason,Ó van Heerden said. The suit claims Constant Ñ LAWSUIT, see page 19
lsureveille.com
ERIN ARLEDGE / The Daily Reveille
Log on to explore the repreCENSUS page.
Jennie Armstrong, mass communication junior, and Erica Fischer, mass communication senior, from the Bateman team are promoting the repreCENSUS campaign around Baton Rouge. They passed out stickers Tuesday at the Varsity Theatre.
By Grace Montgomery Staff Writer
College students are often counted among the transient communities that can be missed in census counts. Some students believe their parents should fill out the census for them. But, students are encouraged to complete the census where they live
for most of the year. The government allocates more than $400 billion in federal funding to communities based on census data, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This funding affects transportation, public health and education nationally. The repreCENSUS campaign, a team of University students participating in the national
Bateman competition in public relations, is promoting participation in the census to University students and the Baton Rouge community. RepreCENSUS plans to commit 3,000 Baton Rouge residents and college students to fill out the census. To complete this goal, the team is promoting CENSUS, see page 19
FORUM
Chancellor discusses possible solutions to budget cuts Martin opens floor to worried faculty By Mary Walker Baus Contributing Writer
Chancellor Michael Martin addressed the UniversityÕ s state of financial stress to a crowd of more than 200 students, faculty and staff Wednesday at the first Faculty Senate-Chancellor Forum of the spring semester. Martin said higher education is one of the smallest and least protected parts of the stateÕ s budget.
“We have to figure out ways not only to encourage the state to make the investments it needs to make [in higher education],Ó Martin said. “But we also have to offer alternatives so we can have greater control to ensure our destiny is not in the hands of the economy or political forces.Ó Martin said to help the UniversityÕ s situation, tuition and fees need to increase. Ò I believe, over time, students have to pick up a better share of their education at LSU,Ó he said. In addition to the increase of tuition and fees, Martin said the University needs to restructure academic programs, build a
billion-dollar endowment and jump on entrepreneurship opportunities. The University needs to be careful of pushing its agenda so it doesnÕ t appear self-serving, Martin said. Ò We apparently have not done a good enough job in 150 years on educating the public [about LSU],Ó he said. He said he hopes the governorÕ s budget does not have more financial hits for higher education in the next fiscal year. The government and legislature are more likely to listen to the CHANCELLOR, see page 19
J.J. ALCANTARA / The Daily Reveille
Justin Walsh, art history assistant professor, tells Chancellor Michael Martin during a forum Wednesday for University faculty that cutting the ranks of instructors from the school’s academic core will have negative affects on LSU.