ON A ROLL
ENTERTAINMENT Students participate in No Shave November, page 9.
Soccer team beats Vandy, advances in SEC tournament, page 5.
THE DAILY REVEILLE WWW.LSUREVEILLE.COM
Volume 114, Issue 51
Thursday, November 5, 2009
BUSINESS SCHOOL
MEGAN J. WILLIAMS / The Daily Reveille
Toddlers play Oct. 29 at the University’s Childcare Center.
Jindal pledges $30 M to complex By Ryan Buxton Staff Writer
ncertain
uture New University Child Care Center fee scale causes confusion, worry Several University families have been left concerned and to afford it with the new scale. uncertain of their children’s future at the LSU Child Care Cen“It seems like if you make enough money working in this ter in the aftermath of a recent fee scale reUniversity, then you can use the day care,” By Sarah Eddington structuring at the center. Huckeba said. “But if you don’t make enough The center switched Aug. 1 from a fee money, then you can’t — and it just doesn’t Contributing Writer scale based on household income to a scale feel right.” based on University affiliation, and combined with a fee inFamilies making $25,000 or less annually paid the lowest crease across the board, the new policy has proven too expen- fee of $565 a month at the center before the change. For every sive for some in the University community. $25,000 increase in family income, the fee increased $50. Rebecca Huckeba, administrative coordinator for WomWith the new system, full-time students paying through en’s and Gender Studies, said she made it to the top of the wait- their fee bill are charged the lowest fee, which is now $595. ing list after waiting nearly five months, but had to withdraw CHILD CARE, see page 19 her 2-year-old daughter’s name because she was no longer able
The state will commit $30 million in capital outlay funds to construct a new complex for the E.J. Ourso College of Business, Gov. Bobby Jindal said on Wednesday. The decision follows Jindal’s announcement the tax amnesty program, designed to lessen the effects of state budget cuts, raised more than $300 million — twice as much as previously expected. The LSU System’s Board of Supervisors approved the financing plan for the $60 million complex Aug. 27. In addition to the state’s $30 million contribution, another $30 million will be provided by donors to the business college. The bidding process for construction will be immediately authorized by the funding commitment, which will bring $24 million of Priority 5 Capital Outlay funds up to Priority 1 for fiscal year 2011. The remaining $6 million will be moved up to Priority 1 the following fiscal year. The construction is expected to take two years. Jindal said the new complex will put the University on par with the best schools in the nation and attract the “best and brightest minds in the country,” as well as stimulate the local economy. “It will also be an incredible COMPLEX, see page 20
TRANSPORTATION
Annual bike auction raises $4,050 ECO, SG recycle bikes left on campus By Mary Walker Baus Staff Writer
More students may soon be screaming the bike-riding chant “Yeah Bike!” on campus. Student Government and the Environmental Conservation Organization at LSU held the annual
LSU Bike Auction on Wednesday between Free Speech Alley and Coates Hall, making $4,050. The Bike Auction raised $4,000 last year, which went toward the bike pumps around campus. The two rows of 144 used bikes, collected by the Office of Parking, Traffic and Transportation at the end of the summer semester, were packed like sardines as the auction began at 10 a.m. By noon, only the nicer and pricier road bikes were left to sell.
“It’s environmentally friendly because we pick [the bikes] up and recycle them back to the students,” said Gary Graham, Office of Parking, Traffic and Transportation director. Graham said his department tags the bikes during the summer to warn the owner of the tow period. He said students have 90 days to reclaim their bikes before they are donated to SG and ECO for the bike AUCTION, see page 20
ERIN ARLEDGE / The Daily Reveille
Students stand by lines of bicycles waiting to be auctioned Wednesday afternoon between Coates Hall and Free Speech Alley. The annual event had 144 bikes available.
THE DAILY REVEILLE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2009
INTERNATIONAL Italian judge convicts 23 Americans in CIA kidnapping of terror suspect MILAN (AP) — An Italian judge found 23 Americans and two Italians guilty Wednesday in the kidnapping of an Egyptian terror suspect, delivering the first legal convictions anywhere in the world against people involved in the CIA’s extraordinary renditions program. Human rights groups hailed the decision and pressed President Obama to repudiate the Bush administration’s practice of abducting terror suspects and transferring them to third countries where torture was permitted. British deaths raise questions about discipline in Afghan police force KABUL (AP) — The killing of five British troops by a rogue Afghan policeman underlines concerns about training and discipline within the ranks and possible insurgent infiltration of a police force that the U.S. hopes will be its ticket out of
Nation & World Afghanistan someday. The attack caused anguish in Britain, where public support for the war has been waning. Britain is the largest contributor to NATO forces in Afghanistan after the United States, and its continued presence there is central to President Obama’s strategy as he weighs dispatching tens of thousands more U.S. troops. Palestinians seek justice for Israeli war crimes in Gaza last winter UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Palestinians on Wednesday warned Israel they will seek justice for war crimes allegedly committed during last winter’s Gaza conflict in the U.N. Security Council and through the International Criminal Court. The Palestinian U.N. observer urged the General Assembly to support a resolution, stemming from a report by South African Judge Richard Goldstone, that calls on Israel and Palestine to carry out independent investigations of human rights violations.
PAGE 2
NATIONAL
STATE/LOCAL
Northern California town places ban on medical marijuana shops
FEMA urges federal panel to reject Louisiana’s $492M Katrina claim
Jindal: Tax amnesty program raises $303M, exceeds expectations
RED BLUFF, Calif. (AP) — A small Northern California city has banned medical marijuana growing and dispensing, a move opponents say will bring lawsuits. Red Bluff’s city council approved two measures Tuesday night restricting the drug.
(AP) — FEMA has urged a federal arbitration panel to reject claims that the state is owed $492 million for hurricane damages to LSU’s Charity Hospital in New Orleans. It’s the latest development in a fight over funds that are key to LSU’s finance plans for construction of a new $1.2 billion academic medical center. The state dropped a FEMA appeal and decided to go the arbitration route to expedite a decision in a long-standing dispute that stems from 2005 Hurricane Katrina damages that shuttered the hospital. FEMA’s position is detailed in a 92-page response filed with the arbitration panel Monday and released to the media Tuesday by LSU. The Federal Emergency Management Agency argues that only $126 million is owed. It says “the applicant has failed to meet its burden to demonstrate FEMA was arbitrary and capricious.”
(AP) — Louisiana has raised over $300 million with a tax amnesty program aimed at lessening the effects of budget cuts. Gov. Bobby Jindal on Wednesday called the program a success, noting that it brought in more than twice as much money as expected. Jindal said much of the money raised would replenish the state’s “rainy day” fund.
Gay rights leaders blame television ads, Obama for loss in Maine SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stunned and angry, national gay rights leaders Wednesday blamed scare-mongering ads — and President Obama’s lack of engagement — for a bitter election setback in Maine that could alter the dynamics for both sides in the gay-marriage debate. Conservatives celebrated Maine voters’ rejection of a law that would have allowed gay couples to wed.
TODAY ON
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Health department hires D.C. firm to lobby for Medicaid relief (AP) — Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration has brought in the Washington lobbying firm of Patton Boggs to help try to convince Congress to give Louisiana a break from a costly change in the Medicaid match rate. Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine says the firm was hired by the private LRA Support Foundation. 7:20 a.m.
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FRIDAY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009 Engr. Majors Please join us for the 16th Annual LES Jambalaya Dinner 6pm South Courtyard of Patrick F. Taylor “Engineering Your Future” seminar @ 5pm 1119 PFT Event is FREE and a great career enhancement opportunity
YOU CAN ALWAYS GO DOWNTOWN
75 52 SUNDAY 76 61
SATURDAY 79 54 MONDAY 74 58
ONGOING IN NOVEMBER BSU Presents the 2009 Fall Gala: “A Sophisticated Night in Harlem” Friday, Nov. 6 @ 7-11pm in the Student Union Cotillian Ballroom The Eta Kappa Chapter of Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. CANapalloza! Homecoming Can Drive Nov. 4th - Nov. 10th Cans can be dropped off @ the AACC for more info contact xleon1@lsu.edu
DO YOU HAVE AN OCCURRENCE? Call Andrew at the Student Media Office 578-6090, 9AM- 5PM or E-mail: officemanager@lsureveille.com
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Log on to lsureveille.com to see photos of downtown Baton Rouge near the levee.
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS
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THE DAILY REVEILLE
PAGE 3
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Students vote to make vice president eligible for salary Martin addresses Flagship Fee By Xerxes A. Wilson Staff Writer
A referendum allowing the student government vice president to be eligible to receive a salary passed the student body in the fall elections held Tuesday. The referendum — which passed with 61.9 percent — prohibits the vice president from holding a job outside of student government. This restriction makes the position eligible to become a salaried employee of student government. SG Commissioner of Elections Alexis Sarver presented the results of the election at the SG Senate meeting Wednesday. Sen. Chris Sellers, College of Arts and Sciences and co-author of the resolution that put the referendum on the ballot, said current Vice President Martina Scheuermann could be paid if the Senate amends the budget to direct funds now held in a salary reserve to pay the
SHAINA HUNTSBERRY / The Daily Reveille
Chancellor Michael Martin addresses the SG Senate on Wednesday. A referendum passed in the election making the SG vice president eligible to receive a salary.
current vice president. Along with the referendum, 28 Senate seats were filled for next semester’s Senate. Four seats on the University court were filled. Michelle Eldredge, SG adviser, said a total of 1,998 students voted. Also at the meeting, Chancellor Michael Martin addressed Senator’s concerns regarding the hypothetical Flagship Fee. “The core budget of the University is about $435 million,” Martin said. “The state cut about $35 million
last year ... We are now looking at another $25 million cut [next fiscal] year. This gets to the point where it could have significant effects on the quality of the institution.” Martin said there are three ways to relieve budget cuts: become more efficient, cut programs or generate more revenue. Martin said he doubts there is the possibility of saving millions by cutting waste with the fist option because the University is already efficient. He said the last resort would
POLITICS
Local 2010 races still wide open Off-year elections indicate little By Nate Monroe Contributing Writer
Just one year after Barack Obama was elected to the presidency, voters headed to the polls Tuesday night for a mix of gubernatorial, Congressional and various local off-year elections. The stakes in some races were higher than in others for the national Democratic and Republican parties, but one political observer said these races don’t say much about the candidates’ prospects in the 2010 elections in Louisiana despite a mixed bag of success for both parties. Republicans snatched two spots in governors’ mansions — one in traditionally blue state New Jersey and the other in a state trending purple, Virginia. Democrats snagged a Congressional seat in New York’s 23rd Congressional District, a district traditionally dominated by Republicans. “[The November 3 elections] don’t have much to say about the Louisiana Senate race,” or any other future Louisiana races, said Kirby Goidel, senior public policy fellow at the Reilly Center and political communications professor. Goidel said it’s common for winning political parties to try and “nationalize” local races — calling them “bellwether” elections and claiming they are indicative of future election results.
“We are now positioned to Party was quick to relay an emshow new strength as a Party phasis on local issues over namoving forward,” said Michael tional ones. Steele, chairman of the Republi“[2010 Senate candidate] can National Committee in a blog Charlie Melancon is focused expost Wednesday. “Republicans clusively on issues that matter to will take that momentum into the Louisiana,” said Kevin Franck, 2010 midterm elections and be- spokesman for the Louisiana yond.” Democratic Party. Goidel cautioned against Goidel said he expects Rereading into the publican Sen. Daresults of Tuesvid Vitter to play day’s elections as up national issues holding any sigin 2010 and to nificant findings cast his opponent, for the 2010 midMelancon, as a term elections — Democrat closeespecially for the ly aligned with 2010 Louisiana Obama — a stratKirby Goidel Senate race. mass communication and political egy that plays into “All politics the 2008 election, science professor is local,” Goiin which Louisiana del said, echoing a famous quote voters largely rejected Obama. from former Congressman Tip Goidel couldn’t identify any O’Neill. lessons for Louisiana candidates Goidel said each race Tues- looking toward 2010 to take away day had its own set of local issues from Tuesdays’ election results. separate from the national ones to “Most midterm elections are which many pundits and political not largely nationalized,” he said. operatives are quick to point. Voters in New Jersey, for example, were voting against an Contact Nate Monroe at incumbent Democratic governmonroe@lsureveille.com nor with dismally low approval ratings, and in New York’s 23rd Congressional District, the favored independent conservative candidate Doug Hoffman had been battling allegations he was a carpetbagger — a politician who moves into a Congressional district just to run for office. “The national tide is a marginal effect,” Goidel said. “In close races, that margin is enough.” The Louisiana Democratic
‘‘
‘The national tide is a marginal effect. In close races, that margin is enough.’
be cutting programs, leaving only the option of generating more revenue to make up the majority of the balance. One example of ways to generate these funds would be a fee increase next year for students to save the University from having to cut from its programming core, Martin said. The winners of the fall election are: — Full seat in the College of Art and Design: Ashley Free. — College of Arts and Sciences full seat: Marcus Alexander, Aaron Caffarel, David Jones, Drew Prestridge. — College of Arts and Sciences half seat: Meighan Brown, Andy Palermo. — College of Basic Sciences full seat: Jared Bourgeois, Kenny Ehrhardt. — Half seat in College of Basic Sciences: Ben Clark.
— College of Business full seat: Curtis Elmore III, Tyler Martin. — College of Education full seat: Cory Cortez, Cameron Parker. — College of Education half seat: Tiffany Compagno. — Graduate school full seat: Vinay Amatya, Benjamin Phelan. — Mass Communication full seat: Brooksie Bonvillain. — University Center for Advising and Counseling full seat: Kenn Barnes, Samantha Bates, Kristina Sanchez. — University Center for Freshman Year full seat: Megan Arcana, Serena Pentney, Mallory Richard, Lesli Roussel, Kelli Spahn, Justin Terracciano, Abbey Vaughn. — University Court full seats: Katie Cristina, Lindsay Hadiman, Joshua Hollins, Danielle Rushing. Contact Xerxes A. Wilson at xwilson@lsureveille.com
PAGE 4
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Thursday, November 5, 2009
AGRICULTURE
AgCenter taking ‘Farmer of the Year’ applications Contest entering thirteenth year By Ryan Buxton Staff Writer
In a continuing effort to promote Louisiana agriculture, the LSU AgCenter’s Farmer of the Year competition is gearing up for its 13th year of spotlighting commendable farmers in the state. The contest honors a farmer each year who shows agricultural leadership, community involvement and a passion for his profession, said Frankie Gould, director of communications for the AgCenter. The competition is one way for the AgCenter to show how important farming is to Louisiana and the economic value of agriculture — $9.5 billion in 2008, Gould said.
But the farmers generating the products to fill that economic need are working harder than ever against the continually rising costs associated with agriculture, like fuel and fertilizer prices, Gould said. “There are high input costs,” Gould said. “Seed costs have gone up because they’re putting a lot of different characteristics in the seeds to make them more efficient and require less herbicides or pesticides.” The constant uncertainty of the environment also poses a problem for farmers, said Craig Gautreaux, communications specialist at the AgCenter. “Farming is probably one of the biggest gambling occupations you can have,” Gautreaux said. “You can do everything right, but if the weather doesn’t go right, you can lose your shirt.” Environmental variables make
things difficult for Ted Glaser, a corn, wheat, cotton and soybean farmer from Oscar, La., who was Farmer of the Year in 2000. “As a farmer, I try to control as many variables as I can,” Glaser said. “I’m hands-on at 4,000 acres of production. But you cannot control Mother Nature.” Environmental uncertainty along with the always-rising costs of agriculture makes farming hard for people already in the business and harder for new farmers to break into it, Glaser said. “[Farming] is the easiest thing in the world,” Glaser said. “I wish I just could sit on a tractor and grow a crop. That’s a minor part. The major part is keeping a handle on the expenses.” Fred Bolding, the 2009 winner from Oak Grove, said the key to handling the business of farming is to
TECHNOLOGY
Cell phone evolution continues Touchscreens have safety options By Mary Walker Baus Staff Writer
Before iPhones and BlackBerrys, there were Razors and flipphones. Before those, there were big, bulky Motorola phones with the interchangeable colored buttons and covers. Cell phone appearances advance with their technology. Cell phones used to have buttons, and now many cell phone brands are moving toward touchscreens with endless amounts of features, applications and games that go along with them. Jessica Allen, pre-nursing freshman, said her LG Vu touchscreen cell phone from AT&T is not as easy to use as a regular phone with a keypad. She said it would be harder to dial 9-1-1 in an emergency, especially if she’s not looking at her phone. “[With regular keypad phones], you memorize where the buttons are, and you can feel them,” Allen said. “With touchscreens, you can’t feel them.” But Gretchen LeJeune, Verizon
Wireless public relations manager, said touchscreen phones are just as safe as phones with buttons. She said the safety of any cell phone depends on a person’s knowledge and comfort level with it. “The younger generation isn’t intimidated by touchscreens,” LeJeune said. “That’s the real issue is making sure you’re comfortable with the phone you choose.” Sue Sperry, AT&T Louisiana spokesperson, said the iPhone is the leading touchscreen cell phone device. Sperry said iPhone users should choose to have a passcode for their phones. She said when users implement the passcode option, which is password protection for the phone, the screen will give them the option to make an emergency call or enter the passcode. LeJeune said if BlackBer-
ry phones are in the lock mode, pressing any button will trigger the device to ask if the user needs to make a 9-1-1 call. Jason Bettencourt, LSU Police Department detective, said people should program the local authorities’ phone numbers, like the LSUPD, the Baton Rouge Police Department and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sherriff’s Office, into their phones. “With advanced technology, you have more capability, but you’re limited with the easiness or simplicity with a key pad phone,” Bettencourt said. “When you get a new phone, familiarize yourself with it. The more comfortable you are, the better off you are.”
Contact Mary Walker Baus at mbaus@lsureveille.com
start small and gradually expand. “You have to learn to operate a 200-acre farm before you can operate a 2,000-acre farm,” Bolding said. This year’s prize package has not yet been finalized, Gould said, but past winners have received $1,000 cash and use of a John Deere tractor and Dodge pickup truck for a year. The applicants will be narrowed down to three finalists who will be honored at a banquet in February, where the winner will be
announced. To qualify, a farmer must live and farm in Louisiana and be the principle decision-maker for an operation at which two-thirds of the income is generated through farmingrelated activities, Gautreaux said. Applications for the Farmer of the Year competition are being accepted by the AgCenter now until Dec. 11. Contact Ryan Buxton at rbuxton@lsureveille.com
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Sports
Thursday, November 5, 2009
PAGE 5
SOCCER
Tigers advance to SEC semifinal
By David Helman Sports Writer
Finding
His
Jai Eugene stays close to his son, finds home at LSU
knows all his dad’s teammates,” Sharon Eugene said. “He is so funny like his dad. When Jai was here Sunday, Little Jai made the remark, ‘Dad, I hate when you have to leave me like this.’” On the field at LSU, 22-year-old Jai Eugene has started 10 of the 33 games he has played, including LSU’s most recent game against Tulane. He was recruited as a cornerback, but he said he hardly played any snaps on defense before college.
The LSU soccer team needed just one half to dispatch Vanderbilt and advance in the Southeastern Conference tournament. The No. 16 Tigers (13-4-3) raced to a 3-1 halftime lead behind the efforts of senior midfielder Melissa Clarke and never looked back in a 4-2 drubbing of the Commodores (11-8-1). “We played really, really well,” said LSU coach Brian Lee. “We attacked well and finished the majority of our chances, and a lot of those chances happened to come early.” The team will rematch with Auburn at 5 p.m. on Friday in the semifinals. Auburn defeated Ole Miss, 2-1, on Wednesday afternoon, setting up a second meeting with LSU after the purple-and-gold Tigers pulled out a 2-0 win at Auburn on Oct. 4. “Ole Miss is a fantastic team, and Auburn had a comfortable 2-1 win against them,” Lee said. “They’re very disciplined and very well-coached.” Clarke provided the spark for an LSU team on a three-game SEC win streak. She tied senior midfielder Malorie Rutledge as the team’s leading goal scorer this season after just nine minutes of play when she slotted her ninth goal of the year into the net. Rutledge, fresh off her second SEC Offensive Player of the Year award, also earned her 12th assist of
NICHE, see page 15
SEMIFINAL, see page 15
Niche photos by MAGGIE BOWLES (left) and SAHIR KAHN / The Daily Reveille
By Rachel Whittaker
LSU junior cornerback Jai Eugene (4) tackles Florida junior tight end Aaron Hernandez during LSU’s 13-3 loss Oct. 10.
Chief Sports Writer
When Jai Eugene was a senior at Destrehan High School, he thought he had made up his mind about his college future. The LSU junior cornerback had committed to Michigan, but on his son’s first birthday, he had a change of heart — he knew he could not be more than 1,000 miles away from “Little Jai” during the next four years. “I took the visit [to Michigan], and I really liked it,” Eugene said. “I wanted to try something different and just wanted to get away. But then I knew I couldn’t go too far from my son, and LSU was the place.”
Eugene’s mother, Sharon, said she was thrilled with her son’s decision to stay in Louisiana and remain close to his family. “I was delighted because that gave me more opportunity to come and see him play and be at every game,” Sharon Eugene said. “Little Jai comes along too. His baby really loves him.” Sharon Eugene said Little Jai, who is now 4 years old, loves when his father comes home to St. Rose to visit, and she said he will start playing football next year. “He knows all about football, and he
FOOTBALL
Miles: Tigers intensify enthusiasm in practice By Rachel Whittaker Chief Sports Writer
LSU football coach Les Miles said on Wednesday the Tigers’ enthusiasm is intensifying almost too much as their matchup against Alabama draws near. “We had a good practice today ... a little too much contact,” Miles said. “They need to slow down a little bit.” Miles said sophomore cornerback Patrick Peterson practiced Wednesday after being limited
with the flu on Tuesday. Peterson had four tackles against Alabama last season and made the first start of his college career the following weekend against Troy. “He is more confident, under- Log on stands the to see a scheme more video of Coach and has much better tech- Les Miles’ press nique,” Miles said. “It’s a conference. great challenge, a compliment to a competitor
lsureveille.com
Sophomore CB Peterson ready to go
that you play your best. This is a rivalry game — it’s fun.” Miles said LSU and Alabama will battle to score points Saturday. He said junior kicker Josh Jasper’s range “has always been long” to convert field goals if necessary. “The keys will be the opportunity to get seven [points],” Miles said. “That’s what we’re playing for. But once you’re in that red zone, you have to at least ensure yourself of three [points].” Miles said sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson will have no problem keeping his composure going into a matchup of the MILES, see page 15
JASON BORDELON / The Daily Reveille
LSU coach Les Miles walks off the field with freshman linebacker Kellon Theriot after the Tigers’ 42-0 victory against Tulane on Oct. 31.
PAGE 6
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Thursday, November 5, 2009
BABBLING BROOKS
LSU fans should get over Saban, enjoy Miles as coach Nick Saban is persona non grata around these parts. Everyone knows the story. Once upon a time, Saban was the football coach at LSU. He returned the program from the dark ages of the 1990s to national prominence by going 48-16 in his five seasons here, winning one BCS title and two Southeastern Conference championships. His success- Johanathan Brooks es at the college Sports Columnist level afforded him the opportunity to receive highlevel suitors. The Miami Dolphins came acalling, and on a fateful day in December 2004, Saban bolted for the NFL. After two pretty disastrous seasons in Miami, Saban lied about taking and then eventually took the job as the savior of Alabama football — their next “Bear” Bryant, just like those before him. This “betrayal” was seen by many Tiger fans as the ultimate slap in the face. Some cleverly designed shirts give a big “F you” to Saban if you fold them correctly, and others simply say, “Nick Saban is a douche.” Last year a Saban effigy was burned near campus. These are some of the brilliant ideas of Tiger fans who want to show the Alabama coach how they feel. How could Saban spit in the faces of Tiger fans by taking a job with one of our most hated rivals, they asked. The simple answer: He didn’t. Saban did what he felt was best for his career, like any coach would have done. It’s time for LSU fans to grow up and stop acting like whiny children any time Saban or the Crimson Tide are mentioned, because they’ve got a “damn strong” coach here at LSU. Les Miles replaced Saban in 2005 and has made a name for himself at LSU. It could actually be argued Miles is doing just as well, if not better, than Saban would be doing if he were still at LSU. Both coaches are considered among the elite in college football, and LSU fans wanting Saban back is pretty disrespectful to Miles and shows a lack of commitment to his efforts from the fan base. I don’t even know why anyone would want Saban back over Miles anyway. The idea Saban was a perfect coach at LSU who dismantled all of his opponents and never had teams who struggled like Miles’ teams is largely a myth formed by revisionist historians with an agenda. Saban only had one season at LSU during which he lost less than three games. His bowl record as the Tigers’ coach was 3-2, which is respectable but less than spectacular. Saban wasn’t that great — and most certainly more average than some people would have you be-
lieve. In his return to college football, he still hasn’t done anything worthy of the praise most give him. His team finished 7-6 in his first season at Alabama, lost to LouisianaMonroe at home and barely squeaked out a win against Colorado in the Independence Bowl. The Tide started out 12-0 in his second season before falling to Florida in the SEC championship game and getting embarrassed against Utah in the Sugar Bowl. On the flip side, Miles has only one season in his five in which he’s had more than two losses. When LSU was plagued by inconsistent quarterback play and terrible defensive coaching last season, the Tigers were still able to win eight games — a win total Saban’s teams achieved twice. Granted, on Saban’s behalf, those eight-win seasons did not see
Tony Gutierrez / The Associated Press
Alabama coach Nick Saban, left, and LSU coach Les Miles talk Nov. 8, 2008, after Alabama defeated LSU, 27-21. LSU faces Alabama on Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
his Tigers have a losing conference record like Miles’ eight-win season. Miles is one win away from No. 50 as LSU’s coach and has proven it’s about time for people to stop mentioning Saban the way they do. Miles won at least 11 games
each of his first three seasons at LSU, went to the SEC championship game twice with one win and won LSU’s third national title. Miles also has a 4-0 record in bowl games as the Tigers’ head coach.
This is not to say one coach is definitively better than the other or one team will come out victorious Saturday afternoon. But it’s interesting to consider and perhaps serves as a dose of reality for the disillusioned. The coaches both have one win in the head-to-head matchup, and each is still in line for a national title spot depending on the outcome of the tiebreaker this weekend. It’s about time for LSU fans to give up the Saban hate and get fully behind Miles as he tries to beat Alabama this weekend. 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
Thursday, November 5, 2009
THE DAILY REVEILLE
PAGE 7
AROUND THE SEC
Top SEC quarterbacks compete in Arkansas Gamecocks try to rebound after loss By Jarred LeBlanc Sports Contributor
Week 10 of the Southeastern Conference football season features 11 of the 12 teams in the conference competing Saturday. In week nine, two of the five ranked SEC teams lost — then-No. 22 South Carolina and then-No. 25 Ole Miss. This week’s games include a top-10 matchup between No. 3 Alabama and No. 9 LSU, which could determine the winner of the SEC West. But the premier matchup outside of the Alabama-LSU game is a matchup between two high-powered passing offenses, Arkansas and South Carolina. THE GUNSLINGERS South Carolina (6-3, 3-3) travels to Razorback Stadium to play
Arkansas (4-4, 1-4) on Saturday in a game that will feature two of the conference’s top quarterbacks. Arkansas sophomore quarterback Ryan Mallett leads the SEC in passing yards per game (268.5), total passing yards (2,148) and touchdown passes (18). “[Arkansas is] obviously a very good passing team and a good offensive team,” South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said in a teleconference. “We need to play a lot better around here if we are going to get in the game with them out there.” South Carolina sophomore quarterback Stephen Garcia is No. 2 in the SEC in both passing yards per game (232.7) and total passing yards (2,094). Garcia’s passing yards combined with his 107 rushing yards equal the most total yards on the season by any player in the SEC at 2,201. “I think probably the difference between the two is Garcia can run the ball,” said Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino. “That’s what
makes him so dangerous — his ability to run out of the pocket and make plays with his legs. But both of them have done a really nice job of executing their offenses.” These two quarterbacks have led Arkansas and South Carolina to No. 1 and No. 2 in the conference in passing offense, respectively.
OPPOSITES ATTRACT Vanderbilt (2-7, 0-5) travels to Gainesville, Fla., this weekend to face Florida (8-0, 6-0) in what will be a battle of opposites. Florida has already captured the SEC East title with its six wins in conference play. Vanderbilt, on the other hand, hasn’t won a game against an SEC opponent. “We have zero conversation about the SEC East anymore,” said Florida coach Urban Meyer. “Now it’s just an opportunity to win nine games.” Florida leads the SEC in numerous categories, including scoring offense (36 points per game), pass efficiency (157.5 efficiency
UREC
Soccer teams finish up playoffs Football gets ready for postseason By Jonathan Schexnayder Sports Contributor
University Recreation intramurals completed three 11-a-side soccer leagues this week with men’s, women’s and co-rec league champions crowned at the Sports and Adventure Complex. Saber Tooth Ducks defeated BCM, 2-0, to win the championship in the co-rec division. Whatchuknowaboutit beat Niupy FC, 2-0, to claim the Men’s A soccer championship. Delta Gamma held off Kappa Kappa Gamma, 3-2, to win the women’s league. Fraternity soccer was postponed until next week, said Matt Boyer, assistant director of leagues and tournaments. Next week marks the start of Homecoming events. Registration ends today. The UREC 3-on-3 flag football Grid Iron Challenge, dodgeball and sand volleyball tournament events begin Monday and cost $10 to register. Boyer said there is no
registration fee for the punt-passand-kick competition. “Instead of just typical league play during the week, we threw a few more events in here to help get people out on campus ... and celebrate LSU,” Boyer said. The Grid Iron Challenge winner receives the opportunity to travel to Atlanta and compete against teams from other Southeastern Conference schools in addition to receiving tickets to the SEC championship game. “[There is] a little bit more school pride there — win this, and you go to Atlanta,” Boyer said. Interested students can be male or female and must be registered full-time to participate, Boyer said.
Intramural sand volleyball playoffs began this week. In the co-rec “A” division, Unknown, Sets on the Beach, Dirty Sets, Persepolis and Team Awesome advanced to the quarterfinal round. In the co-rec “B” division, Sigma Gamma, Set to Kill and MBA Ballers advanced to the quarterfinals. Boyer said intramural sports are not guaranteed the scheduled four games.
Log on to read the full story at lsureveille.com Contact Jonathan Schexnayder at jschexnayder@lsureveille.com
rating) and first downs (23.6 first downs per game). Vanderbilt ranks among the bottom in the SEC in many categories. Vanderbilt is last in scoring offense (18.2 points per game) and pass efficiency (91.2 efficiency rating). Vanderbilt is also second -worst in the SEC in first downs, averaging 16.8 per game. But one area in which Vanderbilt has excelled is kick returns. Commodore freshman running back Warren Norman leads the SEC in kick return yards (852) and touchdowns (3). “I’ve never seen a freshman return three kickoffs for touchdowns,” Meyer said. “It’s not against one of those smaller schools — it’s against SEC opponents.” IN-STATE RIVALS The Memphis Tigers (2-6, 1-4) will travel 391 miles east down Interstate-40 to Knoxville, Tenn., to compete against in-state rival Tennessee (4-4, 2-3). The last time these two teams
met was on Sept. 30, 2006, when the Volunteers beat the Tigers, 41-7. Memphis has struggled this season on the road and has lost all three matchups away from home. Tennessee has gone 4-2 at home and outscored its home opponents, 210-107. But Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin knows his team can’t overlook any out-of-conference opponents, as the Volunteers have already lost one of the three out-of-conference games this season. “This is a very big game for us,” Kiffin said. “It’s an interstate matchup and one that Memphis has always played Tennessee very tough for.” Memphis has averaged 366.5 yards per game on offense despite its struggles. Tennessee has only given up 281.6 yards per game, which is third-best in the SEC. Contact Jarred LeBlanc at jleblanc@lsureveille.com
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THE DAILY REVEILLE
RECRUITING
Miles, Saban continue to battle for prospects from the South Tigers, Tide currently have top 10 classes By Chris Branch Sports Contributor
LSU football fans don’t like to think of the 1990s, or the preNick Saban years. It’s like when Michael Jordan tried his hand at baseball — fans just like to place the memories in the bottom drawer of their mental filing cabinets. The ’90s were the time of Curley Hallman and Gerry DiNardo, when the Tigers compiled a putrid 49-52 record, and the state was more of a floodgate than a backyard for recruits. Top talents like Peyton Manning, Ed Reed, Reggie Wayne and Marshall Faulk shunned the Tigers and jetted to out-of-state schools. Then Nick Saban arrived in 2000 and began keeping the top instate recruits in state. Saban won a national championship with home-state players like Michael Clayton, Marcus Spears, Devery Henderson, Chad Lavalais, Randall Gay and Corey Webster. And current head coach Les Miles kept the trend alive when Saban broke the hearts of the Tiger faithful and bolted for NFL millions in what he called a “new challenge.” Miles, if anything, tightened the stranglehold Saban had on Louisiana. The “Mad Hatter” lassoed in-state talents like Chad Jones, Charles Scott, Jacob Cutrera, Chris Tolliver, Keiland Williams, Ryan Perrilloux and Lyle Hitt and translated them into on-field success. A national championship in 2007 helped heal the wound from Saban. Saban then proceeded to lodge a knife into the backs and hearts of LSU fans by accepting the head coaching position at Alabama in 2007. The battle was on — both on and off the field. “No recruiting battles are going to be friendly,” said Scout.com recruiting analyst Sonny Shipp.
“There’s been guys they’ve “But when you have a head coach who was at a school and then he been battling it out for,” Shipp left, and then goes to not only a said. “It’s been some close battles conference rival but a division ri- because a lot of these kids rememval, there’s going to be even more ber Nick Saban winning a national championship when he was at LSU. animosity amongst the fan base.” They might not Saban reaflike the fact that he firmed his status as left LSU after he a recruiting aficiosaid he wasn’t gonado after giving ing anywhere, but Alabama the top you’ll find very recruiting class in few people that the country in his will say that Nick first campaign, acSaban was not a cording to Scout. good coach.” com. LSU wasn’t Tide freshfar behind at No. Sonny Shipp man running back 7. Scout.com recruiting analyst Trent Richardson The two have became the source waged an epic war on the recruiting trail during of drama on Signing Day when the last two years. Saban and the he used every nugget of time alCrimson Tide have logged the first lotted to decide between the Tide and second-ranked classes in that and the Tigers. Richardson, who period, with LSU posting No. 7 has rushed for 377 yards and four and No. 3 ratings, respectively, ac- touchdowns this season, ultimately stuck with Saban. cording to Scout. Richardson had originally Saban’s former Louisiana contacts have not won the former committed to Alabama in June coach any significant results in the 2008. “Even on Signing Day he was state — yet. His biggest victory came in snatching wide receiver still debating the two and at one Kenny Bell from Miles’ clutches point — he was leaning towards on Signing Day in February 2009. signing LSU,” Shipp said. “But Miles usually wins any in- in the end he went with the school state battle with Saban. Saban’s that he had aligned himself for over other Louisiana recruits, such as half of the recruiting process.” This trend does not appear to Tide defensive end Luther Davis and defensive back Robby Green, be ending anytime soon. LSU currently holds the No. 4 ranking in have been Miles’ rejects. “When you look at it, there has the Class of 2010 while Alabama been one player that Nick Saban is lurking at No. 5. Shipp said the 2010 class will has stolen from Louisiana and that would be Kenny Bell last year,” not feature any heated battles beShipp said. “People point to Luther tween Saban and Miles. But the Davis, but anyone who follows re- 2011 class could provide some cruiting closely knows what hap- fireworks. Shipp said this weekend’s pened with the Luther Davis saga and that if LSU would’ve wanted game could have a significant imLuther Davis, they could’ve got- pact in recruits’ minds. “When you look at the 2011 ten him. Same thing with Robby Green. He’s starting at Alabama, kids — where Louisiana is going but LSU didn’t covet him as highly to be loaded as far as talent level goes — a win this weekend could as Alabama did.” These results don’t mean really help LSU with some of those easy victories for Miles and com- kids,” Shipp said. pany. Many recruits’ decision have come down to the last minute — Contact Chris Branch at like current Tiger receiver Rueben cbranch@lsureveille.com Randle.
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‘When you look at the 2011 [recruits] ... a win this weekend could really help LSU.’
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2009
BACK ON TOP
ERIC GAY / The Daily Reveille
The Yankees celebrate Wednesday night in Yankee Stadium in New York after winning their 27th World Series. They beat the Phillies in six games.
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Entertainment
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2009
PAGE 9
HOW LONG CAN YOU GO WITHOUT North Gate Fest ‘No Shave November’ popularity growing nationwide
SHAVING?
By Emily Slack • Entertainment Writer The public has viewed male facial hair as everything from a symbol of virility to a sign of a lack of cleanliness. Beards have been reviled and revered. But in the last few years, they have seen a major comeback during November. No Shave November, a nationwide movement currently perpetuated by word of mouth and through social networking sites, is an event in which men abstain from shaving facial hair for the entire month. The purpose of No Shave November ranges from showing off beard growing abilities to raising money for charity. “[My beard] is part of how I create an identity for myself,” said Matt Wyatt, renewable natural resources sophomore. Stephen Jenkins, psychology senior, said he is growing a beard during November for Breast Cancer Awareness. Jenkins will be sponsored, and if the donator decides Jenkins should shave, he can pay double the donation for him to do so after Nov. 15. “It’s a win-win situation,” Jenkins said. Several Louisiana college graduates have held one of the most BEARDS, see page 14
lsureveille.com
‘This grew overnight. No, I’ve had this beard since I was 20 years old.’ Tommy Reagan Facility Services employee
‘A beard is what you are intended to look like. You choose to change yourself by shaving.’ Gregory Schufreider philosophy professor
‘Faces express your personal identity, so having a beard says something about you.’ Steve Simonson construction management senior
Log on to see a photo slideshow of students’ facial hair and a video about student opinions of No Shave November.
‘Real men have beards. Also, my girlfriend says I look 12, and she feels like a pedophile.’ John Byrne LSU alumnus
FOOD AND MUSIC
to be held Friday By Lindsay Nunez Entertainment Writer
Students who seek a wellrounded evening of live music, arts, food and physical activity don’t need to venture any farther than the University’s north gates. The North Gate Merchants Association will host its fifth annual North Gate Fest on Friday in the North Gate Area near Chimes Street from 6 ‘This has p.m. to 11 p.m. become Admission is free. my home, The festival will host and I want a 2.5-mile fun to make it run through the best campus. Stuthat it dents can register early for $15 can be.’ online or in perJared Loftus son at The Tiger NGMA president District. Students can also register the day of the event starting at 4:30 p.m. for $25. The race begins at 6 p.m. Anyone from walkers to marathon runners are invited to participate, said Jared Loftus, North Gate Merchants Association president and owner of The Tiger District. All participants will receive T-shirts. First-place overall male and NORTHGATE, see page 12
ART
‘Underground’ art on display Exhibit to open Nov. 6 in Foster Hall By Alex White Entertainment Writer
The time has come for underground art to see the daylight on campus. Notes from the Artistic Underground, an art exhibit that will feature various pieces of lowbrow and pop art, opens Friday in the Foster Hall Art Gallery with a reception at 5:30 p.m. The art is considered “underground” because it is not typically found in major art galleries, said Darius Spieth, the exhibit’s curator. The exhibit, which is sponsored by the Union Art Gallery Volunteer Committee, runs from Friday through Dec. 4 and
will feature local artists as well weekdays and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. as works by current University on Sundays and Saturdays with students and faculty like Hunter home football games. Roth, LSU design shop manager “[The exhibit] is geared toand artist. ward student interests,” said JuRoth has dith Stahl, Union multiple interacArt Gallery directive pieces in the tor. “We are going exhibit, like a to have breakfertility-themed dancers, Delta Plinko game, Journal readings skull bobbleheads and free food [at and a 3-D train the reception] on car display. Friday.” Hunter Roth “[The interSome of the LSU design shop manager activity] makes works included in my art approachthe exhibit have able and touchable,” Roth said. totalitarian, street and nature in“It’s not some boring old land- fluences as well as local Louisiscape.” ana inspirations, Spieth said. Admission is free, and the Spieth chose the 11 artists exhibit is open to the public. The included in the exhibit, but the gallery is located on the first floor artists chose the artwork themof Foster Hall inside the library- selves. facing entrance and the exhibit UNDERGROUND, see page 12 will be open 10 a.m to 4 p.m. on
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‘[The interactivity] makes my art approachable and touchable.’
MAGGIE BOWLES / The Daily Reveille
Marc Fresh’s “Never Rotten” pieces hang as part of the Notes from the Artistic Underground exhibit in Foster Hall. The exhibit opens Nov. 6 until Dec. 4.
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THE DAILY REVEILLE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2009
FOOTBALL
Students dress in costume at games to show spirit Pimps, superheros, genie support team By Catie Vogels Entertainment Writer
The camera men show fans on Tiger Stadium’s scoreboard during every LSU football game, but the crowd went wild Saturday for a student clad entirely in yellow dancing on screen. Chris Cole, mass communication junior, dresses as the Gold Man at all the home football games, because he said he loves to show his spirit for the football team. Cole is one of the many University students who dress up as super fans for football games in Tiger Stadium. “I believe that all LSU fans have the responsibility to get excited about their team, and me dressing up in a skin-tight suit and acting like an idiot is me showing the team that I am excited to watch them play,” Cole said. “When the players see that the fans are excited to be there, then they play harder. They give the fans what they want.” The costume was originally inspired by the Green Man from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” Cole said. Most people like his costume, and a few old ladies have pinched his butt, but some people give him looks of disgust, Cole said. “I don’t mind the stares because everyone knows that anything goes on campus on Saturdays in the fall,” Cole said. “My outfit may be outrageous, but I’m sure something out there is more shocking.” The LSU Pimps are also present rain or shine on game day. Ethan Rault, biological sciences junior, and Aaron Moore, civil engineering sophomore, have dressed up in purple and gold suits, complete with hats and gold necklaces, for almost every home game since their freshman year, they said. “We dress up because we thought it would be a fun way to show our LSU spirit,” Rault said. “When you dress up, it’s like taking on a whole new persona. You can act ridiculous and go crazy without feeling too embarrassed.” Moore said their pimp suits affect the way they act during the games. “We can be different people — just as Superman or Batman put on their outfits and are superheroes, we put on our suits and become super fans,” Moore said. They almost always get positive reactions from other people, particularly from children, Moore said. The LSU Genie has also been present in Tiger Stadium, except for rain games, for the last three years. Hailey Zahorchak, general studies senior, said she originally dressed in a purple and gold genie outfit to stand out in the crowd, but she loves showing her school
spirit. passionate about things they like “It takes some confidence to in the South, especially Louisibe different, but I don’t mind the ana,” Black said. “They love the attention,” ZahorTigers and want to chak said. “I enjoy support the team smiling at people in the best way and sharing the possible.” LSU spirit.” Cole said he LSU Batman, would continue Brett Borne, has to dress crazy been dressing up for LSU football in the purple-andgames to show his gold superhero support. costume all se“No matter mester, he said. what, I’ll be there Hailey Zahorchak “It exemplifor my Tigers,” general studies senior fies school spirit,” Cole said. “As the wetland scilong as I am a ences senior said. student, I’ll be at “It’s kind of fun being someone the gate at least four hours before else for a day. In costume, I’m a kickoff. I’ll go to as many away highly recognized superhero. Out- games that I possibly can. And I side of that, I’m just Brett.” will act like the biggest fool I can Dennis Langley, mechanical and make as much noise as I can engineering junior, said his favor- to help pull my Tigers through to ite super fans are the LSU Pimps. victory.” “It’s a creative outfit since the two of them match each oth- Follow Catie Vogels on Twitter er,” Langley said. “Nothing says @TDR_cvogels. ‘Geaux Tigers’ like a purple and gold pimp suit.” Contact Catie Vogels at Marti Black, French senior, cvogels@lsureveille.com said she prefers the LSU Superman because of the costume’s details. “I find people are more
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‘It takes some confidence to be different, but I don’t mind the attention. I enjoys sharing the LSU spirit.’
SHAINA HUNTSBERRY / The Daily Reveille
LSU fans show their support Oct. 31 against Tulane. Students dressed as pimps, the Gold Man and a purple and gold genie to cheer on the Tigers.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
THE DAILY REVEILLE
ADVOCACY
Invisible Children to show latest documentary Thursday Group to raise awareness for child soldiers By Jake Clapp Entertainment Writer
LSU’s official Invisible Children Campaign will host a screening of the latest Invisible Children’s documentary, “Together We Are Free,” at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Baptist Collegiate Ministry. The new film follows “The Rescue,” an international event that took place April 25, when more than 85,000 activists gathered in 100 cities in 10 countries to “abduct” themselves and march to pre-determined locations to wait to be “rescued” by politicians or public figures to raise awareness for child soldiers in Northern Uganda. The film shows the beginnings of “The Rescue,” from the planning stages and the gathering of people to the end when each city was rescued, drawing attention from media outlets worldwide. Desiree Watkins, University’s Invisible Children chapter vice president, planned the Baton Rouge “Rescue” last spring, when more than 250 people gathered at the Parade Ground and marched to the Capitol before being rescued by a representative from Sen. Mary Landrieu’s office. “The new documentary really shows that anyone can be involved,” Watkins said. “The film is trying to tell you that no matter how old you are or where you are from, you can make an impact. You don’t need a college degree.” The University’s chapter of Invisible Children began in fall 2008 as a local section of the larger nonprofit organization to help gain support around the University and Baton Rouge through fundraising and screenings of the Invisible Children documentaries. The national Invisible Children, Inc. group works to promote awareness and raise financial resources for humanitarian work in Uganda where a 23-year war between the Lord’s Resistance Army and the Government of Uganda has displaced close to 1.8 million people. One of the main points Invisible Children has tried to highlight since it began in 2003 is the abduction and forcing of more than 10,000 children into combat since the war began in 1986, said Matthew Bruce, president of the University’s Invisible Children chapter. “‘The Rescue’ was designed to show that people stand in solidarity with these children,” said Bruce, horticulture senior. “It is a really youth-driven movement and a lot of college-age people stand behind the organization. This event was a way to tell the politicians and the people in charge that ‘Hey, something needs to be done.’” Bruce said Invisible Children is now seeking signatures for a petition that will ask President Obama for an official statement on the situation in Uganda. The petition will also be available to sign after the screening
photo courtesy of Wallis Watkins
Activists display signs at an Invisible Children rally in London on April 25. People rallied together to raise awareness for child soldiers in Uganda.
Thursday. “Something needs to happen soon,” said Wallis Watkins, general studies freshman. “But it needs to go through the right channels, so that the policy makers and those with real power can do the right thing.”
Follow Jake Clapp on Twitter @TDR_jclapp
Contact Jake Clapp at jclapp@lsureveille.com
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THE DAILY REVEILLE
Thursday, November 5, 2009
UNDERGROUND, from page 9
In addition to the art exhibit, a collaborative art wall demonstration featuring artists from the exhibition will be held Sunday, and students from The Delta Journal will read inside the ‘[The exhibit Nov. exhibit] 11, 12, 18 and 19 at noon. is geared Notes from toward the Artistic Underground is student being held in c o n j u n c t i o n interests.’ with The Invisible Popu- Judith Stahl lations Proj- Union Art Gallery ect, a series of director exhibitions, lectures, digital displays and service-learning events in collaboration with the Capital Area United Way, Spieth said. Invisible Populations Project events will run through mid-December. MAGGIE BOWLES / The Daily Reveille
A Marc Fresh bust is one of the “underground” artworks displayed in the Foster Hall Art Gallery. The exhibit opens Nov. 6 and showcases unconvential pieces.
Contact Alex White at awhite@lsureveille.com
thursday /07&.#&3 Mellow Mushroom 2 for 1 Draft and Shroom Tea till 10PM 5th Annual Adult Spelling Bee!! 10PM Plucker’s Wing Bar Monday: $14.99 All you can eat wings and $3 Plucker’s Lemonades Tuesday: $2.50 Mexican Beers and Margaritas Wednesday: Trivia at 8PM. $4 Mother Plucker Mugs Thursday: $15.99 All you can eat wings. $4 Mother Plucker Mugs. $3 Margaritas and Plucker’s Lemonades Fred’s Bar Ladies Night 8-10 $2.50 Bud Select and Michelob Ultra $2 Shots 12-2 Come party at Fred’s this weekend while the Tigers are away! Bogie’s Ladies Free Tell 12’ Friday: $4 double Jim Beam and Stoli
NORTHGATE, from page 9
female participants and the firstand second-place male and female of varying age groups will receive gift certificates from local area merchants. The age groups include 8-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and 60 and older. Ashes of Babylon, Givers and The John Madere Trio will provide live music for the event. The stage will be set up on the east side of Chimes Street by The Tiger District. Various food businesses in the North Gate area will provide specials, and beer trucks will also be at the festival. North Gate Fest patrons will be able to visit various arts and crafts booths of some of Baton Rouge’s premier artisans. The North Gate Merchants Association predicts a turnout of to 2,000 ‘Baton 1,500 people. Rouge has “I’m really looking a lot to it,” going on forward Loftus said. with the “The weather is to be city trying supposed beautiful, and to progress since Carlotta forward.’ [Street party] was a bust Jared Loftus with the rain, it NGMA president should definitely make up for it.” This event first began in 2005 as a showcase for the businesses of the North Gate area, Loftus said. The historical area was founded in the ’20s and has had its ups and downs. It was at one point characterized by closed businesses and panhandlers but is now on the upswing, Loftus said. “Baton Rouge has a lot going on with the city trying to progress forward, and we don’t want to be left behind,” Loftus said. “This has become my home, and I want to make it the best that it can be.”
Contact Lindsay Nunez at lnunez@lsureveille.com
t BEWFSUJTF ZPVS FWFOU BOE TQFDJBMT GPS BT MPX BT B EBZ t RAVE MOTION PICTURES NOVEMBER 6th-November 8th WWW.RAVEMOTIONPICTURES.COM Baton Rouge 16 Mall of Louisiana 15 I-12@ O’Neal 225-769-5176 I-10@ Mall of LA Exit 225-769-5176
** AMELIA PG 11:10, 1:50, 4:35, 7:55, 10:35 **ASTRO BOY PG 12:15, 2:50, 5:10 **THE BOX PG13 11:30, 2:45, 5:30, 8:15, 10:55 **THE VAMPIRE’S ASSISTANT PG13 1:35, 7:20 **COUPLES RETREAT PG13 12:30, 4:05, 7:25, 10:05 **DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL PG 11:00, 1:30, 4:30, 7:30, 10:15 **DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL 3D PG 11:45, 12:45, 2:15, 4:00, 5:00, 7:00, 8:000, 9:45, 10:45 **THE FOURTH KIND PG13 12:00, 2:30, 5:15, 7:45, 8:30, 10:30, 11:00 **MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS R 11:15, 2:00, 4:45, 7:15, 10:00 ** LAW ABIDING CITIZEN R 11:25, 2:05, 4:50, 7:50, 10:25 MICHAEL JACKSON’S THIS IS IT PG 11:55, 2:40, 4:20, 5:20, 7:10, 8:10, 10:10, 10:50 **PARANORMAL ACTIVITY R 12:10, 2:55, 5:25, 8:25, 10:40 **SAW VI R 11:35, 2:20, 4:40, 8:05, 10:20 **THE STEPFATHER PG13 11:05, 1:40, 4:10, 7:05, 9:50 ** WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE PG 11:20, 1:55 **ZOMBIELAND R 11:10, 4:15, 9:55
9-10:30 AM 12-1:30 PM 3:00- 3:30 PM 7:00-9:30 PM 10:00-10:30 PM 11:00- 12:30 PM
** AMELIA PG 11:20, 2:20, 7:50 **THE BOX PG13 12:15, 4:15, 7:35, 11:00 **THE VAMPIRE’S ASSISTANT PG13 12:20, 9:55 **COUPLES RETREAT PG13 12:00, 4:00, 7:05, 10:25 **DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL PG 11:45, 2:45, 4:30, 7:45, 10:45 **DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL 3D PG 11:00, 12:30, 2:00, 3:30, 5:00, 7:00, 8:30, 10:00 **THE FOURTH KIND PG13 11:05, 1:45, 4:45, 7:30, 10:15, 11:15 **MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS R 11:15, 1:55, 5:20, 8:15, 11:1 ** LAW ABIDING CITIZEN R 111:55, 2:50, 5:30, 8:20, 10:55 MICHAEL JACKSON’S THIS IS IT PG 11:10, 12:10, 2:20, 3:10, 5:10, 7:10, 8:10, 10:05, 11:05 **PARANORMAL ACTIVITY R 11:30, 2:30, 5:25, 8:00, 10:50 **SAW VI R 11:25, 2:15, 4:55, 7:55, 10:35 **THE STEPFATHER PG13 11:35, 2:35, 5:30, 8:25, 11:15 ** WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE PG 4:10, 6:50 **ZOMBIELAND R 5:15, 10:40
Blade Underworld News Beat Live Van Helsing News Beat Repeat The Forsaken
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THE DAILY REVEILLE
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Reveille Ranks
MUSIC MOVIES BOOKS TELEVISION
The League
Weezer
Shwayze
Geffen Records
Suretone/Geffen Records
Just like FX Network’s hit comedy, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “The League” chronicles the antics of a handful of characters who love nothing more than making fun of one another. Maintaining the same “almost-lovable” appeal as those in “Sunny,” these characters will definitely keep you entertained. The series focuses on a bunch of friends who sit around and talk about fantasy football — it’s a simple, crude-humored show that may not be for those who enjoy better-scripted programs like “The Office” and “30 Rock” of NBC fame, but it proves FX is capable of creating consistently good content.
On Weezer’s 2008 release, “The Red album,” Rivers Cuomo sang about working with Timbaland to reach the top of the charts, and it looks like the band may have gotten the next best thing with “Raditude.” By employing producer Dr. Luke, famous for work with Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears, to collaborate on its latest album, Weezer may make it, but the results are simply bland. Gone are the days of catchy lyrics and fun like in “Pinkerton” and “The Blue Album.” Weezer’s latest material is just more radio-friendly pop fodder with no real substance or depth. The album is simply OK.
The California-cool band Shwayze has managed to churn out more So-Cal club songs with its newest album “Let It Beat.” Listeners looking for intellectual lyrics will be met with such gems as “Take Me in the Bathroom and Take My Clothes Off.” With most of the tracks being about hitting up the club and the low morals of L.A. girls, this album isn’t exactly going to tear up the charts. The album’s one redeeming quality may be that it has some listenable beats, as long as the listener doesn’t pay attention to the laughably shallow lyrics.
B. BOURGEOIS
J. CLAPP
E. SLACK
FX Networks
Raditude
Let It Beat
[B+] [C] [D] Gentlemen Broncos Fox Searchlight Pictures
Glee: The Music, Vol. 1 Sony
The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day Stage 6 Films
Jared Hess, the director of “Napoleon Dynamite”, went for the same effect with “Gentlemen Broncos.” Sadly enough, the movie just did not have enough heart to compete. Crude juvenile jokes with disgusting subject matter did their best to provide laughs but failed to supply any jokes or characters that can truly be considered comical. Unfortunately, the movie relies purely on these jokes and leaves the audience with characters that lack depth and that are virtually impossible to care about. Not to mention the main plot in which a teacher mentor figure steals his students’ work is slightly overplayed.
Get ready to “Bust a Move.” The chart-dominating songs from the hit TV show “Glee” have finally found their way to CD. On this infectious and down-right irresistible soundtrack, Lea Michele, who plays the mildly annoying Rachel, stands out as the vocal class of the cast. Michele’s vocal ability is most evident on the cover of Rihanna’s “Take a Bow” and “Maybe This Time.” Matthew Morrison (Will Schuester) and Amber Riley (Mercedes) also have plenty of impressive moments throughout the 17 song collection. Gleeks, be prepared to “Bust Your Windows” from blasting this CD at max volume.
“The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day” is a disappointment. This long-anticipated sequel to the indie cult classic was finally released after 10 years of waiting, but writer/director Troy Duffy lost his touch. A continuation of the vigilante story, the MacManus brothers return to Boston to avenge the murder of their beloved priest. It lacks a creative plot, but the Tartantino-esque action sequences stop it from completely bombing. Fans of the first movie will enjoy it, but it certainly isn’t anything to brag about.
L. NUNEZ
A. WHITE
C. VOGELS
[D+] [A] [C]
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PAGE 14 BEARDS, from page 9
popular Facebook events for No Shave November for the last five years, called Man Month, which boasted more than 7,000 people “attended” last year. “You just have to be a man and get through [No Shave November],” said Michael Steinmetz, an admin for the Man Month Facebook event group. “I’d say girls find it less attractive, but it’s about being manly.” Andrew Worrel, kinesiology junior, said this is the second year he has participated in No Shave November. There are several basic rules for No Shave November, according to the Man Month Facebook group. First, men must shave on the first of November to start the beard from scratch. Second, men must stick out the beard growing through the whole month, or risk ridicule from fellow beard growers. But participants are allowed to trim the beard, so they don’t look scruffy. James Boyd, computer science sophomore, said No Shave November offers a sense of camaraderie. There are other advantages to beard growing in addition to appearing manly, said Grant George, English senior. “When I don’t have facial I look like ‘I just got hair, I’m 12 years tired of old — people shaving, ask me where my parents and are,” George razors are said. Arthur expensive Mason , electrianyway.’ cal engineering senior, said he Tommy Regan likes having a Facility Services beard because employee he never has to deal with being carded when buying alcohol. Robbie Leumas, English senior, said he is participating in No Shave November because, until recently, he had a job at Mockler Beverage Co. that mandated he cut his hair and keep his beard shaved. “They had signs in the bathroom that said ‘Would you buy beer from this man? Are you clean shaven?’” Leumas said. “I like having a beard because I don’t get carded when I have one, and it makes me look a lot older.” Though No Shave November participants find beard growing enjoyable, several students said they would shave if they had an important event to attend or an interview. “When you go to an interview or a job that has face-toface interaction, the key is to be well groomed,” said Sara Crow, assistant director of communications at Career Services. “It’s the same thing as having a haircut that looks nice. Anything unique about your appearance will be noticed, and you just have to be aware that you may be judged for that.” But Crow said it is fairly unusual for employers to discriminate against men with facial hair. “I would definitely shave my beard for a job — it looks more professional,” said Simon
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Shirazi, mechanical engineering a beard because they see you as a freshman. renegade,” said Mason Lipscomb, Gregory Schufreider, philos- communication studies senior. “I ophy professor and proud owner worked in sales, and [my beard] of a 35-year-old beard, said peo- didn’t seem to affect [my ability ple’s perception of beards, es- to sell].” pecially of his long and mature Tommy Regan, Facility Serone, has the interesting effect of vices employee and known by acting as a filter for the type of many students as “Santa,” said people he meets. he’s been growing a beard ever “The biggest impact my since he has been able to grow beard has had on facial hair. my life is that “I just got it keeps away tired of shaving, certain people I and razors are exwouldn’t want to pensive anyway,” be around and atRegan said. tracts the people Steve SimonI would like to son, construcmeet,” Schuftion management Grant George reider said. “I senior, said he’s English senior had a man ask me an advocate of once, ‘What are shaving but just you hiding behind your beard?’ learned about No Shave Novemand the question I ask is ‘What are ber. you hiding behind your shave?’ A “In cases of extreme cold, beard is what you are intended to I like to shave off some of my look like. You choose to change beard and use it for kindling for yourself by shaving.” a fire,” he joked. Schufreider also said his beard is a throwback to the ’60s, a time he said he wished would be repeated. Beards remain an icon of rebelliousness, Schufreider said. “An English teacher in high Contact Emily Slack at school told me that on average people don’t trust you if you have eslack@lsureveille.com
‘‘
‘When I don’t have facial hair, I look like I’m 12 years old.’
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2009
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Thursday, November 5, 2009
PAGE 15
SEMIFINAL, from page 5
the season on that afternoon. She received X-rays for a head injury she sustained just before halftime, but Lee said they were negative, and she would be “good to go” on Friday. “We played Vanderbilt in the regular season and went to overtime, so it was a big goal of ours to get out early and keep them on their toes the whole game,” Rutledge said in a news release. Sophomore forward Kellie Murphy extended the lead to 2-0 in the 19th minute when she bounced a header off the crossbar and into the goal on a corner kick from junior defender Courtney Alexander. “[Murphy] is a bigger part of why the team has improved so much in the latter part of the season,” Lee said. The Commodores showed signs of life with a 28th-minute goal to cut the deficit to 2-1, but Clarke delivered a second strike — her teamleading 10th — just three minutes before halftime to keep the Tigers’ lead at two. Freshman forward Carlie Banks put the lead out of reach 13 minutes after halftime. Senior forward Rachel Yepez found Banks streaking on a breakaway, and the freshman scored her seventh goal of the season to extend LSU’s lead to 4-1. “When the team is playing well, [Banks] scores,” Lee said. “It’s no
MILES, from page 5
BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille
LSU senior midfielder Melissa Clarke outruns South Carolina senior midfielder Lindsay Small on Oct. 25.
surprise that she got a goal today.” Vanderbilt junior forward Molly Kinsella gave her team a late consolation goal in the 86th minute, but it could not keep the Commodores from becoming the tournament’s first casualty. “I thought LSU came out prepared, and they did a good job of putting us under a tremendous amount
of pressure early in the game,” Vanderbilt coach Ronnie Woodard said in a news release. “We had a difficult time getting out of an early 2-0 hole, and we had to chase the game to find it.” The Tigers’ win marks the thirdconsecutive year they have advanced to the tournament’s second round. Another win Friday would send
starts he gets. “When I first came in, I was “I played cornerback for a playing a backup role,” he said. game or two my freshman year “It was getting to me a little bit, and then moved to quarterback but it wasn’t my focus at the time. and played there the whole time,” It’s really not about a starting Jai Eugene said. “I went to some thing to me. It’s about competing combine camps and doing the and was running best I can.” and playing corner One of Jai there. It took me a Eugene’s career while to get used to highlights was cornerback when I his first intergot here.” ception as a TiJai Eugene’s ger during the backup quarterback fourth quarter Jai Eugene at Destrehan High against senior junior cornerback School is a familiar quarterback Tim name in LSU footTebow and Florball today — Jordan Jefferson. ida on Oct. 10. “Jordan and I grew up togeth“Not too many people can er,” Jai Eugene said. “We lived say they’ve intercepted the on the same street, and I grew up playing with him. He was a way better quarterback than me.” Jefferson called Jai “a big clown,” and the sophomore quarterback said that has been his personality since they first became friends playing little league football. “He’s very outgoing and is always holding a conversation about something,” Jefferson said. “He’ll talk to anybody about anything … he’s very funny and a great player.” Fellow cornerback Patrick Peterson, who has started every game this season as a true sophomore, said Jai was one of the first people he learned from at LSU. “You know when he comes in because he’s always talking,” Peterson said. “When I first came here, I looked up to Jai, and he taught me a lot of things. Now he asks me things even though I’m not older than him.” Jai Eugene has not been a consistent starter in the LSU secondary, but he said he does not mark his career by the number of
Heisman Trophy winner,” he said. “I was pretty excited about that.” LSU junior safety Chad Jones said Jai Eugene is always around “to help you crack a smile,” even during challenging days of practice. “When everybody’s tired, he gets you going again and gives you that second wind you need,” Jones said. “Catching that interception showed the type of player he is. He played a limited role in that game, but he made the best of it. He’s basically like our 13th starter on defense, and we all love him.”
NICHE, from page 5
‘‘
‘I knew I couldn’t go too far from my son, and LSU was the place.’
Contact Rachel Whittaker at rwhittaker@lsureveille.com
them to the championship game, which will be televised on ESPNU at 2 p.m. Sunday. Contact David Helman at dhelman@lsureveille.com
top two teams in the Southeastern Conference Western Division. “Jordan has played in big games before,” Miles said. “This is no more than one like that. I tell him to play like you play and enjoy yourself.” LSU has not lost on the road against Alabama this decade. Miles said there is no particular reason for the Tigers’ success in Tuscaloosa, Ala. “If there was anything real specific, I would know what it was,” Miles said. “Our guys play big in big games. I have enjoyed the atmosphere of Bryant-Denny Stadium.” The LSU scoring defense moved up to No. 7 in the nation and No. 3 in the SEC following its 42-0 blanking of Tulane on Oct. 31. LSU allowed an average of 12.1 points per game in its first eight games. Alabama is No. 5 nationally and No. 2 in the conference in scoring defense, surrendering just 11.4 points per game. Contact Rachel Whittaker at rwhittaker@lsureveille.com
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Opinion
PAGE 16
MURDA, HE WROTE
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Microfinancing offers unique method of fighting poverty Before you give all of your disposable income to that old guy walking around with poor children on late night infomercials, hold the phone. There are other ways to help impoverished people that don’t involve a 1-800 number. Though it’s easy to lose perspective living in the world’s richest nation, poverty is the story for much of the rest of the world. Many countries of the “third world” are beginning to show signs of development, but most of Earth’s inhabitants still enjoy a standard of living below that of the average settler in colonial America. An estimated 25,000 children die every day because of poverty, and over a billion people lack adequate access to water. The traditional response of developed countries has been to offer direct aid to poorer nations. Though some more nationalistic Americans believe we shouldn’t concern ourselves with aiding other countries, the U.S. government contributes nearly $30 billion per year in foreign aid.
Those critics will be happy to know we donate a meager portion of our GDP relative to many other industrialized countries. Developing countries also bought loans from the World Bank — an organization accused of benefitting Western companies while putting borrowing countries in debt and then using that debt as leverage for political goals. The least controversial form of giving is through charities and nonprofit organizations. While the work of such organizations is certainly significant — $95.5 billion or 79 percent of American aid came from non-government sources in 2005 — a new way to fight poverty through capitalistic methods is gaining popularity. It’s called “microfinancing.” The basic idea is to provide low-interest loans directly to poor individuals who otherwise would not have access to them — mostly because they have no assets or cash flow, and banks can’t profit from them. The strategy has been around
for a while, but it has gained steam through the championing of poverty wonks like Muhammad Yunus and Jeffery Sachs. And technology has helped promote the cause — the Internet has created new opportunities to microfinance individuals in more direct and transparent ways. N o v e l Mark Macmurdo Web sites like Columnist Kiva.org have emerged, fundamentally changing the financial game in poor countries. Kiva is unique because it allows individuals from wealthy countries with a few extra bucks to log-on and connect directly with “entrepreneurs” from poor countries seeking money. Motivated by charity more than profit, users are able to browse through different teams of entrepreneurs who share the responsibility of paying back the loan. Each team takes a group photo, states its goals and even
receives a default risk rating. The loans actually get paid back. This gives microphilanthropists the ability to use the same money they initially loaned to help out other individuals — it’s hardly a handout. And instead of simply signing a check to a third party, loaners are more personally connected with their aid. The transaction costs, which made it impractical for a credit market, are eliminated because the microfinance system pairs individuals with disposable income directly with the individuals that need the cash. Through this system, the economic fabric of poor countries has fundamentally changed. As we have recently seen since the credit crunch in the U.S., available capital for investment is the life blood of an economy. The wheels of the economy come to a grinding halt without a viable credit market. Through microfinancing we can also see how economic opportunity can change societies. One of the interesting elements of microfinancing is the large number of women who receive
the loans. It has been suggested microfinancing helps reduce population growth as individuals move away from subsistence farming — which is doubly effective in reducing the strain on resources. These programs also empower women in their communities, encouraging literacy and social influence. Microfinancing is clearly a powerful force. Giving money to poor people indirectly through government or nonprofit organization may be preferred by some, but it will be interesting to see how widely charitable individuals take up this new, hands-on, and highly capitalistic form of giving. Mark Macmurdo is a 22-year-old history and economics senior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_mmacmurdo.
Contact Mark Macmurdo at mmacmurdo@lsureveille.com
VIEW FROM ANOTHER SCHOOL
School silencing of student bloggers disgraceful By Jeremy Burchard The Daily Texan
AUSTIN, Texas — At Butler University, junior Jess Zimmerman is learning first-hand what it’s like to face coercion and castigation at the
hands of the school administration to a degree that would make Joe McCarthy proud. And it all started with a blog. In 2008, Jess Zimmerman started an anonymous blog titled “The True BU” under the name “Soodo
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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.
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MARK MACMURDO
Columnist
Nym.” The blog was a place for readers to talk about Butler University and, most importantly, share concerns and raise critical questions about the administration. In the blog, Zimmerman targeted the actions of Peter Alexander, the dean of the Jordan College of Fine Arts, and Jamie Comstock, the provost, calling their decisions on campus issues “inexcusable” and “not consistent with the Butler way.” Zimmerman’s comments led the school to threaten him with legal action. Of course, they had to figure out who he was first. After receiving notice in January that “Soodo Nym” was being sued (under the name “John Doe”), Zimmerman shut down the blog, hearing little about the case until June when he was shocked to discover he was still being sued. The university had searched through his university email account to find “proof” that he was the blogger. The school had no case to fall back on, no proof of libel or damage that Zimmerman’s comments may have caused. Instead, officials resorted to a questionable standard. According to an e-mail from Zimmerman, “Amazingly (and sickeningly) they justified their actions by referencing the massacre at Virginia Tech, claiming that unless they acted they might be held responsible
for a similar situation.” At that point, national attention was focused on the university, and the school dropped the suit out of fear of negative backlash. It was the one logical decision they made. Despite a win on the legal side, Zimmerman now has to face a much more questionable and judicially suspect form of trial — campus disciplinary proceedings. According to Zimmerman, the school president has already sent out three memos to faculty alleging that he acted in a way that endangered students and attempted to blemish the school’s image. The procedure will involve a trial in front of a board of either faculty members or students. Zimmerman must speak on his own behalf and will only be allowed one person to act as legal counsel. In effect, now that the case is out of the state legal system and into the university’s hands, Zimmerman is guilty until proven innocent. Unfortunately for Zimmerman, Butler is a private university, and his tuition is in essence a contract with a private company that obviously doesn’t grant him the rights UT students enjoy. Instead, he has to rely on the mature and sensible members of the university — clearly not the administration — to secure his rights
and vindicate him of any wrongdoing. While free speech and press are not guaranteed on private campuses, we applaud Zimmerman’s use of offcampus press to spread news of the administration’s tyrannical response to critical speech — likely curbing similar oppression of speech at other private institutions. Officials at Butler are bullying students, which makes the school look terrible, but the truly frightening aspect of their actions is the message they are sending and the precedent they are setting for other private institutions around the country. If they punish Zimmerman, it will be out of childish anger and folly, not out of respect for the institution. Butler University’s administration has already managed to embarrass the university and taint its professional image on a national level far beyond anything a mere blog could do. We hope that Butler and universities around the country learn that, in a nation of free thinkers and speakers, sometimes the best way to ensure a message is spread is to try to oppress it. Contact The Daily Reveille’s opinion staff at opinion@lsureveille.com
EDITORIAL POLICIES & PROCEDURES
QUOTE OF THE DAY
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.
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Voltaire French Enlightenment writer Nov. 21, 1694 — May 30, 1778
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Thursday, November 5, 2009
AGE OF DELIGHTENMENT
Opinion
PAGE 17
Behave yourself in public, especially at the movies My mother spent a lot of her time trying to raise a good Southern belle. Seeing how I’m as much my father’s daughter as I am hers, she definitely had her work cut out for her. I didn’t quite grow up to be that prim debutante who loves to entertain and never raises her voice, but Mama managed to at least instill a good sense of how to act in public and a respect for other people. My next few columns are dedicated to my classmates who weren’t quite so lucky. With that out of the way, here are the rules on how to act in a theater — be that live theater or the movies. (You’re welcome.) 1. Seriously, put your phone on vibrate. If you need to answer it, go outside. Why is that so hard
to grasp? 2. And don’t text, either. We get it — you’re soooooo popular you have to socialize through every second of your life. Fine. But don’t come to the same movie as me and expect me to NOT tell the manager and get you kicked out. 3. If you absolutely must talk to the person next to you, whisper as quietly as you possibly can. This rule begins the moment you enter the theater. I do not want to listen to your conversation about how much this Harry Potter is going to suck or how hot Megan Fox is. If I wanted to listen to that crap, I’d be friends with you. 4. If it is at all possible, sit one seat away from other people. I don’t want to fight you for the armrest and I especially don’t
want to touch you or smell you. I’m not saying you smell bad, I just don’t want to be that intimate with someone I don’t know, OK? 5. Try not to sit directly in front of people and ruin their footrest options. If Sara Boyd the theater’s Columnist crowded this rule becomes void, but if it’s the 10:30 pm showing of “Bright Star” and there are three other people in the theater, exercise a little consideration. Exception: You shouldn’t put your feet on the seats in front of you at a live theater production.
It’s only okay at the movies. 6. DO NOT, under any circumstances, arrive late, make a beeline for the perfect seats I got here early to sit my sweet ass in, and ask me to scoot down one or two seats so you and your friends/ children/date can sit together. Your punishment for being late is having to sit in those three crappy rows of seats close to the screen. I have to sit there when I’m late, and so do you. This is actually a really big one. No one has any obligation to give up seats to you, and if you work up the gall to ask me to scoot down, I will say no. Furthermore, you do not have the right to then yell at me and say I’m rude for declining, nor do you have the right to follow me
to my car and jump in front of it as I drive away (I’m looking at you, crazy lady who totally did that to me two weeks ago). Acting nuts makes me WANT to run you over, creeper, so don’t tempt me like that. Let’s all try to follow these guidelines when we go to the theater. This way, everyone can enjoy their movie or play, and then what happens? EVERYONE WINS. Sara Boyd is a 22-year-old general studies junior from Baton Rouge. Follow her on Twitter @TDR_sboyd. Contact Sara Boyd at sboyd@lsureveille.com
PRESS X TO NOT DIE
Nintendo should focus on classic roots, not profits
A long time ago, in a magical land simply known as 1985, there lived a plumber named Mario. It was Mario’s duty to rescue the princess from the evil King Koopa and restore happiness to the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario is a big factor that helped make Nintendo who they were in the ’80s and ’90s. Fast forward to today: Mario has been replaced with a bathroom scale. The bathroom scale I am referring to, of course, is the highly popular Wii Fit. Getting young kids and soccer moms off the couch to wiggle their hips around, Wii Fit has sold more than 20 million units worldwide since its 2007 release. That should mean a lot of fit people around this green earth of ours, right? Now what right do I, a broke college student, have to criticize the rich and arguably the most well known company in video games? Absolutely none. But that’s what I’m here to do today. Nintendo introduced the world to many classic characters. Mario, Donkey Kong, Link and Kirby are just a few members of the iconic Nintendo cast. Lately, however, Nintendo seems to be focusing more on making the player look goofy waving their Wii remote around than focusing on the core gameplay once making them great. Nintendo has reached what I call the Apple level. What I mean by this is they have taken the attitude of “we can make whatever we want and people will still buy it.” Case in point — the Wii Fit. Nintendo is making a lot of people think by buying this little balance board they’ll all of a sudden look like the happy models on
the front of the box. News flash: That’s not how it works. Does playing Wii Fit for an hour or so get your heart pumping and blood racing? Sure it does. It’s getting people off the couch and moving. Adam Arinder What it Columnist can’t do is replace simple jogging or going to a gym and getting in a good, hard sweat to shed those extra pounds. Building on this Wii Fit craze, Nintendo also requested a patent for what looks strangely like a stationary bike. Yes, the same stationary bike you ignore at the gym can soon be yours to connect to your Wii and watch your virtual self pedal on your television. “But Adam,” people cry, “why can’t you just see it as another fun little game? No one actually thinks it’ll work like that.” Trust me. A lot of people think Wii Fit can replace a trip to the gym when the only thing it is good for is holding up your wall after you get tired of using it. Nintendo is also in the habit of overpromising, underdelivering and then at a later time, releasing and charging you extra. When the Wii was released in 2006, everyone imagined how great it would be to play the new Zelda or Star Wars game and swing their remote around as a sword or lightsaber. However, to many people’s (read: my) disappointment, any small flick of the Wiimote will make your character on screen swing their sword like a madman. Nintendo has, however, released
the Wii Motion Plus accessory which gives the remote that 1:1 ratio of motion everyone expected three years ago. This is how the remote should have been built in the first place, not tacked on three years later for a “very affordable” price of $20 per remote. Even with their weak video game lineup this holiday season, Nintendo will continue to be a
huge success with their products. People love to put their remote inside of a gun, tennis racket, baseball bat or steering wheel just so it plays more “fun” and “real” although these crazy accessories have no effect on the game at all. Nintendo knows this — they’re not stupid — and they will continue to make oodles of money from it.
Unless people actually realize what it is they’re buying – which, of course, will never happen. Adam Arinder is a 20-year-old electrical engineering junior. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_aarinder.
Contact Adam Arinder at aarinder@lsureveille.com
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Personals
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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 SOCCER BEAUTY u stole my heart and scored a goal. #5 your the half that makes me whole. if u want to give me a chance please reply at soccerfan985@gmail.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 Big Country here looking for a southern belle to keep me company fishing in the dark. I like 4 wheeling, horseback riding and horseplayin. Give me a holler down on the farm. (225) 235-8926 MUST MEET GOOGLY EYE PERSON If you are the person putting up the googly eyes around LSU, I must meet you! contact fgarrett@gmail.com
Thursday, November 5, 2009
May 21. (texts only:) 757.581.4777
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.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
THE DAILY REVEILLE CHILD CARE, from page 1
Those in the former second bracket of $615 now pay the part-time student rate of $695, unless they qualify for the full-time student rate. University faculty and staff who pay through their fee bill or payroll deduction also pay $695. The final bracket switched from $715 for families making more than $100,000 to $735 for University alumni, secondary affiliated families and any student, faculty or staff not paying through their fee bill. Michelle DeMeulenaere, LSU Child Care Center director, said center officials worked with the Office of Budget and Planning and the Office of Finance and Administrative Services to develop a plan with “the smallest impact on the largest number of families.” The average increase to the majority of the center’s families is around 5 percent, according to a newsletter from the center. “We offer a lot for our families,” DeMeulenaere said. “You pay for basically what you get.” DeMeulenaere said spot priority is given to undergraduates, but so
far no graduate students have been denied the student rate. But one graduate student, who chose to remain anonymous because her daughter still attends day care at the center, said she was “explicitly told graduate students did not qualify for the student rate,” and her fee increased $130 from $565 to $695. “That’s the same cost as a week’s worth of food,” she said. Cassie Breaux, LSU Child Care Center associate director, said the center implemented a grandfathering system, where the rate slowly increases incrementally over time to ensure no one is forced to pay a large fee increase all at once. She said the process usually lasts a year. The graduate student said she was not informed of a grandfathering system. REASONS FOR THE SWITCH Another misunderstanding dealt with the reasons behind the tuition restructuring. Both the graduate student and Huckeba said they were told the new scale was a result of budget cuts, but DeMeulenaere said it was because of University Policy PS-113, which
PAGE 19 governs the collection, maintenance, use and disclosure of Social Security Numbers on campus. Breaux said the center was required to collect income documentation that contained Social Security Numbers when the scale was based on household income, but they wanted to move away from that system. Michelle Massé, Women’s and Gender Studies director, is a member of a task force that is currently working on programs to support graduate students who become parents. Massé said a scale that groups all faculty members together may not be entirely fair as classification as a faculty member can mean earning anywhere from $25,000 to several hundreds of thousands of dollars. Huckeba said she thought she would receive some type of substantial benefit because she worked at the University. She wasn’t the only one. Jessica Ketcham Weber, English graduate student, said she would have needed childcare for her 4-month-old child had she not received her current dissertation fellowship. But she wouldn’t have been able to afford the center on campus. “I may have been able to swing it on the old scale, but definitely not now,” Weber said. Weber said the fact the center doesn’t have a more affordable deal for students is disheartening. She said the center should recognize the financial strain of being a student and mother. “Quite frankly, I don’t know how students can afford it — $595 a month — that’s a lot if you’re a student,” Huckeba said. Weber said her average income as a graduate student was around $12,500 a year prior to her current dissertation fellowship. The rate she would pay at the center, if eligible, is $595 per month, which totals to $7,140 per year. “That’s more than half of the paycheck,” Weber said. DeMeulenaere said the center, which is Class A and accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, requires its staff to have college degrees, has a low ratio of children to staff, CPRcertified teachers and a convenient location. DeMeulenaere said the center ranks in the middle in terms of fees compared to other quality star-rated, NAEYC-accredited centers. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DeMeulenaere said she encourages families to seek programs to help offset the costs of childcare. “For the students who are at the $595 rate, most are eligible for the Child Care Assistance Program,” she said. CCAP is a state subsidy open to anyone who is eligible, and it comes from the Department of Social Services Office of Family Support, Breaux said. The requirements are based on family income. “That can pay up to $325 a month out of the $595 rate,” DeMeulenaere said. A family of three must make less than $3,158 a month and meet other stipulations to qualify, according to the program’s Web site. Contact Sarah Eddington at seddington@lsureveille.com
THE DAILY REVEILLE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2009
The 156,000-square-foot business complex will consist of four catalyst for economic develop- buildings, including undergraduate ment in our state by partnering with and graduate pavilions, a building Louisiana’s business community to to house administration and academic affairs and a produce the first300-person auditoclass entrepreneurs rium. of the next genera“The Business tion,” Jindal said. Education ComThe new faplex is a visionary cility will be conexample of the structed next to investment of the Patrick F. Taylor state of Louisiana Hall, which the and private citizens business college Bobby Jindal working together will vacate, leaving La. governor with educational it completely available to the College of Engineering, institutions to improve economic Chancellor Michael Martin said at sustainability and workforce development for the future,” Martin the Board meeting in August.
said in the release. “As the flagship institution, LSU is in a unique position to be a torch bearer in what we hope will be the first of many examples of public/private partnerships.” E.J. Ourso College of Business Dean Eli Jones said the new complex will “transform business education at LSU.” “It will be a beacon of hope, entrepreneurship, economic development and cutting edge business education and research, and the best part is it will be in the great state of Louisiana,” Jones said.
he already bought another bike for $30. Richerand said he paid $150 for the yellow vintage bike, which he plans to fix up and hang on his wall. He said he bought the $30 bike to play bike polo on weekends with friends, and he has another bike he rides to school. Cas Smith, SG sustainability director, said a 1970 road bike sold for $380 — the highest bid of the day. Danie LaRock, environmental sciences graduate student and treasurer of the Environmental Graduate Organization, said students who bought a used bike at the auction will have to fix the bikes and in turn, will increase their bike knowledge. LaRock said the Baton Rouge Advocates for Safe Streets organization has a workshop every month
to teach riders bike repair and maintenance. SG will also host a Bike Repair Workshop today at 5 p.m. at the UREC Fix-It Station. SG and ECO also had a table set up at the auction to petition against LSU System President John Lombardi’s recent recommendation to add a $500 per semester fee for every student. In the past, Lombardi suggested tuition and fees at the University are too low, especially when considering the nice cars he sees in the parking lots around campus. SG and ECO members gathered petition slips from students that said they ride bikes instead of driving cars to campus to send to Lombardi.
COMPLEX, from page 1
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‘[The complex] will be an incredible catalyst for economic development in our state.’
AUCTION, from page 1
auction. Lynette Overholser, environmental sciences graduate student, won two $10 bikes, but she doesn’t plan to ride them. “I’m going to try to make [the bikes] into a spinning wheel to make yarn,” Overholser said. “The chain’s a little rusty, but the gears are in good condition. I’m a recycler.” Overholser said a cheap, new spinning wheel can range from $300 to $600. She plans to cut the bikes and reweld them herself. Not all students went to the auction to bid on a “cheap” bike. Alex Richerand, biology graduate student, waited at the bike auction for a couple of hours to bid on a yellow vintage bicycle with a long banana-like seat, even though
Contact Ryan Buxton at rbuxton@lsureveille.com
Contact Mary Walker Baus at mwbaus@lsureveille.com
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