Check Inside For:
A list of Saints-themed drinks and places to watch the Black and Gold Super Bowl, page 6.
NEWS
University to test text message system, page 3.
TOUGH WEEKEND AHEAD Tigers take on Tennessee and Kentucky this week, page 7.
THE DAILY REVEILLE Volume 114, Issue 82
WWW.LSUREVEILLE.COM
BLONDE ON A BUDGET
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Women switching from blond to brunette to save money in midst of economic recession They have more fun, and gentlemen but she felt being blond was too much of a prefer them. But blondes also have a heavier financial burden. price to pay at the salon than their darkerThat is the case for many women, said haired friends. Greg Metzler, owner of By Ryan Buxton Those golden locks Lux Salon and Spa on may be worth their weight Highland Road. Senior Staff Writer in gold. The highlights and “You’re seeing more regular maintenance necessary for blondes roots out there than you did when the econocan cost more than $100 every four to six my was good,” Metzler said. weeks. And those roots are creeping up on a And some women are going back to great deal of blondes. brown to save more green in the tough eco“In spite of what their boyfriends may nomic climate. think, most people are not blond once they Sydni Guillot, environmental engineer- get past 13,” said Kate Jeansonne, stylist at ing junior, was a blonde for five years until Salon Dolce on St. Joseph Road. “The blond last December when she went back to her that you see on adults — about 98 percent of roots. the time — is induced by chemicals.” “It was partly the money and partly just Lindsay Rabalais, mass communication because it’s unhealthy to keep bleaching junior, said she used to highlight her hair your hair the blond color,” Guillot said. once every three months, but now she waits Guillot said she would usually get her four to five months between touch-ups. blond touched up every two to three months BLONDE, see page 15 for about $110. Her mother often paid for it,
‘In spite of what their boyfriends may think, most people are not blond once they get past 13.’ Kate Jeansonne stylist, Salon Dolce
April Walter sociology junior
“I value my blond hair. If I go brown, I look kind of goth and washed out.
“It’s more expensive to do blond stuff to your hair. When you go brown ... it just happens.”
photos by EMILY SLACK / The Daily Reveille
Mollie Gates, textiles, apparel design and merchandising alumna, has her hair highlighted by stylist Lindsay Reed at Rigsby Frederick Salon on Monday, Feb. 1. Students reported visiting salons less frequently for hair dyeing and touch-ups.
Jordan Riley
occupational therapy junior
FACULTY SENATE
TRANSPORTATION
Cope requests delay of waiver University institutes new further slashing funding personal travel regulations By Xerxes A. Wilson Senior Staff Writer
The University Faculty Senate is requesting the U.S. Department of Education to delay measures allowing the state to further cut funding levels to higher education. Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope wrote a letter last week asking the U.S. Secretary of Education for a delay in a waiver allowing the state to cut funding for higher education below the
2006 funding levels. To further cut state funding for higher education, the state must apply for a federal waiver because of rules tied to federal stimulus dollars the state is receiving, Cope said. Federal stimulus funds forbid states with stimulus dollars from cutting higher education below 2006 levels, Cope said. “Until we can get some understanding of what the decision-making process BUDGET, see page 15
By Xerxes A. Wilson Senior Staff Writer
The University recently changed its travel policies to encourage more rental car usage by employees. The University spent more than $3.5 million on travel in fiscal year 2008-09, a number it hopes to reduce by imposing new regulations on personal vehicle travel effective this year. The new rules mandated by the state are designed to take advantage of a motorpool
contract the state has with Enterprise RentA-Car for business travel, said Donna Torres, associate vice chancellor for Accounting and Financial Services. The new rules limit University-reimbursed travel to 99 miles. All mileage more than 99 miles won’t be reimbursed by the University. The mileage reimbursement rate was also reduced from 52 cents per mile to 48 cents per mile. TRAVEL, see page 15
THE DAILY REVEILLE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2010
Nation & World
INTERNATIONAL
NATIONAL
Female suicide bomber in Iraq kills 54
Autopsy: Detroit imam shot 20 times at FBI raid
BAGHDAD (AP) — A female suicide bomber detonated her explosives inside a way station for Shiite pilgrims Monday, killing 54 people and rattling security officials who are struggling against a possible rise in violence before key elections next month.
DETROIT (AP) — A Muslim prayer leader accused of encouraging his followers to commit violence against the U.S. government was shot 20 times during an FBI raid at a suburban warehouse last fall, according to an autopsy report released Monday. The autopsy was completed a month after Luqman Ameen Abdullah’s death, but Dearborn police were granted a delay in releasing the results while they investigate the Oct. 28 shooting, said Dr. Carl Schmidt, Wayne County’s chief medical examiner.
Pakistani Taliban promise proof leader is alive DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (AP) — Taliban militants in Pakistan promised on Monday to soon prove their leader was still alive, dismissing as government propaganda reports he may have died from injuries sustained in a U.S. missile attack close to Afghanistan. Pakistani fighter jets and helicopters attacked targets elsewhere in the northwestern border region, part of battles that killed 22 insurgents and three soldiers, said government official Abdul Malik.
Terrorism suspect’s father headed to NYC court NEW YORK (AP) — The father of an airport driver accused of trying to cook up bombs made from beauty supplies in a Colorado hotel for an attack on New York City was charged Monday with trying to get
rid of chemicals and other evidence. FBI agents arrested Mohammed Wali Zazi on Monday morning on the new charges at his home in a Denver suburb after a previous charge, lying to the government, was dropped. He had been out on bail. Giant squid invade Calif. waters, entice anglers NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Giant squid weighing up to 60 pounds have invaded the California waters off Newport Beach and are being caught by sport fishermen by the hundreds. The squid showed up last week and anglers started booking twilight fishing trips over the weekend to catch them. The animals weigh between 20 and 40 pounds, but a few fishermen have reeled in 60-pound creatures. The Humboldt squid is also called the jumbo squid or jumbo flying squid and squirts ink to protect itself.
STATE/LOCAL
La. senator to stop blocking Obama nominees (AP) — U.S. Sen. David Vitter said Monday he’ll stop delaying President Barack Obama’s nominees to be federal prosecutors and judges in Louisiana. Vitter, a Republican, had blocked Senate confirmation of the nominees from his home state because he wanted assurances the White House wouldn’t get rid of U.S. Attorney Jim Letten, a holdover Bush administration appointee in the New Orleans-based Eastern District. Vitter said Monday that he’s confident Letten will stay because U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder named him to a committee that advises the attorney general on policy, management and operational issues. Letten’s appointment to that committee will expire in 2011. “This prestigious appointment makes it crystal clear that Jim isn’t going anywhere except on regular trips to Washington to personally
PAGE 2 advise the attorney general,” Vitter said in a statement. He said he will now remove his objections to the other nominees. Mother arrested for abandoning child to gamble NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana State Police say a New Orleans mother was arrested for allegedly abandoning her 9-year-old son outside Harrah’s downtown casino. Police say the child was found sitting outside the casino Sunday just before 4 p.m. Information sought in death along I-10 (AP) — A hit-and-run on Interstate 10 left one woman dead and Baton Rouge authorities searching for the person responsible. Lt. Todd Lee, a police department spokesman, said officers responded to reports of a person lying on the side of the road on I-10 near College Drive at 7 a.m. Saturday.
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MOHAMAD KHALED / The Daily Reveille
Log on to see a slideshow of cell phones around campus.
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS
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POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
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THE DAILY REVEILLE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2010
PAGE 3
CONSTRUCTION
New Honors College building to open in fall 2010 Phase 1 of project nears completion
By Sumit Kumar Contributing Writer
West Laville, the Honors College residence hall, is set to open in fall 2010 after more than two years of construction. The renovation project, which began in spring 2008, will be completed this summer. The construction was delayed because of an increase in material costs following Hurricane Katrina, which caused ResLife to rebid the housing contract, said ResLife Communications Manager Jay High. West Laville covers 173,000 square feet. The hall will have about 300 beds, High said. The hall will also feature refurbished rooms with new desks, furniture, loftable beds and bath-
‘‘
‘We’re trying to enhance the program by making [students] feel at home.’ Karen Rockett
ResLife associate director of facilities and maintenance rooms. The floors and decor were redone, and new electricity systems, central air conditioning and energy efficient windows were installed. “We’ve tried to reduce energy consumption by 45 percent — in line with the University sustainability goals,” High said. New study spaces, computer labs, updated wireless facilities and a bigger community space will help provide students with exciting on-campus experience,
said Karen Rockett, ResLife associate director of facilities and maintenance. “We’re trying to enhance the program by making them feel at home,” she said. The West Laville project cost more than $22 million, most of which went into construction. The rest accounted for planning and design, furnishing and mechanical equipment. The hall’s renovation was primarily funded by student rent. “We’re trying to be good stewards with their money,” Rockett said. West Laville will be followed by the renovation of East Laville, beginning this summer and the reconstruction of the connecting courtyard to complete the new enlarged Laville complex. Annie Boyd Hall will also be renovated. Contact Sumit Kumar at skumar@lsureveille.com
TECHNOLOGY
System test to be held Thursday Some carriers block emergency messages By Ryan Buxton Senior Staff Writer
The University’s emergency text message system will go through two tests this week. A test of the entire system will occur Thursday, as well as an optional self-test recommended by Information Technology Services. The pre-test will examine whether students’ phones are properly set up to receive the emergency messages, said Sheri Thompson, IT planning and communications officer. “We have been getting an increased number of people that have phones not set up to receive the emergency text messages,” Thompson said. One reason people may not be receiving the messages is because they are being blocked by their cell phone carriers, Thompson said. Some carriers block certain codes to prevent subscribers from receiving spam texts they don’t want to pay for. These filters can also block the code found in the emergency messages. “It’s like junk e-mail,” Thompson said. Students should complete the pre-test if they have changed cell phone carriers or altered their service plans, Thompson said. To complete the pre-test, students should text “help” to 91492. If they receive a message back from First Call, the phone is properly set up to receive emergency messages. If they receive an error message or no response, students should contact their carrier and ask them to examine the problem. Carriers can set up phones so
‘‘
‘In terms of the technology, we want to be sure students are signed up for it and are signed up properly.’ Sheri Thompson
IT planning and communications officer they receive the emergency texts but still block other spam, Thompson said. “It’s a very specific code, so it can still block everything else,” Thompson said. The pre-test is meant to allow
students to identify their individual problem with the system and resolve it with their carriers. “In terms of the technology, we want to be sure students are signed up for it and are signed up properly,” Thompson said. “It’s a test to make sure on the technical side that everything is working smoothly.” The test of the entire system is part of the regular biannual tests. The emergency text system was implemented in 2007 following the Virginia Tech shooting, Thompson said.
Contact Ryan Buxton at rbuxton@lsureveille.com
HILARY SCHEINUK / The Daily Reveille
The old West Laville dormitory is currently under construction, set to reopen for fall 2010. Once remodeled, West Laville will house students from the Honors College.
THE DAILY REVEILLE
PAGE 4
ENVIRONMENT
ECONOMY
Future budget cuts to possibly cripple law school’s progress No staff have been cut this semester By Mandy Francois Contributing Writer
photo courtesy of PAMELA BLANCHARD
Two students from R.K Smith middle school participate in the restoration planting at Bayou Segnette State Park. Planting season concludes at the end of this month.
Coastal Roots Program aims to restore wetlands Students participate in seedling planting By Mallory Logan Contributing Writer
The Louisiana coastline could advance inland as much as 35 miles by 2040 if erosion doesn’t slow, according to a national survey. This would plunge some southern Louisiana communities into the Gulf of Mexico. The state holds about 40 percent of the nation’s wetlands and currently loses 35 square miles a year, according to the United States Geological Survey National Wetlands Research Center. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded the College of Education’s Coastal Roots Program and its partners a Bay-Watershed Education and Training Grant in 2008 to encourage action to prevent the state’s eroding coastline. “Right now we are approaching the end of planting season, and 1,156 students have gone on planting trips to plant 11,816 trees and grass plugs,” said Pamela Blanchard, director of the LSU Coastal Roots Program and assistant professor in the College of Education. Coastal Roots encourages elementary and high school students across the state to learn about the importance of the wetlands while participating in restoration projects. “When these kids reach voting age, I would like them to have formed their own beliefs and decide if the local environment is worth their tax money,” Blanchard said. Participating students grow restoration seedlings at school and plant them once a year at restoration sites chosen by the University’s program.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2010
“Teachers are very busy people and don’t have time to figure out where they can get permission to plant, so we facilitate that for them,” Blanchard said. Fountainebleu State Park and Jean Lafitte State Park are two sites where students are commonly sent. Both parks still face destruction from Hurricane Katrina. The $300,000 grant is to be given through a three-year period, allowing the program to expand to include Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium’s Bayouside Classroom and Mississippi State University’s Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi, Mississippi. LUMCON’s Bayouside Classroom is a teaching program designed to train students to collect scientific data while promoting awareness of the local environment. LUMCON members include public and private colleges around the state including Tulane University, Nicholls State University, Grambling University and the University of New Orleans. The partnership between the programs has created new opportunities for teachers on both sides. “Teachers in our program that have wanted to participate in Bayouside Classroom are now invited to be part of that program and vice versa,” Blanchard said. Next week, students will be planting at Avery Island, where the Tabasco hot sauce plant is located. Pepper fields are being replaced with cypress environments to support the large black bear population residing there. Students will continue to plant around the state until planting season concludes at the end of this month. Contact Mallory Logan at mlogan@lsureveille.com
Budget cuts hit every department hard this semester, and the Paul M. Hebert Law Center is no exception. The Law Center jumped from No. 88 to No. 75 in U.S News and World Report’s “America’s Best Graduate Schools” in 2010. The Law Center had a 90 percent pass rate as of July 2009. Loyola University had 67 percent pass rate and Southern University had a 58 percent pass rate. Some alumni from the law school have also received partnerships with some of the top law firms in the state. “In terms of what we aspire to do, these cuts are crippling ... there’s no fat here,” said Chancellor Jack Weiss of the Law Center. The staff of the Law Center was cut by five last semester. He also said many members of the staff were subjected to voluntary furloughs. Days off without pay were also given. No staff have been cut so far
‘‘ ‘‘ ‘In terms of what we aspire to do, these cuts are crippling ...there’s no fat here.’ Jack Weiss
chancellor of the Law Center
this semester. “It is too early in the upcoming budget process to predict,” Weiss said. Amanda Washington, firstyear law student, said good teachers are part of what makes progress in a school. “Budget cuts are necessary — it would be unfair to cut everything else and not the law school — but I would hate to lose any teachers,” Washington said. One way to generate revenue to the Law Center is to raise tuition. The Law Center has the lowest tuition of Southern law schools, averaging about $13,000 per year per student. One of Weiss’ biggest concerns about raising tuition is students going into debt. “I want to make our education accessible,” he said.
‘Raising the tuition is a good idea. The tuition is already cheap. I don’t think it will deter students from applying.’ Rachel Abadie
first-year law student Rachel Abadie, first-year law student, said a tuition increase would not bother her. “Raising tuition is a good idea,” Abadie said. “The tuition is already cheap. I don’t think it will deter students from applying.” Weiss also said the center can’t afford to lose extras like the center’s library and career services. “It’s a difficult job market today, and I want my students to succeed,” Weiss said. Contact Mandy Francois at mfrancois@lsureveille.com
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
THE DAILY REVEILLE
PAGE 5
PAGE 6
Revelry
Today’s KLSU Specialty Shows: 9 pm - 11 pm : Rusty Cage (Metal) 11 pm - 1 am : Martian Mix (Mashups/ Mixtapes) TUESDAY,FEBRUARY 2, 2010
TUESDAY’S 225
Black and Gold Super Bowl Edition Places to The Chimes watch the or game in Station Sports Bar Baton Rouge and Grill
2 2
5
Devery Henderson & Randall Gay- current players Hokie Gajan- played in the ’80s, now a Saints radio announcer Dalton Hilliard- played from the mid ’80s to mid ’90s Former LSU Eric Martin- played from players who the mid ’80s to the mid also played ’90s and holds several for the Saints receiving records
Black and Gold Drinks
Black and Gold Shot from Walk-On’s Bistreaux and Bar Jägermeister on Goldschläger Who Dat Hurricane from Reginelli’s Orange Juice Pineapple Juice Grenadine Bacardi Myer’s Rum orange & cherry
MELLOW MUSHROOM Pint Night. FREE Pint Class w/ purchase of Draft @ Regular Price FRED’S Tonight: $2.50 Bud Light Lime & Wheat; $5 Jack Daniels doubles Wednesday: $2.50 Imports, $3 Doubles, & $2 Shots all night Thursday: 8-10 Ladies Night
9-10:30 AM
The Hurt Locker
7:00-8:30 PM
District 9
3:00-3:30PM
NewsBeat Live
10:30-11:00PM
Sports Showtime Repeat
12-1:30
Without a Paddle: Nature’s Callin
4:30-5:00PM
Sports Showtime Live
10:00- 10:30 PM 11:00-12:30AM
NewsBeat Repeat
Inglourious Basterds
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Sports
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2010
PAGE 7
Building Dreams
ERIN ARLEDGE / The Daily Reveille
LSU softball coach Yvette Girouard worked to build programs, parks By Jarred LeBlanc Sports Contributor
Seven-year-old Yvette Girouard reached up to push the lawn mower across the grassy field. The machine was heavy, but she had a job to do. If she wanted to play ball with her older brother and the neighborhood boys, she had to prove herself. The Broussard native had no daisies in her dark brown hair. Her hands were covered in dirt from digging. Strangers would be hard-pressed to distinguish the Southern girl from one of the boys. When Girouard and her brother, Karl, finally finished mowing, they had turned the neighbor’s yard into a baseball field equipped with a mowed diamond, a chicken-wire backstop and sunken dugouts. She loved sports and was willing to put in countless GIROUARD, see page 11
GRANT GUTIERREZ / The Daily Reveille
[Top] LSU softball coach Yvette Girouard watches the team practice Jan. 13. [Bottom] The LSU softball team cheers as the last batter of the game takes the plate Feb. 11 in a game against McNeese State in the new Tiger Park, which Girouard helped construct.
FAMOUS AMOS
Recruiting class lacks star power of 2009’s Where’s the star power? National Signing Day is Wednesday, and the Bayou Bash is here. But all the Tiger fans waiting to see what high school stars will don LSU caps will not be as excited as they were last season because this years’ class lacks something — star power. Rivals. com ranks the Amos Morale incoming Ti- Sports Columnist gers’ class No. 6 in the nation, but only one athlete of the 25 commits has a five star rating — Spencer Ware. Last year’s class was ranked No. 2 by the same Web site and featured four five-stars: Chris Davenport, Craig Loston, Rueben Randle and Russell Shepard. The ’09 class had flair and hype. The ’10 class just doesn’t. The only news from this class in recent weeks seems to be decommitments and recruits choosing other schools. Four players decommitted from the 2010 class, three of them just last month. Wide receivers Mike Davis and Justin Hunter and defensive tackle Cassius Marsh all chose other schools over LSU. Davis chose Texas, Hunter committed to Tennessee RECRUITING, see page 11
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Tigers set to face Volunteers, Wildcats this week Both teams ranked in national top 15 By Chris Branch Sports Writer
Spoiler alert. Some teams in sports might have dismal records and nothing for which to play. Those teams can be the most dangerous. The LSU men’s basketball team, sitting at 0-7 in Southeastern Conference play, fits in nicely to the spoiler role. The Tigers’ record has all but mathematically eliminated them from the NCAA tournament, barring a run through the SEC tournament. LSU is set to host arguably
the best two teams in the SEC — Tennessee and Kentucky — this week. The Tigers enter the week after two disheartening losses to Alabama and Mississippi State. After the loss to the Bulldogs, junior guard Bo Spencer said the team’s inexperience has hurt their play. “We have a lot of young guys on our team this year, and they really don’t understand the concept of SEC play yet,” Spencer said in a news release. “That is just something we have to work on in practice.” No. 14 Tennessee (16-4, 4-2) comes to town for a Thursday game, which ESPN will televise nationally. The Volunteers come into the week after a thrilling victory against Florida on Saturday, in
which sophomore guard Scotty Hopson drilled a fadeaway jumper to clip the Gators, 61-60. The gritty win halted a twogame losing streak for Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl and the Volunteers. “We write it on the board every day,” Pearl said in a news release. “It is in the locker room. We talk about it all the time — defense and rebounding wins championships.” After Tennessee, No. 4 Kentucky will roll into Baton Rouge after playing Tuesday against Ole Miss. The Wildcats are coming off a week that saw their first loss of the season, a gut-wrenching defeat at the hands of South Carolina and WILDCATS, see page 11
WADE PAYNE / The Associated Press
Tennessee sophomore guard Scotty Hopson celebrates with his teammates Sunday after their 61-60 win against Florida in Knoxville, Tenn. Hopson scored the winning basket.
PAGE 8
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
AROUND THE SEC
Four SEC teams appear in this week’s poll Kentucky drops to No. 4 against S.C. By Johanathan Brooks Sports Writer
Four Southeastern Conference teams made rankings when the polls were released Monday. No. 4 Kentucky (20-1, 5-1), ranked No. 1 last week, lost its top spot after dropping a midweek game to South Carolina. South Carolina guard Devan Downey scored 30 points in the game and dished out three assists. No. 14 Tennessee (16-4, 4-2) has dropped two of its last three games and barely escaped with a 6160 win against Florida on Sunday. No. 18 Vanderbilt (16-4, 5-1) is the final team from the SEC East to be ranked in this week’s poll. The Commodores started conference play with five straight wins before dropping their most recent contest on the road against Kentucky. “We had a tough week last week with two very difficult games,” said Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings. “That just seems like the nature of the SEC.” No. 25 Ole Miss (16-5, 4-2) remains the lone team from the SEC West to appear in the polls. The Rebels have won three of their last four contests. SEC RESCHEDULES GAME The SEC had to reschedule one of last weekend’s games because of a winter storm that swept through Arkansas. Ole Miss and Arkansas faced off Sunday in a game that was scheduled for Saturday. “Obviously, safety is our first priority,” Arkansas coach John Pelphrey said in a news release. “I appreciate the efforts of our administration, the Southeastern Conference and the University of Mississippi to help us find a suitable solution to this situation.” The Razorbacks defeated the Rebels, 80-73, snapping Ole Miss’ three-game winning streak. Arkansas senior forward-center Michael Washington led all scorers with 22 points in the contest. He also added 11 rebounds and a block in his 32 minutes on the floor. Ole Miss was led by sophomore forward Michael Holloway, who scored 19 points and snagged 17 rebounds. RETURNING HOME Alabama (13-8, 3-4) faces Florida (15-6, 4-3) on Thursday and more than just a conference win is on
the line. The game represents a chance for the student to try to best his teacher. Crimson Tide coach Anthony Grant served as an assistant under Florida coach Billy Donovan for 10 years before getting his shot at running his own program. Grant coached at Virginia Commonwealth for three seasons before landing the Alabama job and now he has his first chance to beat Donovan. “Being with Billy is pretty special for [Grant],” said Alabama associate head coach Dan Hipsher. “I’m not sure either of them want to coach against one another, but [Grant] will be prideful of the fact that through Billy’s tuteledge he took that and had success with it.” Hipsher said Grant’s coaching style is heavily influenced by the time he spent with Donovan. “If you watch the two teams play, you’ll see a mirror of the styles,” Hipsher said. “It has influenced Anthony a ton as it would any coach.” PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Downey was named the SEC Player of the Week on the coattails of his performance against Kentucky and another 33-point performance against Georgia last weekend. He averages 22.9 points a game on the season, 3.6 assists and 3.2 rebounds. Downey currently leads the SEC in points and steals and is No. 7 in assists. Arkansas freshman forward Marshawn Powell was named the Freshman of the Week following his performances against Mississipi State and Ole Miss. He averaged 14 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists on the week and averages 15.3 points a game, 6.8 rebounds a game and 1.4 blocks a contest this season.
Contact Johanathan Brooks at jbrooks@lsureveille.com
MARY ANN CHASTAIN / The Associated Press
Kentucky junior forward Patrick Patterson falls over South Carolina senior guard Brandis Raley-Ross as he falls to the floor Tuesday, Jan. 26 in Columbia, S.C. Kentucky dropped from No. 1 to No. 4 in the polls after a loss to South Carolina last week.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
THE DAILY REVEILLE
PAGE 9
VOLLEYBALL
Former LSU players Cooper, Martinez go to play professionally Duo was part of ’08 A2 National Team By Andy Schwehm Sports Contributor
Collegiate volleyball is in its offseason, but two former LSU standouts are beginning their careers at the next level of play. Libero Elena Martinez made the trek to Puerto Rico to play in the Puerto Rican Volleyball League while middle blocker Brittnee Cooper works with the USA National Team in Anaheim, Calif. Martinez will play for Llaneras de Toa Baja, the defending champion of the 10-team league. She was the 10th overall pick in the recent draft. Their 21-match regular season begins on Feb. 12. The New Orleans native said in an e-mail that Fernando Olivero, the general manager of the team, contacted her to play for the team at the end of her senior season at LSU in 2008. She originally declined because she wanted to finish school at LSU. Martinez decided to make the move after earning her degree in elementary education in December. “[Olivero] was persistent, and this past October he called and made the opportunity sound too good to pass up again,” Martinez said. “Only natives are eligible for the draft ... Most teams didn’t know of my heritage. Luckily, Fernando had done his research, and I was able to be picked by the Llaneras.” Martinez said she is currently living in an apartment with her fiancé down the block from some of her American teammates. She said she is enjoying the
island, adding that her practices have been “intense, but really fun,//” and her surroundings are allowing her to make use of her years of Spanish classes. “I made a deal with our team captain,” Martinez said. “She speaks to me in English, and I speak to her in Spanish, so we can both improve.” Martinez, a member of the Tigers from 2005-08, notched 2007 and 2008 Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year accolades in her time at LSU while reeling in 1,414 career digs — No. 2 in program history. “I’m really happy for Elena because she came to LSU with the dream of playing at the next level, and her being picked up and sought after by this program in Puerto Rico is wonderful for her,” said LSU coach Fran Flory. Cooper has been doing work with the national team out in sunny California as one of 18 players selected to train with the team during its second winter training block. She said she has been practicing from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on most days and adding an extra optional practice session in the afternoon to work on her blocking skills, as the national team uses a different blocking strategy than she was accustomed to at LSU. “When I first got into the gym, I was kind of intimidated,” Cooper said. “But the coach kind of joked around with me and told me, ‘Just have fun playing volleyball. I know you know how to do that.’” Cooper, the 2009 SEC Player of the Year, recorded 1,110 career kills and racked up 504 blocks in her four years at LSU. The Houston native has already won a pair of medals as a member of the 2008 and 2009 USA Women’s
GRANT GUTIERREZ / The Daily Reveille
Former Tiger Brittnee Cooper prepares to spike the ball over the net Nov. 20 against Mississippi State in the PMAC.
National A2 Team. “They view her a little bit at this point in her career as I did when I was recruiting her out of high school,” Flory said. “To me, she was a project with great potential ... The national team program and staff view her with a lot of potential, but they know she needs a great deal of experience.” The two are thousands of miles apart currently, but they hope to join back up eventually to wear the red, white and blue together. If they do, it won’t be the first time, as they were on the A2 National Team back in the summer of 2008. Cooper said she has kept in touch with Martinez in the last few weeks. She said it would be “legit” to play with Martinez again on the national team. “She’s just amazing,” Cooper said. “I’ve never seen anyone play like she does defense-wise.”
Contact Andy Schwehm at aschwehm@lsureveille.com
PAGE 10
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
GYMNASTICS
Tigers find consistency, knowledge in Rogers Senior has won two individual titles By Rob Landry Sports Contributor
Teams are composed of players of all different shapes, sizes and personalities. Some players are cheerleaders, some are showboats and others are there to keep the peace during potential conflicts. LSU senior gymnast Kayla Rogers falls into the peacemaker category. “I’m probably more of a mediator on the team,” Rogers said. “Things can get tense in the gym when we’re together all the time. So I spend a lot of time resolving conflicts and just trying to take care of little things here and there.” Rogers began her gymnastics career a little later than many of her teammates. “Most of them started at age 3 or 4,” Rogers said. “I started doing gym when I was about 6 years old doing local recreational programs. Then I got moved up to the team level, and I’ve just kept working my way up.” Through high school Rogers competed at Great American Gymnastics Express, where she
J. J. ALCANTARA / The Daily Reveille
LSU senior Kayla Rogers completes a vault Jan. 8 in LSU’s win against Maryland in the PMAC. Rogers scored a 9.875 on the vault.
was a five-time Junior Olympic National Qualifier. Rogers was named the Show-Me Female Athlete of the Year in 2002. She finished 15th in the allaround in the 2004 Junior Olympic National Meet. Rogers won the Missouri state all-around title in 2005 and finished 10th in the
all-around at the National Meet. The Liberty, Mo., native took a visit to LSU following high school and knew it was the place she wanted to go. When she was offered a scholarship, she gladly signed to perform for the Tigers. “The major deciding factor was coming down on my visit and seeing the atmosphere and
support that LSU puts forth for its Athletic Department and all of its sports,” Rogers said. “I fell in love with the team, the environment and the school.” Rogers was the lead-off performer on the vault as a freshman in 2007, averaging a 9.763. During her freshman campaign, Rogers posted a 9.900 on vault at the NCAA Southeast Regional, a score that still stands as her career high on the apparatus. She was also named to the Southeastern Conference Freshman Academic Honor Roll. She competed on the vault, uneven bars and the floor exercise in 2008 and was again named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll. She earned Second Team All-American honors on the floor exercise as a junior in 2009 when she scored a 9.85 in the NCAA Championship Preliminaries. She was the Tigers’ lead-off performer on both the vault and floor. Rogers also captured her first individual title, winning the floor exercise-title against North Carolina and Illinois-Chicago by posting a 9.925. Rogers has already won another individual title this season on the vault against Maryland. She also set a career high on the uneven bars with a 9.800 against the Terrapins. Fellow senior gymnast Sum-
mer Hubbard said Rogers’ work ethic is what has made her the gymnast she is today. “She never stops,” Hubbard said. “She almost has to be told that she has to stop. She’s definitely one of the hardest workers — no doubt about it.” Rogers, a biology major, is also a great teammate to have around because of her general wealth of knowledge, Hubbard said. “She’s like our library,” Hubbard said. “We go to her for our thoughts, or if we have a question, she’s our go-to person when it comes to questions about anything. She’s brilliant.” Rogers also said many people may not know she comes from a Japanese background. “My grandmother is Japanese,” Rogers said. “That’s something about me that no one would ever guess.” Gymnastics has been a large part of Rogers’ life for a long time, and she has always enjoyed her time in the gym. “Gymnastics was always a good time,” Rogers said. “It’s just a lot of fun and something you don’t get to normally do.”
Contact Rob Landry at rlandry@lsureveille.com
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2010 WILDCATS, from page 7
Gamecock senior guard Devan Downey. The conference loss was a first for new Kentucky coach John Calipari, who hadn’t lost a game since March 2, 2006, when Calipari coached for the University of Memphis. The SEC is a completely
RECRUITING, from page 7
and Marsh stayed closer to home and chose to attend UCLA. The Tigers need to fill the wide receiver position — especially with the graduation of receivers Brandon LaFell, Chris Mitchell and RJ Jackson. This further detracts from the class’s prestige because, unlike last year’s class, it doesn’t address a major need. The 2009 class featured a number of high-profile defensive players, like Loston and Davenport, which filled a gap for the Tigers coming off a terrible defensive year. None of these guys have the name recognition of the ’09 class.
GIROUARD, from page 7
hours to be a part of something she considered special. And she hasn’t changed much since her childhood. She is still the athletic type, wearing bright gold LSU T-shirts and purple Nike shorts whether she’s relaxing at home or coaching LSU softball practice. Sports are still her life — the way she knew they’d be ever since she was a little girl. Girouard was never able to play organized baseball, but she was finally to play volleyball — the only sport offered to girls at Comeaux High School in Lafayette. She excelled and was able to walk on to the volleyball team at the Southwestern Louisiana, now the University of LouisianaLafayette.
EARLY SOFTBALL YEARS Girouard wasn’t able to play in a slow-pitch softball league until she was 18. She played for a team in New Iberia called Allain’s Gems, sponsored by Allain’s Jewelry store. Her parents’ restaurant, Ton’s Drive Inn, became the sponsor years later. Her team eventually won state and regional championships and made several national tournament appearances. She graduated from USL as the school’s Female Athlete of the Year in 1976 and began teaching at Lafayette High School in 1977. “I got the job, and I coached volleyball and softball,” she said. “I feel sorry for everyone who changes majors 10 times. I was going to be a high school P.E. teacher and a coach, and I never wavered.” The year Girouard started at Lafayette High School was the year Lafayette Parish started fast-pitch softball in high schools. She used her childhood experience to build a softball
THE DAILY REVEILLE
PAGE 11
different beast than Conference USA, Calipari said. “It’s the same in that everywhere we go we’re getting everybody’s best shot,” Calipari said in a teleconference. “The difference is here: Every team in here has a player or two on their team that can break you down and score at will. I think that’s the one difference. Downey went nuts at the
end and made two impossible shots. They were bad shots. He made them anyway.” But the Wildcats responded. Kentucky thoroughly dismantled Vanderbilt, 85-72, on Saturday to quell any doubts about the team’s mental state. “We did the key things we should do as far as turnovers and getting rebounds, but I think
we did good,” freshman guard John Wall said in a news release. “Coach told us that they were a team that wasn’t going to go away. In SEC league play so far, they have been down a lot at the half. We knew they wouldn’t go away easy and they were going to come back and fight hard, but we came up with a tough win.” It didn’t hurt that NBA star
and Cavaliers forward LeBron James was in attendance. Still, Wall and company were focused. “It means a lot for us, but he told us not to try to showboat just because he was there,” Wall said. “We just wanted to play basketball.”
Nearly every Tiger fan knew Shepard’s name last year before he stepped foot on campus. Shepard’s personality hypnotized them, and his media friendliness put him constantly on their minds. The flair caused a greater interest in the class, and the other recruits gained more notoriety. The abilities of the ’09 class renewed the excitement around the LSU football team. The Tigers were coming off an 8-5 season most fans would like to forget, and the recruits brought hope for the 2009-10 season. Not many athletes from the No. 2-ranked class contributed to the 9-4 season, which culminated in a disappointing loss to Penn
State. But Randle and Shepard did score two touchdowns each during the year. This year’s class isn’t bringing the buzz back to Tiger Stadium. None of the names have household recognition, and the class’s best-rated athletes don’t play sexy positions. Ware, the class’s lone fivestar, is an athlete. He has the frame to play fullback — an important position, but not a flashy one. Last year’s five-stars, Shepard and Randle, played quarterback and wide receiver in high school — both positions where highlight-reel plays could be made, further increasing the
excitement surrounding them. This opinion isn’t to negate the talent of these prospects. They’re obviously talented or LSU wouldn’t have recruited them. Les Miles may not manage a game clock well, but he definitely has an eye for talent and a knack for getting said talent to don the purple and gold. There is a very good chance the 2010 class will make a major contribution to the Tigers next season. But they don’t have flair. But maybe flair isn’t what LSU needs. Maybe LSU needs a class of guys who feel they have
something to prove because they didn’t receive the same hype as the class before them. Either way, the fans at the Bayou Bash, the fans following the recruiting action at home and even the recruits themselves will have to wait until the fall to see where the star power is.
field from scratch, but she wasn’t used to being the coach of a softball team. “I didn’t really have any experience in the game,” Yvette said. “I kind of was a self-made teacher.”
“They were a top nationally ranked team.” But Girouard answered the call from LSU after 20 years with UL-Lafayette. She began her first season with the Tigers in 2001 with an impressive resumé from UL-Lafayette. “Crossing the river and coming here was really hard for me, because I had done the same thing for 24 years,” she said. “[Lafayette] is home for me, and this was always the enemy, so it was hard. But God, I couldn’t be any happier coming to work every day.” The Broussard native went from driving vans for the Ragin’ Cajuns to chartering buses for the Tigers. She no longer had to raise all the money for her team or mow the field. Girouard has compiled a coaching record among the best ever in women’s softball — 1,200-387-1. Her victories make her the fourth-winningest all-time Division-I coach and third-winningest among active coaches. But her biggest accomplishment may be the fourth ballpark she helped build — Tiger Park. LSU first opened the new Tiger Park on Feb. 11 against McNeese State. She would bring new recruits to the empty lot before the park was built, stand on a dirty mound and try to get them to envision the state-of-the-art facility. She was proud of her fourth field, like that 7-year-old girl who finally finished building her field and wiped the sweat from her brow. “I’m just very grateful that I got to see this stadium built,” Yvette said. “It was a dream.”
COLLEGE SOFTBALL YEARS Girouard got frustrated with the high school system, and she knew she would never make much money as a high school coach. She quit coaching and decided to work at her parents’ restaurant. But her talent had been noticed, and USL called its former volleyball star in November 1981 and asked her to build its softball program. Just like when Yvette and Karl built their first field when she was 7, the Girouard family helped build the Lady Cajuns’ softball program. “My dad helped me paint my first fence and was with me every step of the way,” Yvette said. Yvette’s mother, Rose Mary Girouard, helped make the team’s first uniforms. Yvette Girouard had to keep up the maintenance on the field. “I had no balance,” Girouard said. “It was all about the job.” Girouard drove the team’s van when it traveled. Her life wasn’t easy. But she was doing what she loved, and she was winning. She led UL-Lafayette to four straight Southland Conference Championships from 198487 before the team became an Independent in 1988. The team grew into a national powerhouse, going to the Women’s College World Series three times and earning a national ranking as high as No. 2 in 1994. “They were the greatest show on the road,” said Quinlan Duhon, former LSU outfielder and current director of operations for LSU softball.
Contact Jarred LeBlanc at jleblanc@lsureveille.com
Contact Chris Branch at cbranch@lsureveille.com
Amos Morale is a 22-year-old history major from Houston. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_AmosMorale3. Contact Amos Morale at amorale@lsureveille.com
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Opinion
PAGE 12
MURDA, HE WROTE
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Stunt at Sen. Landrieu’s office highlights disturbing trend Four men in New Orleans made headlines nationwide last week after being charged with entering federal property under false pretenses with the intent of committing a felony. Two of the men posed as telephone repairmen, entered Sen. Mary Landrieu’s New Orleans office and asked staffers if they could test the phone system. After playing with the office phone a bit — testing to see if it was taking outside calls — the two asked to go to the main trunk line of the office building. The phone system was managed by the U.S. General Services Administration because Landrieu’s office is located in the Hale Boggs Federal Building. Then GSA employees asked to see the men’s identification. When they couldn’t provide it, the jig was up — federal marshals were called, and the group was arrested. Reports initially painted the incident as Watergate 2.0. The men
were suspected of attempting to tamper with the Senator’s phone system — a felony. But it was clear from the beginning the perpetrators were either clinically insane for thinking their half-baked plot would work or simply involved in a prank: too stupid to realize the seriousness of what they were attempting. Discovering the background of the apparent ringleader of the operation, James O’Keefe, made clear exactly how poorly thought out the plan really was. O’Keefe received notoriety recently for his undercover exposé of ACORN, an embattled communityorganizing group and favorite target of ultra-conservatives. O’Keefe and a friend posed as pimp and prostitute, entered the organization’s office and asked for the organization’s help, all while the cameras rolled. In the New Orleans fiasco, O’Keefe waited in the office — cell
phone in hand — to allegedly record the operation. The narrative set up by the lawyer paints a plot less sinister than listening to the senator’s phone calls (which makes sense, given that far less official business is conducted by Landrieu through that office). They claim the stunt was an attempt to Mark Macmurdo make a stateColumnist ment about a perceived lack of responsiveness to the concerns of Louisiana citizens against health care reform. It seems the idea was to record the fake phone repairmen checking the phones to make sure that wasn’t the reason the senator wasn’t listening to constituents. Landrieu, whose health care vote was secured by a
large ear mark (dubbed the “Louisiana purchase”), has had a target painted on her back by health care reform critics. Understanding O’Keefe’s background makes it clear the group got in over their heads in their latest stunt. Speculation would suggest it wasn’t there to record phone calls or to tamper with the senator’s phone system. O’Keefe and company had less malicious (and illegal) intent in their actions, but they cannot go unpunished. Entering the office of a sitting U.S. senator and misrepresenting your identity should be a crime. Perhaps the crime would have been less serious if the men had posed as salesmen — not telephone repairmen. Fooling around with an elected official’s phone system is one of those things you simply don’t do — like saying “bomb” on an airplane. What’s particularly interest-
ing about this incident is how it fits in the larger trend in the 21st century known as “citizen journalism.” We’ve been conditioned to expect that we will continue to get more news from bloggers and cell phone users in the years to come. We will have to wait and see what becomes of O’Keefe and his sidekicks. But it will be dangerous if their work is hailed as investigative journalism, as some conservative pundits have claimed. These actions are better described as stunts. Even so, they cannot go unpunished. Mark Macmurdo is a 22-year-old history and economics senior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_mmacmurdo.
Contact Mark Macmurdo at mmacmurdo@lsureveille.com
CANCEL THE APOCALYPSE
Televangelists are nothing more than Chaucerian frauds I had a revelation this week — apparently God wants me to be rich. This epiphany did not come through a flaming seraph or blinding light. No, the divine message flowed through my television and proclaimed, “Give your soul to God, and send your tithes to me.” These same words echo through the airwaves in a constant bombardment of solicitation and promises of prosperity. Unfortunately, that winning lotto ticket can only be dished out after sowing one’s “faith seed,” which sounds awfully perverse. For the purposes of this column, I am willing to look past the notorious sex scandals of televangelists in years past. It would be too easy to go on a tirade against the likes of Ted Haggard and our own Bluebonnet plague Jimmy Swaggart. Is polygamous hypocrisy the only accusation one can muster against these Chaucerian frauds? Not even close. Two particular charges come to mind. The first goes out to the faith healers, specifically Benny Hinn and Peter Popoff. Hinn is notorious for flailing his coat in a whirlwind of spiritual effluence and dropping masses to the floor with a mere touch of his holy hand. The after-effects are believed to include healed pains and known to include empty wallets. Popoff can be found on BET
late at night peddling “miracle spring water” and other preposterous paraphernalia. This same man went bankrupt in 1983 when James Randi exposed the voices from God he was hearing telling him the names of people in the audience and their ailments was actually coming from an earpiece with his wife on the Andrew Robertsonother end. She Columnist happened to be reading these names and ailments off the prayer-request cards people had filled out on their way in. And, in the land of opportunity, this fraud has once again been given the chance to cheat the pious ignorant of their money. Could it be this simple? Are some capable of curing diseases for large amounts of money? Yes, they’re called medical doctors. They perform their skills to the ill in hospitals — while these charlatans dish out holy rubbish in packed stadiums for the gullible. Case in point, there has yet to be one confirmed medical acknowledgement of a healing at the hands of these two swindlers. The second phenomenon is less lethal but far more common. Wealth and an “abundant harvest” await
THE DAILY REVEILLE Editorial Board NICHOLAS PERSAC JERIT ROSER GERRI SAX ELLEN ZIELINSKI MATTHEW ALBRIGHT
Editor Managing Editor, Content Managing Editor, External Media Managing Editor, Production Opinion Editor
those that sow “faith seeds” in the correct ministry. This is advertised in Popoff’s commercials as well as my personal favorite, Rockwealth Ministries. According to Rockwealth’s founder, Todd Coontz, you only need to plant a seed, which constitutes sending his institution copious amounts of money, to have miraculous deposits appear in your bank account. While this is the extreme side of it, the prosperity gospel of Joel Osteen and other Word of Faith groups is not that different. What these “ministries” have mastered is the credulousness of their audience. Apparently God wants all of his children, who are only evangelical Christians of course, to be rich and famous. There appears to be some misconstrued connection between monetary benefit and divine favor. And what’s more – all of this can all be yours if the tithe is right. So what does every one of these quacks have in common? None are educated to a respectable clerical level, and all profess the gift of divine prophecy — minus Osteen, who rarely professes anything. So not only do we have a mass of unqualified clergymen, but they also speak with a divine authority — raining curses upon those who challenge them. Here’s a challenge, oh ye swindlers. Find me one biblical prophet
who enjoyed his or her duty — or danced on a stage in a $1,000 suit. Justify the outlandish salaries you partake from tithes that finance mansions and sports cars. And finally, compare your broadcasts of fiscal blessings with the condemnations of the rich from Jesus of Nazareth. You’re not “prophets” — you’re “profits,” and you can all go to hell.
Andrew Robertson is a 22-year-old religious studies senior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @ TDR_arobertson.
Contact Andrew Robertson at arobertson@lsureveille.com
BEST AND WITTIEST
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.
cartoon courtesy of KING FEATURES SYNDICATE
QUOTE OF THE DAY “The man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends.”
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche German philosopher Oct. 15, 1844 — Aug. 25, 1900
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Opinion
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
In Friday’s edition of The Daily Reveille, business administration student Milton Falconer claimed that “such antiquated and obsolete fields as philosophy, comparative literature, anthropology, history, sociology and art have no place in a public institution.” He perceives these programs as having little practical use.
the corporate world. If any department of LSU should be cut, business would be a prime candidate. Very few of the world’s top business leaders received undergraduate degrees in business. Falconer mentions professors should look to secure funds from three corporations, Coca Cola, Exxon and McDonald’s. What Falconer fails to realize is none of the CEO’s of these companies received an undergraduate business degree. McDonald’s CEO Jim Skinner never earned a college degree, but rather perfected his leadership skills as a member of the United States Navy. Lee Raymond and Roy Tillerson, the last two CEO’s of Exxon, together hold zero business degree. Each majored in engineering before working their way to the top of both companies. Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent, along with Warren Buffett and many of our nation’s finest entrepreneurs’s majored in economics as undergraduates. Guess which department economics is a part of at LSU? The College of Arts & Sciences. Economics, like philosophy and
history, teaches its students to think rather than training students to be sheep, adhering to common business practices the Business School teaches. The true brilliant minds that shape history, even at the corporate level, are the ones with a background in departments that fuel inspiration and creativity. As for more of the “obsolete” majors Falconer wants to get rid of, were history majors useless to former Presidents George W. Bush and John F. Kennedy? Martin Luther King Jr. and his sociology degree surely did nothing for the advancement of America, right? He does have a point with philosophy majors though. It’s not as if former Hewlett-Packard CEO and key financial advisor to John McCain’s 2008 Presidential Run, Carly Fiorina, benefitted from her philosophy degree. Perhaps if she would have majored in accounting, she just might be a CPA at the moment!
Web commentors had this to say about Milton Falconer’s letter:
in any sort of publication.” -Josh
“A professor’s job is to teach and to educate. It isn’t to go out and to gain endorsements from corporations. And to say that the university should not have such fields as history, literature, and sociology is possibly one of the most absurd ideas I have ever heard. This article is laughable and you have no business writing
“Seriously? Your employment success is not about your major, it’s about being smart and hard working. I majored in Philosophy, and it was amazing and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Now, I run a business and make six figures. Does anybody remember any businessmen from 2500 years ago? Hardly, but we do remember
philosophers and thinkers from long ago because they were really smart and if you read their work, you become smarter. Majoring in Business Administration are we? We’ll if you can’t figure out that stuff on you own, I guess you need to spend four whole years getting it spoon fed to you. Good luck pushing paperwork as a middle manager and making 35K. I’ll think of you as I’m kicking it in the Caribbean and reading Aris-
The letter has elicited a firestorm of protest in the form of both letters to the editor and comments on our Web site, lsureveille.com. Here is a sample:
Humanities education valuable Milton Falconer’s letter recommending the abolishment of the humanities from LSU was not only shockingly ignorant of the value of humanity education, but surprisingly ignorant of what it takes to become successful in
WEB COMMENTS
Stephen Wolf mass communication sophomore
Falconer’s assertions prove correct I read with interest Milton Falconer’s letter to the editor published in the Reveille on Jan. 29. The argument for the value of the humanities in education has been made by many more eloquent and persuasive people than me, and this is probably not the place to rehearse that argument once again. But as a professor of history and chair of the department, I would like to correct a couple of Falconer’s assertions. First of all, history majors are not unemployable; our graduates have just as good a track record in gaining employment as majors in many fields, including business administration. A brief Web search shows that many prominent CEOs and important leaders have degrees in history: Antonin Scalia, Martha Stuart, Jimmy Buffett (who’d have thought it?) and Carly Fio-
tole on the beach, chump.” -Victor “yeah, who cares about history and philosophy? I mean, why would anyone, especially a business major, need to know about John Locke and his silly theories of value and price? If only Thomas Jefferson hadn’t wasted his time reading Locke he may have done something with his life....” -Pat
PAGE 13 rina of HP (a double major in medieval history and philosophy, no less) come to mind. As it happens, LSU System President Lombardi, whom Falconer quotes with such approval, is himself a PhD in history. Secondly, the research we do in the history department is no less genuine than that done anywhere else in the University; valuable research is funded publicly all of the time, and this includes most of that done in business administration. It is true in times of shrinking budgets tough decisions must be made, but one hopes that those making them are better informed than Mr. Falconer. Victor Stater professor & chair Department of History
Contact The Daily Reveille’s opinion staff at opinion@lsureveille.com
What do you think? Did Falconer step over the line? Our e-mail box and Web site are always open for comments. You might see your input in our print edition on Friday. Log on today!
Contact The Daily Reveille’s opinion staff at opinion@lsureveille.com
JUXTAPOSED NOTIONS
Modern moviegoers prefer spectacle over substance
I have lost faith in the modern moviegoer. I’m not sure precisely when my disillusionment occurred. My distaste has simmered cooly, griping quietly in response to the various cinematic shenanigans I’ve witnessed through the years. It occasionally seeped into conversation, but typically went no further. But it made itself known in full force during a particularly annoying viewing of crime thriller “The Lovely Bones.” During this viewing, I had the pleasure of sitting next to a lovely group of young ladies who saw it fit to circuitously regale me with their inane commentary about the movie’s happenings. Alternately whisper-screaming about how they “didn’t get it” and giggling inappropriately during the murder scene, they were the perfect manifestation of our society’s values concerning what we value in entertainment.
This attitude has a simple rule: anything remotely metaphorical always eludes comprehension. This trend was reflected in the professional realm as far as “The Lovely Bones” is concerned. According to Rotten Tomatoes, critics panned it with an abysmal 36 percent approval rating, surprising those who were familiar with the story. I found this disappointing — if not interesting — because a critic will typically sing praises of any film that seems even remotely morbid in his or her desire to appear deep or otherwise emotive. Critics will typically do this regardless of cohesion in the movie’s plot — morbidity, vagueness and euphemisms are all they require to draw from, because these elements usually enable the critic’s own pretentiousness. “The Lovely Bones” in particular was quite disturbing, and thus the perfect opportunity for
critics to capitalize on their usual penchants. For that reason alone, it should have caused universal salivation by critics eager to prove their clout by displaying fondness for something so utterly disturbing. But judging by their reviews, even they seemed to miss the point this time. I was prepared to consider this a fluke until I noticed the Linnie Leavines high marks Columnist awarded to movies I conversely despise — “Avatar” being the most notable one at the moment after being granted an undeserved 82 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes along with $1.8 billion in profits, making it the second-highest grossing movie of all time. And perhaps the most
overrated. I do not intend to say liking or disliking these movies are indicative of intelligence level. Understandably, the films I mentioned will not suit everyone, as we all have tastes that do not necessarily reflect brain power. But the problem lies not in merely enjoying these films, which is harmless, but rather placing certain movies on a pedestal they do not deserve. Society is allowed to have its guilty pleasures — which are by no means inappropriate — but allowing them to become the focal point is unacceptable. To suppose a movie that cost the equivalent of the gross domestic product of a small country can be excused from hiring decent writers (“Avatar,” I’m looking at you, again) is ridiculous. Sadly, when the best the industry has to offer is the deformed brainchildren of Michael Bay and the surprisingly stale
afterthoughts of James Cameron, this trend — that is, appearance over substance — is to be expected. Skilled writing will be shirked for canned dialogue and mildly offensive clichés, the plot will feel like an obligatory afterthought rather than the focal point. More inane than such movies are their ensuing success, a clear ordering of values which highlights our culture’s preference with spectacle over substance and throws our priorities into an embarrassing relief. And why must we be this way, I wonder? Probably because thinking simply hurts too much. Linnie Leavines is a 19-year-old mass communication sophomore from Central City. Follow her on Twitter @TDR_lleavines. Contact Linnie Leavines at lleavines@lsureveille.com
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Classifieds
PAGE 14
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 SURVEY TAKERS NEEDED: Make $5-$25 per survey. GetPaidToThink.com. WANTED PAINTERS HELPER No experience necessary. Flexible hours to work around school schedule. Starting salary: $10 p/h Leave message 225.445.1834 Part Time Sales Rep Needed Local small business looking for part time sales rep. Sales experience a plus. Flexible schedules. Email resume to jobs@patienttelephone.com or fax 225-372-2940 part time cashier part time cashier needed at Diamond Mazda. Approximately 20 hours per week. Please call 292-3900 and ask for Keith Bordelon. 225.295.3900 225.295.3900 Kids Zone Counselor The A. C. Lewis YMCA is now hiring for Kids Zone Counselors. Kids Zone counselors will provide care and supervision to children placed in the YMCA Kids Zone. Monday-Thursday afternoons 4-8:30pm. Pay Rate $7.35-$8.50. Please e-mail resume, apply in person, or contact Eddrick Martin if interested. 225.924.3606. emartin@ymcabatonrouge.org Clerical help needed! Local medical equipment company needs P/ T help with answering phones and medical data entry. We will provide on the job training. Email: sdelhom@bellsouth.net or fax 225.755.0022 Before/After School Counselors GONZALES, LA AREA: YMCA seeks Before/ After School Counselors at Gonzales school site. Must be able to work M-F, during the hours of 6:30ñ8:00 am & 3:00-6:00 p.m., drug test and b/ g heck. Dependable, dedicated individuals contact Lindsey Seals @ (225) 767-9622. Tutor Needed for h/s junior. AdvMath & Chem. On campus, Mon/Tues approx 4hrs. $10/hr cash. FlexHrs. nward3@lsu.edu NANNY/TUTOR needed Mon, Tues, Thurs, everyother Fri. 4:00-7:00 $10 hr 225.445.0350 Counter Clerk part time afternoon, flexible hours, great for students Welsh’s Cleaners at Perkins Rd. and College Dr. apply in person or call 225-921-6660
FITNESS INSTRUCTORS NEEDED- Great part time afternoon school year job-Full time summer job-Great Pay! Exerfit Family Fitness, Bluebonnet Ave(Crawfish Aquatic’s Sister Program) If you are highly motivated, hard working, we can teach you the rest. Please fax resume to 225-706-1634 or e-mail to mleach@exerfitbr.com website: www.exerfitbr. com Spend your summer in Maine If you’re looking to spend this summer outdoors, have fun while you work, and make lifelong friends, then look no further. Camp Mataponi, a residential camp in Maine, has female/ male summertime openings for Land Sports, Waterfront (small crafts, skiing, life guarding, WSI, boat drivers), Ropes Course, Tennis, H. B. Riding, Arts& Crafts, Theater, Cooking, Gymnastics, Dance, Videography, Group Leaders & more. On Campus Interviews will Top salaries plus room/board & travel provided. Call us at 1-561-748-3684 or apply online at www. campmataponi.com. Earn Extra Money Students needed ASAP. Earn up to $150 per day being a Mystery Shopper. No Experience Required. Call 1-800722-4791 SWIMMING INSTRUCTORS NEEDED Great Part Time Afternoon Spring Semester Job-Full Time Summer Job-Great Pay! CRAWFISH AQUATICS, Louisiana’s Total Swim Program-If you are highly motivated, hard working, we can teach you the rest. Please fax resume to 225-706-1636 or e-mail to swimcraw@ bellsouth.net Cyclone Laundry PT position available. Customer service oriented. Flexible hours. 623 E. Boyd Apply “in person” today! 225.767.5720 Kaplan is looking for enthusiastic, motivated, and well connected college students to work part time to help promote our products and services at LSU! Responsibilities: -Provide information and generate interest on our programs via tabling on campus -Post and distribute fliers and or generate leads and contacts for the local Kaplan Center -Coordinate and participate in local marketing events -Monitor and respond to competitive activity in the market -Research and report on campus clubs and groups that would benefit from Kaplan products -Facilitate introductions of Kaplan staff to club and group leaders -Create campus presence during high season -Prepare room and materials Qualifications: -Must be actively enrolled at LSU -Class status of Sophomore or above -Have an established social and professional network within the campus community -Available to work 5 to 10 hours a week (some weeks may require more hours) -Available to work at least one academic year (Fall through Spring) -Excellent communication and presentation skills -Exhibit outstanding leadership qualities, high-
ly creative and well organized -Have demonstrated instances of self motivation and taking initiative To learn more about your campus rep position and apply visit http:// bit.ly/ kapLSU Parkview Baptist Preschool Preschool Afternoon Teachers needed 3-6pm flex days. no degree required. Call Kim 293-9447 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 & lunch. Interesting, meaningful teamwork on community recovery. Contact David Maddox, dmaddo1@tigers. lsu.edu Research Assistant Needed: Local researcher needs graduate student to assist with data analysis using SPSS. Extensive knowledge of SPSS a must. Email charmccor@cs.com to apply provide research background.
Perkins (Georgetown). 1500+ sq ft, 2 car garage, ceiling fans, NEW AC, gated patio, park access, all kitchen appl., W/ D ready, $8k fed tax rebate thru 4/10, part/ full furnish avail., & more. $170k neg. townhomenearlsu@ googlemail.com for pics, info, & showing. 303.903.5805 1989 Jeep Wrangler Sahara, 4X4, Automatic, 55678 miles - $2,300 - Email me for more details at: RUBREEV@AOL. COM Laptops $199 and up. Computers $99 and up. Repair desktops/laptops. Computer Exchange, 10120 Florida Blvd. 225.274.1400 KILL ROACHES and RATS! Buy Harris Famous Roach Tablets & Harris Famous Rat Killer Guaranteed to work. Available at Goodwood Hardware (225) 926-0040 and Highland Hardware (225) 766-3049
For Rent
cafe mediterranean hiring servers. Only 10 min. from campus in Southdown Village. 4347 Perkins Rd. 225.336.4501
BRIGHTSIDE PARK TOWNHOMES NICE 2 BR 2.5 BATH, W/D, POOL. $900 1737 S. Brightside View 318-243-8231 southlandpropertiesinc.com
YMCA EXTENDED DAY The A. C. Lewis YMCA is now hiring for (Extended Day) Before & After School Site Supervisors. Site Supervisors will be responsible for the oversight of one or more school sites. The supervisor will also assist other counselors and provide care and supervision of students enrolled in the YMCA extended day program. Pay Rate $8.00$9.00/ hr. Now hiring for Extended Day Counselors which will provide care and supervision of students enrolled in the YMCA extended day program. Pay Rate $7.35-$8.00/ hr. Monday-Friday after-noons from 3:00-6:00 p.m. Please e-mail resume, apply in person, or contact Eddrick Martin if interested. emartin@ymcabatonrouge.org 225.924.3606
FOR LEASE on the LSU LAkes 2br/1ba $875/ mo for more info or to view other avail. Rentals go to www.keyfindersbr. com or call Keyfinders Realty at 225-2933000
BARTENDING UP TO NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. TRAINING PROVIDED. AGE 18+ OK 1-800-965-6520 ext127
LSU TIGERLAND Special Lg Studios 1&2 BR TH &Flat Pool, w/f, $450 to $695 225.615.8521
PAY STARTING AT $10 PER HOUR The Best Western Richmond Suites Hotel is hiring for full time Guest Service Agents for the front desk. Apply in person at 5668 Hilton Ave Baton Rouge, LA 70808 225.924.6500 225.924.6500 EOE
WalK To Campus 1Br, 2Br, and Townhomes. Starting as low as $400.00. www.lsuwestchimesplace.com 225.346.4789
For Sale Tiger Manor Condominiums. UNITS READY FOR SPRING and FALL 2010!! Reserve now! Brand new 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units for sale starting at $124,900. Ask about our Guaranteed Buy-Back Program!! 3000 July St. 225346-5055 www.tigermanor.com Location. Location. Location... Start Living. 2br/2ba CONDO 4 miles to LSU Congress/
Sister Getting Married Fem.grad.stud, needed for 3bedrm, furnished house, $450+util, avail. 3/1 504.717.5188 504.717.5188 Tiger Manor Condominiums. UNITS READY FOR SPRING and FALL 2010! Reserve Now! Brand new 1, 2, & 3 bedrooms available. Reserve your unit today! Walk to class! 3000 July St. 225-346-5055. www.tigermanor.com Location. Location. Location... Start Living.
$AVE $ WALK TO LSU! LARGE 1 BR APT 7697757 / 266-8666 / 978-3123 Summer grove conds Gated Community off Brightside Clubhouse with pool & work out room All Appliances Included 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom Units Now Accepting Deposit for Summer Dean Flores Real Estate 225.767.2227 2BR HOUSE DOWNTOWN FOR LEASE!! 2BR/1BA $1150/MO WOOD FLOORS, DECK, FENCED YARD. WWW. KEYFINDERSBR. COM FOR PICS. AND MORE INFO. KEYFINDERS REALTY 225-293-3000 LSU Walk to Campus Big Clean 1 br $495. New Orleans Courtyard style. Pool, Coin
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Laundry, bus line. No pets 766-5511
Roommate Wanted Large bedroom at Heatherstone Townhouses. On LSU bus route. $550/month includes internet and utilities. 337-356-3311 Looking for a non-smoking clean roommate to share 2 bedrooms apt. Nice and quite area, bus route, close to mayor shopping area. Only $298m. Please call 7665839. 225.766.5839 Roommates needed Seeking 2 Roommates to share 3BR/2BA condo, partially furnished, utilities and WiFi included, gated parking, Tigerland, near bus line, pool, washer/dryer, verygood condition, $490 per roommate, 504.864.9283 Roommate Needed: Seeking graduate or serious student for 3BD/2B home in Beau Pre. $600/ mt. and all utilities included. Call 337 9625469 or 337 2802822. NEED ROOMATE! $500/ mnth, 1B/1B in 2B/2B apt in Tigerplaza. Gated complex w/ gym & pools. W/ D in unit, renovated, pet friendly! Email jperel1 2 or 1 Rommates needed to share a brand new 3bd/2 full bath brick house 5 m from LSU. $400, 1/3 utilities. Included w/d, alarm, and wifi. 225.252.6575 225.252.6575
Personals Like to run? Second semester honors college student looking for someone to run with sometimes. Many of my friends who run have different schedules and I end up running alone. I run between 2 and 8 miles a day, let me know if you want to run and we can see if schedules match lessthanhumble@ yahoo.com SOUNDS LIKE: music. books. standing in smoke-filled bars watching live shows. taking pictures. yes? phoenixmoth@gmail.com. Bad Romance: Charming, witty, and handsome bachelor looking to meet a beautiful, intelligent Lady Gaga type for love games or to just dance. jjacobs2376@gmail.com Cute Fashion Major with an engineer’s mind looking for a nice, clean cut guy to hang out with. Let’s catch a movie or coffee sometime. fashionistadiaries61@yahoo.com
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2010
THE DAILY REVEILLE BLONDE, from page 1
“With the recession, I’ve been highlighting a lot less, and I don’t highlight as brightly blond as I used to,” Rabalais said. That is the trend with many women who want to maintain blond hair but can’t afford to highlight as often, Jeansonne said. “People are a little more conservative with how they spend money and how often they spend it,” Jeansonne said. Metzler said going darker, or “tint backs,” are becoming more common for his clients. But dyeing their hair brown isn’t an immediate and permanent change. “Those old blond highlights want to fade back up,” Metzler said. “Color fades out of blond hair. Going back to your natural color can take up to a year.” Katie Menno, a manager at Rigsby Frederick Salon on Perkins Road, said going instantly brunette can also be expensive — a potential road block for people looking to save money. Several coats of base color may be necessary to darken blond hair properly, which is costly, Menno
BUDGET, from page 1
is and consider alternatives, we are seeking a delay on actions,” Cope said. “So far there has been no real opportunity for debate.” Cope claims the state hasn’t been forthcoming with where the funding level stands. The faculty was under the impression the University had not crossed below the 2006 levels for funding, Cope said. “In mid-January they announced that the funding had dropped below that level,” Cope said. “There is a puzzling inconsistency in the state budget figures.” This inconsistency and the
said.
“You might end up paying more at this point if you’re a blond-haired person trying to get brown hair,” Menno said. “It’s probably not the best idea if you want to save money.” Gulliot said she avoided paying a high price to go brunette by having her hairstylist use semi-permanent dye, which gradually washes out. Eventually, she will get back to her natural color, which is a light brown. “They put semi-permanent dye in it, so I could just keep applying the semi-permanent until it completely washes out to my natural color,” she said. Guillot keeps up the semi-permanent color by buying ingredients at a beauty supply store and mixing dye herself. “If you’re doing just one color, it works out fine,” she said. “[My hair] has been a lot healthier. It doesn’t look as fried.” But Jeansonne said using storebought color is not comparable with using salon-quality products. “To compare a professional hair color with the one bought in the store is a drastic difference,” she said. “Box products have a lesser quality stain.” hope the state will not allow the University to sink below the 2006 funding level motivated Cope to write the letter. “We are not asking for the waiver to be denied,” Cope said. “We simply want a delay until there can be a public hearing or an audit, so the funding level and intentions of the state can be more clear.” Cope said there is a possibility the state could lose federal stimulus dollars if the waiver gets denied by the federal government — a loss which would ultimately put a greater burden on higher education. The University is coming off $12.6 million in cuts earlier this
PAGE 15 Women can also damage their hair by misusing at-home products. Most incidents usually result from leaving the dye in for too long, Jeansonne said. Metlzer said he has clients who pulled off “box brown,” but he would never recommend using storebought dye for blond hair because it requires a higher quality product. “Blond clients know they can’t skimp,” he said. “That’s why it’s so pricey to be blonde.” The economy is causing many women to shy away from the salon, but some are still making frequent visits. Menno said it’s because the South has an extra holiday — Mardi Gras. “It might be different in other states, but since it’s Mardi Gras season, we have people coming in getting ready for Mardi Gras balls,” Menno said. “They come in and get their hair done during the week, and they get make-up and up-dos for the balls on the weekend.”
Contact Ryan Buxton at rbuxton@lsureveille.com year. The University funding was cut $43 million overall during the last year. Higher education will take about $150 million in cuts during the next fiscal year because of a $1.9 billion shortfall in state funds for the next two years. “Ultimately I think everyone in the University realizes you must change the decision process and give the University some freedom to raise funds and extract the University from legislative control,” Cope said.
Contact Xerxes A. Wilson at xwilson@lsureveille.com
TRAVEL, from page 1
This change will take advantage of a $32 per day rate with insurance offered by Enterprise. The University also pays the cost for gas on top of the rental cost. A one-day trip to New Orleans would cost the University $32 under the new regulations plus the cost of gas — estimated at $14 for a round trip. Under the old rules, an employee driving his or her personal vehicle would be reimbursed $72.80 — estimating 140 miles for a round trip to New Orleans. Jennifer Driggers, Office of Accounts Payable accountant, said employees renting a car for their travels will save the University money in most cases. But some exceptions to the rules could be approved through Accounting and Financial Services, Driggers said. Torres said the new plan received positive feedback thus far from employees who accumulated hundreds of miles on their personal vehicles driving for University business but now use the rental program. Contact Xerxes A. Wilson at xwilson@lsureveille.com
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
THE DAILY REVEILLE
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