Daily Reveille — Jan. 22, 2009

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lsureveille com Log on to see photos of animals at the WBR shelter.

NOW SHOWING

Jewish Film Festival runs through Sunday in Baton Rouge. page 11

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ANIMAL HOUSE

Volume 113, Issue 76

University students work to raise awareness about pet euthanasia, overpopulation Roth said the East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control Center has a 90 percent euthanasia rate.

When Kelli Urbina and Melissa Hilton Cole, EBR Parish AniRoth found out local animal control mal Control Center director, said the agencies euthanize nearly 10,000 shelters make the decision to euthapets annually, they knew they had to nize a pet based on available space try and make a difference. at the shelter, the health condition of Urbina and the animal and the Roth, second-year pet’s personality. students at the LSU Cole said his facilSchool of Veteriity receives more nary Medicine, are animals in tough co-presidents of the economic times.

University’s student “The economy chapter of the Ashas definitely resociation of Shelter sulted in an increase Kelli Urbina Veterinarians, or the in the number of Shelter Club, which co-president of LSU Shelter Club animals signed over actively works for and released to us the humane treatment of animals in by the owner,” Cole said. the Baton Rouge area.

The club is hopeful its efforts to “Our goal is to decrease the raise awareness about pet overpopunumber of animals euthanized, lation and euthanasia in Louisiana whether it’s through spay/neuter or will have a big impact on the comthrough increased adoption from munity, Urbina said. shelters,” said Wendy Wolfson, Vet “There is such a big problem School instructor and faculty adviser ADOPTION, see page 6 for the group.

By Matthew Barnidge Contributing Writer

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photos by MAGGIE BOWLES / The Daily Reveille

CRIME

Murder rate in Baton Rouge declines from 2007

Sports ........................ 7 Entertainment ........ 11 Opinion ................... 16

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reason that I wasn’t worried when the numbers went up, I’m not about to pop the champagne cork for this year.”

With a 2007 population of about 221,000, New Orleans saw 94 murders investigated between January and June 2008, only two less than between January and June 2007.

New Orleans’ murder rate is 42.6 murders per 100,000 people while the Baton Rouge murder rate is 10.9 in the first half of 2008.

Weather

Index

Baton Rouge’s murder rate is down from 2007, while New Orleans’ rate remains about the same, according to the latest FBI crime statistics.

The statistics, which outline crime between January 2008 and June 2008 in cities of more than 100,000 people, were released last week. Baton Rouge has a popula-

Broadcasts

Chief Staff Writer

LSU not included in ‘Best Value’ college list Staff Writer

[Top] Richard Summers, director of the Animal Control Center in West Baton Rouge Parish, talks Wednesday about rescuing animals and how they are adopted back into the community. [Left] Animals wait to be adopted at the shelter.

tion of about 230,000. Twenty-five murders were investigated in the first half of 2008 — seven less than the same time period in 2007.

Edward Shihadeh, criminology professor, said despite the drop, crime in Baton Rouge and the U.S. in general has remained at nearly the same level for the past seven or eight years.

“It’s hard to interpret a one year change,” Shihadeh said. “These numbers can fluctuate. For the same

ADMISSIONS

By Leslie Presnall

‘[Pet overpopulation] is not going to fix itself. We have to be proactive.’

By Kyle Bove

Thursday, January 22, 2009

TODAY SUNNY

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Other major cities saw an increase in murders. New York City had 252 investigated murders between January and June 2008, up from 235 during the same period in 2007.

New Orleans has a murder rate nearly 13 times that of New York City during the first half of 2008 because of the difference in population.

New York City boasts a population MURDER, see page 6

Five Southeastern Conference schools are among the top 100 “Best Value” schools of 2009, but LSU isn’t one of them.

The Princeton Review, the testprep company known for its annual college listings, and USA Today recently teamed up to compile a list of the top 100 “Best Value” public and private universities and colleges in the country.

The University of Georgia was listed as No. 9, and the universities of Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee and Vanderbilt University also made the list.

“Trying to determine why University ‘X’ is a better value than University ‘Y’ is much more complicated and complex than either of these publications would admit,” said Michael Gargano, LSU System vice president for Student and Academic Support Services.

The Princeton Review selected the schools based on surveys of administrators and students at more than 650 public and private college REVIEW, see page 6

Number of murders in major La. cities Jan.- June 2008:

25 Lafayette: 5 New Orleans: 94 Shreveport: 14

Baton Rouge:

Source: FBI Statistics

FRIDAY MOSTLY CLOUDY

SATURDAY CHANCE STORMS

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THE DAILY REVEILLE

Nation & World

PAGE 2

WORLD NEWS

on the web

LSUREVEILLE.COM

Israeli military says all soldiers out of Gaza

WEDNESDAY’S POLL RESULTS Did you like President Obama’s inauguration speech?

43%

China censors Obama’s inauguration address

57%

Yes No

102 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THE POLL.

TODAY’S QUESTION:

Have you ever considered adopting a pet?

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2009

BEIJING (AP) — China censored its translation of President Barack Obama’s inauguration speech, removing references to communism and dissent, and quickly halted state television’s live broadcast of the address when Cold War-era animosities were mentioned. One television official tried to downplay the cutaway as a normal break in programming while an editor with the China Daily newspaper’s Web site said staff who censored online versions of the speech likely did so because they were “duty-bound to protect the country’s interests.”

GO TO LSUREVEILLE.COM TO CAST YOUR VOTE

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military says it has withdrawn all of its soldiers from the Gaza Strip. The military says the pullout was completed before dawn on Wednesday. Israel sent thousands of troops into the Palestinian territory earlier this month as part of a bruising offensive against militants who have terrorized southern Israel with rocket fire for years. Both sides declared cease-fires that went into effect Sunday. But the truce has been shaky. Israel reported mortar shelling from Gaza on Tuesday. The Palestinians have said Israeli troops shot to death two farmers since the truce took hold.

NATION, STATE AND CITY BRIEFS

Obama takes presidential oath — again

TODAY

Thursday, January 22, 2009 220 U Weekly Service Every Friday @ 7:30 @ Bethany Southern Siegen Lane Worship, Teaching, Friends. Call 906.2110 for info.

2009 MLK commemorative program Featuring Dr. Angela Davis Jan. 23, 2:00pm Lod Cook Alumni Center delta sigma theta sorority, inc Formal Rush January 22 @ 7:30pm 143 Coates Hall Professional Business Attire REQUIRED Sigma Gamma rho sorority, inc The Gamma Pi Chapter of SGRho is holding our Spring Informational session. This Friday, Jan. 23 at 6:22pm at the LSU Women’s Center next to the AACC. Place your Campus Occurrence Today!

Deadline: 2 business days before occurrence is intended to run. Occurrence must be placed by noon!

WASHINGTON (AP) — Chief Justice John Roberts has administered the presidential oath of office to Barack Obama for a second time just to be on the safe side. The unusual step came after Roberts flubbed the oath a bit on Tuesday, causing Obama to repeat the wording differently than as prescribed in the Constitution. White House counsel Greg Craig said Obama took the oath from Roberts again out of an “abundance of caution.” The chief justice and the president handled the matter privately in the Map Room on Wednesday night. He read a good luck note left behind by President George W. Bush, then began breaking cleanly with his predecessor’s policies.

JEFF CHRISTENSEN / The Associated Press

Barack Obama, second right, joined by his wife Michelle, far left, and daughters Sasha, second left, and Malia, not shown, takes the oath of office Tuesday from Chief Justice John Roberts.

Miniature noose found Obama to sign order to at Louisiana state office close Guantanamo prison BATON ROUGE, (AP) —A miniature noose was found at the desk of two black state workers on Wednesday, triggering an investigation into whether its placement there was a violation of a new state law. State Police Col. Mike Edmonson said the workers found the twine, about 8 inches long and tied in the shape of a noose, on Wednesday in a Baton Rouge building used by the state’s homeland security agency.

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

The Daily Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards.This space is reserved to recognize and correct any mistakes which may have been printed in The Daily Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified please contact the editor at (225) 5784811 or e-mail editor@lsureveille.com.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

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To purchase additional copies for 25 cents, please contact the Office of Student Media in B-16 Hodges Hall. The Daily Reveille is published daily during the fall and spring semesters and semiweekly during the summer semester, except during holidays and final exams. Second-class copies postage paid at Baton Rouge, La., 70803. Annual mail subscriptions are $115. Non-mailed student rates are $4 each regular semester, $2 during the summer; one copy per person, additional copies 25 cents each. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Daily Reveille, B-16 Hodges Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, La.,70803.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama plans to sign an executive order Thursday to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center within a year and halt military trials of terror suspects held there, a senior administration official said. The executive order was one of three expected imminently on how to interrogate and prosecute al-Qaida, Taliban or other foreign fighters believed to threaten the United States.

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thursday, january 22, 2009

PAGE 3

DINING

Subway’s popular ‘bread lady’ serves sandwiches, smiles Students appreciate friendliness

By Mary Walker Baus Contributing Writer

The mouth-watering smell of oven-toasted sandwiches fills the air outside the Subway in Foster Hall.

Students follow the scent, braving the long line that snakes out of the door and up the stairs.

Relief comes when they enter, and the Subway bread lady — in big, dangling “Stephanie” earrings that reach her wide, sweet smile — asks in her loud but musical voice, “What type of bread would you like?”

“I love doing it,” said Stephanie Parker Williams, Subway’s bread lady and staff supervisor. “I get a kick out of it because I meet so many people here, and I love the kids. Some of them I know are from a long way away. It makes me feel good to come out here and

work with them.”

Williams is one of many Foster Hall Subway employees who ensure the sandwiches of University students are made properly and efficiently. An excellent employee, her cheerful attitude and infectious smile have earned her a campus-wide reputation and keep students coming back for more.

“I eat here five times a week,” said Julian Richards, Spanish freshman. “The attitude of the workers here are different than other Subways. They are nicer.”

Williams arrives on campus for work around 6 a.m., helps prep and opens the store for 7 a.m., just in time for breakfast. She stays through the hectic lunchtime rush hour.

“Sometimes I come here, and I’ll be in a bad mood, but nobody knows it,” Williams said. “I just go ahead and go with the flow.

You want to bring customers back, so you have to have that positive attitude all the time.”

David Heidke, director of

LSU Dining, said Williams is a “tremendous example” of how employees should treat students.

Williams grew up as an “army brat” in Fort Campbell, Ky. Her father is from Louisiana, and she moved to Harvey, La., just outside of New Orleans, for five years prior to Hurricane Katrina. Williams and her husband moved to Baton Rouge after they lost everything in the storm, and she began working at the Foster Hall Subway when it opened.

Students who eat there regularly know of Williams and ask about her when she isn’t there, she said.

“Any place that takes time to get food out efficiently, knowing we have to get to class, is really helpful,” said Brenna McMahon, creative writing senior. “I don’t know that many other places on campus do that.”

Williams said her workplace is built on mutual respect among all the employees and location owner William Warren, who often

GRANT GUTIERREZ / The Daily Reveille

Shift supervisor Stephanie Parker Williams prepares a sandwich Wednesday for students in the Subway located in Foster Hall.

works the Subway lunch line with Williams.

“I love working with Stephanie,” Warren said, sharing a smile with Williams.

Williams’ attitude has

definitely given her a great reputation among students, and many have become regular visitors.

Caroline Rittiner, biology SUBWAY, see page 5

BOARD OF SUPS

New Band Hall design ready for Board’s approval Member a finalist for NFLPA position

By Leslie Presnall Staff Writer

The LSU Board of Supervisors will be presented with the Tiger Marching Band Hall schematic design at today’s meeting, and approval of the design will

decide the building’s exterior appearance.

The hall is 19,500 square feet, including an indoor rehearsal room, musical instrument storage, uniform storage, dressing rooms and practice fields on the northeast side of campus.

The new facility will house 325 band members and replace the facility adjacent to the Music and Dramatic Arts Building, which has housed the band since

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Bill passed to set senator office hours

By Adam Duvernay Staff Writer

The Student Government Senate held its second weekly meeting Wednesday night and debated amending a bill to regulate senators’ required office hours.

SG Bill No. 1, which requires senators to submit office hours to the Senate to be posted on the SG Web site, was passed after almost half an hour of debate.

“Right now, there is no real way of knowing where senators are or if they are going to be where they are supposed to be,” said Ben Clark, SG Speaker of the Senate.

According to Speaker Pro-Tempore Drew Prestridge, the bill was designed to instill a greater sense of accountability from senators for students. Enforcing mandatory office hours has been a difficulty for the Senate over the past year.

In the past, SG senators have been required to be available for at least one hour a week for students to present them with questions. SGB

No. 1 does not change the amount of time senators must be present in their office, but does require them to set permanent time slots of availability.

“To be quite frank, this is a duty of senators that has been sometimes neglected in the past,” said Sen. Greg Upton, College of Business who authored the bill. “This is going to make sure we fulfill those duties.”

Though the content of the bill was generally approved of by the Senate, several amendments to the bill were debated concerning the wording of the bill.

Because a part of the bill was unclear about the amount of time senators had to submit their scheduled office hours, time was taken to restructure several of its sentences and its third paragraph was completely removed.

Once the amendments had been agreed on, another vote was taken and the bill was passed unanimously.

Contact Adam Duvernay at aduvernay@lsureveille.com

1959.

The total cost is $10 million with $5 million in self-generated funds from the University.

The project was approved Dec. 11 by the Facility Design and Development Committee.

Today’s meeting could also be one of the final Board meetings for Rod West without an NFL title before his name.

West, a former chairman, is one of eight finalists to replace

the late Gene Upshaw as executive director of the NFL Players Association.

West, who is also president and CEO of Entergy Corporation in New Orleans, said he has no plans to leave Entergy. West has not said if he will continue to serve on the Board if he is selected for the NFL job.

“I did not actively seek this position,” West said in a written statement. “I am very happy at

Entergy with no plans other than to continue to provide the leadership needed in New Orleans.

I am flattered, and it is an honor to have my name mentioned as a prospective candidate to carry on the work of the NFLPA.”

Contact Leslie Presnall at lpresnall@lsureveille.com

PAGE 4

THE DAILY REVEILLE

FACULTY SENATE

Members talk budget cuts, Moodle

By Lindsey Meaux Staff Writer

Discussions of budget cuts, the University’s level of satisfaction with Moodle and the administration’s continued efforts to keep accreditation filled the Atchafalaya Room on Wednesday afternoon.

The Faculty Senate held their first meeting of the spring semester with Stacia Haynie, vice provost of Academic Affairs, and representatives from the Moodle development and management team as guests.

Kevin Cope, Senate president, commended Chancellor Michael Martin’s considerations of the faculty in light of recent budget cuts.

“The faculty continues to be represented in this process,” Cope said. “I would certainly like to commend [Martin] for his efforts to stay in touch with me and the executive committee. The

STAFF SENATE

Budget concerns highlight meeting

By Ryan Buxton Contributing Writer

The University’s budget cuts pervaded nearly every issue discussed at the Staff Senate meeting Wednesday, a sign of the ubiquity of the cuts’ effects.

The budget revisions were prominently acknowledged as the Senate discussed Chancellor Michael Martin’s handling of the budget problems, as well as the potential changes the cuts could bring to a proposed staff-sponsored scholarship program.

Staff Senate President Patricia Beste praised the way Martin has managed the budget situation. She specifically mentioned being impressed by the scaling down of celebrations during the football team’s Chick-fil-A Bowl win.

“I was pleased with how responsible the chancellor was with the bowl game,” Beste said.

Beste told members of the Senate three out of four parties planned for the game were canceled, a measure she felt was appropriate and didn’t lessen the excitement of the event.

“I enjoyed it, but it was nothing extravagant,” said Beste.

Members of the Senate also acknowledged Martin’s efforts to be communicative and open to ideas as decisions regarding the budget are made.

“We appreciate his openness,” said Beste. “He is keeping us in the loop.”

Contact Ryan Buxton at rbuxton@lsureveille.com

difference between his administration and its predecessor is the difference between night and day.”

Haynie was present to discuss accreditation.

The University’s accreditation is reaffirmed every ten years by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Haynie said. The University received accreditation in 2004, and five-year reports are required to be submitted midway through the period For many University colleges the progress reports are due in March.

“It’s important that we demonstrate to SACS that we are using the information [from the 2004 accreditation] to improve,” Haynie said. “SACS also requires an institution to determine what students are learning in [their] degree.”

Among other issues, Haynie said the general education courses will be reassessed.

“Every department or unit that is offering a general education course has to determine how that course will [aid in achieving University goals],” Haynie said.

Accreditation is an important factor in determining funding, according to Haynie.

Representatives from the Moodle development and management team were present to discuss grade-book calculations, adding teaching assistants to courses, technology jargon and the best ways to contact the University’s Moodle experts.

According to several representatives present at the meeting, a team of developers are devoted full time to managing the integration of Moodle.

Contact Lindsey Meaux at lmeaux@lsureveille.com

thursday, january 22, 2009

THE DAILY REVEILLE

thursday, january 22, 2009

PAGE 5

BUSINESS

North Gate not feeling effects of slow economy Community continues to thrive

By Joy Lukachick Staff Writer

As most of the country deals with a slumping economy and job losses, the businesses tucked away on the north side of campus are so far untouched.

While companies like Circuit City are going bankrupt, North Gate business owners say their businesses are thriving.

“We seem to be recession resistant,” said Tim Hood, The Chimes Restaurant owner. The businesses in the North Gate are sandwiched between downtown Baton Rouge and the University. Businesses like The Chimes, Louie’s Cafe and Inga’s have been in business for more than two decades. Louie’s is the oldest restaurant in the city, dating back to 1941.

North Gate businesses are affected differently because the community is tied to the University and brings in most of its profit that way, said Hood, who has owned The Chimes for 23 years.

Clark Cadzow, who has owned Highland Coffees for 19 years, studied the history of the area and said students help keep business stable. “[Students] are not as directly affected by job loss,” Cadzow said explaining parents provide a lot of their expenses.

North Gate business owners have moderately priced products, he said. People cut back on expenses during hard times but can still afford a cup of coffee.

“You can always justify a beer and pizza,” Hood said.

These businesses have been around for decades, so the merchants have learned how to stay open Cadzow said.

Dek Terrell, economics professor, said the recession is entering Baton Rouge through a decline in larger products and layoffs at large national

SUBWAY, from page 3 freshman, said she notices how Williams makes the line go by faster.

“It’s a goal to run fast and efficiently,” said Williams. “We know a lot of students and faculty are in between classes so we try to get them out of here as quick as possible. That’s why I push the line and ask for the bread orders so early.”

Despite wearing her name on her ears for all to see, students who stand in the never-ending lunch line still refer to Williams as the bread lady, an identity she also wears proudly.

“Students, and customers in general, will frequent a place more often based on their experience there,” Heidke said. “A better experience will determine more growth and student usage for that facility.”

Contact Mary Walker Baus at mwbaus@lsureveille.com

chains.

But Terrell said smaller businesses historically have a hard time getting credit and staying in business, making the odds worse for North Gate businesses.

The failure rate statewide for small businesses with only one to five employees is about 21 percent, according to a 2005 report published by the University’s economics department. But businesses with more than 50 employees have an 11 percent rate of failure.

The report found a high failure rate because it was after Hurricane Katrina, but the study included areas not affected by the storm and shows how easy small businesses can fail, Terrell said.

North Gate businesses have not always been financially stable. When the residential side of campus shifted to the south side of campus, the neighborhood lost busiTim Hood ness and began The Chimes to see an inRestaurant owner crease in crime, said Robert Brown, who owned Tommy’s Hair Salon. The North Gate salon existed from 1940 until he moved the shop to Lee Drive in the late ‘80s.

“I began working down there in 1981,” Brown said. “It was a good time to see the real tail end of the vibrant side of campus when it was a residential side.”

The foot traffic off-campus when classes let out in the ‘80s overflowed into the streets because the sidewalks couldn’t contain the amount of students going to grab a sandwich or shop, Brown said.

Brown said he left the area after business began to slow down because University residential halls moved.

Inga Kim, who has owned Inga’s subs for 24 years, described the days in between 1984 and 1985 as a time with no customers coming in

‘You can always justify a beer and pizza.’

KIM FOSTER / The Daily Reveille

Pedestrians walk down Chimes Street on Tuesday visiting shops and restaurants. Local business owners credit the close community ties with the University for their success during sluggish economic times.

from the neighborhood.

Businesses began to pick up in the mid-‘90s because business owners learned how to adjust to the changes, Cadzow said.

While the neighborhood is most likely safe from economic challenges, the area experiences different kinds of slow cycles compared to the rest of Baton Rouge, Cadzow said. “[North Gate businesses] have big chunks of time where it’s real slow,” he said, explaining students’ absences during winter and summer breaks sharply decreases sales.

The area has to find a way to draw in outside crowds during the slower times, Cadzow said. The challenge is attracting Baton Rouge residents who are not in the neighborhood and showing them the neighborhood has something unique to offer­­ — a history of primarily local businesses.

Contact Joy Lukachick at jlukachick@lsureveille.com

PAGE 6 REVIEW, from page 1

and university campuses.

“Last year, we were in there as one of the most affordable,” said Mary Parker, executive director of undergraduate admissions and student aid. “We did have a tuition increase last year, and that is one thing we’re looking at. But I would need to do a little more research on the study to figure out why we dropped out of those rankings.”

The rankings were based on more than 30 factors in three core areas of academics, costs and financial aid.

“Universities have different reporting mechanisms and various ways to account for performance,” Gargano said. “This makes it extremely hard to compare universities.”

ADOPTION, from page 1

with pet overpopulation,” Urbina said. “One of the main ways to impact it is through spay/neuter and pet adoption. It’s not going to fix itself.

We have to be proactive.”

As part of the Vet School’s open house Feb. 7, the club will put on a “parade of breeds” from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., showcasing adoptable pets from local shelters. Potential pet owners can select a pet and obtain applications for adoption.

The group will promote the Vet School’s monthly “Spay Day”, when veterinary students assist with the alteration of 70 to 100 cats each month.

Pet owners must make appointments and pay a $25 fee.

The group will also promote spay/neuter education throughout February as part of the Humane Society of the United States’ Spay Day USA, which takes place annually on the last Tuesday of February.

Not only does spaying or neutering pets reduce the potential pet population, it can also improve the pets’ behavior.

MURDER, from page 1

of 8,220,196. The number of murders in Los Angeles increased from 186 to 196 in the first half of 2008.

Shihadeh said he expects crime to increase within the next few years.

“We’re on the leading edge of a very serious recession,” Shihadeh said. “Just as an economic boom forced crime rates way down in the ’90s, the recession is going to start pushing crime rates back up again.”

Some cities of similar size to Baton Rouge, like Birmingham, Ala., have a higher murder rate — 15.37 — while others, like Madison, Wis., have a much lower murder rate — 1.77.

Many cities with universities tend to have lower murder rates than Baton Rouge, according to the statistics. Shihadeh said this is because Baton Rouge is a large city with more than just LSU within its borders.

“We’re a city with a big university, but the university doesn’t really define this city,” Shihadeh said.

Local law enforcement departments across the country submit their crime statistics to the FBI each month.

The LSU Police Department keeps its own on-campus crime statistics they report to the FBI each month. Maj. Helen Haire, LSUPD

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Ratings were also based on student surveys about issues ranging from professors’ accessibility to class sizes and student-faculty ratios.

The rankings use average annual cost freshmen paid for the 2008-09 school year as a determination factor.

In-state tution costs about $3,000, and out-of-state tuition costs about $11,000, according to The Princeton Review.

“Compared to other Southern region flagship campuses, tuition for LSU is significantly lower than the other flagship campuses,” Gargano said. “The higher tuition cost, the more funds the campus generates and therefore increased financial aid packages for students.”

Gargano said one measure to determine the “Best Value” schools is financial aid. He said although the

University may not appear as strong in the financial aid category, it’s an effort by the state Legislature to keep tuition as a low rate.

The Princeton Review and USA Today don’t factor in the TOPS scholarship, Gargano said. Approximately 93 percent of LSU students receive TOPS. Ben Zelevansky, who directs Princeton Review’s data analysis, said students can still get a solid education at a good value from a school that didn’t make the list, but the schools listed really go “above and beyond.”

Staff Writer Lindsey Meaux contributed to this report.

Contact Leslie Presnall at lpresnall@lsureveille.com

“It lowers testosterone levels, specifically with males. It lowers the tendency to roam and it lowers aggression,” Roth said.

Recently the club raised money for medication and equipment to donate to local shelters, including the East and West Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control Centers and the Walker Animal Control Center. The club requires its members, totaling around 20 Vet School students, to volunteer at least four hours per semester.

Urbina said the group “adopted” the West Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control Center in Port Allen, which has only two employees. Richard Summers, the shelter’s director, said the volunteers are a big help.

“Every little bit helps when you only have two people,” he said.

“They just bring happiness to the shelter. They bring so much optimism.”

If pets housed in local shelters aren’t adopted, the shelters must eventually euthanize the animals.

By volunteering at the shelters, the group hopes to contribute to the

overall health of the animals there, which enhances their “adoptability,” Roth said.

“It’s a huge problem. There are quite a lot of animals that get euthanized,” she said. “It’s a matter of getting people to take these animals into their homes.”

Roth said lovers of purebred dogs and cats will have plenty of choices at local shelters. She said adoption prices are relatively low at about $75 at the East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control Center, a fee that already includes all the necessary vaccines, a spay or neuter operation and a microchip implant. The West Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control Center does not charge an adoption fee.

Summers said he values all of the pets at the shelter in Port Allen.

“I keep them until I can’t keep them anymore,” said Summers. “I see something good in every one of them.”

spokeswoman, said LSU fares well in comparison to the amount of crime at other universities.

Between January and June 2008, the University had zero reports of murders and forcible rapes, three robberies, 10 incidents of aggravat-

ed assault, 45 reported burglaries, 129 larceny thefts, 10 motor vehicle thefts and zero reports of arson.

Contact Matthew Barnidge at mbarnidge@lsureveille.com

Contact Kyle Bove at kbove@lsureveille.com

thursday, january 22, 2009

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Sports Opening the Box

thursday, january 22, 2009

PAGE 7

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Graham expected back on the court soon

By Rachel Whittaker Sports Writer

GRANT GUTIERREZ / The Daily Reveille

Construction progresses on the new Alex Box Stadium. Associate athletic directors Herb Vincent and Eddie Nunez said it will be ready for baseball’s opening day.

Nunez: Construction on time for opening

By Andy Schwehm Sports Contributor

With baseball season less than a month away, students driving down Nicholson Drive probably notice construction workers staying busy in and around the new Alex Box Stadium.

But the stadium will be ready for opening day, according to Herb Vincent, senior associate athletic director, and Eddie Nunez, associate athletic director of Log on for PDFs operations and project development. of the construction Nunez said the main structure of the contract and a slideshow of the stadium is intact. The concession stands new stadium. and restrooms are done, 90 percent of the painting is finished and the handrails are being put in place, according to Nunez.

He also said placing the outside gates that will secure the stadium started more than a week ago and is continuing throughout the week. He also said the larger parking lot on the west side of the stadium — the side closer to the river — is nearing completion, and the other parking lot was started Tuesday morning.

lsureveille.com

“We should have both of those lots by the first game, unless we get a lot of rain,” Nunez said.

The new stadium’s expected completion date was set for Dec. 23, 2008, according to a copy of the original contract obtained by The Daily Reveille.

The contractors were contracted to pay overage charges of $3,000 per day if the stadium was not completed on time.

“Rain ... did not really delay us from the standpoint of construction,” BALLPARKS, see page 15

The LSU women’s basketball team has had to make noticeable adjustments to account for the loss of sophomore guard Katherine Graham to a sprained left knee.

Coach Van Chancellor said Graham’s health is steadily improving, and he is optimistic about her condition.

“She’s getting better every day,” Chancellor said. “[Associate head coach Bob] Starkey said today Graham has gotten 10 times better after she got hurt. She’s going to play sometime soon. I hate to say when because it’s hard to tell. I don’t think she’ll play [tonight], but you never know about Katherine Graham.”

Chancellor said it has been difficult to replace her in the starting lineup.

“She’s just been an intangible player that means so much to our team,” Chancellor said. “When I think about the heart and soul of a team on the road — we wouldn’t have turned the ball over as much, and we wouldn’t have given up as many offensive rebounds.”

Freshman forward Ayana Dunning said the team especially misses Graham’s rebounding skills. Graham is second on the team with 83 rebounds this season.

“It’s always hard to replace a player, especially of Graham’s caliber,” Dunning said. “She brought so GRAHAM, see page 15

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Thornton shoots LSU to win

By David Helman Soprts Writer

It took the LSU men’s basketball team 22 minutes to score 40 points in Wednesday night’s game against Mississippi State.

Thanks to senior guard Marcus Thornton, the Tigers reached 60 in just five.

Thornton scored 17 points in less than four minutes, fueled by 4-of-4 shooting from 3-point range to turn a close 38-35 contest against the Bulldogs (13-6, 3-1) into an 81-57 blowout for the Tigers (15-3, 3-1).

“As a player, if you hit one or two, you get in a groove,”

Thornton said. “Shots just started falling, and they kept feeding me, so I kept shooting.”

Thornton’s 31 points Log on led all scorers on the night to see and opened the video door to a 24-7 highlights run in which three different from the Tigers shot 100 game. percent from the field.

“I’ve known Marcus my whole life, and he can shoot lights out,” said sophomore point guard Bo Spencer. “Basically that’s it …

I’ve been with him when we play pickup, and he won’t miss the whole game.”

lsureveille.com

Tigers sit atop SEC West after win

The win gives the Tigers an early lead in the Southeastern Conference Western Division for the first time in three years. The last time LSU had a winning record after four conference games was 2006, the year the Tigers ran to the Final Four.

“I don’t want to talk too soon, but we did have two pretty big wins,” said junior forward Tasmin Mitchell. “I don’t want to count my eggs before they hatch, but we’ve just been executing and playing good defense.”

Thornton wasn’t the only one shooting well against the Bulldogs’ sixth-ranked defense.

Mitchell provided the Tigers’ early offense, finishing the first half with 16 points.

Spencer had a hot hand of THORNTON, see page 10

BENJAMIN OLIVER HICKS / The Daily Reveille

Senior guard Marcus Thornton reaches for a loose ball Wednesday night in the PMAC. The Tigers handily defeated Mississippi State, 81-57.

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 8

thursday, january 22, 2009

TRACK AND FIELD

2009 season begins today for largely unknown sport

By Rowan Kavner Sports Contributor

LSU track and field has a history of successful teams and individual talents.

LSU’s 2009 indoor track season begins at 3 p.m. today at the Maddox Field House with high hopes for the No. 2 Lady Tigers and No. 8 Tigers.

But most students don’t necessarily have any idea.

The Lady Tigers won last year’s Southeastern Conference Indoor and Outdoor Championships, while the Tigers won the Mideast Regional Championships.

Lolo Jones, 2008 Olympian and World Indoor Champion hurdler, and Richard Thompson, 2008 NCAA Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year and Olympic Silver Medalist, are just two of the many stars to have been part of LSU track and field.

But track and field, the program that has won the most national championships at LSU, is a question mark to most LSU fans.

LSU senior sprinter Trindon Holliday is well-known by LSU fans, but mainly for his football returning skills and not his participation in track.

“He is a football player,” said,

Brad Rovira, communication studies senior. “Fast.”

William Workman, civil engineering sophomore, took the answer a bit further. “[He] plays for LSU football [as a] punt returner,” Workman said. “[He is the] fastest guy in the NCAA. He was a track star.”

Brittain White, electrical engineering freshman, knew about the other sport Holliday participates in but still first referred to Holliday as a football player.

Log on to “He’s a see why short, stocky guy,” White students said. “[He is] say they pretty quick. have little [He] plays footinterest in ball and runs track and track.” field.

Even if LSU fans only know Holliday as a football player, they know him better than they know Thompson.

Most students asked had never heard of Thompson, who ran the second-fastest time in NCAA history (9.93 seconds) in the 100-meters at the 2008 SEC Championships.

“Not really,” White said. “He probably plays football.”

Workman gave a simple “no.”

The answers were not confident.

lsureveille.com

Holliday among returning stars

“No, never,” Rovira answered.

The football comparison also applies to coaches, as well.

“I don’t know if [LSU track and field coach] Dennis [Shaver] gets his just due around here,” LSU women’s basketball coach Van Chancellor said Tuesday. “This man is a coaching track machine.”

Neither Rovira nor White knew about Shaver.

Workman figured he’d take a chance when asked.

“Dennis Shaver ... I’m gonna guess he’s the track coach,” he said.

It took eight interviews before finding Justin Hewitt, civil engineering sophomore, who seemed to know a little about track and field.

“I went to school with [Holliday],” Hewitt said. “[He is] supposedly the fastest college football player [in the nation].”

When asked if he knew Thompson, Hewitt knew his stuff. “[He is] the guy that got silver in the Olympics [from] Trinidad and Tobago,” Hewitt said.

Hewitt also knew who Shaver was, and was the only fan who knew of another LSU track and field athlete.

“I took a class with Davide [Brown],” Hewitt responded.

Contact Rowan Kavner at rkavner@lsureveille.com

BENJAMIN OLIVER HICKS / The Daily Reveille

Trindon Holliday wins the 100-meter dash at the Alumni Gold Meet on Apr. 20.

thursday, january 22, 2009

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 9

RECRUITING

Tigers stack D-line by grabbing nation’s leading recruits Four top prospects already committed

By Tyler Harvey Sports Contributor

D-line U. LSU has laid claim to the moniker for the best defensive line school the past several years with six AllAmericans on the defensive line since 2003.

This isn’t new to Tiger fans who know the history of LSU lineman such as Marcus Spears, Marquise Hill and Glenn Dorsey going to the NFL after terrorizing the Southeastern Conference.

But the building of D-line U starts with recruiting, and LSU is preparing to bring in another haul of defensive lineman with the skills to carry on the torch.

The Tigers have four defensive line commitments for the class of 2009: five-star defensive tackle Chris Davenport (Mansfield), fourstar defensive tackle Josh Downs (Bastrop), four-star defensive tackle Akiem Hicks (Sacramento, Ca.) and four-star defensive end Michael Brockers (Houston).

CHRIS DAVENPORT The 6-foot-4-inch, 320-pound Davenport has a scholarship offer from most of the top programs in the country but has been committed to LSU since last July.

The Mansfield High phenom is rated as the fourth best defensive tackle and the 25th best overall player in the country by Rivals. com.

“Chris is one of those kids that is well-mannered, hard-working and has great values,” said Donald Mayweather, Davenport’s coach at Mansfield High. “He’s always striving to get better. His family and his background shows that he has the morals that it takes to be successful.”

JOSH DOWNS Downs hasn’t been the most hyped commit on LSU’s list. He hasn’t even been the most talked about player on his own team at Bastrop, as All-Everything wide receiver Rueben Randle has taken that honor.

But Downs got people talking during the week of the Under Armour All-American game in Orlando. Several scouts in attendance said the 6-foot-1-inch, 270-pound force was nearly unblockable in one-onone drills.

Rivals.com rewarded him with a jump in the rankings from a threestar defensive lineman to a four-star prospect.

“Josh is an undersized d-lineman, but you can’t put enough stars on his heart and how tough he is and the motor that he possesses,” said Brad Bradshaw, Downs’ coach at Bastrop. “There’s just something to be said about a kid who plays that hard with that kind of toughness.”

Bradshaw said Downs can play either defensive tackle or center on the offensive line in college.

“He can go either way, and it won’t matter to him one way or the other where he plays,” Bradshaw

said. “He just likes to play the game of football. He played [center] as a sophomore, and he made All-State all three years here.”

Bradshaw said scouts shouldn’t count Downs out because he isn’t as big as some other linemen in the state.

“His motor and get-off is better,” Bradshaw said. “Of course he’s not as big as a lot of those, but as far as production out of a player, he’s better than them.”

AKIEM HICKS Hicks, a 6-foot-6-inch, 300-pound transfer from Sacramento City Junior College, joins Davenport and Downs at defensive tackle. He is rated as a four-star recruit by Rivals.

“He’s a big, big boy with a big

motor,” said Sacramento City Junior College coach Mike Clemons. “He’s still young. He has a great future in front of him.”

Hicks chose LSU instead of offers from Oregon, Tennessee and Purdue among others.

“His style of play is real ballistic,” Clemons said. “He gets after people and plays through pain. I’d like to think that he could come down there and maybe help right away.”

Hicks has been committed since November after his official visit to the LSU-Alabama game.

MICHAEL BROCKERS The fourth defensive lineman committed to the Tigers is Michael Brockers, a 6-foot-6-inch, 255-pound defensive end from Houston. The

photo courtesy of KITA WRIGHT

Bastrop defensive lineman Josh Downs tackles a Zachary offensive player. Downs is one of four LSU defensive line commitments for the class of 2009 rated at least a four-star prospect by Rivals.com.

four-star prospect committed to LSU last February and is rated as the No. 10 defensive end in the nation by Rivals.

While the foundation of D-line U is being laid with these four commitments, LSU may not be done with defensive line prospects for the class of 2009.

There are still some players out there that LSU will be keeping an eye on — specifically defensive end Sam

Montgomery (Greenwood, S.C.), defensive tackle Darrington Sentimore (Destrehan) and defensive end Bennie Logan (Coushatta).

But Tiger fans won’t have to wait too long to see who fills out the remaining spots for the class of 2009.

National Signing Day is Feb. 4, only weeks away.

Contact Tyler Harvey at tharvey@lsureveille.com

PAGE 10

THE DAILY REVEILLE

NBA

Hornets defeat New Jersey Nets

By Brett Martel The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Chris Paul narrowly missed his fifth triple-double of the season with 29 points, nine rebounds and eight assists when the New Orleans Hornets defeated the New Jersey Nets 102-92 on Wednesday night.

Peja Stojakovic had 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Vince Carter scored 20 for the Nets, who lost their fourth straight, unable to take advantage of the absence of Hornets starters Tyson Chandler (left ankle) and David West (back spasms).

Stojakovic adjusted his perimeter game to make up for the Hornets’ lack of size, sneaking inside to grab double-digit rebounds for the first time all season.

Rasual Butler added 14 points for New Orleans in their third straight win. Julian Wright had 11 points and James Posey 10.

Bobby Simmons scored 16 points for the Nets and Keyon Dooling added 12, while rookie Ryan Anderson grabbed a careerhigh 10 rebounds and Jarvis Hayes added 10 points.

New Orleans put the Nets in a deep hole with a 16-2 run that started with Melvin Ely’s reverse layup early in the third quarter.

Stojakovic and Posey each added 3-pointers during the spurt and Paul converted a spinning layup as he was grabbed by Carter, though no foul was called.

It was a poor start for the Nets, who started 3-of-12 from the field and turned the ball over five times, including three times on offensive fouls.

Down by 15 in the final period, the Nets made one last charge with a 9-2 run ignited by Dooling’s third 3 of the game and capped by Carter’s putback, cutting New Orleans’ lead to 91-85 with 3:33 left.

After Paul hit a pull-up in the lane, Simmons’ third 3 of the game cut it to 93-88 with 2:24 to go. New Jersey missed its next two shots, and Paul hit a running floater as he was fouled with 59 seconds left, giving New Orleans a 96-88 lead. Paul then added a fast-break, one-handed dunk to punctuate his dominant night.

For the Nets, it was the first game since coach Lawrence Frank benched top starters Carter and Devin Harris for the second half of a blowout loss to Boston, the reason being a poor first half in which New Jersey started 1-of-9 from the field.

Early on, it seemed the Nets had gotten the message, moving well on the offensive end to get the ball to open shooters. They shot better than 50 percent for most of the first two periods. Simmons hit two 3s and scored eight points in the opening quarter, then the Nets took a 38-29 lead on Dooling’s second 3-pointer of the second quarter.

Contact The Daily Reveille’s sports staff at sports@lsureveille.com

BILL HABER / The Associated Press

New Orleans Hornets forward Rasual Butler [front] tries to duck under New Jersey Nets guard Vince Carter on Wednesday in the first half of their game in New Orleans.

THORNTON, from page 7

his own, scoring 9 points, all of which came on a 3-of-4 performance from the 3-point line.

“Bo was really good,” said LSU coach Trent Johnson. “Defensively he set the tone. There was a period there in the second half where they were making a run at us, and he got out in front of them on the perimeter, and everyone else followed suit.”

As lopsided as the second half turned out to be, LSU could not put the Bulldogs away in the game’s early going.

A resounding block by senior center Chris Johnson sparked an early 7-0 LSU run, giving the Tigers their first double-digit lead of the game. The Tigers were able to push the lead to as many as 13, but the Bulldogs whittled that down to a 36-30 halftime deficit with timely 3-point shooting.

“We looked like we were trying to move in mud offensively in the first half,” Johnson said. “In the second half Marcus stayed within the framework of what we were running. We ran a lot of series of sets for him, and he came

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2009

‘‘

‘Seeing the fans happy and hearing them cheer ... makes everyone want to play more .’

Bo Spencer

sophomore point guard

out and hit some deep 3’s.”

A frenzied crowd came to the PMAC to cheer on LSU for the second time in a week. The Tigers drew a paid attendance of 11,709, the second consecutive home game to draw more than 11,000 fans.

“Playing in front of a large crowd with all the noise, and seeing the fans happy and hearing them cheer you on makes everyone want to play more,” Spencer said. “When you get a defensive stop, and you keep sticking it to them, it’s a big momentum boost to have the crowd out there.”

Contact David Helman at dhelman@lsureveille.com

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Entertainment

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2009

PAGE 11

Jewish Film Festival arrives in Baton Rouge Four-day event shows city’s diversity, tolerance

By Jack LeBlanc Entertainment Writer

The 2008 Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film will make its Baton Rouge debut tonight during the third annual Baton Rouge Jewish Film Festival at the Manship Theatre in the Shaw Center for the Arts.

“The Counterfeiters” is the true story of Salomon Sorowitsch, counterfeiter extraordinaire.

After being arrested and sent to a German concentration camp in 1944, Sorowitsch is forced to help the Nazis counterfeit Allied bank notes in an attempt to destroy their economies. The prisoners have a choice: They can ensure their survival by cooperating with the enemy, or they can

risk certain death and sabotage the operation.

“It is really a very tough film,” said festival co-chair Harvey Hoffman. “If they messed up, they would be killed immediately. If they didn’t mess up, what they produced would prolong the war.”

Following the 7 p.m. viewing, Kenneth Hoffman, education director of the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, will address the audience.

The festival operates in conjunction with Jewish Cinema South, an organization FESTIVAL, see page 14

The Rundown Baton Rouge Jewish Film Festival continues at 7 p.m. in the Manship Theatre.

Tonight’s show: “The Counterfeiters” photos courtesy of Jewish Cinema South; graphics by Jay St. Pierre / The Daily Reveille

POLITICS

Celebrity endorsements may have affected election results

By Ben Bourgeois Entertainment Writer

From Beyoncé and Bruce Springsteen performing in his honor at the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday to those in attendance at the inauguration Tuesday, President Obama has always seemed to have celebrities on his side.

In an October study published by The International Journal of Press/Politics, “The Oprah Factor: The Effects of a Celebrity Endorsement in a Primary Presidential Campaign,” authors Andrew Pease and Paul R. Brewer

examined the effects a celebrity endorsement had on public opinion.

They concluded that although Winfrey’s endorsement of Obama did not influence the extent to which participants saw him as likable, it led participants to see him as more likely to win the Democratic nomination and to say they would more likely vote for him.

Michael Xenos, mass communication and political science professor, said celebrities’ opinions on political candidates may draw attention to the candidate,

particularly with their fans. “[Celebrities’] opinions on politics may not come from any special place,” Xenos said. “But their opinion may draw some attention with some of their fans.”

Xenos said though a celebrity endorsement may not necessarily change someone’s opinion about a candidate, it may make them more likely to take a second look.

“If it’s a celebrity who has a brand, and people relate to that brand, they’re more likely to take ENDORSEMENT, see page 14

EVAN AGOSTINI / The Associated Press

Boxing promoter Don King attends President Obama’s inauguration Tuesday in Washington, D.C. King was one of the many celebrities who endorsed Obama.

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 12

Reveille Ranks

MUSIC

Andrew Bird Noble Beast

Fat Possum Records

MOVIES

TELEVISION

Animal Collective Paul Blart: Mall Merriweather Post Cop Pavillion

Columbia Pictures

Blending beautiful violin playing with Irish folk and American jazz influences, Andrew Bird gives listeners a collection of songs that stand out as different. With its hand claps, soothing rhythms, and soft whispers, “Noble Beast” allows listeners to flirt with an ethereal atmosphere that may seem unfamiliar. A step up from 2007’s “Armchair Apocrypha,” Bird’s newest album is certain to turn any bad feelings the listener is experiencing into joyful experiences played out through the album’s 14 tracks.

Domino Records

Animal Collective’s eighth studio album, “Merriweather Post Pavilion,” has been widely anticipated since the later part of 2008, and it delivers on a huge scale. The album offers track after track of somewhat psychedelic, but always beautiful, electronic melodies that pushes genre boundaries. The work consistently reminds the listener of the universe outside of themselves as the album unfolds. The vocals mesh together into great harmonies and blend smoothly with very well built rhythms.

Paul Blart is an overweight and unathletic mall cop who is given the responsibility of saving an entire mall from a group of masked robbers. Kevin James, who plays Blart, is cute and funny, but he makes too many weight jokes. Viewers familiar with his show “The King of Queens,” will recognize the funny parts of the show repeated in this film. The film is bearable, but more suited for a younger crowd.

J. Chenier

J. CLAPP

A. NORSWORTHY

John Frusciante

My Bloody Valentine

Notorious

[B] [A] [D]

The Empyrean

Lionsgate Films

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Record Collection

Though a manufacturing malfunction pushed the release of this album to next week, the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ guitarist’s latest solo album is available for digital purchase.

His guitar and voice seem to ache with genuine emotion.

The concept album is soothing yet psychedelic, featuring endless shifts of tone and volume through mountains and valleys of emotion that balance melody with layers of dissonance. “The Empyrean” “should be played as loud as possible and is suited to dark living rooms late at night.”

This movie boasts 3D violence, yet manages to disappoint even the lowest expectations.

Director Patrick Lussier opens the film with a gruesome 10 minutes but quickly slows down and relies on typical horror plot devices — infidelities, hiding old secrets and growing suspicions. The film is gruesome, but never does the fake looking CGI blood deliver a real scare. The same axe killings coupled with melodrama prove 3D graphics can only amplify what’s already there.

“Notorious” is an epic movie that tells the short but violent life of Notorious B.I.G. (a.k.a.

Christopher Williams), one of the first rappers to make it big time from the East Coast. While it is a biographical movie, the audience forgets about that the minute the beat drops in the first scene. It is everything a movie should be, with great cinematography, a soundtrack that never gets boring and a story that is inspiring, funny and heartwrenching.

J. LeBLANC

B. BOURGEOIS

C. VOGELS

[A] [D] [A]

Editor’s Pick The Crying Light Antony and the Johnsons Secretly Canadian Records

FOR FANS OF:

Bon Iver, Andrew Bird

“The Crying Light,” is a fascinating study in life, death and the afterlife. Lead singer Antony Hegarty’s haunting voice narrates his complex musings about time and eternity. The lyrics are eerie, and Hegarty’s beautiful voice complements the words and makes the listener more at ease with what might be a depressing topic. This effort from Antony and the Johnsons should not be passed up.

S. AYCOCK

thursday, january 22, 2009

THE DAILY REVEILLE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2009

PAGE 13

THEATRE

HopKins Black Box Theatre provides experimental space

By Jake Clapp Entertainment Writer

When a student first walks into the HopKins Black Box Theatre, they won’t think it’s a theatre at all.

It has no stage, no curtains, nothing that a traditional theatre holds.

The open floor is the stage, with the audience members sitting on risers towards the back of the room, almost on top of the performance, giving a very intimate atmosphere between performer and audience member.

The floor, walls and ceiling of the theatre, originally made out of two classrooms and a hallway, are painted black, forming a black box.

There is nothing traditional about the theatre, located in 137 Coates Hall, because it’s not meant to be just a theatre.

“The HopKins is a lab, as much as it is a theatre,” said Lisa Flanagan, managing director of the theatre. “It is a place where people who teach or perform can run experiments.”

Established in 1992 by Mary Francis Hopkins, the theatre is a non-profit space operated by the professors of the performance studies section of the department of communication studies as an area where anyone who wishes to test a question through live performance may do so and receive feedback from the audience.

“The theatre is built around practice,” said Patricia Suchy,

‘‘

‘The room is a bit small, but ... Because it is small, I felt like I was more involved with the play.’

Chris Keenan

business management sophomore

communication studies professor.

“Performance is the thing we study and the way we study.”

Suchy went on to say the theatre is an interdisciplinary effort as well.

“If a student in another field, like anthropology, wants to present their research as a performance, the HopKins Black Box is a perfect space to do that,” Suchy said.

An example of this interdisciplinary aspect will be seen in March with the performance of “DNA Play,” a play written by biochemistry professor Vince LiCata, about the 1953 discovery of the double helix structure of DNA. Undergraduate and graduate students from across a variety of majors come together to test their ideas throughout the semester.

“The theatre has made me think in different ways,” Mark Duplessis, communication studies senior, said.

“While working with other people on their projects, I have been able to develop my creative reasoning, because we are not dealing with traditional pieces.”

The HopKins Theatre is also

set up as a classroom, a place where the audience can learn about performance.

“A performance is successful, at least in my book, if an audience member leaves the theatre thinking differently about what he or she might have seen,” said Gretchen Fox, communication studies senior.

This performer-audience interaction is one of the main goals of the HopKins Black Box, according to Fox. Chris Keenan, business management sophomore, saw “Crap Happens” in the HopKins Black Box Theatre, and enjoyed the experience.

“The room is a bit small, but I thought the theatre had a good set-up,” Keenan said. “Because it is small, I felt like I was more involved with the play.”

This semester offers a lot for students. Starting on Friday, Jan. 23 with “South of Lost,” a film about the history of experimental cinema

by Joey Watson, there are performances almost every week. A full schedule of performances and times can be found at www.lsu.edu/hbb.

“The performances are enriching to everyone,” Suchy said. “The HopKins is a place where performers and audience can think outside of the box while inside the box.”

Contact Jake Clapp at jclapp@lsureveille.com

Even though Apple never made an “I’m an a Mac, and I’m a PC” commercial about Microsoft’s portable Zune player, the iPod is leaving the Zune in the dust.

Microsoft announced it may discontinue its portable Zune mp3 player because of poor sales, according to reports by the Financial Times.

Steve Ballmer, chief executive of Microsoft, announced at the Consumer Electronics Show on Jan. 8 that the Zune has been struggling to get significant sales compared to Apple’s iPod. Microsoft premiered the Zune in August 2006 hoping to compete with the iPod. The Zune boasted Wi-Fi capabilities, FM radio and wireless transfer with other Zune players, capabilities absent from the iPod. But the Zune failed to catch on with the development of “general purpose” devices such as

MELLOW MUSHROOM PIZZA BAKERS No Cover! 5-10pm: 2 for 1 drafts. 10pm til: $2.50 Mexican Bottles,$3 Calls, $6 22oz Souviner Cup Shroom Teas

RAVE MOTION PICTURES 01/25-01/29

**INKHEART 1:15, 4:15, 7:00, 9:45

PG

**SLUM DOG MILLIONAIRE 12:30, 4:30, 7:15, 10:15 ** DEFIANCE 12:50, 4:05, 7:20, 10:25

‘‘

‘Apple’s just ridiculous with their marketing ... so large you can’t go up against it.’

Nick Gambino English senior

the iPhone and iPod touch having similar capabilities. Also, a leap year bug causing the Zune to freeze Dec. 31 further damaged its sales and reputation.

Many students never bought a Zune because of the convenience of an iPod. Cory Boudreaux, communication studies junior, said having an iPod just seemed practical to him.

“All of my friends always had an iPod — it’s really simple,” Boudreaux said. “I have tons of music, so having the 80 [gigabyte iPod] just worked for me.”

Mohammed Altammar, petroleum engineering junior, said the iPod’s features and marketing

give it a big advantage over the Zune.

“I’ve seen one or two people who’ve had a Zune, and it was discounted or something,” Altammar said. “They’ve never had good marketing for [the Zune].”

Lauren Hernandez, biological sciences freshman, said she does not know many people with a Zune and heard they are unreliable.

“My little brother has a Zune, and he likes it,” Hernandez said.

“I think it broke on him a couple of times.”

Others are fond of their Zune players, but they see why it is not holding up against the iPod. “Apple’s just ridiculous with their marketing, and the scope of people that buy their products is so large you can’t go up against it,” said Nick Gambino, English senior.

Contact Ben Bourgeois at bbourgeois@lsureveille.com

**HOTEL FOR DOGS 1:05, 4:35, 7:35, 10:05

R

** PAUL BLART MALL COP 1:30, 5:00, 7:45, 10:30

PG

**NOTORIOUS 12:45, 3:45, 6:45

GRAN TORINO 1:25, 4:40, 7:40, 10:20

PG PG-13

** Tickets now on sale for Jonas Brothers 3D at both locations.

** Tickets now on sale for NBA All-Star Saturday Night Events Live in 3D at the mall location.

R

BRIDE WARS 1:35, 5:05, 7:50, 10:35

BEDTIME STORIES 1:50pm only

R

R

** MY BLOODY VALENTINE 9:55pm only

**VALKYRIE 4:25, 10:10

R

PG

** MY BLOODY VALENTINE IN REAL D DIGITAL 3-D 1:45, 5:15, 8:00, 10:40

**MARLEY & ME 1:10, 4:10, 7:10

R

**UNDERWORLD:RISE OF THE LYCANS 1:00, 4:00, 4:45, 7:30, 8:15, 10:00

Microsoft considering possibly discontinuing Zune MP3 player Entertainment Writer

BOGIE’S BAR $4 Beam and Stoli Beer For Breakfast 1/24

Baton Rouge 15 (Mall of La)

TECHNOLOGY

By Ben Bourgeois

PLUCKERS WING BAR $4 34oz Mother Plucker mugs. $3 Margaritas and PluckersLemonades. $15.99 All you can Eat wings.

If you don’t like our wings, we’ll give you the bird!

PG R

PG

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON PG-13 12:35, 8:10

9-10:30pm Step Brothers 12-1:30pm Wanted 3:30-4pm The Rundown-Premiere 5:30-6pm Newsbeat- Taped 6-6:30pm Sports Showtime 7-8:30pm Hellboy II- The Golden Army 10-10:30pm Newbeat 10:30-11pm Sports Showtime 11-11:30pm The Rundown- Taped

PAGE 14

THE DAILY REVEILLE

FESTIVAL, from page 11

ENDORSEMENT, from page 11

based in Jackson, Miss., which helps communities with smaller Jewish populations put on film festivals.

“If we are going to attract businesses and people to come and live here, they’ve got to feel that this is a diverse and tolerant society,” said Harvey Hoffman.

“Having a Jewish film festival sends a message that we are diverse and do respect people and their differences.”

Harvey Hoffman has been the co-chair of the festival in Baton Rouge for the last three years.

When selecting the movies to show, Hoffman looks at their entertainment value and universal appeal. All films contain “something Jewish.”

“If it totally depended on the Jewish community here, it would not be successful. There are not enough Jewish people living in this area to support something like this,” Hoffman said. “The largest group of people who come to our films are not Jewish.”

Hoffman said an extra day this year after selling out two nights and nearly selling out the third last year. The expanded schedule allowed him to sort the movies by category.

The festival began Wednesday with a comedy night featuring “Circumcise Me,” a documentary told through the conversion story of Hassidic comedian Yisrael Campbell, and two romantic comedies, “Advice and Dissent” and “The Orthodox Way.” The festival continues tonight with the screening of “The Counterfeiters.”

The festival will resume Saturday with a 7:30 p.m. screening of “Unsettled,” the story of the historic 2005 withdrawal from the Gaza Strip through the eyes of six young people. Director and filmmaker Adam Hootnick will speak after the film.

A matinee presentation of “Arranged” will kick off the final day of the Festival at 2 p.m. on Sunday. The film focuses on the impending arranged marriages of two women, one an Orthodox Jew and the other a Muslim.

The Festival will end after the 7 p.m. showing of the documentary “So Long Are You Young” and the short film “Got Next.”

Hoffman said he tries to be diverse in the genre of movies he selects to appease a wide variety of audiences.

“Sometimes the South gets a bum rap,” Hoffman said. “People don’t realize the amount of diversity and tolerance that exists here. Religion is important in the South, and if you practice your religion, you are respected.”

Tickets are available through the Manship Theatre Box Office or online at www.manshiptheatre. org. Reserved seats are $8.50.

Tickets can be purchased at the door on a space available basis and will go on sale one hour before each screening.

a second look,” Xenos said.

Bob Mann, mass communication professor, said celebrity endorsements may have helped Obama, particularly with young voters.

“The impact was greater than simply earning support because of a celebrity endorsement,” Mann said in an e-mail to The Daily Reveille. “To me, it seems more of a cultural or a coolness thing.”

Mann specifically credited will.i.am’s video “We Are the Ones” with connecting Obama with younger voters. The video generated millions of videos on YouTube.com and featured artists like Common, John Legend and Scarlett Johansson. “[The video] was a way to connect Obama and his soaring rhetoric with the coolness of various celebrities and so it spoke, very narrowly, to a certain (young) demographic who actually knew these people,” Mann said. “That said, the will.i.am video was not produced by Obama’s campaign,

Contact Jack LeBlanc at aleblanc@lsureveille.com

though they embraced it.”

Obama secured endorsements from many celebrities, including Bruce Springsteen, Ben Affleck and George Clooney. But Mann said Obama did a good job of keeping celebrities at a distance.

“Obama did a good job of keep celebrities at arm’s length and probably even more so after McCain ran his ad that featured Paris Hilton and Britney Spears,” Mann said. “Obama clearly did not want to be cast as a shallow celebrity and, therefore, seems to have made an effort to keep a very healthy distance, at least in public, between him and Hollywood.”

Some students said Obama’s celebrity endorsements negatively affected his perception as a candidate.

Dustin Danos, marketing freshman, said Obama was more concerned with his “look” than promoting his platform.

“In the sense of the election, Obama was pursuing a celebrity look,” Danos said. “He pushed less of his experience and more

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2009

of being an iconic figure.”

Danos said though the endorsements helped Obama’s campaign, it’s not necessarily a celebrity’s job to endorse a political candidate.

“You’re a musician — you’re not a political analyst,” Danos said. “If you push it too hard, it gets annoying.”

Callie Douglas, undeclared freshman, said celebrity endorsements helped Obama gain popularity with voters.

“It’s a good strategy because so many people follow what’s ‘in’ at the time,” Douglas said.

Contact Ben Bourgeois at bbourgeois@lsureveille.com

Do you like to draw?

The Daily Reveille is hiring cartoonists for the opinion section.

Contact Daniel at opinion@lsureveille.com

thursday, january 22, 2009 GRAHAM, from page 7

much to the team as a starter in her offensive and rebounding aspects.”

The Lady Tigers (9-6, 2-1) had 20 turnovers in their 75-67 loss to Vanderbilt, tied for the most they’ve had in a game all season. Vanderbilt was the first game Graham was not in the lineup this season.

LSU freshman forward LaSondra Barrett said not having Graham will force the players to “step out of their comfort zones” on the court.

“With me and [freshman

BALLPARKS, from page 7

Nunez said. “But it did pull them off the project, and it went over their days allowable for rain delays.

Then they had to do some additional small things to get back on track ...

But there are no delays on any of the projects that are not related to rain.”

Nunez said the state keeps a record of how many days it rains in an average month, and the construction company is allowed a certain amount of rain days based on that number. Whenever the number of rain days goes over the number allotted for that month, the company is given that many days more to complete the facility.

Nunez said the contractors haven’t had to pay any of those overage charges so far because their contract completion date is not until February because of the rain days.

“I’m not going to hold anyone accountable right now because they are doing everything in their power to get it done for our first pitch,” Nunez said.

New Alex Box project manager Jake Mayo from Buquet and LeBlanc, the company heading the construction, deferred all questions from The Daily Reveille to Nunez.

Mayo also did not return calls regarding construction rain days and any overage charges.

The baseball team may get into the new stadium as early as Feb. 1, which would allow the team 19 days of practice before its Feb. 20 home opener against Villanova, according to Nunez and Vincent.

The walk-through on the field with the designer is planned for early next week to make sure the field is up to playing standards, Nunez said.

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 15

forward] Courtney Jones, we’re versatile,” she said. “We just have to expand our game instead of just playing the post and step outside and play more. It’s a tough task, but in the end, it will make us better.”

Mississippi State (14-4, 2-2) has never won against LSU in Baton Rouge, but Chancellor, a Mississippi State graduate, said these are the best Lady Bulldogs he has seen in a long time.

“The big difference is they’re really athletic, they’re bigger and they’re stronger,” he said. “They

run well, they defend well and they shoot well.”

Mississippi State sophomore guard Alexis Rack is No. 1 in the Southeastern Conference in 3-point field goals made, averaging 2.5 per game, and she averages 13.7 points per game. “[Rack] has got no fear, and I’m sure she wants to come back here to LSU and prove once again we should have signed her,” Chancellor said.

Chancellor said he is very happy with the progress the team

has made with four freshmen in the starting lineup. He praised their effort and ability to score every time they touch the ball.

“Vanderbilt was one of those near misses,” he said. “Outside of that, our team is really playing hard and being coachable. We’re growing every day.”

Chancellor particularly noted the play of Barrett and Dunning.

“We’ve had some really bad luck. Dunning did not play early, and that really hurt us because she is such a force inside,” he said. “She’s

Once approval is given from the field designers and the fire marshal, the team can take the field.

Vincent said while the field in new Alex Box Stadium is ready for play, the team is still not allowed inside because of safety issues.

LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri said he is not panicking about the stadium, but he wants his team to get on the new field as soon as possible.

“Getting on the field and getting a significant amount of practice time is an important thing for us,” Mainieri said. “Every baseball field is so different. It’s not like a football field or a soccer field or a basketball court where the texture is pretty much the same. Baseball fields are so unique because of the combination of grass and clay. The mounds are different and so are the backgrounds for the hitter’s eye.”

Mainieri said he is hopeful the team will get at least three weeks of practice on the new field before the opener.

where we are playing is different — the stadium is facing different, the wind blows from the river so much different from where we are now,” Girouard said. “Right now where we are, the sun in the afternoon is in second base and right fielder’s eyes.

Over at the new Tiger Park, it’s going to be in third base and left field, so consequently we are staying in the first base dugout.”

The home opener for the Tigers is Feb. 11 against McNeese State.

The new Tiger Park, which was scheduled to be completed in November, is still on pace to be completed by the Tigers’ home opener, according to Vincent and Nunez.

said.

TIGER PARK Getting on a new field to practice on is also a concern for LSU’s softball team as it moves into a new stadium.

The Tigers began practice on their new field last week but are still limited in how long they can practice on the field, according to Nunez.

“We are still trying to work on the canopy,” Nunez said. “From a safety standpoint, I don’t want one of the girls hitting a foul ball and hitting a roofer.”

LSU softball coach Yvette Girouard also said her team needs time on the new field.

“The whole orientation of

OUT WITH THE OLD The future of the two old stadiums is still up in the air, Nunez

“Everything has been proposed from a parking lot to retail to housing,” Nunez said about the old Alex Box. “What we want to do is recognize that old Alex Box was there and give her some kind of memory. It’s a main entrance to the campus, and we want to make sure that whatever is done there represents the University to the best.”

Nunez said Tiger Park’s press box may be used at LSU Soccer Complex, which is in need of a press box because the original one was blown down during Hurricane Gustav.

Contact Andy Schwehm at aschwehm@lsureveille.com

just like a bull in a china shop when she gets her hand on the ball. And then [Barrett] was hurt [with a knee injury].”

Barrett has scored in double figures in five consecutive games, including a career-high 27 points against Arkansas. She is the first LSU player since Sylvia Fowles to have such a streak.

Contact Rachel Whittaker at rwhittaker@lsureveille.com

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Opinion

PAGE 16

COMMON CENTS

Thursday, january 22, 2009

At the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, ask ‘What if?’

The 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade came and went Wednesday without much fuss. The University’s anti-abortion group staked its usual spot on Free Speech Alley, but — in the long shadow of Barack Obama’s inauguration — the controversial Supreme Court decision took a backseat.

The abortion debate is welltrodden ground. There is little new to say, and few can listen with an open mind.

The extremes of either position — that life begins at conception and that choice extends to partialbirth — are both morally questionable, and no scientists, philosophers or preachers can authoritatively say when an embryo is entitled to human rights.

So rather than ask where a fetus’ right to life begins or where a mother’s right to choose ends, let us instead ask a very different question — What if?

During the past 36 years, opponents of Roe v. Wade — although never in the majority, according to a 2006 Harris Poll — have wielded an extremely large amount of political influence. They have organized marches on Washington, raised

countless millions of dollars for advocacy groups and reliably shown up at the polling booth.

Despite this, they have failed in their stated goal: to make abortion illegal. Though they restricted some practices and threw regulations in the way of many expectant mothers, they are as far from making abortion illegal today as they were three decades ago.

What if, instead of spending this time, energy and money on fruitless political action, anti-abortion activist ignored the government completely and focused on social change and charity?

What if, instead of spending millions on political campaigns, anti-abortion activists instead donated money to our nation’s foster care system?

In the 2004 election cycle, the Pro-Life Campaign Committee spent almost $5.8 million on political advertising, according to OpenSecrets. org. That’s $5.8 million from only one advocacy group for only one election year.

That’s $5.8 million dollars that could have been spent making adoption a more attractive alternative to abortion that was instead spent on

ensuring that Rick Santorum, Sam Brownback and George Bush kept their power.

Rather than making the world a better place, $5.8 million was wasted on the empty pageantry of patriotism.

What if — instead of spending time protesting in Free Speech AlDaniel Morgan ley and our nation’s capital Columnist — anti-abortion activists set up charity hospitals and clinics that made carrying a baby to full term more affordable?

More than 100,000 traveled last year to the annual “March for Life” in Washington, D.C., according to a February 2008 article in The New American.

That is 100,000 people that were motivated enough to travel across the country and walk through the biting cold.

What if — instead of groveling at the thrones of power — these protestors volunteered their time at hospitals and clinics across the country?

They could have lowered the

cost of medicine and made the trials of pregnancy more tolerable. Instead they wasted their time and energy on a meaningless gesture that accomplished nothing.

And what if — instead of opposing the morning after pill, comprehensive sex-ed and other measures that would have prevented accidental pregnancies — the anti-abortion movement would have focused on ways to prevent accidental pregnancies?

Yes, many anti-abortion activists are against contraceptives, but let us ask “what if?”

How many abortions would have been made irrelevant if effective, accessible contraception had been supported with the same energy anti-abortion activists have given to the constant spectre of Supreme Court nominations?

Everything is a zero-sum game.

Everything comes at the exclusion of other possibilities. When someone tells you to participate in a march in Washington, they’re telling you to march instead of spending time with friends, family and loved ones or making the world a better place.

We will never know what the world would look like if anti-abor-

tion activists had taken this route.

And we never will.

Abortion opponents sought political action. Instead of working through the free market and charity, they played the game of politics, and more abortions happened because of that choice.

No one wants abortions to happen. Most people recognize a new life is something to be celebrated, not reviled. These measures could have brought the entire country — both anti-abortion activists and abortion rights activists — together in an effort to better our country.

Instead, we were left with a polarizing issue that not only wasted our precious money, time and energy, but also gave our politicians the freedom to ignore the real issues while sticking to the safe, predictable rhetoric of the abortion debate.

That’s a tragedy.

If you want to improve the world, forget about the government and its laws.

Contact Daniel Morgan at dmorgan@lsureveille.com

MURDA, HE WROTE

America’s language gap is logical, unfortunate

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, FRANCE — Language is far more than a means to communicate — it’s inextricably tied to culture. It serves as the basis for human interaction as well as a repository for information.

English has been called the “language of business.” There’s no doubt the seeds of English have been sewn across the globe — whether through trade or by the proverbial sword — to where it has become the de facto language of international interaction.

English was first successful through British colonialism (which supplanted French dominance) and continued to prevail through America’s influence as a global power.

Sitting in my seat on the tarmac at Philadelphia’s airport, I witnessed first hand the ubiquity of the English language.

In the packed airplane cabin, there were the usual soft murmurings among passengers. But my neighbor, who appeared to be foreign, and I sat silently. I was going to sit next to this person for six hours, so I figured I should at least say “Hello.”

Trying to strike up conversation in English seemed like a presumptuous move. Assuming she spoke

English, I thought, would be a stereotypically rude American attitude.

Because I had no way of knowing how to communicate with her, I just smiled.

The tension was finally eased when the woman called over the stewardess to ask her a question — in English. After receiving clear grounds to converse, we spent the ensuing hours discussing a range of topics.

One conversation concerned the issue I contemplated on the ground in Philly: the use of English in international settings.

After complimenting her on her English, I explained I was nervous about living and studying in France.

“The French don’t like to speak English,” she said. She wasn’t just empathizing with my own mounting situation, but offering a genuine analysis of her own condition.

Traveling in a country that doesn’t speak English — or frowns upon it — poses a practical problem for her as well.

It’s not a stretch to assume you’ll be able to communicate in English when traveling in Europe. Almost 40 percent of European Union residents

THE DAILY REVEILLE Editorial Board KYLE WHITFIELD TYLER BATISTE GERRI SAX DANIEL LUMETTA MATTHEW ALBRIGHT TRAVIS ANDREWS ERIC FREEMAN JR.

Editor Managing Editor, Content Managing Editor, External Media Opinion Editor Columnist Columnist Columnist

speak English in addition to their native tongue (13 percent also speak it natively), according to the European Commission.

Compare that to the 94 percent of Americans who speak English only, according to the National Census Bureau.

Now before the fingerwagging begins Mark Macmurdo at America’s Columnist lack of language diversity and apparent disinterest in connecting with other cultures, it’s important to recognize there is a motivation deficit in Americans when it comes to learning another language.

There may be a greater influence of Spanish because of the increasing number of Mexican immigrants. And it would be a good idea to learn Chinese if you want to go into business or Arabic if you’re into international relations.

But the bottom line is that as things stand now, we Americans can travel to practically any country and get by on English alone.

Knowing this, it becomes clear why Americans largely fail to grasp other languages.

We would all love to do something if we had more time — whether it’s read the entire Constitution or go fishing. Unfortunately, there are only a certain number of hours in the day, and some of those have to be spent obtaining shelter and food. How we spend our time is directed by a fundamental economic proposition of time allocation by which we seek to maximize our utility.

Americans’ decision to avoid learning another language is a logical evaluation. Non-native English speakers receive greater benefit from learning English — through both cultural and practical means.

For English speakers, gaining a second language will increase cultural horizons, but it seems the practical benefit is far less than it is for our non-English speaking counterparts given the language’s wide influence (unless holding a job of an international nature).

It’s unfortunate Americans face such a difficult circumstance because of the reach of their native tongue. As long as English is the

EDITORIAL POLICIES & PROCEDURES The Daily Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Daily Reveille is an independent entity within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, paper or University. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to opinion@lsureveille.com or delivered to B-26 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must have a contact phone number so the opinion editor can verify the author. The phone number won’t be printed. The Daily Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration without changing the original intent. The Daily Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author.

Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Daily Reveille’s editor-in-chief, hired every semester by the Louisiana State University Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.

dominant world language of interaction, it seems improbable that English speakers will be able to compete with the willingness of other modern countries’ citizens to learn a second language.

While learning another language seems to be unimportant to Americans, perhaps a greater appreciation of the benefits of bilingualism would lead to a greater number of people seeking another language.

Though another language won’t have the universal benefits of English, there is something to be said about the introspection allowed through interacting with another culture through language.

But taking up a new language makes it impossible for one to understand the benefits it will have outside the context of practical communication. I hope we can find a way to encourage learning a new language — so it’s cultural benefits can be reaped — by looking past its practical value, or lack thereof.

Contact Mark Macmurdo at mmacmurdo@lsureveille.com

QUOTE OF THE DAY “If the King’s English is good enough for Jesus Christ, it’s good enough for me.”

Miriam “Ma” Ferguson former Texas governor June 13, 1875 — June 25, 1961

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Opinion

Thursday, January 22, 2009

NIETZSCHE IS DEAD

PAGE 17

Budget cuts to higher education unfair, unwise LSU Students received another foreboding e-mail last Friday from the chancellor’s office concerning the budget cuts. A quote from that e-mail: “While we have yet to receive specifics, it is clear that the anticipated budget adjustment will, absent other funding sources, have dramatically negative impacts on our students, faculty, staff, campus, and all others we serve.”

We’re not used to hearing that kind of stark language in our broadcast e-mails.

The e-mail says the LSU System is preparing to deal with cuts of up to a staggering 31.6 percent in state funding.

That is, to put it lightly, absurd.

Why is the state cutting so much of the System’s funding?

Granted, the economy is

slowing, and Louisiana has to deal with massively shrinking oil revenues. But surely the government isn’t cutting such a huge percentage of budgets across the board.

By all estimates, Louisiana’s higher education and health care programs will take the brunt of budget cuts now that the surplus Jindal inherited — and promptly used to issue tax cuts, I might add — has turned into a deficit of about $341 million.

The outrageous part of the whole operation isn’t the huge amount that needs to be cut. Times are hard, so cuts are inevitable. The outrageous part is the target of the cuts.

Out of $341 million in cuts, higher education officials must “trim” $109 million. Health care officials have to “trim” $160 million.

You have to do that kind of

trimming with a chainsaw.

For those of you keeping score at home, health care and higher education alone account for $269 million of the cuts, leaving a mere $72 million dollars left to cut — among the entire rest of the budget.

It’s hard to explain just Matthew Albright how wrong this Columnist is without using some very choice expletives.

To be fair to Jindal and the Legislature, they didn’t exactly design it this way. Health care and higher education are always hardest hit from budget cuts because the state constitution is rigged that way.

In the past, legislators have

carefully placed restrictions on how to cut the state budget. Certain programs have protections placed on them — usually constitutionally mandated — that prevent the governor or the Legislature from significantly lowering the amount of funds being pumped into them.

Also, in the arcane, labyrinthine language of the law, certain programs draw funds from dedicated revenue sources, instead of the general budget. For example, certain taxes are devoted to specific programs.

The end result is when the state falls on hard times, it’s difficult or impossible to limit the funds being sent to those programs.

In theory, this is to protect “important” programs from being tampered with. But over the years, so many programs have been deemed “important” that only — you guessed

it — higher education and health care are deemed “unimportant.”

That’s right, college students, your education is one of two things the state government deals with that is “unimportant.” The other is making sure our state’s citizens have access to modern medicine.

This is patently ridiculous.

It’s in our interest as Louisianians, and especially as students, that these discrepancies be rectified.

Short-changing us — the state’s future citizens and leaders — is as short-sighted as it is unfair.

Jindal should call a special emergency session, where he and the Legislature remove these unfair protections, so the pain of downsizing is spread out evenly — and fairly.

Contact Matthew Albright at malbright@lsureveille.com

THIN PINK LINE

Preventive drugs no substitute for condom use

There’s a new and incredibly dangerous fad in certain sectors of the gay community these days.

Called “pre-exposure prophylaxis,” or PrEP, it’s the worst trend in sexual health since the Coca-Cola douche.

Rather than use condoms to prevent HIV transmission, men engaging in PrEP take a single dose of an illicitly obtained anti-HIV drug before having unprotected sex.

The idea is similar to postexposure prophylaxis, which is a well-studied method of preventing transmission of a pathogen after accidental contact. Patients are prescribed the full cocktail of AIDS medications and must take them for four full weeks, according to United States Public Health Service guidelines.

Studies of post-exposure drug treatment confirm its effectiveness, particularly when therapy is started immediately. But concluding from

this that a single pre-emptive treatment offers protection from AIDS is a Bush-level misunderestimation of HIV transmission.

Most immediately, there’s no data to support the idea that PrEP actually works. Preliminary animal trials have shown interesting results, but human testing has been derailed for political and ethical reasons.

It might seem logical that some kind of pre-emptive treatment could prevent infection, but fundamental questions about the practice have yet to be answered.

How long should patients take the preventive? Is a single dose of a single drug sufficient? Could a sufficiently large viral exposure overwhelm any drug treatment?

At this point, no doctor can do better than guess at these answers.

And there are worse possibilities than PrEP simply failing.

Consider antibiotic-resistant

bacteria. Antibacterial agents are now used so frequently that “superbugs” — bacteria unaffected by the most common antibiotics — have evolved. In many cases, patients infected by drugresistant strains die for lack of any effective treatment.

Just as the overuse of antibiotics has Matthew Patterson caused the evoColumnist lution of superbugs, so might the misuse of AIDS drugs in PrEP lead to an HIV strain able to shrug off today’s antivirals. Calling this a public health nightmare would be gross understatement.

Speaking of public health nightmares, HIV is not the only sexually transmitted infection out there. A recent report from the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention offers some sobering statistics.

Health authorities reported more than 1.1 million chlamydia infections — the highest number recorded in a single year — to the CDC in 2007. The number of syphilis cases among men has increased by 64 percent since 2003.

Thinking PrEP protects against other infections is an even bigger flight of fancy than assuming it guards against HIV. Despite these dire statistics, a marvelous device exists which offers a remarkable level of protection against all STIs. Consistent and proper use can decrease the risk of HIV infection by 85 percent, lower the risk of gonorrhea transmission in men by 71 percent and reduce chlamydia transmission by 33 percent, according to the National Institutes of Health.

This wondrous invention even

prevents pregnancy!

It’s called a condom.

If a drug with the same properties were developed, it would become the world’s best-selling medication overnight.

The desire to take a pill to solve life’s problems is understandably alluring, but one cannot wish away the obligation to treat oneself and one’s partners responsibly.

Sex is undeniably messy and complicated. Ironically, the best way to solve its myriad problems is to wrap them up in a neat latex package and throw it away at the end of the night.

Let’s see a magic pill do that.

Contact Matthew Patterson at mpatterson@lsureveille.com

VIEW FROM ANOTHER SCHOOL

Facts, fables for fueling your libido with assorted food

By Andrew Sheridan Massachusetts Daily Collegian, U. Mass.

AMHERST, Mass. (U-Wire) — Since the dawn of time, humankind has had two great obsessions: food and sex. In today’s world, they saturate every aspect of media and culture. It is little wonder that, along the way, society has tried to find foods that will cross the gap.

These foods, called “aphrodisiacs,” are said to have special properties that increase desire, energy and performance, and they can be found on virtually any continent. But how much of these legends are true, and what are the facts behind the tantalizing myths?

CHOCOLATE Most famous and arguably most delicious of all supposed aphrodisiacs, chocolate has been used for centuries by nobles and common people alike. While inconclusive, studies have suggested that women who eat more chocolate have higher sexual functions. It has been shown to boost serotonin and anandamide, two brain chemicals that contribute to the feelings of euphoria felt during sex. Regardless of the science, chocolate has a definite psychological effect, and a box of it left on that special someone’s pillow is sure to yield some results.

OYSTERS It has been said that these little

mollusks can, when eaten raw, increase testosterone production and kick-start sex drive. Although they do contain large amounts of zinc, a mineral that helps to maintain testosterone levels, oysters will be no more effective in this regard than the average multivitamin.

GINSENG In the far east, the Korean Red Ginseng root has been used for countless centuries to treat erectile dysfunction, and as a general male aphrodisiac. It turns out this herbal remedy has some science to back it up, as a recent university study showed significant improvement of ED symptoms among those who used the root’s extract.

HONEY In ancient Greece, honey was believed to be the nectar of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and desire, in addition to the namesake of all aphrodisiacs. The sticky, golden liquid is still associated with sex, and although its enormous sugar content is certain to boost energy, it has never been officially linked to eroticism.

RED WINE Science suggests that resveratrol, an antioxidant found in grapes, can be used to increase desire and sexual energy. While it is present in all grapes, the levels are highest in the red and purple varieties.

Red wine in particular is generally

associated with love because of its use in romantic settings.

WATERMELON While a recent study suggested this juicy fruit has Viagra-like properties, the active ingredient involved is contained mainly in the rind. So unless you are planning on getting some serious fiber out of the deal, watermelon is not the best choice for male enhancement.

Setting the mood is important both physically and emotionally. Just remember not to believe everything you hear.

Contact the Daily Reveille’s opinion staff at opinion@lsureveille.com

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 18

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LEWIS COMPUTER SERVICES, INC. PT Student Worker. Excellent student opportunity. Will be responsible for completing company errands and basic clerical work.

Must have a clean driving record, excellent communication skills, and basic computer skills. Previous office experience preferred.

No nights or weekends. Please e-mail resume and spring class schedule to jobs@lewis.com

TUTORS NEEDED BR based tutoring business has immediate openings for qualified tutors. COMPETETIVE PAY. Email resume and qualifications to jeremiah@professionaltutoring.org

NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT? The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of a medication on your body composition during weight loss. Earn up to $300. Call TODAY 763.3000

PAR T-TIME CLERICAL/RUNNER - Small law firm seeking dependable person for

225.545.2779 HELP WANTED NEW S TUDY... We are looking for people to participate in a 13-week study to determine whether a cream will help shift body fat from the thigh area to the breat. Earn up to $300. Call NOW 225.769.2955 F / T N ANNY NEEDED. Must have exp. & refs. Email resume to mevans@dcserviceagency.com or contact Michell 225.284.0573 S TUDENT WORK Local BR company expanding Fast! *$15.00 Base/appt* Flexible Schedules No experience nec Customer sales/ svc Conditions Apply Ages 17+ Apply NOW 225-927-3066 www.collegestudentwork.com HELP WANTED Part time cashiers and morning produce manager. Apply in person at 7675 Jefferson Hwy. 225.927.2051 N I N O ’ S I T A L I A N R E S T AU R A N T Nino’s is hiring servers/kitchen staff. Parttime, Full-time, lunch/dinner, flexible schedules. Accepting applications/interviews between 11/2 Mon-Fri. Or call to schedule interview. 225.757.9300 L A C A R R E T A R E S T AU R A N T Now Hiring Servers and Hosts, 4065 Government St, Flexible schedules, great pay and atmosphere, apply anytime M-F 225.334.9940 COLLEGE S TUDENT S: Make $5-$25 per survey. Do it in your spare time. www.

GetPaidToThink.com DON’T MISS THIS OPPOR T U N I T Y! Now hiring for all positions at the following locations: JEFFERSON 7615 Jefferson Hwy Baton Rouge 70809 PERKINS ROWE 7707 Bluebonnet Blvd.

Baton Rouge 70810 “Flexible schedules & Benefits for Full Time Associates” Please apply in person during regular restaurant hours.

Equal Opportunity Employer

CYCLONE L AUNDRY PT position avail.

Customer service oriented. Flexible hours.

623 E. Boyd Apply today! 225.767.5720 THE ROYAL S TANDARD - warehouse/stock associate needed to unload trucks & make deliveries for furniture store. Hours available on Tues, Thurs, & some Sat. Email beachbuzz@cox.net 225.751.0009 P/T BOOKKEEPER at interiors/gift store.

Flexible hours @ 15 hours/week.

Quickbooks knowledge a plus. $8/hour.

Email resume to highlandside@hotmail.com PHOTO EDITOR / Secretary in photographer’s office. 20 hrs/ week. Photoshop knowledge needed Email resume to cactusclyd@aol.com 225.769.4766 HAMPTON INN HOTEL -COLLEGE DR. has an immediate position open for night audit.

Come join our team! Benefits include vacation pay, holiday pay, sick pay and employee discounts at all Hilton properties. Night audit hours are 10:pm to 7:am, 7days on 7days off. Please apply in person at 4646 Constitution Ave. 225.926.9990 !BAR TENDING! Up to $300/Day. No Experience Necessary. Training Provided.

Age 18+ OK 1-800-965-6520 xt127

TWO P/T RECEPTIONIS T S / F ile Clerks needed for small law firm. Coor dinate work schedules for M-F. Must be depend a b l e , r e s p o n s i b l e . S a l a r y DOE. Email Resume’ and availability to L a d y J a y n e @ a o l . c o m o r f a x : 7 5 6 - 5 6 76

DENTAL OFFICE P/T dental assistant/receptionist needed for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Great opportunity for those interested in medical/dental field. Please fax resume to 225.766.2122

EARN EXTR A MONEY Students needed ASAP Earn up to $150 per day being a mystery shopper No Experience Required Call 1-800-722-4791

W A I T S T AFF NEEDED Cafe Mediterranean is hiring a wait staff MS 11am-2pm and 5pm-9pm to fit your schedule. Free meals 10 minutes from campus. We will train. 4347 Perkins road 225.336.4501

N E E D E X T R A $CASH$?

We are filling 8 positions ASAP-great starting pay, part-time/full-time available. We provide training, customer sales/service.

Conditions apply-CALL NOW:225-927-7424 or apply at zf9.com

SURVEY RESEARCHERS NEEDED! LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab is now hiring survey researchers for weekend and night work only. Must have a clear speaking voice, be friendly, willing to communicate with people over the phone, and to follow set procedures. Pay is competitive, $7-9/ hour. Flexible hours! Great place to work!

Prior experience a plus but not required.

Contact Kathryn Rountree, Operations Manager, krount1@lsu.edu to set up an interview.

PERFECT PAR T TIME POSITION Afternoon Preschool Teacher needed for child care center near LSU.2:30-5:30 M-F 225-7661159 WE PAY UP TO $75 per online survey. www. CashToSpend.com M/F PERSON AL CARE M/F personal care attendant for 23 yr.old male client in White Castle. Needs total assistance with self help skills. Several part-timers needed to work weekday 10/11 hour day shifts. $8.50/hr.

225-545-2779,545-9661,324-1057.

MARKET RESEARCH ASSIS TANT P. T. Mass Comm, English, history, business major needed for online research and writing.

Requires intelligence, curiousity, persistence, attention to detail and accuracy.

Send resume to charles@riderresearch.com or fax 225.769.7166. www.onlinereporter.com

PJS COFFEE Now Hiring!

100 Lafayette St. and 7248 Perkins Rd. 225.381.0055 NANNY NEEDED $10-$15/hr; p/t 3 great kids in Gnzls. 225.603.9285

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2009 approx. 20-30 hrs per week; duties include light typing, filing, answering phones and running errands. Please send resumes to heather@jordanandprice.com.

FT / PT Delivery & assembly. Mechanically inclined preferred. Apply in person @ Fitness Expo 9603 Airline hwy. 10am-3pm, M-F. G Y M N AS T I C S / T U M B L I N G I N S TRUCTOR C. G.’s Gymnastics Inc. is searching for knowledgeable, reliable, & committed staff.

225.275.5597 FITNESS ATTENDANT S – P/T Expd., energetic fitness attendants; fast-paced environment. Flex schedules. Primary responsibilities include fitness assessments,& member orientations. FREE membership.

Apply in person to: The Paula G. Manship YMCA, 8100 YMCA Plaza Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70810 (225) 767-9622 - Ricky Credo WEB & GR APHIC S TUDENT POSITION The Communications Department at

THE DAILY REVEILLE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2009 Pennington Biomedical Research Center is looking to hire a student worker to assist in updating and organizing web site content and graphic design. Basic HTML knowledge required. Graphics skills a plus. 20 hrs/wk.

ISDS, Computer Science, or Design majors should apply. Send resumes with references to PenningtonCommunications@pbrc.edu PRE-DENTAL HYGIENE will train as a Hygiene assistant to work on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Pleas call 225.296.5980 225.296.5980 DENTAL L AB ASSIS TANT Part-time position available with flexible hours; 20 hours per week; sterilization, inventory and other related duties; uniforms provided; $7.50/hr.; fax resume 293-3218.

225.292.8121 SUBWAY 4250 Burbank, next to Izzos.

Fast, fun, friendly. No late nights. Day shifts available. Eat Fresh!

MAKE $12-1 5 / H R PLUCKERS MAKE $12-15/HR PLUCKERS IS NOW HIRING DELIVERY DRIVERS APPLY AT 4225 NICHOLSON STUDENT S TO WORK with children/ adults with disabilities. Several positions, various hours. Apply: St. John the Baptist Human Services, 7732 Goodwood Blvd, Suite A-1 225.216.1199 DRUSILL A SEAFOOD is now hiring...waitstaff, bartenders, cashiers and kitchen help. Apply in person at 3482 Drusilla Lane. $15/POOL Pool cleaning techs needed.

Will work around school schedule. Weekly pay. We supply truck, fuel, plus commission on chemical sales. Email resume to todd@russellpools.com.

SWIMMING LESSONS INS T R U C T O R S NEEDED Great Part Time Afternoon Spring Semester Job-Full Time Summer Job- Great Pay! CRAWFISH AQUATICS, Louisiana’s Total Swim Program- If you are highly motivated, hard working, we can teach you the rest. Please fax resume to 225-706-1636 or e-mail to swimcraw@bellsouth.net PARKVIEW BAPTIS T PRESCHOOL Preschool Teachers needed flex days no degree required 293-9447 PARKVIEW BAPTIS T PRESCHOOL Preschool Teachers needed 3-6 p.m. flex days. no degree required 293-9447

FOR SALE TIGER MANOR CONDOMINIUMS. U N I T S R E A D Y F O R S P R I N G & F ALL 2009!! Brand new 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units for sale s t a r ting at $124,900. Ask about our Guaranteed Buy -Back Program!! 3000 July St. 225-346-5055 www.tigermanor.com QUEEN PILLOWTOP MATTRESS Brand name queen pillowtop mattress set new in plastic $150. 225-924-5336 BOOK SHELF for sale. Came out of a corporate office. Dark wood color. Will deliever locally. 4ft tall 3ft wide, 2 moveable shelves. Will email picture, westsidebullfrogs@yahoo.com 225.810.3012 CHERRY BED WITH MATTRESS SET Both NEW in boxes with warranty $395 225.924.5336 CLEAR UMBRELL A “Rare”, “1960’s” “See thru umbrella!!” www. M y C l e a r U m b r e l l a . c o m 57” HDT V 4 S ALE 4 yr old 57” Hiatchi ultravision HDTV. very clear, $600 OBO 225.715.6906 L SU AREA - New 3BR, 3 1/2 bath, 1837 LA - Attached garage, Gated Complex, Granite Counter Tops, Stained Floors -

Appliances included - Open Daily - 10 to 5. $233,000 to $252,000. Jane St. Amant Keller Williams - 225-937-6430 225.769.4342 FOR S ALE - HOUSE BY L SU, $125K 1252 Aster 225-937-4003 EngleRealty.net BRPropertySearch.com RentLSU.com 225.937.4003

FOR RENT HEATHERS TONE TOWNHOUSE 2BR/1.5B Like new! Bus rt, cvd pkg, FP $1100 + utL 225.405.0842 2BR/2BA SUBLEASE TIGER PL AZA 900 plus electric, all appliances, pets ok, on bus route, move in ready 225.937.0298 HUGE HOUSE FOR $395 ROOMMATE WANTED TO SHARE HUGE HOUSE IN NICE AREA NEAR LEE AND COLLEGE DR. 225.772.2506 CONDO FOR RENT 2 bedroom/2 bath gated condo on Dalr ymple dr. Washer, dr yer, cable, internet, and water included. $1250. 225.266.407 6 CONDO FOR RENT 3BR-2B-Remodeled Patio garden-Off Perkins-near bluebonnetMature Students only-$1200/ Mo-7618702 TIGER MANOR CONDOMINIUMS. U N I T S R E A D Y F O R S P R I N G & F ALL 2009! Brand new 1, 2, & 3 bedrooms available.

R e s e r v e y o u r u n i t t o d a y ! Wa l k t o c l a s s !

3000 July St. 225-346-5055. www . t i g e r manor.com NEWLY REMODELED 2BR/1B duplex w/yard pet ok $650 McDaniel Prop 225.388.9858 L SU: TIGERL AND 1 & 2 BR. FLAT & TH WOOD FLOORS, POOL, LAUNDRY, QUIET $525-$725 225.766.7224 CHATEAU DU COUR IN TIGERL AND Large 2 BR 1 B in gated complex..7722429 mckproperties.com 3BR/2BA CONDO Like New. Free Cable.

Community Pool. Extra Parking. Great Location at LSU. $1500/mo.

225.202.1148 NEW & BEAUTIFUL!! Tigerland large 1BR $550 & 2BR $750. Completed 1/15.. real tile & carpet, granite, paint, wood cabi-

nets! Be the first to live here since remodel! —-297 4009 HOUSES, APT’S & CONDOS 4 RENT! To View Avail. Rentals In All Areas go to www.keyfindersbr.com 225.293.3000 LIVE CHEAP 3br/1ba walk to campus.. $650—w/d included—3065 Iowa—Call Rusty 225.892.8702 ROOM FOR SUBLEASE at campus crossings brightside, three female roommates, 4br/2ba, master bedroom, fully furnished, $475/ month utilities, call Emily 504.495.0765 1 & 2 BD RM CONDO FR REN JUST OUTSIDE THE SOUTH GATES OF LSU. FRIG, WSHR/ DRYR, MICRO, STOVE, DECK. 4264, 4278 595.00 695.00 & 995.00.

323.691.3129 T O W N H O M E F O R R E N T 2 Bed Rm, 1.5 Bath, with washer/ Dr yer. on L SU bus line, $ 675/month, call 225-802-1961 L U X U R Y 1 br condo next to LSU $950 225.769.5872 FOR RENT 3BR 2 BATH UNIVERSITY VIEW ON EAST BOYD. $1200/MO MOVE IN FEB 504.782.0696

ROOMMATES FEM. ROOMMATE NEEDED AS AP for Spring Semester. $650/mo incl utilities. In Garden District. See listing on FB. krento1@lsu.edu FEMALE ROOMMATE NEEDED for 2 bdrm, 1 bath. Rent $500 w/ utilities. Walking distance to campus. Available immediately.

Call for more info 504.559.4737 $395 ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED!!! ROOMMATES-WANTED TO SHARE HUGE-3BR3BATH-HOUSE WITH MALE. EXCLUSIVE AREA-CONGRESS-PERKINS. HIGHSPEEDNET-CABLE-ALARM-WASHER-DRYER-LARGEYARD-GATED. GREAT FOR ENTERTAINMENTLSU.225.772.2506 R O O M A TE NEEDED

PAGE 18 House near Highland $350 504.427.9075 ROOM IN GOOD house. W&D, alarm, etc.

No lease needed. $260 + shared utilities. $250 dep. 225.921.1209 FEMALE ROOMATE WANTED Beautiful house on lake shared with 2 other students close to LSU / security, cable, coverd parking etc.495./ mo 225-933-7124

PERSONALS

century bloke looking for ye olde fair lasses to show me a 21st century good time. I need a distressed damsel who shares my interests of slaying dragons and drinking by the gourd. No plague victims, please. =) I’ve just discovered “electronic mail,” so send all queries to medievalmark69@gmail.com FAL A POR TUGUES? 22 yr old gal looking to practice her portuguese. Everyone welcome! Fica bem contact:beethovensfeast@gmail.com

LF1M Quietly confident and fun male tired of gaming alone. Looking for shy guy to play with, hang out, and maybe date. Let’s take a chance. Hope you are out there! lsugaymer@gmail.com

I WANT TO BE YOUR DERIVATIVE so I can lie tangent to your curves. Nerdy ndn chick seeking an intelligent and attractive conversationalist. Ladies only, please—I’m tired of natural logs approaching the asymptote. sheenyinabottle@hotmail.com

PARLEZ- VOUS FR ANCAIS? I am a female undergraduate seeking “un gentil homme” who likes to “laissez les bon temps rouler”.

I enjoy cooking, playing the guitar, LSU athletics, the sciences and French (bien sûr).

Interested? Contact me at: la_bonnevivante@hotmail.com

LOOKING FOR MY SOULMATE I am a Business Major here at LSU. Looking for guys ages 45-60. If you are interested send me an email. c.mumford@yahoo.com

LOOKING FOR A JOUS TING PAR TNER 16th

SEARCHING 4 SOULMATE 20yo Asian guy seeking masculine guy 18-23 to date.

Races open. I’m a sweetheart! tigerboy1988@gmail.com

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THE DAILY REVEILLE

thursday, january 22, 2009