PARKING Plans for a parking garage postponed until 2010, page 3.
NEWS Board of Supervisors to discuss budget cut proposals, page 3.
FREE AGENCY
Students, draft analyst intrigued by activity opening the NBA’s offseason, page 5.
THE DAILY REVEILLE Summer Edition
WWW.LSUREVEILLE.COM
Volume 113, Issue 151
Safe Sightseeing
University upholds guidelines for safety while studying abroad By Mary Walker Baus Contributing Writer
Most people seem to have the time of their lives studying abroad in a foreign country, but a recent USA Today article points out that trouble could be lurking around the corner. The article features the tragic story of Jenee Klotz, of Tampa, Fla. who was “robbed, sexually assaulted and stabbed while walking
back to her host family’s home” on her semester abroad in Jamaica. The article also mentions how no agency keeps track of health, safety or security incidents on a national level. While no study abroad trip is without some scale of emergency, LSU’s Academic Programs Abroad has assessed the risks and now seems to have a handle on the article’s concerns. “A few years back, we had a student who began to have seri-
photos courtesy of Jill Clemmons
[Top] Rebecca Erwin (left) and Laura Chan (right), mass communication juniors, pose in front of the 2000-year-old Roman baths in Bath, England. [Bottom] (Clockwise from top) Leah Friedriches, Ashley Schwertz, Kayli Capshaw, Brandi Roach and Sarah Sisto went to Swahili, Africa as part of the Swahili Safari.
ous problems with swelling on his legs,” Harold Leder, APA interim director, said in an e-mail. “The director took him to a hospital in Nuremberg to have him checked out, and they found out there that he was suffering from acute kidney failure. It was nothing he had caught in Germany, but rather happened to be diagnosed while we were there. ” Leder said he cannot release the student’s name. Jill Clemmons, Summer Programs coordinator at the University, said this incident happened in summer 2006, before any formal procedure for health, safety and security was adopted by APA. She said the formalized procedure of incident reports and risk management went into affect summer 2007, adding that the acute kidney failure was the worst health incident APA has had since she’s been there. Incident reports for health issues like kidney failure are required to be filed by the director, the student and APA. For disciplinary incidents, Clemmons said directors make a judgment call whether they want to file a report. “Anything that harms a student or the group has to be reported,” Clemmons said. “Hospital and police ... we want that reported. ” Clemmons said APA follows the study abroad standards set by the National Association of Foreign ABROAD, see page 7
Thursday, July 16, 2009
BUDGET CUTS
University announces furlough plan By Kyle Bove Senior Writer
Chancellor Michael Martin sent an e-mail to University faculty and staff on Wednesday, outlining his furlough — unpaid time off — plan for professional and classified employees. The University released its basic plan to reduce about $19 million from its operating budget last week, and 100 layoffs or job eliminations are expected. “The purpose of the furloughs is to minimize layoffs on the LSU campus,” Martin said in the e-mail. The reduction in work hours and furloughs will be differentiated based on annual salaries, Martin said. Professional employees — nonfaculty administrative employees — making less than $30,000 a year will not have to endure a furlough, while professional employees making between $30,000 and $74,999 will see a 2 percent salary reduction (a 35 work hour furlough). Professional staff making between $75,000 and $149,999 will see a 3 percent salary reduction (a 52 work hour furlough), and those making more than $150,000 will see a 4 percent salary reduction (a 69 hour work furlough) as well. Classified employees — civil service employees — making less FURLOUGHS, see page 7
ECONOMY
Gas prices reach summer summit Experts: vacation plans may be put on hold By Steven Powell Contributing Writer
Ashley Thomas is staying close to home this summer and avoiding vacation time because of high prices at the gas pump. “We went on vacation last summer, but I didn’t have to pay for gas,” the biology senior said. “This year we’re not going anywhere because gas prices are too high.”
Following a sharp drop-off at the end of last year, gas prices have been steadily increasing this summer. But Michael Right, AAA vice president of public affairs, said AAA predicts gas prices have hit their summer peak and will now slowly even out. “There is nothing happening in the oil markets right now to suggest a rapid increase in prices anytime soon,” he said. “However, no one predicted last summer that prices would rise to $4 dollars a gallon.” Oil is selling at less than $60 a barrel — down from $71 a barrel on June 15, Right said.
As of July 14, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Louisiana was $2.438. The price on June 14 was $2.55, while the price a year ago was $4, according to AAA. Some oil refineries cut back production at the end of last year because oil supply exceeded demand, and refineries weren’t making money, Right said. “We started the year in good shape, but started to see the demand pick up,” he said. “Some refineries that had shut down for repairs re-opened and had to play catch-up to meet demand.” GAS, see page 7
ZAC LEMOINE / The Daily Reveille
Todd Escalona, biology graduate student, pumps gas at the Nicholson Chevron on Wednesday night.