The Daily Reveille — November 17, 2009

Question of the Week Log on to lsureveille.com to see what color and type of underwear students wear.

BASKETBALL LSU men beat Indiana State, 56-45, during NIT, page 7.

THE DAILY REVEILLE Volume 114, Issue 59

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

ArouNd the World

Knowledge of foreign languages gives students edge in job market

B

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Log on to see how to say “I love the Tigers” in other languages.

By Mary Walker Baus • Staff Writer

onjour, hola, ciao and guten tag were all mispronounced by students Monday afternoon while those better versed in foreign languages sang in Swahili, taught Spanish phrases and inked henna tattoos in Arabic.

Though these “hellos” were foreign greetings to some students, these words are a part of everyday life for foreign language students and professors, about 60 of whom visited the “Tower of Babel” event in the LSU Student Union’s Atchafalaya Room. The event featured professors and students from eight of the University’s 13 offered languages who shared experiences in those departments with others.

LANGUAGES, see page 11 photo illustration by KRISTEN M’LISSA ROWLETT / The Daily Reveille

photos by ERIN ARLEDGE and KIMBERLY JACKSON / The Daily Reveille

[Top] Gundela Hachmann, German professor, writes on the chalkboard Monday during one of her classes. [Left] Elizabeth Zavala, international studies senior, left, and Ryan Balsamo, physical geography senior, right, study Italian on Monday at the Foreign Language Lab in Prescott Hall. [Center] Deogratias Tungaraza, Swahili professor, teaches students how to greet others in Kiswahili on Monday in the Student Union. [Right] Malika Ghulam-Ali, political science senior, left, translates theater sophomore Emily Rodriguez’s name to Arabic on her arm Monday in the Student Union.

TRANSPORTATION

FINANCE

Expert: TOPS-like programs University to offer airport do not help graduation rates shuttle services for holidays

By Kyle Bove Senior Staff Writer

If states want to nurse budget wounds, a revision in merit-based scholarship programs like TOPS may be needed, a national education scholar told the Louisiana Postsecondary Education Review Commission on Monday.

Michael McPherson, president of the Spencer Foundation — an organization that supports research about education — told members during a video conference his research shows states with programs similar to TOPS give too much to families who can afford the tuition.

McPherson’s comments echoed

sentiments made by LSU System President John Lombardi last month.

The TOPS scholarship, which covers full tuition at the University using state dollars for students who meet ACT and GPA requirements, should be changed to a one-time merit award of $2,000, and the leftover money should be used along with Go-Grant funding to establish a stronger need-based financial aid program, Lombardi said.

According to the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance, 38 percent of TOPS recipients come from families earning more than $100,000 per year.

TOPS, see page 15

By Brianna Paciorka Contributing Writer

Students flying home for the Thanksgiving and the winter holidays will now have the option of using a University-provided shuttle service to the Baton Rouge and New Orleans airports.

First Transit — the company providing service for Tiger Trails — will be responsible for the shuttle traveling to the Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans, said Catherine Utt, First Transit general manager.

Shuttles will leave for New Orleans on the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day every four hours, with the first shuttle set

to leave at 4 a.m. and the last of each day leaving at 4 p.m.

Shuttles will pick up students returning to campus Sunday after Thanksgiving. Sunday’s service will leave the airport every four hours, with the first shuttle leaving at 10 a.m. and the last departing at 8 p.m.

The times chosen for the service to New Orleans might not appeal to some students, Utt said.

“Students need to realize they might have to wait around at the airport with the times we have chosen,” Utt said. “But it’s better than paying $75 for a cab or getting a ride from a SHUTTLE, see page 15

THE DAILY REVEILLE

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2009

Nation & World

INTERNATIONAL

NATIONAL

12 Afghans killed in attack on meeting with French

12 injured in shooting after San Francisco concert

TAGAB VALLEY, Afghanistan (AP) — Rockets slammed into a market northeast of Kabul on Monday, killing 12 civilians but missing their presumed target: a meeting between France’s top general in Afghanistan and dozens of tribal elders and senior local officials.

Peru president rebukes Chile over alleged spying

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A gunman opened fire at a group of fighting men, injuring 12 people outside a concert hall, authorities said Monday.

The gunfire erupted Sunday night near the Regency Ballroom after two men got into a fist fight, San Francisco police Sgt. Wilfred Williams said. The victims were taken to hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.

LIMA, Peru (AP) — Peruvian President Alan Garcia accused Chile of assaulting Peru’s sovereignty, throwing his weight behind allegations that Chile paid a Peruvian military officer to spy.

Gunmen kill 13 men execution style west of Baghdad BAGHDAD (AP) — Gunmen in Iraqi army uniforms abducted and killed 13 people whose bodies were found Monday with gunshot wounds to the head.

Green card seekers won’t have to get HPV vaccine DALLAS (AP) — Immigrant girls and women will no longer have to be vaccinated against a sexually transmitted virus to get their green cards.

Starting Dec. 14, the HPV, or human papillomavirus vaccine will no longer be on the list of immunizations female immigrants ages 11 to 26 must receive before becoming legal permanent residents.

STATE/LOCAL

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made the change on Friday. The CDC said it will require immunizations for which there is a public health need either at the time the person immigrates or changes their status to green card holder.

Illinois town would rather get Gitmo prisoners THOMSON, Ill. (AP) — Some folks in this dying Mississippi River town would rather take their chances with suspected terrorists in their backyard than watch their neighbors continue to move away in despair over the lack of jobs.

News that the federal government may buy the nearly empty Thomson Correctional Center and use the maximum-security state prison to house Guantanamo Bay detainees has given people in Thomson hope that things might be about to turn around in this woeful town of 450.

LSU AgCenter revives educational identification trail system

New program helps elders avoid nursing homes

(AP) — Good ideas die hard.

Steele Burden, whose family gave more than 400 acres of land on either side of I-10 near Essen Lane to LSU, laid out a tree and shrub identification trail behind what is now the Burden Conference Center.

Over time, the plant identification markers got broken, stepped on, rotted.

When Pat Hegwood became director at Burden in 2000, the trails had fallen into disuse and were being reclaimed by the woods.

He turned to Baton Rouge Green “because they’re all about trees,” said Hegwood, reached at a conference by telephone. “I started working with Sue Heflin and Peggy Davis. They wrote grants, and Peggy organized volunteers. They spent thousands of hours working out there.”

(AP) — A new program is available in East Baton Rouge and surrounding parishes to help match people with community services so they can stay out of nursing homes.

The idea is to help people find the support they need before they deplete their savings, said Jay Bulot, director of the Governor’s Office on Elderly Affairs.

State seeks preliminary storm damage assessment from FEMA

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FRIDAY

(AP) — The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is requesting FEMA conduct a preliminary damage assessment for areas impacted by recent severe weather and flooding in North Louisiana.

On Nov. 8, Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a State of Emergency based on the damage caused by the severe weather.

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Weather 62 38

MLK DAY OF SERVICE INFORMATIONAL Tuesday, November 17, 2009 7pm in the African American Cultural Center

PAGE 2

SATURDAY 74 52

ERIN ARLEDGE / The Daily Reveille

BESO SWEET POTATO AND RICE SALE!!

On the corner of Highland and S. Stadium Nov. 16-20 and 23-25 from 8:00am-6:00pm

ONGOING IN NOVEMBER STUDENT REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATION Meeting Thursday, 19th 6:30pm Patrick F. Taylor room 1112 Jill Newton of ARGUS GROOVIN’ IT INTERNATIONAL STYLE Cultural Dance Event with incredible performers Free food and drinks. Hosted by ISA At the ICC, 3365 Dalrymple Drive Friday, Nov. 20, 6p.m.-9p.m.

DO YOU HAVE AN OCCURRENCE? Call Andrew at the Student Media Office 578-6090, 9AM- 5PM or

Log on to lsureveille.com to see photos of senior rings.

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

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

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The Daily Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Daily Reveille is an independent entity within the Manship School of Mass Communication. A single issue of The Daily Reveille is free. To purchase additional copies for 25 cents, please contact the Office of Student Media in B-34 Hodges Hall. The Daily Reveille is published daily during the fall and spring semesters and semi-weekly during the summer semester, except during holidays and final exams. Secondclass copies postage paid at Baton Rouge, La., 70803. Annual weekly mailed subscriptions are $125, semester weekly mailed subscriptions are $75. Non-mailed student rates are $4 each regular semester, $2 during the summer; one copy per person, additional copies 25 cents each. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Daily Reveille, B-39 Hodges Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, La.,70803.

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 3

MUSIC

Tiger Band performs in 29th annual Tigerama concert Auction to benefit new Tiger Band Hall

By Kyle Bove Senior Staff Writer

The Baton Rouge River Center erupted Monday night with the sounds of a 29-year-old Tiger tradition.

Family, friends and fans gathered to hear The Golden Band from Tiger Land play in its annual Tigerama concert — a chance for the public to see Tiger Band perform up close.

“We’re able to show off the hard work we’ve done all year,” said drum major Rob Dowie.

A silent auction kicked off the event at 6 p.m., with all proceeds going to support the construction of the new Tiger Band Hall. Carol Newman, associate development director for the LSU School of Music, said she did not yet know the total amount raised Monday night.

BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille

The LSU Golden Band from Tiger Land plays “Yankee Doodle Boy” on Monday night at the 29th annual Tigerama Concert.

Annie Schwartz, whose son David is the baritone section leader for Tiger Band, said Tiger Band deserves the new band hall, especially because they are such a big part of the LSU athletic tradition.

The LSU Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Winds bands opened

the concert with the classic “Semper Fidelis” by John Philip Sousa, conducted by Ronald Richard, retired major general of the U.S. Marine Corps and CEO of the Tiger Athletic Foundation.

After a few songs from the ensembles, including the spirited

“LSU Rhapsody,” Tiger Band members filled the aisles before taking to the floor to showcase its 2009 halftime show marches.

“We can see [them] up close and personal,” Schwartz said. “We can’t on the field.”

Robert Godke, animal science

professor, attended Tigerama and said he looks forward to seeing Tiger Band play at every football and basketball game.

“There’s more to this band than just playing — they have heart and soul,” Godke said.

Last night was Dowie’s sixth and final Tigerama. He played for Tiger Band during his five years as an undergraduate. Now, in his third year as drum major, he’s about to be a Tiger Band alumnus because of Tiger Band’s six-year limit, Dowie said.

While he won’t get to play in the new band hall, Dowie said it’s good to know the freshman and sophomore Tiger Band members will have a nice place to practice — especially when it rains.

“We can’t even fit the whole band into the band hall right now,” Dowie said.

Contact Kyle Bove at kbove@lsureveille.com

SCIENCE

Leonid meteor shower visible early this morning

By Emily Slack Entertainment Writer

A majority of the world sleeps in the early hours of the morning, but the night sky was worth taking a look at early this morning when the Leonid meteor shower arrived.

The Leonid shower has happened every year around November for centuries, said astronomy professor Juhan Frank.

“The Leonids are one of the most spectacular meteor showers visible in Louisiana,” Frank said.

He said the shower should still be visible this evening for those viewers who want to catch the end.

“Every year the Earth goes through the same place in its orbit as it goes around the sun, and at some points we cross the path of debris left by comets,” Frank said.

Though the Leonids are harmless to casual observers, the meteors pose potential risks to astronauts leaving the atmosphere for missions like working on the International Space Station.

“Anytime you’re out in space, you’re worried about debris hitting the shuttle or the astronauts on space walks,” said Leroy Chiao, a former NASA astronaut who currently works for the White Houseappointed Review of U.S. Human

Spaceflight Plans Committee. “The debris is traveling at about 17,500 miles per hour, so they are a danger, but the chances of being hit are very small.”

Chiao said shuttle missions are planned around large meteor showers like the Leonid to reduce the risk of an accident.

The Leonids were expected to be particularly intense this year over Asia, where viewers could see more than 300 meteors an hour, said Bill Cooke of the Meteoroid Environment Office of the Marshall Space Flight Center in an e-mail to The Daily Reveille.

“The Leonids are noted for producing spectacular displays, such as the one over North America

in 1883, which gave birth to meteor astronomy,” Cooke said.

University students planned to see the show in open areas around Baton Rouge with little light pollution. Megan Holland, elementary education junior, said she planned to watch the show on the Parade Ground.

Amy Wright, psychology junior, said she wanted to see the Leonid shower because it was predicted to be one of the biggest meteor showers of the decade, and she had never seen a meteor shower before.

Dustin Howard, mass communication sophomore, said he watched the show with his friends in the BREC soccer fields on

Burbank Drive.

“I found out about the event through Facebook,” Howard said. “[My friends and I] usually try to keep track of [meteor showers].”

The “Leonids Meteor Shower 2009” Facebook group gained 887,663 members by Monday evening.

The meteor shower is predicted to peak at 3 p.m. today, Frank said.

But he said the meteors were most visible early this morning.

Contact Emily Slack at eslack@lsureveille.com

PAGE 4

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

THE DAILY REVEILLE

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THE DAILY REVEILLE

HEALTH

Food-allergic students able to enjoy campus cuisine without problems

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

STOMP THE YARD

No report of illness in more than 12 years

By Sarah Lawson Contributing Writer

Campus dining venues serve meals and snacks containing all sorts of soy, milk, nut and wheat combinations.

But to some students, these ingredients are just recipes for a foodallergy flare-up.

Hali Mouiller, animal science sophomore, has a shellfish allergy and said she heads straight to Chickfil-A when she goes to Tiger Lair in the Student Union because she knows their products don’t contain shellfish.

“I just swell up,” she said of a time when she ate seafood. “I can’t breathe.”

She said she constantly checks menu ingredients and packaged food for traces of shellfish. But she hasn’t had any problems with her allergy on campus, she said.

David Heidke, director of LSU Dining and Concessions, said no reports of student allergy attacks or food poisoning from LSU Dining’s offerings have crossed his desk since his arrival to the University in 1997.

He said some students notify his department of food allergies for accommodations, and the most commonly reported allergies are peanut and gluten or wheat-related problems.

One in five Americans suffers from some type of allergy, and 6 percent of those people suffer from food or drug allergies, according to figures from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. About 90 percent of all food allergies revolve around eight foods, according to AAFA — peanuts, wheat, milk, soy, tree nuts, fish, eggs and shellfish.

Vanessa Richard, Student Health Center dietician, said she could not track the number of cases of foodborne allergies treated at the Health Center because blood tests for gastrointestinal illnesses are rare at the center.

She said most student inquiries about food allergies are related to tips for preventing anaphylactic shock, which can be accompanied by airway and blood vessel constriction.

Heidke said most of the responsibility to report or prevent allergy attacks falls on students. Students rarely report serious allergies, he said.

“There’s not a lot we can do,”

ERIN ARLEDGE / The Daily Reveille JASON BORDELON / The Daily Reveille

A sign outside the Atrium Cafe in the Design Building cautions people with food allergies that potential allergens may be present in the prepared food.

he said.

He said some Union restaurants like Chick-fil-A use peanut oil and post that information to alert students with allergies, but LSU Dining does not post preparation facts at dining halls.

“There is no warning. If we’re preparing an entrée that has peanuts in it ... then it’s in the name of the particular entrée,” Heidke said.

He said his department prepares for allergy attacks and food poisoning and answers students’ questions.

A reported food allergy is grounds for exemption from freshman meal plan requirements, he said.

LSU Dining staff, chefs, dieticians and serving personnel are all moderately knowledgeable about food contents and can usually field questions, he said.

Heidke said attaching liability would be a cloudy area in instances of potential food poisoning.

“At the end of the day, if there’s a shortcoming ... then that’s where fault would be assessed,” Heidke said.

Taylor Harbuck, political science sophomore, said she takes measures to avoid food poisoning on campus.

“I don’t eat the sushi on campus,” she said. “It kind of scares me.”

But Casey Miller, communication studies senior, said he doesn’t worry about the food on campus.

“I just trust the food,” he said.

Contact Sarah Lawson at slawson@lsureveille.com

Three Omega Psi Phi Fraternity pledges introduce themselves to the campus by stepping and reciting chants Monday afternoon in the Quad.

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Sports

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

early scare

PAGE 7

FOOTBALL

LSU-Ark. kickoff set for 6 p.m.

LSU defeats Indiana St., 56-45, despite shaky start

ESPN to broadcast Nov. 28 matchup

By Chris Branch

By Casey Gisclair

Sports Contributor

Deputy Sports Editor

LSU men’s basketball coach Trent Johnson warned players and media alike about this game.

It was the classic trap game for the young but talented Tigers playing in only their second contest of the season.

Fortunately for them, they listened.

LSU heeded Johnson’s advice in a rusty, yet gutsy effort and defeated Indiana State, 56-45, Monday in the PMAC. The game was LSU’s opening contest of the NIT Preseason Tip-Off. The victory moves LSU on to face Western Kentucky tomorrow at 7 p.m. If LSU beats the Hilltoppers, the Tigers will travel to New York City to play in the semifinals in Madison Square Garden.

The Sycamores seemed to have the upper hand early. LSU was held scoreless for the first six minutes of the contest by stifling defense from Indiana State. The Tigers finally managed a lead with about eight minutes left in the first half, but could not distance themselves.

“We found a way,” Johnson said. “It was not pretty.”

The Southeastern Conference announced Monday LSU’s Nov. 28 football game against Arkansas will be a 6 p.m. kickoff and the game will be televised on ESPN. The matchup marks the first time since 1996 the “Battle for the Golden Boot” will be played on a Saturday. From 1997-2008, the game was played the Friday following Thanksgiving.

LSU will head into the rivalry game having lost two straight meetings with the Razorbacks.

Arkansas won last season’s meeting, 31-30, with a last-minute touchdown. The Razorbacks also were victorious in their most recent trip to Tiger Stadium and walked away with a 50-48 win in triple overtime in 2007.

But the Razorbacks have not conquered the allure of a Saturday night in Death Valley in either of those two wins.

LSU has won 39 of its past 41 Saturday night games in Tiger Stadium since 2002. The Tigers also have a 20-game winning streak in games broadcast by the ESPN family of networks.

BASKETBALL, see page 10

“We found a way.

It was not pretty.”

KRISTEN M’LISSA ROWLETT/ The Daily Reveille

[Top] LSU junior guard Bo Spencer goes in for a layup Monday night during the Tigers’ 56-45 win against the Indiana State Sycamores.

[Left] LSU sophomore forward Storm Warren dunks the ball during the game in the PMAC.

Trent Johnson, LSU men’s basketball coach

Contact Casey Gisclair at cgisclair@lsureveille.com

FOOTBALL

Jefferson to practice after missing La. Tech game Miles impressed by O-line’s play Sat.

By Rachel Whittaker Chief Sports Writer

The sideline was “an uncomfortable position” for LSU sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson in the Tigers’ 24-16 win Saturdy against Louisiana Tech, LSU coach Les Miles said Monday. “[Jefferson] hates missing a game, and he is looking forward to getting back,” Miles said. “He took some snaps in the pregame and threw the ball pretty well. I kind of look forward to him getting back too.”

Sophomore quarterback Jarrett competes and fights for us.”

Lee did not perform well in JefferJefferson was back at practice son’s absence, Miles said. Lee com- Monday, as was senior tight end pleted 7-of-22 passRichard Dickson, es for 105 yards and who missed his seca touchdown. ond-straight game But Miles said Saturday with a Lee is more prethigh contusion. pared if he has to Miles said the play against Ole original diagnosis Miss on Saturday for Dickson was a in Oxford, Miss. knee injury.

Les Miles “Jarrett Lee is “We thought LSU football coach our second-team Dickson hurt his quarterback and knee, but we found competing like heck,” Miles said. out later he tore something in his “He was our quarterback that pi- thigh, so it was very sincerely a thigh loted the team that won the game. contusion,” Miles said. “The good He understands how to [play better], OFFENSE, see page 10 but again, we’re fortunate that he

‘‘

‘The offensive line was our MVP on the offensive side.’

MAGGIE BOWLES / The Daily Reveille

LSU coach Les Miles paces the sidelines as he watches the Tigers play Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., during LSU’s 24-15 loss Nov. 7.

PAGE 8

THE DAILY REVEILLE

BABBLING BROOKS

Heisman contenders established This college football season has featured a lot of unusual things.

From alleged refereeing conspiracies to six undefeated teams with three weeks left, this season has seen it all — except for a plethora of Heisman moments.

Is anyone really trying to win this season’s Heisman Trophy?

No one has stood head and shoulders above the rest, although Johanathan many have had decent seasons, Brooks Sports Columnist and these five are doing the best of anyone thus far.

1. MARK INGRAM Ingram has been far and away the best running back in the country this season while playing for No. 2 Alabama (100, 7-0 SEC).

The sopho- Mark Ingram more from Flint, Alabama RB Mich., currently leads the Southeastern Conference in rushing with 1,297 yards on 194 carries for an average of 6.7 yards a carry — which is good enough for No. 5 nationally.

This guy is a legitimate real deal.

He has rushed for more than 100 yards in six of Alabama’s 10 contests, including three games in which he’s had more than 150 yards.

Ingram has shown up in a very big way in Alabama’s four biggest games.

He rushed for 246 yards against then-No. 22 South Carolina, he amassed 150 yards against then-No. 7 Virginia Tech, he totalled 172 yards against then-No. 20 Ole Miss and he ran for 144 yards against then-No. 9 LSU. He’s also No. 2 in the SEC in all-purpose yards with 1,522 and has 13 total touchdowns to his name.

2. CASE KEENUM Keenum has gained considerable notoriety and firmly entrenched himself among college football’s elite

signal-callers with his performances this season for No. 24 Houston (8-2, 4-2 C-USA).

Keenum ranks No. 1 among quarterbacks with 4,194 passing yards and has passed for more than 500 yards on three separate Case Keenum occasions.

Houston QB To add to his monstrous yardage totals, he has tossed 31 touchdowns and completed 70 percent of his passes.

He has also only thrown six interceptions in 514 passing attempts.

Keenum’s Cougars play in the Conference USA, so this may hurt his chances, but he’s certainly done all he can to win the award.

In his team’s two losses, Keenum still passed for 913 yards with eight touchdowns and one interception.

3. COLT MCCOY The No. 3 Texas (10-0,6-0 Big 12) quarterback was atop most preseason Heisman watch lists, and his performances to date have kept him in the mix.

McCoy is No. 17 nation- Colt McCoy ally in passTexas QB ing yards with 2,628 yards and 19 touchdowns.

He’s played relatively mistake-free for most of the season and has only thrown nine interceptions.

He leads the country in completion percentage with 72.4 percent — a full two percentage points better than the next guy, Central Michigan’s Dan LeFevour.

McCoy has also added 164 yards on the ground, but has only one rushing touchdown.

4. C.J. SPILLER No. 23 Clemson (7-3,5-2 ACC) is leading the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Atlantic Division thanks largely in part to Spiller’s contributions.

This running back is doing it all for the Tigers.

Spiller ranks No. 3 nationally in all-purpose yards with 1,952 for an

average of 195 yards a game.

He’s rushed for six touchdowns, caught four, returned four kicks for a touchdown and even thrown a touchdown this season.

It would be a long shot for Spiller to receive the award this season, but C.J. Spiller an invite to the Clemson RB ceremony in New York City is definitely not off the table for the senior speedster.

5. TIM TEBOW A ton of guys are having slightly above average seasons who could fill the fifth spot on this list, but as the old adage would suggest, when in doubt, err on the side of Tebow.

The Flor- Tim Tebow ida (10-0, 7-0) Florida QB quarterback is gunning for history and trying to be just the second player in the sport’s history to win the prestigious award twice.

Tebow isn’t having the all-world season many expected him to, but obviously he’s doing well enough to have his Gators at No. 1 in all the major polls.

He’s passed for 1,730 yards and 12 touchdowns with only four interceptions. He’s the No. 10 most efficient quarterback in the country with a 154.0 rating in that category.

He’s also run 171 times for 604 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Tebow has also broken Herschel Walker’s record for all-time rushing touchdowns in SEC history this season. He also beat Kevin Faulk’s record for total career touchdowns in SEC history.

Johanathan Brooks is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from Powder Springs, Ga. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_jbrooks.

Contact Johanathan Brooks at jbrooks@lsureveille.com

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 9

BASEBALL

Tigers to hold three-day Purple and Gold World Series Landry, Hanover out of lineups

By Andy Schwehm Sports Writer

The LSU baseball team will begin its second three-game world series in six months today.

But the winner of this one is guaranteed to be an LSU team, as the Tigers will compete in their Purple and Gold World Series to cap off their fall practice schedule.

The games will serve as the last team functions until the Tigers reconvene in January for winter practice before the start of the 2010 season Feb. 19 against Centenary.

“This will give them one more chance to show what they can do,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “It’s the last audition of fall practice.”

Each roster will be composed of 16 players – eight position players and eight pitchers. No pitcher will throw more than 72 pitches or four innings, whichever comes first. All eight pitchers will be called upon at some point in time during the series.

LSU assistant coach Javi Sanchez will coach the Gold team, and volunteer assistant coach Will Davis will coach the Purple team.

The squads will play all three games, despite the outcome of the first two games, and all the games will begin at 3 p.m.

The starting pitchers for the games will be faces Tiger fans may be looking at as starters come the spring.

Junior Ben Alsup (Gold) will face freshman Mike Reed (Purple)

in game one, and junior Daniel Bradshaw (Gold) will go up against junior Austin Ross (Purple) in the second game.

The “rubber match” will put sophomore Chris Matulis (Gold) against junior Anthony Ranaudo (Purple).

Mainieri and associate head coach David Grewe will act as “commissioners” overseeing the action of the games.

The teams will see a couple of noticeable absences, as a few Tigers have gone down to the injury bug the team avoided last season.

Mainieri said junior outfielder Leon Landry is out of the game after having surgery on his big toe, while sophomore infielder Tyler Hanover is out with a strained groin muscle.

Sophomore pitcher Spencer Matthews will also be out with a sore arm.

The good news for LSU is senior slugger Blake Dean returned to swinging a bat last week for the first time since his shoulder surgery in late June and will be in the lineup as an outfielder, although he will not be allowed to throw. Freshman catcher Wes Luquette will also not be allowed to throw.

“We will just gauge what would have been normal advancement of base runners whenever a ball is hit to them,” Mainieri said.

But these injuries have allowed other players to shine.

Mainieri said sophomore outfielder Trey Watkins, a junior college transfer from LSU-Eunice and former standout player at Destrehan High School, has played well this fall.

Mainieri also said redshirt

MEGAN J. WILLIAMS / The Daily Reveille

LSU junior outfielder Leon Landry steps into the batter’s box Saturday, May 30, against Baylor in the Baton Rouge Regional. Landry will miss the annual Purple and Gold World Series this week after having surgery on his big toe.

freshman Wet Delatte is playing well and may have won the starting job at third base with Hanover shifting over to second — his more traditional position — after playing most of last season at third.

At the end of the game, fans may get to witness something that happened at the end of the Tigers’ run to their national championship in June — a dog pile.

“I hope we have one,” Mainieri said. “There have been dog piles in the past.”

Contact Andy Schwehm at aschwehm@lsureveille.com

PAGE 10 OFFENSE, from page 7

news is he’ll be back.”

Miles highlighted the performance of the offensive line against Louisiana Tech, particularly redshirt freshman center P.J. Lonergan, who made his first career start in the absence of sophomore T-Bob Hebert.

“The offensive line was our MVP on the offensive side,” Miles said. “I was impressed with P.J.

BASKETBALL, from page 7

LSU started to establish the fast break after trying to deal with the stingy Sycamore defense in the halfcourt. The Tigers made emphatic statements on consecutive possessions, with junior guard Bo Spencer finding redshirt freshman forward Dennis Harris on a perfectly placed lob pass to seal a highlight reel alley-oop.

Sycamore guard Dwayne Lathan bricked a jump shot on the next possession, and LSU was off to the races once again. This time, it was Spencer’s turn. The junior nearly went coast to coast, pushing through a foul to put in an upand-under layup.

Indiana State didn’t go away, though. The Sycamores proved a worthy opponent, as Johnson had predicted earlier in the week. LSU entered the locker room at halftime with a 24-19 lead.

The second half proved to be much of the same. LSU’s largest lead came with 7:20 left in the game — the score 44-31. The Sycamores closed the gap to 4640 with just more than four minutes left, but got no closer.

The low scoring night can be attributed more to good defense than poor offense. LSU held the Sycamores to a paltry 30 percent shooting effort from the field with three blocks and four steals.

“Anytime you hold a team

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Lonergan. His abilities are growing, and we can count on him to play more significant football for us.”

Other offensive linemen who saw action Saturday also earned Miles’ praise. “[Sophomore guard] Josh Dworaczyk is a young guy that’s growing,” Miles said. “[Redshirt freshman] Alex Hurst went in for Lyle Hitt at right guard, and he’s going to be a tremendous player as we go

forward.”

LSU’s defense is No. 4 in the Southeastern Conference in total defense and No. 3 in scoring defense, but the unit was noticeably caught off guard in the first half against Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs led, 13-10, at halftime, ran 84 offensive plays and led in time of possession with 36:20.

“In the first half, I thought the defense played with a ‘somebody

else will make that play’ mentality,” Miles said. “They weren’t as intense to start the game as they needed to be, but they came to life. The opponent only gained [93] yards in the second half.”

LSU fans repeatedly booed the offense Saturday. Miles said he has never understood why fans would be so ready to express their negative feelings when it clearly does not make the situation more favorable.

“I’ve never been to a contest where [booing] affected anything positively,” Miles said. “Point to any example where that is a significant factor in anything, then I’m for you, but having never done that in my entire life, I can’t imagine what would possess people to root negatively.

like this to 13-43 from the field and you have a guy like [Sycamore guard Jack] Kelly who only gets eight shot attempts, it’s good,” Johnson said. “This is a good basketball team we played.”

The Sycamores didn’t lag far

behind on “D.” LSU shot a measly 34 percent from the field, including a staggering 0-15 from beyond the arc.

Indiana State coach Kevin McKenna said he was proud of his team’s performance.

“Our effort was really good defensively,” McKenna said. “Our guys executed our game plan and how we wanted to guard. Holding them to 34 percent shooting was a positive, but we just couldn’t keep them off the glass.”

He wasn’t lying. LSU, including sophomore forward Storm Warren, outrebounded the Sycamores 50-28.

Warren once again notched a stellar performance. The Monroe native finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds, after nearly recording a double-double in the first half with 10 points and eight boards.

Johnson said Warren “has a nose for the ball.”

LSU senior forward Tasmin Mitchell, who nabbed 14 rebounds himself, sees Warren’s rebounding vital to the team’s success.

“That’s what he does,” Mitchell said. “That’s his gift, to find rebounds. Sometime we miss a shot and we’ll say, ‘Storm got it.’”

Harris also turned in a second straight sparkling effort. Harris had 10 points and 8 boards in 21 minutes of action.

“Dennis is playing well,” Johnson said. “He’s showing his aggressiveness, and he’s showing his length.”

KRISTEN M’LISSA ROWLETT / The Daily Reveille

LSU sophomore forward Garrett Green defends the ball against Indiana State senior center Josh Crawford during the Tigers’ 56-45 win Monday against the Sycamores.

Contact Rachel Whittaker at rwhittaker@lsureveille.com

Contact Chris Branch at cbranch@lsureveille.com

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

PAGE 11

LANGUAGES, from page 1

The students at the “Tower of Babel” are among an increasing number of University students who study a foreign language either as part of a major or minor in hopes of developing the skills experts believe are necessary to gain an upperhand in the global job market.

“We are becoming everyday closer and closer to being a completely international community,” said Joseph Ricapito, foreign languages and literatures professor who speaks fluent English, Italian and Spanish.

AN INCREASING TREND The University offers majors in four different foreign languages — French, Spanish, German and Latin — and minors in these four languages, plus another nine — Chinese, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Arabic, Hebrew, Portuguese and Swahili.

The Office of Budget and Planning tracks the number of declared majors and minors among University students each year in the Undergraduate Headcount Enrollment Report. According to the 2009 report, there are 55 French majors, 50 Spanish majors, eight German majors and nine Latin majors.

Spanish and French saw the greatest increase in the number of students majoring in those languages since 2000, when 36 students pursued a major in French and 29 in Spanish. The number of German majors stayed the same in 2000 and 2009 at eight students, while only Latin majors decreased — from 12 in 2000 to nine in 2009.

Six of these languages — French, Spanish, German, Latin, Greek, Chinese and Russian — saw an increase in the number of students pursuing minors in those fields. Only Italian saw a decrease in the number of students seeking a minor in that language, from 28 students in 2000 to 19 in 2009, and the report showed no students declared minors in Swahili, Japanese, Portuguese, Arabic or Hebrew in either 2000 or 2009.

USING LANGUAGE DEGREES Thomas DiNapoli, German professor, said it’s common for students to double major with one major being in a foreign language.

He said history, political science, music and international studies are common majors to pair with a foreign language degree.

Blake Stafford, French senior, said he went through four majors before deciding to major in French.

Stafford also has a concentration in international studies.

“I like global diplomacytype deals,” Stafford said. “I have thought about being a French diplomat and working with the French consulate in New Orleans.”

Melissa Bucher, political science and French senior, said she wants to get an international law degree in France so she can practice law there. “[French] is my first love and my first passion,” Bucher said. “[Majoring in a foreign language] teaches you about other cultures, and it broadens your horizons a lot more. It makes the world more accessible to Americans and makes other cultures available to us, which is important.”

DiNapoli said French is a

ADAM VACCARELLA / The Daily Reveille

Italian professors Paolo Chirumbolo, left, and Garrett McCutchen, right, perform a popular Italian song for the crowd Monday in the Student Union as part of the Tower of Babel. The event showcased the University’s foreign language departments, and its professors taught short phrases in several different languages to students, faculty and staff who attended.

popular language in Louisiana because of the state’s French history and culture, but overall, Spanish is the most popular language nationally. He said Chinese is becoming increasingly popular as well.

Darlene Navarro, international studies junior, said she minors in Chinese because of its growing importance internationally.

“A lot of people are ignorant about other cultures,” she said.

“You get to expand your knowledge and open up and see something entirely different.”

Ricapito said Italian is not as popular to study as Spanish because only one country speaks Italian compared to many regions that speak Spanish, like Spain, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America and places in the Philippines.

“The flexibility is greater in the Spanish field because there are so many more applications that you can do for Spanish,” he said.

“Everything touches on the context that we have in Spanish-speaking

countries. That doesn’t happen in Italian. People love Italian because they love Italy.”

JOB MARKET ADVANTAGES Leder said in addition to majoring in a foreign language, studying abroad will provide a student with a cultural experience not found in a classroom and will show potential employers a student is independent, confident and open to different cultures.

Sara Crow, Career Services assistant director, said speaking a foreign language is never a disadvantage in the job search process.

“It depends on what type of job you’re looking for [and] whether or not being bilingual is a distinct advantage to you,” Crow said. “The work place is increasingly global.

It is an asset.”

Crow said foreign language majors help dispel the stereotype that Americans only speak English.

“Being able to speak and understand another language im-

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presses employers,” she said. “It shows that you’re interested in other cultures [and] growing your own skill sets. It shows a certain level of commitment and responsibility.”

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION The LSU Student Activities Board’s Multicultural Awareness Committee, along with Student Government, the International Stu-

dent Association and the International Cultural Center, organized an International Education Week from Nov. 16 to Nov. 20, kicking off with the “Tower of Babel” event Monday.

The Foreign Languages and Literatures Department and the French Studies Department presented aspects of the different languages’ cultures. Every 15 minutes, the professors of Latin, Greek, Swahili, German, Spanish, Italian, French and Arabic languages taught a short language lesson so students could learn phrases in a new language. The Swahili students performed a song in the language, Arabic students henna tattooed students’ names in Arabic and Gundela Hachmann, German professor, spoke about her experience when the Berlin Wall came down. “[The event] showcases all of the wonderful languages and cultures that the departments have to offer,” said Andrea Hulse, German professor. “I’d like for students to learn that there are more similarities in cultures than we know.”

Contact Mary Walker Baus at mwbaus@lsureveille.com

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Opinion

PAGE 12

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

ANALOG AVENGER

Facebook’s ‘Dislike’ button is ridiculous proposition Why do people want a “Dislike” button on Facebook? It’d be poisonous to our digital discourse.

Before we get started, I know this is a ridiculous article to write.

How tragic the fall of journalism when its modern instance is reduced to lamenting a social networking site.

But since nearly everyone has a Facebook account, this multimillion person movement is actually newsworthy, however sad and unsurprising it may be.

Sometime in early 2009, Facebook granted its users a new way to interact with one another.

The “Like” button allowed a person to approve of others’ posts or pictures without leaving a comment. It remains a sweet, harmless way to show acknowledgement, like a smile or thumbs-up.

Users gave in to their

insatiable desire to be human some time later, petitioning for a “Dislike” button because, “Hey, how else can we let someone know we disapprove?”

Provide a civil and insightful reason you dislike it. That’s how.

Disagreement is not bad. This country was bred from dissent. But not much would’ve gotten done had our forefathers given only an apathetic thumb-down.

I know, I know: we’re not looking to start countries here, but how ironic is it that people are passionately petitioning (with several exclamation points!) for the right to do nothing but lazily disapprove?

It takes more muscles in the face to frown than smile. And it ought to take more intellectual overhead to express displeasure, too. What possible good can come

out of installing a “Dislike” button?

Proponents of “Disliking” attempt to strengthen their support behind the guise of “promoting universal balance” – a yin-yang justification designed to combat impropriety.

After all, if there’s a “Like” button, why not a “Dislike” butJack johnson ton? It’s only fair. So what if Columnist they only “Dislike” an obviously stupid comment or post? Help out the offender, I say.

Sometimes it’s OK to rain on someone’s ignorant parade. But the beautiful flower of progress will not bloom unless you shine

a little light on your position. Besides, if we’re so concerned with “balance,” look at the big picture and tell me there isn’t already enough disliking going on.

This mini-revolution is but a microcosm. We find lots of disliking in politics with no real solution. We find many critics in film but few auteurs. Somebody want to guess the lawyer-to-doctor ratio? And now we want to expand the sphere of negative influence to include the second most visited site in the world? Stop the echo.

Anyone can be an armchair contrarian who’s afraid of elaboration, but no one needs to morally justify a simple act of kindness.

We see a similar trend every time Facebook makes a change.

People hated the minifeed when it was first installed. They formed groups, threatened to leave and

picked an arbitrary “member quota” they thought they’d need to get their wish granted. Then they realize it’s not so bad.

In fact, they can’t even remember a time before it.

I messaged a friend who works for Facebook, pleading to keep the “Dislike” option off the site. He wrote back.

“We’re not fools you know.

Clowns maybe. But not fools.”

You know how he ended it?

With a smiley face.

solar hot water heater or photovoltaic system – one of the best tax credits for homeowners available in the U.S. Businesses understand that in order to be sustainable over time they need to more efficiently use all of their resources, including energy. In fact, earlier this year, the United States Climate Action Partnership — a historic alliance of major businesses and leading environmental organizations — called on the government to enact legislation requiring significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions with their consensus report, “A Blueprint for Climate Action.” Rather than waiting on government to take the lead, businesses are acting now to take steps to reduce their emissions and plan for a new energy future.

While business and government have an important part to play, so do individuals. Significant reductions in household energy use can reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by more than 7 percent according to a new study from Thomas Dietz at Michigan State University. It can also save the average household hundreds of dollars per year. From easy steps like using more compact florescent light bulbs, switching to power strips for chargers and sealing windows and doors, to investments like solar and geo-thermal, it can pay to be greener in the form of lower energy bills.

On Nov. 19, the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and Entergy, in partnership with the LSU Center

for Energy Studies and America’s Wetland Foundation, will explore the relationship between climate change and energy efficiency in a workshop open to the public from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Dalton J.

Woods Auditorium in the LSU Energy, Coast & Environment Building.

The program will include exhibits of energy-efficiency programs and products by local businesses and organizations, as well as a drawing for

a free bike. We encourage the LSU community to attend and participate in this important event.

Jack Johnson is a 23-year-old mass communication junior from Fort Worth, Texas. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_jjohnson.

Contact Jack Johnson at jjohnson@lsureveille.com

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Pew Center on global climate change Last week, two LSU students shared their opinions on how best to confront the challenges of climate change. The simple truth is in order to avoid the most severe consequences of global warming, global emissions of greenhouse gases must be reduced dramatically. Switching to cleaner energy sources and technologies is only half of the solution.

What we need is a revolution in the way our country thinks about producing and using energy. We not only need to be smarter about how we create the energy we use; we need to be smarter about how we use that energy. The first step that we all can take together – government, industry and individuals alike – is to invest in energy efficiency.

State, local and federal governments are committing to energy efficiency — doing their part — through efficiency standards in buildings, appliances and vehicles.

Incentives like tax credits and rebates are increasingly offered to homeowners who are willing to make energy efficiency improvements.

For example, here in Louisiana a combination of state and federal tax credits can cover up to 80 percent of the cost of installing a

THE DAILY REVEILLE Editorial Board NICHOLAS PERSAC JERIT ROSER ELLEN ZIELINSKI MATTHEW ALBRIGHT

Editor Managing Editor, Content Managing Editor, Production Opinion Editor

ERIC FREEMAN JR.

Columnist

MARK MACMURDO

Columnist

Jenny Denney program manager, Make an Impact

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

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

QUOTE OF THE DAY “Now I know what a statesman is; he’s a dead politician.

We need more statesmen.”

Bob Edwards American radio personality May 16, 1947- present

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Opinion

PAGE 13

FREEMAN OF SPEECH

Farewell to Mayor Wonka and the Chocolate City “Do you know how to make chocolate?”

So said my mayor after a speech on Martin Luther King Day a couple years back, and my city hasn’t been the same.

Why is my hometown mayor coasting? New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin is so clearly done with his job, it leaves one to wonder whether he ever cared about New Orleans at all.

His apparent apathy for New Orleans stems recently from three events: naming Ed Blakely as “recovery czar,” his best “Where in the World is Ray Nagin” impression and, of course, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. These are in order from “egregious” to “understandable.”

The Los Angeles Times called Ed Blakely “the master of post-disaster.” He masterminded recovery efforts after the devastating California earthquake in 1989 and the late 2007 tsunami in the South Pacific.

The Center for Sustainable Urban Development at the University of California is named after him.

When he came to New Orleans, too many needs and too little leadership became the theme.

“Mayor Ray Nagin put forth a ‘laissez-faire’ rebuilding effort in his campaign for re-election last year.

The concept was to leave things alone for a year and see which neighborhoods came back and which didn’t,” Patrik Jonsson wrote for the Christian Science Monitor in Jan. 2007.

In came Blakely, and just as quickly, out went Blakely.

In the mastermind’s eyes, the biggest impediment to recovery in New Orleans isn’t faulty levees, corrupt government or even the absence of President Obama.

It all boils down to racism.

“Everyone’s a racist,” Blakely told CalTV, the online Web news show run by students at the University of California-Berkeley. “There is a sense now in the white community — there’s blood in the water. I think unless the next mayor is very clever, it’s going to explode, and there will be race riots in New Orleans.”

This should raise a question: Did he want to do the recovery in the first place? No. “My health wasn’t good and, secondly, I had other things I wanted to do and administering a recovery is not one of them.”

He would later tack on further insults about New OrEric Freeman Jr. leans’ city workers being “unColumnist sophisticated,” the residents “lazy” and that the city “expected someone else to do it all along, despite his confidence in making New Orleans “smarter and better” upon arrival.

Whether or not this person was qualified or even willing to administer an enormous recovery, he was hired by and earned the respect and confidence of Ray Nagin, so much so that Nagin went to Sydney, Australia, (with taxpayer money) to

recruit him.

The New Orleans TimesPicayune recently did a profile of Nagin’s travels around the world, culminating next month with a fourday retreat in Merida, Mexico, which includes a “private tour by bus of the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, complete with in-bus cooler, lunch and a one-hour open bar at the on-site Mayaland Hotel,” according to the Times-Picayune.

The trip will also outsource jobs from Louisiana to Mexico, as the mayors of both cities agreed in September about “the possibility of moving struggling local firms’ production facilities from Louisiana to Mexico to help the companies save money.”

Granted, Ray Nagin had to be mayor during the worst natural disaster in American history. But this doesn’t excuse Nagin’s inactivity in declaring a mandatory evacuation only hours before the storm hit, leaving thousands of residents to fend for themselves without dozens of city

buses, later photographed underwater.

If he cared, it certainly didn’t look like it. He looked like a Snickers commercial, desperately wanting to get away — which he did several times.

Remember when he got swine flu in China? His trip was financed by the taxpayers.

Congratulations, New Orleanians. You paid for Ray Nagin to get swine flu.

It’s so good to see taxpayers’ money going to something that will help New Orleans in its recovery efforts — namely, getting Mayor Wonka out of the Chocolate City.

Eric Freeman Jr. is a 22-year-old political science senior from New Orleans. Follow him on Twitter @ TDR_efreeman.

Contact Eric Freeman Jr. at efreeman@lsureveille.com

JUXTAPOSED NOTIONS

Taking STD vaccines shows caution, not immorality

It’s one thing to prime a situation to decrease the ramifications of purposefully immoral behavior, but another entirely to take precautionary measures for life’s unpreventable accidents.

But British immigrant Simone Davis seems unable to distinguish between the two.

Davis has met nearly all requirements for U.S. citizenship, but has yet to receive full status because of her refusal to take Gardasil, which has been a required vaccination for female immigrants since 2008. Gardasil is designed to inoculate women against cervical cancer.

Davis claims there is no reason for her to take the vaccine because her religious beliefs dictate she must abstain from premarital sex. I can follow that particular train of logic, but Davis also claims taking a vaccine solely designed to target a sexually transmitted disease is a sin, meaning it violates her Christian beliefs.

This is where she loses me.

The Alliance Defense Fund agrees with Davis. The organization believes the vaccine would force her to choose between “her beliefs and legal citizenship,” according to the brief filed in support of Davis.

This claim, though made with good intent, is flawed.

Granted, Davis and I share similar beliefs regarding the role of sex, so I understand where she is coming from. But our opinions differ — concerning Gardasil in particular — given Davis implies immorality is inherent in the pill while I believe there is nothing

wrong with the taking the medication.

My religious beliefs wouldn’t stop me from taking Gardasil, as if the medication itself is considered morally reprehensible.

My religious Linnie Leavines beliefs simply create a cirColumnist cumstance in which the pill is not necessary.

There is an important distinction here, one that is crucial to observe — otherwise, practicing Christians might be shunned for taking an interest in their physical well-being, which could be damaged by an external factor — in this particular case, rape.

Precautionary measures are not intended to change someone’s attitude about sex. The attitude is entirely internal.

I personally don’t take Gardasil because the risks and side effects largely outweigh the potential benefits. It is simply a matter of analyzing the probabilities of events and the risks of others, then deciding the best course of action from there. Morality only enters the equation as a vague variable at best, but not as a deciding factor.

As far as morality is concerned, Gardasil or similar medications are not inherently harmful.

My criticism of Davis’ reasoning does not mean I am opposed to Davis skipping out on the vaccine in general. I believe

Gardasil is not detrimental in a moral sense, but it can be harmful in a medical sense — its side effects include anaphylactic shock, foaming at the mouth, grand mal convulsion, coma, paralysis and death.

Considering this, Davis would make a better case if she could use the media attention as an opportunity to attack the mandate of Gardasil from a medical perspective. This would be more effective, given medical consequences are easier for a large audience to relate to, as opposed

to a single set of rigid moral consequences. And the idea an immigrant might be inadvertently forced into a coma would certainly draw ire from many groups, regardless of their moral viewpoints. It’s an idea many people can get behind.

Vaccination mandates by and large should be rejected, but on a medical basis with emphasis on an individual’s right to protect themselves from harmful side effects. Though Davis’ sentiments are understandable, the logic she espouses is not only weak, but

will likely have little to no effect, simply because she chose to frame the issue on a shaky argument rather than pointing out genuine medical consequences.

Linnie Leavines is a 19-year-old mass communication sophomore from Central City. Follow her on Twitter @TDR_lleavines.

Contact Linnie Leavines at lleavines@lsureveille.com

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1BR apartment 175 Burgin Ave, $545$589rent/$400 deposit, located Highland and Lee. 225.252.3163 ROOMATE NEEDED LAKE BEAU PRE TOWNHOMES 550/mo + util. 3br/3ba. Close to campus. Trey 337.349.0376 Condo For rent 2Br/2.5 Ba condo for rent. Near Bluebonnet & Perkins. $970/month + utilities. Call Erin.

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Starting as low as $400.00. www.lsuwestchimesplace.com 225.346.4789

Roommate Wanted Roomate needed Arlington Plant $500/mo plus utilities (usually $65) 3Bed/3Bath. Near Campus, Bus-Route, Preferably Male. Darren 504-382-5603 $400/mo incl. utilities 2 Fully furn. rooms in a quiet 3bed/1bath house 3 blocks off campus.

Avail. Jan. 1st. Pets welcome. 225.330.2305 University View Condo female roommate for spring semester 2010. rent $450 +share of utilities. call Katie 281.468.7237 ROOMMATE NEEDED @ Campus Crossing- Brightside for Spring 2010! $424/mo. 4 BR/ 2 BA, email kjudd2@gmail.com or call 504.298.9494 ROOMMATE NEEDED @ BRIGHTSIDE ESTATES 3bed / 2 bath $450 + 1/3 utilities. needed for spring 2010. call 504.259.7186 or 504.232.6165

Personals Cayle/Kale/Cale (however you spell it) after I met you Wednesday at lunch, I happened to read Romans 13v12-14 in the Message Bible that night. Have a lovely day.

SASSY (3rd cheerleader from the right/ your left) You are my favorite cheerleader. Your fantastic moves at the game this weekend and sassy attitude warm my heart. There’s room for 2 in my LSU snuggie ;) Email me: snuggiewithmelsu@ gmail.com Arachibutyrophobia? Let me help. I see you at the climbing gym, the dining hall and bio review. Tell me: do you see me too?

You can see me by the bike racks Tuesday after bio review.

Let’s Play! Fit/very active male, 22. Looking for a Female to run around with! (running the lakes, tennis, basketball, etc) No need to be a super athlete, willing to teach, but must have a positive attitude, good sense of humor, and be comfortable getting a little sweaty. Email: ilikerunaroundmuch@gmail.com when you’re ready to play Are you a redhead girl? A guy looking for a cute / sexy redhead to spend time with. Email NeedARedhead@live.com Freakishly Tall Guy wanted : Well endowed 20 yr old is tired of wearing flats. Facial hair is awesome but not necessary. Must like football.

Send a message to blueeyedsaintsfan@yahoo. com SENIOR GUY looking for a southern girl for intelligent conversation and good company. Let’s start casual and see where it goes. lsuguy87@ yahoo.com

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

18 yr old christian female looking my angel.

Must be able to hold an intelligent conversation and make me laugh. No creeps please. cat_rawr@hotmail.com 19 yr. old male teddy bear looking for a female to relax with. Must love movies. No weirdo’s need respond. bemyteddybear2009@gmail.com

Miscellaneous Oxford, MS weekend rentals Going to Oxford for the game? www.oxfordtownhouse.com 662.801.6692 Don’t Settle For B’s Grad Schools & Employers Look at Transcripts. Visit www.mmwritingconsultants.com.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 15 TOPS, from page 1

As co-author of the book “Crossing the Finish Line: Completing College at America’s Public Universities,” McPherson helped research 21 public flagship universities in the U.S. While his studies didn’t include Louisiana, many of his findings can be applied to the state, and his research methods can be duplicated, he said.

“Giving high-income students a better deal doesn’t do anything for their graduation rates,” McPherson said about TOPS and similar programs.

McPherson said his research shows students who come from high income families will perform better in school regardless of financial incentives like TOPS. Stronger needbased financial aid programs are needed across the country to raise graduation rates, which he said have decreased steadily since the ’70s.

The Commission is charged with evaluating higher education in the state and making recommendations to the Legislature about how to deal with an expected $150 million cut in state funding for public colleges and universities the next fiscal year.

Former Chancellor and Commission member James Wharton defended TOPS, telling McPherson the students work hard to earn the scholarship.

“Their parents don’t earn it, the students earn it,” Wharton said.

McPherson repeatedly said he isn’t highly knowledgeable about the Louisiana higher education system, but programs like TOPS don’t help graduation rates as much as people think and may be using state dollars unwisely — especially during a budget crisis.

Contact Kyle Bove at kbove@lsureveille.com

SHUTTLE, from page 1

friend. It’s a safe, cheap way to get to the airport.”

Logistics for the shuttle service — provided by Campus Transit — traveling to the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport have yet to be determined, said Noah Miller, Student Government transportation director.

SG plans to have the shuttle run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

A roundtrip to New Orleans will cost $20, Miller said. The Baton Rouge shuttle will be $10. The pickup point for the shuttles will be at the Agricultural Lot. Results from SG’s holiday shuttle service survey influenced when and where the shuttles would go, Miller said. More than 360 students answered SG’s holiday service shuttle survey sent in a broadcast e-mail in mid-October.

“About 80 percent of students said they’d use the service,” Miller said. “It was pretty evenly split between New Orleans and Baton Rouge.”

The shuttle service may be modified for the winter holiday, depending on the Thanksgiving service, Miller said.

“Thanksgiving will be a maiden voyage,” Miller said.

Contact Brianna Paciorka at bpaciorka@lsureveille.com

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

THE DAILY REVEILLE

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