Volume 123 · No. 15
Thursday, April 27, 2017
EST. 1887
lsunow.com
@lsureveille
thedailyreveille
dailyreveille
dailyreveille FACULTY
“ AFTER FOUR YEARS OF SITTING THROUGH LECTURES, I HAVE A FEELING YOU’RE NOT IN THE MOOD FOR ANOTHER ONE. ”
photos courtesy of WIKIMEDIA
2017
JOHN BEL EDWARDS LOUISIANA GOVERNOR
GEORGE W. BUSH | FORMER PRESIDENT
2008
BOBBY JINDAL FORMER LOUISIANA GOVERNOR
Surcharge proposed for tiger conservation
BY KATIE GAGLIANO @katie_gagliano 2004
GEORGE W. BUSH FORMER PRESIDENT
2001 courtesy of LSU MEDIA RELATIONS
GEORGE H. W. BUSH FORMER PRESIDENT
ONE FINAL LECTURE University has rich history of commencement speakers BY DENA WINEGEART | @DenaWinegeart As seniors approach their final week of classes, there is likely only one thing on their minds — walking across the stage and receiving their degrees. Before they can do that, however, graduates and guests will hear from Gov. John Bel Edwards as he delivers the keynote speech at the University’s 292nd commencement ceremony. The last time graduates heard from a Louisiana governor was in 2008, when former Gov. Bobby Jindal gave the commencement address soon after his election. However, over the past 291 commencement ceremonies, the University has invited a variety of speakers to deliver keynote addresses and offer graduates inspiration and encouragement for their post-college years. Among those speakers are many former presidents, state department officials and celebrities.
see COMMENCEMENT, page 14
2000
SHAQUILLE O’NEAL UNIVERSITY ALUMNUS
1994
JIMMY CARTER FORMER PRESIDENT
1992
LAURA BUSH FORMER FIRST LADY
1990
RONALD REAGAN FORMER PRESIDENT
An LSU Football ticket surcharge proposed in the Faculty Senate could benefit the Tigers’ namesake. Faculty Senate Resolution 17-04, sponsored by professor James Wilkins, the director of the Louisiana Sea Grant Law and Policy Program, proposed instituting a $1 surcharge on all LSU Football ticket sales to benefit tiger conservation. Wilkins said the proposal would allow the University to turn Mike’s captivity into an opportunity to preserve his species. Ethical debates over maintaining a live tiger mascot ignited after the death of Mike VI in October, when he was euthanized following a battle with spindle cell sarcoma. Several petitions began circulating online calling on the University to forego its live mascot tradition. As of now, the search for Mike VII is ongoing. Faculty Senate president Kevin Cope said the faculty wants to ensure that holding a tiger on campus promotes the wellbeing of tigers long-term and aligns with the University’s larger educational goals. Cope said he’s skeptical Mike’s current condition as a “gladiatorial spectacle” used to whip
see SURCHARGE, page 14
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
SG president, vice president look forward to new initiatives BY CJ CARVER @CWCarver_ The University celebrated inauguration day for LSU Student Government on April 17 with the induction of new Student Government president Jason Badeaux and vice president Leah Sanders. Following the induction, Badeaux and Sanders continued the work on initiatives they campaigned on throughout March. “We’ve just finished appointing all of our executive positions,” Badeaux said. “Our main focus right now … is finishing up the semester and the things we have going on this semester.” The last SG event planned
for this semester is the extended study hours in the LSU Student Union. Beginning April 26 and lasting until May 3, the Student Union will be open from 11 p.m. until 2 a.m., the product of an initiative from SG which was introduced last semester. In addition, the newly elected SG president and vice president have been working on furthering the initiatives discussed during their campaign. “Where we are now is working on some of the initiatives that we ran on and some of the other stuff in Student Government,” Badeaux said. “We are trying to optimize over the
see INDUCTION, page 14
Candidates listen as election results are announced on March 29 in the Live Oak Lounge in the Student Union.
JORDAN MARCELL /
The Daily Reveille