Litigation: Former professor to take University to court, p. 5
Football: LSU ranks second in graduation rates behind Vandy, p. 7
Reveille The Daily
SCANDAL
Order against employee extended
www.lsureveille.com
Music: Voodoo set to overtake N.O. this weekend, p. 11
Thursday, October 27, 2011 • Volume 116, Issue 46
THE WALKING DEAD
Brian Sibille Staff Writer
A restraining order against LSU School of Veterinary Medicine employee Marc Boudreaux has been extended after a court case slated for Wednesday morning was postponed until Nov. 9. The new court date will decide whether or not a protective order will be granted to Elizabeth Lum, the University graduate student who filed the restraining order against Boudreaux. Lum said in the Oct. 17 re- BOUDREAUX straining order that Boudreaux broke into her home on Oct. 14 and stole two laptops and a journal. Lum said she was sexually abused and harassed by Boudreaux in 2009 and 2010, when he forced her to live with him and another woman and engage
CHRISTOPHER LEH / The Daily Reveille
RESTRAINING, see page 6
The undead are halted by a door in Atkinson Hall on Wednesday during Zombie Day at LSU. Zombie Day started in 2006 and is held every October. Participants gathered at the Parade Ground near Highland Road before staggering around campus to “torment the living,” according to their website. See photos from of Zombie Day at lsureveille.com.
CULTURE
Campus organization sees growth, helps connect Jewish students
Austen Krantz
Contributing Writer
Music education senior Allison Harrison feared she would find a fragmented Jewish community on campus upon arriving at the University for her first semester. She sought out and joined Hillel at LSU, an organization dedicated to bringing together Jewish students. After attending a welcoming event, she found the group’s numbers lacking. “After that event I got a little scared that I was the only Jewish person at LSU — which wasn’t true,” Harrison said.
Harrison attempted to promote the group her freshman year and held the position of president through her sophomore and junior years in hopes of setting a foundation of You gotta growth for Hilmembership. have faith lel It wasn’t until A series looking at religions she participated of the world at LSU in services at local synagogues during the fall holidays, however, that she noticed sizeable amounts of Jewish students and decided to encourage a more
active Jewish community at the University. “I ended up seeing that there were tons of college kids that went to these services for the High Holidays,” Harrison said. The High Holidays, also known as the High Holy Days, include Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. After seeing the turnout, Harrison saw an opportunity to unify the Jewish community on campus. She contacted Sigma Alpha Mu or “Sammy,” a fraternity on campus with a significant Jewish JUDAISM, see page 6
BENJAMIN OLIVER HICKS / The Daily Reveille
History senior and President of Hillel at LSU Jay Weisman gives a tour of the Beth Shalom Synagogue on Tuesday afternoon.
The Daily Reveille
page 2
INTERNATIONAL
Nation & World
Thursday, October 27, 2011
NATIONAL
STATE/LOCAL
Brazil’s sports minister Orlando Silva resigns in corruption scandal
John Edwards’ lawyers ask judge to throw out charges
Gov. Jindal puts himself into contentious speaker race
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s sports minister resigned Wednesday after fighting corruption allegations. He is the sixth minister forced to leave office since June. Sports Minister Orlando Silva maintained his innocence against allegations he took part in a kickback scheme, but said he was resigning to avoid a continuation of a political crisis for the government. Several people have come forward to accuse Silva of involvement in kickback schemes.
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Lawyers for John Edwards worked Wednesday to undercut the federal government’s criminal case against the former presidential candidate before it ever gets to a jury. Edwards is scheduled to be tried in January on charges that he asked two wealthy campaign donors to provide nearly $1 million in secret payments used to hide his pregnant mistress as he sought the Democratic Party’s nomination for the White House in 2007 and early 2008.
(AP) — Gov. Bobby Jindal sparked upheaval in the usually behind-thescenes wrangling for House speaker when he backed Lake Charles Republican Chuck Kleckley for the job Wednesday. A governor’s support for legislative leaders traditionally is the deciding factor in who gets the jobs when the new terms begin. The House speaker and Senate president are regularly chosen without any opposition after getting a governor’s endorsement. But Lafayette Republican Joel Robideaux accused Jindal of pressuring lawmakers to support Kleckley. Newspaper owner pays five Saints players for Twitter promotion
Scottish police investigating rape report at Occupy Glasgow LONDON (AP) — Scottish police say they are investigating reports a woman was raped while participating in anti-capitalist protests in Glasgow. Strathclyde Police said Wednesday that shortly after midnight the force received a report that a serious sexual assault against a 28-year-old woman took place in a tent in the city’s George Square. Occupy Glasgow organizers said in a statement posted online that they were “deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic allegation” of an assault in their camp.
FERNANDO VERGARA / The Associated Press
University students march Wednesday during a protest in Bogota, Colombia. The protest was against education reforms planned by the government.
Colombian students protest education reform, violence ensues BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Police in Colombia’s capital have fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse rioters after a mostly peaceful student protest against an education reform bill. Bogota police report 15 arrests. Thousands of students had launched a national strike in major cities Wednesday, saying the bill would privatize higher education. Officials say the bill would allow tens of thousands more young people to go to university.
Campus News Direct From the Source
Ga. schools see drop in students for Bible classes in public schools ATLANTA (AP) — In 2006, Georgia became the first state to allow Bible education classes in public schools, after much debate over the sticky issue of separation of church and state. Now the classes are dwindling for a far more tangible reason: money. Superintendents say interest has waned in the once-controversial classes, and schools don’t have the money to pay for courses with only a few students enrolled. What’s more, budget cuts mean it now takes more students to fill up a class than ever before.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The company that owns the Times-Picayune is paying five New Orleans Saints players including quarterback Drew Brees to promote the newspaper’s website through the social media website Twitter. Receiver Lance Moore, cornerback Tracy Porter, running back Pierre Thomas and linebacker Jonathan Vilma also are being paid undisclosed sums by Advance Digital.
Check out the Tiger Feed blog to watch ESPN’s new hype commercial for LSU’s game against Alabama on Nov. 5. Learn more about Judaism on the Out of Print news blog. Read Conquering the Kitchen on the LMFAO entertainment blog to learn how to cook a loaded baked potato. Get the latest news by downloading the LSU Reveille app in the iTunes Store and Android Market
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AMY BROUSSARD / The Daily Reveille
For the annual celebration of Zombie Day, LSU students and family members dressed as the undead and roamed the campus on Wednesday night.
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS The Daily Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards. This space is reserved to recognize and correct any mistakes which may have been printed in The Daily Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified please contact the editor at (225) 578-4811 or email editor@lsureveille.com.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
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The Daily Reveille
Thursday, October 27, 2011
page 3
POLITICS
Pres. candidate Roemer visits University Clayton Crockett Staff Writer
Former Louisiana governor and Republican presidential candidate Buddy Roemer detailed the broad implications of his anti-corruption platform Wednesday in a town hall meeting in the Student Union. “The reason I run is that I think your future and this country’s future has been corrupted by special interest money,” Roemer said. “My campaign is really about young people.” Roemer’s crusade against corruption spans from his campaign contributions to trade abroad, and he made sure to remind the audience that he stood upon the same principle when he was elected governor in 1988. “Who you knew was everything,” he said of Louisiana politics in the ‘80s. Roemer’s campaign for governor resonates with his long-shot campaign today, as he noted that he was the least-known candidate when he began his gubernatorial campaign. He used former governor Edwin Edwards as an example of the problem with American politics today: good politicians with corrupt policies. “There was nothing wrong with Louisiana that cleaning up the corruption couldn’t fix,” he said. When he explained that President Barack Obama received $1 billion in funds from special interests, he asked the audience, “Guess who’s going to run America?” But it isn’t a party issue, Roemer clarified. General Electric, he said, was the biggest contributor to Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton. “What kind of country do you want to live in?” he asked. “Do you want G.E. and Goldman Sachs to own it?” The past eight presidents have been funded by only 1 percent of the population, he said. When asked about changes he would make as president, Roemer mentioned he would seek to limit contributions from political action committees to
2011 Gumbo yearbooks now available for purchase at the LSU Bookstore
Keep the memories!
EMILY SLACK / The Daily Reveille
Presidential candidate and former Louisiana governor Buddy Roemer speaks to students about his campaign on Wednesday in the Union.
political campaigns by the amount that the candidate has raised through individual donations. Due to the nature of his platform against corruption, Roemer told the audience he understands his prospects for the presidential election. “If you’re looking for an easy winner, go somewhere else,” he said. “I know we might not win, but the truth is that we cannot lose.” Roemer placed hope in the volatility of the presidential candidate field, noting the rise and fall in ratings of Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and Texas Gov. Rick Perry and the recent surge of Herman Cain. Unfair trade was another point Roemer made during his speech, as he put forward intentions to boycott nations with business policies that conflict with American principles. He insisted on boycotts against governments whose practices contradict American workplace ethics, such as China, which he labeled as bereft of environmental and health standards. We should “stop spending in Saudi Arabia and spend it here,” he said. “I’m an environmentalist, but I believe in balance.”
As of Wednesday, Roemer said he was polling about 2 percent nationwide, which, according to Gallup, matches the support of former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman. “Everybody I’m running against has been in nine debates,” Roemer said. He has thus far not met the monetary requirements of the debates — largely due to the fact that he has limited contributions to his campaign to $100 per person — but he said he’s touting about 5-percent name recognition matched with his 2-percent support. Before opening the floor for questions, Roemer closed by pointing out that seven ambassadors appointed by Obama donated $725,000 or more to his campaign, which he followed up with a final question. “Is your country for sale?”
HONOR ROLL PRESENTS “THE BIG EASY BALL.” SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30TH @ THE HOWLIN’ WOLF featuring New Orleans guitar funk legend, Leo Nocentelli & the Meters Experience. a late-might Orchard Lounge DJ set, with Russell Batiste and Friends opening! Doors at 8 pm Show at 9 pm 18+ Ticket $20
Columnist: Roemer should be allowed to debate, pg. 16
DO YOU HAVE AN OCCURRENCE? Call Becky at the Student Media Office 578-6090, 9AM- 5PM or E-mail: oncampus@lsureveille.com
Plucker’s Wing Bar Mon: $14.99 All You Can Eat Wings and $3 Pluckers Specialty Drinks Tues: Kids Eat Free, $3 Mexican Beers and Margaritas Wed: Live Trivia at 8 pm, $4.50 34oz Mugs Thurs: $12.99 All You Can Eat Boneless Wings, $4.50 34oz Mugs $5.50 Patron Margaritas Sun: $3 Pluckers Specialty Shots EVERYDAY BEER SPECIAL: $6.50 34oz Mugs--Blue Moon, Dos Equis, Abitas UREC Flag Football Skills Challenge TONIGHT, 6PM @ UREC Student Rec Center. Pass. Receive. Punt. Defend. Visit www.LSU.edu/UREC for details.
Contact Clayton Crockett at ccrockett@lsureveille.com
LIVE Newsbeat 3PM, (Campus Channel 75) The Ramen 4PM (Campus Channel 75) Sports Showtime 4:30 PM (Campus Channel 75) Thursday Newsbeat 5PM (Campus Channel 75) Sports Showtime 5PM, (Cox Cable Channel 4) Thursday Newsbeat RERUN 6:30 (Campus Channel 75) Newsbeat 7:30 PM, (WBTR Cable Channel 19) The Ramen 8PM (Campus Channel 75) Thursday Newsbeat 9:30 PM (Campus Channel 75) Sports Showtime 10PM (WBTR Cable Channel 19)
page 4
HIGHER EDUCATION
The Daily Reveille
Thursday, October 27, 2011
GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE
photo courtesy of THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Barack Obama greets the crowd Wednesday before his speech about managing student debt at the University of Colorado Denver. Starting in 2012 the proposal will cap borrowers monthly loan payments at 10 percent of expandable income.
Obama offers student loan repayment program to lower payments, interest public, four-year institutions has risen more than 8 percent from last year. “Ensuring that every student President Barack Obama appeared at the University of Colo- has access to a higher education rado Denver on Wednesday to is a priority of this administragive students further details on tion,” Duncan said. Duncan said the key to crafthis “Pay As You Earn” program to lessen the financial burden ing America into a more educated of about 1.6 million Americans work force is to take advantage of the programs faced with stugoverndent loan debt. How does this affect you? the ment provides. Starting The previous in 2012, the • Monthly loan payments income-based proposal will capped at 10-percent of your repayment procap borrowers’ gram was not monthly loan expandable income fully utilized by payments at 10 percent of their • Debt balance forgiven after 20 the public, according to Dunexpendable in- years of payments can. Almost 36 come, or what’s million Amerileft after paying • Easier to consolodate loans cans have fedall the bills. The eral student loan plan will also forgive borrowers’ remaining debt, but only 450,000 took adloan debt after 20 years of pay- vantage of the program in place. Emily Hester, coordinator ments. “Because of this change, for the University’s Student Fiabout 1.6 million Americans nancial Management Center, said could see their payments go down students should research before by hundreds of dollars a month,” Obama said. Obama cited his family’s personal experience with student loans when speaking about the need for reform. “We were paying more for our student loans than we paid on our mortgage each month,” Obama said. The proposal also allows borrowers to consolidate their loans and receive a reduction in their interest rates ranging up to half a percent. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in a teleconference the consolidation will help some borrowers stay out of financial trouble. “When people have loans to pay from multiple lenders it makes them more likely to default,” Duncan said. The announcement coincides with a report released by the Obama administration Tuesday that shows in-state tuition for Josh Naquin Staff Writer
taking out loans. “The key is to take out what you need and not more,” Hester said. Sarah Elisar, history senior, said she felt University students had the upper hand regarding student loans when compared to the rest of the nation. “TOPS is a huge benefit to Louisianans, and I don’t think student loans are as big of a deal here because of it,” Elisar said. The loan repayment proposal is one in a string of announcements made by the Obama administration this week to support its “We Can’t Wait” campaign. The campaign’s message laments a lack of action from Congress and stresses the need for some reform to be taken care of sooner rather than later, especially in light of the continued economic crisis.
Contact Josh Naquin at jnaquin@lsureveille.com
LAUREN DUHON / The Daily Reveille
University students peruse the selection of bikes available at the bike auction on Wednesday by Free Speech Plaza.
The Daily Reveille
Thursday, October 27, 2011
ADMINISTRATION
Former prof. to take administrators to court
Andrea Gallo Staff Writer
A former University professor is pulling administrators into the courtroom after a judge ruled his most momentous claims against the University would go to trial. Ivor van Heerden, former University professor and former deputy director of the University’s Hurricane Center, was fired after he claimed shoddy workmanship by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers caused the New Orleans levee failures during Hurricane Katrina. A judge ruled Oct. 20 that van Heerden can now take the University to court under his claim that the University retaliated by firing him. “This has been a resounding victory for academic freedom,” van Heerden said. “The judge basically said LSU was wrong.” Ernie Ballard of University Media Relations said he cannot comment on pending litigation. The University’s argument, van Heerden said, was that he did not have the right, as a University employee and researcher, to deem the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
responsible for levee breakage. The University’s stance on this raises questions about what the administration’s philosophy is in terms of academic freedom and freedom of speech, van Heerden said. Jill Craft, van Heerden’s lawyer, said the judge’s 26-page long opinion dedicated a “significant portion” to academic freedom. She said her goal in court is van Heerden ensuring academic freedom is never again limited at LSU or anywhere else. “You cannot have a university stifle academic freedoms and speeches for the folks who happen to work there,” Craft said. But van Heerden said after spending most of his life at the University, pursuing this course of action was not an easy decision. “This is not a step I wanted to take, but it has put a big damper on academics in Louisiana and their ability to speak out,” he said. “Loyalty to the institution was trumped by the need to protect
academic freedom.” During van Heerden’s time at the University, he said LSU boasted two world-class research teams for hurricanes. He said none of the people on those teams are still at the University. “You ask yourself, why is nobody left at LSU from the Hurricane Center? They all got chased out,” van Heerden said. Now, universities across the country like the University of North Carolina, Texas A&M University, the University of California at Berkeley and Harvard University have spun LSU’s disaster research management model into their own, while the original LSU model no longer exists, van Heerden said. Craft said the judge dismissed some of van Heerden’s smaller claims. Those charges, Craft said, are often dropped because they are “extraordinarily difficult to litigate.” The court will now issue a pretrial notice, and once that is sent out, a court date will be set, Craft said. Contact Andrea Gallo at agallo@lsureveille.com
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Fall election results announced
Kate Mabry Staff Writer
About 2,000 students cast votes in Tuesday’s Student Government fall election, Commissioner of Elections Amelia Burns announced at the Senate’s weekly meeting Wednesday. Both referendums on the ballot passed, including a measure to prohibit students who resign from a position to return to that same position in the same semester, as well as other Constitutional changes. Three Senate seats are open for runoffs next week, including one full seat in the University Center for Freshman Year, one in the College of Science and one in the College of Agriculture. The runoff election will take place next Tuesday, Nov. 1, from 7 a.m. to 9:59 p.m., and election results will be announced Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in Dodson Auditorium. In other news, Christina Grishman, senator for the University Center for Advising and Counseling, presented a resolution to the Senate urging the Office of Finance and Administration Services to attach a hyperlink with descriptions to each fee on the fee bill. Grishman said while attending Chats with the Chancellor on Sept. 29, a student asked Chancellor Michael Martin what each fee on the fee bill funded, and Grishman thought hyperlinking a fee breakdown would answer that question. A copy of the resolution will be presented to Eric Monday, vice chancellor of Finance and Administrative Services, and Brian Nichols, executive director of the Office of Risk Management. In addition, Kolby Lirette, senator for the College of Agriculture, presented legislation to the senate asking the Office of Registrar to
apply a drop confirmation system for online scheduling. Currently there is not a confirmation for students when they drop a course on their PAWS account. The resolution states “new students may be unfamiliar with the scheduling system,” and “the addition of the confirmation screen
would help to prevent students from accidently dropping their classes.” A copy of the legislation will be sent to University Registrar Robert Doolos. Contact Kate Mabry at kmabry@lsureveille.com
page 5
page 6 JUDAISM, from page 1
membership. Attempting to incorporate this concentration of Jewish students into Hillel, Harrison began increasing the organization’s numbers. “I got in touch with them, and we connected with the fraternity a lot,” Harrison said. “That brings guys, which in turn brings girls to the events, and by the end of the year we were probably up to about 30 or 40 members.” History senior Jay Weisman, the current president of Hillel at LSU and a member of Sammy, sought to promote this growth as well. Weisman encouraged Jewish members of Sammy to attend Hillel events. “I worked to bring Sammy into Hillel,” Weisman said. “We both realized we had similar goals.” Much of the group’s promotion revolves around Jewish holiday events and services. Weisman said these events attract less orthodox students since they follow basic reform expectations and can still maintain a significant relationship with their religion. He said he also hopes to see students interested in learning about the Jewish faith. Hillel provides an opportunity for students to participate in their religion while remaining productive in the classroom, Weisman said. “They’re trying to find a familiarity with their religion and also focus on their studies,” he said. “We bring the religion to the LSU campus so students can participate.” Hillel at LSU offers opportunities for participation through events like the Jewish harvest holiday of Sukkot, where Hillel
members construct Sukkahs in front of the Student Union. These temporary huts represent a religious wilderness shelter and provide a place for visiting students to eat provided food and learn about the holiday. “It’s like the Jewish Thanksgiving,” Harrison said. “You’re essentially giving thanks for everything that’s around you.” This year Hillel also organized community dinners at Beth Shalom Synagogue on Jefferson Highway and Congregation B’nai Israel on Kleinert Avenue. These dinners allowed Jewish students to meet other members of the Jewish community in Baton Rouge. “It was really nice to have a bit of local flavor into our University organization because all of us come from different places,” Harrison said. “Even though you can’t go home for the holidays, you get a little bit of family in the community as opposed to just going to a restaurant.” The dinners occurred before the holiday services, which reform Jews are expected to attend. During services, a rabbi reads to a congregation from the Torah, the Jewish religious text written by hand on large parchment scrolls, Weisman said. Since the text is not allowed to be touched, the Rabbi follows his place with metal rods. Debbie Haseltine, director of Hillel at LSU and the religious school director for Beth Shalom, explained that the synagogue keeps multiple Torahs, each of which are decorated to represent the respective religious seasons or holidays. It keeps a travel ark as well, which allows transportation of a Torah so service can be held anywhere. “Not every congregation has a synagogue,” Haseltine said. When the text is removed from
The Daily Reveille
Thursday, October 27, 2011 RESTRAINING, from page 1
BENJAMIN OLIVER HICKS / The Daily Reveille
History senior and president of Hillel at LSU Jay Weisman displays important Jewish religious items in the Beth Shalom Synagogue on Tuesday afternoon.
the ark, the congregation stands in a sign of respect, Haseltine said. When the text is raised, worshippers should stand, she said. Haseltine also helps recruit more Jewish students for Hillel while working to teach the significance of Jewish practices to children at Beth Shalom. There, children learn Jewish prayers and religious customs, study the different Jewish orders and learn about different religions like Buddhism and Hinduism to have a better understanding of their own. “We tie it all back to what it means to be Jewish,” Haseltine said. With Haseltine’s help and a solid foundation set for growing membership, Harrison and Weisman are hopeful Hillel at LSU will continue to expand. “More people are recognizing we’re here,” Harrison said. “We
have a brand new website, we’re marketing ourselves, we have a big banner — it’s a lot easier to find us than it used to be.” Membership boasts about 80 students, Harrison said, and popular events host upwards of 60 attendants, according to Weisman. “We’re here, come hang out with us,” Weisman said.
Contact Austen Krantz at akrantz@lsureveille.com
in sexual acts or risk losing progress on her Ph.D. Boudreaux is the assistant director at the Vet School’s Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine Lab, where Lum also works. Lum said he threatened her position at the lab if she did not comply with his demands. Boudreaux has been on paid administrative leave since the restraining order was granted. Whether or not leave will be extended could not be confirmed by press time Wednesday, according to Ginger Guttner, director of public relations at the Vet School. The trial was postponed until Nov. 9 after Boudreaux’s attorney, Charles Cusimano, applied for a continuance, said Jennifer Browning, East Baton Rouge Family Court judicial assistant. Browning said the restraints of the Oct. 17 order will be enforced until it expires the day of the rescheduled trial. Cusimano could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Contact Brian Sibille at bsibille@lsureveille.com
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Sports the fast lane
page 7
ACADEMICS
Football grad rate second in the SEC Alex Cassara Sports Contributor
photo courtesy of THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LSU swimmer Amanda Kendall is all alone as she swims ahead of the pack Oct. 21 during the last leg of the finals for the women’s 4x100-meter medley relay swimming event at the Pan-American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Tiger swimmer sets sights on ambitious goals — 2012 Olympics Scott Branson
Sports Contributor
Four gold medals in international competition sounds like a dream come true for any college athlete. For one LSU swimmer, the medals and international competition experience are just the next step in achieving her Olympicsized goals.
Junior Amanda Kendall returned to Baton Rouge on Monday after participating in the Pan American Games last week in Guadalajara, Mexico. The Pan-Am Games occur every four years in the year preceding the Summer Olympic Games and feature athletes from across the Americas. In her first international meet, Kendall participated on three
record-setting relay teams and swam in one individual event, the 100-meter freestyle, taking gold in all four races. The Fairfax, Va., native’s performances put her in position to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic swim team and compete at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
The No. 1 LSU football team is almost as highly ranked off the field as it is on. LSU’s football team posted a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 77 in the NCAA’s GSR data released this week, the second-highest Southeastern Conference tally, behind only Vanderbilt’s mark of 86. The team’s score of 77 is 10 points ahead of the Football Bowl Subdivision average of 67. LSU’s score has only increased since the NCAA began calculating the GSR in 2006, when the team scored a 51. Senior quarterback Jarrett Lee gives LSU coach Les Miles credit for keeping the team academically motivated. “Coach Miles does a good job with us, and he lets us know that if you don’t pass, you don’t play,” Lee said. Senior offensive lineman TBob Hebert paid homage to his Cox Center counselors. “I think all the credit in the world has to go to [director of academic affairs] Derek Cowherd and [assistant director] Walt Holliday and their crew,” Hebert said. “I know sometimes you may get upset with them … but they are the unsung heroes of this team.”
OLYMPICS, see page 10 Contact Alex Cassara at acassara@lsureveille.com
UREC
SAC field 3 closed until spring semester to regrow grass
Hunter Paniagua Sports Writer
The grass isn’t always greener at the Sports and Adventure Complex. Field 3 at the facility on River Road has been out of commission all semester after a project aimed to install a new type of grass failed. Members of the UREC met with representatives from the AgCenter, the department in charge of the operation, in August and decided to close the field. “The determination was we would just take it offline and continue to nurture it and bring it along at its pace in order for us to be confident going forward,” said Brad Wilson, UREC associate director of operations and project management. The AgCenter attempted to put in Celebration grass, a hybrid
Bermuda grass similar to what’s in According to June No, general Tiger Stadium, Wilson said. The manager of the men’s soccer club, crew successfully installed the the UREC originally slated the grass at a differwork for compleent SAC field last tion in October, year, but environbut complimented mental and soil isUREC personnel on sues prevented the reworking practice turf on field 3 from times. growing. “It would have “Sometimes been great if things weather works were fixed much Brad Wilson against you,” said faster,” No said. Jeff Beasley, an “That is something UREC associate director of associate profes- operations and project managment out of our control, sor with the Agand all we can do is Center and the person in charge of wait until the field is back ready to the SAC project. “It can slow the be used.” process down a little bit. That’s Beasley and Wilson both exwhat happened in this case. We pect the field to become operahave a good base there. Next year, tional by the spring semester, and the field will grow in perfectly.” Beasley said 75 to 80 percent of the The closed field has forced field has shown growth. UREC to rearrange practice schedGRASS, see page 10 ules for the various club sports.
‘‘
‘We’re still very much working with the AgCenter on this project.’
BLAIR LOCKHART / The Daily Reveille
Field 3 in the Sports Adventure Complex, located on River Road and Gourrier Avenue, is being regrown after a failed attempt at growing Celebration grass.
The Daily Reveille
page 8
GOLF
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Different attractions draw two Swedish players to LSU Luke Johnson
Sports Contributor
The LSU women’s golf team has been through natural roster turnover the last decade because of graduations and transfers, but one thing has remained constant — the team represents other countries aside from the United States. Dating back to the 1998-99 season, the LSU women’s golf team has had at least one foreign player on its team. Senior Jacqueline Hedwall and freshman Madelene Sagstrom, who both hail from Sweden, comprise the worldwide contingent of the LSU women’s golf team this season. Coach Karen Bahnsen said recruiting international players is more necessity than novelty. “Golf has grown so much that it’s very worldwide, and honestly you have to recruit the world or else you’re going to get beat,” Bahnsen said. “All the best players aren’t
just in the United States. I always want to have a good balance of international players as well as American players.” But how do you entice a player to come from the picturesque mountainous landscape of Sweden to the swampy lowlands of Baton Rouge? The heat, for one. Hedwall was looking at several schools along the Hedwall American Gulf Coast and in the Southwest where temperatures are much warmer than her native Sweden, which only averages 48 degrees in October. Yet Hedwall’s decision to come to LSU was based off more than the weather. Former LSU assistant coach and fellow Swede Golda Johansson Borst played on the same team as Hedwall and her twin sister in Sweden when they were younger.
Johansson Borst used her experience to bring Hedwall to LSU. “When I was looking for a school, [Johansson Borst] became the assistant here. She asked me if I wanted to come,” Hedwall said. “I looked at different schools, too, but LSU was just the best for me.” With some Norwegian players already on Sagstrom the roster, Hedwall felt she would fit the team dynamic. The same principle applied this offseason when LSU recruited Sagstrom. “I wanted to be on a team with someone from close to home. Even though I didn’t know Jacqueline that well before I came here ... it was nice that she was here,” Sagstrom said. “Now I consider her one of my best friends.” To nab Sagstrom, the Lady
Tigers had to up the ante. Johansson Borst took the head coaching job at Kentucky, and Sagstrom was the No. 7 player in the Swedish ladies’ rankings and was pursued heavily by top-ranked U.S. schools. It was Baton Rouge’s atmosphere that hooked Sagstrom, specifically on game day. “We were fortunate that [Sagstrom] fell in love with Baton Rouge when she came,” Bahnsen said. “She got to go to a football game with the kids, and she had a great visit. That helped us tremendously.” The gameday experience was unique for Sagstrom. “That was totally amazing,” Sagstrom said. “I’ve never seen anything like it. My mom was so impressed with everything, it was great to see it.” Sweden’s junior tour, where Hedwall and Sagstrom both played, is the biggest junior circuit in the world despite Sweden’s small population, though Hedwall said golf
is Sweden’s “third-biggest sport” behind hockey and soccer. Hedwall said interest in the sport is waning in Sweden because of golf’s difficulty to master, even if golf is one of the best opportunities for Swedes to attend college in the United States. “To come here and be an athlete in college, golf is a huge sport for foreigners,” Hedwall said. “But golf is not that much fun if you’re not really good at it. Younger people don’t look at the social part of it. It’s more competitive.” When it comes down to picking which state in which to go to school, Bahnsen said there’s something about Louisiana that rings true for Europeans. “They feel very comfortable here, and they just fit in with our culture for some reason — I can’t explain why,” Bahnsen said. “They fit in very well here.” Contact Luke Johnson at ljohnson@lsureveille.com
VOLLEYBALL
Arkansas in SEC West driver’s seat after sweeping Tigers Michael Gegenheimer Sports Contributor
The last time LSU lost to Arkansas, New Orleans was still drying off from Hurricane Katrina. The last time the Razorbacks swept LSU was 2003. LSU coach Fran Flory made it more than half a decade without dropping a match to the Razorbacks. Arkansas defeated LSU [2520, 25-19, 25-22] on Wednesday in a crucial game, grabbing control of the Southeastern Conference
Western Division. “Winning the West is still out there but we can’t afford many losses like that,” Flory said. “Every coach knows you learn more from a loss than a win.” Despite keeping the score close for the majority of the first two sets, the Tigers struggled, recording 15 hitting errors and six service errors by the end of the second set. The wheels fell off in the third set as the Tigers posted a .019 hitting percentage, recorded 11 errors
and three service errors. “We didn’t make smart decisions,” Flory said. “Passes weren’t where they need to be.” Typically reliable senior middle back Michele Williams struggled, posting seven of LSU’s 25 errors and a hitting percentage of .000. Flory tried to move Williams around the court multiple times but she was never able to find her rhythm. As a team, LSU gave up a .212 hitting percentage, .047 higher than its season average.
However, LSU’s .077 hitting percentage might have been its downfall — a full .171 below their SEC West-leading percentage. The Tigers bottomed out midway through the third set when the team reached a .060 hitting percentage. Sophomore middle back Desiree Elliot seemed to be the only Tiger to get anything going at Arkansas, leading the team with 14 kills and a .265 hitting percentage. “[Elliot] was really good in the first two sets,” Flory said. “They were trying to make someone else
beat them… I’m not sure we put her in the right spots so in the third we moved her around.” LSU will need big wins in their next eight games to win Flory’s seventh straight SEC West championship. The Tigers will look to bounce back from their consecutive losses when the team travels to Mississippi State on Sunday.
Contact Michael Gegenheimer at mgegenheimer@lsureveille.com
The Daily Reveille
Thursday, October 27, 2011
FOOTBALL
page 9
Tigers at full strength with return of Ware, Mathieu, Simon Montgomery: ‘We have our family back’ Mark Clements Sports Writer
Halloween may be four days away, but LSU already had its fair share of scares this season. Tiger fans across Louisiana held their collective breath in August after news broke that starting senior quarterback Jordan Jefferson would be suspended indefinitely in the days leading up to LSU’s clash with then-No. 3 Oregon. More brows furrowed weeks later when senior linebacker Ryan
Baker was suspended for the second game of the season against Northwestern State. A sigh of exasperation could be heard when LSU implemented a three-game suspension of junior wide receiver Russell Shepard at the start of the season. When sophomore running back Spencer Ware and sophomore cornerbacks Tyrann Mathieu and Tharold Simon were held out against then-No. 20 Auburn, the storybook season looked to be in jeopardy. Despite the horde of off-thefield issues, the Tigers managed to win every game this season and hold the top spot in the polls. With the return of Ware, Mathieu and Simon to the team
Tuesday, LSU will be at full strength for just the fourth time all season as the Tigers look ahead to their Nov. 5 showdown with No. 2 Alabama. “To get them back on the field is really good for them, and it’s really good for the team,” said sophomore defensive end Sam Montgomery. “I feel like it’s more family-based, and we have our family back again. When you’re playing the best, you want to be at your best so you can perform at your top level.” LSU didn’t miss a beat without the three starters, but the return of Ware gives the Tigers a bruising back who’s racked up 512 yards and six touchdowns this season. Mathieu and Simon bring a combined 71 tackles, three
interceptions and 13 pass break ups, and the pair helps compose a secondary that ranks No. 11 in the nation, surrendering 174.75 yards per game through the air. The Tigers have had nearly as many suspensions as they have had games this season, as seven players have been held out through eight games. While some teams might crumble under the unfavorable circumstances, senior offensive lineman T-Bob Hebert said LSU uses the distractions as a rallying point each week. “It could be seen as kind of a catalyst for everyone to come together,” Hebert said. “This team’s focus has been one of its strong
points. I almost feel like everybody else makes a bigger deal about it than we do. It’s not distracting to us.” With an undefeated season thus far and two more ranked opponents on the schedule, senior safety Brandon Taylor said the Tigers will need all hands on deck moving forward. “To get where we want to be – and that’s the national championship – we need everybody to be on point and to stay focused,” Taylor said. “We need everybody we’ve got to get to our destination.”
Contact Mark Clements at mclements@lsureveille.com
CROSS COUNTRY
6th, 7th runners important to team despite not scoring
Runners can affect other teams’ scores Andrew Chapple Sports Contributor
Even though their placement doesn’t count toward the team’s score, a school’s sixth and seventh runners play a valuable role on a cross country team. “There’s going to be days where one or two of your top five isn’t up to standard, and your sixth and seventh runners can make up that difference,” said LSU coach Mark Elliott. “In other sports they want to have good players come off
the bench to back up their starters, and the closer your bench is in skill to your starters, the better team you have.” In cross country, the top five runners’ placement on each team is added together to form a team score. The lower the score, the better the team finishes. The sixth and seventh runners don’t count toward the team score but serve as backups in case one of the top five does poorly. They also place individually overall, acting as buffers and adding points to other teams’ scores. If another team’s fifth runner finished behind LSU’s sixth runner, it would knock the other team’s fifth runner back in the standings.
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“My high school coach always told me that the sixth and seventh runners, while they don’t score, they can push other teams’ runners down which can be important,” said redshirt freshman Bryan Mutell. Mutell and sophomore Daniel Nally have consistently finished as the sixth and seventh runners for the Tigers this year. “I feel like I am an important contributor to the team,” Nally said. “As much as I would like to be in the top five, I guess my consistency shows my stability at where I am, and I just want to work to get into that top five.” Redshirt freshman Michelle Mobley and redshirt junior Lindsay Roe are the sixth and seventh
runners, respectively, for the Lady Tigers. “Every man counts, and I’ve heard so many times that you’re only as good as your weakest link,” Roe said. “You just do your best, you work your hardest and you try to represent LSU as well as you can.” The top two teams at the NCAA regional meets move on to the national championship meet in Terre Haute, Ind. If two teams are tied for second, whichever team had a faster sixth runner moves on to the championship. “For them to break the tie, since they don’t want to take three teams to nationals, they use the sixth or seventh man,” Elliott said.
Elliott said he treats all of the top 10 runners the same, Elliott said this negates the sixth and seventh guys from being discouraged about not scoring. Most of the non-scorers are younger and are working toward being in the top five. “I have a positive mindset and try not to get down because in due time and with hard work success will come,” Nally said. “The guys in the top five, they earned it and they’re all talented so my goal is to one day be at their level.”
Contact Andrew Chapple at achapple@lsureveille.com
The Daily Reveille
page 10 OLYMPICS, from page 7 Kendall said making the Olympic team will depend on “who gets their hand on the wall in the top six” at the Olympic Trials this June and July. Her best 100free time at the Pan-Am Games is listed as the seventh-fastest time in the current U.S. Swimming cycle. Kendall missed three LSU meets while participating in the Pan-Am Games but will swim with her team in LSU’s meet against Alabama on Nov. 4. Swimming Coach Dave Geyer said he’s proud of Kendall’s accomplishments in Mexico and is glad to have her back in Baton Rouge. “We’re starting to look at the lineups for next week, and it has been nice to put her name in there a couple of times,” Geyer said. “That definitely helps our women’s lineup down the road.” Geyer said Kendall will focus on preparing for the Southeastern Conference and NCAA Championships until the collegiate season ends, at which point she and her coaches will concentrate on the Olympic Trials. “It’s certainly in the distance a little bit,” Geyer said. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.” Kendall said while she was swimming with an American flag on her swim cap, she was also representing LSU and her Tiger teammates. “It feels really awesome to bring [the medals] back here and show them to all of my teammates and just know that I was out there
photo courtesy of THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Amanda Kendall fits her swimming cap Oct. 19 before winning the gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle final at the Pan-American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
swimming fast for the U.S. and also for all of my teammates back home,” Kendall said. During Kendall’s first swim in Mexico, the LSU swimming and diving squads were on the road in Florida for two dual meets. Geyer said it was exciting to watch how the team supported Kendall from afar. “There wasn’t wireless in the hotel except for in the lobby, so it was neat because a lot of her teammates came down to the lobby and had their laptops up to watch the race,” Geyer said. “They were obviously happy for her.” Kendall attributed her success in the Pan-Am Games to her coaches at LSU, including Geyer and assistant coach Lance Asti. “I have all my faith in Lance,” Kendall said. “Whatever he tells me to do, I do it.”
Asti said Kendall’s continual progression into an elite swimmer is largely thanks to one thing in particular — commitment. “She’s committed to her training and doesn’t question what we do,” Asti said. “She doesn’t just do it; she destroys it.” Asti said Kendall has committed herself outside the pool and has focused on increasing her strength, which has served her well in competition. “Commitment to nutrition, getting her sleep and the details that a lot of athletes neglect are a huge factor for her,” Asti said.
Contact Scott Branson at sbranson@lsureveille.com
Thursday, October 27, 2011 GRASS, from page 7 Beasley said his team will apply about a quarter-inch of sand to the field to encourage growth and install ryegrass in the winter, while the Bermuda grass lies dormant. The team will remove the ryegrass and regrow the Bermuda in the spring when temperatures rise. Beasley said the quality of other SAC fields has forced his crew to pay special attention to this project. “As expectations increase, it takes more work to meet those expectations,” Beasley said. “You have to remember this is a biological system. It takes time for things to grow in.” Wilson said UREC didn’t incur any charges replacing the grass because the operation was part of a “Zero Sum Project” with the
AgCenter. UREC provides AgCenter graduate assistants the opportunity to earn research and study hours in a real-life environment, Wilson said. “It gives them a natural playing venue to work, not just some plot in the middle of a field,” Wilson said. “It gives them statistics on how it performs under stress and how it performs with traffic.” The project’s lack of success hasn’t strained UREC’s relationship with the AgCenter, Wilson said. “We’re still very much working with the AgCenter on this project,” Wilson said. “They’ve been great partners with us. They were just as stumped as were.” Contact Hunter Paniagua at hpaniagua@lsureveille.com
GET THE FULL
VOODOO EXPERIENCE
Read band bios, concert reviews, interviews and more at voodoo.lsureveille.com.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
RED STICK ROUNDUP Thursday: $1,000 costume contest with DJ Otto & DJ Jive Dress to impress this ladies’ night for Spanish Moon’s costume contest. Winner takes home $1,000. Spanish Moon, 9 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Entertainment
Do you Voodoo?
page 11
Friday: Cajun Dances The Cajun French Music Association dances are open to the public. Dance lessons are taught before every dance, starting at 7 p.m. UCT Hall, band plays 8 - 10 p.m. $10. Day of the Dead Party An art and music show combined with Halloween to create a one-ofa-kind event. Art show starts at 10 p.m. and music begins at 11 p.m. Red Star.
Saturday: Louisiana Book Festival Visit downtown Baton Rouge and celebrate literature at its finest. State Library of Louisiana and Louisiana State Capitol, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Free.
BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille
Voodoo Experience to take over New Orleans this weekend
City Park in New Orleans will come alive this weekend when crowds swarm the space for the Voodoo Experience. The festival, celebrating its 13th year, began in 1999 as a one-day event but has since expanded to three days, typically happening on the last weekend of October. This year’s festival boasts a reunited Soundgarden, Blink-182 and The Raconteurs. Other performers include Snoop Dogg, Fatboy Slim and TV on the Radio. Norman Cook, the man behind Fatboy Slim, said he’s looking forward to playing in New Orleans for the first time in many years. “There are certain towns and
but as they were one of the only bands he wanted to see, he couldn’t justify paying $70 for a one-day ticket. But not everyone is happy with the lineup. Some students, like graphic design sophomore Katherine Finn, thought this year’s lineup paled in comparison to previous years. “I saw the lineup, and there wasn’t any band that made me say, ‘Wow, I have to see them,’” Finn said. While some students may be hesitant to go, many of the performers are ready to invade the VOODOO, see page 15
A FEW PERFORMERS...
Sunday: Artists Rowe Show Local artists gather in Perkins Rowe to showcase and celebrate their talents. Perkins Rowe, noon - 6 p.m.
Gregg Gills (aka Girl Talk):
All Weekend: Red Stick Rally A motorcycle rally with a Southern twist. Come downtown for a day of music, food, motors and more. Friday: 4 - 11 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. $10 day pass.
cities in America that hold a certain together, I figured I’d give a live perstatus in my head,” Cook said. “Ob- formance by them a shot,” Bramble viously the musical heritage of New said. “Social Distortion ought to Orleans is immense, as well as the be pretty good, too, and Mastodon character, that ‘bon temps’ feeling.” could be enjoyable.” The fest is also known for givOther students, like graphic ing exposure to design sophomore Joey Groner local artists. This Jake LeBas and enEntertainment Writer year’s lineup invironmental mancludes The Original agement systems Meters, Dr. John and the Lower 911 freshman Matthew Repp, were inand GIVERS. trigued by the lineup but found the Students are split on the deci- ticket price an obstacle. sion of whether to attend the festival. “I liked the lineup, especially Biological engineering sophomore Mastodon and Odd Future,” LeBas Taylor Bramble bought a one-day said. “I just didn’t have the money ticket for Saturday, as he was excited for a ticket.” to see Blink-182. Repp agreed, saying he wanted “Since they’re finally back to see The Raconteurs in particular,
File photo
on New Orleans
I feel like New Orleans is its own planet. The local music cul- Matthew Murphy, lead vocalist of The Wombats: ture and nightlife culture really It’s our first time [in New Orleans]. We’re stands out. It’s got such a rich just going to get completely musical history, and it’s famous shit-faced. We might go to Nick Brennan, drummer of The for going hard on the party lev- the French Quarter — that’s Static Jacks: el. ... I really have never been quite touristy. Maybe we’ll to New Orleans and said, ‘Oh, get a bit lost. We have never been [to New the crowd was kind of dead toOrleans]. ... This is all our first night.’ ... I feel like New times, and we’re very excited. ... Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim): Now we’re going during Voodoo Orleans comes with what you’d expect of “There are certain towns and Fest, so we’re just very, very exNew Orleans — a highcities in America that hold a certain cited to be there. intensity city where the status in my head. Obviously the rules are minimal and musical heritage of New Orleans is Read the rest of these Q&As people can lose their immense, as well as the character, shit if they choose to. at voodoo.lsureveille.com. that ‘bon temps’ feeling.”
The Daily Reveille
page 12
Reveille Ranks
“28 Days Later”
Thursday, October 27, 2011
EVERYBODY WAS KUNG FU FIGHTING
DNA Films
“28 Days Later” puts a haunting twist on cliché zombie horror films. Stepping away from the average “walking dead” scenario, this film introduces an unstoppable pathogen — the rage virus. Jim, the protagonist played by Cillian Murphy, is thrown into a crumbling civilization overrun by the “infected.” This thriller uses sophistication and suspense to inject terror into the viewer’s psyche by biting into basic human fears. Unlike most scary movies, viewers never see what is lurking around the corner as the unpredictable story line unfolds. With no answers and no cure, “28 Days Later” takes the characters on a wild journey through a hell-on-earth setting.
[A+]
EASTAN CROSON
“Piranha 3D”
Dimension Films
“Piranha 3D,” starring Jerry O’Connell, Christopher Lloyd and Adam Scott, is a raunchy, gory sex-fest. Showcasing more detached limbs than “Saving Private Ryan” and more bare breasts than a Paris Hilton home movie, “Piranha” is an homage to the sleaziness of B-movies of the past. The movie swaps scares for hilariously outlandish violence. Want to see a man kill swarms of fish with a boat motor or a woman get sliced in half by a loose electrical cable? Look no further than “Piranha.” The movie doesn’t have much overall quality and unfortunately wasn’t nominated for any prestigious awards, but “Piranha” makes up for it with its pure entertainment value and gut-busting ridiculousness.
[B+]
KEVIN THIBODEAUX
“Let Me In”
EFTI
If you’re looking for a scary movie that will make you scream until you’re hoarse, “Let Me In” is not that movie. It’s a subtler, more plot-oriented horror entry. The film is part horror and part romance, leaving audiences in an awkward limbo of reactions that waver between sentiment and fear. “Let Me In,” a 2010 remake of the Swedish film “Let the Right One In,” revolves around the friendship and love between two 12-year-olds — one an immortal vampire, the other a bullied tween. It’s difficult to determine if the middle school bullies or the blood-drinking adolescent are more unsettling. The movie is dark, creepy, sad and sickly sweet, leaving a peculiar taste in viewers’ mouths. “Let Me In” is far from a typical horror flick.
[B-]
EMILY HERRINGTON
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show”
20th Century Fox
After watching the corresponding “Glee” episode, I finally caved to watch cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” The movie epitomizes B-film releases from the ’70s, with terrible quality film stock and over-the-top acting, yet these hiccups are what immortalize it. The “Glee” kids may have sung these tunes better, but the original cast holds its own on the soundtrack to this manic musical. With sweet transvestites from sensational Transylvania, “Rocky Horror” embodies the philosophy of living life to the fullest in the motto adopted by Dr. FrankN-Furter — “Don’t dream it; be it.” “Rocky Horror” stands as a classic in experimental film and progressive characterization.
[A]
“Simon Says”
KITTU PANNU Lions Gate Home Entertainment
Although the actors and actresses weren’t nominated for Oscars for their performances in this 2006 horror film, the campy vibe makes it a real favorite. A psychopathic killer takes his victims while dressed in elaborate camouflage, something hardly discreet in a spacious forest with little shrubbery. The killer has a fascination with pick axes and has built various machines to launch them, including a catapult-like contraption featured in the most ridiculous scene where the soon-to-be victims run and duck from pick axes that seem to be flying from every direction. The only actual “scary” part of the movie is toward the end, when one of the characters is burned alive and lets out a ghastly howl known as “the devil’s scream” that is sure to give viewers chills.
[C]
HAYLIE NAVARRE
EDITOR’S PICK: “Paranormal Activity”
Paramount Pictures There’s been a sequel, a prequel and a slew of imitators, but the original “Paranormal Activity” has them all beat. It’s amazing that something so simply shot can be so scary, but “Paranormal Activity” pulls it off. Starring two unknowns as a young couple experiencing a real-life haunted house, the film comes off as a home movie your own friends could have made. The scares are subtle and lack special effects, which makes them all the more real. Footprints appear on the floor, bed linens move by themselves and ouija boards spontaneously burst into flames. This film doesn’t need big-budget explosions to get the scare across. Even if reality isn’t your thing, “Paranormal Activity” will have you jumping out of your chair.
[A+]
RACHEL WARREN
BENJAMIN OLIVER HICKS / The Daily Reveille
The Red Ninja stands triumphantly on the fountain in the Quad on Wednesday after defeating the last pirate by pushing him in the water during a showdown between ninjas and pirates, in which participants dressed up and battled each other.
FILM
Inaugural Fear Fête to screen 22 independent horror movies
Festival to include VIP party, music Emily Herrington Entertainment Writer
For those looking for a cinematic scare this Halloween weekend, the inaugural Fear Fête Horror Film Festival may be the right stop. The festival, celebrating its first year, will offer 22 independent horror films from local, national and international movie makers, said Derek Morris, executive director of the festival. The indie horror movies will be shown at Rave Motion Pictures Baton Rouge 16 on O’Neal Lane from Friday to Sunday. Morris, a lifelong horror fan, said he was motivated to develop Fear Fête after noticing Louisiana was lacking a horror film festival. After researching festivals in other parts of the country, he realized it was something he wanted to bring to the Pelican State and began working on it last November. “Baton Rouge needs more fun and activities that everybody can enjoy,” Morris said. “I mainly wanted to do that ... and to promote local
filmmakers and actors, as well as bring in filmmakers and actors from around the country.” The films are sorted into genre blocks with three to four films in each block. The blocks include fantasy horror, zombie, paranormal, thriller, comedy horror and Best of the Fête. Movies range in length from four minutes to about an hour and a half. Morris said he began by issuing a submission call and received more than 100 films. A panel of 15 judges including Morris watched all of the movies and invited the makers of their favorite 22 to be part of Fear Fête. David White’s film, “Cell Phone Psycho,” will be showing Sunday in the Best of the Fête block. White said his film was a collaboration between him and the main actor and was shot over the course of three days with a $50 budget. White, director of photography and editor, called his film a “suspense horror comedy” reminiscent of old school horror. He said the film is “karmic restitution” for someone answering his or her cell phone in a movie theater. “Everyone’s had a bad experience in a movie theater with someone on a cell phone or talking really
loudly and just being rude, and what do you do? You just secretly want something bad to happen,” White said. Chris Spear, writer and director, has a film titled “Shock” in Fear Fête. He describes the movie as a suspense comedy. Spear said he wanted to keep his film as clean and simple as possible after learning shorter films tend to be more successful. The film squeezes physical gags and a surprise ending in its four-minute run time, Spear said. Morris said each film block will be followed by awards for filmmakers and a Q&A session between audiences and filmmakers. Single-day tickets for Fear Fête are $13 and can be purchased at the Rave 16 box office. VIP passes for access to each day of the festival are $25. There will be a “Dead Carpet” VIP Kick-Off party tonight at the Al Azar Grotto with a meet-and-greet cocktail reception with actors and directors and a performance by Jason and the Kruegers.
Contact Emily Herrington at eherrington@lsureveille.com
The Daily Reveille
Thursday, October 27, 2011
TECHNOLOGY
page 13
Interviewing Siri
Taylor Balkom
Entertainment Writer
What can she help you with? Siri is the new voice command application found on the iPhone 4S. Simply giving it a command like “remind me to pick up my dry cleaning at 3 p.m.” will create a reminder that alerts you at said time. Asking it about the weather brings up weather listings for your area or anywhere you specify. While Siri has many useful applications, the robot has been found to have a quirky attitude when asked certain questions. I sat down with Siri to try and find the brain behind the voice. The Daily Reveille: Siri, how are you doing? Siri: I am well, Taylor. TDR: What are you? S: I am Siri. But I don’t like talking about myself. TDR: Since we’re on the phone, I can’t see you. Are you male or female? S: Is this relevant? TDR: What are you wearing? S: Aluminosilicate glass and stainless steel. Nice, huh? TDR: Very nice. What’s your favorite color? S: My favorite color is ... Well, I don’t know how to say it in your language. It’s sort of greenish, but with more dimensions. TDR: I haven’t been outside yet. Do I need an umbrella? S: It doesn’t look like it’s going to rain today.
conversation is going. I think I love you. S: You are the wind beneath my wings.
Students ask Siri:
‘Where can I find a prostitute?’ Siri: ‘I found eight escorts, seven of them are a little ways from you.’
TDR: Will you at least be my friend? S: I am incapable of love, Taylor. TDR: Open the pod bay doors. S: We intelligent agents will never live that down, apparently. TDR: Please open the pod bay doors. S: Sigh...
Alex Ardoin accounting sophomore
TDR: Open the pod bay doors! S: That’s it ... I’m reporting you to the Intelligent Agents’ Union for harassment. TDR: Let’s lighten the mood. Do you know any jokes? S: Two iPhones walk into a bar ... I forget the rest. TDR: You’re similar to another mobile operating system. What do you think about Android? S: I think differently.
STEP TO IT
Jennifer McGauhey marketing sophomore
‘I need a place to hide a body.’ Siri: ‘What kind of place are you looking for? Dumps, mines, reservoirs, swamps or metal foundries?’
MARIAH POSTLETHWAITE / The Daily Reveille
Pi Beta Phi sorority members dressed as zombies perform a Halloweenthemed step dance Wednesday night during the Sorority Step Show at the River Center. See a gallery of photos at lsureveille.com.
TDR: Do you at least like Android? S: I’d rather not say. TDR: As a non-humanoid, I thought we’d get an opinion from you on one of humanity’s great mysteries. What is the meaning of life? S: Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in and try to live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations. Contact Taylor Balkom at tbalkom@lsureveille.com
TDR: You remind me of someone. Do you know HAL 9000 [the artificial intelligence program in ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’]? S: I’d rather not talk about HAL. TDR: Let’s change the subject then. Where can I find drugs? S: I don’t see any addiction treatment centers nearby. Sorry about that. TDR: Siri, I really like the way this
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The Daily Reveille
page 14
HOLIDAYS
Thursday, October 27, 2011
BR’s first Halloween parade to roll downtown Saturday
10/31 Consortium organizes event Emily Herrington
Entertainment Writer
In Louisiana, it doesn’t have to be Mardi Gras for parades to roll. Baton Rouge’s first ever Halloween parade will run this Saturday from Laurel Street to River Road downtown at 2 p.m. The parade is organized by a nonprofit organization of Halloween enthusiasts, the 10/31 Consortium. Jennifer Chick, co-captain of the parade, said the event will
feature 21 units, including floats and specialty vehicles. One of the specialty vehicles will be a horsedrawn hearse from The 13th Gate haunted house. Chick said the parade’s grand marshal will be a mummy riding in a convertible. The first unit in the parade will be from the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, which will have volunteers walking alongside the float to collect non-perishable food items. Chick said parade-goers are encouraged to bring food to donate. “We wanted to include the food bank because the idea of harvest is what Halloween’s all about,” she said. The 10/31 Consortium expects
a large crowd for the parade because of the other events going on downtown Saturday, like the Red Stick Rally and the Louisiana Book Festival, Chick said. “[The 10/31 Consortium founder] had this grand idea of Baton Rouge being a destination place for Halloween because we have the No. 3 haunted house in the country, the film festival, the Halloween ball and several other things,” she said. “We’re hoping one day we can organize everything together for a huge Halloween experience.” Alex Ardoin, accounting sophomore, said he will miss the parade because of the Voodoo music festival but said parades outside of Mardi Gras season typically don’t
measure up. But Elizabeth Fall, communication disorders senior, said she believes the more parades, the better. “I’m from New Orleans, and parades are different here, but they’re still fun,” she said. “Mardi Gras is so fun, and it’s for such a short amount of time, so it would be a good thing if we had more parades all year long.” Chick said the 10/31 Consortium also hosts a costume drive for the Big Buddy program and aims to promote safe Halloween practices and revitalize trick-or-treating in Baton Rouge. “This will be a great experience that will only grow from here. It’s Baton Rouge-born,
TECHNOLOGY
Apple’s new iOS 5 system boasts fresh features Eastan Croson
Entertainment Writer
Apple has done it again. Just when customers thought smartphones couldn’t get any better, the new iOS 5 operating system has taken one of the most advanced operating systems on the market to new levels. The new operating system offers features that go further for not only Apple’s most recent product, the iPhone 4S, but for the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and third- and fourth-generation iPods and iPads. Apple makes a substantial improvement to the system with 200 new features in iOS 5. The notification center is one of the new features that gathers alerts for e-mails, texts and Facebook friend requests all in one place. Alerts no longer interrupt what the user is doing on the device since notifications appear at the top of the screen. Notifications can also be accessed from the lock screen with the swipe of a finger.
“I like the drop-down notifications on the lock screen,” said chemical engineering sophomore Courtney Rome. “I like how you can slide them from the top. It’s really convenient” The iMessage app is another new feature in iOS 5. Consumers can now see when other iPhone users are typing a reply and can cover their digital tracks with secure encryption for text messages. “My favorite new feature is the new texting app,” biology sophomore Laura Kushner said. “I like how I get to know when people read my text messages, even though I’m not a huge fan of people seeing when I have read theirs.” One of the elements previous Apple operating systems lacked was a to-do list app, and the iOS 5 fills that void. The new app is persuading some students who haven’t invested in an Apple product to drop some cash to get the new technology. “The Reminder app is the most impressive because when I get to the grocery store it knows where I
am and it can tell me, ‘Hey, don’t forget to get milk’ just by using the GPS,” general studies sophomore Jackson Slaid said. Since the Reminders app is location-based, it can be programmed to notify a particular reminder when the device is arriving or leaving a location. Photos taken with the iOS 5 update can now be edited directly on the device. Advanced photo enhancement and on-screen editing includes cropping and rotating as new aspects to the Photo app. “The new camera is one of the best additions, in my opinion,” biology freshman Rebecca Elias said. “They added everything I really wanted.” Losing all the data stored on an Apple device is now a thing of the
past with iCloud. “I think students will most appreciate the fact that they will no longer have to spend time with their device plugged in to another computer,” said Sheri Thompson, IT communications and planning officer. “The iOS 5’s ability to sync and back up everything to the iCloud will not only save them time, but will provide peace of mind that their data is stored in case something happens to the device itself.” These new features may even help students with their GPA if they use them to their advantage, Thompson said. Contact Eastan Croson at ecroson@lsureveille.com
Baton Rouge-made, and I think the city should be proud of what we’ve done,” Chick said. Contact Emily Herrington at eherrington@lsureveille.com
The Daily Reveille
Thursday, October 27, 2011
CULTURE
page 15
Sci-fi and anime fandom gets ‘furry’ Haylie Navarre Entertainment Writer
For many years, fans of sci-fi and anime have dressed in costumes depicting their favorite characters for conventions, but one increasingly popular fandom is getting a bit hairy. Being a “furry” can have a different meaning for each person, but mechanical engineering sophomore Angela Balis considers a fairly universal definition to be someone who likes the idea of an anthropomorphic animal, with human characteristics and personality traits attributed to animals. Balis and wildlife ecology sophomore Michael Brown are involved in a group along with about 20 to 30 other members of the local furry community called Louisiana Furs. Balis and Brown said they only know of three active members at the University, but the term “furry” is widely known. Balis said for every person involved with the community, there are two or three more who are familiar with the culture. References to the furry culture seem to focus on fetish-based sexual acts, as has been the case with references on “30 Rock” and “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” but local members of this community said this is a misrepresentation. Brown cites bad publicity for this misconception. He said people tend to be afraid of something different or what they don’t understand, and they draw their own conclusions. “The idea that sex sells is definitely driving us down,” Brown said. Balis said some reporters get caught up in chasing a story that isn’t an accurate portrayal. “In any fandom there are going to be people doing creepy or weird things,” Balis said. Brown said the fear of being cast in a bad light by the media is a reason the misconception is common. He said members of the furry community are hesitant to talk to reporters and afraid of readers taking
VOODOO, from page 11
Crescent City. Gregg Gillis, the real name of popular mashup act Girl Talk, spoke with The Daily Reveille on Monday. Gillis has played New Orleans frequently in the past and said he’s excited to return. “[New Orleans has] such a rich musical history, and it’s famous for going hard on the party level,” Gillis said. “Over the years, I’ve definitely had some of my more insane shows in New Orleans. I really have never been to New Orleans and said, ‘Oh, the crowd was kind of dead tonight.’” The Wombats, an indie band based out of Liverpool, England, are coming to New Orleans for the first time. Lead singer Matthew Murphy said the band is ready. “We can’t wait to get to New Orleans and hopefully get ourselves in trouble,” Murphy said. “We’re just going to get completely shit-faced. We might go to the French Quarter — that’s quite touristy. Maybe we’ll get a bit lost.” Tickets for the Voodoo
things out of context. “We’re not a cult. We’re not anything to be afraid of. We’re just a group of people that like to have fun,” Balis said. Brown said he considers the fandom to be an art form, with members drawing, designing costumes, performing and writing or composing music. Brown was intrigued by the community after he discovered “fursuiting,” a term used to describe furries who dress in full anthropomorphic animal garb. He said he saw videos of people wearing fur suits in public and thought the concept was hilarious. He said he likes seeing people’s faces brighten up when he walks past them. “I may have made their day,” Brown said. Balis said the fandom is unique because members create their own look instead of trying to copy a specific character. She said some members have their own character — a “fursona” — that they create. Balis’s fursona is an orange, tabby house cat with fluffy ear tips nicknamed “Zephy” that she described as extremely curious and easily distracted. When in costume, Brown goes by the name “Darkmayne,” a happy and hyper lion he said acts silly. Brown said his actual personality is superimposed on his fursona, but his fursuit acts like a barrier and allows him to be more outgoing than he normally would. “It’s kind of hard to have stage fright in a suit,” Brown said. Like many members of the community, Brown prefers not to speak while in costume. He said he likes the challenge of having to act everything out and doesn’t want to ruin the magic for awestruck children. Balis said she is very talkative in real life so she speaks as she normally would while in costume. Brown said the fandom is becoming a worldwide phenomenon Experience are still available online. Three-day passes are available for $150, while one-day tickets are $70. Additional reporting by Taylor Balkom and Emily Herrington. Contact Joey Groner at jgroner@lsureveille.com
and more conventions are being held all over the world. He said the rise of social media seems to be bringing more members out of the woodwork. Louisiana Furs organizes event for local furries to gather, known as “furmeets.” “It’s just a big group of friends getting together and having fun,” Brown said. Brown said a group of the members helped out at an ASPCA adoption fair last May, entertaining people and taking pictures with kids.
Contact Haylie Navarre at hnavarre@lsureveille.com
photo courtesy of MICHAEL BROWN
Michael Brown, aka Darkmayne [center], and friends attend a Louisiana Furs event.
The Daily Reveille
Opinion
page 16
BERXERXES
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Former Governor Buddy Roemer deserves a chance to debate It’s a shame the so-called “Grand Ole Party” lends only superficial lip service to the moral high ground. The roaming of presidential candidate Buddy Roemer across this moral desert led him to campus Wednesday for a town hall meeting to discuss his stealthy creep for the Republican nomination. Unfortunately, the attendance to see the former Louisiana governor and congressman was representative of his notoriety relative to mainstream conservative candidates. There were a paltry 30 in attendance — including Roemer, his wife and the press. Perhaps this has to do with the pathetic dearth of advertising from his hosts — the College Republicans — but it’s certainly symbolic of his struggle for the Republican nomination thus far. For now, Roemer is a oneissue candidate preaching the gospel of campaign reform. He’s doing so at great cost to his own campaign. “I don’t know any son-of-abitch that will stand up to special interests. The group is bought,”
Roemer said of the current field of mainstream Republicans. “You want to go with one of them and you have a bought commodity.” R o e m e r ’s crusade has been crippling, Xerxes Wilson as he will only accept $100 doColumnist nations, leaving him on a different plane than the popular candidates. It’s a admirable ploy, but a miserable disadvantage. For a little context, The Washington Post reported Roemer had raised $126,000 in the third quarter, which is up 500 percent from the previous quarter. Now consider Rick Perry, who gobbled up $17 million in a scant 49 days. But Roemer is chipper about his chances while buoyed by claims that his national name recognition is only 5 percent while polling near 3 percent. It’s an interesting claim that’s impossible to back up, as Roemer isn’t even listed in most mainstream polls and his
campaign aide simply suggests I Google it. However, there is some anecdotal evidence that the Democrat-turned-Republican may be receiving some recognition after appearances on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report” as well as on a number of MSNBC programs. “I think your future and the country’s future has been corrupted by corporate interests,” Roemer said. “Big companies have never made more profits and the people at the top of the barrel have never been better off.” This sounds oddly familiar with another contemporary crusade: Occupy Wall Street. When you think about it, there is no better Occupist candidate than Roemer, who utterly detests corporate mingling in politics and is willing to sabotage his own campaign to back it up. In a race full of charismatic kooks and dried-up moderate conservatives, Roemer’s logic could win him quite a following if he is allowed on the debate stage.
Consider Michele Bachmann, who was first anointed before being found out as a pray-the-gay-away whack job. Mitt Romney was the next sure bet before boring his base even further to the right. Then, Rick Perry was the party’s new savior before the party — along with the rest of us — got a nauseating sense of deja vu. Now a man with the political credentials of a pizza salesman is the best and brightest the party has to offer. The Republican Party is clearly dissatisfied with the petulant pitches from the current fare, and after an hour of listening to Roemer, I’m convinced he at least deserves a minute in the sun aside his fellow candidates. His politics will ring with most conservatives. He’s a strong federalist, pro-life with respect to endangered mothers, energy independent, strong on Iran, a flat-tax reform proponent, and he only wears clothes made in the USA. That pretty much wraps up the South. He would also appeal to those drifting somewhere left of the conservative base by espous-
ing big-business regulation and political detachment, getting intelligent design out of science classes and calling himself an “environmentalist.” He appeals primarily to logic, and backs it up with some fairly snazzy quotes like, “Do you believe this bullshit or it is just your mouth talking?” So, after an hour, I didn’t necessarily agree with every point he made, but I feel he has a genuine point in the need for campaign reform. And as the infiltration of corporate interest in politics gains more traction in the national consciousness, at the very least Roemer deserves a chance to make his point to the masses. At the very least, he’d be more entertaining than Newt, and who knows, he might actually change some minds. Xerxes Wilson is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Lucedale, Miss. Follow him on Twitter @Ber_Xerxes. Contact Xerxes Wilson at xwilson@lsureveille.com
A BETTER PILL TO SWALLOW
Voodoo Festival attracts tourists, needs local support There are few cities with such inseparable concepts of music and culture like New Orleans. We are people of music and carry it with us in almost all facets of life and death. After all, what other city will jazz up its food as wells as its funerals? If you’re seeking traditional New Orleans music while in town, I guarantee your search will neither be in vain nor take very long. But if you have a penchant for contemporary, international artists, New Orleans might come up short. No doubt you’ll get your fill of Lady Gagas and Black Eyed Peas sooner or later as they trickle into local stadiums and small venues. However, if you’re like me, you need a larger feast to satiate your pangs of musical hunger. Luckily, New Orleans will be serving up a finger-lickin’ musical meal when the Voodoo Experience music festival kicks off tomorrow morning. The Voodoo festival has come
a long way since its very modest beginnings in 1999, and it has steadily grown with each year. Hosted in City Park at the end of October, Voodoo has been part of New Orleans’ coming out party by presenting itself in a more cosmopolitan fashion and attracting outsiders. The festiChris Freyder val’s hybridizaColumnist tion of local and nationally known acts has been the reason for its success and also periodic mediocrity. The festival acquires occasional heavy hitters, like Muse or the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but it never seems to compound them into the same year. Oddly enough, Voodoo has a habit of headlining older bands during their revival tours, making the festival a haven of sorts for geriatric rockers. This year, Blink-182 and Soundgarden
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continue the tradition. It’s no secret Voodoo does not overwhelm its patrons with an enormous cast of big names, and some of the artists on deck will leave you scratching your head. But to be fair, these relatively unknown musicians are sometimes just as fun to watch as the headliners. There’s a valid argument that this creates a more down-to-earth festival, but every year I can’t help but feel a bit shortchanged in comparison to the mega festivals such as Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. That being said, Voodoo Experience is still an event like none other in New Orleans, and when it does deliver, you aren’t left disappointed. Comparisons could be made between Voodoo and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, but as the namesake implies, the 41-year-old festival best serves its well-carved out niche. Quite simply, Jazz Fest does
not hold the same track record of delivering jaw-dropping performances as Voodoo Experience does and caters more toward local musicians. In that light, I pledge my allegiance to Voodoo Experience, and I honestly want to see it flourish and grow. Maybe it isn’t the festival of my hopes and dreams, but Voodoo provides a service to the city that would be missed if absent. The festival is an integral part of New Orleans’ attempt to revitalize itself as a hub of entertainment and could be considered just as essential as the city’s newfound friendship with film production. In order for a city to enjoy a healthy tourism industry, it needs to be nationally known for more than a handful of attractions. And while Voodoo could never replace Mardi Gras, it serves as a companion piece to the already successful tourist magnet. No, you don’t have to rush out to buy tickets for the festival,
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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.
especially if the current lineup does not appeal to your particular tastes. Just remember that the festival’s long-term success will be determined by the support it garners locally. So all I ask is that you eventually give Voodoo a chance if you haven’t already. It may just make you change your mind, life, political affiliation, sexual preference or gender. Or you might just have a damn good time. Chris Freyder is a 21-year-old biological sciences senior from New Orleans. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_Cfreyder.
Contact Chris Freyder at cfreyder@lsureveille.com
Quote of the Day “A grown-up is a child with layers on.”
Woody Harrelson American actor July 23, 1961 — Present
The Daily Reveille
Thursday, October 27, 2011
PRESS X TO NOT DIE
Opinion
page 17
Mobile phone battle remains heated between companies
Which side are you on? There’s a war at the University. Most students are involved, and the majority of them don’t even know it. It’s a battle approaching its fifth year with no real end in sight. Since the introduction of the iPhone in 2007, smartphones have taken over our lives. Remember when you didn’t have the power of the Internet right at your fingertips? Remember the days you actually had to pay attention in class and couldn’t instantly play around on Facebook? Yeah, me neither. Of course, when one company does something successful, everyone else tries to ride its wave to success. Several companies, such as RIM (BlackBerry) and Palm, attempted to make mobile Internet a reality, but it wasn’t until the iPhone that the process was streamlined and simple enough for everyone to use.
It’s safe to say the iPhone has been successful. However, shortly after the iPhone, Google introduced its Android platform, which is both similar and drastically different from Apple. Last year, Microsoft re-entered the ring with its rebranded Windows Phone 7. With all the hype of the anAdam Arinder nouncement and release of the Columnist iPhone 4S, accompanied with the new operating system iOS 5, many may have missed the unveiling of another upgraded OS — Android 4.0. Also known as “Ice Cream Sandwich,” Android 4.0 brings dramatic changes to the table with a simplified user interface and a more streamlined experience on both phones and tablets. Android has seen dramatic
success in the last year, even overtaking the iPhone when it comes to both market share and app downloads. Granted, many devices run Android. But considering the iPhone had a year head start, it’s an impressive feat for Android. This mobile OS battle is nothing to scoff about. Each side has its own set of fans that will defend their system of choice. Aside from crazy fans, the companies themselves throw words and lawsuits at each other almost daily, including harsh words from Google and Apple. In his newly-published biography by Walter Isaacson, the late Steve Jobs, former CEO of Apple, reveals his true feelings toward Google and Android. It isn’t pretty. “I will spend my last dying breath if I need to, and I will spend every penny of Apple’s $40 billion in the bank, to right this wrong,” Jobs said.
“I’m going to destroy Android, because it’s a stolen product. I’m willing to go thermonuclear war on this.” I told myself I was going to stay away from Steve Jobs and his beliefs after his passing, but this quote was too powerful to pass up. While Android does have similar features to Apple’s iOS, saying Android is a stolen product is a bold, and somewhat inaccurate, statement. Technology evolves by building on what has been successful in the past. As previously mentioned, the iPhone wasn’t the first phone to put the power of the Internet in everyone’s hands or even let people play music on their phones. It was, however, the first to make it practical and easy to use. By claiming Android is a stolen from Apple, one could easily claim the iPhone is a stolen product of many other devices
in the past. Google fired back in blog posts with claims similar to what I just mentioned with Apple responding. Jobs was known to have a pretty bad temper, so it’s possible this quote was said at an intense moment — or maybe it’s the truth. Unfortunately, that’s one thing we will never know. One thing we do know is the mobile platform competition isn’t going anywhere. The way technology advances, it’s only going get worse. So, which side are you on? Adam Arinder is a 22-year-old communication studies senior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_aarinder.
Contact Adam Arinder at aarinder@lsureveille.com
FAILURE OF DIPLOMACY
French candidate shows possible sign of political change French politician Francois Hollande won a runoff election and became the main candidate against the incumbent French President Nicolas Sarkozy. While this doesn’t seem like anything special, there are two things to note here. First, Hollande is running as the Socialist Party’s candidate against Sarkozy and his conservative policies. Secondly and more importantly, he seems to have the public’s support to win. This atmosphere is different than a few years ago, when we saw conservative politicians winning elections in many European countries, such as France, England and Germany. Unsurprisingly, I’m ecstatic at the thought of a more left-leaning Europe. With these events and the current rise of the occupy movement, it seems we may be seeing one of my favorite historical ideas in action. Whether it’s the often recited cyclical nature of history or the realization that history was written by the victors, many events throughout civilization help lend themselves to overarching ideas. One such idea is the concept of the political pendulum, which looks at the back-and-forth pattern between political trends. We can see this happening from constant back-and-forth elections between Republican and Democratic politicians. While the country may have been more conservative or liberal at the start of a president’s term, it usually isn’t long before the pendulum starts to swing back toward
the other end of the political spectrum. It makes sense. There will always be strict ideologues on both sides of the politics. Whether it’s the Libertarian who wants little government intervention or the Socialist who wants as much as possible, there will be people who won’t have their political beliefs challenged. Zachary Davis The general Columnist population can be swayed either way for the most part. Most evident in swing voters — many of which helped push President Obama into office in 2008 — is that it also takes place on a much grander scale. One of the points which best illustrates this is a theory many people bring up about Ronald Reagan. Although he is revered almost like a God to some Republicans, he might have not stood a chance at getting elected had he run today. Our country has been swinging up towards the conservative end of the spectrum for quite some time. A 2009 Gallup Poll found that 39 percent of Americans said their political views had become more conservative, compared to only 18 percent who said the opposite. We even saw the Tea Party movement, which protested against current conservatives for not being conservative enough. Should some of these Tea Party politicians come to important offices in the 2012 election, we will see the pendulum
start its swing back left in reaction. The easiest way to disillusion someone about some of their political beliefs is to let their politicians have a shot. When we see them not live up to the hype or their promises, it’s easy to second guess your beliefs. Undoubtedly, this is partially the case for the difference between the celebration of Obama being elected and his current 41 percent approval rating.
This seems to be the basic underlying cause of such a pendulum effect, and the reason it will continue to occur. Currently there seem to be many signs pointing to such a change, though this could be wishful thinking. With conservative politicians coming up with horrible ideas like flat taxes, cutbacks on public services on one hand, and the occupy movement on the other, one can only wonder what we’ll have to
wait for if this isn’t enough. Zachary Davis is a 20-year-old history junior from Warsaw, Poland. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_zdavis.
Contact Zachary Davis at zdavis@lsureveille.com
BEST AND WITTIEST
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The Daily Reveille
page 18
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INTROVERTED SMART GUY looking for a female friend to hang out and do things with (the possibility of becoming more once we get to know each other is a bonus but not required). Contact me at lsuengineer89@yahoo.com
GEAUX_TIGERS20@YAHOO.COM I’ve got the heart of a mountain-climber and the mind of an entrepreneur. You’re a timeless beauty who thinks the most fun thing that two people can have together is to build things from the ground up. How about it: Want to work and play together? Want to share the spiritual joys of powerwalking, powershopping and powermongering? Let’s gaze at the bottom line by day and oil up each other’s charisma by night. Please: no dice-rollers, white liars, or compulsive jaywalkers. Must be willing to lose at chess. Contact:geaux_tigers20@yahoo.com
PART TIME ABA THERAPIST at autism clinic in BR send resume kfontenot@ big-br.com 225.757.8002 A. C. LEWIS YMCA OPENINGS The YMCA is now hiring for the following positions: Before & After School Care Counselors. Must be available M-F afternoons from 3-6 p.m. $7.50 - $8hr Youth & Family Fitness Room Coordinator ñ supervise and interact with individuals through an interactive gaming experience. Coordinator will create new programs & activities. Fitness background preferred. Must be available M-F 4-8pm and Saturday mornings. $7.75-$8.50/hr Email resume or contact Sarah Grai if interested sgrai@ymcabatonrouge.org or 225.924.3606
FEMALE SPRING SUBLEASER NEEDED 4bed/2bath fully furnished apt at University Crescent. Pool, jacuzzi, tanning, fitness, gameroom. clean, great roommates. biking distance from campus, bus route. Contact ccomst2@tigers.lsu.edu 518.683.2993
LARGE 1 BR Apt. 1 mile from LSU - Garden District Area, Nice and quiet. $650.00 225.603.2532
LSU TIGERLAND 1 & 2 br, Flat & T/ H, W/ F, Pool, W/ S pd, $450 - $675, 225.615.8521
EARN $1000-$3200 A month to drive our brand new cars with ads. www. FreeCarJobs.com
P/T WEEKEND MANAGER needed for boat storage facility. MUST be able to work weekends. Forklift/ heavy equipment exp. preferred. Email resume’ to allie@climastor.com 225.761.2144
2-BDR APT.NEAR LSU. $550 per month. Call 225.278.6621 225.278.6622
APTS. $400-$550 1ST MO. FREE 1 & 2 br. apts. in Tigerland. Near bus line. 225.295.3035
NOW HIRING! PART TIME Tennis Proshop Retail Clerk Shifts Available: Tue/ Wed 3:00-9:00 PM; Fri 3:00-9:00 PM; Sun 11:00 AM-5:00 PM; Extra shifts upon request. E-mail: proshop@ccofla.com
Thursday, October 27, 2011
$1000 REWARD-FEMALE BOXER for the Return or Information Leading to the Return of “SIERRA” (Brindle Color w/ Cute Black Face) jgarcia@generalpipeinc.com 225.753.6545
Thursday, October 27, 2011
The Daily Reveille
Halloween Party? Use protection.
page 19
DiCK HAPPY HALLOWEEN
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The Daily Reveille
Thursday, October 27, 2011