The Daily Reveille 09-27-2017

Page 1

@lsureveille

The Daily Reveille Est. 1887

Wednesday, September 27, 2017 INVESTIGATION

LSUPD searching for missing student

stately oaks

PHOTO BY DILYN STEWART

LSU ‘Endow an Oak’ program aims to preserve beauty of campus

BY ABBIE SHULL @AbbieLJ

STAFF REPORTS @lsureveille LSUPD is searching for University student Michael Nickelotte, Jr., 21, who was last seen by his roommate at the East Campus Apartments around 1 a.m. on Sept. 18. Nickelotte is approximately 6-foot-1, has blue eyes and a closecropped military style haircut according to LSUPD. The University sent out a broadcast email to all students and faculty on Sept. 21 asking for help locating Nickelotte, Jr. Michael’s father, Micahel Nickelotte, Sr., created a Facebook page called “Finding Michael Nickelotte, Jr.” in order to provide updates on the search. LSU Media Relations Director Ernie Ballard confirmed Tuesday the search for Nickelotte, Jr. was still underway.

Volume 125 · No. 6

lsunow.com

The Un ive r s it y ’s campus boasts many beautiful and historic features, but the Southern Live Oak trees have a rich history behind their beauty. The live oaks are viewed as a symbol of the Deep South. Each year, tourists come from far and wide to visit Louisiana’s oaks at historic plantations such as Oak Alley and Rosedown. The “stately oaks” are part of the University’s history, embedded in the campus and the alma mater. Working as the grounds and horticulture manager, as well as Assistant Director of Landscape Services, Fred Fellner is doing his part to maintain the “land” portion of the University’s Land, Sea and Space Grant status. Fellner, who completed a doctorate of philosophy in urban forestry at Southern University and A&M College in 2011, has been taking care of the Uni-

versity’s vast population of live oaks for 23 years. The LSU Foundation helps to provide the funds necessary for the upkeep of the oaks through the “Endow an Oak” program. Established in 1993, Endow an Oak helps to improve the wellbeing of more than 1,500 oak trees at the University. Fellner said while the endowments help to take care of the oaks, there’s room for improvement. “I think [the endowments bring in] 30,000 to 35,000 dollars per year, and I can provide complete plant healthcare on one tree and it can be 10 percent of that,” Fellner said. “Lightning protection costs $1,000 per tree. So, typically we’re solving problems with it but it doesn’t go that far.” Fellner said the endowments are gradually building each year, and hopes they can provide more assistance with the live oak protection in the future. The oak endowment program boasts over 300 donors who endow their chosen live oak tree for business, families, alumni and even

see LIVE OAK, page 6

courtesy of LSU MEDIA RELATIONS

LIFESTYLE

Barstat app streamlines nightlife experience

BY KATIE GAGLIANO @katie_gagliano fallen University veterans. Memorial Oak Grove, found just south of the LSU Student Union, had 31 trees dedicated in 1926 to past University students who died during World War I. One of the trees is dedicated to “The Unknown,” which stands for all missing or unidentified fallen service members. The saplings were donated by Edward A. McIlhenny, a Baton Rouge native and wellknown horticulturist. These days, an endowment runs anywhere from $4,000 for campus oaks to $50,000 for oaks on the Quad. Fellner estimates there are around 20 oaks on the LSU Parade Ground, which have all been endowed already. Each endowment is marked with a permanent bronze plaque near the base of the tree, and may be named for a donor or in memory of someone. Another endowment was made

It’s a common collegiate problem: you pay for your Uber, arrive at the bar and shell out money for cover, only to realize your friends bar hopped and the place is dead. The students behind the new nightlife app Barstat want to change that. First released for iOS on July 28, the student-targeted app allows bar patrons to more efficiently plan a night out, said programmer and chief technology officer Steven Wong. The computer science junior said the app allows users to compare specials and cover prices at venues in Tigerland and other popular University haunts, while simultaneously tracking which friends are at what bars. “This way you don’t have to creepily go out to other bars to check out where people are,” CEO and marketing senior Tirth Shah said. The idea for the app stemmed from a class project, said Wong, who has been developing the mobile app for over six months. After separating from his initial partners, Wong

see BARSTAT, page 6

FOOTBALL

Talent makes up for inexperience in LSU’s defensive secondary BY HANNAH MARTIN @hmartin_ A common theme that surrounds the LSU football team is being the ‘next man up’ — ready for whenever his number is called and ready to step up. For the defensive secondary, Eric Monroe is the newest ‘next man up’. The redshirt freshman out of Houston, Texas, stepped up in place of senior safety John Battle against Syracuse. Battle, the team’s starting safety, went down on the field with an undisclosed injury and did not enter the game again. Monroe recorded three tackles and could earn the start against Troy with Battle’s return being unknown. In the week of practice before the Syracuse game, senior

safety Ed Paris suffered a season ending knee injury, which initially gave Monroe an idea he would be rotating in with Battle. Monroe joined a young secondary with redshirt freshman Greedy Williams and true freshmen Grant Delpit and Kary Vincent Jr., leaving junior Donte Jackson as the inevitable leader, with his own ‘next man up’ experience two years ago. “Guys in that room are always ready when their number is called,” Jackson said. “It’s been like that since I got to LSU. Jalen Mills went down my freshman year and I had to step up right away and play against Mississippi State at Mississippi State.” With Battle and Paris out, the secondary is thin — a scary type of thin that coach Ed Orgeron addressed following the Syra-

cuse game. The good news is that while it is thin, there is still a lot of talent. Williams earned his first start this season, replacing junior Kevin Toliver who was suspended during the season opener against BYU. But with four starts under his belt, Williams is aware that other teams won’t try to avoid him just yet. “[The other teams] see a redshirt freshman,” Williams said. “It’s on my name. Teams are still going to try to test me because I’m a redshirt freshman. There is still more to come.” In four games, Williams has three interceptions and 19 tackles, third behind Battle and sophomore linebacker Devin White. This season in particular, it has been common to see

DILYN STEWART / The Daily Reveille

see DEFENSE, page 6

LSU freshman safety Grant Delpit (9) defends his team during the Tigers’ 35-26 win against Syracuse on Sept. 23.


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