Football: Quarterbacks Randall, Rivers waiting to see action, p. 9
Technology: Students’ website ranks nightlife in real time, p. 5
Reveille The Daily
LSU earns No. 2 spot on Newsweek’s list
Brian Sibille Staff Writer
Whether it’s jogging the lakes or bench pressing at the UREC Student Recreation Complex, students’ healthy habits have landed the University the No. 2 spot on Newsweek magazine’s Healthiest Colleges list. The publication’s annual list of rankings has been split into 25 different categories for the past two years, and the University’s only appearance this year was on the health list. Newsweek collected data from the National Center for Education Statistics, the College Board and other sources to formulate the rankings. Criteria used to rank schools included many different areas of health. The University’s athletic facilities ranked high with 96 percent of students polled saying facilities are “top-notch.” Tori Brens, pre-physical therapy freshman, is one of many students who takes advantage of the variety of activities the UREC offers. “The first time I went, I played racquetball, volleyball, ping pong and climbed the rock wall,” Brens said. The UREC aims to offer programs that fit different students’ preferences and lifestyles, said Lacee Breeden, healthy lifestyles coordinator at the UREC. “Anybody who comes through [the UREC] notices the large amount of participation,” said Scott Belanger, assistant director of marketing at the UREC. “That number shows how much students care about their health.” Belanger said one of the UREC’s most successful programs is its intramural sports leagues. Students can play HEALTH, see page 15
University ranked one of nation’s healthiest
Contributing Writer
A newly created non-profit organization will unify lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer groups across the state. Equality Louisiana was designed to create a collective voice among LGBTQ organizations on statewide issues and serve as a medium to share information. Matthew Patterson, Education and Advocacy committee chair for
Capital City Alliance, said the idea behind EQLA came from the experience of trying to pass the Safe Schools Bill, which failed to pass the Legislature last spring. CCA Political Director Tucker Barry realized what the problem was when working on the bill. “While the scope of the bill was statewide, there was no communication between groups across the state, making it difficult to establish a statewide backing for our issues,” Barry said. A group of figures in the LGBTQ community, including many members of CCA, decided there was a need for an inclusive group.
Southern board axes exigency request
Andrea Gallo Staff Writer
The Southern University Board of Supervisors denied its chancellor’s request to declare financial exigency Tuesday after the vote was repeatedly postponed in past weeks. While James Llorens, Southern chancellor, supported declaring the state of financial emergency as the university dodges budget cuts, some Southern faculty members and students stood against the measure. Several spoke Tuesday in hopes of persuading the board, and the request failed on a 6-6 standoff. One of the opponents of declaring exigency was Southern University’s Faculty Senate President Sudhir Trivedi, who said the chancellor was not using exigency as a “last resort.” Before the vote, he said he did not anticipate the board sending the university into exigency. Llorens previously said Southern could sidestep exigency only if 90 percent of its faculty agreed to furloughs and shorter termination notices.
Top 10 healthiest schools, according to Newsweek: 1. Harvard University 2. Louisiana State University 3. Mississippi State University 4. Princeton University 5. Middle Tennessee State University 6. Kansas State University 7. Oregon State University 8. The University of Texas-Pan American 9. University of Nebraska-Lincoln 10. University of Georgia
photo illustration by AMY BROUSSARD / The Daily Reveille
New group to unify LGBTQ organizations across Louisiana
Lauren Duhon
Wednesday, September 7, 2011 • Volume 116, Issue 12
www.lsureveille.com
LGBTQ
EQLA to stress transgender rights
Football: Mathieu’s stature belies presence on field, p. 7
“We came to realize we needed a new way of organizing for LGBTQ rights in Louisiana,” Patterson said. Over the summer, they developed a proposal for Equality Louisiana. EQLA was formed on three principles: prioritize each coalition partner, a transparent and democratic process and transgender inclusion. Groups that support EQLA must abide by these ideals. In particular, EQLA plans to stress transgender inclusion. LGBTQ Project Coordinator Bruce Parker said many organizations are EQLA, see page 15
Contact Andrea Gallo at agallo@lsureveille.com
DELICIOUS AUTUMN
BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille
RJ Marse, LSU law student, catches a frisbee Tuesday afternoon on the Parade Ground, enjoying the crisp cool front moving through the region.
The Daily Reveille
page 2
INTERNATIONAL
Nation & World
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
NATIONAL
STATE/LOCAL
Conviction upheld in American nun’s killing, Galvao sentenced 30 years
Gunman used AK-47 to kill three, injure seven in IHOP shooting
New Orleans marsh fire still smoldering despite recent rainfall
SAO PAULO (AP) — A Brazilian court has upheld the conviction of an Amazon rancher found guilty of ordering the killing of an American nun and rain forest activist. A court in Para state says Regivaldo Galvao must serve his 30year sentence. A jury last year found Galvao guilty of ordering the 2005 shooting death of Dorothy Stang, but he was quickly freed on appeal. A court on Tuesday denied that appeal, though the defense has other appeal routes open. Calls to a defense lawyer’s office rang unanswered. Stang worked for three decades to preserve the rain forest and defend poor settlers’ land rights. Prosecutors say Galvao and another rancher ordered her killing because she was blocking them from illegally obtaining a parcel of land.
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — A man with an AK-47 assault rifle shot an entire group of five uniformed National Guard members eating breakfast at a Nevada IHOP on Tuesday, killing two of them and another person in a hail of gunfire. Seven people were wounded in the attack at a strip mall near a casino and department store in the state’s capital. The suspect, 32-year-old Eduardo Sencion of Carson City, also shot himself and later died at a hospital. The gunman’s motive was unclear, but authorities are investigating whether the military members were targeted. The two Guardsmen killed were men; another woman also was shot and killed. Carson City Sheriff Kenny Furlong said Sencion entered the front doors of the IHOP and traveled “all the way through the restaurant to the back area” before opening fire. “Obviously with five out of the 11 victims uniformed National Guardsmen, that has taken a priority interest in our investigation,” Furlong said. Sencion worked at his family’s business in South Lake Tahoe, he was not in the military, and he had no known affiliations with anyone at the restaurant, Furlong said. He also had no criminal history.
(AP) — Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says a marsh fire in eastern New Orleans is still smoldering, despite the rainfall from Tropical Storm Lee over the weekend. Some parts of the New Orleans area received up to 12 inches of rain from the storm. Strain said Tuesday that his department continues to monitor the remnants of the marsh fire, to make sure it doesn’t start moving again or grow larger.
Knox trial: Doubt reigns as experts fight over DNA evidence PERUGIA, Italy (AP) — Questions mounted Tuesday over crucial DNA evidence linking Amanda Knox and her co-defendant to the murder of her British roommate, with forensic experts giving detailed and conflicting views in
STEPHANO MEDICI / The Associated Press
Amanda Knox, right, is escorted by a police officer Monday as she arrives for a hearing of her appeals case at the Perugia court in Italy.
court over genetic science. Knox felt “disoriented” after two days listening to the reports about DNA extraction and attribution, her lawyer said. A prosecution consultant and a lawyer suggested further testing on DNA evidence might be warranted, a step prosecutors might decide to push for as the appeals trial continues. Without a clear motive or convincing witnesses, much of the appeals outcome hinges on how the court views the DNA evidence.
About 60 percent of Gulf oil still shut off following Tropical Storm Lee NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Federal regulators say about 60 percent of the normal daily oil production in the Gulf of Mexico is still turned off following the passage of Tropical Storm Lee. As of Tuesday, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement said 131 of the 617 staffed production platforms were evacuated. About 41 percent of the Gulf’s normal daily production of natural gas also was shut in. The closed-off production amounted to about 846,000 barrels of oil and 2.2 billion cubic feet of gas.
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BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille
A butterfly visits a flower in front of Middleton Library on Tuesday afternoon.
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The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
TECHNOLOGY
page 3
STUDY
‘How Is It’ created to Internships double for summer 2012 rate bar atmosphere Josh Bergeron
Contributing Writer
Andrea Gallo Staff Wrtier
University students will soon have a way to determine what the atmosphere is like at a bar or a club before they even leave the house. David Jones, political science, history and Spanish senior, Gary Bernard, biological engineering senior and John Lopez, University alumnus, are developing a company, HowIsIt, LLC, that functions in real time to tell users what the atmosphere is like at any given nightlife spot on any given night. University students can start registering for the site Friday. HowIsIt is currently only available to University students. The site will have two phases, a day phase and a night phase. The day phase will run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will preview what is happening at bars and clubs that night. The night phase will run from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., and people can post on the site to describe the atmosphere of whatever venue at which they are spending time. “We’re all about the now,” Jones, HowIsIt’s chief operating officer, said. “If it’s not happening now, it’s not happening at all.” After a 24-hour period, all comments and posts will be wiped from HowIsIt to reflect a the day’s activity. This is where it differs from sites like Facebook places or Foursquare, which do not function in real time. Bernard, HowIsIt’s chief
executive officer, said the reasoning behind the comment clean-up is that a Tuesday night during the semester differs from a Friday night during winter break. “Nightlife is fluid,” Jones said, explaining that a boring venue one night may be exciting another night. Sygourney Jackson, kinesiology freshman, said she disagrees with the 24-hour wiping policy because people base where they go out on their previous experiences. Lopez, HowIsIt’s chief financial officer, said he hopes HowIsIt will give people a way to critique the “overall going out experience” and save money on cover charges for bars where they won’t have fun. HowIsIt is also a mobile site application, meaning anyone with Internet access on his or her phone can gain access to use the site as a mobile app. Corey McZeal, sociology senior, said HowIsIt can be used as an advertising technique for bars and clubs. “We always have to discuss where we want to go, but if you know your options, it’s much easier to decide,” he said. Students will be able to register Friday at howisitbr.com, Jones said. The full site will launch in October.
Contact Andrea Gallo at agallo@lsureveille.com
The President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness announced 50 industry leaders have committed to increasing the number of engineering internships available for the summer of 2012 — 45 of which will double the internships they offer — according to a White House news release. “Today’s announcement is about inspiring and encouraging our next generation of engineers,” said Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini in the news release. “It’s a private sector commitment working armand-arm with the government to accelerate the specialized skills needed for America to retain its technological pre-eminence.” Intel is among the 50 companies which committed to increase their internships in 2012. These commitments will add approximately 6,300 additional opportunities, according to the release. Richard Koubek, dean of the College of Engineering, said there is already a strong draw for engineering students to fill internship opportunities. Koubek said he believes this initiative is necessary because the College of Engineering has seen a recent increase in students. “Last year, the College of Engineering developed a five-year strategic plan, which led to hiring a director of corporate relations and economic development, Ms. Sarah Schram,” Koubek said. “Sarah works closely with companies to develop research, senior design and internship relationships.” The College of Engineering is partnering with Career Services,
which manages the student internship process, to complete this plan. Some students in the school also said they believe internships are essential to get a job after college. “Internships are very important because employers look for applicants to already have knowledge and experience within that field,” said mechanical engineering senior Blake Banta. According to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, students with bachelor’s degrees who took part in internships
in 2011 earn an average of $16.68 an hour. “Having internship experience is nearly a prerequisite,” Koubek said. “As part of our strategic plan, we want to be sure LSU engineers are among the most highly sought after graduates in the nation and encourage students to make every effort to acquire internship experience to further enhance their skill set.” Contact Josh Bergeron at jbergeron@lsureveille.com
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Tune in to hear the KLSU Tailgate Show 11:30-Noon 91.1 www.klsu.fm DO YOU HAVE AN OCCURRENCE? Call Becky at the Student Media Office 578-6090, 9AM- 5PM or E-mail: oncampus@lsureveille.com
LIVE BROADCAST WEEKLY
page 4
ALUMNI
The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
University alumnus appointed reputable positions, credits successes to what and who he knows LSU introduced Coombs to research Morgan Searles Staff Writer
Drawn in by Louisiana’s renowned Southern hospitality and culture, University graduate Chris Coombs has found a place to grow his career in the Pelican State. Now an assistant professor at LSU-Shreveport, Coombs was recently appointed to the board of editors for International Advances in Economic Research, a publiCoombs cation dedicated to allowing economists to share findings, and named book review editor for the Journal of Labor Research, which specializes in labor economics research. After receiving his undergraduate degree from the University of North Florida, Coombs went on to get his master’s and Ph.D. from the University in 2005. He took an appointment at a school in Georgia before a position opened up in Shreveport. Coombs said his desire to succeed as an economics student outweighed his fear of the University’s challenging program while he was ‘I went all in school. “I went all in and did in and did what what was was expected expected of me and tried hard as I of me and as could,” he said. tried as “I didn’t look hard as I too far ahead there could. ... I because were some don’t know big hurdles in of me, if that was front and I figured if the right I looked ahead thing to then I would scared and do but get back out of it. was lucky I don’t know enough if that was the right thing to to be do but was successful.’ lucky enough to be successChris Coombs ful.” Coombs University alumnus said his success comes from a combination of what and who he knows. Working under professors and researchers in the University Economics Department helped him realize his interest in research. Bob Newman, professor and chair of the Department of Economics, worked with Coombs when he was a graduate student to help him learn the world of research. Newman said his former student’s success reflects well on Coomb’s own skills and on the
that has a research requirement, economics department as well. “It’s a real small program, you can get recognized as someand there is a lot of one-on-one body that wants to do the work. between graduate students and It’s a privilege, but you also have faculty members, and that helps to want to do it.” them to research and compete at Coombs said success in the LSU,” Newman said. “Basically economic profession is about the fact that we’re small allows mobility, and the research posius to spend a tions keep his name lot of time with out there in case he Chris Coombs: our students.” decides to move upN e w m a n • 2005 University alumnus, earning ward in the field. said appoint- his master’s and Ph.D. The atmosphere ments like the • Received undergraduate degree of rich culture and ones Coombs tradition brought received are from the University of North Florida. Coombs back to a reflection • Assistant professor at LSUwork in the state, and he doesn’t intend to of what peers Shreveport. and colleagues • Appointed to the board of editors leave. “LSU and Louithink of a for International Advances in siana itself is just member of the Economic Research. research com- • Named book review editor for the totally different from anywhere else I’d munity. Journal of Labor Research. ever been,” he said. “These ap“The people in Louipointments are not done randomly,” Newman siana are so genuine and for the said. “They are given to people most part nice, and I thought, ‘I who earn them. It’s basically say- want to come back here and help ing the profession thinks highly future Louisiana by helping stuof the individual.” dents in colleges.’” The International Advances Newman said it’s important in Economic Research is a pub- for his students to learn criticallication concentrated on giving thinking skills that are valued by economic specialists and schol- universities, private sectors and ars an opportunity to share findings and ideas. The Journal of Labor specializes in labor economics and industrial relations research. Members of editorial boards review papers from fellow colleges and peers in the economic community. Researchers send papers to journals for editors or referees to review. “It’s basically just how you put in your time,” Coombs said. “If you end up at an institution
even the government, and he’s always happy to see his stu- ‘Because dents succeed. “Because LSU is the flagship LSU is the flagship uni- university in versity in this state ... LSU this state ... graduates have LSU a head start graduates in the market,” Newman have a head said. “We’re start in the very proud of market.’ our students, and given that Bob Newman [Coombs] is chair of Department of a student of Economics mine, I’m proud of Chris that he’s done well. He will have promising and long career ahead of him.” Contact Morgan Searles at msearles@lsureveille.com
CAMPUS CRIME BRIEF University student arrested for punching Broussard Hall window An 18-year-old University student was arrested Sept. 2 for felony damage after punching a window in Broussard Hall, said Capt. Cory Lalonde, LSU Police Department spokesman. LSUPD officers responded to a call at 3:23 a.m. in reference to the broken window at Broussard and learned that a male subject had punched a window in the building, Lalonde said. Further investigations led officers to Travis Parent of 11289 Winrock Drive in New Orleans, Lalonde said. Upon questioning, officers noticed cuts on Parent’s hand. Lalonde said Parent later admitted to punching the window out of anger. Damage to the window exceeded $500, Lalonde said, so the property-damage charge was classified as a felony. Parent was booked at East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. Contact The Daily Reveille’s news staff at news@lsureveille.com
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
RESEARCH
LGBTQ
The Daily Reveille
page 5
University SG works with gay community to form caucus looks for child care solutions Kate Mabry Staff Writer
Council to conduct research this year Juliann Allen
Contributing Writer
The University Council on Women and the LSU Child Care Center are joining forces this year to seek a solution to the center’s affordability and long waiting list. UCW is looking at what peer institutions do to handle the capacity of children who need care while their parents are in class or at work, said Maribel Dietz, associate history professor and UCW faculty representative. “It was brought to our attention that we should look at needs being met,” Dietz said. The council’s plans are being put into action this semester with the creation of a focus group for students with child care needs, she said. Michelle DeMeulenaere, University Child Care Center director, said the center, which opened in 2004, is currently at capacity and has no plans for expansion. The problem isn’t unique to the University. Daycares in the surrounding areas are experiencing the same issues. “Most places will have waiting lists,” Dietz said. Students, faculty and staff have priority for enrolling their children in the center, and 98 percent of the children there have parents who are affiliated with the University. Dietz said the increase in children needing care is partly due to demographic changes. The University now has more single parents and parents going to school instead of families that used to have one parent stay home with the children. The current tuition for the center is $760 a month. However, students receive a $110 discount, and University faculty and staff receive a $40 discount, DeMeulenaere said. Student fees don’t fund the center in any way. DeMeulenaere said the Child Care Assistance state program can provide financial aid for full-time students who are eligible. UCW will write a report on the research and estimates it will be finished in the spring semester, Dietz said. The council also plans to release an online survey after midterms to focus on issues due to recent changes of budget cuts, among other topics. Contact Juliann Allen at jallen@lsureveille.com
Student Government was set to speak Tuesday night in the Student Union’s Barataria room about the addition of a LGBTA — lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and ally — caucus, but the legislation was set aside in order to include and represent other student groups. With the excitement of a possible LGBTA caucus forming, many other student organizations approached the Senate about possibly forming an inclusive minority representation, and the legislation for the caucus was pulled Tuesday night as more minority groups came to the forefront looking to get involved. “As a result, this meant leaving the current legislation behind and starting over to create something more inclusive,” said Rachel O’Pry, Graduate School senator. “The hope is that more minority groups will come forward.” The Hispanic Student Cultural Society and Women Organizing Women are just two of the organizations hoping to join in a larger coalition. “We have a vibrant Hispanic community that didn’t exist years ago,” said Bruce Parker, coordinator of the University’s Office of
Multicultural Affairs LGBTQ Project and Safe Space Campaign. Parker said he hopes this new committee will bring together the whole community. “This is the right way to go,” he said. “It’s all of us or none of us.” Morgan Taylor, senator of the College of Music and Dramatic Arts and music sophomore, said she agrees the inclusion of other minority groups is necessary. “After talking with leaders of the LGBTA community, we learned that there are many other minority groups interested in getting involved,” Morgan said. “Because of this, we felt it best to pull the current legislation until we could come up with more inclusive legislation while also making sure the LGBTA community still has a strong voice.” However, Taylor said the details of the committee are still in the process of being worked out. “As of right now, we’re not sure what avenue we will take,” she said. “We are going back to the drawing board and seeing what needs to be done to be more inclusive.” In the past, the Minority Action Committee represented these issues in SG, but is no longer active. “This may be a similar route that we decide to take, but we are
BLAIR LOCKHART / The Daily Reveille
Members of Spectrum, the organization for LGBTQ students and their allies at LSU, met with SG members on Tuesday to discuss adding an all-inclusive minority action caucus.
still open to many ideas,” she said. But Senate Speaker Aaron Caffarel said he worries that the combined committee may be dysfunctional with too many groups competing and trying to promote their own issues. “There will be further talks about this,” he said. “We want to figure out how we can best to serve the community.” Contact Kate Mabry at kmabry@lsureveille.com
The Daily Reveille
page 6
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Tropical Storm Lee continues to trouble Louisiana residents The Associated Press NEW ORLEANS (AP) — South Louisiana residents squeegeed Tropical Storm Lee’s floodwaters from their floors as floodgates were opened and the Red Cross handed out flood cleanup kits Tuesday, following the storm’s passage. The state’s northwest needed the rain but got only winds that whipped up wildfires and put firefighting helicopter crews to work dousing the flames and other hot spots. Red Eubanks of Gonzales used a floor squeegee at Red’s Restaurant and Bar in Maurepas. His parking lot was rescue central, headquarters for Livingston Parish sheriff’s deputies and their amphibious rescue boat as Lee hit the central Gulf Coast. “I had the sheriff’s Water Buffalo and about six deputies congregated in the parking lot, high and dry. The only dry spot around here,” he said. Then, as the Amite River rose on Monday, water began creeping up into his parking lot about 9:30 p.m. His son and several friends put the refrigerator, freezers and salad display boxes on cinder blocks before water seeped into the restaurant. “This makes the fifth time I’ve had water in this building in 31 1/2 years,” he said. Eubanks said his kitchen and bar area stayed dry, but he got about
2 inches in the dining hall and 5 ½ to 6 inches in the back of the building. Winds from the storm whipped up nine wildfires in Caddo Parish on Monday without providing any rain to help put them out. But all of the fires were under control Tuesday and two National Guard helicopters with huge water buckets were checking for hot spots, said State Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain. Strain said north Louisiana is so dry that fires start and move quickly. At least 15 fires have started since Friday, consuming thousands of acres of land, killing livestock and destroying at least 10 homes, he added. “Fires would get into the canopies, the tops of trees, and would run along the tops of trees. Fires jumped highways,” Strain said. In Livingston Parish, where floods forced hundreds of families out of their homes over the weekend, the Red Cross was giving out cleanup kits at the volunteer fire station in Maurepas. Mike Hood, a fire district board member, said about 125 people picked up 180 to 200 cleanup kits — those with trucks big enough to get through the water took kits for housebound neighbors. He said his own house stayed dry but Tuesday was the first day since Saturday that he’d been able to get out. The Amite has crested but is
falling so slowly that it’s not expected to drop below flood stage at Maurepas and French Settlement until Thursday afternoon or night, National Weather Service meteorologist Gavin Phillips said. “We had a combination of things going on over there” — storm surge and winds kept the river from draining, he said. “It was almost like putting a cork in a bathtub.” But now it’s only smaller streams draining into the Amite that are keeping it high, he said. The Bogue Chitto and Pearl rivers hadn’t yet crested, but they were expected to rise above flood stage Wednesday and drop below that point within days. No major flooding was expected — some streets and lawns along and near the rivers, Phillips said. Crews headed out to fix levees and dunes that had been overtopped after the storm pushed high waters into bayous and lakes and scoured beaches. Still, officials said flooding was not severe. In low-lying Louisiana, most homes are raised off the ground, if only slightly. That often gives folks enough height to avoid serious property damage in smaller storms such as Lee, leaving them still to contend with soggy sheds, marsh muck covering yards and banged-up fishing piers and docks. Terrebonne Parish levee director Reggie Dupre said an inspection
SUSAN POAG / The Associated Press
Steven Louque pushes out muddy water from the driveway at Griffin Fishing Charters in Barataria, La., Tuesday while cleaning up from Tropical Storm Lee.
of 200 miles of levee in his parish revealed a lot of flooding, but he said some homes and businesses in Bayou Dularge, Dulac and Grand Caillou were flooded. He estimated that about 24 homes and businesses took on water. “They got whacked pretty bad,” he said. He said a few spots on levees across a wildlife management area in Montegut were breached. Crews
headed out Tuesday to inspect the damage and make emergency repairs as needed, he said. Dupre said levee improvements and about $120 million in ongoing floodgate work along the Houma navigation channel would help in the future. Contact The Daily Reveille’s news staff at news@lsureveille.com
Sports
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Lucky No. 7
Miles: Drops,
kicking need to improve
Cowboys Classic earns Mathieu spotlight
Chris Abshire Sports Writer
LSU sophomore cornerback Tyrann Mathieu says he feels like a giant out on the field. While his 5-foot-9, 179-pound frame doesn’t quite match that description, Mathieu’s impact on the LSU secondary in 14 career games has been nothing less than gigantic. “His size is 6-foot-6, 300 [pounds], and he’s the strongest man on the field and the fastest,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “When he looks in the mirror, that’s what he sees.” The New Orleans native has already garnered Heisman hype after his performance Saturday night on one of the sport’s brightest stages. His special teams touchdown and 10 total tackles helped LSU dismantle Oregon, 40-27, at Cowboys Stadium. Since inheriting the No. 7 jersey from former teammate and All-American Patrick Peterson, Mathieu has become one of the team’s unquestioned leaders on the field. “I think I wasn’t as vocal [last year], but now my team needs me so I have to be a little louder,” the sophomore said. “It’s about expressing myself out there.” And Mathieu expresses himself through more than just his frenetic pace on the field, as he is constantly
Mark Clements Sports Writer
No matter how accomplished, a coach will always tell you there’s room for improvement. With some slight inconsistency on special teams in last week’s bout with Oregon, LSU football coach Les Miles cited kicking and punting as areas the Tigers need to fine-tune. Junior kicker Drew Alleman missed his first extra point of the season, but drained two field goals from 32 and 44 yards, respectively. “Drew had a real interesting game,” Miles said. “In his first opportunity, he misses an extra point. That’s one of those things as a kicker that will unnerve you. I just knew he was going to shift gears and be ready to kick. He comes in and kicks an awfully important late field goal in that game and just drills it.” Freshman punter Brad Wing hit three punts less than 40 yards, but booted three others for 41, 55 and 58, bringing his average to 41.3 yards per punt. “Consistency is his issue,” Miles said. “As long as he is consistent, he is going to be a real talented punter for us. We punted the ball with distance, and it gave even a quality return man very difficult MILES, see page 10
page 7
ZACH BREAUX / The Daily Reveille
LSU sophomore cornerback Tyrann Mathieu (7) eyes his opponents Saturday during the Tigers’ 40-27 victory against Oregon at Cowboys Stadium.
chatting up opposing players, celebrating with his teammates and mixing it up with linemen seemingly twice his size. But off the field, Mathieu is softspoken almost beyond recognition, with only his dyed blonde hair betraying the charismatic approach he brings to the game. Like defensive end Sam Montgomery said after Saturday’s game, Mathieu believes the team and its coach’s unique personality contributes to the Tigers’ success between the lines. “I think we are all a tad bit crazy,” he said. “We’re just different. Whether it’s me having the hair or Sam calling himself Sonic, whatever helps us make plays is what we’ll do. I don’t think other teams really see guys like us too often, so they’re kind of intimidated by it.” But observers shouldn’t be fooled by the loose approach, as Mathieu said he works tirelessly to be a complete player. Last year, Peterson became an early frontrunner for the Heisman by adding a dynamic return game to his lockdown corner skills. Mathieu didn’t take long to show his range either, as his electrifying strip, scoop and score off Oregon punt MATHIEU, see page 11
‘I think I wasn’t as vocal [last year], but now my team needs me, so I have to be a little louder.’ Tyrann Mathieu, sophomore cornerback
FOOTBALL
Tiger players look forward to home opener under the lights Mark Clements Sports Writer
BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille
Fans in the student section show off their school spirit for an ESPN camera before the West Virginia game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010, in Tiger Stadium.
There’s no place like home. The timeless adage echoes the feeling throughout LSU’s locker room as the football team prepares for its home opener against Northwestern State on Saturday. The Tigers haven’t taken the field under the lights in Tiger Stadium since Nov. 13, 2010 against Louisiana-Monroe, and smiles grew across their faces as they reminisced on Saturday nights in Death Valley. “I really can’t wait,” said senior offensive lineman T-Bob Hebert. “It’s electric. It feels like you’ve got 94,000 of your best friends cheering you on. The fans and the atmosphere is something I get goosebumps just thinking about.” LSU went undefeated in Tiger Stadium last season, and the Tigers are 37-6 at home under LSU coach
Les Miles. LSU currently holds a 10-home game winning streak. “[The record] is something I really hold dear to my heart and something I don’t want to lose this year,” Hebert said. “I want to go my final two years here at LSU and not lose a game in Tiger Stadium.” With last week’s clash against Oregon counting as one of LSU’s home games, the Tigers have a slightly lighter load this year at home, with only six games slated for Tiger Stadium. Senior tight end Mitch Joseph said with the shortened schedule, the team needs to take advantage of every game. “We only have six so it’s a lot less than what we usually have so we’ve got to make the best of it,” Joseph said. “It’s going to be fun, especially since it’s my senior year. It’s going to be one to remember.” Joseph also said the Tiger Stadium experience is hard to put into words.
“If I went up to somebody and they didn’t know anything about it, I’d say it was intense, it’s fun and it’s crazy,” Joseph said. “The fans are there for us and it’s an environment you want to be in. It’s something you have to experience in your life.” Despite the legend that it never rains in Tiger Stadium, sophomore defensive end Barkevious Mingo recalled his first experience on a soggy day in Death Valley in 2007, when then-No. 2 LSU topped thenNo. 12 South Carolina, 28-16. “It actually rained that day, but it was the craziest game I’ve ever been to,” Mingo recalled. “It was so loud and it’s just a fun thing to be involved in. I don’t know what’s better — being on the field or being in the stands.” Junior wide receiver Rueben Randle said playing in Tiger Stadium was a pull in his recruitment STADIUM, see page 10
The Daily Reveille
page 8
SOCCER
FOOTBALL
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
LSU wins Montgomery lifts spirits amid off-field distractions team is on road Football ‘happy-go-lucky’ against Houston Chris Abshire Sports Writer
The LSU soccer team rallied behind senior midfielder Taryne Boudreau’s one-goal, one-assist performance to defeat the Houston Cougars, 2-1, Tuesday night at Robertson Stadium. Playing its second game in Houston in four days — the first a 1-0 double overtime loss to Rice on Friday — the Tigers notched its second win of the season. Boudreau put LSU in the lead during the 11th minute, taking a low pass from senior Allysha Chapman near the right post and netting it past Houston goalkeeper Cami Koski. It was the first goal of the season for the senior from Alberta, Canada, but her contribution was not done yet. Boudreau also helped produce the second goal of the night in the 73rd minute, essentially clinching the match. After a high Boudreau pass into the box, senior midfielder Natalie Martineau claimed possession and found junior forward Carlie Banks in front of the right post for the score. Boudreau and Martineau were each credited with assists. “Taryne’s important to our team,” said LSU soccer coach Brian Lee. “She, along with our other seniors, had a very good game tonight and made a big difference.” LSU controlled possession for much of the game, tallying 14 shots and 13 corner kicks. But the Tigers’ youth at forward struggled to find the net most of the night. LSU has scored just six goals during its five-game opening road stretch, posting a 2-3 record. “We’re creating chances, and that’s the most important thing,” Lee said. “But it’s still early in the season, and the opportunities are there for us.” Houston forward Jessica Zavalza tacked on a late goal for the Cougars in the 88th minute. “That was probably the best game we’ve put together this year,” Lee said. “The back four was very solid. We struggled to hold the lead late, though, which was disappointing.” Senior Mo Isom got the start at goalkeeper, as she continues to battle sophomore Megan Kinneman for the starting spot. Houston only managed five shots on goal, as the Tiger defense kept the Cougar frontline at bay for most of the game. As a result, Isom only recorded four saves in the match.
Contact Chris Abshire at cabshire@lsureveille.com
manages to defy explanation. “I’m one of those guys that watches cartoons and stuff,” Montgomery said. Despite being a source of amusement both on and off the Scott Branson field, his character makes him cruSports Contributor cial to the team’s well-being. “He’s definitely important,” Distractions off the field can be the downfall of a team, but a Mingo said, “but I can’t really different breed of distraction has explain him. I don’t think anyone been a grounding force for the No. can really put Sam into words.” While Montgomery may be 2-ranked LSU football team. “If you got a glimpse of the the most vocal, keeping the team Jumbotron in the third quarter, you thinking positively and focusing would have definitely seen Sam on the task at hand is a team effort. “The whole team is extremely [Montgomery],” said sophomore defensive end Barkevious Mingo. happy-go-lucky, and everyone is in high spirits,” said senior full“He’s a character.” back James StamAfter missing pley. most of last season Stampley said with a knee injury, small things, like Montgomery, a players singing in sophomore defenthe locker room sive end, is using and at practice, his dynamic charkeeps the team acter and play on from focusing on the field to make Sam Montgomery any negativity. up for lost time. LSU defensive end “Everybody “There was contributes to the a shot of the defensive line on the Jumbotron madness,” Stampley said. Others, including sophomore and Sam was just punching the ground,” Mingo said. “It helps you running back Michael Ford and senior quarterback Jarrett Lee, take everything easy.” Others on the team noticed stressed the importance of putting Montgomery’s emotional display distractions aside and having fun as important factors in the team’s and took note. “The defense is always mak- success. “We try to be funny and joke ing it fun,” said senior tight end with each other, whether we’re on Mitch Joseph. Montgomery had a simple the field or the plane,” Lee said. Ford said that being close as explanation for his nationally telea team is an important factor in vised moment of spontaneity. “I was just hyped up,” Mont- meeting the team’s goal of wingomery said. “We’ve been through ning a national championship. Senior offensive guard T-Bob so much adversity off the field, I was just ready to show that we’re Hebert referred to his relationship with senior offensive lineman still a stable team.” Montgomery has been de- Greg Shaw when asked about who scribed by his teammates as an keeps him focused. “Me and him are pretty goofy. important player on the field and in the locker room, who also If I’m trying to be in a bad mood,
‘‘
‘I’m one of those guys that watches cartoons and stuff.’
BLAIR LOCKHART / The Daily Reveille
LSU sophomore defensive end Sam Montgomery eats ice cream Aug. 17 at the Indoor Practice Facility.
he’ll get me out of it,” Hebert said. Hebert said that being able to have fun as a team bodes well for the rest of the season. “Everybody on this team meshes really well,” Hebert said. “With all of the practices and such,
you’ve got to be a little bit crazy to make it through the season.”
Contact Scott Branson at sbranson@lsureveille.com
The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
TRACK AND FIELD
page 9
800-meter runners practice with cross country team Andrew Chapple Sports Contributor
Junior 800-meter runner Charlene Lipsey lined up for a 30-minute run after LSU cross country coach Mark Elliott informed her she would be working out with the cross country team that day. Lipsey and six other 800-meter runners practice with the cross country team during the fall to prepare for track in the spring. “Cross country helps me in the aspect of getting mentally strong because the 800 is more mental than anything,” Lipsey said. “I think cross country gives me that mindset for the 800 that no matter how tired you are, you’ve got to keep going.” Lipsey finished fourth in the 800-meter run during the 2011 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, running 2:03.73 and garnering All-American honors. “I have a lot of very good middle distance runners here, and
cross country plays an integral role in their preparation,” Elliott said. Elliott has coached 10 Southeastern Conference champions in the 800-meter run since 2007 and three national champions since 2002. “It’s very good preparation for the 800-meter because of the longevity of the season,” said LSU track coach Dennis Shaver. “From January to June, those guys have got to be hitting it hard, so cross country lays that foundation and base.” The middle distance runners get more long-distance training with the cross country team to build a good base and add speed work during track season. “It’s helping them gain the kind of strength they need to sustain a long indoor and outdoor competitive season of racing,” Shaver said. Elliott mixes the middle distance runners in during cross country workouts, but usually decreases the number of repetitions during an interval workout, which is running a certain distance multiple times
with breaks in between, or the total distance during a longer run. Elliott said middle distance and cross country runners assist each other by running workouts together. “The middle distance runners help the cross country runners with the Lipsey pace,” Elliott said. “If you have three times a mile to do, chances are you can run them at a faster pace than someone who does eight of them.” The weight program of the middle distance group differs from the cross country runners’, focusing more on generating power and speed. Middle distance runners can make a significant impact on the cross country team, but it happens less for the Tigers, who run farther than the Lady Tigers. “We’ve had women that have
FOOTBALL
Young QBs waiting to see action
Mark Clements Sports Writer
An injury can change the course of an entire season at the drop of a dime. No one knows this better than LSU fans, who saw senior quarterback Jordan Jefferson running the offense in 2008 after injuries thrust the then-freshman signal caller into the spotlight. If LSU is forced to use a replacement this season, the first name that comes to mind is junior college transfer quarterback Zach Mettenberger. But the true question lies in who sits behind the former Georgia Bulldog. Miles said freshman Stephen Rivers, an Athens, Ala., native, is the early leader of the young quarterback race. “[Rivers] is in position now to be our third quarterback,” Miles said. “We’ll start looking at his snaps and see if we can improve his being ready to play.” If bloodline is any indication, Rivers could become a superstar. His brother, Philip, who quarterbacks the San Diego Chargers, shattered several school and Atlantic Coastal Conference records in his four years at North Carolina State. “[Philip] told me a bunch of stuff that he experienced when he went to N.C. State,” Rivers said. “I came in with a good attitude, and everything is going good so far.” Rivers earned a three-star rating as a high school recruit and was ranked as the nation’s No. 19 prostyle quarterback. He completed 94 of 180 passes for 1,158 yards in his senior campaign with 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions, along with 73 rushes for 293 yards and nine touchdowns. “I’m going to work hard every day and learn the offense more and more each day,” said the 6-foot-7 gunslinger, who has already beefed up 12 pounds since arriving at LSU.
“I’m going to wait my turn and compete every day and do whatever I can to help LSU, whatever that may be.” Also waiting in the wings is freshman Jerrard Randall, four-star scrambler who was also blessed with a rocket right arm. The Hollywood, Fla., native said he models his game after Jefferson, who helped teach him the offense in the spring. “I love the way he plays the game – he plays fast,” said Randall at LSU Media Day in August. “The offense is a perfect scheme for me, and I wanted to play behind Jordan.” Just one week into the season, Randall already edged his way into Miles’ scheming. He portrayed Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas in practices leading up to LSU’s bout with the Ducks. “Randall has a Darron Thomas feel to him,” Miles said. “We ran some live-go against some of our defense, and he is very elusive and is a tough player.” Regardless of who is at the helm for the Tigers, junior wide
receiver Russell Shepard said the team will be behind him 100 percent. “I’m very, very happy to have all of them as quarterbacks,” Shepard said at LSU’s Media Day. “Any one of them can step in from the youngest ones to the oldest ones. I’m excited to see who’s going to be the quarterback at the end of the day.” Contact Mark Clements at mclements@lsureveille.com
been national caliber scorers at 800 meters for us, but they’ve also been contributors in cross country competitions because the distance they’re running is 5,000 or 6,000 meters, depending on the competition, and that’s an easier gap for them,” Shaver said. Lipsey was the second Lady Tiger to cross the finish line during the 2011 SEC Championships, finishing 52nd overall. “She was one of the better 800-meter runners in the country, and she was my second-best runner in cross country last year,” Elliott said. Elliott and Shaver acknowledge
that even with the success Lipsey has had, most 800-meter elites are not cross country elites. “I had a lot of great athletes in the past that won NCAAs in the 800 and was also my best cross country runner, but not at the same level,” Elliott said. “They’re not going to win cross country and then the 800.” Most of the 800 runners don’t contribute to the cross country team, but Elliott said having extra training partners is a major benefit.
Contact Andrew Chapple at achapple@lsureveille.com
The Daily Reveille
page 10
FOOTBALL
LSU jumps to No. 2, OU still No. 1 The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Winning the biggest game of college football’s opening weekend boosted LSU to No. 2 in The Associated Press Top 25. No. 1 Oklahoma held on to the top spot in the first regular-season rankings, while the Tigers used their 40-27 victory against Oregon to jump rival Alabama, which slipped to No. 3. “It’s way too early to feel like we have accomplished anything,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “Our guys understand the need to improve each game.” The Sooners received 32 of 60 first-place votes and 1,448 points. LSU received 17 first-place votes and 1,415 points. Alabama had nine first-place votes, and two voters had No. 4 Boise State top-ranked after the Broncos’ impressive 35-21 win against Georgia. Florida State moved up to No. 5. Oregon dropped nine spots to No. 13 and defending national champion Auburn, which started the season at No. 23, fell out of the Top 25 after needing a late rally to beat Utah State 42-38 at home. The Tigers became just the second defending national champions since the preseason poll started in 1950 to fall out of the rankings after the first week of the season in the first regular-season
STADIUM, from page 7
out of high school. Despite having played two seasons in Death Valley, Randle said the experience never gets old. “Coming out of high school I was really anxious to play in Tiger Stadium,” Randle said. “It’s something you always look forward to no matter what. I’m very excited, and no matter how long you’ve been there, it’s always exciting to play there.” With just three days until the Tigers take the field for the first time in 2011, Hebert left a message for those yet to witness a night
MILES, from page 7
opportunities to field balls.” Miles also pinpointed dropped passes as an area that needs improvement. Despite the big win against No. 3 Oregon last week, Miles said the team is moving on. He chuckled, saying that his wife wished the win would have counted for more than one, “but it doesn’t.” “Did I take some personal time [to celebrate]? You bet,” Miles said. “A good 15 minutes in the stadium ... and then onto the next opponent and on to improving the team. We’re going to have to improve to do the things that we want to do to achieve victory against Northwestern State.” Contact Mark Clements at mclements@lsureveille.com
poll — though the circumstances were far different the first time it happened. Alabama, the 1964 AP champion, started the ‘65 season ranked No. 5. The Crimson Tide lost 1817 to Georgia to open the season and dropped out, but The Associated Press only ranked 10 teams that season. Alabama eventually returned to the Top 10 and won another national title. The 1961 Minnesota team is the only defending champion to be unranked in the preseason poll. Moving into this week’s rankings were No. 20 Baylor, which beat TCU 50-48, and No. 22 South Florida, 23-20 winners at Notre Dame. “When you look at it, the one that I’m most concerned about is the last one,” Bulls coach Skip Holtz said. “After the end of the year we’ll talk about the rankings and all that because that’s the only time it really matters. So what we’ve got to do right now is just focus on what we’ve got to do on a day-to-day basis.” Also ranked for the first time this season were No. 23 Penn State and No. 24 Texas. The Longhorns started the season unranked for the first time since 1998. Penn State moves into the rankings ahead of Saturday’s home game against third-ranked Alabama. It’s the only game this week matching ranked teams.
TCU dropped 11 spots to No. 25. Notre Dame and Georgia tumbled out of the Top 25 after losses. Like Auburn, Southern California, which opened the season ranked 25th, fell out of the rankings after a victory. USC squeaked by Minnesota 19-17. The rest of the top 10 had No. 6 Stanford, followed by Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Oklahoma State and Nebraska. No. 11 is Virginia Tech, followed by South Carolina, Oregon, Arkansas and Ohio State. No. 16 Mississippi State and No. 18 Florida give the Southeastern Conference six ranked teams this week, matching the Big 12 for the most. No. 21 Missouri, joins Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Baylor and Texas. The Big Ten has five ranked teams, with No. 17 Michigan State joining Wisconsin, Nebraska, Penn State and Ohio State. No. 19 West Virginia and USF give the Big East two teams in the Top 25. The Atlantic Coast Conference (Florida State and Virginia Tech), the Pac-12 (Stanford and Oregon) and the Mountain West (Boise State and TCU) also have two ranked teams.
under the lights. “There’s no greater place to play,” Hebert said. “It’s almost indescribable, you can’t really put it into words. It’s something you
have to experience for yourself.”
Contact The Daily Reveille’s sports staff at sports@lsureveille.com
Contact Mark Clements at mclements@lsureveille.com
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
‘‘
“I have to be that all-around player,” Mathieu said. “We try returner Kenjon Barner in the to execute all three phases of the second quarter game. We never garnered heavy to overlook ‘His size is 6-foot- want rotation on the special teams. highlight reels. 6, 300 [pounds]... Those guys got Sports Illusrated a lot of points college foot- When he looks in the last year on field ball writer Andy mirror, that’s what he goals and fakes, Staples tabbed so we had to keep sees.’ Mathieu as his that up [SaturHeisman favorday].” Les Miles ite already, and Mathieu now LSU football coach ESPN.com’s has six forced Heisman Watch in- fumbles in his career, which is cluded him in its top 10 candi- the second-most in LSU football dates for the prestigious award history. through one week. The defensive back said his
MATHIEU, from page 7
The Daily Reveille nose for the football goes back to his days on offense in high school and Pee Wee leagues. “I loved offense because I like the ball in my hands, but playing defense you don’t see it as much,” he said. “On defense you’re around the ball as much as you put yourself in position. So I’m trying to make every strip or fumble, get my hands in there every play.” Miles said Mathieu’s ballhawking approach contributed to the four turnovers the LSU defense forced against the Ducks. “You can have this vision, ‘I need to make a tackle, strip the ball and when the ball bounces,
page 11 it’s going to bounce to me, and I’m going to score.’ And it really is that mindset that Tyrann Mathieu has,” Miles said. “There’s not a play that he doesn’t have the opportunity to make or that he’s out of. That thought process is infectious.“ Along with his team-high 10 tackles, Mathieu had two pass breakups, a tackle for a loss and played all 82 defensive snaps against Oregon despite lining up mostly at the nickel spot. The performance earned him the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week award on Monday. While Mathieu said he
appreciates the accolades, he recognizes the season is still young. “Everybody’s congratulating us [since the Oregon game], and telling us they had faith,” he said. “That’s good, and I’m happy with those awards, but none of them help us win games. We have a target on our back now. That’s why it’s a team sport, because my teammates got my back.”
Contact Chris Abshire at cabshire@lsureveille.com
The Daily Reveille
Opinion
The
page 12
Peanut
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Gallery
As the California Supreme Court reviewed Proposition 8 appeals Tuesday, how do you feel about the controversial gay-marriage amendment? compiled by LAUREN DUHON
Clare Ramsey
international studies freshman
‘It’s not fair. Once you’ve given the right, they should keep to their word. They should be allowed to marry.’
‘I don’t care. I’m not gay, and I don’t live in California.’ Ian Andrus
history freshman
‘I’m not in favor of gay marriage. ... The courts made a foolish decision when they repealed the decision Christopher to legalize gay Velasquez business management marriage.’ sophomore
‘It is unconstitutional [to deny homosexuals their rights]. They make it way too complicated; things should be Morgan Shepard political science senior easier.’ ‘People can marry who they want to marry.’ Kristin Cheng
political science senior
Sex shouldn’t be viewed through religion-colored lenses
This Baptist-based notion of no premarital sex is more disgusting than is it hysterically insane. Twenty years old and still a virgin? Something is wrong with you. First, let me tackle the STD argument: “The healthiest time to have children is in the age described 20-25,” Dr. Patricia Tiernan, M.D., OB-GYN. Of course there will be problems with STDs in this area of age. Everyone is doing it. Not only is it natural, but it is
sex. Only in other circles of other women is this portrayal of “sluttiness” evident, especially fat women. I have found at Tigerland it is the fat and ugly girls that will block the way of the more beautiful women out of jealousy. Women are more morally corrupt. I have been the bad guy. I have slept with more married women — some with children than is wanted or socially acceptable — and I’m only 20. I have had all kinds of wonderful experiences with these ‘Cross around their neck women,’ I’ll spare you the details. For God’s sake read “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell” by Tucker Max. Open your eyes. You are not special, and this Southern ideology of gentleman proper is an illusion, men are
equally to blame. The way you word equality, you sincerely want to believe you are being put down by men. You don’t need to argue this point, because it is the opposite that is true. This pedestal you put yourself up on waiting for a knight in shining armor not only destroys you, but society as a whole. The point is you are expendable, you are weak, and this disgusting Baptist-based notion is a virus.
Jake Witz international trade and finance sophomore
Contact The Daily Reveille’s opinion staff at opinion@lsureveille.com
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US government sues AT&T over proposed merger
How ‘bout them Tigers, right? A dominating performance this past weekend, has left everyone foaming at the mouth for the Tigers’ return to Death Valley this Saturday. While it may be too early to think about bowl season this year, there’s always one bowl I dread the Tigers going to. The AT&T Cotton Bowl. No, it’s not because I think it’s a terrible bowl — we’ve obviously shown we own Jerry’s World with our last two performances there — but it’s because of those three letters before the bowl name. A, T and T. With every commercial after every timeout last year, Tiger and Aggie fans were blitzed with the onslaught of horrible AT&T commercials talking about “covering 97% of America” and its blazing (that’s laughable) 4G speeds. What’s even more laughable is the fact AT&T is trying to get bigger. Instead of using its money and resources to fix its spotty network, the company uses it to buy iPhone exclusivity (which it lost), sponsor big bowl games and film crappy commercials — oh, and just buy out the competition. Back in March, AT&T announced its plans to purchase wireless provider T-Mobile for $39 billion. The combination of the secondand fourth-largest cellular providers in the U.S. would make the new AT&T(&T) the largest, overtaking current leader Verizon. However, AT&T would still need to write the Federal Communi-
The Daily Reveille Editorial Board
Matthew Jacobs Chris Branch Ryan Buxton Marissa Barrow Sydni Dunn Devin Graham
physically optimal. A recent study by Steven E. Landsburg, “More sex is safer sex,” shows that “increased sexual activity can slow down the rate of infection and reduce the prevalence of AIDS.” You are not special, love is a non-existent theme, it is a collaboration of chemical reactions in the brain to generate a sense of belonging and cosmic feeling (serotonin, dopamine, etc.). I can go out and find a woman just like you. You are not special, not one in a million. You are polluting our society with this filth, this self-centered, selfish attitude of superiority and glorified existence. In contrast with your equality with men argument, women don’t feel guilt about having
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Editor-in-Chief Associate Managing Editor Associate Managing Editor Managing Editor, External Media News Editor Opinion Editor
cations Commission to approve this deal. I’ve already written about why this is a bad deal for not only AT&T and T-Mobile customers, but also all cellular customers in the country, so don’t worry — you don’t have to read a second rant. Unfortunately for AT&T, the FCC isn’t the only approval it needs now to take over the U.S. cellular market. Now ADAM ARINDER it needs to defeat the United States Columnist Government. The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against the mobile juggernaut, claiming its acquirement of T-Mobile would violate antitrust law and “substantially lessen competition.” The Justice Department asked U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle to block the deal. This merger is the largest announced acquisition of the year, according to Bloomberg. The Justice Department must have read my old column on this matter. It released a statement last week stating that the combination of the two companies would reduce wireless communication competition in the U.S., drive prices higher while making service worse and offering fewer products. Actually, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. The department drove the nail deeper by reiterating AT&T has not been wisely spending its funds.
“AT&T could obtain substantially the same network enhancements that it claims will come from the transaction if it simply invested in its own network without eliminating a close competitor.” Burn. AT&T claims the merger will move 5,000 call-center jobs back to the U.S. from foreign countries, giving new jobs to the unemployed of America. While the move sure is a nice gesture, it isn’t enough to justify the merger. For now, the merger is still up in the air. The FCC and AT&T are still discussing the logistics of the deal. AT&T submitted new economic models last month claiming the merger would reduce prices and increase service in large metropolitan areas. While I’m no economics student — although I am taking a class
Editorial Policies & Procedures
on it this semester — I don’t see how less competition will lower prices. Maybe I just haven’t hit that chapter yet. “Any way you look at this transaction, it is anticompetitive,” Sharis Pozen, the acting head of the Justice Department’s antitrust division, said in a news conference last week. She does say the department’s “door is open” to discuss a remedy with AT&T. Want to know a good remedy? Kill the deal. It isn’t good for consumers — it’s only good for AT&T and its own pockets. Adam Arinder is a 21-year-old communication studies senior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @ TDR_aarinder. Contact Adam Arinder at aarinder@lsureveille.com
BEST AND WITTIEST
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.
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Quote of the Day “The dirtiest book of all is the expurgated book.”
Walt Whitman American poet May 31, 1819 — March 26, 1892
The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
WEB COMMENTS
As usual, the Opinion section of our website, lsureveille.com, has been absolutely buzzing with reader comments. Check it out today and let your voice be heard. In reference to the Sept. 1 Reveille article, “Believing in evolution doesn’t make you scientific,” readers had this to say: Mr. Casey, Creationism is religion. It is a matter of faith. It contains ZERO science except fraudulent junk that is NOT accepted by 98% of scientists worldwide, making it, well, a failure. Science is a matter of observing, testing and refining and is based on logic. There is no faith involved. THEREFORE, ONE DOES NOT “BELIEVE” IN EVOLUTION IF ONE IS A SCIENTIST AND YOUR ARTICLE’S TITLE BETRAYS YOUR LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THIS. You need to readdress your understanding of the basics, sir. Right now you’re failing logic and understanding of the scientific method ... Incidentally, most scientists are theists, but are not foolish enough to invoke their religious beliefs, WHATEVER their religion may be, in their work. This is because
Opinion
supernatural events are not testable, Mr. Casey. Please leave your religious prejudices at the door when discussing the most powerful, documented and testable theory in science today...evolution. - Will Fraser, Geophysicist, Dallas, Tx., USC, Wm and Mary, Tulane U
Why evolution (and to a lesser extent global warming) have become litmus tests for presidential candidates is important, but not for the reasons the author cites. These issues, which have a consensus in the scientific community (i.e. that evolution is the foundation of biology and that the global climate is rapidly rising, and this is largely due to anthropogenic inputs) are disputed on shaky, misinterpreted, or non-existent arguments from the deniers. Why is this important? If a candidate came out and said the earth is flat (there are still those around who believe this), would that candidate be correct? Should schools ‘teach the controversy’ and let the students decide if the earth is flat or the sun revolves around the earth? Is a candidate correct in ignoring the (overwhelming) evidence before him presented by countless experts in the field because he doesn’t want to believe it? Michelle Bachmann
has recently said that the recent natural disasters are a ‘wake-up call from God’. Have we gone back to twelfth century thinking on these sorts of issues? If that’s what you mean by ‘true scientific inquiry,’ then by all means say it. Don’t pussyfoot around the issue. Say you want superstition and myth to have an equal footing with rational science. - Anonymous Science is one of those topics where a lot of people have an opinion, yet very few actually understand. I’m confused why a politician is even talking about evolution. Their job is to represent their constituents, not weigh in on scientific debates. I could understand how this would matter if the candidates were discussing the “intelligent design versus evolution in schools” debate, but that’s it. I’m not going to expect my president to know the first thing about evolution, quantum mechanics, or even gravity; I expect them to lead. - Anonymous Is that what they teach in LSU biology classes? - bev Lots of standard anti-evolution
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talking points, a few semi-correct definitions of science, some references to holes in the theory of evolution that are never actually defined ... a lot of talk, no real substance... - DT You see what happens when you use the word “scientific” in the title of an article? You attract the attention of people who know a thing or two about science. - Anonymous Take a biology class, son. - Sam THANK YOU Mr. Casey!! You are incredibly brave for publishing your conservative ideas in the Reveille — I commend you! But I hope you knew your editors are setting you up to be attacked by the idiotic liberal masses, and they tend to ignore web comments by conservatives, as evidenced by the fact that 38 negative comments immediately got clearance, but this lone comment supporting you will take forever to get posted, if at all. I’d also like to apologize on behalf of the ignorant herdmentality sheeple attacking your column. Please remember that there are more of us out there who agree
with you, but most don’t speak up for fear of attack. For those of us who do vocalize our support, our comments rarely see the light of day. Regarding your actual argument - I agree wholeheartedly, and these idiots are missing your point because they’re not thinking clearly. PEOPLE — you CAN be a scientist and a Christian/Creationist! True wisdom means acknowledging how much you don’t know, and if you actually think for yourself, it’s amazing when you realize how much we accept as “fact,” when NOTHING is 100% certain. A wise man recognizes evolutionism and creationism don’t have to be mutually exclusive. LIBERAL is supposed to mean OPEN MINDS, FOLKS! Mr. Casey, keep on trucking, and don’t get discouraged by the imbeciles surrounding us! - Independent Creationist Wow. Just wow. - Anonymous You done goof’d. Son, I am disappoint. - Anonymous Contact The Daily Reveille’s opinion staff at opinion@lsureveille.com
SEEMANN SAYS
Hoover High censorship belittles free expression
In 1969, the United States Supreme Court extended the right of free expression to students who attend U.S. public schools in its Tinker v. Des Moines decision. The landmark decision began with a barely visible blip: three students were suspended from their Des Moines schools for wearing black armbands to protest the Vietnam War. With help from the Iowa Civil Liberties Union and its Chris Seemann national counterColumnist part, the students appealed their case all the way to the Supreme Court. The justices who supported the majority decision agreed free expression could not be silenced in public schools. The only exception, the court reasoned, would be forms of expression that “materially and substantially interfere with the requirements of appropriate discipline in the operation of the school.” Unsurprisingly, this issue has arisen many times since 1969 in various forms. The latest incarnation can be found at Hoover High School in Hoover, Ala. Sara Couvillon, a 15-year-old student at Hoover, was asked by the administration to stop wearing a shirt that read “Gay? Fine by me.” Hoover Principal Don Hulin released a statement Aug. 31, declaring the school welcomes free
expression unless it “disrupts the learning environment or deprives the rights of others.” Hulin clearly understands the Supreme Court’s position on free expression in schools, as he nearly recited the court’s caveat to the decision. However, when the Southern Poverty Law Center threatened to file a lawsuit against the school if it did not reverse its decision on the shirt by Sept. 12, Hulin released a statement clarifying his position: Couvillon’s shirt was not disruptive after all, and she would be allowed to wear it. The administration’s original position can be rendered absurd by a modicum of common sense alone, not the threat of legal action. Though he can be commended for wisely rescinding the censorship, one has to wonder what could have realistically led Hulin to ban the Tshirt in the first place. The shirt, while disarmingly innocuous, does admittedly address a controversial social issue. Frankly, if Hoover High were located in New York rather than Alabama, the controversy would likely have never occurred. Could the shirt really have been as distracting to students as MTV camera crews were in 2006, when they chronicled the travails of the school’s football team for the network’s show “Two-A-Days”? Former Hoover quarterback Ross Wilson and his impeccable “sweep” hairstyle likely commanded more attention from the student body of Hoover than Couvillon’s shirt ever could hope to.
Though this is not always the case, the Supreme Court clearly defined the parameters of free expression in public schools with the Tinker decision. If a school wants to quash a student’s constitutional rights, it must truly have a compelling reason to do so. That Hulin relented so quickly after his initial comments on the matter became public makes this clear. Unfortunately, quarrels such as this one happen in the United States far too often. Hoover High and a litany of others could easily avoid
the embarrassment of having these issues aired in the national media by respecting the free speech rights of their students. American courts have consistently reiterated that the palatability of one’s speech should not be a determinant of whether it can be censored. Acceptance of homosexuality in Alabama may in fact be an offensive idea, as it still is in a large portion of the United Sates, but that makes little difference. Schools facing a similar dilemma in the future can utilize
these instances as opportunities to teach their students about the value of free expression, rather than spending time and energy trying to quiet it. Chris Seemann is a 21-year-old mass communications senior from New Orleans. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_CSeemann. Contact Chris Seemann at cseemann@lsureveille.com
ANTIMATTER
NUTSINEE KIJBUNCHOO / The Daily Reveille
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Wednesday, September 7, 2011 HEALTH, from page 1
different sports at a competitive level or just for fun while remaining active, he said. During the 2010-11 school year, more than 16,000 students participated in the UREC’s group exercise classes, he said. The intramural leagues saw approximately 10,000 participants, and more than 11,000 students partook in alternative forms of exercise offered by the UREC. The Newsweek ranking also said 44 percent of students surveyed purchase local or organic food. Brandi Milioto, human ecology instructor and registered dietitian, said the statistic shows University students care about health. “The fact that a number of students are spending money on local and organic foods shows that health is a priority,” Milioto said. Milioto said students may value health because of the University’s numerous awareness programs. Organizations like the Student Health Center often visit classes and reach out to students to promote better lifestyles. John Dawes, political science freshman, said the South is commonly criticized for being unhealthy, so the University’s ranking is surprising. In 2010, Bloomberg Businessweek named Louisiana the laziest state after collecting data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, claiming the average Louisiana citizen spends more than three hours daily watching television and 29 minutes “relaxing and thinking.” Caleb MacKenzie, mechanical engineering senior, said he believes the South is unhealthy and doesn’t think the University is
healthier than any other American college. Dawes said the UREC may be what sets the University apart. Ashleigh Vinson, biology freshman, said the fact the University is a walking campus may be a reason students are healthier. Vinson said the amount of effort the University has put into keeping the University Lakes and its workout area nice differentiates it from other schools. The University’s drug scene was labeled average in the ranking, meaning drugs are not extremely common but do have a presence. Vinson said she hasn’t noticed a prevalent drug problem at the University, and several other students agreed. A 2011 study by the American Collegiate Health Association reinforces the “average” ranking. Out of more than 1,000 University students surveyed, 64 percent said they had never tried marijuana, but 15 percent said they had used the drug within the last 30 days. But 23 percent admitted to using prescription drugs that weren’t prescribed to them within the last year. The Newsweek ranking also stated Trojan Brand Condoms named the University 26th best for sexual health, citing availability of STD testing on campus, sexual health awareness programs and outreach groups as criteria. Harvard University ranked highest, but many Southeastern Conference schools made the list, including Mississippi State University at No. 3, University of Georgia at No. 10 and the University of Florida at No. 24. Contact Brian Sibille at bsibille@lsureveille.com
The Daily Reveille EQLA, from page 1
not fully transgender inclusive. “This is out of step with the national advocacy organizations and out of step with the spirit of the movement,” Parker said. As of now, EQLA has support from Spectrum — the University’s LGBTQ organization, CCA, Louisiana Trans Advocates and Louisiana Stonewall Democrats. They are actively working on including Forum for Equality, People Acting for Change and Equality and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Forum for Equality Chair John Hill said he was unaware of EQLA or those involved until recently but supports anyone involved in the movement for LGBTQ rights. P.A.C.E Vice President
page 15 Baylor Boyd said he was also unfamiliar with EQLA until recently but welcomes involvement in the future. Parker said he wants students to know college organizations will be treated as equal partners and have as much input as any other organization involved. He believes they’re vital for change in society. “It is clear to me that any chance we have of making a real difference in this state is dependent on two things — our ability to engage college students and our ability to work together as one community that prioritizes the cause over the individual interests of any individual or organization,” Parker said. Louisiana Stonewall Democrats founder Stephen Handwerk said he’s excited about the efforts
of those involved with EQLA. Handwerk provided input during the proposal process for EQLA. “There is such a need for an umbrella group like this — a group that can pull together everything from student groups to civic and neighborhood groups all into one,” Handwerk said. From here, EQLA plans to grow and gain more momentum. Patterson said they hope to continue adding organizations and host a summit meeting this fall in order to determine their legislative plan of action. “We’ll be much stronger working together than we have been in the past,” he said. Contact Lauren Duhon at lduhon@lsureveille.com
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The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, September 7, 2011