LEGACY Fall 2012 Issue 1 by Reveille

IS YOUR FAITH INSIDE YOU? Professor Steven Barker talks DMT research and its possible link to religion

up and stand + Stand out this football season

Skip the gym. Laugh your way to FITNESS When Natty Light just doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do it

A guide to home brewing

staff

Letter from the Editor

Editor-in-Chief Sydni Dunn

Managing Editor Katie Macdonald

Photo Editor Zach Breaux

Art Director Christina Li

Multimedia Director Keyshae Robinson

Designers

Brittany Gay Kelly Kral Kirsten Romaguera

Writers

Sydney Blanchard Elizabeth Clausen Clayton Crockett Austen Krantz Kate Mabry Kaitlyn Mercer Kevin Thibodeaux

Sydni Dunn EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Photographers

Jesse Guillory Benjamin Oliver Hicks Lainey Reed Kristen Soileau

Sales

Annabel Mellon

Technology adviser Alex Cook

Adviser

Bob Ritter

Publisher

Office of Student Media

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hings are changing at LEGACY. So much, in fact, that next time you see the publication on stands it will have a different name. Though the magazine has thrived in providing varied content and captivating photos for its readers, it has lacked a consistent identity. To fix this, the fall 2012 staff decided to take on a drastic, but much-needed, overhaul. The look, the style and, most importantly, the name will be revamped to better reflect the mission of the magazine: to serve the University’s student body and its culture. LEGACY launched a NAME YOUR MAGAZINE campaign in August that invited students to help accomplish this goal. After a flood of title suggestions, the staff narrowed the options, conducted focus groups and selected the winner. The rebooted magazine, with its new name, will be unveiled on Nov. 5, when the second issue hits the racks. Until then, you will start to see hints of our progress — in print and online. As you flip through the next 40 pages, please note the modern, but streamlined, template, complete with magazine departments for a more reader-friendly feel; the diverse content, including quick-read articles and long-form feature stories; and the striking photos and graphics. And after you finish, check us out online for website exclusive content, interactive features, blogs to accompany the print articles and more. It’s an exciting time in B26 Hodges Hall, and we want you to be part of our evolution. It’s your campus, your culture, and now, it can truly be your magazine.

Find us online www.lsulegacymag.com

@LSULEGACY Like us on Facebook LEGACY is a quarterly student-produced magazine that explores the diverse community of Louisiana State University through in-depth features, profiles and photography. LEGACY focuses on student entertainment, leisure and academics, and it strives to be informative, provocative and dynamic.

FALL 2012

ISSUE 1

table of CONTENTS MUSIC + CULTURE 06 | On the Record with Prom Date 08 | Photo Essay: Inferneaux 11 | Grooving with Godshall 12 | Tailgate Fashion Guide

FOOD 15 | Gone to Market 16 | Home Brew How-To

HEALTH + LIVING 36 | Laughter Yoga 38 | Take a Hike 40 | Designing on a Dime

OPINION 42 | Dating at a Distance

FEATURES 18 | A Dedicated Interest How far would you go for the one you love? Here are some students who travel the extra mile in the name of music.

22 | Reach Out and Touch Faith Professor Steven Barker studies hallucinogenic compound DMT, its effects on you — and possibly your faith.

26 | Growing Hope See how one University student is teaching Haitians how to grow produce and profit.

29 | Academia: It’s a Boys’ Club If you guessed the percentage of female professors nationwide was 40 or 50 percent, you’d be wrong.

32 | Bicycle Man You’ve seen him riding around campus, but do you really know Jefferson Opal?

LEGACY

fall 2012

YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;VE NAMED YOUR MAGAZI After hearing your title suggestions, LEGACY has made its choice. Check out your revamped and renamed student magazine on stands Nov. 5. Thanks for helping us make LSU history.

LEGACY LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY

MAGAZINE

INE

LOOK FOR OUR NEW NAME IN NOVEMBER.

BUT FOR NOW, ENJOY THIS ISSUE.

ON THE CORD RE

MUSIC

with

Prom Date

WORDS BY austen krantz

PHOTOS BY lainey reed

Prom Date performs Aug.25 at Spanish Moon with guest singer Christine Pierce, who will appear on the band’s next album.

Stage partying, synth-poppers Prom Date perform across south- A: We didn’t for a long time. In some of the older stuff Brett wrote ern Louisiana armed with catchy melodies, unique musical effects, an unending enthusiastic stage presence and soon a whole new set of material with the addition of their upcoming full length album. Since 2007 the group has developed a local following and has shared experiences with similar musical outfits, performing in venues from New Orleans to Austin’s South By Southwest Music Festival. The band keeps busy by recording new music, preparing for its first music video and playing across state lines. Despite this packed schedule, keyboardist and vocalist David Fuller took time to speak with LEGACY magazine about Prom Date’s history and future plans.

most of the lyrics, if not all, for “Clock Out” and things like that. He would occasionally use a male pronoun like “he” or “him,” but it was never very outright. But when Brett wrote “Good Morning Boyfriend,” it was just so refreshing because if you take out the word boyfriend, that song could be about anybody. It’s just a really sweet sentiment for a song. Yeah, we’re gay — at least two of us are — that’s a part of who we are, but it doesn’t define us. We’re not shying away from it, but we’re not throwing it in your face. Since we’ve written that song, lyrically, musically and personally, we’ve all just become so much more comfortable.

Q: What was it like trying to get a band like Prom Date going in Q: Baton Rouge? Were there other similar groups around to compare notes with?

A: It’s always funny because we always said starting out is the hard-

est part. It’s just frustrating because — at least for us — we had to establish ourselves by ourselves. We couldn’t really find other bands that sounded super like us. At first you have to sacrifice playing cohesive shows, getting whatever you can, like whoever will listen to you. Promoters want to know that you’re going to bring people, so you’re proving yourself.

In some of your lyrics you guys allude to romantic relationships and sexual preference. How and why do you compose lyrical themes like that?

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Has the band changed in any way you guys weren’t expecting musically or in other ways since you began recording?

Something in us always wanted to make electronic music, but now that we’re just settling back and finding our own sound, it’s hard to ever really expect what that’s going to be. You always know what your strengths are and your abilities and seeing that potential realized as a group has been really fun. We were always in control of what we were doing and very mindful. But [changing] in the ways we didn’t expect is almost always the most fun.

Can you recall any big learning experiences you’ve had that helped you become a better band?

Last spring we went to South By Southwest. When we went

MUSIC + CULTURE

we were just blown away by all the bands we saw. We’ve always been high energy, but some of the bands we saw had such interesting set ups and had such unique sounds … There were crazy vocal effects and crazy costumes and lights. It really opened our mind to what people are doing these days. Just seeing the creativity of all these other bands that are up-and-coming was so fun.

Q: You’re working on a full-length album. How’s that going? A: We’ve got about half of it done. We did a week of recording back in July. We’ve got about five songs done, more or less. The first week of October we’re going to go finish up.

Q: What direction have you guys taken this album in? A: It’s got a lot of synths, but there’s more electric bass and electric

guitar. With some of these newer songs, I think we’re trying to do calmer stuff and prettier stuff. For the longest time we made upbeat, fun songs, but I think we’re going to throw in some acoustic guitar and some piano and lots of vocal harmonies. We’ve been singing with the girl from [Lafayette band] Rareluth, Christine Pierce. Brent and I both have choral backgrounds. We grew up singing in church choirs and stuff, so we really like the richness of three-part harmony. We’ve been building that into most of the songs.

Read Prom Date’s full interview at

lsulegacymag.com LEGACY

fall 2012

INFERNEAUX PHOTOS BY lainey reed

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Inferneaux Fire Performance Troupe, LLC is a professional performance group based in Baton Rouge. The fiery troupe provides unique entertainment, blending music, dance and, of course, flames.

MUSIC + CULTURE

Inferneaux member Katie Gromlovits leaves a fiery trail during her eye-catching performance.

[Above] Performer Lauren McCallum practices on Aug. 11 for the Halloween opening of Necropolis 13 at the 13th Gate. [Right] Members of the troupe rehearse a synchronized routine. [Left page]Performer Jason Rumfola creates a ring of fire by twirling flaming batons behind his back.Rumfola, of Inferneaux Fire Performance Troupe, creates a ring of fire by twirling flaming batons behind his bason Rumfola, of Inferneaux Fire

LEGACY

fall 2012

Lauren McCallum and Katie Gromlovits, of Inferneaux Fire Performance Troupe, dance among the flames, whirling them around their bodies.

Lauren McCallum and Katie Gromlovits of Inferneaux Fire Performance Troupe, practicing for the opening of Necropolis 13 this Halloween, at the 13th Gate, August 11

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MUSIC + CULTURE

GROOVING WITH

GODSHALL

WORDS BY kaitlyn mercer

Screenwriting professor Zack Godshall’s iPod is just as eclectic as his personality.

PHOTOS BY jesse guillory

Filmmakers are often a mysterious breed, and the eccentric Zack Godshall is no exception. Just take a look at his current iPod playlist. “Instead of songs,” he said, “I’m listing albums, collections, and concert pieces, in alphabetical order, and only the Johns.” This quirky detail is one of many. Godshall, Honors College alumnus and screenwriting professor, is rarely found sitting at his desk, instead opting for the outdoors, armed with a camera and his ball cap. Whether he’s writing award-winning screenplays or trekking through Louisiana’s swamps for the perfect shot, Godshall personifies southern culture in his films. Godshall is the first native Louisiana director since 1989 to have his work featured in the Sundance Film Festival, a worldrenowned independent film festival in Salt Lake City, Utah. Godshall’s most recent film “Lord Byron,”a rendition of the Greek tragedy set in southern Louisiana, appeared in the 2011 lineup. The movie, which features Byron as an average middle-aged man that yearns for purpose in his life, was filmed on a $1,000 budget. “Making a film on a small budget transforms ... challenges into opportunities for innovation,” Godshall said. “The biggest challenge came when we had to hike a mile out of a flooded woods at midnight.” Going the extra mile has certainly paid off. The proof is in his numerous awards. His accolades include Best Feature for “Low and Behold” at the 2007 Bend Film Festival, New Orleans Film Festival and Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival. “Low and Behold” narrates the tale of a man living in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans who risks his job to help another man find his lost dog. Godshall chose to create this work, filmed on location, just a few months after Katrina. Godshall said his mind is always open to any inspiration for his work, including music.

“I try not to prescribe what might possibly strike a chord,” he said. “Perhaps a song that I’ve long forgotten still plays in my subconscious mind, ever influencing my creative hand, a hidden mover influencing a film’s pacing, the length of a shot, the turn of a phrase.” He considers music an integral part of his work but utilizes music in his films only when necessary. “Lately, I have been thinking a lot about how music can be elusive and evocative of something unseen,” he said. “A film’s music can open internal windows that give a film more breath and breadth.” He said he can’t appropriate one specific genre of music to his films, and he wouldn’t want to, noting “how music influences me remains mysterious.”

Want to stream Zack Godshall’s entire playlist? Listen at

lsulegacymag.com

Avalon Blues MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT Blue Train JOHN COLTRANE Harmonium JOHN ADAMS Shaved Fish JOHN LENNON Stabat Mater GIOVANNI PERGOLESI Violin Concerto in D JOHANNES BRAHMS

LEGACY

fall 2012

STAND

Purple classic fit LSU logo tee ($22) from Bengals & Bandits.

AND

STAND

OUT LEGACY’S OFFICIAL GUIDE TO TAILGATE FASHION

WORDS BY sydney blanchard PHOTOS BY jesse guillory It’s football season, and we know what that means: knocking back a few cold ones and thieving Raising Cane’s chicken tenders from strangers’ tailgates while cheering the Tigers on to victory. ‘Tis the season! But let’s face it — the beer goes down smoother, the stolen chicken tastes crispier, and the victory is sweeter when you look like a million bucks. So, LEGACY put in the hard work for you and spoke with some local store owners to get their take on how to stay fashionable during this tailgate season. What does writer Sydney Blanchard have to say? Read her Opinion at

l s u l e g a c y m a g. c o m

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Vertigo Bengals & Bandits Purple printed high-low dress ($42) and purple cross neclace ($30), both from Vertigo.

“We really focus on patterns, something that’s not expected, and go from there.” - Heather Gahagan, owner

“It’s not your traditional LSU apparel.” - Patrick Wilkerson, owner

Stay looking polished and chic in Vertigo’s super sassy purple and gold prints, said owner Heather Gahagan. Vertigo has tons of dresses, skirts, tops and shirts to meet any tailgate fashionista’s needs, but it specializes in off-kilter, LSU-reminiscent color schemes and patterns for that added edge. Be on the lookout for trends like short-shorts, high-low skirts and dresses, and trendy sideways cross necklaces in LSU colors.

Head to Bengals & Bandits for premium T-shirts featuring in-store and retro LSU designs. These aren’t your typical tees, said owner Patrick Wilkerson. Soft and stylish Tshirts in every shade of purple and gold line the walls of this store, he said. They also carry a selection of LSU accessories for men and women, such as hats and sunglasses. Wilkerson said the store looks to old LSU yearbook photos to bring back retro designs.

Overall Message: Spice up your tailgate ensemble with LSU-inspired purple and gold print dresses, tops, shorts and accessories.

Overall Message: Not everyone wants to rock a box-cut, 100% cotton T-shirt, and Bengals & Bandits caters to those people.

MUSIC + CULTURE Louisiana tee from Storyville ($22).

Time Noelie

Warp

Harmon

Boutique

Yellow LSU logo tank ($22) from Bengals & Bandits and a purple and blue striped skirt ($32) from Noelie Harmon.

“When it comes to vintage, you always want to rack up on things that are purple and gold.” - Amy Strother, owner Noelie Harmon offers a mixture of pieces from local artisans, reclaimed vintage items and custom TOMS shoes. For those who want to stand out in an acid wash jean skirt and a funky sequined sweater, Noelie Harmon is the place to shop. The store carries the South’s largest collection of TOMS shoes, and for around $10 extra, the store will customize a pair of TOMS for LSU football season, according to owner Amy Strother. Overall Message: Mixing pieces from local designers and vintage items with a pair of team-spirited TOMS shoes is the way to go.

Storyville

Tropical skirt ($28) and purple leotard ($24) from Time Warp, and a gold neclace ($20) from Vertigo.

“We try to branch out ... we want to create and reflect the civic pride of Baton Rouge so it’s not just LSU all the time.” - Josh Harvey, owner

“We would like to see more people show their team spirit by dressing themselves as an individual at the games.” - Joshua Holder, owner

Storyville has the hookup on amazing unisex tees and tanks printed by Storyville and designed by you. Storyville has a reputation for humorous designs: they currently sell a shirt featuring the state Capitol with the words “Ours is Bigger.” How’s that for phallic imagery? And for the tailgate season, they carry a purple shirt with a Death Valley design.

Go green and stand out in Time Warp’s environmentally-friendly, one-of-a-kind vintage pieces. Owner Joshua Holder said Time Warp has a lot to offer this tailgate season, from classic cut-offs to 80s rompers in LSU colors. Holder said students can accessorize any outfit with their huge selection of interesting belts and eye-catching earrings and necklaces in purple and gold.

Overall Message: Switch it up with some BR pride shirts designed by locals and handpicked and printed by Storyville.

Overall Message: Don’t be over the top, just try adding interesting touches of purple and gold to any outfit. Be yourself.

LEGACY

fall 2012

kilt two manny buh-rain sales?

So You Think You Know Words The new LSU trivia game

Coming Soon It will be available for play in The Daily Reveille, online at www.lsureveille.com, & on your iPhone, iPad, & Android in the LSU Reveille App.

food

GONE TO MARKET WORDS BY elizabeth clausen While the LSU AgCenter Dairy Store is best known for its frozen treats, it also offers a wide variety of some of the freshest meats in town. In the Dairy Store, you can purchase cuts of beef, pork, lamb and goat that were raised and prepared right on campus. “The farm is out on Ben Hur Road down Nicholson [Road], so it’s all LSU-raised animals that are slaughtered on campus … This is probably as fresh as you’re going to get it,” said Emily Shields, animal sciences senior and Dairy Store employee. “[Manuel] ‘Boo’ Persica is the Meat [Laboratory] manager, so he’s in charge of it — but the rest of it is run by student worker help and [graduate] student help.” The animals are slaughtered in the LSU Meat Lab’s slaughterhouse, located in Francioni Hall. According to the LSU Meat Lab website, the Meat Lab is an U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection

PHOTOS BY benjamin oliver hicks

Service accredited laboratory program for protein, moisture, fat, and salt, with random samples inspected on a monthly basis from each meat processing plant. The meat is packaged and frozen in the Meat Lab, then delivered to the Dairy Store on a bi-monthly basis. “It’s pretty random — we probably get a freezer full maybe like twice a month,” Shields said. “We don’t have a certain day that stuff comes in. Usually, it’s once every few weeks.” Similar to its unpredictable shipment schedule, different cuts of meat, like filets, Tbones, porterhouses or ribs, are available at different times. While Shields said ground beef, goat meat and pork chops are the store’s most popular meats, she pointed out that all of the meat sells quickly once it hits the shelves. “Whenever people hear that we have a new set in, it goes pretty fast,” she said. “And

for two pounds of meat it’s only two, three dollars. So it’s pretty cheap, and it’s convenient. You don’t have to leave campus.” Originally founded as the LSU Creamery in 1905, the Dairy Store began selling meat products just three years ago, said Charles Boeneke, animal sciences associate professor, who helps to run the store. “Whenever we merged in with the School of Animal Sciences, they used to have a meat sale in Francioni,” he said. “We thought it’d be a good fit to start carrying it in the store and allow people to have access to it at all times rather than at certain times of the year.” Boeneke said since all proceeds from the Dairy Store go to the animal sciences program, buying meat from the store is a way that students can support the University. “It’s a great way to promote the AgCenter and LSU,” he said. “That, and it’s good stuff.”

COST PER POUND (FROM LSU DAIRY STORE)

CUT COST

Tenderloin

T-Bone

Porterhouse

$12

$8.75

Eye of

Gravy Steak

Chuck Round

Top Round

Arm Steak

Ground Beef

$3.25

$3.50

$3.40

$2.50

Round Roast

LEGACY

fall 2012

HOME BREW HOW-TO WORDS BY kate mabry

PHOTOS BY zach breaux

While brand names like Budweiser and Abita have made their mark, some students are brewing outside the barrel. “I’ve always liked drinking beer, and I love doing hands-on things,” said Spencer Wilcox, mechanical engineering senior. “I started working on little hobbies, figuring out how to do things and make them better. It’s one reason why I’m going into engineering.” Wilcox said a friend introduced him to home brewing, the art of mixing up homemade beer batches, and after purchasing his first brewing set-up kit online, he was able to make his first batch. “It came out really well,” he said. “It was actually one of my best batches.” Although many beginner brewers buy their first kit online, Wilcox said anyone can purchase the necessary items at hardware stores like Home Depot or Lowes for less. Wilcox bought his first online kit for

approximately $140 but said a beginner can buy the supplies for less than $50. “You need a food-safe bucket with an air-lock lid, fermentation gear and a 5-gallon pot,” he said. “There are even some brewery shops in Baton Rouge. I would tell anyone interested in brewing that they aren’t going to save any money by doing it, but they’ll enjoy it a lot.” Mechanical engineering senior Ryan Hildebrant said he and his roommate, geography junior AJ Beau, have been brewing for almost a year in their apartment’s kitchen. During his free time last summer, Hildebrant said he often checked Stumbleupon, a discovery engine that recommends web pages, photos and videos online, and selected the option to find websites about beer. “I kept finding all these sites about ‘home brew’ and ‘how to brew your own beer’ and other stuff like that, so I got interested in finding out what home brew was,”

The Brewing Process: Step-by-Step

he said. “I did some online research about it and found two highly recommended books for people who want to start home brewing: ‘How to Brew’ by John Palmer and ‘The Complete Joy of Home Brewing’ by Charlie Papazion. I also knew my roommate would be interested in doing this, so one day I gave him a call and asked, ‘Hey man, want to try to brew our own beer?’” After Beau agreed to join the experiment, they bought the books and supplies to begin brewing. “The actual brewing process only takes a day or two to clean everything and brew, and then, you just allow the fermenting process to take its course,” Hildebrant said. “This can range from a couple weeks to a couple months.” But as simple as brewing may seem, Wilcox learned not all brews are created equal. While brewing a batch of wine for a

1. Before the brewing process begins, all equipment should be properly cleaned. 2. The malted barley, hops and water are boiled to created the wort. 3. After the wort is made, it is placed in the fermenting bucket for a week until the initial fermentation is complete. At this point, the brew is now beer. 4. The beer is placed back into the bottling bucket, where it can easily be bottled. 5. Caps are placed on the bottles. 6. Bottles are stored in a dark, cool area where they can condition and carbonate. LEGACY does not condone underage drinking. Drink responsibly.

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food party, Wilcox and a friend, Clay, discovered the hard way that brewing beer and wine are significantly different projects. “Basically in beer, you extract the sugars from grain, and in wine-making, you ferment the sugars already present in the fruit and add some [sugar] sometimes,” Wilcox said. “Yeast, when it’s young, is still in the stage where it is multiplying and making a lot of CO2 [carbon dioxide].” As Clay stirred the brew, the batch of wine exploded. The eruption was so intense, the unfinished wine sprayed onto the ceiling. “I don’t think we bothered cleaning the ceiling, now that I think about it,” Wilcox said. “We think that we exposed the yeast to new sugars, and they overwhelmingly made CO2 at once. It was an open vessel. The expanding liquid just went out of the top, which functioned as a nozzle. Hence the reason for the high wine ‘head.’” No one was hurt in the accident, he added. “We were kind of stunned but thought it was awesome,” he laughed. “We didn’t try to [make wine] again though. If I learned anything, it’s to not aerate the wine while the airlock is still bubbling.”

Ryan Hildebrant (left) and his roommate AJ Beau (right) enjoy one of their home brews. Through research and a number of trial brews, Wilcox and Hildebrant have learned the proper way to brew but will continue to learn more as they continue their craft. Hildebrant said he recommends firsttime brewers research before beginning.

“If you love beer and don’t mind spending a little extra money for quality brew, then home brewing is for you,” Hildebrant said. “See if you really want to spend the time and money on it before you invest a couple hundred dollars in it.”

LEGACY

fall 2012

A Dedicated Interest 18

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WORDS BY austen krantz PHOTOS BY kristen soileau

Ieachn 2009, Peter Gillis and Kyle Stracke took the first of many journeys to wit-

ness something that would play a pivotal role in their lives — live music. Musical tastes aside, neither student sees distance as a factor when they want to see their favorite bands. Both of them have traveled miles across the country to catch shows, and they’re not quitting this hobby anytime soon. Gillis, a pre-science sophomore, entered the All Good Music festival in Morgantown, W.Va. as a huge fan of hardhitting hip-hop but left fixated with a new passion for electronic dance music. “I really, really liked hip-hop growing up — especially southern hip-hop — because I really liked the beats, but I didn’t really like the part where you had to be completely chauvinistic,” Gillis explained. “I found out you could have the best of both worlds, and it was called dubstep.” After attending a very short Bassnectar show at the suggestion of nearby fans, Gillis quickly determined this was the type of music he had always wanted without even knowing it existed. Bassnectar is Lorin Ashton, a producer and DJ who creates free-form electronic music composed of multiple tempos, is widely associated with dubstep and similar electronic tunes. “By the end of the 45 minutes he played, he completely changed my taste in music,” Gillis said. Fed by his appreciation for Bassnectar, he left All Good determined to see as many of these events as he could. “After that, whenever I got a chance when he was playing nearby, I tried to make it out there,” he said. “There’s no place better that I think there is to be in the whole world than being at one of these live shows.” But Stracke’s dedicated interests began a little differently. The fallout of Hurricane Katrina caused Stracke and his family to stay with friends in Kenner until they could move back to their own house in New Orleans. During their stay, Stracke and his brother discovered a boxed-up music collection that belonged to the family’s children. It included an assortment of Grateful Dead and Phish recordings — two of the most extolled groups in jam band culture.

“We call it the magic box now,” the psychology junior laughed, grinning in nostalgia. “It was the jackpot, dude.” To put it simply, jam bands are those that focus largely on touring and live shows with an improvisational emphasis that can often cross genres. They’re also characterized by their devoted fan bases that follow these bands for back-to-back shows. Stracke is no exception, having seen Phish 23 times. And it all began in 2009 at Red Rocks Ampitheatre near Morrison, Colo., a venue that plays host to a litany

of jam tours and other big-name acts. The brothers only stopped at the show since it was conveniently on the way to see a relative, but the experience left an impression, he said. “It immediately clicked,” Stracke said. “This was what I wanted to do — I needed to do this more.” Phish’s ability to create a completely unique performance every show is only part of what makes attending so many shows worth the effort, he explained. Besides an unending set list, the experimental impro-

visation always provides a new experience, he said. “They have so many songs — just hundreds and hundreds of songs,” Stracke said, stretching his arms to demonstrate. “We’d go and see five shows at a time, and we’d never hear the same song twice. Each show, you’re just seeing a completely different band.” After Red Rocks, Stracke and his brother began trekking to more Phish shows, presenting a steep learning curve between determining essential supplies and

Dave Matthews Band performs at Citi Field in Flushing, N.Y., on July 16, 2010. Photo Credit: Jared Waller, a sports administration junior who has seen Dave Matthews Band 10 times. travelling directly from one show to the next. But they caught on quickly; figuring out supplies became second nature, and the two pooled their resources to make it to as many shows as they could. “We would just save up during Christmas and birthdays and stuff because we knew that’s what we wanted to spend our

money on,” Stracke said. Gillis is no slouch in the extent of his traveling either. Including All Good, Gillis has seen Bassnectar 10 times at other West Virginia performances, as well as shows in Michigan, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Georgia. And while Bassnectar presents a completely different sound than a band like Phish, Gillis reiterated Stracke’s appreciation for unique and dynamic performances. He explained Bassnectar presents great shows by creating a one-of-a-kind act every time he plays. “Every set he’s going to play will be a little different,” Gillis said. Gillis said Ashton will piece together several songs he’s created and mix them with hundreds of songs from other artists in an improvisational style, creating a “beautiful one-time experience.” Drew Varnado, a traveled live music fan, described a parallel between these different experiences. “Tension and release,” said the agricultural economics graduate student. “You can see it at sporting events, you can see it at anything people are passionate about — just that moment.” “The moment,” Varnado explained, happens in a musical performance when a performer builds up tension in the brain with a series of notes that make finding a pattern difficult to discern. Once the performer releases music into a recognizable pattern, it can prove incredibly satisfying for listeners, he concluded. He used Bassnectar as an example. At times the DJ builds suspense by running through a series of high notes, eventually dropping bass in a very loud release. “Good shows — whether they be jam or alternative — good shows are collections of really good moments,” Varnado said. “That’s how you make people go nuts.” And Varnado has witnessed his fair share of good moments. His experiences at the first annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in 2002 played a huge part in this. “I saw so much music, and it was the first time I had seen more than one band in

feature

one place,” he remembered. “It was the first time I had ever just seen music everywhere. It was at the camp grounds, in the parking lots, on the stages, on the side of the stages — just everywhere. That kind of hooked me, day one.” At Bonnaroo, the New York-based jammers, moe., hooked Varnado enough to keep him coming back to their shows — about a dozen times. But it didn’t take long before he wanted more. “Once you get into one [band], the rest of them just follow suit,” Varnado said. “After that it was just all out, whoever was playing and wherever they were — if I could make it, I was going.” Varnado then crossed state lines, traveling each end of the country to see acts like moe., Widespread Panic, Phish, The Allman Brothers Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, James Taylor, Neil Young and Medeski, Martin and Wood — to name a few. But attending and playing baseball for Millsaps College during his undergraduate schooling quickly forced the Baton Rouge native to consolidate this commitment accordingly with his others. He committed himself to working around musical shows and baseball, only missing class for these two obligations. “If I missed class, I wanted to miss class for something awesome,” he explained. “I went to class sick, I went to class hung over, broken and ugly, but I went.” In fact, Varnado’s affection for this music encouraged him to begin playing in a band himself. Along with his friends in the Stage Coach Bandits, Varnado regularly jams in local venues around the Baton Rouge area — one of his favorite hobbies.

LEGACY

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[Left] Pre-science sophomore Peter Gillis shows off his Bassnectar merchandise. [Right, bottom] Gillis has traveled the nation with Bassnectar, even working one of the shows. [Right, above] Dave Matthews Band members Dave Matthews and Stefan Lessard perform at Citi Field in July 2010.

BECOMING PART OF THE SHOW

Community of Music Both Stracke and Gillis recognized Along with the musical talent and dexterity of these bands, Varnado said the commu- this communal feature as well. In fact, it nity fostered in these experiences proved un- played a large part in their continued interlike anything he had experienced before. Since est of these bands. After Stracke and his brother met everyone attends these shows with the same interests, they automatically have a unifier that some other fans at their first show, he said they realized the greatness of the show creates social ease, Varnado said. “You have something that you all share wasn’t limited to the stage. At first, the two and you know that you all share it, because if felt out of place at the scene, but three fans you didn’t you wouldn’t be here,” he said. “If next to them soon made sure they were comfortable. you don’t dig This surprised this, why did Stracke since you pay $130 to Anybody you can’t drink a these fans were get this ticket?” beer with at that moment clearly older Va r n a d o isn’t worth talking to. and much more explained the experienced in seclusion cretheir travels. ated in festivals “They could sense I was nervous or shy, and other live shows creates an environment that relieves attendees from the regular stress but they took me under their wing,” Stracke said. “I started going to more shows, and I of their day-to-day lives. “It’s kind of a retreat — you go into this realized everyone was like this.” He said a common interest in Phish little bubble with everybody else,” he said. “Your cellphone isn’t going to work. Who makes these fans interested in each other. “You’re a fan, they’re a fan, you’re cares? Anybody you can’t drink a beer with at friends,” he said. that moment isn’t worth talking to.”

‘‘

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But becoming emotionally involved in the community and atmosphere of the show wasn’t enough, Gillis said. He became so fascinated with the Bassnectar community that he wanted to actively participate in it. His interests led him to volunteer at his most recent Bassnectar attendance in the District of Columbia at the DC Armory in September 2011. “I had been kicking myself in the ass for not getting involved in it for the last two years,” Gillis explained. After seeing Ashton’s post on his website offering opportunities for volunteer work, Gillis quickly began filling out a questionnaire for the job. “It was like four in the morning when he posted this thing,” he said. “I just wrote an essay for each of his questions just talking about how perfect I would be for this job.” As part of the program, Gillis greeted fans entering the show and talked to music-goers to make sure they were having a good time. Besides dressing in appropriately zany outfits and tending to

FEATURE other fans, Gillis and other ambassadors built specialized totems, or poles, to help friends spot them in the middle of a crowd. Gillis built his out of bamboo and spray-painted Bassnectar logos all over it, before topping it with a stuffed dragon. He explained they ultimately used these in a drumline through the crowd during one song. “You get to engage with all the crazy kids that show up to these shows,” he said. “And a lot of the program is also trying to bring together the community in whatever wacky ways people feel they themselves can best help. When you’re in the program, [Ashton] asks you whatever it is you want to do with the show.” Part of the job also entailed being sober for the entirety of the performance. Some people would think this would dampen the experience, but Gillis said that’s not the case. “Bassnectar’s trying to promote the idea that just because you’re at an electronic music show doesn’t necessarily mean you’re on drugs,” Gillis said, noting some concert-goers use illegal drugs like ecstasy to enhance their experiences. “There are a lot of people there probably having even more fun than you even if you’re on drugs.” This work experience has also helped Gillis stay connected with the Bassnectar community through an online network. These online fans number between 1,300 and 1,500, Gillis said, and most of them tend to be enrolled at a university or resigned. He’s Facebook friends with most of them, and continually stays in touch for updates on Bassnectar news. Some of these fans virtually live on the road, regularly travelling to back-to-back shows. “I guess it’s one of the highest densities of white people with dreadlocks in a population,” he joked, dryly, having sheared his own locks recently on a job hunt. “Many of them will hand-make crafts that they sell at shows, and that’s how many support themselves going around.”

always the same, always different While both Bassnectar and Phish constantly create new experiences for fans, Gillis and Stracke still have their favorite songs. “It doesn’t matter who’s playing it, or where I am, if someone’s playing his version of ‘Lights,’ By Ellie Goulding, I will run toward

the music and start dancing,” Gillis said. Stracke explained seeing a song he really liked after so many shows makes experiencing it that much more special. “You’ll see a song you’ve been chasing for 20 shows and you finally get it,” he explained. “It’s that special.” But of course, these songs always play out differently. With constantly unique experiences from the changing performances and ever-friendly fan base, it’s difficult for Stracke to pin a favorite show. “It’s kind of like picking your favorite kid,” he said. “They’re all different, you love

them all.” Music fans may have differently developed tastes, but they can still sense one anothers’ similar appreciations, Varnado said. “Generally there’s kind a respect for people who get the idea regardless of what the band is or what the music is,” Varnado said. “The idea that I really love music, and you really love music — maybe not in the same way — but that’s cool, and I respect that of you.”

Adam Bucher, Pyschology Senior Has traveled to Sasquatch! Music Festival in George, Wash. and to Atlanta, Ga., for Arcade Fire.

“ You have to ask yourself, is it really worth it? And I find that most times the concerts I travel to are worth it. [Arcade Fire] was definitely worth it. That was one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen. You look back on it and remember it being one of the best experiences you’ve ever had.”

Alexis Brown, Biology Sophomore Has been to Voodoo Festival 2010, Bonarroo Music and Arts Festival 2011 in Manchester, Tenn., and Wakarusa 2012 in Ozark, Ark.

“I would go all the way to California, I would drive 32 hours to see The Shins. To see them in a nice venue with a good audience, I would drive through the day.”

Camille Flournoy, History Senior Has seen a number of bands including Phish, Sound Tribe Sector 9, and Widespread Panic, who she has seen 24 times. Has traveled to California, Colorado, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tenessee, Arkansas and New York.

“Going to see The Dead in California with my whole family was such a cool experience because I grew up with my dad playing that music, and to get to experience a show, even without Jerry, was incredible! I love that we all got to see The Dead when we were the age my dad was when he started listening to them.”

LEGACY

fall 2012

WORDS BY clayton crockett

PHOTOS BY lainey reed

rofessor Steven Barker is a curious, if strange, man. And he does little to hide it, if he does so at all. With 28 years of work at the University behind him, this particular afternoon sees Barker smiling comfortably from the worn-in furniture in his office, his wideopen blue eyes betraying an eagerness to explain himself. There is much explaining to do. Every surface of his office in the Veterinary Science Building is bespattered by his youthful inquisitiveness with strange and intriguing curios. A large, marble mortar and pestle glows in the windowsill; a dusty three-dimensional model of a DNA molecule rests in the corner; awards and accolades adorn the homey wooden walls, which surround two exceedingly homey sofas; and atop his desk sits a cylinder from an outdated mass spectrometer — an intimidating device whose mystery is only

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COVER BY zach breaux exceeded by its price. Though it looks like it would shrink one’s family or churn out superheroes with the flip of a switch, it is used to detect chemicals in focused samples, or quadrupoles. “Pretty fancy stuff,” Barker laughed, and with a price tag that set the University back nearly $400,000 15 years ago, a dash of facetiousness doesn’t hurt. All of these oddities would be relatively germane in regards to one another if left alone, but the tone of the scene changes with a glance at the man’s wall-spanning bookshelf. The topics addressed here range from molecular biology to philosophy to religious texts to atheism then back to more biology. And these topics couldn’t be a more fitting summary of the mind behind Barker’s short, white beard and spectacles. Along with being the director of the University’s Analytical Systems Lab in the

COVER STORY

Veterinary Medicine Building, Barker currently holds the position of State Chemist and works with the Louisiana State Racing Commission drug testing racehorses for steroid usage. But he stressed this work merely “pays the bills” and gives him the funds to pursue the motley interests bedecking his voluminous bookshelves. Barker’s more acute attention is focused on the study of hallucinogenic substances, particularly dimethyltryptamine — commonly referred to as DMT. This substance has slowly crept to popularity over the past few years, partially due to the 2010 documentary “DMT: The Spirit Molecule,” which was hosted by actor and commentator Joe Rogan and featured Barker’s professional opinion. But merely studying the effects of these substances is not nearly enough for

Barker’s voracious curiosity. “If you’re going to ask questions, you might as well ask the big ones,” he said, in excuse for the fact that the conversation had moved directly from pharmacology — the

by various indigenous religious sects across South America for thousands of years. In these sects, the psychoactive substance is treated as a sacrament and is used solely (and strictly) for religious purposes. This highly common tendency among native populations, as Barker explained, makes sense when considering the so-called “religious experience” DMT is known to produce. “[These compounds] cause euphoria, tunnels of light, they see fantastic beings — deities, relatives — you can’t explain it. Those phenomena … we know these compounds can do those things.” Most shockingly, then, is the fact that DMT can be found in trace amounts throughout the human body, Barker said, from urine samples to blood to spinal fluid. And again, the implications therein are too grand for Barker to relax just yet. “They’ve been around forever,” he said of psychoactive substances, especially in regards to use for religious purposes. “It’s something that’s run throughout history.” Barker also notes that people around the world have reported these experiences without actively administering the substance, which is to say that even acts such as deep meditation or sensory deprivation can generate religious experiences, seemingly from thin air. But if DMT is so ubiquitous, what does that say about the similarly described religious experiences perpetually reported from around the world? “Our understanding of perception is so minimal … Man has interpreted his hallucinatory experiences as being religious. There’s no question that people feel deep emotions when they undergo a religious conversion, [but] there’s a possibility we misinterpreted the entire thing.” This idea has evolved into a budding field of study — and thought — known as neurotheology, denoting a biological and molecular basis for religious faith. “Our interpretation of the entire thing evolved into religion,” he said.

“OUR INTERPRETATION OF THE ENTIRE THING EVOLVED INTO RELIGION.

”

effects of drugs — to belief in God. In collaboration with scientists around the world, Barker has been studying the pharmacology of ayahuasca, a type of tea preparation of DMT that has been used

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DEUS EX CORPUS Recognizing the Latin phrase “deus ex machina” reveals oneself to either be a fan of drama, video games or Donnie Darko. In classical drama, deus ex machina signifies the turning point in the story when the day is miraculously saved by the whimsical gods of the day and age, and the phrase literally translates to “god from the machine.” While it has been customary through the ages to blame the unexpected and unexplainable on divine intervention, Barker said he believes these phenomena can be sufficiently accredited to naturally occurring hallucinogens like DMT, which comes not from the gods but from our own bodies. Neurotheology sets out to scientifically justify “creativity, dream states, near-death experiences” and various forms of hallucinations and religious experiences, and Barker thinks DMT could hold answers. As a drug, DMT is much like serotonin, another compound naturally created by our bodies. Serotonin is a compound mostly involved with mood — though it is also involved with heart rate and other physiological functions — and elevations of serotonin levels can generate euphoria. “Phenomena occurring without anyone on the outside being able to confirm it — that’s a hallucination. If a scientist watches a person undergoing a religious experience, well that’s serotonin,” Barker explained. And these religious experiences and hallucinations engage the same areas of the brain we use for regular perception, Barker continued, which is why people think they’re real. The search for objective answers to intangible experiences like hallucinations and dream states have intrigued Barker since he was a child. In his hometown of Birmingham, Ala., Barker said the religious faith of his community never quite sated his desire for clear answers. “I always had trouble as a kid going to Sunday school,” he admitted with a chuckle. “’Well, where did that come from?’” He said the quest for more convincing answers began with his tendency toward intense dreams as a child — and dissatisfaction with the explanations he received to account for them. “Most of the people who have experienced this kind of phenomena have relegated it to a religious experience,” he said. “I wasn’t able to accept it.” For Barker, faith was never enough, and his desire for objective explanations persists to this day through his work. “I find all of this far more exciting than just accepting someone’s belief. If you stop asking questions because you think you

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Professor Steven Barker’s office is adorned with curious objects — the cylinder of a spectrometer, a mortar and pestle, a DNA model. understand it all, you’ve made a big mistake,” he said. “Faith is not questioning — it intersects this whole field.” Though certainly not late to this metaphysics party, Barker’s theory is not a new one. In fact, the term “neurotheology” was coined by famed British author and proponent of hallucinogenic substances Aldous Huxley, who used the term in his lesser-known utopian novel “Island” — the counterpoint to his revered dystopian novel “Brave New World.” In “Island,” Huxley uses the term to describe a marriage between human anatomy and a utilitarian approach to transcendent experiences, such as meditation. At the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Barker said he was even lucky enough to become acquainted with British psychologist Humphrey Osmond, who supplied Huxley with the hallucinogen mescaline, which in turn inspired Huxley’s book “The Doors of Perception.” Osmond not only coined the term “psychedelic” but also gave rise to the idea of hallucinogens naturally occurring. “Turned out that it was in …” Barker leaned forward and whispered, “everyone.” The implications regarding the universality of DMT, of perception and of religion are massive, but Barker wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Our failure to understand things has led us down some dangerous paths. Understanding some of these things will really help us understand who we are,” he said. “Philosophically, it is a lot to wrap your head around. I’m not against religion, but let’s keep in mind there are thousands.” Religious men and women around the world share similar religious experiences, Barker said. “Fine, let’s look at the pharmacology of it,” he said. “Every state of consciousness can be connected to different areas of the brain being activated or deactivated. If we get an understanding of that, we may gain a better understanding of what the brain has to offer.” There’s little room for glass houses in the world of neurotheology.

MAGIC MEDICINE “Why do humans produce hallucinogens in their brains?” Though this question posed by Barker remains unanswered, the number of scientists willing to approach it is slowly growing — and as it does, the taboo fades and more possibilities are realized, especially in medicine. “Little by little, their effectiveness is being realized,” Barker said. “It’s just the passage of time.” No one seems to have aided this passage more than Rick Strassman, medical doctor and author of “DMT: The Spirit Molecule.” Between 1990 and 1995, Strassman conducted the first series of psychoactive substance tests on humans in more than twenty years, ending the embargo on such studies and opening countless doors to the future of psychedelic science. “One of the things that came out of our studies was that you could give these drugs safely under medical supervision,” Strassman said. “That was a fundamental finding which I think sometimes escapes notice under the other data we noted.”

COVER STORY

“DMT: The Spirit Molecule: A Doctor’s Revolutionary Research into the Biology of Near-Death and Mystical Experiences” By Rick Strassman During five years of investigating the effects of DMT, Dr. Rick Strassman administered approximately 400 doses of the substance to 60 volunteers. All of this was in an effort to explain and understand naturally occurring hallucinogenic experiences, such as neardeath, psychotic and mystical experiences. The book reviews the reported psychological and spiritual effects experienced by Strassman’s volunteers and approaches the role of hallucinogens in a scientific light.

AVAILABILTY: $11.53 Amazon $12.99 iBooks through iTunes

DOCUMENTARY: “DMT: The Spirit Molecule” Directed by Mitch Schultz Starring Joe Rogan, Rick Strassman, Steven Barker

“DMT: The Spirit Molecule” combines the reports from Dr. Rick Strassman’s book of the same title with the professional input of various experts in the field, along with interviews from Strassman’s volunteers. In it a series of scientists from around the world weigh in on the possible roles of DMT in human life and the dynamics of human testing.

AVAILABILTY: $14.99

Amazon Instant Video Netflix

$9.99

Itunes

For more information from Rick Strassman, visit lsulegacymag.com LEGACY

fall 2012

Growing HOPE WORDS BY sydney blanchard + PHOTOS BY kristen soileau & love your neighbor

lex Tupper awakes in the early morning to a banging at his door. He hears a voice yell, “Alex, get up ... we need your help!” Tupper rushes frantically to the not-yet-open medical clinic to search for supplies. Little does he know, he is about to help deliver a baby. A pregnant woman walks into the clinic and lies down on a piece of cardboard covered in sanitary cloth. Tupper and his colleagues scramble to find the right tools as the baby begins crowning and the woman starts screaming. Tupper gathers the necessities, but one thing is missing: the syringe. Panic sets in as they realize that if they do not find this vital piece, the baby will die. At the last moment, the team finds the syringe and manages to get the baby breathing. They successfully brought life into the world. “That was just crazy,” Tupper said. “I’m still trying to process it all.” Such is a typical, or rather, an atypical day, in the life of Alex Tupper, who has devoted his free time to helping those less fortunate in Haiti. Tupper, an agricultural business senior, founded Love Your Neighbor, which teaches sustainable farming

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techniques in Gressier, located 20 miles from Port-au-Prince in Haiti. The planting project is not only for their profit but also to supplement their diets. “This is just an opportunity to literally love your neighbor,” Tupper said. “We have a chance to use what we have to give back.” According to a Ted Case Study in 2004, many of Haiti’s problems are rooted in rice production. Since the 1980s, Haiti has increasingly imported more rice than it produces. A combination of environmental problems and the lowering of taxes on rice imports have resulted in the decrease of employment opportunities in the country. These issues, along with continuous political upheaval, contribute to Haiti’s rank as the poorest country in the Americas. Tupper emphasized LYN aims to help the people of Haiti help themselves. Instead of simply donating money or supplies to the cause, LYN takes an approach that goes beyond a handout, he said. The organization, he said, embodies the proverb, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” And at the age of 21, Tupper intends to help feed Haiti for a lifetime.

Department Name

Founder of LYN Alex Tupper has helped provide 11,000 meals per month to impoverished Haitians.

MORE THAN RICE LYN isn’t just about rice production. Poverty goes hand-in-hand with poor diet, and Tupper said he has plans to battle malnutrition in Haiti. In addition to rice, Tupper and his team help teach locals to plant vegetables and fruits such as beans, corn, bananas, tomatoes, onions, eggplants, cabbage, lettuce, papaya, mangoes and peppers to supplement their diets. Since its inception in May, LYN has provided nearly 11,000 meals per month. Along with providing nutrition, LYN provides jobs, Tupper said. With the help of a trilingual Haitian agronomist, Alex and his volunteers — mostly LSU students — participate in teaching farming techniques with the hope that eventually they can hand the whole project over to the Haitians to upkeep. So far they have consistently employed three farmers, but at times they have employed up to six. Those he’s employed and the locals he has encountered have been supportive of the organization’s work, he said. “I feel as though they treat us like family,” Tupper said. “They love us, and we love them.”

GETTING STARTED Tupper founded LYN after visiting Haiti for the first time this February. Tupper learned of a community development project in northern Haiti headed by Respire Haiti, a non-profit organization

designed to educate vulnerable children. Inspired by Respire’s work, Tupper said he felt called to contribute to the efforts in Haiti. “I just knew it was where God wanted me to be,” Tupper said. But helping those in need wasn’t new to Tupper. His passion for working with the poor began his sophomore year studying business management. After encountering extreme poverty on a mission trip to the Amazon River in Brazil, he saw an opportunity to help people. Soon after, he changed his major to agricultural business. “... Just seeing poverty for the first time really placed in my heart using my education … [as] an opportunity for helping people throughout the world,” Tupper said. Thus began LYN. But Tupper started the organization with little besides a vision and a Google search. “It just started on the Internet, literally just Googling ‘how to start a nonprofit corporation,’” Tupper said. Then came the paperwork. Tupper said he had to file articles of incorporation and bylaws with the Louisiana secretary of state, and then he had to receive a tax ID number with the IRS, as well as file a 501c3 application, a form charitable organizations must fill out to remain exempt from taxes, which takes a substantial amount of time to go through.

GET INVOLVED WITH LYN • Contact LYN or Alex Tupper via Facebook. • Send an email to getinvolved@lyninternational.org to receive LYN’s periodical. • Visit lyninternational.com for more information on the organization, Alex’s blog, and to donate online. • LYN is hosting a fundraising golf tournament in the fall so stay tuned.

HAITI STATS • In Haiti, poverty and extreme poverty rates are estimated at 84 percent and 69 percent, respectively. • More than two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs. • Half of children under the age of 5 are malnourished • For every 100,000 births in Haiti, 523 women die. • Haiti’s literacy rates are low: 37.9 percent of the population can’t read or write. Information from UNICEF.

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do we make that happen?’” Davidson said. While she has yet to visit Haiti herself, she said she looks forward to meeting with Tupper in Gressier this winter, as she shares Tupper’s vision for helping those in need. “[Tupper’s] passion for this organization really does blow me away,” Davidson said.

LESSONS FROM THE FIELD

Alex Tupper lends a hand through LYN. Tupper also made use of his social connections in forming LYN. He spoke with friends who were lawyers, accountants and others who had experience in nonprofit work. With their advice and support, Love Your Neighbor was born.

LYN TODAY Today, Tupper’s work in Haiti mainly consists of overseeing the planting projects. He said he spends most of his time struggling to acquire materials and supplies due to Haiti’s lack of infrastructure. “I feel like my job primarily is to enable and empower the people who are working on the mountain to get the work done,” Tupper said. And part of that empowerment requires not taking things too seriously. “We bring the jambox up on the mountain and watch everyone dancing while they work,” Tupper said. While Tupper keeps a handle on the goings on in Haiti, his connection to the States is Laura Davidson. Davidson, kinesiology senior, met Tupper through school and mutual friends, but their friendship was solidified when they went on a mission trip to Uganda last summer. When Davidson learned about Tupper’s organization, she offered to assist in any way she could. She began by extending her grammar and editing skills, and her role in the organization grew over time. “Alex said, ‘I want you to be my right hand man, or woman,’” Davidson said. “A lot of prayer went into it.” A year later, Davidson carries the titles of secretary and board member for LYN. As secretary, Davidson handles the majority of the paperwork involved with running a nonprofit. She keeps the board members in contact with each other, and she simply helps Alex get things done, she said. “The reason he wanted me to kind of step up next to him is because I’m a person that says, ‘That is such a great idea. Now, how

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Working in a third world country with the severely impoverished is a perspective-changer for both Tupper and Davidson, they said. Tupper’s experiences with mission work in places like Brazil and Uganda along with his work through LYN have shaped the way he behaves when he returns home.“I complain a lot less,” Tupper said. “And I guess just how I steward my money, how I treasure my education.” Davidson said her involvement with LYN and her previous work in other countries have also changed the way she thinks. She said she wishes it were possible for everyone born into a first world country to visit a third world country for a minimum of two weeks. “It really does change your perspective on everything,” she said.

LOOKING AHEAD As for the future, LYN is thinking big, Tupper said. And while he joked delivering babies is not on their agenda — for now — they still plan to make a difference in Haiti anyway they can. In addition to its planting project, he said LYN is starting a project in Cité Soleil, one of the worst slums in the world with a population nearing 400,000 mainly comprised of children and young adults. This project would address the ongoing hunger and slavery found in this neighborhood. Furthermore, LYN intends to continue work in Haiti and dreams of branching out to other nations in need, such as Africa and China, he said. Tupper and his volunteers hope the organization will run out of their hands, and they will no longer be needed as those they helped will be able to help themselves. But LYN won’t stop there, Davidson said. “Eventually, our vision is to alleviate poverty in the world,” Davidson said. “This is our first step.”

FEATURE

ACADEMIA: it’s a boys’ club

In 2010, the ratio of female to male faculty members at LSU was

81 to

155 WORDS BY elizabeth clausen

stimate the percentage of female full professors nationwide. You probably guessed about 40 or 50 percent — and if you did, you’re wrong. Make no mistake about it — academia is still a boys’ club, and the outlook for change is remarkably grim. Despite the fact that more women are earning more college degrees than ever before, the sex differences in the demographics of academia are growing larger. LSU is no exception. According to a 2011 report from the

INFOGRAPHIC BY kirsten romaguera National Center for Education Statistics, women earn the majority of bachelor’s degrees in the U.S. For the class of 2019, women are projected to earn 62 percent of master’s degrees and about 55 percent of doctorate degrees nationally. But just like in corporate America, the percentage of women in positions of power drops off the higher they climb in the academy, according to the 2006 American Association of University Professors (AAUP) Faculty Gender Equity Indicators. The EAP 2010, as defined by IPEDS

Human Resources Survey, shows the ratio of male to female faculty members at LSU is 155 to 81. And the ratio of men to women serving executive, administrative, or managerial positions is 46 to 25, according to the 2012 Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical Institutional Research Trend Data on Personnel, Headcount. Michelle Massé, founding director of the LSU Women’s and Gender Studies program and author of the first book on gender and academic service, has been

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fall 2012

the Women’s and Gender ticking,” she said. Studies program at LSU To resolve this problem, universities in 1991, writing grants around the country began changing their and course proposals. The policy statements around the 1970s to alproject wasn’t beneficial low for what is referred to as “stopping the to her from a professional clock,” allowing women a way to pause the standpoint, but she chose tenure clock for a year if necessary so that to take it on because of pregnancy wouldn’t hurt their chances of her commitment to serv- earning tenure. However, Zerba argues the the University and her system is still flawed. Women earn $0.78 to men’s dollar. ing students. “The intention behind it is a good one, “We were the 50th but you often find that there is considerable she believes there are many complex reaflagship university in the conflict between individuals and adminissons — economic, cultural, political and country to have a gender studies program, tration about stopping the clock,” she said. psychological — for why these differences which was incredibly late,” Massé said, not- “The rules should have transparent criteria persist. ing the first programs were started in the — women shouldn’t have to bear the addi“It’s not just in the university,” she said. early 1970s. “But I thought it was some- tional burden of having to argue their case, “Women still make 78 cents on the dollar thing we needed as scholars and research- but they often do.” to men nationally … And with gender is- ers.” The problem is also an economic one. sues in academia, things have gotten astonIn fact, scholarly work and research are Zerba pointed out that stopping the clock ishingly worse.” crucial, since Massé notes that would-be for a year means that a woman would take According to Massé, societal expecta- tenured professors must excel in their aca- a year longer to earn tenure than a man, tions play a large role in shaping women’s demic research — while also fulfilling their making it potentially more expensive for career decisions and how women them- required teaching and service duties. universities to hire women for tenure-track selves are perceived. She argues that women Michelle Zerba, associate professor of positions. are frequently — and mistakenly — viewed English, foreign languages, and compara“Universities, because of economic reaas being natural caretakers and are con- tive literature, outlined ways in which the sons, are moving toward hiring individuals sequently expected to take on caretaking current tenure system is at odds with the who are not tenure track, and that’s why roles. years in which women are often pregnant there are more instructors now at LSU,” she Caretaking, then, is seen as a “femi- and having children. said. “For these same reasons, if you have to nine” behavior, she said, and women who “What lies behind the institution keep in the tenure track position a woman choose to strive for personal success over of tenure is basically two things: faculty who’s going to be with you eight years rathservice are regularly thought to be display- members cannot be dismissed without just er than seven years, that’s going to have an ing masculine behavior. cause and they have protection of freedom economic impact … There are people who “It’s very complicated,” Massé said. of speech,” she said. “But looking at tenure will try to put a finite monetary value on “When women say, ‘I am going to be a neu- from our point of view now, we can see an institution keeping faculty in the tenure rosurgeon and not a nurse,’ people might some of the problems that stem from the track for even just one more year.” often say, ‘You’re acting kind of masculine, fact that males were the model on which In the sciences, things are even worse. and you’re not really being likeable’ … It’s tenure was based.” Ravi Rau, alumni professor of physics the same phenomenon when men are called In order to obtain tenure, Zerba said a and president of the LSU chapter of the unmanly if they pursue caregiving roles.” faculty member must be hired in a tenure- AAUP, has worked at the University for Exemplifying women’s lower societal track position and then undergo a proba- 38 years. During that time, he said he has status, Massé argues that jobs such as nurs- tionary period, lasting around ing or caring for children are low-paying seven years, before being evaluAs with corporate and looked down upon. ated by their peer faculty. DurAmerica, the Massé said academic service work, ing this probationary period, she percentage of such as advising students and serving on said, these professors have little women committees, is often “relegated to a gen- job security and are expected to dered form of institutional caregiving.” fully commit themselves to their in academic This means that, just as women are ex- work. positions pected to take on service roles outside of “Women got caught in the drops off the academia, so too are female professors dis- crosshairs because they began to higher proportionately taking on the university’s live with the consequences of the service responsibilities and consequently, fact that if they wanted to have a they not advancing as quickly in their careers. family, this would typically be in For example, Massé herself devoted a the probationary seven-year pegreat deal of her time and effort to starting riod when the tenure clock was

I CL

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B M

FEATURE noticed a distinct discrepancy in the numbers of men and women faculty in the physics department — but he believes that progress has been made over the past fifteen years. “In the physics department, we are now much better in terms of having women faculty,” he said. “About 10 or 15 years ago, the faculty was in the low 30s and at that time we had maybe two women in the tenure track side in our department. Now, we have about six out of 45 tenured faculty who are women. And it’s not a large number, but I think it has improved a lot [from what it used to be].” Even though the numbers of women in physics are higher, Rau acknowledged they are still nowhere near the numbers of women in the humanities. He said across the sciences at LSU, men far outnumber women — especially in computer science and engineering. “There is somehow a discouragement that the young women themselves feel about going into these [scientific] fields. I’m not sure why that is so,” he said. “I’m married to a woman scientist, so of course we discuss this a lot … there are many sort of subtle or not so subtle discouragements.” For all of these reasons, women’s progress in the academy is devastatingly slow. According to a 2011 report by the American Council on Education, women made up just 26.4 percent of all college presidents — up from 23 percent in 2006. Therefore, if this exact rate of progress were to continue on a straight-line projection into the future, it would take 35 years for women to be equal with men in college president positions. LSU has never had a female president or chancellor, Massé said. The highest position held by a woman has been the Vice Chancellor and Provost, held by Astrid Merget until 2010. Like Zerba, Massé agrees that budget concerns have a major impact on the advancement of women in academia and argues the University’s budget cuts are effectively negating much of the progress that has already been made.

100%

The March 2012 issue of Academe, the journal of the AAUP, listed figures for the median salary for full time professors at LSU are 111.1 for a male and 102.3 for a female. “We are at the bottom — there’s not much further for us to fall,” she said. “Women and minorities tend to be under impact disproportionately when these cuts occur, so it’s very hard to talk about advances. To use the Titanic analogy, if the whole boat’s going down, it doesn’t make much difference that women are getting better deck chairs.” But perhaps the greatest problem facing women in academia is that most people don’t realize there’s a problem at all. Both Massé and Zerba said before any real progress can occur, the problem must be widely acknowledged — until there is a widespread recognition of the inequity that still exists in the system today, it is unlikely that any meaningful change will happen. “Though we believe that the women’s liberation movement has done the brunt of the work that it was supposed to do, it really hasn’t. But people think it has,” Zerba said. “I think there’s a misperception about the rights that people have in the aftermath of the civil rights era and in the aftermath of the feminist movement, that we’ve already achieved equality somehow and the work is done. But it’s not done — it’s far from being done. And I think that’s difficult to acknowledge publicly.”

62%

55%

For the class of 2019, women are projected to earn 62 percent of master’s degrees and about 55 percent of doctorate degrees nationally. Infographic information according to the National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS Human Resources Survey and Michelle Massé

LEGACY

fall 2012

‘Bicycle man’ WORDS BY kevin thibodeaux

PHOTOS BY benjamin oliver hicks

efferson Orwell Opal and his bicycle aren’t a new sight to the campus. He pedals his way through the heart of the grounds each week, attracting curious stares and welcoming smiles along the route.

Opal, 1981 alumnus, is no ordinary man, and he rides no ordinary bike — it holds his two dogs, any interesting treasures Opal finds on his routine 25-mile trip around Baton Rouge and a reputation that has made him an icon. On a warm summer afternoon, he leans against his homemade bi-pedal contraption — a bicycle frame adorned with a rickety crate for Ringo, a 4-year-old Shetland sheepdog, and Cayla, a 3-year-old shih tzu-yorkie mix — and begins to tell the story of how he became the “bicycle man.” His story is dominated with his personal philosophy and his efforts to achieve a kind of zen. As he talks, people stop to stare and take pictures of the man whose legend towers over him, much like the collection of wood and wire he’s become known for. “I love it,” Opal says about the attention he receives from his bike. “It always gives me something to look forward to. I always get a kick out of people smiling and laughing and turning on their video cameras.” While Opal pauses between words, smiling blissfully, a sense of the real “man on the bike” begins to emerge. Like his bike, Opal is a combination of assorted treasures he has come across in his 55 years of life. He lives based off wisdom and knowledge from the books he’s read, people he’s talked to or his personal experiences. Every nugget of truth he doles out has come from a book or is accompanied by a story. Opal says he reads six books at a time, but he will usually only finish one of the six and uses the others as a way to avoid spending too much time on any one book. In addition to books, Opal relies on his religious experiences for wisdom and guidance. Opal describes himself as a “very theist” man. Although raised by atheist parents, Opal says he wasn’t aware of the household’s

lack of faith until his 20th birthday when his parents decided to tell him. This withholding allowed Opal the freedom to explore different religions and pick a belief that suited him, he says. As a result, Opal says he now borrows ideas and concepts from a number of religions including Buddhism and Hinduism. His name is a testament to his way of living and the influence of religion and history over him. Born Bruce Paul Johnston, Opal originally changed his name in 1987 to Arjuna Lynn Opal. The name Arjuna was picked because of a favorite character in the Buddhist scripture Bhagavad Gita. As he begins to describe the passage that influenced his name, Opal must first stop to hold back a tear. He explains that Arjuna was a warrior who was afraid to go into battle because he was fighting against people he knew. Then, Opal says, God appeared to Arjuna in the form of Krishna to comfort the frightened man. “There has never been a time when you and I and the kings gathered here have not existed, nor will there be a time when we will cease to exist,” Opal says, reciting the verse seemingly at ease before continuing the explanation of his name. Despite his love for the character and its influence over him, Opal says he didn’t keep his first name because his family and friends had trouble pronouncing it. Instead, he eventually settled on Jefferson Orwell Opal. This name was inspired by two of his heroes, Thomas Jefferson and George Orwell. He kept the name Opal, which was inspired by his birthstone. Opal says, in addition to Jefferson and Orwell, he also admires characters like Buddy Roehmer and Ronald Reagan, who have no problems socializing with others or talking to people. He says he could never reach that level of openness and amiability; but Opal, a friendly man, quick to discuss even sensitive, personal issues, brings up his former social disorder with only slight hesitation.

“I always get a kick out of people smiling and laughing and turning on their video cameras.”

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Department Name

Jefferson Orwell Opal rides his homemade bicycle throughout Baton Rouge. His dogs Ringo and Cayla join him on his 25-mile journeys. f a l l 2 0 1 2 33 LEGACY /

Jefferson Orwell Opal takes his 4-year-old Shetland sheepdog Ringo downtown for a dip. Opal and his two dogs routinely tour the city together. Growing up, Opal says he had a diagnosable case of chronic anxiety neurosis that made him self-conscious and ensured it would be difficult to socialize with strangers. At rest, Opal says his neurotic brain was like a normal person’s brain at work, full of activity. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common form of mental illness and affect 40 million adults in the United States ages 18 and older. However, these disorders, which can result from genetics or life events, are treatable. After graduating first from LSU with a degree in computer science and then from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with his master’s degree, Opal moved to California to get a job as a computer programmer. There, Opal says he overcame his anxiety by constantly pushing himself to interact with people. “I sort of took the opportunity to forcefully push [the chronic anxiety] out of my mind real quick by being just very nervy by asking a bunch of women for dates and stuff like that, just crazy stuff, hugging

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people and just pushing [to get rid of the anxiety],” Opal said. Eventually, Opal says he was able to get rid of his anxiety and achieve a state of mind in which he no longer had any inhibitions or self-consciousness. “I was not really a human being. I was superhuman,” Opal says of his achieved state. “Emotionally, it was impossible for me to feel embarrassed. I had direct control over my emotions. I could will into my mind, anytime I wanted to, these heavenly, beautiful feelings of love for everybody … I could read people’s emotions incredibly vividly. It’s like people were different colors.” Opal says this state of mind lasted 38 days. As with everything else, Opal sought further explanation in a book, saying he found a man, George Gurdjieff, who wrote about this rarely experienced state. “People who attain this state, their first reaction is astonishment that they had previously regarded themselves as sane,” Opal says. “They feel like the first time in their life they really see. In my ordinary waking state, I’m always having to deal with, it feels like, these puppet strings on me. … And

when I was in that state of mind, the Gurdjieff people call if ‘self-remembering,’ I had none of that.” Ever since, Opal has been working to achieve this state again in a number of ways. One technique he’s tried is picking up a phone book, calling a random business and asking a question like, “What time are your hours?” Opal says after a couple of phone calls, this random interaction gets rid of any nervousness he may be experiencing. Another source of constant interaction is also the thing Opal has become most known for. Biking around Baton Rouge puts Opal in contact with strangers and has brought him many opportunities. He rattles off television and magazine interviews he’s had, people who have given him everything from clothes to a roof over his head and even notes how the bike has brought him run-ins with police and security personnel who sometimes find trouble with him leaving his bike and dogs outside of buildings. Opal says he’s gotten used to this everyday socialization. “When someone waves at me, I have to

FEATURE make a conscious effort not to wave back,” Opal says of his changed behavior toward strangers. “It used to be the other way around. If I didn’t recognize them, ‘Should I be waving at this person? I don’t know you.’” Even people Opal hasn’t personally met take notice of the curious man. Winnie Netters, LSU gatekeeper at the Dalrymple Drive booth on campus, says she is used to seeing Opal every day, though she only saw him once during the summer. She says she’s afraid the dogs aren’t being fed properly or could face danger on the bike. “I don’t like the way the dogs are being treated,” Netters says about the man, sharing a concern Opal said he has often received. “It’s a form of abuse.” Other gatekeepers have only heard tales of the “man on the bike.” Capt. Cory Lalonde, LSU Police Department spokesman, says students will often call the police if they see a suspicious person on campus. If visitors to campus are arrested, campus policy is to ban them from the University. However, Lalonde said LSUPD hasn’t had any problems with Opal that would warrant this type of action. In fact, most of Opal’s trips take place off campus. His three-hour bike rides take him from his apartment in Central to the LSU campus. He’ll make stops along the way at Burger King to read the paper or Books-A-Million to browse for books. The routine, which began as a way to get exercise, has been the catalyst for a number of personality changes. Opal mentions his laugh is naturally almost two times as loud as it used to be before he started biking. Opal also says he no longer has any negative feelings toward anyone. “I like everybody,” Opal says. “Before I meet them, I like them.” Opal explains his decision to start biking very simply. In 2005, Opal says he decided he needed to exercise more, but he could never fully commit to an activity because it would mean leaving behind his two dogs, Ringo and Cayla.

About a year later, Opal came up with the idea for his now famous contraption. He says that at first it was hard for his dogs to get used to the pen on top of his bike. Opal says his dogs used to half-sit in the crate, half-stand on his shoulders as he rode. But eventually the dogs became used to the contraption and now calmly lay in it until Opal lets them out. He says many people, like Netters, have questioned the dogs’ safety. Some even go so far as to call the police on him, Opal says. He says he’s annoyed these people question his dogs’ safety, assuring that takes good care of them and reasoning that anyone who has problems with the way the dogs are handled should speak to him directly. The bike is what made him famous, but Opal doesn’t remain on the subject for very long. Instead, Opal continues to bring up the things he’s read about in books or knowledge he’s picked up from meeting people at bars. Today, Opal holds a variety of jobs (he estimates around six). His main source of income involves buying secondhand books and reselling them on the Internet. Opal guesses his collection is around 350 books. Another job involves taking care of the property where Opal lives and in exchange, Opal is allowed to stay there without paying rent. In his time spent reselling books, Opal says he has learned which books sell and which don’t. As with everything else in his life, Opal takes these lessons and applies them directly to his lifestyle. He says his biggest sellers are religious books, but he distinguishes those books that preach from the books that aren’t as heavy-handed. He imagines people prefer the latter because those books “exuded warmth.” Opal appreciates his citywide fame. He’s grateful with the interaction it has allowed him and he says he wishes he could market his canine contraption to children, like himself, who experience anxiety disorders or have trouble interacting with others. All the while, Opal continues to smile, denying rumors that he’s an LSU professor and sharing everything that has led up to this point in his life.

“I like everybody. Before I meet them, I like them.”

Did you know? with Jefferson Opal

•

Not a professor at LSU,

•

Once worked as a

contrary to popular belief. He guesses people got the idea from the platform he attached to his bike that allows him to carry his dogs with him on his bike trips. computer programmer.

Now he holds a variety of jobs, he estimates six, including “[rescuing] public property from destruction by water,” or taking the coins from public water fountains. •

Currently on the fifth dog carrier design.

He mentioned that the contraption is not perfected, and he is currently working on new blueprints that would include metal poles for increased support instead of wooden ones. •

Thinking about writing

a memoir about the experiences

he’s had on his bike. He mentioned “Serendipity” as a possible title because of his strong belief in the concept. •

Doesn’t pay rent and esti-

•

Used to live in his car and found the experience very pleasant. “If you get in a dispute with your neighbors, you can just turn the ignition and drive away,” Opal said.

•

The rumor that he is banned from Mike’s habitat area is false. He

mates he only spends about $25 a month on his cell phone bill. He said the majority of the rest of his expenses go toward food for his dogs and the cats he takes care of on the property where he stays.

said no one is allowed to bring animals near there, but he says he was never personally prohibited from going near the cage.

LEGACY

fall 2012

! O A F LM

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Laughter Yoga WORDS BY kaitlyn mercer A man throws his hands in the air, giggling like a small child. Two women stand face-to-face laughing at each other. An elderly man claps his hands and dances around the room. No, this isn’t sketch comedy — it’s a laughter yoga class. Laughter yoga, a relatively new form of yoga exercise, combines laughter with yoga style breathing called pranyama, said Phi Truong, owner of Baton Rouge’s Agame Yoga and Meditation Center. Laughter yoga is as simple as its name suggests — you only have to laugh to achieve the full effects. Agame’s laughter yoga instructor Jenny Norris described her class as “really, really silly.” “I think the reason I was drawn to it is because I take life a bit too seriously, and it’s definitely a good release valve for seriousness,” Norris said. Following an icebreaker, Norris leads what seems to be a typical yoga class. Everyone is quiet and seems to be deep in meditation, following her breathing. Then, the giggles begin. Norris commands the class to act in different scenarios, like walking around the room or lying down while laughing; giggling like a child or adopting toddler-esque movements. All of these movements culminate into experience that “instills happy hormones so perspective can improve,” Truong said. “It can be a roller coaster effect where everyone is laughing.” Psychology senior Alyse Adams said laughter yoga is one of her favorite ways to unwind. Adams began her yoga routine as a way to lose the infamous freshman 15 after a former roommate recommended the class. The 21-year-old continues to practice yoga and has sampled almost every form. “I took my first laughter yoga class at a local [recreation] center,” she said. “And now I do yoga every week.” Adams said yoga can be serious, but

PHOTOS BY jesse guillory

laughter yoga is lax. Unlike other forms of yoga, this playful activity brings the person participating to a different place in their meditation, she said. Instead of reaching a place of peace, laughter yoga participants experience joyful, stressless moments with more energy. Norris believes this yoga addresses life inside and outside of class. “Yoga is said to mean ‘to be in union with,’” she said. “I take that to mean being in union with life in every moment that it’s happening.” Despite being silly, laughter yoga has many health benefits, especially for the cardiovascular system, Troung added. Laughing during yoga “actually activates the parasympathetic nervous system, changing the balance of hormones in our bodies,” Truong said. Though what the laughter participants experience at first isn’t natural, the brain cannot tell any difference and still will gain the benefit of laughter. Laughing releases endorphins, and calms the body in a way that only hearty laughter can. “The mind feeds off the body, and the body feeds off the mind,” Truong said. “Laughing connects these two.” But the health benefits are simply a perk. Laughter yoga is an aerobic workout but one everyone can enjoy. Who thinks about burning calories when you’re having a great time? Adams said most people can’t just let go and experience childlike, stress-free fun, and laughter yoga provides this opportunity. Participants breathlessly relax and giggle as the class draws to a close instead of a typical mantra repeated like most yoga sessions at Agame. Norris knows how to make a crowd chuckle in her class, saying she can see a definite shift in participant’s attitudes after a 30-minute session. “Everyone, I think, feels better after a good laugh.”

HEALTH + LIVING

HAHA!

Yoga at home For rookies, by a rookie

Accept the fact that you’re about to look a little strange to onlookers. I’d probably find somewhere quiet and isolated.

2 Clap your hands in front of your heart. 3 Focus your mind on your stomach and laugh a hearty “ho, ho.”

Shift your focus to your chest and laugh “ha, ha.”

Now combine these two and alternate between “ho, ho, ha, ha, ho, ho.” (If you don’t feel silly yet, you’re doing it wrong).

6 Bend at the waist toward the ground, with your hands facing down. In one motion, extend your arms and body back upward while wailing “ha, ha, ha, ha” as loudly as you can. (Just don’t wake up the neighbors).

7 If you’re with a group, laugh together. Keep eye contact with someone at all times and laugh. If you’re alone, laugh at your reflection in the mirror.

8 Extend your hands upward and laugh “ha, ha, ha, ha” for about a minute.

9 Think of a positive mantra, or saying you can repeat over and over, that will help you focus on happiness or laughter. Giggling works as well.

10 Breathe in deeply and out. Congratulations! You’re a laughing expert now.

LEGACY

fall 2012

Take a hike +

WORDS BY kevin thibodeaux PHOTOS BY benjamin oliver hicks

Louisiana, the sportsman’s paradise, offers the perfect opportunity to switch things up during the normal wind and grind of the fall semester. Only a couple of hours outside Baton Rouge, the state offers plenty of hiking trails with activities for everyone from the casual hiker to the extreme outdoorsman. Here’s a quick rundown of the options for day hiking around Baton Rouge and a comprehensive guide for the adventurous soul looking to try something out of the ordinary.

Tunica Hills is the closest hiking trail to LSU, and it is completely free. [Right] Tunica Hills has four different trails, each varying in length.

2. Tunica Hills - St. Francisville Distance from LSU: 48 miles (a little more than an hour) Cost: Free, but any person wishing to make a trip to Tunica Hills must either have a valid Wild Louisiana Stamp, a valid Louisiana fishing license or a valid Louisiana hunting license and fill out a registration form at the area. Features: The area features four trails ranging from one mile to four miles in length over hills, bluffs and waterfalls. For those wishing to stay the night, there is a designated campsite in the area that is limited to tent use. Restrooms are available on the grounds. Visitors looking to stay hydrated must bring their own water to drink. What people are saying: “Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area and the surrounding area is unlike anything that you will see in southeast Louisiana,” said Jillian Jordan Day, a biologist with the park. “It is amazing how a short drive can take you from cypress, tupelo swamp and into upland hardwood habitat with hills and bluffs. I do recommend taking a trip to Tunica Hills in the fall as the leaves are changing.”

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Health + living

1. Barataria Preserve - Arabi Distance from LSU: 95 miles (about two hours) Cost: Free Features: The area offers a number of trail loops and off-shoots that range from a quarter of a mile to just under two miles and makes the area a great place to take a casual walk and see the unique sights of the bayou. Visitors can also canoe and kayak in Barataria’s seven waterways and canals, which range from less than a mile to more than five miles. Rangers are available at the area’s visitor center to give guests information about the different plant and animals species. The area also houses a museum and theater which both provide information of the history of Jean Lafitte Park for free, according to Derek Bardell, a ranger at the park. What people are saying: Bardell said the area offers the opportunity to see the natural habitats of different plant and animals species all with a great view of the marshes.

Barataria Preserve is home to seven waterways and canals that are perfect for kayaking or canoeing.

3. Kisatchie National Forest - Pineville Distance from LSU: 131 miles (about two and a half hours) Cost: It is free to hike the trails, but there are small fees for the amenities, like picnic areas, or for the use of motorized vehicles on trails. Features: The area is Louisiana’s only national forest and allows for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking at no cost in most areas, according to Amy Robertson, public affairs specialist. The Wild Azalea trail, which Robertson said is one of the area’s most popular trails, offers 30 miles of scenic views and the opportunity for more casual hikers to jump on and off the trail at its numerous segments. What people are saying: “Within all of our trails, we have something for everyone from beginners to experienced hikers,” Robertson said.

Things You’ll Need · Comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots · A bottle of water · A map · Sunscreen · Mosquito spray or insect repellent · Sunglasses · A backpack

Writer Kevin Thibodeaux traveled to Tunica Hills for the day. Check out his experience at

lsulegacymag.com

· A camera More information can be found at each of the areas’ websites.

LEGACY

fall 2012

DESIGNING + WORDS BY kaitlyn mercer PHOTOS BY zach breaux

ON A DIME

Decorating your new apartment or dorm on a student-sized bud-

get can be a difficult task. But you can have a space all your friends will envy at little expense to your wallet and your time. All you need is a little organization and the right advice. Kenneth Brown knows a thing or two about interior design. The 1995 alumnus and Baton Rouge native is the host of HGTV’s “reDesign,” which transforms typical rooms into stunning living spaces for his clients. He now operates his own design company based in both Baton Rouge and Los Angeles, combining gracious, modern living with southern comfort flair. “Interesting fabrics and accessories, used simply and effectively, are his fuss-free signature,” said intern Cindy Tiek of Kenneth Brown Design. Brown knows that not everyone can afford a complete home

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makeover like his clients, and he has tips and tricks to aid any student in their quest for a comfortable, well-organized living space. The first step — storage. Brown suggested utilizing the allotted space to its full potential, using storage pieces that are multifunctional, such as storage cubes that can serve “as an extra seat or nightstand.” He said this is “a perfect way to keep extra storage out of sight.” Incorporating portable areas to store clutter, like trays, is also a quick hide-away trick, he said. “Whether traditional wicker or modern lacquer,” he said, “trays provide much needed additional work surfaces that are moveable.” For in-sight storage, he said plastic crates are the easiest, cheapest means of storage for any space. Brown said using decorative hat boxes instead of clunky boxes are one trendy alternative. Interior design junior Lane Rapier maximizes her living space by using shelving and under-bed storage to keep clutter off the floor. “If you live in a dorm, lofting your bed and putting your desk under it really helps clear out space,” she said. And once everything is nicely stored, it’s time to focus on the walls, said interior design senior Sara Broussard. Mirrors can make any room seem larger and won’t break the bank, she said. “Mirrors reflect light and trick the eye into perceiving more depth than actually exists,” she said, “which opens up a space and makes it feel instantly larger.” She suggested hanging three inexpensive, full-length mirrors — purchased at any home decor store — horizontally, one above the other. Even if you live in a dorm, mirrors can be used to spice up your living space, Brown said, adding, “A mirror can act like an extra window in your dorm and help deflect light.” Broussard recommended looking online for inspiration for inexpensive projects. Websites like instructables.com, craftzine.com and lifehacker.com are all excellent sources for easy DIY home improvement projects, she said. “If you can get handy, you can have a great looking space,” she said.

HEALTH + LIVING

This inexpensive Do-it-Yourself project will free up a little space in your room, while adding a personal flair to your apartment. Materials:

1 drill

2 sets of brackets per book

Enough screws for brackets

Books

Find some sturdy leather or cloth covered books. Your best bet would be a used book store or your grandmother’s house. Different colors and spine designs will be the most visually impacting.

Purchase two sets of brackets per book at your local hardware store. Use one set for below the book and a single bracket above.

Janene M. Grodesky Ph.D

Co Owner, One Heart Yoga Center LLC @ Tres Bien

Measure the thickness of the book you’re using. Drill the two bottom brackets into the desired place on your wall and the top bracket centered above the same distance as the book’s thickness.

Slide the book into place between the brackets, and place lightweight objects on the books for extra storage.

2935 Perkins Road Baton Rouge, LA 70808 225.393.1709 Yogabatonrouge.com

Voila! You’re practically a professional designer. Look out, HGTV.

LEGACY

Yoga Massage Thai Yoga Bodywork Reiki

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fall 2012

DATING AT A DISTANCE +

WORDS BY clayton crockett PHOTOS BY zach breaux

We regard love as a shapeless, space-filling fluid that fits the set parameters of the relationship, taking the shape of its receptacle.

w w w. l s u l e g a c y m a g . c o m

In search of a fresh perspective to a timeworn dilemma, an acquaintance approaches and asks for relationship advice. You know only this person’s name and nothing of his or her personal life. This friend-of-a-friend poses the following: “I’ve been in a relationship for two months now, but my partner will be moving away soon. Should we pursue a long-distance relationship?” Difficult though it may be, you can only answer in yes-or-no fashion. So, which is it? Should this young couple pursue a career in bridge-building or fold a bad hand? A “yes” puts a budding and fluctuating relationship on a tightrope, and “no” gives up before it starts, depending on how you look at it. But the difference between yes and no involves far more than optimism or cynicism. It can be argued either way whether the risk of dissipation is worth the positive outcome of holding the line, but the exercise reveals our individual tendencies regarding relationships. Truth is we’ve got things backward, and because of it, the temptation to elasticize the inelastic and prolong the finite has led to widespread amorous atrophy. The mix-up is between what constitutes a relationship and what constitutes a connection, or love, and many of us are guilty of wagging the dog. For instance, how does your response change if the length of the hypothetical relationship above is extended to six months? A year? While it is admittedly impossible to generalize something as unique and personal as a relationship, changing one’s mind on the dilemma based on time exposes an innate desire for objective standards and measures. We’d like to think time and emotional connections are interlinked seamlessly, but if you’ve ever braved the crucible of dating at a distance, you’ll surely know that such assumptions can be both deceiving and dangerous. Because it’s much easier to do so, society tends to judge a relationship by those objective standards and measures, but given the far more formless nature of our emotional connections, we let love slide by with nary a clear definition or concept — save that most misleading “gut feeling.” When defining or detecting a relationship, one generally looks for the tangible evidences: frequent contact, time together, money spent, no cheating, sex — or general physicality, depending on one’s disposition. But when defining love, we are

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wont to regard it as the shapeless, space-filling fluid that fits the set parameters of the relationship and takes whatever the shape of its receptacle — that is, the relationship itself. The opposite should be the case; love should be defined and catered to by the relationship, and not the other way around. If one treats it as such, miles, like age, become but a number. Contrary to the banal, romantic mumblings of poets and playwrights everywhere, love is entirely capable of assuming a definable and detectable form — so long as the wielder is ready to accept the responsibility of adhering to the definition. What virtues do you find admirable in man? What merits respect? What human traits give you hope, and how do they look when applied? Answering these questions turns love into the mold to be filled with a person and a relationship, so when dealt a bad hand, one may always rest assured that everything will be in its right place, regardless. Circling back to our troubled friend-of-a-friend, one can now see that in asking, he or she has given himself or herself away: If you have to ask … “The solutions all are simple — after you have arrived at them. But they’re simple only when you know already what they are.” Modern philosopher and author of “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” Robert Pirsig said this, and a more germane prescription cannot be found for the matter at hand. As concerns this new friend of ours, should one resign from a relationship to prevent the thorny task of upkeep or risk of failure? Frankly put (and perhaps overly so), if you think you have other options then you likely do — and will find them whether you hold on or not. And if you have to ask, then the possibility of the relationship going the distance is either nil or yet to be realized anyway, and in neither of which case should you prevent exploring other options. Successfully dating at a distance is possible, it simply requires discipline: the discipline to communicate, to understand, to think clearly and honestly about one’s relationships and, most importantly, the discipline to follow through with the conclusions. Ironic though it is, the answer will always be yes when the question arises — but don’t stress yourself when it does. The solutions are only simple once we already know them, so it is necessary that we find them the hard way.