The Daily Reveille's Freshman Guide 2009

Learn just how exciting Death Valley can be on a Saturday night.

Find out the best places to eat and where to save money on and around campus.

Gather some expert advice from on on how to spend your years at the University.

PAGE 2 freshman guide

freshman guide PAGE 3

graduation guide CONTENTS FOOD FRENZY

Where to eat is a top question on first-year students’ minds, but the University offers many choices for great dining, page 5.

PARKING PROBLEMS

Learn how to park on campus like a pro and make it to all of your classes on time, page 7.

FRESHMAN FIFTEEN

Avoid the dreaded weight rumored to come with the first year of college with healthy tips, page 8.

REIGNING RUMORS

Just because your professor is late to class doesn’t mean you get to leave, page 10.

STUDENT SAFETY

TIGER STADIUM TIPS

Learn how to avoid dangers around the University and get advice on what to do in emergencies, page 11.

HELPFUL HINTS

Learn how to make Death Valley feel like your home away from home on Saturday nights, page 6.

The University Career Services program helps freshmen decide what major will suit them best, page 15.

lsu living

Officials predict wireless internet to be set up for all dorms by the start of the fall semester, page 16.

LSU Living is a special section of The Daily Reveille

THE DAILY REVEILLE B-16 Hodges Hall • Baton Rouge, La. 70803 JERIT ROSER ELLEN ZIELINSKI ZAC LEMOINE LAUREN ROBERTS

Editor Managing Editor Online Media Editor Advertising Sales Manager

Newsroom (225)578-4810 • Advertising (225)578-6090

CAMPUS CONNECTION PROMINENT PEOPLE

It’s nice to have a good idea of important figures around campus, page 31.

EXPERT ADVICE

Athletic Director Joe Alleva, Fall Editor Nicholas Persac and Summer Editor Jerit Roser inform students about life at the University and give helpful tips, pages 51, 53 & 54.

PHOTO CREDIT COVER PHOTO BY KRISTEN ROWLETT; TABLE OF CONTENTS PHOTO DAILY REVEILLE FILE

freshman guide PAGE 5

Dining options abound at the University Choices vary onand off-campus

By David Helman Contributing Writer

Food.

It’s one of my three favorite discoveries as a resident of Earth — the other two are stories for other days.

An important part of one’s freshman year is figuring out where, when and how to cheaply obtain breakfast, lunch and dinner without help from Mom and Dad … or at the very least, where to get lunch and dinner.

If you’re usually awake for breakfast, you’ve got the wrong notion about this college thing. Slap the snooze button and get back to me later.

So, for those of you that have come to terms with your future friend, the Freshman 15, join me on a tour of the dining options at LSU.

On-Campus Dining The LSU dining halls and Student Union are where freshmen do most of their eating. By the time you finish orientation, you’ll probably be acquainted with both.

For all the access you’ll ever want to these eat extravaganzas, simply look up details for a meal plan at www.lsudining.com.

The pride and joy of LSU Dining is the 459 Commons — the new dining hall located on the east side of campus near the lakes. The Commons offers students a state-of-the-art atmosphere to get their grub on, with salad and sandwich bars as well as five different dining stations which focus on themes such as pizza, vegetarian and ‘make your own.’

The West side of campus will be undergoing a culinary revolution of its own, as the

GRANT GUTIERREZ / The Daily Reveille

Louie’s Cafe is a 24/7 restaurant popular with many University students for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

old Pentagon Dining Hall is opening in the fall under the new moniker, The 5, which is patterned after The 459 Commons.

Old salts such as myself will lament the loss of the buffet-style dining halls, but change is the way of the world.

Equipped with each Dining Hall is an Outtakes – a sort of convenience store included with a restaurant. The east campus location comes with a Taco Bell and a Pizza Hut, while the new location will apparently house a Quiznos.

If you’re currently asking yourself, “Will I often find myself drunkenly buying gum, shampoo and Mexican food at late hours of the night?” the answer is a resounding “Yes.” If your parents are reading this with you, the answer is “No. You’ll be studying, why would you be doing any of that?”

The Student Union is the FOOD, see page 50

PAGE 6 freshman guide

Welcome to Death Valley, football fans Learning cheers part of experience

By Kyle Bove Senior Writer

As the Golden Band from Tiger Land’s epic “Pregame” engulfs Tiger Stadium just minutes before kickoff, it’s pretty hard for a freshman to deny the awesome and time-honored tradition that is LSU football.

From learning cheers to making fast friends with the hundreds of Tiger fans around you, a freshman’s first game is probably the most important.

Here’s what am incoming freshman needs to know about LSU football: Tailgate, tailgate, tailFOOTBALL, see page 49

Daily Reveille file photo

LSU fans prepare for the first SEC game of the season Sept. 27, 2008 in Tiger Stadium.

freshman guide PAGE 7

Parking efficiently takes careful planning On-campus spots go quickly

By David Helman Contributing Writer

“Parking sucks.”

It’s the opinion of Markus Wilson, economics junior, countless LSU students, and many incoming freshman who will bring their cars to campus this fall.

LSU is home to “30,000 vehicles that transport 40,000 faculty, staff, students and visitors to-and-from LSU daily,” according to the LSU Office of Parking.

Needless to say, it can get a bit crowded.

“If you haven’t dealt with parking yet, get here early,” said Stephanie Walter, management sophomore.

“It’s usually packed during the first couple of weeks of school, but by about the third week no one shows up.”

Fortunately for incoming freshman, the University provides parking for all eight sessions of freshman orientation, located next to Parker Coliseum on South Stadium Drive and behind the Bernie Moore Track Stadium.

The influx of traffic can complicate the otherwise tranquil summer semester.

“It has been worse recently, because usually I park closer,” Walter said. “Last week was probably the worst because they were repainting one of the lots, and everyone had to park in a different lot.

There weren’t any spots.”

The fall semester will be trickier, for both residential and commuter students.

The summer can serve as a

GRANT GUTIERREZ / The Daily Reveille

Overcrowded lots on campus can become a problem during classes.

chance to familiarize oneself with campus and its parking situations.

There are resident-specific lots outside every residential building on campus — five on the west side of

campus and 10 on the east side.

There are also commuter lots located around Tiger Stadium, the Pentagon dormiPARKING, see page 47

PAGE 8 freshman guide

Sleep, exercise important health factors Alcohol can also affect weight gain

By Natalie Roy Contributing Writer

As a new student in a new environment, factors like making your class schedule, living on your own for the first time and meeting new people are usually a freshman’s main concerns.

And while those all are important, the Student Health Center and University Recreation urge students not to forget about the most basic and important issue — their health.

Living away from home in a new place always brings up a few health issues, ranging from sexual health to nutrition to mental health.

Freshmen should maintain certain habits to make it through the year in one piece — maybe even a piece that isn’t a dreaded 15 pounds heavier than where they started.

Kathy Saichuk, a Wellness Education coordinator at the Student Health Center, blames three factors for the “Freshman 15” — poor nutrition like eating fatty fast food instead of fruits and vegetables, a poor exercise routine and, most importantly, alcohol. “[Freshmen] should beware of alcohol consumption,” Saichuk said. “Alcohol has a lot of ramifications besides the wasted calories.

It can affect academic performance, sleep and mental state. And it doesn’t take much alcohol to do that.

Freshmen need to know that

GRANT GUTIERREZ / The Daily Reveille

Agricultural business senior David Chol adjust weights on a machine while working out June 1 at the Student Rec Center.

not everyone is out drinking and partying all the time.

That’s one of those myths … associated with college life.”

As far as exercise goes, making time for some type of physical activity on a regHEALTH, see page 46

freshman guide PAGE 9

PAGE 10 freshman guide

Students prone to rumors in first year Freshmen should be wary of info

By Steven Powell Contributing Writer

Many students have heard if the professor is 15 minutes late, they’re allowed to leave class.

Unfortunately that rumor — along with many others — is not true.

Darell Ray, assistant vice chancellor for First Year Experience, said freshmen and first year students hear many rumors, such as “if your roommate dies, you get an automatic 4.0.”

“I’ve always heard the University requires classes to start 10 minutes late so students can get to class,” said Akos Sefa, dietetics se-

nior.

When there’s confusion, Despite popular belief, pesky rumors have a way of University policy does not working themselves in with require classes to start late, the facts. Ray said outdated leaving the option open for information or facts from the professor. other universities someSefa said she also heard times become urban legend it’s possible and spread for the av- ‘I’ve always heard the across camerage stupus as truths.

University requires dent to walk S o m e across camfi rst stuclasses to start 10 dentsyear pus in only assume 10 minutes, professors minutes late.’ which she are unaware also found of what’s Akos Sefa untrue. happening dietics senior R a y in the back said many of the classstudents miss out on critical rooms — however, profesinformation because they sors notice everything in a don’t retain information class room, regardless of the given at orientation or read size, Ray said. e-mails sent during registraBill Dabney, Center for tion, which leads to confu- Academic Success gradusion and unanswered ques- ate assistant, said the most tions. common misconception

‘‘

about CAS is the counselors are just going to “tell them to study more.” He said the center focuses on showing students their learning strengths and helping them develop effective studying strategies.

Another myth is students think seeking help from CAS shows weakness or inadequacy, Dabney said. He said many students put forth enough effort, but aren’t making the desired grades because they haven’t found which study skills work best for them.

“Some students think success at LSU means working extremely hard,” he said. “While hard work is still required, utilizing the right study strategies will make studying more effecRUMORS, see page 47

freshman guide PAGE 11

Freshmen need to focus on safety first Campus transit is easy option

By Katie Kennedy Contributing Writer

With all of the excitement of attending college for the first time, personal safety can easily take a backseat to classes and partying for freshmen.

But Kathy Saichuck, Wellness Education coordinator, said freshmen need to pay particular attention to staying safe.

“Statistics indicate freshmen, or those new to campus, tend to be more susceptible to issues related to safety, including sexual assault,” Saichuck said. “There are several contributing factors including students not being accustomed to a larger cam-

pus community and being more trusting of people they meet on campus or in the college environment.”

The University offers many safety features of which incoming students need to be aware.

LSU Police Department has up to 20 squad cars which patrol campus 24 hours a day. For immediate access to LSUPD, students can dial #578 for direct police assistance.

If students find themselves without a phone, emergency call boxes are located throughout campus.

“Just hit the call button, and it will call the police department,” said Detective David Heroman of LSUPD. “The dispatch center is a 911 format, so we know the locations of all calls.”

If there’s a crisis on campus, the University has

an emergency text messaging system in place to alert registered students. Students can register for the service through their PAWS accounts.

Broadcast e-mails are also sent out in times of emergencies.

For students transversing campus at night, Saichuck gave several tips for reducing the risk of danger.

“Walk in well-lit areas, and be aware of your surroundings at all times,” Saichuck said. “Make sure someone knows where you are going and when you should arrive or return, and walk in a group or with someone else.”

Saichuck also recommended calling LSUPD at 578-3231 if anything seems suspicious.

Saichuck said to take advantage of Campus Transit, a

free transport service available from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. everyday. Students can call 578-5555, and a shuttle bus will bring them to any location on campus, including their cars.

As a result of the December 2007 on-campus double homicides, students are allowed to leave a callback number and wait inside the nearest building for Transit to arrive.

For students hitting the local bar scene, the University also offers a Night Bus route to bring home students who have had a few too many drinks. The “Drunk Bus,” as it is commonly known, runs from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday and covers the Tigerland area and popular residential areas south of campus.

SAFETY, see page 44

PAGE 12 freshman guide

Professor ratings can help students Web sites provide arguable guidance

By Natalie Roy Contributing Writer

With incoming freshmen preparing for the fall semester, many are looking to teacher and course rating Web sites like aroundu. com and pickaprof.com to pick their classes. And while teachers don’t necessarily believe they are the best tools to rely on, other University students urge freshmen to jump on the rating Web site bandwagon.

On aroundu.com, students can browse by teacher or course and find out their overall student-rating on a scale from zero to 100 percent. Students can also post

individual ratings and comments, along with what grade they received in the course.

“I think incoming freshmen should definitely use those Web sites,” said Andrew Larkin, kinesiology senior. “I use it every semester.

I’ve actually skipped teachers in the past and waited to take a class the following semester just because of bad comments posted about the teacher.”

But some University professors like sociology 2001 instructor Tim Slack believe these Web sites are less accurate than some students may think.

“I’ve checked out the Web sites once or twice out of curiosity,” Slack said. “[And] I do remember seeing some comments and thinking ‘ah, I don’t know about that.’

It’s probably an instructive

tool to a certain extent, but [students] have to remember that it’s not a representative group of students that get on these Web sites and leave comments.”

Most of the comments come from students on “either extreme of the opinion spectrum” that either really enjoyed the class or really hated the class, Slack said.

This makes it difficult for incoming students to get the average opinion about a teacher or class.

Some students like mass communication senior Blake Oestriecher agree with Slack’s viewpoint.

“I’ll use the Web sites as a reference sometimes,” Oestriecher said. “But I won’t make my whole schedule around it. My classes are mostly picked based on what I want my schedule to look

like, rather than who I want my teacher to be. Plus, every student will have a different opinion about what they do and don’t like, so [the Web sites] can’t be completely accurate.”

Slack said one student’s reasoning for not recommending a teacher could be something that may not bother another student at all — like class attendance, for example.

Mass communication 2000 instructor Craig Freeman believes for this reason, students should use another source of class information other than the Web sites.

“Because what’s good for one student isn’t necessarily what’s good for another, I think [students] should actually talk to their friends

PROFESSORS, see page 44

freshman guide PAGE 13

PAGE 14 freshman guide

freshman guide PAGE 15

Career Services provides resources Jump Start helps students pick majors

By Jennifer Raines Contributing Writer

Many first-year University students are taking advantage of the Career Jump Start workshops offered by Career Services.

Arronza Azard, assistant director of Career Decision making at Career Services, said Jump Start was designed as a pilot to offer career and academic major decisionmaking guidance to first-year students. She advises students to take advantage of Career Service while they are in their college years.

“We have so many resources to help students with their career development,” Azard said. “I see so many

graduating seniors that wish they had used the services when they were first-year students.”

To help students choose a major, Azard said she begins by talking with the student about their interests and skills, helping to eliminate certain majors.

“I like to discuss the LSU College System and the available majors,” Azard said. “My goal is to help the student understand all of their available options that might be a good fit for them.”

Sara Crow, assistant director of communication at Career Services, said the University is very much engaged in initiatives to increase retention and lower the amount of time it takes students to graduate.

“One of the ways we can do that is by helping students

get into the right major for them as early on as possible,” Crow said. “The program is specifically geared toward entering students, but certainly ... it is open to anyone who needs career decision making guidance.”

Crow said last year the University formed an Office of First Year Experience of Student Life, whose entire job is to help entering students find a home and be successful at the University.

Crow said the thing she tells first-year students is the comfort of knowing their peers are feeling the same way.

“LSU is a large university, and it’s great that you as an individual can set up an appointment one-on-one with a career decision-making counselor who will talk to you about what you want to do,” Crow said.

She said Career Jump Start is a small group workshop without a lot of people in the classroom for more individualized attention. Azard explained choosing a career is a process, which requires taking certain steps before any decisions can be made.

“The first step is self-evaluation ... [with] a thorough understanding of their interests, skills, values and personality preferences,” Azard said. “I can usually help the student identify several careers that may be a good fit for them ... [then] the student [can] begin researching careers of interests. Students should clarify and confirm their career choice by obtaining career-related experience.”

Contact Jennifer Raines at jraines@lsureveille.com

PAGE 16 freshman guide

Wireless Internet being set up in dorms Students excited about new luxury

By Steven Powell Contributing Writer

Charlton Wilson is often frustrated with the walk to the downstairs commons area for Internet.

“You can’t check Facebook or e-mail in your room,” said the incoming mass communication freshman. “You have to go downstairs to the commons area to get Internet, which can be a hassle. It’s harder to stay in touch with people.”

Wilson said he is staying in East Laville during the summer as part of the Summer Opportunities program.

Steve Waller, director of Residential Life, said wireless Internet installation in University dorms is on track to be

completed by the start of the fall semester after installation began late last fall.

Three dorms — South Hall, West Hall and Broussard Hall — already have functioning wireless internet, and all other residence halls are currently in progress.

Waller said the project will cost $250,000, but the project is funded with money from ResLife bank accounts and reserves, not student fees or rent.

However, Waller said money is needed for equipment maintenance and Internet service, though this money will come from discontinuing dorm room phone lines, since most students prefer cell phones to land lines.

“At first we considered a 1 percent increase in rent,” he said. “But then we decided discontinuing phone lines was a trade off.”

Waller said residents have

the option of setting up a phone line in the dorms for an additional fee.

Sheri Thompson, IT communications and planning officer, said other University wireless transmitters require regular maintenance and have a full-time staff for upkeep.

“There is always work that needs to be done,” she said. “We had several issues this year.

They need to be maintained by full-time professionals.”

Thompson said the wireless routers are 802.11b and 802.11g transmitters, which use a 2.4 GHz ISM radio band.

Qugiong Hehe, economics graduate student, said she lives in Nicholson Apartments, which already has wireless Internet.

“Having wireless in more convenient,” she said. “Ethernet cords can be a problem.”

Though most residential halls are empty during the

summer, a few, such as East Campus Apartments and East Laville, are still functioning.

Waller said students living in these halls will be notified in advance of the installation.

“Hopefully we’ll only have to install transmitters in the halls and breezeways, without entering the rooms,” he said. “Though some may require installation in each room.”

Waller said older dorms with thicker walls will require a transmitter in each room, though some of the newer buildings will require fewer access points.

Wilson said he plans to stay in McVoy Hall in the fall.

He said he is looking forward to having wireless Internet because it will be “much easier.”

Contact Steven Powell at spowell@lsureveille.com

freshman guide PAGE 17

PAGE 18 freshman guide

Swine flu vaccine expected in the fall Officials warn not to panic, overreact

By Natalie Roy Contributing Writer

Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis AG announced the arrival of the first batch of the H1N1 virus vaccine on June 12, but it may take months to reach Louisiana, according to Jimmy Guidry, State Health Officer and Medical Director for the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.

The H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, is the first influenza pandemic since 1968, according to the World Health Organization, and has affected 158 Louisiana residents, including 24 cases in East Baton Rouge Parish.

While swine flu has been

generally mild, those anxious for answers about the vaccine may find themselves waiting at least until flu season.

“The process of producing the vaccine and making sure [it] is safe ... takes time,” Guidry said. “When they find out how many doses they’ll have, they’ll be deciding how they’re going to distribute it, and who’s going to be recommended to receive it.”

Because flu season in Louisiana normally starts around January or February and seasonal flu vaccines are usually given around October and November, the public probably won’t get any answers regarding the swine flu vaccine until this fall, Guidry said.

In the meantime, the DDH and the Office of Public Health are preparing.

“We do a lot of planning

around what we would do as medical professionals if large numbers of people start getting sick,” Guidry said.

“We do tabletop drills with hospitals, we’ve provided some continued education at no charge to medical providers so that they can learn more about this virus, all getting ready for what could be a busy flu season.”

In the beginning of last school year, Guidry said the DDH and OPH also conducted mass vaccination drills, which will help them if the vaccine does become available.

But preparations for the Student Health Center are being put on hold until more information is provided, said Dr. Timothy Honigman, Health Center Chief of Medical Staff.

“We’ve been doing the same flu vaccination pro-

gram every year,” Honigman said. “And almost every year we give out the same number of flu shots ... so we haven’t done anything to prepare [for a busier flu season] just yet.

We’ve been in preparation for a bird flu pandemic for several years and have a protocol, so that preparation has sort of helped us with [swine flu] coming around.”

Honigman said the Health Center is waiting for the FDA to approve the vaccine and make it available to the public before making any decisions.

“A swine flu strain will either be included in the regular flu vaccine in the fall or ... produced separately and given in conjunction with the regular flu vaccine,” Honigman said. “And when [the vaccine] does become availVACCINE, see page 43

Smart phone use on campus rises Mobile Internet becoming necessity

By Robert Stewart Contributing Writer

Timothy Berry said owning a smart phone has changed his life.

Berry, psychology and sociology senior, is one of many University students adapting to life with a smart phone on campus.

A smart phone is a cell phone with advanced features, such as Internet access and email capabilities.

“What I like about it the most is being able to set up my appointments in it and the alarm system and stuff like that,” said Berry, who owns a Samsung BlackJack II. “It

really changed my life basically.”

Berry said his smart phone becomes more of a necessity the longer he owns it.

“It’s basically one of the things that I use on a day-today basis that has become a part of my life,” Berry said.

James Honeycutt, communication studies professor, said he thinks about three students in his summer class of 30 own smart phones.

He said cell phones are a necessity, but smart phones are still a luxury to most consumers given the difficult economic times.

“It could be seen as maybe a necessity, only time will tell. Maybe in a couple of years,” Honeycutt said. “If PHONES, see page 41

freshman guide PAGE 19

PAGE 20 freshman guide

Chlamydia prevalent among freshmen Students having sex should get checked

By Natalie Roy Contributing Writer

While incoming freshmen prepare for the transition into college, worries about apartment décor and class schedules are the norm.

But according to the Centers for Disease Control, the prevalence of Chlamydia among freshmen should be at the top of students’ list of concerns.

College freshmen under the age of 20 are more likely to contract Chlamydia than their older peers, according to a study by Adelbert James, PhD, from Emory University.

The study, which tested a group of 789 students from 10 different colleges in Mis-

sissippi, Alabama and Georgia, found that Chlamydia prevalence in all students was 9.7 percent, while the prevalence among the 263 freshmen was 13 percent.

“The fact that [Chlamydia] is bacterial is going to make it more prevalent,” said Hope McPhatter, Wellness Education Coordinator.

“Bacterial infections, in general, are easier to contract because … they can be easily cured. People take less precautions.”

While the University’s Student Health Center cannot accurately track the exact number of University students tested positive for Chlamydia, the trend among students who get tested at the Health Center seems to correlate with the study.

Out of the 2,097 students tested at the Health Center in 2008, 1.4 percent

— or 29 people — tested positive for Gonorrhea, while a significantly higher amount, 6.8 percent — or 143 students — tested positive for Chlamydia.

“Chlamydia is definitely one of the most common STDs, especially around a college campus,” said McPhatter.

But just because the STD is common does not mean it’s harmless, McPhatter said. Chlamydia, if left untreated, can cause pelvic inflammatory disease and sterility in women.

“The younger the woman is is definitely a factor,” said McPhatter “A younger girl’s [cervical cells] are immature, making her more susceptible to STD contraction. That’s another reason why a freshman is more likely to contract Chlamydia.”

This boom of Chlamyd-

ial infection among young adults has prompted universities nationwide to educate college students about sexual health.

Aside from the Health Center and Wellness Education Department, the University is reaching out to students early through freshmen orientation presentations and student organizations like Student Health Advocates, which McPhatter advises.

“I found, from going into the dorms and doing presentations on STDs, that a lot of freshmen just weren’t presented with … anything considering sexual health,” said Laura Rachal, University alumna and former SHA president. “Freshmen are more likely to try new things.

And though safer decisions can elude anyone from my CHLAMYDIA, see page 43

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PAGE 22 freshman guide

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PAGE 24 freshman guide

Athletic Dept. plans ticket allocation Freshmen may have package options

By Xerxes A. Wilson Contributing Writer

Saturday night in Tiger Stadium is one of the most anticipated experiences for incoming University freshmen, but freshmen may only be able to attend half of the upcoming season’s home games.

If upperclassmen — who get priority for reserving tickets — reserve more than 14,000 of the 15,000 tickets allocated to students, incoming freshmen will have to choose between two separate three-game packages with the option of adding the game against Arkansas played the day after Thanksgiving, said Hunter Geisman student ticket coordinator.

One package would include the game against Flori-

da, the other would include the game against Auburn.

There is also a possibility that more than 1,000 tickets will remain after upperclassmen reserve, this would allow the ticket office to offer the full eight-game home package to incoming freshmen, Geisman said.

“Last year and 2003 were fluke years because we were coming off national championships,” Geisman said. “Both of those years we had less than 1,000 tickets remaining for the incoming freshman. Every year other than those two, we have been able to fulfill full [seven-game] packages for incoming freshmen. Coming off an 8-5 year, I would say it is more likely than last year that they would get the full game package, but it just depends on what the upperclassmen do.”

Offering split packages will allow a larger amount of

freshmen to experience Tiger Stadium instead of having half of those students go to every home game, said student government president Stuart Watkins.

Student government have been working with the athletic department to avoid a situation like last year where freshmen were expecting to get full season packages until their time to reserve in August, said student body vice president Martina Scheuermann.

“Our biggest concern is education, because last year [the athletic department] didn’t get the word out early enough and freshmen came through orientation thinking they were going to get a full package, but they get online and only get half the package,” Scheuermann said. “I think that is where a lot of the negative feelings about it came up, because they were not informed.”

Freshmen will find out if they will be able to get full season packages in August after upperclassmen finish reservations, Geisman said.

Student government is also working with the athletic department to implement a plan that will punish upperclassmen for not attending the football games they have reserved tickets to. Under this plan, any student who does not attend three home games or earn a total of 60 priority points will be demoted to freshman level when reserving tickets the following season, Watkins said.

“We want to reward the people who are actively going to all the games with the hope of being able to offer more freshman tickets in years to come,” Watkins said.

Contact Xerxes A. Wilson at xwilson@lsureveille.com

freshman guide PAGE 25

Music festival discussed for Tiger Stadium Country concert aimed for 2010

By Steven Powell Contributing Writer

Saturday night in Tiger Stadium could imply more than football soon.

Quint Davis, producer of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and other New Orleans festivals, wants to hold a country music festival in Tiger Stadium on Memorial weekend 2010 and wants the City of Baton Rouge to contribute $300,000.

Mike Futrell, Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish chief administrative officer, said Mayor-President Kip Holden and the city support the festival, and now so does the Metro Council, which heard the proposal in late June.

“We were approached by the producers of the festival and asked to sponsor this event,” Holden said. “After some analysis, we decided to bring it before the council.”

The event would be called the Super Bayou Country Fest, and would take place May 29-30, Futrell said.

“This is held during a time when Baton Rouge needs business most,” said Paul Arrigo, president and CEO of Baton Rouge Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Hotels are available, and many people tend to leave the city. This might lure folks to stay here and invite family and friends to enjoy the festival and community.”

Arrigo said negotiations between organizations and the metro council are not unusual — the city invested almost the same amount of money for the 2005 Miss Teen USA

Daily Reveille file photo

Tiger Stadium could be the venue for a country music festival during Memorial Day weekend in 2010.

pageant.

Futrell said if accepted, the festival will cost $6 million, with the City contributing $300,000 from a 2008 budget surplus.

He said the anticipated economic return for the city is $22 million.

“This is an economic development for Baton Rouge,” he said. “That’s a pretty good return on our investment.”

Arrigo said if the city invests in the festival, the Baton Rouge Area ConvenFESTIVAL, see page 38

PAGE 26 freshman guide

College pets aren’t always a bad choice Responsible students make good owners

By Sarah Aycock Special to The Daily Reveille

Many parents are familiar with the nagging college student begging for a pet. And while some students are content with the betta fish that seem to come included with most apartments, other students miss the companionship of a dog or cat.

Students asking for pets undoubtedly would assert they are able to take care of an animal, experts vary in their opinions about that.

The conventional wisdom holds that college students aren’t responsible enough and are too busy for pets, but Ryan Andree, behavioral consultant and dog

trainer with The Dog House in Baton Rouge, disagrees.

“There is no better time to have a pet,” Andree said.

“With a few exceptions, there is no other time in your life that will allow you the open schedule that you have as a student. I raised two dogs in college who were the most well behaved animals I ever had.”

Rebecca and Natalie Flores agree. The two sisters from Lafayette have had Lucy, an Italian greyhound-terrier mix, for four years.

Rebecca Flores, English senior, said her parents were wary of her having a dog at first, but once they met Lucy they changed their minds.

“My parents really love dogs, and they thought it might make me more responsible.”

courtesy of Sarah Aycock

Rebecca Flores, English senior, walks her dog Lucy around her apartment complex.

Natalie Flores, LSU alumna, said Lucy is a pretty easy dog to own. “She’s happy inside, she’s happy outside, she doesn’t eat too much, she’s pretty easygoing.”

The two sisters live in a condominium and their opposite schedules allow them to take good care of Lucy.

Natalie Flores wakes up PETS, see page 37

freshman guide PAGE 27

PAGE 28 freshman guide

freshman guide PAGE 29

Clubs provide extracurricular options Students have plenty of choices

By Byrony D. Stocker Special to The Daily Reveille

All work and no play make a dull boy or girl. It doesn’t look good on a resumé, either. In these tough economic times students need to differentiate themselves and demonstrate the transferable skills employers want.

From quiz bowls to wizards, Louisiana State University has you covered with an organization or club to suit nearly every need, taste or fantasy.

“Being the president of a club landed me a job that is potentially the start of a career,” says Adam Silcio “All the hard work I put into building the [Wakeboard Club]

has definitely paid off.”

As Louisiana State Univesity campus representative for Apple Inc., the marketing senior sees a bright future for himself and urges his fellow students to get involved.

At the start of each semester, LSU holds a Student Organization Fair to showcase the hundreds of clubs and organizations on campus.

“I’ve been here about 10 years” said Michelle Eldredge, associate director of LSU Campus Life. “When I started there were 300 organizations and now it ranges from 340 to 360.”

Campus Life, which organized the fair, currently recognizes 353 active student organizations, making the 2008-09 academic terms a peak year. Less than a third of the organizations registered to participate in

courtesy of Byrony D. Stocker

Members of the LSU quiddich club try to raise awareness for their organization outside Coates Hall.

the fair this January, but that still offers plenty of choices for students.

Sports may be the first thing to leap to mind, but not everyone can get a coveted place on an SEC-level athletic team. For those less

athletically gifted, there are a number of intramural and non-competitive sports clubs ranging from ballroom dancing to women’s rugby and ultimate Frisbee.

CLUBS, see page 35

PAGE 30 freshman guide

Univ. student earns Truman Scholarship De Gruy seeks job in public service

By Kyle Whitfield Special to The Daily Reveille

Micaela de Gruy calls it “irony at its worst.”

An active student with Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) at Denham Springs High, de Gruy mourned the death of a close friend who was killed in a drunk driving accident about two years ago. He was19.

“Through that I saw my friends and myself that it was a real hard time for us,” she said. “We had social workers kind of come in, and counselors help us through that time. I realized how much good that does on an individual level.”

The accident rocked de Gruy’s world, but through tragedy she realized she wanted to switch her career path from legal analysis to public service. And thanks to classroom excellence and this new outlook, the Louisiana State University Honors College student landed the coveted Truman Scholarship in late March.

She is the fifth LSU student to earn the scholarship, which provides up to $30,000 for graduate study and includes priority admission and additional financial aid at a few premier graduate schools, leadership training, career and graduate counseling and special internship opportunities with the federal government.

But even by capturing such a prestigious award, de Gruy has maintained her

unassuming profile. She doesn’t sound “scholarly,” and she’s the first to admit it. She didn’t exactly have her brightest moment when LSU chancellor Michael Martin called to deliver the good news.

“Michael Martin calls, and he says, ‘Hi, this is Mike Martin,’” de Gruy recalled.

“And in all of my Truman glory I said, ‘Who?’ and he said, ‘Your chancellor, Michael Martin.’ I went, ‘Oh gosh. Hi.’” Like any many other college juniors, she wears designer clothes, loves baseball and doesn’t mind a little sarcasm. She jokes about how her childhood doesn’t exactly jive with her big-time college career. As a child, de Gruy’s parents and younger brother loved racing cars. They still do.

“Like dirt track – hardcore country,” she said De Gruy remembers going out of town every weekend to races, noting She grew up around “dirt engines and loud noises” as she watched her father do what he loved most.

Even her mother loves the sport. “I was destined to be a tomboy but never ended up that way.”

So de Gruy was the odd one out.

“When she was little, she was very much the girly girl and didn’t like to get dirty,” de Gruy’s mother, Debby, said. “When she was a toddler we were taking her to the track, and it’s very dirty. She just never really got into it that much.

She had other interests.”

SCHOLAR, see page 32

The Elite 8

Important people to know around campus MICHAEL MARTIN over the all the LSU campuses Chancellor Michael Mar- across the state. tin is a character — especially Martin and Lombardi considering he’s don’t always

By Jerit Roser the top Universisee eye-to-eye, summer editor ty administrator. which provides But he’s got a tough job all the more reason for students on his plate guiding LSU’s Ba- watch them as they keep an inton Rouge campus through its formed opinion on how their budget crisis.

University should be run.

If this isn’t enough reason for you newly starving college STUART WATKINS students to keep an eye on him, Stuart Watkins is the Stuwatch out for the Late-Night dent Government president and Pancake Breakfast he’ll host at has already been hard at work the end of the semester. this summer with Martina Scheuermann, his vice president, JOHN LOMBARDI representing the University’s While Martin steers the student body to representatives Baton Rouge campus through and state officials as the budget tough times, LSU System Pres- for higher education was deterident John Lombardi watches mined.

freshman guide PAGE 31

PAGE 32 freshman guide SCHOLAR, from page 30 Those other interests were serving the public and helping others.

At a recent football game sponsored by the Baptist Collegiate Ministry – an event de Gruy headed this year – she didn’t stop helping. When de Gruy’s roommate, Alana Blackwell, was ready to leave the event, she couldn’t find de Gruy.

“She’s the one in the truck organizing the equipment, she’s the one doing those jobs,” Blackwell said.

“She was organizing all the helmets, the pads and making sure everything was going back to its place.”

It’s a small thing, Blackwell said, but a perfect description of de Gruy.

That motivation to serve made de Gruy a prime candidate for the Truman Scholarship. With the help of Drew Lamonica Arms, director of fellowship advis-

ing at LSU Honors College, she began the applying in October.

“I wrote in my recommendation letter that she wears her passion and her compassion on her sleeve,” Arms said. “She is one of the most genuine people I’ve ever known. She’s cried a lot in my office. She’s had some tough times.”

De Gruy went through the strenuous application process, which requires candidates to explain their graduate plans in public service in detail. On March 18, de Gruy flew to Dallas for finalist interviews. She thought she didn’t have a chance. Huddled in a room with the rest of the finalists, de Gruy sensed she fell short.

“This one guy was sitting next to me drawing molecular diagrams of like HIV cells. There was a girl a little bit farther down who was talking about how she

got a strain of tuberculosis from Afghanistan,” de Gruy said. “Awesome. I called my mom, and I was like, ‘Mom, these people are like curing cancer.’”

But de Gruy’s downto-earth, modest personality apparently boosted her chances.

“She’s not, perhaps, as polished as someone you may think of,” Arms said, “but that actually speaks in her favor, particularly for the Truman [Scholarship]. They’re not looking for people who are going to spin things.”

Before graduating in December, de Gruy will work in Africa, teaching children leadership development and vision.

De Gruy’s ultimate goal is to start a center that trains refugees to be social workers in their home countries. The problem in Africa, de Gruy said, is a vicious cycle where people

fight over food because of corrupt leaders. Her idea of training social workers in the U.S. and sending them back home with that knowledge, she predicts, will help break the cycle.

De Gruy isn’t shy about much. She’s not joking when she says she wants to save Africa and move on to the Middle East – all while having a family.

“I dream big,” she said.

Debby de Gruy describes her daughter as unassuming, modest and humble, and the scholarship, she said, is the most satisfying reward for her daughter’s continuously selfless outlook on life.

“I’m just amazed by her. Now everyone knows how brilliant she is – not just me.”

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

freshman guide PAGE 33

PAGE 34 freshman guide

CLUBS, from page 29

Students who find that too tame and desire something a little more radical can get involved in wakeboarding, which takes spectacular board stunts onto the water.

“Wakeboarding is an extreme sport,” says Adam Silcio. What makes it more exciting is avoiding alligators while carrying out flips and spins on a stretch of the Amite River near Prairieville, he said.

That might sound dangerous, but the club takes measures to ensure riders don’t end up as gator bait.

“The boat and rider scares them away and we do not feed any of the animals that we see,” Adam said.

The sport of Quidditch was created by J.K. Rowling and is featured in the Harry Potter series of books which take place in a school for wizards. In the books the sport is played by wizards on

flying broomsticks, but in its ‘muggle’ (non-wizard) form there is no flying. Players run around riding a broom like children pretending to ride a hobby horse.

Dustin Harless is thepresident of the LSU Quidditch Club – and quite proud of it. In the fall 2008 season, LSU defeated the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and took fourth place at the intercollegiate Quidditch World Cup held in Vermont.

To exercise the brain, there is also plenty to choose from, including Students for the Promotion of Antiquity and the Quiz Bowl Club.

The latter is for those people who can’t help shouting out the answers to shows like Jeopardy and the former for those who like to wear togas and spout Latin.

For those seeking a career rather than a hobby, there are a number of professional societies. The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps

freshman guide PAGE 35

holds out the promise of a commission in the Air Force and has a variety of scholarships. There is also the potential to win a flying slot.

Loren Faire, chemical engineering major, describes the corps as “the best leadership training you can get.”

Hill Farm Community Garden offers lessons for a greener life by instructing students in growing fruit and vegetables. Members also get a share of the gardens crop giving them fresh produce to supplement the standard student diet of pizza or mac n’ cheese.

“I can grow my own produce, for cheaper than I can get it in the store and it tastes a whole lot better,” said Moshe Cohen, mathematics graduate student and community garden member.

A political bent or social conscience can be developed through volunteering opportunities with organizations such as Engineers without

Borders and Habitat for Humanity. Political groups range from the mainstream parties to special interest groups. The Students for Sensible Drug Policy seek to decriminalize drugs.

To expand not just the mind but the soul, there are religious societies which open welcoming arms to students.

“We accept anyone,” said the members of the Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship.

They demonstrate this by having Sassy the Sasquatch as one of their members.

If none of the 353 registered organizations appeals, students they can always start their own clubs. All they need is a passion for their chosen activity and the drive to make it happen.

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

PAGE 36 freshman guide

freshman guide PAGE 37 PETS, from page 26

early to go to work, while Rebecca’s classes don’t start until later. This means Lucy spends less time alone.

“It’s been easier taking care of her with Rebecca here,” Natalie Flores said.

While these two sisters work to coordinate Lucy’s care, some students don’t think the situation through, says Hilton Cole, director of the East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control Center. He said students often surrender dogs as school comes to a close.

“There’s no doubt, anecdotally at least, that at the end of the semester, especially as the summer draws near, there seems to be a little bit of an uptake of animals that are abandoned in apartments. Sometimes they sign the animals over to us; sometimes they leave them with people who don’t really want them.”

One thing that everyone are very rarely the dog’s agrees on, though, is that it fault,” Andree said. “Most is necessary to do research behavior problems stem before getting a pet. There from poor socialization and are certain things students improper interaction with need to consider before your pet.” adopting an Andree ‘With a few exceptions, animal, said also said Cole. s t u d e nts there is no other time in your “ C a n must realthey keep life that will allow you the ize there the animal open schedule you have as a are lifestyle where they changes student.’ are? That’s that need one of the to be made Ryan Andree main reain order to sons people behavioral consultant and dog trainer, p r o p e r l y The Dog House (surrender) care for a their animal pet. because they’re moving and “They have to realize can’t take their animal to that a pet is definitely a retheir new world. The cost, sponsibility and a financial including food and veteri- burden. They might have to nary care, also needs to be stay home some nights, they considered.” might need to miss imporAndree said that before tant things to take care of a getting a dog, students need sick dog, they will need to to make sure they have time find a place to board the dog to train it to avoid behavior or find someone to watch problems. him or her when traveling “Behavior problems out of town.”

‘‘

Rebecca Flores said having Lucy has cut down on her spontaneity but having the dog is worth it.

“You have to come home every night,” Rebecca Flores said. “You can’t just take off and go to New Orleans. You have to plan.”

Natalie Flores said the most important thing for students to consider when looking for a pet is to make sure it fits into his or her lifestyle.

“If you like to run and spend time outdoors, get a dog that’s fit for that,” she said. “I didn’t have a lot of time to train a puppy, so I adopted Lucy when she was 2. You just have to make sure you pick the right animal. You get as much out of it as you put into it.”

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

PAGE 38 freshman guide FESTIVAL, from page 25

tion and Visitors Bureau will match the City’s $300,000 if the BRACVB board votes in favor.

Athletic Director Joe Alleva said Tiger Stadium has never held an event like this before, but he thinks the festival is good for the city and the University. He said the stadium would be an ideal venue because of the ample seating and parking.

Alleva said he anticipates having one big stage at the south end of the field with seats and concession stands on the ground level, in addition to the stadium seats and concession stands. He said the field would be protected with a floor-like covering.

Alleva said the chance for a permanent event depends on the success of the festival.

“Attendance and success will depend on the talent of the artists we bring in,” he said. “This has a chance to

be a huge success for Baton Palazzotto said there is Rouge and the University.” a strong market for country Money for the event will music in Baton Rouge, with go to the Athletic Department Garth Brooks selling out conbecause this is an official Ath- certs at the PMAC in the early letic Department event, Al- ’90s. However, he said excesleva said. sive heat could be a problem Johnny Palazzotto, Ba- for festival-goers if the event ton Rouge is held in Tiger concert Stadium. p r o d u c e r, “ H e a t hosted the could be a facJuke in the tor,” Alleva Box music said. “If it’s 98 festival in degrees like 1984 at the it has been old Alex lately, it would Mike Futrell Box Stabe tough, but dium. He Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge hopefully temsaid a coun- Parish chief administrative official perature won’t try music be a factor.” festival has a great chance for Stephan Hardy, computer success in Baton Rouge, but engineering senior, said Tiger he doesn’t believe Tiger Sta- Stadium is a good place for a dium is the place for it. festival because of its conve“When has there been a nient location, but he doesn’t festival in a football stadium?” think he would attend unless he said. “They are comparing there were big-named perthis to Jazz Fest; having a fes- formers. tival in a football stadium is “I’m not a big country not the same as Jazz Fest.” music fan,” he said. “But if

‘‘

‘It will be different than Jazz Fest, but we hope it will be as successful.’

there were some big stars and I had nothing better to do, I’d go.”

Hardy said he thinks the festival could be successful because of country music’s popularity in Baton Rouge.

“Being a foreign student, I would definitely attend something like this because of the cultural experience,” said June No, food science senior.

No said he thinks Tiger Stadium would be a good festival site because of its capacity for spectators.

“We hope this is an annual event that will grow every year,” Futrell said. “It will be different than Jazz Fest, but we hope it will be as successful and well known across the country as a signature event for Louisiana.”

Contact Steven Powell at spowell@lsureveille.com

freshman guide PAGE 39

PAGE 40 freshman guide

PHONES, from page 19

the economy swings up, then it’ll go from being more of a luxury to a necessity.”

Honeycutt owns a new iPhone 3GS, which he has had for about a week. He said the features he likes about his iPhone are e-mails, reading the news and the ability to zoom in and out on screen.

One feature he also touted is the GPS, which he says is a less popular, but “critical,” application.

“Let’s say you’re in New Orleans and you get lost,” Honeycutt said. “That fear of crime can be alleviated because of the GPS. It could actually enhance maybe the idea of psychological security with that.”

Danny Tran, biological sciences junior, has owned the AT&T Tilt smart phone for about a year.

Tran said he has grown “pretty dependent” on his smart phone because he can

use it in place of a computer for certain tasks.

“It’s made my life easier because there’s Internet on it, so whenever I want to look up show times or something to a movie, I can just pull out my phone,” Tran said.

Malorie Holmes, marketing junior, ‘Human has an iPbeings hone she as a adapt... got Christmas And so gift last now we’re December.

She said adapting to she isn’t as technology.’ attached to her phone James Honneycutt as Berry or Tran, communication but she studies professor said it has made her life easier.

Holmes said the only thing she doesn’t like about her iPhone is she hasn’t been able to get multimedia messages.

“Apparently with the new

freshman guide PAGE 41

software, you’re supposed to be able to, but I just haven’t figured that out,” she said. “I don’t think it’s a necessity. It’s definitely a luxury. I could live without it. I’m not that dependent on it. It’s definitely just convenient.”

Chloe Seydel, an incoming freshman and Samsung Behold owner, primarily uses her smart phone for entertainment.

“There’s so much I can do on it,” she said. “I love having music on my phone. I never thought I would need it. But now that I have it, I couldn’t live without it.”

But while Seydel enjoys her phone’s features, she said her life hasn’t been changed because of it.

“There’s definitely stuff I don’t use. I never use Bluetooth. I barely even know what that is,” Seydel said. “It’s just a phone. You make calls on it.”

Honeycutt said some people consider a smart phone

more of a toy than a requirement.

He said stereotypes about media usage have led people to believe smart phone users can become addicted to their device.

Dan Burgin, mechanical engineering freshman, is a smart phone user who doesn’t find his BlackBerry Curve indispensable.

“Some of the features I don’t use,” Burgin said. “Just having a cell phone is more of a necessity ... I mean, it’s nice to have, but I wouldn’t say I need a smart phone.”

Honeycutt said many people today are intrigued by smart phones because of the technological generation in which we live.

“Human beings adapt,” he said. “Throughout evolution, there’s been adaptability.

And so now we’re adapting to technology.”

Contact Robert Stewart at rstewart@lsureveille.com

PAGE 42 freshman guide

freshman guide PAGE 43 VACCINE, from page 18

able, we’ll have it.”

But the availability and future distributors of the vaccine are mainly dependent on how much of the vaccine is produced, Guidry said.

“If we had large numbers of the vaccine ... we can go through the health care process and ... several markets,” Guidry said. “If there’s not a lot of the vaccine available, it will probably [be distributed] through the government [to] people who are most at risk

CHLAMYDIA, from page 20

can elude anyone from my experience in the residence halls, it’s always the freshmen who are uninformed.”

The Health Center, along with SHA, now use freshmen orientation as an opportunity to inform incoming and more unaware students about the importance of sexual health through skits and presenta-

of getting deathly ill. The CDC usually gives a protocol on who should get the vaccine should that happen.”

Another determinant of when the vaccine will become available is the swine flu itself.

“If you look in past history, one [pandemic] in 1918 came out in the spring then waned ... in the summer,” Guidry said. “But then it came back with a vengeance in the winter. That’s ... why we’re watching this virus.

Most experts feel that ...

we’re more than likely [to] see resurgence in the winter.

The question is if it’s going to be just a mild flu like it is now or a virus that ... has mutated to where it causes more disease.”

If the swine flu mutates, the scientists who worked to create the current vaccine will be “back to square one,” Guidry said.

But both Guidry and Honigman wanted to remind people that the vaccine is not necessary for most people, so there is no reason to panic

if the vaccine is not obtained by flu season.

“People don’t take common illnesses seriously until they see something new like [swine flu],” Guidry said.

“There are things around that are probably more deadly that they don’t pay nearly as much attention to. So the main thing is that they keep themselves informed, don’t panic and ... follow [health officials’] advice.”

tions, Rachal said.

“Even if [freshmen] think they know all about STDs, believe me, there’s a lot more out there to know,” Rachal said. “The SHA club itself is helpful because … sometimes it’s easier to talk to one of your friends or peers about [sexual health.]”

Aside from making an appointment at the Student Health Center, the “Ask

Mike” Web page located on the Wellness Education Department’s Web site is a good way for “the scared freshman” to ask anonymous questions about sexual health, said McPhatter.

Also, starting in fall 2009, mystudentbody.com, which has an alcohol course every freshman must complete, will be adding an STD module to the Web site to

help students obtain vital sexual health information, McPhatter said.

“It’s very important for us to try to teach those healthy sexual behaviors early,” McPhatter said. “Because what you do now shapes what you do as an adult.”

Contact Natalie Roy at nroy@lsureveille.com

Contact Natalie Roy at nroy@lsureveille.com

PAGE 44 freshman guide PROFESSORS, from page 12

and … peers,” Freeman said.

“That’s a much better way to get information about a class.”

The type of student also determines the comments, Freeman said. A student who devotes sufficient time to the class and attends class regularly has a different and more accurate perspective than a student who seldom goes to class, he said.

“I wish we could know more about what kind of student the people evaluating the Web sites are, so students could be more informed about what’s going on,” Freeman said. “And not to give students a hard time, but I think the lazier students pick the easier way and use the Web sites in place of talking to their peers, which is what a student serious about their education should do.”

And while both professors are highly rated on

the Web sites, they say they would never let any comments or rating influence themselves or their classes.

“It’s probably difficult for [freshmen] to get a very good feel for their classes,” Slack said. “So I wouldn’t dissuade freshmen from looking at these websites, I just want to caution them … that the comments [are] not always representative of the classes.”

But while this may be true, Larkin said his experiences have always corresponded with the Web sites’ advice.

“I’ve never had an experience that has been different from comments on the Web sites,” Larkin said. “It’s usually pretty accurate. I’m not saying that freshmen should completely rely on them, but it doesn’t hurt to look.”

Contact Natalie Roy at nroy@lsureveille.com

SAFETY, from page 11

Saichuck said freshmen also face increased dangers when it comes to socializing.

“Freshman may be inexperienced as it relates to alcohol consumption and [may have] the perception that everyone is drinking and partying and thinking they need to ‘fit in,’” Saichuck said. “Remember, it takes only one drink for females and two drinks for males to affect cognition and judgement resulting in poor decision making.”

Saichuck said there are environmental crime statistics which indicate more crimes within certain proximity to bars.

“Never leave your drink unattended, and never accept a drink from someone you really don’t know,” Saichuck said. “If you ever experience a salty taste in a beverage that should not be salty, do not drink the beverage.”

Leaving the credit card at home and instead relying on a limited cash supply is another way to reduce risk, according to Saichuck.

Another form of socializing, Facebook, also poses threats if not used properly.

“Facebook can be a good source for social networking and keeping in touch with friends, but caution should be used when posting information,” Saichuck said.

“Protecting your personal information is critical to preventing illegal use of your identity and keeping stalkers and pedophiles from gaining access to your life.”

Keep personal information such as pictures and activities limited, and be strict when accepting friend requests, Saichuck suggested.

Contact Katie Kennedy at kkennedy@lsureveille.com

freshman guide PAGE 45

PAGE 46 freshman guide HEALTH, from page 8

ular basis is essential, said Becky Ellzey, supervisor for UREC’s Healthy Lifestyles.

“The American College of Sports Medicine recommends … between 30 and 60 minutes of cardio most days of the week,” Ellzey said.

“Students [should spend] two to three days a week doing resistance training using weights, with at least 8-10 reps of at least 8 different exercises.”

And if [freshmen] aren’t comfortable with the gym scene just yet, Ellzey said going to the circuit room or participating in intramurals are both excellent ways to stay fit.

“Also, in the fall, we’ll have free nutrition assessments at [Healthy Lifestyles],” Ellzey said. “The dietician from the Student Health Center will be here to give an assessment to anyone who wants to sign up.

And we’ll have free fitness servative surrounding to a assessments and free circuit place where they are free to room orientation.” experiment sexually tend to Sleep is another vital, overlook sexual health isyet commonly overlooked, sues, when it should actually health factor that freshmen be a primary concern. should focus on, Saichuk “Obviously, if you’re said. abstinent — and by that I “They need to make mean you maintain no genisure they’re tal contact — getting a ‘Maintaining healthy then your risk minimum of contracteating will definitely ing [an STD] of seven to eight is zero,” Saiaffect whether hours of chuk said. [students] get a sleep,” Sai“But if you good night’s sleep.’ are sexually chuk said.

“Maintainactive, then Kathy Saichuk ing healthy you need to eating will Wellness Education Coordinator make sure definitely you’re using affect whether they get a protection … and getting a good night’s sleep, and also regular physical checkup bewhether they’re thinking cause most people who have clearly and maintaining a STDs … show no signs or high energy level.” symptoms. They can come Sexual health is another right here to the health cenhealth issue that concerns ter, we have two gynecolostudents less than it should, gists on staff. “ Saichuk said. Freshmen Saichuk said STD testcoming from a more con- ing, which ranges from $11

‘‘

to $78 depending on the kind of test, is completely confidential, so students won’t have to worry about what will show up on their parents’ bill.

“No one can find out about any results without the student giving permission,” Saichuk said.

And besides physical health, Saichuk and Ellzey both agree that mental health, especially when making the transition from high school to college, is especially important.

“If [freshmen] are feeling overwhelmed or stressed out … they should be aware that there are many resources on campus of people they can talk to,” Saichuk said.

“They should definitely utilize the services available to them to ensure a … safe first year.”

Contact Natalie Roy at nroy@lsureveille.com

freshman guide PAGE 47 RUMORS, from page 10

tive.”

Dabney said he strongly encourages students to take advantage of CAS’ services, such as free tutoring and counseling, and recommends students to visit their Web site, ‘I was told c a s . l s u . never to edu. “ I eat in the was told cafeteria.’ if you’re hit by a Gregory Shaw car while business management w a l k i n g in a crosssophomore walk, the University will pay your tuition,” said Lemar Clifford, political science senior.

Clifford said he believed the rumor until he read an article that uncovered common University rumors.

“I was told to never eat in the cafeteria,” said Gregory Shaw, business management sophomore. “I don’t

know why I was told that, the dining halls have good food.”

Sefa said most of the rumors she heard were from older friends, most of whom also believed the rumors.

“Some students assume that a college campus is some kind of safe zone,” Ray said. “We try to tell new students to always be aware of their surroundings. Most [students] are not aware that campus transit will come and get them at any time.”

Ray said First Year Experience services as an outreach to first year students, and is available to answer any questions.

“If students have questions about rumors or other information, they can email us at FYE@lsu.edu,” he said.

Contact Steven Powell at spowell@lsureveille.com

PARKING, from page 7

tories and Patrick F. Taylor Hall (formerly CEBA).

A few clicks of the mouse on your personal PAWS page will secure a parking permit for either a commuter or residential permit.

You’ll likely notice almost all of your parking options are located around the outskirts of campus, away from your classes.

The reason for this — Easy Streets — is a point of aggrivation among LSU students. Easy Streets went into effect in the fall of 2007, closing campus streets from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

The purpose is to make campus more pedestrianfriendly during class hours, but it also makes a large portion of campus inaccessible to traffic during the day.

“If this is a walking only campus, they should give the freshmen closer lots for ori-

entation. It’s too hot to walk across campus,” said Amber Shepard, communications studies senior.

All streets and parking lots open to all permits (and cars without permits) after 4:30 p.m. and on weekends.

If any freshmen plan on returning to campus this summer after their orientation, there are also several off-campus sites with reasonable parking.

The side streets around campus, such as State and Carlotta Streets, near the North Gate by Raising Cane’s are open to all traffic and within walking distance of campus.

There are also spaces available near West Campus Apartments behind the Pentagon.

Contact David Helman at dhelman@lsureveille.com

PAGE 48 freshman guide

freshman guide PAGE 49 FOOTBALL, from page 6

gate — There’s nothing better than standing out in the heat with friends, eating some jambalaya and trying to find legal places to pee (keep an eye out for port-opotties).

Well, maybe there is something better, but definitely not on a Saturday during football season.

Look at the hordes of tailgaters covering nearly every inch of University grass to get some ideas for a tailgate party all your own.

Get there early — Tiger Stadium gates open three hours before kick off, and depending on how close you want to be to the action, getting there about an hour early is usually a good idea.

It all depends on the game, though.

Make sure to be there at least a couple hours early for high-profile games against teams like Auburn

LSU Museum of Art, Shaw Center of the Arts

or Florida. Strolling in at kickoff is usually safe for the Tulane game.

Learn the cheers — There’s one for first down, second down and third. Plus a few more.

But don’t be intimidated — pay attention to the cheer experts around you, and you’ll be fist pumping, finger pointing and screaming with Tiger fan veterans in no time.

Paint it up — Every University student should try body paint at least once during their time as a Tiger. Get a few buddies and bottles of paint together for a classic show of school pride. If you’re lucky — and popular — try to spell the full “Louisiana State University.� You might even appear on TV. Get a sausage po-boy — A staple for many Tiger fans, the slightly spicy Tiger Stadium tradition is perfect with some ketchup and

a cold drink.

Speaking of drinks, get your hands on a mediumsized coke for some takehome china. Or try one of the delicious frozen lemonades, available in original and strawberry.

Bring a plastic bag — You never know when it’s going to rain. You’ll be glad you have it to protect your cell phones, cameras and tickets. Also, a poncho is a good idea because you can’t bring an umbrella into the stadium.

Leave the partying outside — security is pretty tight in Death Valley, so don’t try to sneak anything in. It’s not worth missing the game.

Make sure you print out the right ticket — if you get your football tickets emailed to you, it’s pretty easy to print out the wrong one. Check and double check that piece of paper before you get to the gate.

LSU STUDENTS Select LSU MUSEUMS when you register!

Visit Mike the Tiger — the majestic, fierce and lovable tiger lives just a few yards from Tiger Stadium in a habitat nicer than possibly any dorm room on campus.

There’s a bronze statue of Mike near his habitat — climb on top for a perfect photo opportunity.

Stay the whole game — you might miss the biggest comeback in LSU history.

Just ask the thousands of fans who missed LSU’s come-from-behind victory against Troy State. It was cold, but the Tigers eventually warmed up for a history-making comeback.

Contact Kyle Bove at kbove@lsureveille.com

LSU Rural Life Museum, Essen Lane at I-10

Become a student member of both museums for only $15 &REE ADMISSION TO BOTH OF THESE AMAZING MUSEUMS FOR YEAR

MUSEUM OF ART MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES: s -EMBERS ONLY EVENTS s $ISCOUNT AT -USEUM 3TORE s $ISCOUNT AT 3HAW #ENTER FOR THE !RTS RESTAURANTS #APITAL #ITY 'RILL 4SUNAMI 0* S #OFFEE s 6)0 #ARD AT ## S #OFFEE (OUSE 4HESE DISCOUNTS APPLY TO ,35 -/! MEMBERS ONLY -EMBERS MUST SHOW THEIR MEMBERSHIP CARD AND PICTURE ) $ TO RECEIVE THE DISCOUNT

*UST GO TO !DDITIONAL 3ERVICES AND SELECT ,35 -53%5-3 &OR MORE INFORMATION ON THE MUSEUMS VISIT OUR WEBSITES www.lsu.edu/lsumoa and www.rurallife.lsu.edu $OWNTOWN 3HUTTLE 3ERVICE

PAGE 50 freshman guide FOOD, from page 5

destination for every student with nothing better to do at any hour of any day. Here you can partake in such delicacies as Pizza Hut, Blimpie, Starbucks and PJ’s Coffee. There was a McDonald’s that closed for remodeling, but I have it on good authority the arches will be back up and running sometime soon, much to the delight of Reveille employees and students everywhere.

A little extra snooping and you’ll find there’s an on-campus Subway behind Middleton Library, and a one-stop snack shop just across the way from Patrick F. Taylor Hall.

Delivery If you’re too drunk, stoned or immersed in your sick Call of Duty kill streak to wander about LSU, fear not. There are many locations which can bring your dinner right to your building or apartment.

There are several pizza

places to choose from — national chains as well as local joints such as Rotolo’s and Mellow Mushroom and Reginelli’s — but it wouldn’t be college if you couldn’t order chicken wings and/or General Tso’s chicken right to your door at 1 a.m. Located less than a mile from campus, you’ll find the likes of Pluckers Wing Bar and Chinese Inn, and yes, they both deliver.

Adventure If you or a friend has a car and a sense of adventure, the world of Baton Rouge dining is at your finger tips.

Just off campus at the North Gate, you can find such revered institutions as Louie’s Café — campus area’s only 24/7 dining option — and Raising Cane’s and its chicken finger glory, as well as Inga’s sandwiches.

Another location I’ll advise any freshman to familiarize him or herself with immediately is University Plaza,

located just outside campus.

Here you can find the aforementioned Mellow Mushroom, Izzo’s Illegal Burrito, Subway and of course Nine Dragon Chinese.

Yes, my friends, at college you can eat basically every type of food in the same parking lot without driving more than a mile out of your way.

And what’s more, Mellow Mushroom turns into a bar at night, so you’re truly living the dream.

Best Value Here’s the part where I drop some knowledge on you, and you seek me out and thank me with free food.

For $6.50 or less, one can head to Nine Dragon and partake in a generous helping of chicken, pork or beef, along with a more than generous side of fried rice. And I haven’t even mentioned the egg roll and fortune cookie that accompany the meal.

Not in the mood for Chi-

nese? Every Wednesday night at Rotolo’s on Nicholson Drive is $5 Calzone Night. Expect a wait, but a worthwhile wait.

How about a sandwich?

Simply drive a mile further down Nicholson until you get to A&M Mart. To the untrained eye it appears to be a liquor store, but once inside you’ll find that another $6.50 can get you a meaty poboy, a bag of chips, a 32-ounce beverage and, if you’re lucky, a handful of complementary candy from the owners.

As I live across the street, I’d feel like a real jerk if I didn’t mention Akasha Market.

This little convenience/liquor store is open until 4 a.m. six days a week, and for $7.50 you can get yourself a really tasty cheese burger complete with fries and a 32-ounce drink.

Seriously, who ever said college students were starving?

Contact David Hela\man at dhelman@lsureveille.com

Letter from Athletic Director Joe Alleva Dear Tiger Fan, What a year it has been for LSU Athletics. For the first time in school history, every Tiger sports team participated in NCAA postseason competition. Each and every one of our teams is in position to compete for a national title, and there are very few schools that can make that claim.

There were plenty of great moments along the way: divisional titles in soccer and volleyball ... another resounding football bowl victory ... an SEC title in men’s basketball ... a second straight Super Six appearance in gymnastics ... and plenty of individual accomplishments, too. In the

end, LSU finished No. 9 in the nation in the Director’s Cup, which measures the overall strength of an institution’s athletic program.

It all culminated with a national championship in baseball, the Tigers’ sixth title and the first since 2000.

For two weeks the baseball Tigers took Omaha by storm and created tremendous national publicity for LSU with six appearances on ESPN or ESPN2. Your Tigers represented LSU with pride both on and off the field.

And you, the Tiger fans, broke records as well. Over 1.5 million fans passed through the turnstiles of LSU’s various athletic arenas, the most fans to

freshman guide PAGE 51

ever see LSU play at home events in school history.

You also traveled in great numbers to road events, buying every ticket available to every road football game and filling the stands in Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium to capacity.

Ti m e s are good for Tiger Athletics, but we cannot rest on our laurels. ComJoe Alleva petition is athletic director fierce in the Southeastern Conference, and we must take this opportunity to get better, to improve our performance on and off the fields of competition.

So as we look forward to the years ahead, we are closely monitoring the impact that state budget cuts to higher education will have on our university, be-

cause they will in turn have a direct impact on LSU Athletics.

LSU is winning at the highest level in part because we are able to fund our sports teams at the highest level. Proper funding enables us to pay competitive salaries to the best coaching staff in America, it enables us to maintain some of the finest facilities in the country and it gives us the opportunity to provide the proper athletic and academic support systems for our student-athletes.

As we prepare for this budgetary impact, we will explore ways to cut costs without negatively impacting resources necessary for our student-athletes to win championships and graduate.

We will search for new sources of revenue. For instance, you may have heard ALLEVA, see page 55

PAGE 52 freshman guide

Letter from Fall Editor Nicholas Persac If you’re an incoming freshman, you’re in for a crazy four years.

Think about it — Paul Mainieri and his team graced the season-old Alex Box with a national championship, Les Miles had the No. 3 recruiting class according to Scout.com and Trent Johnson took the basketball team to a Southeastern Conference regular season title.

Athletics aren’t the only great part of LSU (I can talk for hours about the oak trees and Mike VI). We also hopped into a last-place tie of U.S. News and World Report’s top tier, an increase driven by the flagship agenda But while our coaches face opponents from other schools, Chancellor Michael

Martin faces a budget loss, which comes from the LSU System’s $50+ million cut in funding.

And I hope you’ll see the new Union open — it’s scheduled to be March 2011 — but with multiple delays having already pushed the date back at least a year, you might as well cross your fingers.

And don’t expect the pristine campus you’re parents may recall. Several campus landmarks — the Huey P. Long Fieldhouse, Greek Theater, or even in Athletic Director Joe Alleva’s mind, Tiger Stadium — are in need of repair, and who knows when they’ll get it.

Lockett Hall, where you’ll surely have a class,

freshman guide PAGE 53

has 21 deferred maintenance projects that will cost more than $865,000 to fix.

You should realize that though our University is a great one and one you should be proud to attend, we can always improve.

And The Daily Reveille is here to tell you about both the great things — winning games and awards, events like Nicholas Persac Fall Fest, fall editor art exhibits and concerts — and the things that could be better, from funding and construction to scandals like Carolyn Collins, a former associate vice chancellor and dean, being charged this summer with stealing money from the University and political science professor Kevin Mulcahy being arrested twice in two years.

We print Monday through Friday, (I’m sure you’ll enjoy a crossword puzzle or two).

A dedicated team of student journalists — reporters, photographers, videographers, broadcasters, designers — works not only to produce this daily paper, but to keep lsureveille.com updated frequently with content both shared with and unique from the print edition.

Look at “Snapshot,” a daily gallery of interesting views of an area of campus, and check out our videos and podcasts or see data for yourself in our database reporting or files we post online.

Visit lsureveille.com to get news as it breaks (or just crossword answers).

We’re here to serve you, so during the next four years (or more), follow the adventure of LSU with The Daily Reveille.

Contact Nicholas Persac at npersac@lsureveille.com

PAGE 54 freshman guide

Letter from Summer Editor Jerit Roser Welcome to LSU. I hope most of you are excited about attending LSU. I certainly wasn’t looking forward to it when I graduated high school.

LSU was not the university I had in mind in 2004 — yeah, it’s taken me a while, but we’ll get to that. It was actually kind of a back-up plan.

But then I started out at Loyola back home in New Orleans, and I really didn’t like it.

It wasn’t that Loyola was a bad school or that the people weren’t nice. I know a lot of great, smart people who’ve attended and continue to attend Loyola.

Loyola just wasn’t for me.

So I dropped out, took a

year off and eventually decided I wanted to try this college thing out again, but LSU still was not — as Britney Spears would say — on my radar.

I actually started up at UNO for the fall semester of 2005, and it wasn’t bad.

I probably could’ve finished my college experience there, but Hurricane Katrina had other plans for me.

And as much as I hate what the storm did to the city and the state, I can’t imagine things having worked out any better way for me and my college experience.

Katrina knocked me out of UNO, and some of my friends convinced me to spend the semester at LSU. And I fell in love.

I enjoyed that semester

so much, I decided to stay put in Baton Rouge — something I never thought would happen after having visited a few times my senior year of high school.

Then after a couple years, I realized I couldn’t see myself being anywhere else.

I started working at The Daily Reveille and taking lighter class loads each semester hoping to be able to devote more time to the Reveille and spend a little bit longer at Jerit Roser the University. summer editor A n d now, as I begin my fifth year at LSU, I can’t help but feel like Adam Sandler in the scene from Billy Madison where he shakes that third grader’s chubby face and implores him, “Stay here. Stay here as long as you can. For the love of God, cherish it. You’ve got

to cherish it.”

You, incoming freshmen and transfer students, are that chubby third grader, and I couldn’t give you any better advice.

In already four years, I’ve learned a lot both in and out the classrooms because, more importantly, I’ve experienced a lot during my Tiger tenure.

I’ve had a lot of fun and made a lot of friends and decisions, both good and bad.

I’m sure you’ll all do the same.

I’m not going to tell you how to live your lives because that’s what you’re here to figure out.

Just try to learn what you can from every situation you find yourself in — or at least come out of it with an epic story.

Carpe diem, kiddos. I promise you’re in for one hell of a ride.

Contact Jerit Roser at jroser@lsureveille.com

freshman guide PAGE 55 ALLEVA, from page 51

that we are working with the city of Baton Rouge to bring an annual country concert and festival to Tiger Stadium each year. We will be innovative in creating new revenue sources.

We will be creative in developing new fans to increase attendance in those sports that are not already sold out and we will entertain fans to keep them coming back.

Ultimately we will have to look at increased costs for tickets and parking at athletic events. We will be sensitive to the increases that have taken place in the last several years, but to remain competitive we will have to adjust ticket and parking prices.

And we will be more proactive than ever in soliciting philanthropic donations. Private fund raising will be more important than

ever before and we will identify existing and new donors who can help keep Tiger Athletics among the elite in college sports.

I appreciate the support that you and all of the Tiger Nation gave to the Tigers in 2008-09 in all of our sports.

The future is bright and I hope you will be there with us as we continue to compete for SEC and national titles.

We welcome your comments at athletics@lsu. edu <mailto:athletics@lsu. edu>. Unfortunately we cannot answer every e-mail we receive, but please be assured they will all be read.

Geaux Tigers!

Joe Alleva Director of Athletics

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

Watkins and Scheuermann have big shoes to fill following the tenure of Colorado Robertson and Shannon Bates, who received considerable student support for their efforts.

K.C. WHITE K.C. White, associate vice chancellor and the University’s dean of students, is around to promote student leadership and maintain a responsible and respectful campus community, keeping the Code of Student Conduct, a set of rules that regulate student behavior.

GARY DURHAM Gary Durham is the acting LSU chief of police.

Durham served as chief of police from 1977 to 1988 and then again from 2004 to 2005.

JOE ALLEVA Athletic Director Joe Alleva came to LSU from Duke just a little more than a year ago, and already he’s watched over one of the most successful

years in LSU athletic history.

Alleva replaced legendary baseball coach Skip Bertman as athletic director.

LES MILES LSU football coach Les Miles is one of Alleva’s most notable employees as the headman of one of the nation’s top football programs.

Miles has already won a national title with LSU, but he and the Tigers suffered a disappointing 8-5 season this year.

NICHOLAS PERSAC Nicholas Persac will be the editor of The Daily Reveille and lsureveille.com for the fall semester.

Persac is beginning his third year at the newspaper and will try to continue the momentum built by past editors.

Contact Jerit Roser at jroser@lsureveille.com

PAGE 56 freshman guide