The Daily Reveille — October 20, 2009

Question of the Week

SPORTS Repairs on PMAC seats to be done before season, page 5.

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THE DAILY REVEILLE Volume 114, Issue 39

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Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Just Wanna Dance AgCenter to develop TECHNOLOGY

Golden Girls’ history, tradition strong as they celebrate 50th anniversary this year

By Adam Duvernay Senior Staff Writer

Since 1959, the talent of the Golden Band from Tiger Land has been supplemented with a certain poise and grace from a choreographed line of smiling women.

During half a century of gameday performances, the Golden Girls have developed a unique style drawn from classic dance genres and improved by

dedication.

That dedication will culminate at the end of October during the LSU-Tulane game with almost 200 current and former Golden Girls marching with the band to celebrate the line’s 50th anniversary.

This year the line is 14 Girls strong.

It consists of women from across the campus spectrum. Most are Louisiana natives, GOLDEN, see page 10

“I just remember the first game my dad brought me to. I saw them and said, ‘That’s what I want to be in college.’”

Alexandra Carter, freshman Golden Girl

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Log on to see photos of the Golden Girls troughout the past 50 years.

MAGGIE BOWLES / The Daily Reveille and photo courtesy of THE GUMBO

[Left] A Golden Girl performs during pregame Oct. 10 before the LSU-Florida kickoff wearing a replica of the very first uniforms worn by the Ballet Corps. [Above] The Ballet Corps, the original Golden Girls, pose for a picture in 1959, the group’s first year in existence. The Golden Girls will celebrate their 50th anniversary this semester.

blueberry Web site

By Ryan Buxton Staff Writer

Blueberries have long filled pies and freshened muffens, but now the juicy fruits are moving online and into a virtual world with the help of the LSU AgCenter.

A $518,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will fund Web site to promote the blueberry industry, and users will be able to harvest virtual berries in the online community Second Life.

The site, called All About Blueberries, is expected to launch in a year and will feature information on blueberry production as well as nutritional information and other information for consumers.

The grant was awarded as part of a specialty crops research initiative. Specialty crops are less common than those “outside of typical commodity products” like corn, said Natalie Hummel, AgCenter entomologist and project director for the Web site.

“The site is bridging the gap between the producers of a crop and the consumers,” Hummel said.

Hummel said the site will use many different interactive tools to make it more appealing to a younger audience.

“A lot of new growers, BLUEBERRIES, see page 15

ADVOCACY

Students fight to bring awareness to trafficking Benefit concert to be held Oct. 29

By Jerit Roser Managing Editor, Content

Most college students take their freedom for granted. Second-year law student Natalie LaBorde and communication studies senior Sarah Kaiser spend their time fighting for those who don’t have that luxury.

The two students founded the student organization Tigers Against

Trafficking (TAT) after LaBorde took an overseas research trip.

“I met a little girl in Cambodia named Zoe, carrying a 1-yearold child on her hip like it was her sibling,” LaBorde said. “When they found Zoe, she was pregnant. She was 11 years old. She didn’t even know what was inside of her.”

Human trafficking refers to the harboring, recruitment and transportation of people for the purpose of forced labor or prostitution. The United Nations’ International Labor Organization estimates there are 12.3 million victims of trafficking

‘‘

‘Some [women and children] are forced to service up to 20 men a day.’

Natalie LaBorde

Tigers Against Trafficking founder

at any given time. Other estimates range from 4 million to 27 million people, according to the U.S. Department of State’s 2007 Trafficking in Persons Report. The Polaris Proj-

ect, a United States anti-trafficking organization, estimates 17,500 foreign individuals are trafficked into the United States every year.

“Eighty percent of those are women and children in the form of sex slavery,” LaBorde said. “The average age of a victim is 14 years old.

Some are forced to service up to 20 men a day. You see a lot of specific instances of this in Asia in the form of child brothels, sex tourism and things like that … In America, it’s more domestic — it’s more sexual exploitation, forced prostitution by a pimp or older brother or family

member.”

Human trafficking doesn’t receive much recognition in America, but it takes place closer to home than many realize.

Trafficking often flies under the radar partially because victims are hard to spot, especially in the United States, LaBorde said.

Many of the estimated 1,000 homeless children on Baton Rouge’s streets may perform “commercial sex acts” in exchange for shelter or food for the night, according to TRAFFICKING, see page 15

THE DAILY REVEILLE

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009

Nation & World

INTERNATIONAL

NATIONAL

Mexico’s pink taxi fleet caters to fed-up, harrassed women

Marijuana advocates: Looser guidelines leave questions

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Each pink taxi comes with a beauty kit, a GPS system and an alarm button.

The new fleet of 35 cabs in Mexico’s colonial city of Puebla are driven exclusively by women and don’t stop for men. The cabs cater especially to those tired of leering male drivers.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A new Obama administration policy loosening guidelines on federal prosecution of medical marijuana on Monday signaled to users that they had less to fear from federal agents but still left their suppliers to contend with a tangled mesh of state laws and regulations.

The Justice Department told federal prosecutors that targeting people who use or provide medical marijuana in strict compliance with state laws was not a good use of their time.

Kenya mounts rescue effort after building collapse Monday NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A Kenyan police official says an unknown number of people are trapped in the rubble of a collapsed three story building in the country’s capital.

Monday’s disaster comes barely a week after the Kenya Architectural Associated issued a report saying 65 percent of structures in the country did not meet required standards.

Samuel Mukindia says 13 people have been rescued so far, and three were in critical condition.

University of Connecticut mourns stabbing death of football player STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Less than 12 hours after celebrating his team’s homecoming victory over Louisville, Connecticut football coach Randy Edsall was at a hospital identifying the body of one of the game’s star players.

The day after Jasper Howard, 20, of Miami, was stabbed to death in a fight following an on-campus, university sanctioned dance, police Monday continued to interview those attending the dance in search for possible witnesses. Investigators had not identified a suspect or released the name of a second stabbing victim, who was treated and released.

Gates: Legitimate Afghan government could take months ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY JET (AP) — Pentagon chief Robert Gates says President Barack Obama may not be able to wait until the disputed Afghanistan elections are resolved to decide on a new war strategy.

The defense secretary said Monday that working out claims of fraudulent ballots would be an evolving process.

Gates did not say whether he believes a runoff between Afghanistan President Hamid Karzi and main challenger Abdullah Abdullah is inevitable.

STATE/LOCAL

Fewer than 40,000 swine flu vaccines given in Louisiana so far

Obama administration hears of crisis in coastal Louisiana

(AP) — Fewer than 4,000 doses of swine flu vaccine have been doled out to Louisiana patients. That’s less than one-20th of the amount of vaccine that has been shipped to health care providers.

State Health Officer Jimmy Guidry provided the numbers Monday. He says the delay is largely a timing one.

The first shipments of vaccine against the virus have been sent directly to doctor’s offices and private providers who then call the patients currently eligible to receive vaccines, mainly children.

Appointments must be made and attended for the vaccine to be administered.

Guidry says he expects the numbers of vaccinated Louisiana residents to pick up sharply in the coming weeks.

Louisiana’s death toll from the H1N1 virus, commonly called swine flu, has risen to 24.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Fishermen, scientists and public officials are urging the Obama administration to deal with south Louisiana’s dire problems — coastal land loss, a huge dead zone and destruction from hurricanes. Several top officials with the Obama administration came Monday to New Orleans for one of several public meetings on ocean policy.

TODAY ON

lsureveille com

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

Silent Hill The Exoricist Newsbeat Live Sports Showtime

7:00-8:30PM 10:00-10:30PM 10:30-11:00PM 11:00-12:30PM

The Shining Newsbeat Repeat Sports Showtime Saw

(AP) — Louisiana lawmakers are considering a change in the retirement plans given to state government workers and teachers, a shift that would strip the guarantee of a benefit tied to salary and years of service.

The House and Senate retirement committees on Monday began debating an idea offered by House Speaker Jim Tucker to switch incoming state government workers to a retirement offering similar to a 401(k) plan.

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CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

In the Oct. 19 article “New Orleans passing attack leads Saints’ 4427 win against Giants,” the final score of the game was incorrect. The final score was 48-27. In the Oct. 19 article “Tigers’ streak extends to eight,” sophomore middle blocker Michele Williams’ name was misspelled in the photo caption. In the Oct. 19 article “Tenn. Volunteers beat Tigers in close weekend meet,” the photo caption misidentified the swimmer. The swimmer was sophomore Steffen Voelkel.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

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

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THE DAILY REVEILLE

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009

PAGE 3

ECONOMY

University, state face $1.93 billion budget shortfall

By Ryan Buxton Staff Writer

The University and the state face difficult times ahead because of a $1.93 billion budget shortfall and a complicated economic climate which makes financial revision difficult, a panel of budgetary experts said on Monday.

The roundtable discussion, sponsored by the Faculty Senate and the Office of Academic Affairs, focused on both revenue and the budget.

One must first examine the state’s revenue to understand budget cuts, said Jim Richardson, director of the Public Administration Institute at the E.J. Ourso College of Business.

Fluctuations in oil prices and the economy are partially responsible for budget shortfalls, Richardson said, as well as personal income tax.

Funds coming to the state after Hurricane Katrina and rising oil prices caused the state to lower taxes, said Bob Keaton, supervisor of internal audit for the LSU System, because “it seemed the state was rich.”

Though shortfalls are now a problem, raising taxes to increase revenue is not an option in the next legislative session because of

BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille

Chancellor Michael Martin answers questions Monday during a roundtable discussion about the state and University’s budget in the Campbell Auditorium.

Louisiana law restrictions concerning when tax-raising bills can be introduced.

Only $3.3 billion in “discretionary funds” would realistically be available to cover a $1.93 billion shortfall, but restrictions on certain parts of the budget and previous allocations make reallocating those funds toward the shortfall difficult, he said.

Approximately equal portions of the discretionary budget are allocated to health care and higher education, but because of the federal match

program, every $4 cut in health care means the state legislature has to make $10 in program cuts.

“The politics of budget cuts favor keeping more money in health care,” Keaton said.

Because of various state laws, Keaton said potential solutions to the University’s budget woes like the “rainy day fund” and moving funds that have been previously allocated are unrealistic. “[Cutting spending] will be the primary means by which we address the budget,” Keaton said.

DANCE

Tiger Girls featured in Carrie Underwood music video e-mail Sunday night, and that’s when we found out the music video was going to be for Carrie Underwood.”

Things moved quickly after the e-mail. The three Tiger Girls, along

By Cassie LeBlanc with two other women, rehearsed Special to The Daily Reveille the dances with the choreographer Three Tiger Girls were cho- the following week at a hotel ballsen to be dancers in the new Car- room in New Orleans. Underwood rie Underwood music video for the practiced with the women on the song “Cowboy Casanova,” which second day.

Filming of the video in New topped Country Music Television’s Orleans took two days. The women “Top 20 Countdown” for Oct. 16.

Lauren Hammond, biol- said the days were long, not finishing until the early ogy senior, Heidi hours of the mornHankin, kinesioling. ogy senior, and The Tiger Katherine FrederGirls said Underickson, chemical wood was shy in engineering freshperson but comman, auditioned fortable in front of for a music video the camera. at a casting call “She was so in New Orleans tiny and short,” but didn’t know Hammond says. the identity of the “It was amazartist. The only Heidi Hankin ing to see such a information they kinesiology senior small person with were told was the artist was a multi-platinum award- such an amazingly strong singing voice.” winning female artist.

Hankin said the dancers’ ex“My studio dance teacher told me about the auditions, so I sent in perience helped them deal with the a tape,” Frederickson said. Ham- demanding schedule.

“Sometimes during the tapings mond and Hankin participated in the live auditions on a Thursday. the choreographer would decide to They were told nothing until late change part of the dance, show us one time and expect us to be able Sunday night.

“All three of us pretty much to do it,” Hankin said. “We have to spent the entire weekend together learn gameday dances fast so our just waiting for a response,” Ham- experience with LSU Tiger Girls mond said. “We all received the helped a lot.”

Video topped CMT’s Top 20 on Oct. 16

‘‘

‘We have to learn gameday dances fast, so our experience with LSU Tiger Girls helped a lot.’

Underwood joked about the Tiger Girls’ dance skills and said they were about a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10, while she herself was about a 1.5.

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

Robert Kuhn, associate vice chancellor of budget and planning, discussed the potential $1,000 per year flagship fee, which he said could generate approximately $26 million.

Kuhn said the new fee would require a two-thirds vote in the legislature and would not be covered

by TOPS, which he said is used by about half of University students.

Richardson said convincing the legislature of that may be difficult.

“The legislature sees that as a tax almost, and they are reluctant to vote on that,” he said.

Chancellor Michael Martin said he thinks legislative support is there.

“I’ve had conversations with several leaders in the legislature who will say to my face, ‘If the state can’t preserve the essence of the flagship through appropriations, we’ve got to give you latitude on tuition and fees to save yourself,” Martin said.

Martin said he recognizes criticism saying the fee could cause a drop in enrollment, but the question

would be whether the drop would be large enough to offset what could be gained from the fee.

Cutting certain academic programs was another cost-cutting tactic mentioned. Matthew Hilliard, social work graduate student, said he is concerned about programs like social work.

“We give 900 hours of public service as part of [the social work] degree program,” he said. “We are smaller so it might look easier to cut us, but we make a large contribution to the state.”

Astrid Merget, executive vice chancellor and provost, said cuts will be performance-based and “from the periphery,” or not affecting the academic core.

“We don’t want to cut programs based on size or grants or unilateral dimensions like that,” Merget said.

Contact Ryan Buxton at rbuxton@lsureveille.com

PAGE 4

THE DAILY REVEILLE

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009

TECHNOLOGY

Games on social networking sites gaining popularity Industry earned $98 billion in 2008

By Matthew Barnidge Special to The Daily Reveille

Increasing numbers of students are logging on to their Facebook or MySpace accounts to play new forms of games designed to run on social networking sites.

The reactions are mixed, but the revenue dollars aren’t — the social gaming industry attracted an estimated $98 billion in 2008.

Companies like Zynga, Social Gaming Network and Playfish have turned that added capital into increased popularity. Zynga now claims 40 million people actively play their games.

Many students find themselves logging on to play the games, often at the expense of their studies.

Marketing freshman Robin Penley said she plays Farmville and Restaurant City a lot more than she should. “It’s a great way to put off homework,” she said.

Biology freshman Stephen

Tyer said he plays Mafia Wars at least once a day.

Other students say the games are simply entertaining.

“It’s something fun to do when you’re on Facebook and you’re bored,” said computer science freshman Andre Pujol, adding he plays Vampire Wars at least once a day.

Social game companies launch their game applications on pre-existing social networking platforms like Facebook or MySpace. This marketing strategy gives the companies instant access to millions of potential customers. Facebook now boasts 200 million regular users.

Some people spend real money on these games, which is one of the major ways social game companies make money. Players can purchase virtual objects or products with their credit cards and enhancements that will help the player perform better or beat the game. Other games include a subscription or premium mode where players can pay for access to an advanced version of the game if they become dissatisfied with the basic version.

But few students like the

games enough to spend money.

Using social networking platforms also provides the advantage of built-in customer demographic information, which they can then use to develop marketing strategies and new games.

Various social games exist, but they all involve using social information from the networking sites as part of the game. Facebook allows applications access to certain personal information.

The Facebook privacy policy states: “If you, your friends or members of your network use any third-party applications developed using the Facebook Platform, those Platform Applications may access and share certain information about you with others in accordance with your privacy settings.”

Some have raised concerns about protecting user privacy from Facebook applications, while others advise caution when using these applications because users consent to the privacy policy when signing up for Facebook.

“As the consumer, you want to be especially cautious about giving your information to a third-party

PETS

Flea season uncommonly active Dog, cat owners are ‘freaking out’

By Cara De Carlo Special to The Daily Reveille

Summer weather fosters fleas, and the summer was massively successful for flea populations along the Gulf.

“You could call this tumultuous,” said Pat Stockstill, director of business development for Pestop, a Baton Rouge business dedicated to helping people rid their homes and pets of pest invasions. “Veterinarians are declaring this the worst flea season they’ve ever seen.”

He believes one possible cause for the influx is weather.

“We didn’t have much of a winter [last year],” Stockstill said. “It didn’t even slow [the fleas] down.

When it came to the hot weather, there were already higher quantities than usual.”

Fleas have a four-stage life cycle: egg, larva, cocoon and adult.

Home and pet owners must worry about the cocoon phase, according to Stockstill.

“It has a coat that protects them while developing,” Stockstill said.

“No chemical can penetrate it.”

It usually takes from seven to 14 days for the cocoon to hatch, but cocoons can survive for as long as a year. This often happens when an area with cocoons gets traffic from pets and humans. Heat, vibrations and carbon dioxide are “signals” to the cocoon to hatch. The fleas sense the presence of a host or food, Stockstill said.

Stacy Warren at Sherwood South Animal Hospital in Baton Rouge said dog and cat owners were “freaking out” this summer.

“They had never had flea problems before,” Warren said.

New Orleans animal

behaviorist Ryan Andree of The Dog House reported almost all of his clients have pets or homes with flea problems.

“Fleas require constant upkeep [of preventative maintenance],” he said. “Get on a good flea prevention system and treat the yard.”

Flea conditions have not been as bad in Shreveport, said Adam Foret of the University Veterinary Hospital.

“I wouldn’t say drastically more, but we’ve seen a slight increase,” Foret said.

Foret said the most common flea is the cat flea.

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

provider,” said media law professor Craig Freeman, adding he thinks Facebook makes a good effort to protect privacy rights.

Freeman said these applications have the right to use personal information for their own purposes, but it may be unethical to share that information with outside parties.

Some students even say these games help to strengthen social ties to friends they may not spend much time with or talk too often.

“I have a few friends who play [Vampire Wars],” Pujol said. “We’ll talk a little more because it gives us some common ground.”

Political science sophomore Jordan Revon agrees, saying the games provide more contact with “some people I’m friends with, but I haven’t talked to in a while.”

Not everyone sees the rise in popularity of social games as a good thing. Many people publish status updates about the games, and some find those updates annoying.

“I ignored two of them yesterday,” biomedical engineering freshman Kelly Bui said. “What’s the point of spending so much time on that when you could be doing something active?”

Graduate student Kundan Kadam said he doesn’t find the games very appealing compared to existing game formats.

“They are very low tech,” he said.

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

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Sports

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009

PAGE 5

GOLDEN GLORY PMAC seating to BASKETBALL

be replaced by opener

Student section may move for ’10 -’11

By David Helman Sports Writer

photo courtesy of USA BASKETBALL

LSU sophomore forward LaSondra Barrett, center, receives a gold medal at the U19 World Championship. Barrett played on the USA Basketball Women’s U19 Team this past summer. Barrett wants extend her role for the Lady Tigers by using what she learned playing for the US team.

Barrett receives gold medal on US team, using experience to improve Lady Tigers

By Michael Lambert Sports Contributor

The trophy room in LSU sophomore forward LaSondra Barrett’s Jackson, Miss., house is getting crowded.

Barrett won two-straight Class 5A state championships for William B. Murrah High School, and she was a McDonald’s and EA

Sports All-American in 2008.

The 6-foot-2-inch forward, nicknamed “Boogie,” made an instant impact for the LSU women’s basketball team her freshman season, finishing second on the team in scoring and claiming 2009 SEC Co-Freshman of the Year honors.

But the trophy room may need to be cleared for Barrett’s most prestigious award to

date — a gold medal.

Barrett made her mark internationally on USA Basketball Women’s U19 Team last summer, claiming the championship after beating Spain, 87-71, in Bangkok, Thailand.

“The experience was great,” Barrett said.

“You are even more hungry to win since you BARRETT, see page 9

FOOTBALL

Tigers work on deep passing game Shepard sick during bye week

By Rachel Whittaker Chief Sports Writer

LSU football coach Les Miles said sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson is on the road to gaining experience in throwing downfield and checking offensive play calls.

“We spent a lot of time in the open week throwing the ball downfield,” Miles said. “Our ability to

throw it downfield is coming. It’s been called, but it may be called a little bit Log on to see Miles discuss more regularly.”

Miles would Jefferson and not say who calls the offense. the offensive plays during games, but he said the coaching staff is making an effort to limit Jefferson’s role to simply executing the plays called.

“Our quarterback, with experience, will be very comfortable making those checks,” Miles said.

“But at this point, we are trying

to take that off his plate if we can and just let him play.”

Jefferson was sacked five times in LSU’s last game Oct. 10 against Florida, a 13-3 loss. The sophomore said the ability to master all the offensive calls instead of consistently checking with the sideline before plays is something he hopes to achieve.

“I would like to have that leeway with the offense,” Jefferson said. “I know a lot of the of-

lsureveille.com

fense compared to what I knew last year. Sooner or later, it will come.”

As far as the play of his receiving corps, Miles said he likes what he has seen for the most part.

“They are blocking well by and large,” Miles said. “There are some drops we’d like to eliminate.”

Freshman quarterback Russell Shepard was sick during the off week. Shepard practiced Thursday and played in LSU’s MILES, see page 9

The PMAC will feature some new seating in time for basketball season’s tipoff next month, according to LSU associate athletic director Eddie Nunez.

The LSU Athletic Department is currently replacing the south section of the stadium’s lower bowl b l e a c h e r s , ‘We had to which have use a fallen into disrepair. forklift to “The seats pull the have basically seats in broken down,” Nunez said. and out — “We’re not trying to generate that’s how more revenue. bad it got.’

We’ve done everything we Eddie Nunez can do [to keep associate athletic the seats in director use] but we’ve hit the wall. We had to use a forklift to pull the seats in and out – that’s how bad it got.”

The upgrades, which are being funded by the Tiger Athletic Foundation, will be completed in time for the coming season. The rest of the lower bowl is scheduled for renovation before the 2010-2011 season.

Nunez said “something crazy has to happen financially” for next year’s renovations not to take place.

Nunez also said the athletic department is considering moving the student section for the 2010-2011 season.

“We’re investigating that for next season,” he said. “We’d like our students to be as close to the court as possible.”

Current suggestions include moving student seating behind the east basket, which is the basket to the right of the current student section.

The student section for the LSU women’s basketball games is already behind the east basket.

Nunez said the plan is “not a done deal,” and a decision will be made later in the season.

The women’s basketball season begins Nov. 10. The men tip off Nov. 13.

Contact David Helman at dhelman@lsureveille.com

PAGE 6

THE DAILY REVEILLE

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009

BABBLING BROOKS

Weekend’s BCS standings actually prove satisfactory LSU ranks No. 9 in poll released Sunday I knew the BCS standings were coming out Sunday afternoon, and I was ready.

Ready to hate the standings, ready to hate the teams in the top five and ready to hate the system all over again — hate that is rekindled annually.

But Sunday afternoon came and went, and hate wasn’t one of the feelings I felt for the polls.

I felt a feeling of satisfaction from knowing — at least for one week — the computers got almost everything right at the top of the standings.

Florida and Alabama occupy the first two spots in the poll, and no two teams are more deserving — although I’d contend Alabama has, for the most part, looked to be a better team than Florida.

Whether or not either team is No. 1 or No. 2 right now is irrelevant since they are likely to face one another in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game in December.

Florida hasn’t really played very many good teams, and its signature win is against then-No. 4 LSU. Alabama, on the other hand, has played a few tough teams

and has done remarkably well.

They hold signature wins against then-No. 7 Virginia Tech, thenNo. 20 Ole Miss and then-No. 22 South Carolina. All three games were on the road with the game against the Hokies at a neutral site.

Texas is at No. 3 following a lackluster win against archrival OklaJohanathan homa in a game Brooks that was less of Columnist a Red River shootout and more of a reason to take a mid-afternoon nap.

The Longhorns have only faced one ranked team thus far, and their best wins are against the then-No. 20 Sooners and an unranked Texas Tech squad that is currently 5-2.

But after the top three is where it gets a little hairy for some people.

Boise State, Cincinnati and Iowa are Nos. 4, 5 and 6, respectively, and many have said they should be lower.

Well, they shouldn’t.

All three teams are undefeated, which should go a very long way in terms of rankings seven weeks into the season.

Additionally, none of the

one-loss teams behind them have their conference has no automatexactly proven they’re better than ic BCS tie-in, they’ll have to play any of these three teams. loss-free for the rest of the season If all three teams remain un- if they want to stay included in beaten at the end of the season, the national championship picIowa would probably get a nod ture. over the other two for inclusion in No. 7 is the team I had the a championship game if it came most problems with. USC is good, down to one of the three of them I’ll give them that, but there’s no being included. way they should They bested be ranked ahead Penn State at the First BCS standings after of TCU, LSU and Nittany Lions’ Miami. week 7: annual “white The Trojans 1. Florida Gators out” game and just don’t have 2. Albama Crimson Tide will go on to face the résumé.

3. Texas Longhorns Ohio State. A win TCU is un4. Boise State Broncos against the Buckdefeated and in eyes would be a the same boat as 5. Cincinnati Bearcats very attractive Boise State by 6. Iowa Hawkeyes one for the pollvirtue of being in 7. USC Trojans sters. a non-BCS con8. TCU Horned Frogs Cincinnati ference. Its first plays in the weakgame against 9. LSU Tigers est of all the BCS a ranked team 10. Miami (FL) Hurricanes conferences, the comes Saturday Big East. This will against No. 16 hurt them. The Bearcats will have Brigham Young. We’ll see what to play current No. 20 Pittsburgh these Horned Frogs are made of. and current No. 23 West Virginia USC, on the other hand, has and have already beaten then-No. one loss, and it’s an ugly one, 21 South Florida. and its wins don’t look so good The least sexy of the three either. teams is Western Athletic ConThe Trojans lost to a very ference powerhouse Boise State. average Washington squad on the The Broncos’ only good win road in week three, and they’ve is against then-No. 16 Oregon, beaten then-No. 8 Ohio State, and they won’t face another then-No. 24 California and thenranked team all season. Since No. 25 Notre Dame.

Neither the Golden Bears nor the Irish are currently ranked, and as of the current BCS rankings, they’ll face two other ranked teams in No. 11 Oregon and No. 22 Arizona.

LSU and Miami are Nos. 9 and 10, respectively, and this seems pretty fair for these two teams, but both could make a case to be higher than USC. LSU has a win against thenNo. 18 Georgia, and its only loss is to No. 1 Florida.

Miami has knocked off three ranked teams, and its only loss is to then-No. 4 Virginia Tech.

Both of these teams have some very winnable games left on their schedule and have a lot of space to either move up or down with the remainder of their schedules. It all depends on how they play.

We’ll see how the rest of the season plays out and how these rankings go from here, but for now, I’m happy.

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

Contact Johanathan Brooks at jbrooks@lsureveille.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009

THE DAILY REVEILLE

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PAGE 8

THE DAILY REVEILLE

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Johnson expects contributions from four walk-ons Johnson said. “He seems to grasp what we’re doing.”

Jacobsen, born in New Orleans, is a Charlotte, N.C., native who received little interest coming out of high school. The combination of family roots and a good school proved the winning factors for Jacobsen’s descent upon Baton Rouge.

“The hospitality is incredible,” Jacobsen said. “If basketball didn’t work out, I’d still get a great education.”

Players received offers from other schools

By Chris Branch Sports Contributor

LSU men’s basketball coach Trent Johnson, famous for his walkon tryouts, seems to have gotten what he wished for.

Johnson accepted four newcomers from this year’s tryout, including sophomore Zach Kinsley, who was the lone survivor of last year’s tryout. The other three this year are junior Chris Beattie, sophomore Taylor Jacobsen and freshman Daron Populist.

Johnson envisions big things for his walk-ons.

“The walk-ons have a much different role than any of the other walk-ons,” Johnson said. “Some of them will be required to play.”

The two elder walk-ons – Beattie and Jacobsen – tried out last year but were denied a jersey.

KINSLEY TO PLAY MORE Kinsley, a St. Michael’s High School product, has been working hard.

He said he worked the majority of the summer lifting weights and trying to get stronger in hopes of more playing time this season. The sophomore appeared in just nine games last season, but he has Johnson’s attention.

“Zach Kinsley has done a very good job for us,” Johnson said. “He’s gotten a lot bigger and a lot stronger for us, and he’s going to play the three, maybe some two at times.”

Kinsley is likely the leader of the walk-on troupe because of sheer experience. But he’s keeping mum on whatever advantage he has over the newcomers.

“My main goal is getting on the floor,” Kinsley said. “We have a lot of good walk-ons this year. I think a couple of them will get on the floor.”

BEATTIE FINDS HIS FIT For Beattie, basketball was like a mean girlfriend. He loved the sport, but basketball seemed to dismiss any dreams of reaching the next level in their relationship.

Beattie played high school at Pope John Paul II in Slidell, where he averaged 22.4 points per game during a stellar senior campaign. He garnered serious interest from only two schools in the area – Loyola in New Orleans and Spring Hill in Mobile, Ala. Both weren’t meant to be. Beattie had a standing scholarship offer

ALEX BOND / The Daily Reveille

Men’s basketball coach Trent Johnson, famous for allowing walk-ons to join the team, accepted four players after tryouts Sept. 15.

at Loyola but declined because of the school’s lack of a civil engineering program, his desired major.

So Beattie moved on to Spring Hill. When Beattie tried to commit to the Badgers, the coaches informed him they had signed another player.

The move left Beattie stunned and without a basketball home.

Beattie enrolled at LSU in 2007, the last year of former coach John Brady’s tenure. Brady was not known for accepting walk-ons.

Luck found its way to Beattie with the arrival of Johnson, renowned for holding walk-on tryouts. So Beattie tried out in 2008, his sophomore year. He didn’t make it — Kinsley did — and Beattie seriously considered dropping his dream of playing college basketball.

“I was going back and forth because I was getting so much further into my academic career,” Beattie said. “I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew I loved the game of basketball. So I decided to come back to it.”

Now, Beattie is proud to show off his name, etched in purple stitching, on the back of his jersey he wore to LSU’s basketball media day.

“It’s an indescribable feeling,” Beattie said. “I’m so glad to be here

and be a part of it.”

JACOBSEN ON GOLD TEAM Jacobsen, unlike Beattie, had little thought of giving up his dream to play basketball at LSU. After barely missing out on Kinsley’s walk-on spot last year, Jacobsen needed a way to hone his game and maintain close contact with Johnson.

So he joined the other team on campus – the women’s squad.

Jacobsen was a member of the Gold Team, a team coach Van Chancellor employs to help toughen his team for the rigors of SEC women’s basketball.

“I came out to play against them, thinking nothing of it, and it made me respect how the girls play, too,” Jacobsen said. “I kept in contact with the coaches and kept working out. They saw what I was doing.”

Johnson must have liked what he saw. Jacobsen’s size – 6-feet-6inches and 205 pounds – combined with a smooth shooting stroke helped Jacobsen claim a spot on the squad for the upcoming season.

Johnson called Jacobsen “a little thin,” but he still lauded the junior’s initial efforts in workouts.

“He’s very aggressive,”

LONE FRESHMAN ON TEAM Populist, a Slidell native, is garnering special attention from Johnson — and not just because of his talents.

Johnson’s area of specialty is the point guard position, where Populist slides behind junior Bo Spencer and sophomore Chris Bass on the depth chart.

Johnson said in his media day news conference Populist is

probably tired of the coach’s constant nagging.

“Daron Populist, I feel sorry for him because he’s a point guard; because he’s got to put up with me morning, noon and night,” Johnson said.

Populist preferred to take the safe route by denying Johnson’s claims.

“No, no. Coach J is a great guy and knows the game in and out, but right now it just comes with territory,” Populist said. “I’m just learning and getting situated to the offense, but I’m used to it by now.”

Populist received attention from a slew of smaller colleges coming out of high school, most notably from Southeastern Louisiana.

Contact Chris Branch at cbranch@lsureveille.com

THE DAILY REVEILLE

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009 BARRETT, from page 5

are representing the United States.

Winning a gold medal was the icing on the cake.”

The United States fell to Spain in its first game of the preliminary round but gained revenge in the title match.

“Spain beating us was a wakeup call,” Barrett said. “Our backs were against the wall. It was just about bouncing back and playing with our heart.”

The United States went on to beat China, Mali, Canada, Japan, Russia and France en route to the title.

“Everyone wanted to beat the USA because we were the best,” Barrett said. “We peaked at about

MILES, from page 5

scrimmage that day, and Miles said he anticipates Shepard to participate in preparations for LSU’s showdown with Auburn on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in Tiger Stadium.

“He took some reps in [Thursday’s] scrimmage, but not a large number,” Miles said. “We think he’ll be ready to go today, so we’ll see if we can get him greased up ... and have him ready for the [Auburn] game.”

Shepard did not play at all against Florida after he fumbled in LSU’s 20-13 win at Georgia.

Miles denied Shepard is “in any unlit wing of the coach’s doghouse.”

the right time.”

Barrett had a breakout game and scored her tournament-high 14 points to help the Unites States defeat Japan.

“I wasn’t much of a scorer — it was more defense and rebounding,” Barrett said. “Being a leader, being vocal — that was my role.”

Barrett said she enjoyed the experience of playing for her country.

“A lot of people talk about it, and you see it on TV, but you never get to experience it,” Barrett said.

Barrett said winning the gold medal was more special than her other awards.

“It was real gold,” Barrett said. “You get certain medals that are plastic, but it’s actually gold. I smiled the whole way coming home

‘‘

‘So we’ll see if we can get him greased up...and have him ready for the [Auburn] game.’

Les Miles

LSU football coach

“[Shepard] is something we desperately want to get woven into the thread of our offense,” Miles said. “We’re trying to get him comfortable at a receiver spot as well. Sometimes, trying to get a lot accomplished with just one person, it slows his progress in a

on the plane.”

The team featured 12 players 19 years old or younger from various colleges and high schools and was coached by Carol Owens from Northern Illinois University.

“On the court, we just had to get used to some things,” Barrett said. “We had to establish our roles.

Everybody can shoot. We had to have somebody to pass, somebody to rebound and somebody to be a good defender.”

Barrett played with Stanford forward Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Ohio State guard Samantha Prahalis and Arkansas guard C’eira Ricketts, who shared the SEC Co-Freshman of the Year award with Barrett.

“Off the court, everything was great,” Barrett said. “We all got

number of spots.”

Last season against Auburn, quarterback Jarrett Lee threw a game-winning touchdown pass to Brandon LaFell in the final minute. Even coming off an intense defensive struggle with Florida two weeks ago, Miles said the team knows its job is far from finished.

“Our football team understands what’s in front of us, and we have four very talented teams in our conference we have yet to play,” Miles said. “We’re pointing it down hill. We know where we’re headed.”

Contact Rachel Whittaker at rwhittaker@lsureveille.com

PAGE 9

along and had a great time.”

Barrett said she learned many things to take back to the Lady Tigers.

“It showed me how to compete for a national championship,” Barrett said. “With hard work and preparation, anything can happen.”

LSU senior guard Allison Hightower noticed a difference in Barrett since her overseas trip.

“She is even more confident about her overall offense, overall defense and overall game,” Hightower said. “As long as she continues to work, she’ll be in the same spot she was last year or even better.”

LSU coach Van Chancellor said playing for a national team helped Barrett learn about herself.

“They learn how good they are,” Chancellor said. “They get on the USA team, and they are playing with all the best players in the country. All of a sudden they realize they’re pretty good.”

Chancellor said Barrett had a minor shoulder injury while playing for the United States.

“She has had a hard time coming back from that, but she’ll be fine,” Chancellor said.

Barrett said she wants to extend her role for LSU after leading the team in rebounding and finishing second in points during her freshman season.

Contact Michael Lambert at mlambert@lsureveille.com

WIPE ME DOWN

ERIN ARLEDGE / The Daily Reveille

Workers drain pool and clean Mike VI’s cage late Monday afternoon.

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 10

weighed and measured before tryouts begin.

The measurements are taken but the line even draws from out of to put women into costumes immestate.

Elizabeth Maier, senior Golden diately after making the line, said Girl and a Georgia native, said she Pam Matassa, a Golden Girl from danced with Golden Girl alumni 1991-94 and a judge for new lines.

There is no weight or hair when she was young.

When choosing a college, color requirement, but personal apshe said she looked for a big foot- pearance is an important factor in choosing a line, ball school with a Moorhouse said. strong reputation “One can infer for dance. that you need to “I wanted to be have a toned body part of something because of what rich in tradition you’re asked to that had already wear,” Moorhouse been established,” said. “Our girls are Maier said.

Danielle Hardy in shape — they For many of junior Golden Girl have athletes’ bodthe women, the ies.” chance to dance in Moorhouse said each Golden the line is the result of a lifelong admiration and desire for a Louisiana Girl is asked to maintain the weight she had on audition day throughout tradition.

“I just remember the first game the year.

The women generally live my dad brought me to. I saw them and said, ‘That’s what I want to be healthy lifestyles and exercise regin college,’” said Alexandra Carter, ularly, Hardy said. She said once freshman Golden Girl. “They were she developed a routine it wasn’t so beautiful, and I loved the way difficult to keep fit.

Hardy said people sometimes they danced.”

All of this year’s girls have have the misconception the Girls spent most of their lives dancing, are chosen based on height or said Linda Moorhouse, associate director of bands and director of the Golden Girls.

“Just because you have studio training doesn’t mean you’re going to be a good dancer, but it does mean you’ll have a basic skill set,” said Moorhouse. “If you understand the language, you’re more apt to be comfortable.”

Moorhouse said women without studio training probably wouldn’t make the team.

GOLDEN, from page 1

‘‘

‘I’m always just as nervous [trying out] as I was my first year.

MAKING THE LINE Tryouts for the line start in the spring. For a freshman candidate, it’s often her first University experience.

From 7 a.m. to about 8:30 p.m., potential Golden Girls go through an intense and stressful day of dance routines and constant judging.

Each woman is expected to arrive with a solo routine meant to showcase her individual dance skills, Moorhouse said.

The candidates remaining after first cuts spend the rest of the day learning a group routine based on traditional Golden Girl style.

“The sharp movements aren’t so hard to pick up, but with everything having to be so precise and everything looking the exact same, it takes a lot of extra work,” said Danielle Hardy, junior Golden Girl.

The number of women at tryouts varies from year to year, but there are generally between 60 to 90 candidates, including veteran Golden Girls who must reclaim a position on the team every year.

“When I come back, I know my spot isn’t guaranteed, and I’m competing against every girl in that row,” said Hardy, who has been on the line for three years. “I’m always just as nervous as I was my first year.”

Maier said coming back for her second year was harder than her first tryout because she knew the incoming freshmen were gunning for her spot. She said she has seen girls cut from the line every year to make way for fresh talent.

Potential Golden Girls are

weight but said they are weighed a couple of times each month “to keep them on track.”

Moorhouse said many of the women who don’t make the line after one tryout will study at Tari’s School of Dance, a local dance studio operated by former Golden Girl Tari Smith.

Smith has trained between 40 and 60 women who eventually made the line, Moorhouse said.

ficulties was designing a costume that both 20-year-old and 70-yearold Golden Girls would wear.

The design will feature a white tank top over a sheer white top with a purple velvet skort and nude colored shoes.

The women will be performing the traditional “Hey Fighting Tigers” routine the Golden Girls have performed for years.

“We’re going to make all these women proud of THE REUNION the work they’ve Tiger Band put in for all those reunites for the years,” Maier said.

LSU-Tulane game Karen White, Karen White every year, but this who danced on Golden Girl, 1959-1960 season’s reunion the original line will bring togethin 1959 and 1960, er nearly 200 Golden Girls from said she is learning the hand moveacross the years. ments and kicks for the Oct. 31 reMatassa said the reunion orga- union. nizers hoped to get at least 100 girls She said the line has changed on the field, but the efforts have significantly since she was in been at least twice that successful. school, becoming a more profes“It will be a logistical night- sional and uniform team. mare to fit all the Golden Girls on White said she and many of the the field because there will be so women she danced with were not many,” Matassa said. “But we’re classically trained. going to do it.”

“Golden Girl routines have beMatassa said one of the dif- come a lot more like Las Vegas —

‘‘

‘We just did it because we enjoyed it, and it was really a lot of fun.’

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009 they’ve become very professional, which was always the intention,” White said. “We just did it because we enjoyed it, and it was really a lot of fun.”

White said when she danced on the line, she danced to Broadwaystyle routines as a unit. She said she remembers doing the hula and the can-can during games.

Though some Golden Girls have gone on to dance professionally, Moorhouse said most continue on into a professional life based on studies while at the University.

Matassa said she still dances with the Baton Rouge Ballet because she always loved dancing, but she also served as a television news anchor and director and as Louisiana’s deputy secretary of state in 2002.

“One of the reasons I’ve had such poise and grace under pressure can be pointed to when I was a Golden Girl,” Matassa said. “Most of these girls are type-A personalities who are going to be as successful as they can be in life.”

Contact Adam Duvernay at aduvernay@lsureveille.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009

THE DAILY REVEILLE

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THE DAILY REVEILLE

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AGE OF DELIGHTENMENT

Opinion

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009

Graphic images, scare tactics won’t end abortions Hey, everybody, I made cupcakes!

Whose birthday is it, you ask?

Why, it’s in honor of the millions of aborted fetuses who never had real birthdays! Hope that doesn’t ruin the sweetness of the buttercream icing I lovingly piped in the image of a mutilated unborn baby.

Just kidding. I would never do that because it’s horrifying and crazypants.

Right?

Actually, the Web site for National Pro-Life Cupcake Day suggests you decorate the cupcakes with catchy slogans like “Thou Shalt Not Murder” and “I (heart) Babies,” then “hand them out with plastic baby fetus’s (sic).” I think my fetus-icing idea kills two appetites with one stone, but to each his own.

It’s offensive and illogical for anti-choice advocates to assume I

am pro-murder and a baby-hater because I’m pro-choice. Actually, I am staunchly opposed to murder, and I really love babies.

Lots of my friends have babies, and I was once a baby. I’d be willing to bet the vast majority of pro-choice people feel similarly about loving babies and not killing people.

Sadly, I’m a little late for National Pro-Life Cupcake Day, but I should be just in time for National Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity. Participants will, according to the silentday.org Web site, wear red armbands and duct tape on their mouths, not speaking all day but handing out fliers to explain their cause.

I like this protest a lot more than the cupcake one. By all means, don’t tell me about your Puritanical convictions regarding reproductive rights. No one wants to hear graphic descriptions of a very personal medical

procedure ­— especially not from males who can never understand what it means for a woman to conceive, carry and deliver a child.

A n t i choice boys, would you like it if I came up to you in Free Speech Alley and gave you a detailed description of Sara Boyd a vasectomy, Columnist complete with graphic visual aids?

Probably not, though it might make you think twice about getting that procedure.

Propaganda like this relies upon a similar strategy to protest the George W. Bush-era shock and awe campaign: upset and flabbergast them into submission. Then, once they’ve carried and birthed a child they aren’t

financially or emotionally ready to raise (to which they are now too attached to give up for adoption), tack up the “Mission Accomplished” banner and forget about them.

Scare tactics and shock value are tools used by bullies who don’t have convincing facts or reason on their sides. Surgical abortions are actually very safe outpatient procedures, according to a 2002 American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology study.

Another study showed abstinence-only education has not proven effective — just two important facts often misrepresented or altogether ignored by antichoice advocates.

While the abortion issue is a complicated one on which both sides may never agree, it essentially boils down to people who want to be pure and people who want to be responsible.

The solution seems simple

enough and is certainly not a new idea. If you think abortion is wrong, then don’t have sex. And if you do have sex and get pregnant, don’t have an abortion. But perhaps most importantly, don’t inflict your morals on people who disagree.

Then people like me can stop writing columns like this, and we can all get along. Doesn’t that sound better than passive-aggressive cupcake campaigns and cliché tape-on-mouth protests? I think so. I’d love for anti-choice activists to put me out of a job by cooling down and working to keep peace instead of disrupting it.

America” until her husband was nominated.

What’s also amusing about Mr. Albright’s column is that, while he paints President Obama as a victim, I wonder if he ever painted George W. Bush as a victim. President Obama isn’t regularly compared to Satan and isn’t lampooned even on national news as some sort of mentally handicapped individual, nor has he ever met with protesters (Americans at that) who threw rocks and bottles at him and his staff.

While it’s perfectly acceptable to voice opposition or peacefully assemble to protest a President’s choices, what occurred during many of the Bush years was what could be considered hatred or undue harshness. While it’s admirable that Mr. Albright is concerned with hate and harshness, President Obama should not be put in the same category as victims of hate crimes, which he seems to be flirting with.

I think what Mr. Albright is trying to do is slide the race card into the equation without going so far as to come right out and say so, and this is where he is wrong.

Again, some people do hate the president for completely ridiculous reasons, and that is definitely a shame. However, for the most part, the criticism going his way is based on much more than that

and should be addressed.

I personally disagree with the president, didn’t vote for him and don’t much care for him, but I certainly don’t hate him, and I certainly don’t care what color

or religion he is. I care about his ideals and his character, like any American should. The criticism the President is receiving is that, criticism. Hate exists everywhere, and it is unfortunate, but before

portraying one particular politician as a martyr, it’s important to look back on others as well.

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

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Columnist unfairly portrays hatred of Obama In response to Matthew Albright’s column “Child’s question to Obama highlights nation’s hate,” I have to say I’m amused at his seeming need to paint President Obama as a victim of some sort of hate crime.

While I’m not saying there aren’t those out there who unfairly hate the man, I am saying that just because someone disagrees with his policies or questions his character doesn’t constitute and shouldn’t be portrayed as hate.

Yes, his religious character, patriotism and citizenship have been called into question. That’s part of running for the highest office in the United States: Typically, people want to know as much about you as possible.

It should come as absolutely no shock to anyone that his patriotism was called into question when someone running for president of the United States refused to wear an American flag pin, or hold their hand over their heart for the pledge of allegiance, and especially when the man’s wife said she was “never proud of

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

Editor Managing Editor, Content Managing Editor, Production Opinion Editor

ERIC FREEMAN JR.

Columnist

MARK MACMURDO

Columnist

Alex Lauve English senior

BEST AND WITTIEST

cartoon courtesy of KING FEATURES SYNDICATE

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

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

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Abraham Lincoln once said, ‘If you’re a racist, I will attack you with the

North,’ and these are principles I carry with me in the workplace.”

Michael Gary Scott “The Office” character 2005 — present

THE DAILY REVEILLE

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009

JUXTAPOSED NOTIONS

Opinion

PAGE 13

Christianity promotes equality of the sexes, not misogyny Of all the complaints about the Bible, one of the most heated is the claim of misogynistic sentiments allegedly rooted in its passages.

Those who cry “sexism!” also have a disdain for Christian culture, which they believe actively promotes the subjugation of women.

By that logic, any woman who is Christian suffers from spiritual Stockholm syndrome. She is too subdued by her male brethren to break free of the religious bindings that shackle her mentally, sexually and emotionally.

Or so naysayers claim.

In reality, this notion — which most likely came to fruition because of poor reading, interpretation and context — couldn’t be further from the truth.

The passages that draw the most feminist ire are found in the letters the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians.

While advising the church of Corinth about orderly worship, Paul advised the women to be

silent during church. If they had any questions about worship proceedings, they were to direct their inquiries to their husbands after the service was finished.

However provocative his words, Paul did not intend this to be a generalization about women.

Rather, he was particularly addressing the women of the Corinth church to admonish them for disturbing the peace of the infant congregation.

He wasn’t telling them to shut up because they were women. He was telling them to shut up because they were causing a ruckus with their shouted questions.

Paul’s intentions were not born of bigotry at all — he simply desired to have the church of Corinth become “perfectly united in mind and thought,” and any action he took was made with that goal in mind.

More commonly misinterpreted is another passage in Paul’s letter that seems to describe his

advocacy for women wearing head coverings. But this is only true for a hasty reader.

Paul actually goes on to provoke his archaic audience by probing them with biting rhetorical questions, all designed to challenge (and Linnie Leavines poke fun at) the legalistic status Columnist quo – including the notion wearing head coverings is somehow equivalent to spiritual wellness.

Essentially, the mention of head coverings at the beginning of the passage was simply a set-up for a good bit of hazing at legalism’s expense.

Hence we see a promotion of ideas that were, considering the societal atmosphere, countercultural and radically bold. Paul’s countercultural play is not only

provocative because of its content, but because of the authoritative spiritual claim it makes as the ideal culture of a church of God. Another misinterpreted passage, found in Ephesians, calls wives to submit to their husbands.

Most see the word “submit” and make the premature judgment this passage is misogynistic. This assumption is unfortunate, as this passage reads differently when connected to the other half, which calls for husbands to show the same submission to their spouses.

If anything, the demand on the husband can be viewed as more extreme because he is also instructed to love his wife so much he would die for her, if necessary. Hardly the picture of a wife-beater, I should think.

Obviously, this concept does not promote female subjugation.

It simply outlines the differences between the sexes and describes the ideal attitudes in a marriage – mutual submission as a mark of a

love born of trust – while advocating equality.

These passages, all of which reject of legalism and misogyny, are perhaps the most misunderstood concepts in the Bible.

Sadly, this misunderstanding seems to be born of hasty reading and uniformed judgment more so than reasonable objection.

Historical context is everything. Considering the status of women during that time, the ideas promoted in the Bible – Corinthians in particular – actually do more to serve the interest of women than most other organizations of that time period.

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

Contact Linnie Leavines at lleavines@lsureveille.com

FREEMAN OF SPEECH

Stereotypes inhibit acceptance of biracial children Many new people I meet ask both what race I am and what I call myself. When I asked my mother what I should call myself, she said “You’re biracial.”

My mother fought for this on behalf of my younger brother and me in 1990, Eric Freeman Jr. the final census Columnist that failed to allow people to identify with more than one racial group. When the census taker rejected our status as mixed-race children, she first suggested they go after the race of my mother.

My mother wouldn’t have any of it, as neither one of us can be truly considered “white.” The taker then offered a compromise, proposing one of us be listed as “white” while the other could be called “black.”

I’ve identified myself as black for years, only to wonder what being “black” really meant. If how I lived my life were directly attributable to my race, then watching “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” and listening to Led Zeppelin could be considered “black.”

Black people aren’t more prone than others to eating fried chicken, just as whites aren’t more prone to listening to Garth Brooks — with a shout-out to “The Thunder Rolls.”

I’ve been called hateful, racist things by both white and black people. Ironically, racism knows no creed. (As a side note, there’s no such thing as “reverse racism.”

White people didn’t trademark

racism, though they may have provided the most blatant historical example.)

When the landmark 1967 Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia overturned the Racial Integrity Act of 1924 — which defined a white person as having no trace of black blood and criminalizing marriages between whites and nonwhites — people had trouble trying to eliminate the line separating distinctions that make relating to the world familiar.

The “either-or” mentality eliminated by interracial marriages discomforted those used to having the world fit into preconceived notions about people — also known as stereotypes.

In this respect, hopefully soonto-be former Tangipahoa justice of the peace Keith Bardwell almost had a point, albeit while perpetuating a racist taboo.

In denying a marriage license to an interracial couple, he claimed he was saving the couple’s potential children from hardships.

“I’ve had countless numbers of people that was born in that situation, and that they claim that the blacks or the whites didn’t accept the children,” Bardwell told “The Early Show” on CBS. “I didn’t want to put the children in that position.”

I could defend Bardwell’s actions based on the unease of interacting with different groups. My personal case in point occurred when I watched the “N-word Guy” episode of South Park with seven white guys. I kept laughing my ass off while the others nervously and repeatedly glanced at me,

subconsciously asking for permission to laugh at racial humor around a “black” man.

If not for stereotypes that admittedly help us associate with others — usually in a negative way — our group would have enjoyed a TV show together. Instead, the tension was palpable.

But it isn’t up to a judge to use his emotions to subvert the law. The decision to have children and acclimate them to the world ultimately lies in the hands of the parents who, by law (unless you’re gay), have a right to marry and raise children

regardless of race.

Judge Bardwell should resign his post and officially apologize to not only the couple (which, at the time of this writing, he still hasn’t done), but also his parish and our entire state for helping to shine the national spotlight on good old-fashioned Louisiana bigotry.

The hardships presented to biracial children are only in the eyes of those looking to classify groups of people by how they look instead of the content of their character.

When my mother rebelled against the traditional role of

assigning an arbitrary value to her children, she didn’t do it to start a problem or to be insubordinate.

She did it because she knows what her children are.

We’re both beautiful, café-aulait-colored Americans.

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

Contact Eric Freeman Jr. at efreeman@lsureveille.com

BEST AND WITTIEST

cartoon courtesy of KING FEATURES SYNDICATE

THE DAILY REVEILLE

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creativepreschoolbr.org/apply

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NOW HIRING P/ T Sales person for womens boutique in Mall of La. FUN JOB and GREAT PAY. Call Elizabeth 225 938 7242.

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For Rent OAKBROOK STUDIO FOR SUBLEASE Great apt, lots of amenities. Ready to move in. $700/mo rverre2@ lsu.edu 3 BR/2BA APT FOR RENT Jennifer Jean Reasonable 225.766.1896 MID SEMESTER SPECIAL 3BR/2BA CONDO IN GATED COMMUNITY, TILE, CARPET, W/ D, REFRIG, ENCL. GARAGE, GAS FP, SMALL PETS W/ FEE. LATTER & BLUM PROP. MGMT 225-297-7888 WALK TO CAMPUS 1Br, 2Br, and Townhomes. Starting as low as $400.00. www.lsuwestchimesplace. com 225.346.4789 FOR LEASE LAKE BEAU PRE TOWNHOMES 2BR/2.5BA $1250.00 Avail. NOW! Keyfinders Realty, Inc. 225-293-3000 www.keyfindersbr.com 1 BDR AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 1 $950/mo includes electric, cable & internet. All appliances are included! Gated community. across from city park. www.keyfindersbr.com 225.293.3000 225.293.3000 TIGER MANOR CONDOMINIUMS. UNITS READY FOR SPRING 2009! Reserve Now! Brand new 1, 2, & 3 bedrooms available. Reserve your unit today! Walk to class! 3000 July St. 225-346-5055. www.tigermanor.com Location. Location. Location... Start Living.

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Personals

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CONGRATS TO JESSICA & CODY! Your old coworkers at Student Media Advertising wish you a congratulations on your recent engagement. We wish you all the happiness life has to offer as you travel down the road of life as a couple. All our best!

PREGNANT? NEED HELP? kat.myra@gmail.com or 225-200-8003

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009

THE DAILY REVEILLE TRAFFICKING, from page 1

Shared Hope International’s 2008 “Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Report: Baton Rouge/New Orleans.”

Stripping, exotic dancing and prostitution may all be considered forms of sexual exploitation. “[Ages] 13, 14, 15 or 16 — they were sexually exploited and forced to prostitute, so by the time we encounter them years later, it looks like a chosen lifestyle,” LaBorde said.

LaBorde and Kaiser decided they needed to be part of the change they wanted to see in the world and began TAT with a 5k race in March to raise awareness for the cause.

LaBorde said there were 373 participants, and an estimated 80 percent were students. The race raised more than $10,000, all of which went to fight trafficking.

The group received official University student organization status in September, but its membership numbers are still tough to specify.

“We had about 23 show up to our first meeting,” LaBorde

said. “Our Facebook group, Tigers Against Trafficking, has about 1,200 members, but all of those are obviously not in Baton Rouge. And we have about 400 on the e-mail list.”

LaBorde and Kaiser also helped organize a 5k race, “Lions Against Trafficking,” at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond on Sept. 26 along with SELU’s chapter of Amnesty International. “[Trafficking] really is an issue that affects the margins of society and the invisible members of society, so people don’t know that it does happen in New Orleans or that it could be happening in Hammond or in Baton Rouge,” said Jason Granger, the student group coordinator for SELU’s student chapter of Amnesty International.

LaBorde also helped Julie Emerson, a friend from Lafayette, begin a Cajuns Against Trafficking club at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.

The Cajuns Against Trafficking will host a 5k on Nov. 20 in Lafayette, Emerson said.

Emerson and LaBorde both

PAGE 15 talked to students at other schools, including the universities of Florida and Kentucky and Oklahoma State University, about starting similar organizations.

“Another long-term goal is to really equip other students to address trafficking via their campuses,” LaBorde said.

TAT raises money for national and international anti-trafficking organizations. The group also tries to spread phone numbers on the streets, in strip clubs and at truck stops to give potential victims a contact for potential assistance.

“We spend countless hours, but we love what we’re doing,” Kaiser said. “My phone battery never makes it to 2 p.m. because it’s always vibrating, but I wouldn’t take it back. It’s so worth it.”

The organization’s next event is a “Be Their Freedom” concert and information session Oct. 29 at The Varsity Theatre in Baton Rouge.

Four bands will play at the concert that will be sponsored by several local and national companies. Tickets are $22. Proceeds will go toward fighting human trafficking.

Contact Jerit Roser at jroser@lsureveille.com

BLUEBERRIES, from page 1

especially with blueberries, are young and want to be able to find the things they want to know all the time,” she said. “They don’t want to wait to call an office at 8 in the morning.”

Some of the tools planned for the site include interactive maps with locations of blueberry producers and pictures to help identify problems with blueberry crops, Hummel said.

The AgCenter is also planning to use Second Life, a virtual online community, to develop blueberry growing simulation activities.

Krisanna Machtmes, associate professor and evaluator for organization development at the AgCenter, has used Second Life for her classes, and she will put together the Second Life part of All About Blueberries.

Users will be able to grow and sell blueberries in the program, giving them a realistic, interactive experience, Machtmes said. One example of the learning process would be for users to determine what is wrong with a failing crop. “[Users] might find some of the crops aren’t doing well, and it would be up to them to be scientists and figure out what’s wrong.” Machtmes said. “Is there not enough sun?

Are there problems with water consumption?”

The AgCenter is working with partners from Mississippi State, Auburn and North Carolina State universities, Hummel said. Information will be contributed to the site by people working in many disciplines, like nutritionists, evaluation specialists and agronomists.

The money from the grant will be divided among the project’s partners, but most of it will come to the AgCenter to fund a salary to hire a project coordinator, Hummel said.

Contact Ryan Buxton at rbuxton@lsureveille.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009

THE DAILY REVEILLE

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