Semester in Review

T HE DAILY R EVEILLE

SEMESTER IN REVIEW Monday, Dec. 8, 2008

Volume 113, Issue 68

KIM FOSTER / The Daily Reveille

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Nation & World

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WORLD NEWS

on the web

LSUREVEILLE.COM

FRIDAY’S POLL RESULTS

Who will win the SEC championship game on Saturday?

15%

85%

Florida Gators Alabama Crimson Tide

556 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THE POLL.

TODAY’S QUESTION:

What are you doing over the break?

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2008

McCain: Afghanistan situation will get harder

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Sen. John McCain said Sunday that the situation in Afghanistan will get more difficult before it gets easier — “just like the surge in Iraq was” — as the U.S. prepares to pour thousands more troops into the country, including on the doorsteps of Kabul. The former Republican presidential candidate, who is to report back to President-elect Barack Obama, visited the southern province of Helmand, where he said NATO forces are at a stalemate with insurgents. Though Helmand has for years been the responsibility of British forces, McCain said the U.S. will focus more on the region — the heartland of the Taliban movement and a center for opium poppy production.

GO TO LSUREVEILLE.COM TO CAST YOUR VOTE

Negotiators set for ‘tough’ North Korea nuclear talks

BEIJING (AP) — Japan’s top nuclear envoy joined other negotiators Sunday in downplaying expectations for a new round of talks on North Korea’s disarmament, saying it would be tough to work out a detailed plan for verifying the North’s past nuclear activities. North Korea — which conducted a nuclear test in 2006 — agreed last year to disable its reactor in exchange for aid. But the North recently denied having agreed to allow inspectors to take samples from its nuclear complex to verify its past activities.

NATION, STATE AND CITY BRIEFS

Los Angeles residents trade guns for eats

TODAY

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — A program to exchange guns for gifts has brought in a record number of weapons this year as residents hit hard by the economy look under the bed and in closets to find items to trade for groceries. The annual Gifts for Guns program wound down Sunday in Compton, a working class city south of Los Angeles that has long struggled with gun and gang violence. In a program similar to ones in New York and San Francisco, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department allows residents to anonymously relinquish firearms in return for $100 gift cards for Ralphs supermarkets, Target department stores or Best Buy electronics stores. Turning in assault rifles yields double that amount.

RIC FRANCIS / The Associated Press

Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy Jeff Gordon, right, and colleagues examine and process weapon on Sunday in Compton, Calif.

La. voters oust indicted Obama: Economy to get Rep. William Jefferson worse before it improves NEW ORLEANS (AP) — In a year when national Republican fortunes took a turn for the worse, Louisiana delivered the GOP two seats in Congress in elections delayed by Hurricane Gustav. Indicted Democratic U.S. Rep. William Jefferson was ousted Saturday from his New Orleans area district, while Republicans narrowly held on to the seat vacated by a retiring incumbent. The wins followed Republicans’ reconquest of another House seat earlier this fall that had been lost to Democrats.

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

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

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Barack Obama says the economy is going to get worse before it gets better. There are about six weeks before his inauguration and Obama says his top priority is to have an economic recovery plan that is equal to the task ahead. Obama also wants to make sure the domestic auto industry doesn’t disappear. But he says that if taxpayer money is at stake in a rescue plan, there must be some guarantee of a viable industry that emerges.

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Monday, December 8, 2008

PAGE 3

HURRICANE

Gustav left campus with more than $10M in damages EOC report still in its draft stage

By Kyle Bove Staff Writer

Hurricane Gustav left the Quad with uprooted trees, the University Student Recreation Complex saturated and some students in the dark for more than a week.

E s t i m a t e s Log on to see have the cost of footage of the University prop- storm and its erty damage aftermath. from Gustav at $10,011,740. The cost of University response efforts such as the PMAC, which served as a medical special needs shelter, is estimated at $2,752,812.

In the three months since Gustav made landfall, Univer-

sity officials have assessed and reassessed damage and are busy preparing for the future — all while students dealt with Saturday classes, a parish-wide curfew and a bizarre start to the football season.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR, FOOTBALL SEASON With students missing a week of class after Gustav hit Baton Rouge on Sept.

1, the Office of Academic Affairs and the University Emergency Operations Center announced several changes to the academic calendar Sept. 8.

Fall break, originally scheduled for Oct. 9 and 10, was canceled, and Saturday classes were scheduled to make up for lost

lsureveille.com

class time.

“We didn’t sign up for classes on Saturdays,” said Michael Hauck, construction management senior. “Saturday is my day to take care of my house and spend time with my family.”

Bizarre beginnings carried over to football season. The Aug. 30 game against Appalachian State University kicked off at an early 10 a.m. and the matchup against Troy scheduled for Sept.

6 was moved to Nov. 15.

EOC DRAFT REPORT Originally projected to be completed by mid-October, the Emergency Operations Center’s After Action Report is still in its draft stage.

D’Ann Morris, interim director of the EOC, compiled the report and presented the draft to the GUSTAV, see page 16

HANNAH-PIPER MOORE / The Daily Reveille

An oak tree dedicated in 1937 by the Baton Rouge Garden Club to Thomas D. Boyd fell during Hurricane Gustav.

ADMINISTRATION

Permanent replacements hired for Mulcahy’s classes Professor will return to duties Jan. 2009

By Leslie Presnall Staff Writer

The University hired permanent replacements to instruct Kevin Mulcahy’s political science classes after his arrest in September.

But James Stoner, political science department chair, said Mulcahy will return to his regular duties in the department beginning Jan. 2009.

“Professor Mulcahy is a respected, successful teacher, as well as a world-renowned scholar in his field,” Stoner said. “So, I am happy to have him back.”

Mulcahy, who has been at the University for 28 years, was arrested Sept. 4 for unauthorized entering of an inhabited dwelling and was

placed on paid administrative leave, effective the day of his arrest.

The case is still pending and is being reviewed by the prosecutor, according to the East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s office.

During the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav, Mulcahy was drinking with Eldon Birthwright, assistant English professor and a neighbor, outside Birthwright’s apartment.

Mulcahy was hit with the sudden urge to use the bathroom and abruptly walked inside Birthwright’s apartment, according to an affidavit.

Birthwright told police Mulcahy broke into his apartment and began taking off his clothes, while grabbing onto Birthwright’s housemate. Birthwright said this was a forced entry and at no point was Mulcahy invited into the apartment.

“He just had to get there or he would go to the bathroom all

over himself,” said Drew Louviere, Mulcahy’s lawyer. “I would say that throughout our culture in south Louisiana, most people would think it would be OK to walk in their host’s door and use their bathroom.”

Mulcahy is not aware that he came in contact with the housemate, but Birthwright held a butcher knife against Mulcahy’s throat, forcing him to leave the apartment, Louviere said.

“He went home and went to bed,” Louviere said. “He was just going to let it go like most people would.”

But Mulcahy was surprised when the Baton Rouge Police Department showed up at his home to arrest him and book him into a parish prison, Louviere said.

“It’s absolutely absurd that he was charged with this crime,” he said. “He is 60 plus years old and not

ELECTION

Election Day made history Nine of 64 parishes favored Obama

By Lindsey Meaux Staff Writer

Election Day 2008 is now a distant memory.

The historic election brought heated primaries, racial issues, record-breaking voting numbers, a Louisiana nearly united for Sen. John McCain and an African-American president-elect from Illinois, Barack Obama.

And as pre-election polls favored Obama for the presidency, Louisiana’s nine electoral votes went — as expected — to McCain, who received 1,147,603 votes, compared to Obama’s 780,981 votes.

But East Baton Rouge Parish

bucked the Louisiana trend with Obama’s 99,431 votes topping McCain’s 95,297. Only nine of 64 parishes favored Obama. East Baton Rouge Parish voted Republican in both the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections.

Louisiana, widely considered a

Republican state, elected Democratic incumbent Sen. Mary Landrieu to a third term in the U.S. Senate.

State voters elected Republican Bill Cassidy as congressman for Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District, removing Democratic ELECTION, see page 16

in any physical condition to pose as a threat to someone.”

Mulcahy may still face prosecution charges stemming from a misdemeanor incident two years ago.

Mulcahy was arrested and charged of being a peeping Tom on Sept. 15, 2006.

A University student said Mulcahy followed him to his apartment as he walked home, leading to an investigative probe by the University and his placement on paid administrative leave.

The alleged incidents that resulted in administrative leave did not involve behavior related to the classroom, Stoner said.

The prosecutors didn’t move forward with the case, and Mulcahy was not convicted then, Louviere said.

But more than two years later, the case is still open, and City Pros-

ecutor Art Boudreaux said he is in no hurry to close the case. Mulcahy was required to go to treatment and remain alcohol-free before a decision was made to move forward with the case.

Contact Leslie Presnall at lpresnall@lsureveille.com

THE DAILY REVEILLE

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2008

ADMINISTRATION

PAGE 5

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Martin Robertson still working through push card initiatives completes New also added first semester

By Katie Kennedy Staff Writer

By J.J. Alcantara Chief Staff Writer

The end of the fall semester also marks the end of Chancellor Michael Martin’s first semester at the University.

And four months later, Martin is looking forward to continuing what he began this fall.

Martin assumed the duties of the University’s top position Aug. 1 after a highly criticized search process.

Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope issued a report following Martin’s May 20 visit to the campus saying the Chancellor Search Committee “lacked transparency and due deliberation.”

Martin, former president of New Mexico State University, was the only applicant the committee decided to pursue after reviewing eight other applications, and the LSU Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Martin during a June 5 meeting.

During his first month, Martin focused on two primary objectives — figuring out how the campus works and what the University community wants the institution to be.

Then came an unexpected challenge — Hurricane Gustav.

Gustav struck the Gulf Coast on Sept. 1 as a Category 2 hurricane, ravaging Baton Rouge as it plowed through the state.

Although Martin previously experienced a hurricane’s effect on a college campus while at the University of Florida, he said Sept. 5 that Gustav was his first that disabled the core campus.

“The good thing about being a new person is to see this from a perspective that some of you, who have been through this before, may not be able to see,” Martin said. “We have suffered a fairly major natural disaster. It’s remarkable that we’re able to crank it up and go ahead.”

But Martin was able to survive, and he continued his work to improve the University to its fullest potential.

In a Nov. 14 Daily Reveille article, Martin said he wanted the University to focus its efforts in areas where the institution can show its expertise, such as coastal restoration, disaster management and social work.

“Some day somewhere in the world, when someone faces a problem, their first response is going to be, ‘Let’s call LSU,’” Martin said about the importance of global recognition to the University.

Martin said his focus now is to become a strong player in the University’s external environment, where he can persuade public policy makers to invest more in higher education.

Contact J.J. Alcantara at jalcantara@lsureveille.com

Halfway through Student Government President Colorado Robertson and Vice President Shannon Bates’ term in office, Robertson says he is still checking things off his to-do list while adding new initiatives at the same time.

“You can’t just look at the push-card,” Robertson said.

“We’ve been accomplishing other things, too. We should be breaking ground on the class gift over the winter break, and the marketing campaign for that will begin in the spring.”

Robertson said he has also been able to save students money through the process of the Student Required Fee Advisory Committee.

“We’ve been counting how much money we saved,” Robertson said. “Last year, they approved fees that were higher than the ones we approved. Some of that was because of higher enrollment numbers, but some of that is because we pushed for lower fees.”

Robertson said he’s also especially proud of Middleton Library’s new extended hours. The library is open until 2 a.m., rather than closing at midnight.

SG has been able to extend Campus Transit hours, establish a bus complaint hotline, open additional student access gates for football games and get debit and credit cards accepted in the Student Union Tiger Lair, Highland Dining and 459 Commons.

He has also been able to extend Outtakes’ hours, and hot chocolate and doughnuts will be passed out in front of the library during finals week.

Robertson said he is still working to improve campus lighting.

“That was started with the lighting walk [Oct. 21],” Robertson said. “They’ve been fixing the lights we found to be broken on the lighting walking and they’ve added new ones. We’re starting on the lighting corridors.”

Robertson said his biggest initiative, the 9 percent tax exemption on all textbooks, is proving to be the most time-consuming objective, but he’s making progress.

“We’ve started our meetings with members of the [Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council] and the School Board president,” Robertson said. “We’ve had conversations with all the entities that have taxing authority. And we’re working on our economic impact study to see how students contribute to their community.”

Robertson said the study results should be ready by the spring semester.

SG’s plan to revamp the bus system is well under way, Robertson said.

“The request for proposals

by Mitch [Skyer, the Universityhired bus consultant] has been completed, so the bidding process is about to begin,” Robertson said. “We will have a new bus contract in place for next year. It includes more efficient routes and an expansion of routes, based on the results of the surveys.”

Plans are also in the works to increase the bus system’s operating hours from 29,000 to 37,000 a year — just 2,000 hours shy of what the bus system operated at before the cuts were made. Robertson said students can expect to see these changes during the spring semester.

One well-received campaign promise, emergency rain ponchos, will be accomplished shortly.

“They’ll be here soon — and by soon — I mean as long as it takes them to get here from China,” Robertson said in an interview with The Daily Reveille on Oct. 14.

But Robertson said the ponchos had to be re-ordered and will be in before the beginning of the spring semester.

Robertson said insurance issues continue to delay the process to bring a farmer’s market to campus.

“We’re still stuck on the issue of insurance,” Robertson said. “We’re trying to figure out the cost of insurance so we can pass that on the farmers.”

SG is working to change the current hour-based withdrawal policy to one based on year classification.

Meghan Hanna, Academics, Athletics and Administration Committee chairwoman, said the SG W committee has been gathering data since early September to form their proposal.

“We want to allow three Ws to be used at students’ discretion for their first two years,” Hanna said. “Then three Ws for the next two years, and one W for the remaining years.”

Hanna said after looking at other Tier One and flagship universities, the W committee latched on to University of Florida’s W policy.

Contact Katie Kennedy at kkennedy@lsureveille.com

PAGE 6

THE DAILY REVEILLE

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2008

UNION

Officials looking at early February for Union openings Difficulties have kept contractors behind

By Adam Duvernay Contributing Writer

After months of broken promises and altered deadlines, Student Union officials are telling students they will have to continue being patient as final touches to Phase I of the construction process are finished.

Though Union officials are still looking for an early spring semester opening, they no longer expect new facilities to be open for the beginning of the semester. The much altered deadline now favors late January or early February over the previously announced date at the beginning of the spring semester.

Though there have been no new drastic delays since deadlines were last reported, officials and contractors have been forced to extend the time frame for completion of the first phase. Past difficulties have kept contractors consistently behind.

During the long course of construction, students and administrators have become frustrated with the delays keeping the process behind schedule. While there is a long list of details explaining the delays, the most consistently cited explanation is the sheer size and complexity of the workload.

“We all underestimated how complicated the project would be,” said Ken Bueche, Union associate director.

Because the Union has remained open throughout the construction process, concerns for student safety have made it impossible to open new pieces of the building while others are still being renovated.

Before the new student common area on the first floor, the Live Oak Lounge, can be opened, three new exits must be finished to facilitate fire code regulations related to the increase in maximum human capacity that comes with the new facilities. Without these new exits, the fire marshal will not approve the opening of any new pieces of the Union.

“It is very difficult to get a fire marshal to bless just portions of even a new building,” said Randy Roussell, Union project engineer. “At the end of the day, it’s the fire marshal we have to deal with.”

Though there has been progress getting the exits completed this semester, the steel door-frames still must be fireproofed, the glass window-walls need to be installed and the concrete paths leading to the doors are only partially poured.

“The contractors are pretty stressed out,” Bueche said. “There is a lot of pressure on them to get the Live Oak Lounge open, so they’re pushing pretty hard for it.”

MEGAN J. WILLIAMS / The Daily Reveille

The deadline for the construction in the Student Union has been moved from the middle of November to the beginning of January.

Since the beginning of construction almost two years ago, difficulties with the building’s air handling system have been the most serious roadblocks to progress.

Of the original 30 air handling units in the building, all but three will have to be removed and replaced before the end of construction. Inconsistencies with the original blueprints and the actual location of many air ducts have also slowed the contractors’ progress.

“I’m surprised they could even build this building with the original blueprints,” said Joe Jody, Union project manager and director for quality control for Grace and Herbert Architects.

Though original plans for Phase I did not call for a complete overhaul of the building’s air handling system this early in the construction process, this semester’s delays may cut construction time further down the line.

The constant movement of deadlines has irritated students already cynical of the construction process. Questions have been raised about the competency of the contractors and their commitment to the project.

“I still believe the contractors can do more to get this project done sooner and better,” said Student Government President Colorado Robertson. “I’ve talked with the administration, and they are disgruntled with

the contractors, too.”

But some Union officials were ready to defend the contractors and the work they have done. While no one is satisfied with missed deadlines and revised schedules, many of the delays were unforeseeable and had to be dealt with as they arose.

“As far as I can tell, they’ve

been doing everything they can to get construction moving along,” Bueche said. “It was just a very complicated project.”

Contact Adam Duvernay at aduvernay@lsureveille.com

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Sports

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2008

FOOTBALL

PAGE 7

Tigers headed to Atlanta for Chick-fil-A Bowl LSU, Ga. Tech face off December 31

By Rachel Whittaker & Amy Brittain Sports Contributor & Chief Sports Writer

A week of speculation concluded Sunday with the expected announcement that LSU (7-5, 3-5 SEC) will face Associated Press No. 14 Georgia Tech (9-3, 5-3 ACC) in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on Dec. 31 in Atlanta.

“We felt like it was the Chickfil-A bowl all along after the game in Little Rock,” said LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva.

Alleva said LSU has already sold about 10,000 of its 15,000 bowl tickets allotment. The tickets

were available before fans knew the bowl destination.

“We have the best fans in America, and our fans will come and support these kids,” Alleva said.

“We’re very fortunate to be going to a great venue and a great city. I’m very confident that our fans will come out and support this team.”

LSU senior linebacker Darry Beckwith said he’s eager to get back on the practice field Dec. 14 in preparation for Georgia Tech’s triple option offensive attack, which averaged 282 rushing yards per game this season.

“You have to be very disclipined,” he said of the offense. “If you mess up on one area or slip on one gap, they can [score] a touchdown. You have to be really in-tune

and really focused on what’s your responsiblity.”

LSU’s trip to Atlanta will be the Tigers’ second Chick-fil-A Bowl in four seasons. LSU beat Miami, 40-3, in the 2005 game.

Bowl destination aside, the 2008 season has been unlike any other since coach Les Miles arrived in Baton Rouge.

The debut of a true freshman quarterback, five conference losses and the biggest comeback in school history are just a few story lines that made this season so uncharacteristic under Miles.

LSU finished unranked in the polls at the end of the regular season for the first time in Miles’ tenure, FOOTBALL, see page 11

JARED P.L. NORMAND / The Daily Reveille

LSU junior running back Charles Scott drags Troy defensive lineman Dion Gales during the Tigers’ homecoming game Nov. 15 against the Trojans.

Not Your Average Joe

Alleva talks football, fan disappointment as he reflects on his first semester at LSU

By Amy Brittain Chief Sports Writer

New LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva weathered quite a few challenges in his first semester.

The first came in the form of a Category 2 hurricane rolling into Baton Rouge.

Hurricane Gustav presented early challenges, such as the postponement of the Troy football game and damage to several athletic facilities.

But Alleva, who left his post at Duke for the LSU position, said the experience made his staff closer and strengthened his bond with football coach Les Miles.

It’s a bond Alleva is glad to have, especially after Miles and the Tigers struggled through a five-loss regular season.

“It’s gone by unbelievably fast,” he said of the first semester.

“Obviously I’m not really pleased with the fact that we lost five football games. But it’s been really fun.”

With fan criticism intensifying, Alleva is working with Miles to identify any coaching staff changes that could be made. Codefensive coordinators Bradley Dale Peveto and Doug Mallory are rumored to be under high pressure after the defense’s performance this season.

“I discuss with him my thoughts, and he’ll discuss with me his thoughts,” Alleva said.

“We’ll be doing that here in the near future. We’ll see where we’re going to go.”

Upon his arrival at LSU, Alleva said he planned to wait one

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Tigers start off season 6-0

By Robert Stewart Sports Writer

good ideas on where we’re going.”

He wouldn’t elaborate on

The semester may be complete, but the season is just starting for the LSU men’s basketball team.

The Tigers are off to a 6-0 start, their first since the 2003-2004 season.

LSU men’s basketball coach Trent Johnson has energized the Tigers in his first season in Baton Rouge after a 13-18 record last season.

Johnson led Stanford and Nevada to the Sweet 16 and won 159 games in nine seasons before his first at LSU. He has amped up the Tigers’ defense this season, pushing them to second in the Southeastern Conference in scoring defense at 58 points per game as of Thursday.

Johnson said his team prides itself on defense.

“It has to be our identity, rebounding and taking care of the ball,” Johnson said. “Good teams, that’s their identity.”

The players have bought into Johnson’s defensive focus — they preach defense at every media session and after every game.

“That’s what wins championships,” said junior forward Tasmin Mitchell. “I know we haven’t won a championship yet, but I think we’re well on our way on to one.”

Mitchell has returned to the starting lineup for the Tigers after missing last season with a left shin

ALLEVA, see page 11

JOHNSON, see page 12

MAGGIE BOWLES / The Daily Reveille

LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva addresses reporters in September about the looming threat of Hurricane Ike. Alleva is winding up his first semester at LSU after spending 10 years as Duke’s athletic director.

year before making any personnel changes within the Athletic Administration Building. As of Tuesday, he stood by that estimate.

“I’ve been learning a lot,”

he said. “I tried to take this first semester and learn by evaluating our personnel and evaluating our facilities. I’m really pleased with where we are, and I’ve got some

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 8

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2008

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Lady Tigers look inward for improvement during break Team begins conference play Jan. 8

By Casey Gisclair Sports Writer

Rarely is LSU women’s basketball coach Van Chancellor at a loss for words.

But when the Lady Tigers’ Hall of Fame coach was asked what his team would try to improve during LSU’s two week break from game competition, Chancellor had a simple answer.

“How many pieces of paper do you have to write this down?”

Chancellor said with a smile. “You can write anything ... because there isn’t anything that we don’t need to work on.”

The main point of emphasis for the Lady Tigers during the break will likely be correcting the offensive inconsistencies that have plagued the team this season.

Chancellor said dealing with the youth of this year’s team is unlike any other challenge he has ever faced in his career.

“In my age and time in coaching, I thought I’d experienced everything,” Chancellor said. “I’ve coached everything you can coach except junior college basketball ...

And I thought I was ready for everything, but this season proves one thing, and that’s that an old dog can learn new tricks every day.”

LSU has had many high points this season, including the team opening first-half leads against ranked opponents Notre Dame and Xavier.

But the Lady Tigers have also had an equal number of low points, including losses against Middle Tennessee State and the first half of Monday’s win against Texas Southern when LSU held just a six-point lead.

“There’s no excuse for the way we played,” said freshman point guard Destini Hughes following Monday’s game. “We weren’t playing with much intensity or effort. We knew we were playing bad and had to pick it up in the second half.”

The Lady Tigers did pick up their intensity level in the second half to secure a 31-point win, the best half the team has played all season according to Chancellor.

“That second half is where we have to be,” he said.

LSU’s best half may have come at the right time as the Lady Tigers’ schedule will begin to toughen up during the winter break.

The Lady Tigers will play away from the PMAC for the first time this season Dec. 20 against Centenary and will play outside of the state for the first time on Jan. 3 to take on No. 1 Connecticut.

LSU also will open conference play on the road Jan. 8 against Arkansas.

Junior guard Allison Hightower said playing tough competition before the stretch run of the season will aid the young Lady Tigers in conference play.

“It definitely helps,” she said.

“As long as we get better every day, that’s all we can do. It’s definitely

‘‘

‘As long as we get better every day, that’s all we can do.’

Allison Hightower LSU junior guard

going to help us in the long run.”

But for the time being, LSU is preparing for the next time they take the floor Dec. 15 against Louisiana Tech.

Chancellor said even with two full weeks to prepare for the Lady Techsters, his primary focus is on the Lady Tigers.

“About the only thing I know about [Louisiana Tech] is that they have a team,” he said. “We are more concentrated on our team getting better.”

BEN BOURGEOIS / The Daily Reveille

Contact Casey Gisclair at cgisclair@lsureveille.com

LSU sophomore guard Katherine Graham attempts to pass the ball Nov. 16 during the Lady Tigers’ 62-53 loss to Notre Dame in the PMAC. LSU has eight games scheduled for winter break.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2008

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 9

VOLLEYBALL

Tigers overcome obstacles to reach postseason Three players earn SEC honors

By Andy Schwehm Sports Contributor

The LSU volleyball team’s season ended Friday with an NCAA tournament loss to No. 14 UCLA. The first-round exit was just the last stop in a topsy-turvy, roller coaster season.

The season started off with a lot more downs than ups.

The Tigers saw arguably their best player in senior outside hitter Marina Skender go down to an ACL tear in spring practice.

LSU then had to play its first nine matches on the following Hurricane Gustav’s destruction to Baton

Rouge and the surrounding areas, compiling a 5-4 record during the month-long road trip that had the team on the road at one point for 10-straight days.

After finally getting to play a few home matches, the Tigers encountered another disaster when they lost Preseason All-Southeastern Conference Team member junior middle blocker Lauren DiGirolamo in a home match against Ole Miss.

“Lauren is a huge loss,” said LSU coach Fran Flory after the match. “She’s been our stabilizing force in the middle for the last three years.”

The Tigers had trouble finding their rhythm after DiGirolamo’s injury, going only 5-4 in their next nine matches without the junior.

“It started off good, but then it kind of got cloudy for me for a sec-

‘‘

‘It got kind of cloudy for me for a second because everyone was getting hurt.’

Kyna Washington

LSU senior outside hitter

ond because everyone was getting hurt,” said LSU senior outside hitter Kyna Washington. “I was like, ‘No!’ But, you know, you have to pick it up and let it go. What happens, happens.

You have to make the best of it.”

And the team began to make the best of the situation, going on a sixmatch winning streak to finish out the season at 18-9, 13-7 SEC, and wrap up a spot in the NCAA tournament.

SOCCER

Lee ‘happy’ with team progress Rutledge gets postseason SEC award

By David Helman Sports Contributor

For LSU soccer coach Brian Lee, 2008 will serve as one more brick in a rapidly developing construction job.

LSU finished the 2003 and 2004 seasons last in the Southeastern Conference prior to Lee’s arrival. Four seasons later, the Tigers are coming off back-to-back SEC Western Division titles and finished 2008 with a best-ever No. 2 conference ranking.

“We’re satisfied and happy with the progress,” Lee said. “We reached the top 25 and spent some time in the top 10. Finishing second in the SEC is a big step as well.”

The Tigers also advanced to the NCAA tournament for only the second time in 2008. Following a second round appearance in 2007, LSU qualified for the second-consecutive season before falling, 3-2, to Washington in the opening round.

“Probably the only disappointment is the early exit,” Lee said. “It never really goes away. We want this program to compete in the Final Four. It was a tough game against Washington, and it will be great motivation for the next eight months.”

The Tigers’ groundbreaking regular season somewhat offsets the early exit.

LSU spent 11-straight weeks ranked in at least one poll and achieved a best-ever ranking of

No. 9 on the way to a 14-4-2 record.

LSU entered the SEC tournament as the No. 2 seed, its highest in history.

A big factor in the Tigers’ success was the emergence of junior

midfielder Malorie Rutledge.

Rutledge led the conference in scoring with nine goals and 18 SOCCER, see page 12

“Fran has always been someone that has prepared us to be adaptable,” said senior libero Elena Martinez.

“She has been a coach that has prepared us to face adversity along the way, and we faced our fair share of it this year, but we have worked really hard to not allow it to faze us.”

Flory was impressed with the way the team — especially her two seniors — handled the tough situations throughout the season.

“The best leaders of it have been Elena and Kyna,” Flory said.

“This is supposed to be the year we had a best chance if we had Marina and if we had L.D. and we had all the pieces put together to have a shot at winning the overall SEC. But then the pieces started to fall apart. Very easily, those two could have easily mailed it in and said, ‘Forget it.’ But they didn’t.

“They are true kids. They are true to the program, true to themselves and true to their teammates and this staff.”

Three Tigers were also awarded SEC honors at the end of the regular season.

Senior libero Elena Martinez was named Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year and Second Team All-SEC. Junior middle blocker Brittnee Cooper was named First Team AllSEC. Freshman middle blocker Michele Williams was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. She was one of two unanimous selections to the team.

Contact Andy Schwehm at aschwehm@lsureveille.com

PAGE 10

THE DAILY REVEILLE

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2008

TENNIS

RECRUITING

Fall is busy time for signing Tennis wraps up strong semester Football has 21 commitments

By Tyler Harvey Sports Contributor

Recent months have been a busy time on the recruiting trail, from the endless drama of college football recruiting to early signing days for other sports.

But what else can you expect when high school student-athletes are deciding where they want to spend the next few years of their life?

In football, LSU coach Les Miles and his staff are putting together what, on paper, could be one of LSU’s best recruiting classes in history. Despite a 7-5 record and possible coaching changes, the staff is building a class that is currently ranked No. 3 in the nation by Rivals.com.

The Tigers have 21 verbal commitments, including two five-star players in quarterback Russell Shepard (Houston) and defensive tackle Chris Davenport (Mansfield). The Tigers are also in the hunt for several top prospects like five-star wide receiver Rueben Randle (Bastrop), wide receiver Andre Debose (Sanford, Fla.), linebacker Jarvis Jones (Columbus, Ga.) and Alabama verbal commit Trent Richardson (Pensacola, Fla.).

Additionally, five-star safety prospect Craig Loston is considered by many, including ESPN, as either an LSU commit or a strong lean after telling both his coach and his cousin, Shepard, that he will likely sign with the Tigers.

Loston is rated as the top safety prospect in the nation by Rivals. com.

Other Tiger football commits for fans to keep an eye out for include cornerback Janzen Jackson (Barbe), rated as the top defensive back in Louisiana, and running back Michael Ford, who broke Leesville’s individual game rushing record as well as the record for rushing yards in a season set by Cecil Collins. Ford rushed 340 times for 2,953 yards and 29 touchdowns during his senior season, averaging more than eight yards a carry.

In men’s basketball, coach Trent Johnson’s two signees, Aaron Dotson (Seattle) and Eddie Ludwig (Metairie) are finishing up their senior years and trying to lead their team to their respective state titles.

Johnson said he expects both players to be able to contribute early on.

“They’re both going to have to contribute as freshman, that’s why we recruited them,” Johnson said. “Both Eddie and Aaron know their coming into a situation where, because of how they are as kids and people and academically and as players, they have a chance to make an immediate impact, and we need them to do that.”

Baseball coach Paul Mainieri and his staff were also able to sign 11 top prospects during the early

signing period. Two of those players, pitchers Mitch Morman (Des Moines Area Community College) and Brett Bruening (Grayson Junior College) were already drafted in June.

“Of course, it’s kids who’ve already been drafted, you certainly worry about them, but we also have four players that we signed that are in the top 100 high school players in the country,” Mainieri said. “And certainly those kids are a risk, but if you can keep them, you end up with a really good recruiting class.”

There is no doubt the high school standouts will receive interest from MLB scouts and will be intrigued by the draft. If they avoid the temptation of a signing bonus and end up on campus, Mainieri will add instant fire power to a team that made the College World Series last season.

Volleyball coach Fran Flory

was able to sign two players in the early signing period with the addition of Madie Jones (Plano, Texas) and Ally Judkins (Houston).

“With their level of experience and athleticism they are probably one of the best classes we have brought in since Kyna [Washington] and Elena [Martinez in 2004] in terms of their national experience prior to stepping into the college ranks,” Flory said.

LSU women’s basketball coach Van Chancellor received national letters of intent from four players: Bianca Lutley (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Adrienne Webb (Sparkman, Ala.), Jasmine Nelson (Trinity Valley Community College) and transfer Erica Williams (Southern Miss).

Contact Tyler Harvey at tharvey@lsureveille.com

By Amos Morale Sports Contributor

The men’s tennis team saw one of its own become one of the nation’s top players. Michael Venus wrapped up the fall semester with a 7-1 singles record, including a victory against the nation’s top player, Oleksandr Nedovyesov, to capture the D’Novo All-American Tennis Championship.

Venus became the first LSU player ever to capture the title.

“LSU has had many great players in the history of the program,” LSU coach Jeff Brown said in a news release shortly after Venus’ win. “For Michael to be the first to win speaks to both the prestige of the tournament and to his level of play,” LSU’s women’s tennis team also experienced a first. A doubles team of Megan Falcon and Mykala

Hedburg went on to the Wilson/ITA Southwest Regional Tournament doubles championship, the first under coach Tony Minnis.

Both teams still have heavy competition ahead of them with a difficult Southeastern Conference schedule in the spring. The men face several top-10 teams in their nonconference schedule.

“We want everybody to maximize what they have,” Brown said.

“Not everybody is gonna play No. 1 on this team, but if you’re the best No. 6, that is just as important. If your the best No. 4 we’re just looking for everybody to do things that are going to make them as goods as they can possibly be and have no regrets.”

Contact Amos Morale at amorale@lsureveille.com

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2008 FOOTBALL, from page 7

and disappointment and uncertainty surrounded the team and coaching staff as they waited for their bowl destination Sunday.

“It feels like a wasted season because we had our chances,” junior wide receiver Brandon LaFell said before the Nov. 28 Arkansas game.

The season even began with uncertainty for LSU, as Hurricane Gustav threatened the Baton Rouge area the week of the Tigers’ opener against Appalachian State.

Fears of the impact of Gustav prompted the game to be moved to 10 a.m. instead of the original 4 p.m. start.

But loyal fans in Tiger Stadium who braved the August heat saw LSU roll to a 41-13 win against the Mountaineers behind quarterbacks Andrew Hatch and Jarrett Lee and a career-high rushing performance by junior running back Charles Scott.

“I felt very comfortable. It was good to get out on the field,” Hatch said after the game. “We had some good drives going, and we got points on the board. We were quick, which was very good ... I just felt really good about the first game.”

After postponing the Troy game to Nov. 15 and a 41-3 blasting of North Texas, LSU began its Southeastern Conference schedule at Auburn.

Hatch and Lee continued leading the LSU offense, but the ingame transition between the two quarterbacks came to a sudden halt

ALLEVA, from page 7 specific changes that may be coming within his staff.

“I don’t want to say anything right now,” he said. “Let’s just wait and see.”

Another potential change involves student seating in Tiger Stadium. Alleva said he was disappointed an average of 3,673 students who paid for tickets but did not show up to each game. He said he may discuss the elimination of some student seats.

The most poorly attended game of the season was the Troy game, where the stadium’s actual attendance was just 58,125. The student section was just 47 percent full.

“My biggest surprise is probably the fans, from a positive and a negative standpoint,” he said. “I think we have absolutely great fans. We have tremendous fans. But I was disappointed with the fact that our fans sometimes booed our players and left games early sometimes or didn’t come to games.”

Alleva is now transitioning into basketball season and hopes to see more Tiger fans at the men’s and women’s games. But he’s quick to correct a faulty guess that basketball is his favorite sport.

Alleva claims it’s a common assumption that a former Atlantic Coast Conference athletic director would always prefer basketball.

“I like watching every single sport,” he said. “I like them all.

You’ll see me at tennis matches when tennis starts.”

Contact Amy Brittain at abrittain@lsureveille.com

THE DAILY REVEILLE

in the third quarter when Hatch went down with a concussion.

Lee entered the game and did not start well, going 0-for-5 with an interception returned for a touchdown. Lee would go on to tally seven pick-sixes this season.

But Miles praised Lee’s effort in bringing LSU back from a 14-3 halftime deficit, and rewarded him with the starting job against Mississippi State.

LaFell also emerged as Lee’s favorite target. LaFell caught the game-winning touchdown against Auburn and finished the regular season with 903 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.

After an LSU bye week, thenNo. 11 Florida humbled then-No. 4 LSU with a 51-21 blowout in Gainesville.

LSU’s conference woes continued against Georgia and Alabama at home. The Georgia game was another blowout, 52-38, and Hatch suffered a lower leg injury.

LSU made a valiant comeback effort against Alabama, as defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois blocked a 29-yard game-winning field goal attempt, sending the game into overtime and Tiger Stadium into a

frenzy.

But Jarrett Lee threw his fourth interception of the afternoon in the extra period, and Alabama scored the winning touchdown three plays later. The defeat left the team and the fans deflated.

Not many would have thought the biggest comeback in LSU football history would have come against Troy. But that’s exactly what happened Nov. 15 when thenNo. 19 LSU fell behind 31-3, in the third quarter.

But in front of a half-full Tiger Stadium on a frigid night, LSU scored 37 unanswered points to come away with a victory and build what they hoped would be good momentum heading into the final two games.

“They played their tails off,” Miles said. “I’m proud of them.

That certainly was not the recipe for victory we prescribed, but victory is sweet, and I promise you our football team is enjoying it at this moment.”

LSU ended its season with its first consecutive losses since 2001, including its first defeat by Ole Miss since that season.

However, LSU fans had some-

PAGE 11

ALEX BOND / The Daily Reveille

LSU freshman cornerback Patrick Peterson pauses in the end zone after Arkansas scored a go-ahead touchdown Nov. 28 in the Tigers’ 31-30 loss to the Razorbacks.

thing to be excited about when true freshman Jordan Jefferson took the field in relief of Lee, who went down with an ankle injury against Ole Miss. He threw his first career touchdown and earned the starting job against Arkansas.

“The good news is that Jordan Jefferson played well,” Miles said after Jefferson went 9-for-21 for 143 yards and two touchdowns against Arkansas. “He gave us something that we needed.”

The team’s 31-30 loss has brought about rumors of impending coaching changes.

“I’m just going to operate from the premise that there are going to be some adjustments made, without question,” Miles said. “First and foremost, attitude. First and foremost, doing the right things.”

Contact The Daily Reveille sports staff at sports@lsureveille.com

PAGE 12 SOCCER, from page 9 assists, giving her 36 points on the season. Her efforts earned her first team All-SEC and second team AllAmerican honors.

At season’s end, Rutledge was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year — the first LSU player to earn the award.

Senior forward Roslyn Jones finished her LSU career with another personal best in scoring. Jones finished 2007 as the team’s most dynamic scoring threat with seven goals. In her final collegiate season ,she eclipsed that mark, tying Rutledge as the Tigers’ leading scorer with nine goals.

“It’s absolutely great producing for my team,” Jones said. “I would have liked to see my team get further, but this is another learning season for the girls.”

JOHNSON, from page 7

injury.

He has averaged 11.8 points and 6.8 rebounds in six games this season and said he is completely back and ready for the long season.

“I feel 100 percent right now,” Mitchell said.

One thing that has stayed the same from last season is senior guard Marcus Thornton’s scoring.

Thornton has picked up where he left off last season, when he was the Southeastern Conference’s second-leading scorer with 19.6 points per game.

He has scored 20 or more points in three of LSU’s six games

THE DAILY REVEILLE Veterans weren’t the only ones making an impact on the 2008 season. The early arrival of freshman goalkeeper Mo Isom in the spring proved to pay dividends in the Tigers’ season.

Isom started at keeper in all of LSU’s games. She shut out seven opponents and amassed 74 saves with just 17 goals allowed. Isom also added a 93-yard goal, her only score of the season, from her own penalty box in a 4-1 win against BYU. The Tigers now turn their attention to 2009. Lee and his staff plan to recruit through the Christmas holidays, and the team begins its spring schedule next semester. LSU has played a rigorous spring schedule during Lee’s tenure, and 2009 promises to be no different, with exhibitions against Texas and Texas A&M. The 2008 team loses just three seniors — Jones, midfielder Casey

Crawford and goalkeeper Jackie Moseley and returns nine of 11 starters.

The Tigers also gain two key players who sat out the 2008 season. Redshirt sophomore midfielder Taryn Boudreau will return to the team after a trip to the FIFA U-20 World Cup during the fall, and former Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year Courtney Alexander will be eligible to play after sitting out a season following her transfer from Southeast Missouri State.

If these are any indicators, 2008 won’t be the Tigers’ last trip to the top 10.

“It’s no fluke. This program has improved tremendously since I got here,” Jones said. “[Lee] is not going to settle for anything but a great program, especially here at LSU.”

and is averaging a team-leading 17.2 points per game this season.

“I’m feeling better in the offense,” Thornton said. “The offense is designed to get people open shots. We’re just running it to perfection.”

It appeared long before the season started that senior Garrett Temple would retain his starting point guard spot from a year ago.

But sophomore Bo Spencer has started every game at the position, averaging 12 points and 2.5 assists per game.

Spencer made headlines in the first game this season against Jackson State with a career-high 21-point performance.

But his scoring performance has leveled off since the Jackson State contest.

Spencer’s best output since then is 13 points — once against Troy on Nov. 30, and the other against Cal State Fullerton on Dec. 2.

He said he isn’t expecting to light up the scoreboard every night.

“I expect to be a point guard, to be a playmaker,” Spencer said. “If it happens that I score 21 [points] every night, if I score 10 [points] every night, if I score five [points] every night, it’s just whatever’s good to get a [win].”

Temple is now playing alongside Spencer at shooting guard, leading the team in assists at 4.2 per

Contact David Helman at dhelman@lsureveille.com

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2008

EMMET BROWN / The Daily Reveille

Junior forward Rachel Yepez takes a shot in the Tigers’ 2-1 loss to Florida on Oct. 24 at home. LSU won its second straight western division title this season.

game.

Temple said the switch hasn’t been difficult for him.

“It’s not that much different, the two and the three,” he said. “I’m enjoying it.”

The Tigers have spent all of the season at home so far and will continue to do so during the break.

LSU plays nine games during the break, six of which are at home.

“One of the reasons we wanted to have as many home games as possible non-conference were because of our injuries and academic situation,” Johnson said. “We really have to do a good job in the classroom.”

The home schedule sets itself up favorably for a team predicted to finish second in the SEC West behind Alabama.

But Johnson isn’t worried about outside predictions. He’s only focused on the on-court reality.

“We’re going to defend. We’re going to rebound. We’re going to take care of the ball,” Johnson said.

“We’re going to compete at a high level and play the game the way it’s supposed to be played.”

LSU’s next game is against Grambling on Dec. 13 in the PMAC. Contact Robert Stewart at rstewart@lsureveille.com

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 16 GUSTAV, from page 3

EOC Core Committee on Thursday. The report outlines “lessons learned” in the EOC’s handling of Hurricane Gustav. The report has taken longer than expected to compile because the report was expanded to include input from numerous departments on campus.

The EOC, fully operational since June 2006, comprises two teams — a purple team and a gold team — each with 11 individuals from different departments on campus. The EOC is “activated” during emergencies, and each team works 12-hour shifts. The Core Committee oversees the two teams.

Modeled after FEMA’s National Incident Management System, Morris said the EOC functions like a “clearing house.”

“The EOC was able to take information in [about] what resources were out there and then channel those resources in the appropriate manner because we knew what the needs were,” Morris said.

Serving as a centralized information and coordination center during emergencies, the EOC was established after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Morris said because of the EOC the University is much more prepared for disasters like Gustav.

“The University has functioned for a very long time without an EOC,” Morris said. “Our hope is that, during a crisis, it’ll function much better.”

One “lesson learned” discussed in the draft report is the need to change the Cogeneration Plant’s operation plan. Currently, the generator functions to power as much of the campus as possible, but the EOC is working with Facility Services to channel that power to the PMAC and the Carl Maddox Field House first because they serve as medical and special needs shelters during emergencies.

The University’s three redundancies of power — Entergy, the Cogeneration Plant and FEMAprovided generators — all failed during Gustav. Morris said the EOC is exploring the possibility of adding a fourth energy source, like natural gas and dual-fuel generators. The key will be keeping those generators running.

The draft report stresses the need for a generator manager, who would be responsible for taking inventory of generators and keeping them fueled.

The University was without any type of power for six hours and without Entergy power for three days. The Cogeneration Plant was able to provide power to several places on campus, but it can’t support the entire campus.

“That was a hard lesson learned,” Morris said. “We had not braced ourselves for the possibility of losing three levels of redundancy in power.”

Contact Kyle Bove at kbove@lsureveille.com

ELECTION, from page 3

incumbent Don Cazayoux from office.

Kirby Goidel, mass communication professor, said the election results were about “what was expected.”

“There’s no doubt that this is an amazing moment in American history,” Goidel said as election results became apparent. “You have an African-American-elected president of the United States when they make up 12 percent of the nation ... It’s an amazing moment.”

Goidel called the performance of Democratic candidates throughout the nation a “major Democratic tide” and a “rejection of the Bush administration.”

Scott Jordan, communications director for the Louisiana Democratic Party, said Obama’s election is evidence of America’s progression.

“It’s the first African-American president,” he said. “America has gotten beyond race in a lot of ways ... It’s an amazing accomplishment.”

Though preliminary polls considered Louisiana a longshot for Obama, it did not stop his supporters from turning out in crowds throughout the state.

The sounds of Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours),” filled the Tiger Ballroom at Red Lion Hotel while more than 150 Democratic supporters cried, cheered and danced at a party hosted on election night by the Louisiana Democratic Party.

Simone Cifuentes, University law student and Louisiana Democratic watch party attendee, said it

would have been “icing on the cake” if Louisiana would have been a blue state, but said she was pleased with the outcome.

Independent presidential hopeful Ralph Nader rallied a crowd of about 200 people at the University in September, telling them to pay close attention to the power of large corporations, compare U.S. healthcare to the rest of the civilized world and hold the government accountable for the failure during Hurricane Katrina.

Monday, december 8, 2008

Two months before the general election, Nader predicted media coverage would make a 2008 victory impossible.

“If you can’t get on the debate, you can’t reach tens of millions of people, and you can’t get that many votes,” the 74 year-old independent candidate said.

Contact Lindsey Meaux at lmeaux@lsureveille.com

THE DAILY REVEILLE

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2008

Entertainment

Permitted to Party Annual Carlotta Street Block Party continues this year without hassle

By Ashley Norsworthy Entertainment Writer

After last year’s disaster, the Carlotta Street Block Party for Halloween was not expected to continue.

But when the party became legal with the help of the Northgate Merchants Association, things started to look up. “[The Baton Rouge Police] came to us and wanted the party to happen,” said Jared Loftus, owner of Tiger District and president of the NGMA. “They’ve worked with us and helped us out.”

Loftus said BRPD was aware the party would occur no matter what, but they reached out to the organization so another catastrophe could be avoided. At last year’s party, police on horses and foot attempted to keep the crowd off the street because of the lack of street closures. At the night’s end, no partygoers were allowed access to Carlotta and Chimes streets. A man was tasered, and

photos by JASON BORDELON / The Daily Reveille

[Above] Costumed students enjoy Carlotta Street’s annual Halloween block party.

[Right] A partygoer lies on the sidewalk during the party on Carlotta Street.

many were arrested.

“It’s costing us about $1,500 to get a permit,” Loftus said in October.

The permit included insurance and street closures. Police were also required to be present.

The question remains why the NGMA stepped up and took on the responsibility.

“Carlotta doesn’t have a set organization that governs them.

It’s a loose group of individuals,” Loftus said. “There’s no one they can go to to count on to make the process happen.”

So the members of the NGMA, with the permission of the residents of Carlotta, put up the money for the permit and acquired a beer truck so they could make the money back.

“It’s our neighborhood. We wanted to see it happen,” Loftus said.

Partygoers were satisfied with the event.

Ben Abbott, history senior, CARLOTTA, see page 22

PAGE 17

MY OPINION

2008 saw loss of great minds This year saw the loss of many great minds in the entertainment industry. Most of these people, until their death and after, were recognized as cultural icons.

The year started with the passing of Heath Ledger.

His sudden death on Jan. 22 took everyone by surprise. Ledger was found dead from an BLAKE LEJEUNE accidental prescription pill Entertainment Writer overdose in his Manhattan apartment.

Before his death, there was underground buzz about his performance as the Joker in “The Dark Knight.” After the film’s worldwide release in the summer, petitions formed to nominate Ledger for a posthumous Oscar. Ledger’s terrifying transformation was so convincing that many moviegoers — myself included — couldn’t believe it was actually him on screen.

Ledger’s death was tragic because he had so much promise as an actor. His powerhouse performances in films such as “Monster’s Ball” and his Academy Awardnominated turn in “Brokeback Mountain” drew comparisons to Marlon Brando and Sean Penn.

Sadly, Ledger wasn’t the only movie star to pass away this year.

Two American film icons, Charlton Heston and Paul Newman, left this world. Heston, a DEATHS, see page 22

ECONOMY

Lower gas prices unlikely to increase touring Tours booked months in advance

By Lauren Walck Entertainment Writer

With gas prices at an all-time high this summer, many bands cut back on touring during what is usually prime concert season.

Traveling shorter distances and sticking to big cities, bands without the luxury of a label suffered under the weight of record-breaking gas prices.

But with a now official U.S. recession, gas prices have fallen al-

‘‘

‘Gas is one of those expenditures that’s going to get you either way.

Josh Nee

political science senior

most 57 percent from $4.114 a gallon in July to $1.773 on Friday.

So cheaper gas means more vans packed with amps, guitars and hung over musicians will be hitting the pavement, right?

Not necessarily. For one thing, tours have to be booked a couple

months in advance, so unless gas prices stay low through the spring, there won’t be major overhauls to tour dates until the summer.

“The gas drop didn’t affect our immediate plans because they’ve been booked for a while,” said Josh Nee, political science senior and drummer for Man Plus Building and We Landed On The Moon!. “But we don’t have to be so strict with getting from point A to point B. We get to be a little more touristy and look around each city.”

Nee said We Landed on the Moon! has had its winter tour dates booked for about a month and a GAS, see page 21

MAGGIE BOWLES / The Daily Reveille

Brad Fusilier, mechanical engineering sophomore, fills up his car at Circle K on Burbank Drive just south of campus.

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 18

MUSIC

Monday, december 8, 2008

ART

Local band brings fresh Event features local artists sound to Voodoo Fest ‘White Light Night’ Norcio appears at fest for the first time

By Abraham Felix Entertainment Writer

There’s a first time for everything, and for Norcio, a local progressive alternative rock band, this first time was sweeter than most.

The band appeared for the first time at this year’s Voodoo Music Experience, playing in the 11:30 a.m. slot Friday, Oct. 24, and performed fan favorites like “Played Your Fool” and “Halfway to Somewhere.”

“It was pretty overwhelming,” said Adam Garcia, lead guitarist.

“It was a lot to take in. Voodoo Fest really makes us feel like we can go all the way with this.”

Joshua Quinn, general studies junior and bassist, said he was “pretty nervous” for the performance.

“It was stressful, but we feel like we’ve really accomplished something,” Quinn said.

Norcio got its opportunity to play at Voodoo Music Experience after Echelon, the band slated to play at the time, dropped out.

“We had already contacted the people from Voodoo Fest,” Garcia said. “They told us they were booked. But then one day, we got an e-mail saying a spot was open.

Man, we got excited. Everybody got excited.”

Norcio has been performing together for nearly three years and the four band members, including Conner Ridgeway, drums, and Joe Henry, vocals, have performed everywhere in Baton Rouge including the Caterie, the Roux House and the Dark Room.

The band got its start when Garcia and members of his former band, Fondling Amber, wanted to try something new, and after a few unsuccessful performances became a local favorite.

“Our first show was at the Caterie,” Garcia said. “We had gotten together only two weeks before, and we weren’t that great. We were trying to finish writing songs to play and didn’t get done in time.

But we’ve come a long way from there.”

Quinn and Garcia both said friends and family have supported Norcio with their work, though some weren’t so quick to approve.

“My dad was a little reluctant at first,” Quinn said. “But after he came out to one of our shows and saw me play. He said I was pretty good and ever since supports us more now.”

“Our friends were always there to support us,” Garcia said.

“But my mom is really the one who gave me my start. She bought me my first guitar and has been right behind me through everything.”

Quinn said Norcio’s biggest musical influences stem from rock bands like Coheed and Cambria and Iron Maiden.

“Those bands have really got the feel and sound we’re looking for as a band,” Quinn said. “We really get a lot out of their albums.”

Norcio released their first album, “Far From Flatlining,” about three weeks ago. It costs $10 and will be released through iTunes soon.

Garcia said the band is using the trip to Voodoo Music Experience as a stepping stone to bigger things like their upcoming tour to several states including Oklahoma, Mississippi, Georgia, Illinois and Tennessee this winter.

“Even now . . . we’re still riding that buzz,” Garcia said. “Our crowds are bigger. We’ve got more support. We’ve even got a Norcio van now. We’re on our way to taking it big time.”

Contact Abraham Felix at afelix@lsureveille.com

brings music, art

By Kathryn Core Entertainment Writer

“White Light Night,” Mid City’s event of the year, fulfilled its promise of a brilliant night of outstanding art, music and food to welcome the holiday season Nov. 21.

The event featured local artists at all businesses adorned with white lights in the Mid City Art and Design District down Government Street.

Sharon Furrate, president of the Mid City Merchants Association, said “White Light Night” is an annual art hop that brings

people into an undiscovered part of Baton Rouge.

“It draws people into a historical area of Baton Rouge that many may not know about and exposes people to the neat restaurants, shops, galleries and retailers in Mid City,” Furrate said.

Furrate said what makes “White Light Night” stand out is its unconventional art galleries.

“There are businesses that are not your typical gallery, but they’re showing local artists,” Furrate said. “For instance, Ragusa’s Automotive. They always participate, and they always have a crowd.”

Furrate said the event brings people from all across Louisiana.

“It’s not just galleries that are showcasing local art. It’s about

businesses in the area that want to showcase the talent in Baton Rouge,” Furrate said. “It draws not just from the Greater Baton Rouge Area, but people come from Lafayette, they come from New Orleans, and it’s been going on for so many years. It’s become an event that attracts thousands of people.”

Furrate said “White Light Night” is an event to have fun and is an experience University students shouldn’t pass up.

“It’s very lively. I will say that especially for students into the arts ... They need to come out,” MID CITY, see page 19

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Monday, December 8, 2008 MID CITY, from page 18

Furrate said.

Furrate said “White Light Night” is a fantastic way to get into the holiday spirit. “It’s definitely something to get you in a better mood before exams,” she said.

Quintin Good, part-owner of Purple Monkey Design, a participating business, said what he likes most about “White Light Night” is that it lets people know what is available in Mid City Baton Rouge.

“I think the best part about it is the local promotion and what it does for the local businesses and local artists,” Good said. “The fact that it supports the local community is the best part about it.”

Good said “White Light Night” exposes University students to great places to dine, drink and shop beyond campus.

“It shows them what Baton Rouge has to offer outside of their little campus microcosm,” Good said. “It’s just a part of Baton Rouge that not all of the students want to figure out at first, so this is a good way for them to get familiar with the area.”

Otto Orellana, a local artist featured at Bistro Byronz, said the event is about local artists and Mid City Merchants getting together and gaining support.

“The event is to stimulate some support of the economy right there, as far as the businesses, like the restaurants and the local art shops,” Orellana said.

Orellana said the greatest part about the event is that many businesses participate.

“There are so many locations to check out all the artwork, and they’re all kind of close together, which makes it really nice,” Orellana said.

Orellana said what students appreciate most about “White Light Night” is the discovery of many things that cannot be found on campus.

“They won’t feel like Baton Rouge is just based on the University. They can check out lots of professional artists, great boutiques, stores and other places that Mid City has to offer that LSU doesn’t,” Orellana said.

Furrate said this year’s “White Light Night” was absolutely delightful.

“I thought it was fabulous.

Some people said it was the best we’ve ever had,” Furrate said.

“The streets were just packed, and people were having fun.”

Furrate said the event was a great kick-off to the holidays.

“It really got people in the holiday spirit,” Furrate said. “All I can say is that it was truly successful. There wasn’t a spot where I didn’t see people.”

Furrate said businesses see more people coming in to purchase after the event, but the best part about it is that it raises awareness of a wonderful area of Baton Rouge that University students tend to overlook.

“I really think it just puts a big spotlight on one of the best areas of town for college students,” Furrate said.

Contact Cathryn Core at ccore@lsureveille.com

ECONOMY

Recession has not hurt fair trade products Highland Coffees uses eco-friendly products

By Joshua Chenier Entertainment Writer

While the nation’s economy is struggling through a recession, some local businesses with unique selling points do not appear to be feeling the effects yet.

Local businesses that provide customers with the option of purchasing socially responsible products have not yet seen negative effects of the state of the country’s economy.

Highland Coffees, located in the Northgate area of the University, is just one local business that purchases and sells socially responsible products.

Fair trade products are those produced by companies who provide a legal minimum wage and a living wage. These products comply with all state, national and international laws and are produced in a safe working environment.

Eco-friendly products are any

recycled or organic products free of harmful chemicals. Socially responsible products are made by a company or business that acts in a manner that affects society positively.

Clarke Cadzow, manager and owner of Highland Coffees, says his store has not really seen any negative effects because coffee is on a smaller scale.

“Purchasing coffee is different than buying a house or a car,” Cadzow said. “There are different factors that affect the price of coffee.”

Worldwide factors affect the price of coffee and since the coffee is roasted in the store, it has even less of an effect on the price, Cadzow said.

“If the worldwide demand for coffee goes up or down, that would have an effect on our prices,” Cadzow said. “Our business has been solid this semester, and unless this recession lasts for a long time, I don’t think our prices will change.”

Contact Joshua Chenier at jchenier@lsureveille.com

Pluckers wing bar $14.99 All You Can Eat Wings and $3 Pluckers Lemonade.

Iconz hair studio and massage $22 Shampoo & Style $35 Relaxer

12-2:00pm The Incredible Hulk 3:00-5:00pm Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull 7-9:00pm Iron Man

PAGE 19

THE DAILY REVEILLE

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2008

REVEILLE RANKS

Best and Worst of 2008

Log on to lsureveille.com to see the full list of this year’s best and worst.

Best

Best

The Hottie and the Nottie The Dark Knight Warner Bros. Pictures

Purple Pictures

Worst

Nickelback Lil Wayne Tha Carter III Cash Money Records

Dark Horse

Roadrunner Records

Worst

Scores of shattered records, superb direction, and one of the single best performances of the decade make this the best film of 2008. Among an all-star cast, including Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine, Heath Ledger shines the brightest as Batman’s arch-foe, the Joker. The film exceeded all expectations of a comic book movie and became a sweeping tragedy, setting a new standard for comic book adaptations to come. There are great films, and then there’s “The Dark Knight,” a shining litmus test that will stand forever as one of the greatest films ever made.

“The Hottie and the Nottie,” a film that will have audiences wasting 90 minutes watching Paris Hilton, who, of course, plays the “hottie” bombshell, make an incredibly unsuccessful attempt at acting, so wretched, in fact, that she should be banned from Hollywood altogether. The film highlights the transformation of Hilton’s character’s best friend, June, as her inner beauty shines through her initial physical unattractiveness.

The incredible predictability along with gross acting and ridiculously cliché story line should lead viewers to the conclusion that life is too short to watch Paris Hilton films, case closed.

Lil Wayne proclaimed himself the best rapper alive on his 2005 release “Tha Carter II,” and his 2008 follow-up, “Tha Carter III” proves he is not just talk — he really is the best rapper alive. He advises people not to forget Weezy Baby when they mention rap legends Pac, Biggie and Jay-Z on “Mr. Carter.” And he deserves to be included in their company. “Tha Carter III” was well received by many different audiences and earned Wayne double platinum sales, proving that it is definitely one of the top albums of 2008.

If you’ve heard one Nickelback song, you’ve heard them all. The stale rock band continues assaulting the airwaves with their latest album, “Dark Horse.” With songs like “Something in Your Mouth,” “Just To Get High” and “S.E.X.,” Nickelback proves it hasn’t progressed at all as a band, sticking to the same cliché rock song topics and bland guitar riffs.

The fact that people still buy the band’s albums speaks to the decline of humanity as a whole. Instead of making albums for public consumption, Chad Kroeger and his band should team up with the government and consider making albums to be used as a more humane form of torture.

A. FELIX

C. CORE

V. TOUPS

S. AYCOCK

GAS, from page 17

half. The band will travel up the east coast, going as far north as Toronto.

“It’s going to be very useful if gas is still low then, but it probably won’t change our tour much,” he said. “It just makes it easier.”

Local band Streamline is spending the winter recording its next album and plans to tour in the spring when the record is finished.

Guitarist Brad Ourso, University alumnus, said if gas prices stay low the band would make an extra effort to play towns they wouldn’t have been able to before.

“We would save maybe 30 to 40 percent more,” Ourso said. “It’s that significant of an impact when you’re driving around a huge van.”

But Ourso does not expect prices to stay as low as they are now.

“I don’t think we’ll have that luxury because prices will be back up by then,” he said.

America agrees. Americans are not changing their gas-saving tactics in reaction to a failing economy and in expectation of gas prices rising again, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“Everybody’s kind of assuming that gas is not going to stay this low,” said Nee. He said the cost of all commodities go down during a recession, including gasoline.

“Once the economy gets bustling again, the prices will start creeping back up,” Nee said.

Regardless of gas prices, upand-coming bands have to tour to survive. For a band city hopping in a van each night, gas is going to be a major expense even with low prices.

“You’re going to pay a lot of money for gas regardless,” Nee said. “Gas is one of those expenditures that’s going to get you either way.”

Contact Lauren Walck at lwalck@lsureveille.com

PAGE 21

PAGE 22 DEATHS, from page 17 legendary actor, died April 5. The star of “Ben-Hur” and “Planet of the Apes” was a civil rights activist, philanthropist and Democratic supporter before changing his political party and becoming president of the National Rifle Association.

Newman is rightly commended for his acting chops, which he used to make some of the most memorable characters in pop culture. His performance in the endlessly quotable “Cool Hand Luke” raised the bar for cool, a model that actors such as George Clooney try to replicate.

The music world also suffered.

Isaac Hayes, who died on Aug. 10, was a huge influence on West Coast rappers like Dr. Dre and Ice Cube, both of whom tapped his soul and funk hits to create the G-Funk that dominated the early 1990s. The bald, bearded, “bad mother—” penned the theme song for the 1971 film “Shaft,” and was the voice of Chef on “South Park.”

Mitch Mitchell and Buddy Miles, two pillars of rock drumming, passed away within nine months of each other.

Both were excellent drummers who played with Jimi Hendrix at different stages of his career. Each was a master of their respective styles; Mitchell with his jazz-influenced primal banging, and Miles with his controlled, funky rhythms.

THE DAILY REVEILLE Bo Diddley died on June 2 at the age of 79. Forget Elvis — Bo Diddley was the originator of rock ‘n’ roll.

The “Bo Diddley beat” has an influence so ingrained in our culture it is hard to believe some of our favorite songs come from Diddley’s Latin-tinged self-made guitar.

Static Major’s death at age 33 on Feb. 25 happened before he could see the huge success of Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop,” the hot summer single that he produced.

In the television realm, NBC lost one of its best journalists, Tim Russert. The host of “Meet the Press” was known for his hard-hitting interview techniques and was an avid sports fan who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame Board of Directors in 2003.

Michael Crichton, or as he is commonly known, “The Guy Who Wrote a Bunch of Thrilling Books that Were Later Turned into Movies,” was one of the best selling authors of all time and was the creator of the hugely popular and long-running “ER.” The deaths of Rodney Dangerfield in 2004 and Richard Pryor in 2005 left a gaping hole in every comedians’ heart. This year, two more comedic geniuses joined them.

George Carlin’s delivery and razor sharp satire secured his place as a stand-up legend long before his death. Chances are, if you are a comedian, you were probably influenced by Carlin. He passed on June 22.

Bernie Mac first came to attention for his hilarious performance as a less-than-holy pastor in the Ice Cube flick “Friday.” A veteran stand-up comedian, Mac made a name for himself with an eccentric personality and an acute gift for reading people. His creation “The Bernie Mac Show” earned him two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. He passed away Aug. 9, the day before Isaac Hayes.

The world will be a little less funny without them.

As an entertainment writer, my job entails me discovering great forms of, well, entertainment, and that’s my favorite part.

Discovering musicians, comedians, actors, authors, etc., is enjoyable for me because I’m obsessed with the way a person can use their minds to conjure different emotions in people, whether it be joy, sadness or anger.

When these people leave this world, they take the special talent with them. That’s why I find it so tragic when a really gifted person dies, especially when their genius goes unnoticed.

This column might seem a really morbid obituary, but I just wanted to recognize each person and give them the credit they deserve.

I hope next year won’t have as many losses.

Contact Blake LeJeune at blejeune@lsureveille.com

CARLOTTA, from page 17

said in October this year’s party was “safer and more coordinated.”

“There was a bad vibe last year,” Abbott said. “Everyone is in a much better mood now.”

Loftus said the police estimated between 8,000 and 10,000 people attended the party. The NGMA will also plan the party for next Halloween.

monday, december 8, 2008 “We have not started planning next year’s party, but we have had a follow-up meeting with the police,” Loftus said.

“We will start our planning around March.”

Contact Ashley Norsworthy at anorsworthy@lsureveille.com

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Opinion

PAGE 24

PARTISAN PUNCHLINE

monday, december 8, 2008

Looking back on the progress of a successful semester This year was full of ups and downs for Tigers all over campus.

LSU athletics received mixed ratings this year but was successful overall.

After a 41-14 dismantling of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the BCS national championship in January, the LSU football team suffered many setbacks in a dismal season. The season ended on a sour note after an ugly loss at Arkansas last week, leaving the Tigers at 7-5 in the regular season and 3-5 in the SEC. But LSU somehow still managed to claim bowl eligibility.

Both the men’s and women’s golf teams are nationally ranked.

The gymnastics, soccer and volleyball teams are all coming off successful seasons.

Die-hard purple and gold fans now turn to basketball coaches Van Chancellor and Trent Johnson to resurrect the spirits of the LSU faithful. And baseball fans look to coach Paul Mainieri to repeat his successes after a largely unexpected trip to the College World Series.

Athletics aside, the Tiger faithful still had much to celebrate.

LSU celebrated one of its most successful academic years ever as newly installed chancellor Michael Martin announced the University was ranked in the top tier as one of the nation’s best universities in the 2009 edition of U.S. News and World Report’s America’s Best Colleges.

The Paul M. Hebert Law Center also moved into top-tier status, climbing from 91 to 88 in the 2009 U.S. News and World Report Rankings of Best Graduate Schools.

The University has much more to celebrate in the pursuit of its Flagship Agenda. Freshmen ACT scores are on the rise as is diverse and intense recruiting.

As the semester began, we braced ourselves for another potentially devastating hurricane — and came together as a community to protect ourselves from Gustav.

Under the leadership of Gov. Bobby Jindal, University students joined other Louisianians across the state to work tirelessly and selflessly in largely successful recovery efforts — with only a few minor hiccups.

We also witnessed the culmination of what seemed to be a never-ending election season. Bill Cassidy defeated incumbent Rep. Don Cazayoux — with the help of Michael Jackson — for the prized seat in the 16th congressional district. Sen. Mary Daniel Lumetta Landrieu held on to her seat in Columnist the Senate after a tough battle with John Kennedy.

And after nearly two years of constant campaigning by both parties, we saw a decade-long quest for the White House come to an end in November. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., watched election returns from the Barry Goldwater suite in his home state. This was the same suite where Goldwater, the man who articulated the modern conservative movement, saw his own hopes for the White House crumble.

Sen. Barry Goldwater saw his hopes for the presidency dashed

much the same way McCain did.

Goldwater was defeated in an electoral landslide by Barack Obama’s ideological predecessor, Lyndon B. Johnson, a tough-minded Democrat focused on social progress.

More than two decades later Goldwater watched a more powerful figure emerge in Ronald Reagan, who united the four heads of conservatism — the neoconservatives, the libertarians, the Religious Right and traditionalists — under one coalition, according to James W. Ceasar.

McCain, like Goldwater, was the torch-bearer of his party’s standard in a turbulent time. Only time will tell if history will repeat itself in a similar circumstance.

One thing is certain: Sarah Palin is not the last best hope of the Republican Party. As conservatives search for the next Ronald Reagan, many top Republican thinkers are turning to Louisiana’s very own governor for answers.

2008 might have been the year the Democrats finally put the final nail in the Republican coffin. But it also might be the year Republicans

experience a rebirth, purging itself of incompetence and hypocrisy to restore meaning to the cause.

This was the year Louisiana elected its first Indian-American governor, who is also the second non-white to hold the office since Reconstruction.

Jindal’s election, itself a forerunner to the progress witnessed at the election of President-elect Barack Obama, was no small feat.

He became one of only a handful of non-white governors in the nation’s history — and he did it in the South, the birthplace of segregation and the battleground of the civil rights movement.

Americans of all colors and creeds continue to celebrate the peaceful transition of power as we watch the ascendancy of a minority to the highest office in the land.

No matter your political party, one can’t help but wonder if we’re somehow turning the page, whether on a local or national level.

Contact Daniel Lumetta at dlumetta@lsureveille.com

FREKE FRIDAY

How I learned to stop worrying and love Mike VI

When an editor informed me I would be writing an article entitled “How it feels to graduate,” I wondered how I could escape indulging in the usual clichés.

So while it might be difficult for me to describe how I might feel for an event yet to come, getting that diploma on Dec. 19 will mean more to me than I can let on.

To understand the wave of emotions, a little background is in order.

I began college in Nigeria two months before 9/11 with hopes of becoming a mechanical engineer.

Petroleum is the biggest commodity in the country, so I naturally had aspirations to work at an oil company. These plans were dropped when I moved to the United States after three years of college.

I landed in Memphis by January 2004 where I spent several months before relocating to Baton Rouge in August. The move was a rude shock.

First of all, I knew no one in the city and arrived at night on a game day which meant I had to find lodging in Port Allen. My first distinct sense of alienation hit —

I was now a stranger in a strange land.

For a moment I wondered if I had made the right choice.

And Baton Rouge isn’t the prettiest city I have seen — not by a long shot.

This was not the city I imagined living in. When I watched the LSU Tigers defeat the Oklahoma Sooners in January 2004, I didn’t realize I might have substituted Baton Rouge’s rusticity with New Orleans’ elegance. It’s only later on I realized Baton Rouge was that homely high school classmate with an acne-riddled face and a heart of gold.

The main goal I had in coming to the United States was to become a journalist. I had read Howard Cosell’s “I Never Played That Game,” watched Walter Cronkite’s Vietnam series and I became fascinated with the news business. So although I was a mechanical engineering major at LSU, my attention was increasingly taken by journalism.

Be not deceived if from the description above, my academic journey appears smooth — it was

THE DAILY REVEILLE Editorial Board KYLE WHITFIELD TYLER BATISTE NEAL HEBERT GERRI SAX NATE MONROE

Editor Managing Editor, Content Opinion Editor Editor of Online Media Columnist

an obstacle course that produced more wrecks than a Jimmie Johnson mêlée; an academic golf course inundated with well-disguised sand traps. The reason I refuse to dwell on those stutters is for the same reason a Tour de France winner doesn’t dwell on the torturous Freke Ette ascent of the Columnist Pyrenees — the exertions seem trivial compared to the reward.

All these years in school have convinced me the college educational system is an advanced printing press where a pack of impressionable ingots are molded into indistinguishable human specimens.

What a travesty.

College is not the time to confine oneself to the established curriculum; rather it is a chance to expand one’s intellectual horizons by taking classes from other departments and colleges. The point is not to sit down and be taught; it

is to move around and learn what’s all around you.

Studying at LSU is an opportunity to visit Middleton Library, the concrete-and-glass monstrosity installed in the middle of the Quad, and hold discussions with the bearded sages who inhabit the musty tomes on the fourth floor.

Looking back over my three years here, I don’t know if I have influenced anyone at LSU, but I do know several people, especially teachers, have impressed me.

There is the professor, whose pithy dictum “Look for the theory?” introduced me to political science.There’s another, whose explanation of Kant’s categorical imperative convinced me to become an academic. There is the mass communication professor whose harsh judgment that “Touch of Evil” is better than “Citizen Kane” instigated my love for the cinema and unleashed those coldhearted columns you’ve come to relish on Fridays.

For me the joy of graduating lies not in my finishing undergraduate studies but in my beginning a new chapter in my life. Indeed,

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.

what does it profit a man, if he gets his degree, but then gets swept along with the multitude, living from 9-to-5, wondering where the better part of his life was spent?

So another journey begins, as the present one ends.

Following my undergraduate studies, I plan on going to graduate school to research on what alternatives are capable of replacing the ubiquitous democratic model of government. In this egalitarian milieu where man’s basic equality is held sacrosanct, is it possible to have a government that provides equity among citizens; and if there isn’t, could a viable alternative form of government be found by rummaging through the rubbles of classical antiquity?

Regardless of where I continue my graduate education, LSU always be home to me. Thanks for all the happy memories.

Geaux Tigers.

Contact Freke Ette at fette@lsureveille.com

QUOTE OF THE DAY “The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.”

Oliver Wendell Holmes American physician, poet and professor Aug. 29, 1809 — Oct. 7, 1894

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Opinion

monday, december 8, 2008

NIETZSCHE IS DEAD

PAGE 25

God Himself speaking out about Proposition 8

In the wake of the passing of Proposition 8 — the controversial revision to the Constitution barring homosexual marriages — California courts have been flooded with legal cases affirming or protesting the law.

The biggest name on the docket?

God. Yes, God. The San Diego-based Kingdom of Heaven World Divine Mission has submitted an amicus curiae brief on behalf of the Christian diety God, alias Yaweh, alias Jehovah.

An amicus curiae — or friend of the court — brief is a document submitted to a court on

behalf of a third party that offers expertise the court may not have been aware of previously.

In this case, “the Almighty Creator, who is holding sole ownership to all His creations, all planets, including the earth and everything above, below and on it,” is submitting the best expertise ever offered.

Omniscience.

This court filing obviously raises some very novel issues.

It doesn’t really challenge the separation of church and state. The brief most likely won’t even reach the court’s desk, let alone bear any impact on future cases. Unfortunately, it seems those heathen California justices

are going to ignore the advice of the Almighty.

Still, many questions remained unanswered.

For starters, who is God’s lawyer? What kind of resume do you need to represent the creator of the in Matthew Albright universe court? Is repColumnist resenting God more or less prestigious than representing O.J.?

Second, why is the big G throwing his weight into the ring now? He has left humans to their

own devices on war crimes, civil rights and mass murderer trials.

Why the sudden interest in the judicial branch?

Maybe God really does hate “fags” even more than murderers and racists.

In all seriousness, what does a nation that files legal briefs on behalf of God mean for the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed students emerging into it?

We live in a world with a bewildering myriad of morals, beliefs and motivations. In a world of instant communication and constant connection, where countless voices compete for your ideological loyalty, it can be difficult to know what to believe.

That’s one thing for which you can use that handy-dandy degree you just earned.

A college education teaches how to use your intellect and rationality to develop conclusions and sift through the maelstrom of information that is the modern world.

Maybe God gave us intelligence so we can decide for ourselves what is right, instead of using his name as carte-blanche for intellectual superiority.

Contact Matthew Albright at malbright@lsureveille.com

VIEW FROM ANOTHER SCHOOL

Is Obama’s gun policy the change the country needs?

By Seth Stern Rocky Mountain Collegian, Colorado State U.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — The President-elect won on his platform of change. Now, his first opportunity to prove that he meant what he said is already in front of him, but will he capitalize?

Within 24 hours of his victory speech just one month ago, President-elect Obama’s policy Web site change.gov, went up

outlining his visions and plans for the new administration.

Gun rights activists immediately identified three areas of major concern, which demonstrates the shrewd tactics used by the Democratic ticket to avoid mentioning their true views of gun control. The new administration states several goals I’d like to address individually.

They “would repeal the Tiahrt amendment,” which keeps con-

fidential the information used in criminal investigations involving firearms.

Not only would repeal inevitably result in lawsuits against legitimate firearms dealers, but nothing would prevent the information regarding firearms used in crimes from ending up in the hands of criminals seeking retribution against potential witnesses. What’s worse about the discussion of the repeal, is that there

NASTY NATE

NATE MONROE/ The Daily Reveille

is no indication that it would provide any form of positive impact whatsoever, except giving gun control activists seeking exorbitant lawsuits against the firearms industry a new angle.

The new administration also states they “favor commonsense measures that respect the Second Amendment rights of gun owners, while keeping firearms away from children and criminals.”

This particular claim serves only to appeal to those who somehow believe that it’s legal for either children or criminals to either possess or purchase firearms.

The reality of the situation is as simple as the typical Democrat solution to all problems societal — more laws equal a better, safer society.

“Support closing the gun show loophole and making guns in this country childproof.” The supposed “loophole” doesn’t exist, period.

What gun control activists claim as the loophole, in actuality is nothing more than private gun sales. Federal law requires any person purchasing from a Federal Firearms License holder to pass a criminal background check, and guess what sports fans, this includes sales taking place at a gun show.

Now let’s say you were a legislator and you wanted to close the “gun show loophole.” The only way to actually ensure this requires a background check for every firearm purchased, including personal sales.

Anyone have any ideas how to ensure every firearms sale includes a background check?

Childproofing of every firearm in America? Do some simple research if you think this is a good idea. Laws do not take the place of parenting dear reader, and secure storage laws result in an immediate and disturbing increase in crime.

Lastly, the Obama “supports making the expired Assault Weapons Ban permanent.”

Take a look at the statistics, the previous edition of the AWB had the expected zero impact on crime, a new ban serves only to further a far-left objective goal of restricting firearms ownership nationwide.

There’s certainly enough information out there on both sides of the gun control debate, if you want it, so why write on the subject? India’s restrictive gun laws just enhanced one of the most terrifying events of the year.

Compare the terror attacks last weekend to the terror taking place on a regular basis in Israel.

While terrorist suicide bombings certainly take place, it took only a few failed attempts at attacks with firearms for the enemies of the Zionist state to realize that everyone has a gun!

Now you may think I’m obviously the new resident right wing nut job at the Collegian, alas that’s not the case. I am a firm and staunch believer in limited federal government, as the Constitution designed, Republicans and Democrats ignore, and which we no longer have.

I encourage you all to take a look at the wording of the Constitution, afterward ask, does my federal government incarnate represent the federal government as it was designed? The Constitution is a limit on federal power, not a loose guideline for the parties at power to eternally attempt to redefine.

If Obama sticks to his pledge, he will consult his cabinet, realize that armed citizens can and do prevent these types of attacks, and will back off these promises.

Is he willing to change?

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

T HE DAILY R EVEILLE

SEMESTER IN REVIEW Monday, Dec. 8, 2008

Volume 113, Issue 68

KIM FOSTER / The Daily Reveille